The Virunga Mountain Spirits distillery and agro-tourism site was designed by BE_Design. This building presents a striking example of sustainable commercial architecture that harmonizes with its natural and cultural surroundings. Located in Musanze, Rwanda, near the iconic Virunga volcanoes, the facility serves as both a production hub for locally crafted spirits and a destination for tourists visiting the region.

The agro-tourism site is placed along a busy route that is frequented by farmers transporting goods and travelers en route to see mountain gorillas. This positions Virunga Mountain Spirits as a vital link between local agriculture and tourism. The 1,100-square-meter structure features a central distillery room enclosed in a semi-transparent volume, allowing natural light to illuminate the impressive 10-meter copper and stainless steel vodka still. Surrounding this core are thick volcanic rock walls, which house functional spaces such as offices, a bottling area, a tasting room, and retail spaces.

Image Credit: Bruce Engel