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 (say "in-ka-meep") is a special place in Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada. It's like a museum and learning center all in one! The Osoyoos Indian Band owns and runs it.
This center is located in a unique desert area. This desert is a "semi-arid shrub-steppe" environment. That means it's a dry place with lots of shrubs and grasses. It's one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada.
The main goal of the Centre is to teach people about the Okanagan Desert. It also shares the rich culture of the Okanagan people. They work hard to protect the desert's amazing wildlife. The Centre has even helped start new local businesses. These include a landscaping company and a greenhouse for native plants.
Contents
Exploring the Centre: Exhibits and Trails
The Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre has many cool things to see and do. You can explore both indoor and outdoor areas. It's designed to be an interactive place where you can learn by doing.
Indoor Learning and Shows
Inside, you'll find hands-on displays. There are also two multi-media theaters. These theaters show films and presentations. They help you learn more about the desert and its people.
Outdoor Adventures and History
Outside, you can see recreated examples of traditional Aboriginal homes. These include a Tipi, a Pit-house, and a Sweat lodge. These structures show how the Okanagan people lived long ago.
The Centre is right next to a real part of the desert. About 1,600 acres of this desert are protected. This area is a conservation zone. You can walk on 1.5 km of desert paths. Along these paths, you'll find more reconstructed First Nations buildings. There are also interesting sculptures that tell stories.
Studying Desert Animals
The Centre has a special program to study snakes. It's called the Rattlesnake Research Program. They get help from Environment Canada for this work. Biologists track and study Western Rattlesnakes. They also study Great Basin Gopher snakes. They use radio tracking devices to learn about these amazing creatures.
The Centre's Unique Building Design
The Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre building is very special. It was designed by Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden architects. It was finished in 2006. The building cost $6.6 million to build. It covers about 39,000 m2 (420,000 sq ft) of space. This includes both indoor and outdoor areas.
A Building Blending with Nature
The design of the building honors the traditional winter homes of the Okanagan people. It also blends right into the natural landscape. Part of the building is built underground. The desert landscape even extends over the building's roof! This is called a planted (green) roof.
The front of the building has a unique wall. It's made of "rammed earth." This means it's built from local soils, concrete, and color additives. This wall is huge! It's about 80 m (260 ft) long. It's also 5.5 m (18 ft) high and 0.6 m (2 ft) thick. As of 2014, it was the largest rammed earth wall in North America!
Smart Design for Comfort
This thick wall helps keep the inside temperature stable. It has a high insulating value of R-33. This is important because desert temperatures can change a lot. The wall helps keep the building cool in summer and warm in winter. One expert said the wall "defines an ambiguous threshold between landscape and building." This means it blurs the line between nature and the building.
Using Local Materials
Inside the building, you'll see "blue stain pine boards." This wood comes from Lodgepole pine trees. These trees were damaged by the Mountain pine beetle and a blue stain fungus. Usually, this wood isn't used for finished surfaces. But the Centre used it to show how this material can be useful. It's a great example of using local, damaged resources in a smart way.
Awards and Recognition
The Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre has won many awards. These awards recognize its amazing architecture and its important work.
- 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
