Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre |
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Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre main entry with rammed earth wall
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| General information | |
| Location | 1000 Rancher Creek Road Osoyoos, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49°02′28″N 119°26′03″W / 49.0412°N 119.4342°W |
| Completed | 2006 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 39,000 m2 (420,000 sq ft) (interior and exterior spaces) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden |
The Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre is a special place in Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada. It is run by the Osoyoos Indian Band. The Centre is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) north of the border with the United States. It sits in a unique desert area. This desert is a semi-arid shrub-steppe environment. It is one of Canada's most endangered natural places.
The main goal of the Centre is to teach people about the Okanagan Desert. It also shares the rich culture of the Okanagan people. A big part of its work is to help protect the desert's wildlife. The Centre has even helped start other local businesses. These include a landscaping company and a greenhouse for native plants. It also supports a website design business and a local arts and crafts market.
Contents
Discovering the Desert and Culture
The Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre offers many ways to learn. You can explore both indoor and outdoor areas. It is designed to be a fun, hands-on learning space. There are interactive displays and two multi-media theaters.
Exploring Traditional Buildings
Inside the Centre, you can see examples of traditional Aboriginal homes. These include a Tipi, a Pit-house, and a Sweat lodge. These structures show how the First Nations people lived long ago.
Walking Desert Trails
The Centre is next to a large desert area. About 1,600 acres of this land are protected. You can walk along 1.5 kilometers (about 1 mile) of desert paths. These trails lead to more recreated First Nations buildings. You will also see interesting sculptures along the way.
Protecting Desert Animals
The Centre has a special program to study snakes. It is called the Rattlesnake Research Program. This program gets help from Environment Canada. Biologists track and study Western Rattlesnakes and Great Basin Gopher snakes. They use radio tracking devices to learn about these important desert creatures.
The Centre's Unique Design
The Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre was designed by Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden architects. This firm is now known as DIALOG. The building was finished in 2006. It cost $6.6 million to build. The Centre covers about 39,000 square meters (420,000 square feet). This includes both indoor and outdoor spaces.
A Building Blending with Nature
The design of the Centre honors the Okanagan people's traditional winter homes. It also blends right into the natural landscape. Part of the building is underground. The desert landscape even extends over the building's planted (green) roof.
The Amazing Rammed Earth Wall
The front of the building features a large rammed earth wall. This wall is made from local soils, concrete, and special colors. It is 80 meters (260 feet) long and 5.5 meters (18 feet) high. It is also 0.6 meters (2 feet) thick. As of 2014, it was the largest rammed earth wall in North America. This thick wall helps keep the inside temperature stable. It acts like a super insulator, keeping the building cool in summer and warm in winter. This is very helpful in the desert, where temperatures can change a lot.
Using Local Wood
Inside the Centre, you will see blue stain pine boards. This wood comes from Lodgepole pine trees. These trees were damaged by the Mountain pine beetle and a type of blue stain fungus. Normally, this wood might not be used for building. But the Centre shows how this local material can be used beautifully.
Awards and Recognition
The Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre has won many awards. These awards recognize its amazing architecture, its work with Aboriginal culture, and its regional importance.
- Governor General's Medal in Architecture (2008)
- SAB Award, Sustainable Architecture & Building Magazine (2008)
- Royal Architectural Institute of Canada - Award of Excellence, Innovation in Architecture (2007)
- World Architecture Festival Award (2008)
- Lieutenant-Governor's of BC Medal of Excellence in Architecture (2007)
- Wood Design Green Award, Canadian Wood Council (2007)
- Awards for Excellence in Concrete Construction, Decorative Concrete Award, BC Ready–Mix Concrete Association (2007)
- Aboriginal Tourism BC "Power of Education Award" for the Rattlesnake Research Program
- Aboriginal Tourism BC "Inspirational Leadership Award"
- Okanagan Life Best of the Okanagan 2010 – Editors Choice Awards
