Header: Bruce Engel
A women-led company, Virunga Mountain Spirits, hosts a 1,100 sqm distillery that supports both local farmers and tourism in the region of Musanze, Rwanda. Located along a busy route to Volcanoes National Park, the company focuses on economic empowerment and engages agricultural and tourist traffic alike.
The project recently won the AIDA 2026 Architecture Award in the Mixed-Use Building Architecture category.
Transparent facade and volcanic stone walls
A transparent building made of 10-meter-tall copper and stainless steel is filled with light. Its glass façade allows visitors to take a sneak peek into the production process. The central volume of the house is enveloped in the thick volcanic stone walls.
The central volume hosts offices, packaging, storage, kitchen, bar, reception, retail area and other supporting functions. The geometrical shape of the building draws inspiration from the surrounding volcano-filled landscape, but also references the patterns frequently present in the traditional Rwandan art. Entitled Imigongo art, a traditional art crafted from cow dung, is known for its bold geometric patterns.
The celebration of the infrastructure
Instead of hiding the infrastructure, the design by Be_Design celebrates it, therefore disrupting the traditional notion of industrial production and public experience. Balancing production efficiency with the outstanding tourist experience was a key design challenge, resolved through a layered spatial strategy.
The transparent central volume serves a dual purpose: illuminating the venue and providing visibility from diverse perspectives. By engaging with the distillation process, the visitors reinforce the link between the product, place and people.
Volcanic stone walls
Thick volcanic stone walls enable passive climate control, acoustic buffering and thermal mass while framing the transparent core. Environmental impact is minimised through local material sourcing, passive cooling and durability. Using locally sourced materials such as volcanic stone reduces carbon emissions related to transport.
The volcanic stone façade additionally provides natural temperature regulation and heat reduction, while the central glass space reduces the use of artificial lighting through daylight maximisation. Durable construction decreases maintenance costs and waste by eliminating the need for frequent replacements.
Giving visibility to local economy
Just like this durable locally-sourced material, the workforce employed on the project is also local. The job provided integrated training that conveys valuable skills and lasting economic opportunity. That way, the creation of the distillery became a driver of economic growth in the area, employing locals workforce, which includes approximately 35% women. The project additionally impacted the Musanze region’s economy by connecting travel and agricultural tourism.
While attracting visitors heading to the Volcanoes National Park, the distillery also supports the work of local farmers, providing them with an extra income source. The entire community is engaged, and the project additionally boosts the economy by creating a visible platform for locally made products.
Virunga Mountain Spirits represents a unique combination of hospitality, manufacturing and retail. With a transparent centre that hosts production, retail, storage and other functions, and a climate-responsive vulcano stone envelope, the building manages to become a tourist attraction without compromising on the quality of production.
