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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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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