A curvaceous wood canopy forms the entrance to craft brewery concept Ateliê Wäls, a 1,856-sq-m building designed by local studio Gustavo Penna Arquiteto & Associado. Set just outside the capital of the region, the complex employs minimal materials and a single craft-beer-inspired hue to complete the simple appeal of the interior that showcases the surrounding landscape as much as its signature beverage.

Cofounders José Felipe and Tiago Carneiro traveled the world and studied the latest technology to develop the 21 beers available on tap, all of which are produced on-site and complement the various dishes offered at the restaurant. Gustavo Penna, founder of GPA&A, speaks of the project being ‘playful and fun,’ which ‘shows the union of architecture and beer.’ If a fermented liquid can be translated into a solid structure, its manifestation appears to be a surprisingly elegant, rounded wood porte-cochere that gives way to the various amenities below.

The design implements a diverse range of functions in one cohesive complex – including a shop, wine cellar, office, and outdoor venue for food trucks in addition to the brewery and restaurant. A soft string of cork stoppers creates a curtain above the bar to soften the exposed concrete and theatrically frame the selection of beers, placing them in centre stage.

Red accents found throughout the bar, custom shelving, and terrace derive their hue from the natural tint of an India Pale Ale and add subtle interest to the otherwise neutral palette of timber and concrete. The expansive terrace connects seamlessly to the interior, taking full advantage of the sweeping natural landscape of the Olhos d’Agua neighbourhood just beyond the glass façade.

gustavopenna.com.br

Location R. Gabriela de Melo, 566, Olhos D'Água, Belo Horizonte, Brazil