Just as the wines of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley have improved immeasurably in the past few decades, standards are now being set for the architecture of its wineries. CEI Architecture’s Nick Bevanda - one of the area’s lone modernists - has augmented his award-winning Black Hills Winery with a new Wine Experience Centre. Located in tiny Oliver, BC, - touted as Canada’s new wine capital - the centre is a sublime yet cosy ode to the ethos of the region. A gently sloping cantilevered roof hovers towards the arid ochre hills that surround it, while a palette of steel and glass is softened by wood heavy interiors. Fir acoustic panels on the ceiling mimic the grid like patterns of the vineyards, and a pool in the back adds Mediterranean flair. Built on the bones of a 1960’s bungalow, the 1200 sq ft building has a residential feel that makes you want to sit a while, take in the view, and sip some Black Hills syrah.
