Nk’mip Desert Cultural Centre Renewal Program

For: Osoyoos Indian Band

With: Land Strategies, Human Studio Architecture, Aldrich Pears Associates, Eos Lightmedia

The Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, located in Osoyoos BC, is an award-winning interpretive centre that is most notable for it’s rammed earth wall – the largest in North America. The centre, which first opened in 2006, currently features cultural exhibits, walking trails and a variety of hands-on interactive displays, including two theatres and an outdoor reconstructed village.

Connect Landscape Architecture is pleased to join Human Studio and Aldrich Pears Associates in a renewal project to reinvigorate the centre with a new gallery and event space, updated interactive displays, cultural programs, and an improved outdoor performance space. The landscape vision applies sustainable and passive design strategies responding to the local climate, topography, views and ecology.  The site design will meet the aesthetic, sustainable, and functional objectives of the Nk’Mip DesertCentre Renewal Program.  

At the heart of the landscape vision is the Spotted Lake Courtyard, which takes inspiration from the colours and forms of the nearby unique and natural occurring feature.The Spotted Lake Courtyard will be an outdoor year round multifunctional space with terraced seating (for over 150 people) and a shade structure.

Other highlights of the landscape renewal reinforce the mountain and lake views, a wetland reed reflecting pool and outdoor view deck. Trails and structures, outdoor interpretive village and desert remediation will be improved. We look forward to the next stage of this project kicking off in 2019.