NK'MIP

  • nk mip wall at dusk with lights going up the rammed earth SIREWALL, desert hill in background

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  • two horses grazing in front of nk mip SIREWALL building in the desert

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  • rammed earth SIREWALL building set in the desert with mountains and one horse

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  • strong afternoon sun hitting SIREWALL with orange color variations at nk mip

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  • tall rammed earth exterior SIREWALL that frames and exterior patio to the right

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nk mip wall at dusk with lights going up the rammed earth SIREWALL, desert hill in background
two horses grazing in front of nk mip SIREWALL building in the desert
rammed earth SIREWALL building set in the desert with mountains and one horse
strong afternoon sun hitting SIREWALL with orange color variations at nk mip
tall rammed earth exterior SIREWALL that frames and exterior patio to the right

Commercial

We consider the material to have extraordinary promise from both a design and sustainability perspective, and look forward to its broader adoption."
— Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden

Custom Features

  • 40 colored test samples were made prior to selection via a full scale mockup
  • Curved and colored to blend in naturally with its desert surroundings
  • Thirty differently colored lifts with each color specified by the architect
  • Over 100 tons of hanging rammed earth above the slot window


Technical Details

  • Largest insulated rammed earth wall in the world: 260', 18' high, and 24" thick
  • Wall is created of 6"- to 9"-high lifts inside 24"- wide forms
  • Thermal resistance of the wall is R33
  • Wall is heavily reinforced and utilizes HSS frames cast in at 4' on centre to hang the section above the slot window from the roof slab
  • Weather conditions and extreme temperature ranges were a significant consideration (-22°F to +104°F)
  • Few control joints and very minimal non-structural random cracking


Awards and Recognition

  • World Architecture Festival, Holiday Category Winner, 2008
  • Governor General’s Medal in Architecture (Canada), 2008
  • Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) Award for Innovation in Architecture, 2007
  • Hoston Bakker Boniface Haden Recommendation Letter


Learn more about this project on the architect's website.


Location: Osoyoos, British Columbia

Architect / Designer: Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden (now DIALOG)
 SIREWALL Expert Team: Terra Firma Builders
 General Contractor: Greyback Construction 

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