Virunga Mountain Spirits, a women-led business with extensive experience in Rwandan women's economic development, is based at this distillery and agrotourism destination in Musanze, the Northern Province of Rwanda, which is situated beneath the spectacular Virunga volcanoes.

The 1,100-square-meter facility, designed by BE_Design, is located on a well-traveled road that is used by both visitors caravaning up to see the renowned mountain gorillas and farmers racing downhill on bicycles loaded with products. 

In addition to serving the thriving tourism industry, this facility seeks to assist local farmers.

Roadside / Front Elevation

The distillery room, which is the focal point of the structure, is situated in the middle of a translucent or semi-transparent volume that lets in a lot of natural light. It features a wonderfully designed vodka still that is 10 meters (30 feet) tall and made of copper and stainless steel. 

The primary distillery area, on the other hand, is surrounded by strong walls made of hand-shaped volcanic rock. 

Set along a busy road

These walls also house all additional supporting facilities for employees and guests, such as offices, a bottling room, storage, a kitchen, a bar, a tasting room, a reception, and a gift store.

In addition to reflecting indigenous Rwandan patterns of the lmigongo art form that adorn the nearby structures along this popular road going to the Volcanoes National Park, the building's geometry pays homage to the strength and significance of the nearby volcanoes.

Rear Elevation sitting in farm fields

A significant portion of the materials used to build the distillery came from local suppliers. 

Together with the company's longstanding building partners, the project maintained an average of 35% female representation and hired local workers, offering valuable construction skills, good pay and savings accounts, and on-site skilled labor training, all of which had a long-lasting positive effect on the community.

Luminous distillery core wrapped in volcanic rock

Roadside / Front Elevation

Distillery

Distillery Interior

Distillery equipment

Reception / Gift Shop

Tasting Room & Bar

Tasting Room with views to volcanos

Front / roadside entry facade

Volcanic rock walls

Floor plan

Concept Diagram 1

Concept Diagram 2

After living in Rwanda for a number of years, Bruce Engel returned to New York and founded BE_Design. 

In addition to creating energy-efficient homes in New York, his firm specializes on communal and educational initiatives that benefit impoverished and rural communities in Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Ghana. Bruce's efforts have won accolades and recognition on a global scale.

Project facts

Project name: Virunga Mountain Spirits

Architects: BE_Design

Size: 1,100m2

Materials, construction system: Volcanic rock foundations & walls, glass, steel, and polycarbonate curtain wall, steel truss roof structure, onduline roofing, concrete floors.

Completion date: 2025

The top image in the article: Surrounded by farming. 

All images © Bruce Engel.

All drawings © BE_Design. 

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