In the shadows of East Africa’s most iconic peaks, a copper still hums with promise. This isn’t just craft distilling, it’s a rebellion in basalt and glass, where women lead, locals build, and every stone whispers possibility.
Nestled in the lush foothills of Rwanda’s Virunga volcanoes, a distillery carved from volcanic rock and glass is bottling more than spirits, it’s bottling opportunity, tradition, and bold new futures for local women. The new home of Virunga Mountain Spirits is more than a distillery, it’s a beacon of empowerment, sustainability, and design rooted in place.
Designed by BE_Design, this 1,100 square metre facility in Musanze is a celebration of local craftsmanship, natural beauty, and the economic potential of community-led development.
At the heart of the project is a mission to honour the legacy of women spirits producers in Rwanda and beyond. Virunga Mountain Spirits is a women-led company that not only crafts premium vodka and gin from locally grown sugarcane and botanicals, but also uplifts the very people who make that production possible.
From field to bottle, the operation is designed to create meaningful employment and skill-building opportunities for Rwandans, especially women.
The architecture itself reflects this ethos. BE_Design, founded by Bruce Engel, is known for its socially driven work across East Africa and the U.S., with a focus on educational and community spaces.
In Musanze, the firm worked with local partners to source materials like volcanic rock and to train a workforce that included 35% women, a significant figure in the construction industry. Workers received not only fair wages but also savings accounts and hands-on training in construction techniques, leaving them with marketable skills and a sense of ownership in the project.
The design is both practical and poetic. A soaring 10-meter copper and stainless steel still anchors the transparent distillery room, visible from the road that winds toward Volcanoes National Park. This central space is wrapped in thick, hand-shaped volcanic rock walls that house a bottling room, tasting bar, kitchen, offices and a gift shop. The building’s geometry echoes the surrounding volcanoes and incorporates traditional Rwandan Imigongo patterns, blending modern function with cultural heritage.
But perhaps the most powerful aspect of the project is its ripple effect. By creating a destination that supports local farmers, attracts tourists, and showcases Rwandan ingenuity, the distillery becomes a catalyst for broader economic growth. It’s a place where young people can see a future in skilled trades, where women can lead and thrive and where architecture becomes a tool for transformation.
For architects, this project is a compelling case study in how thoughtful design can serve both people and place. For the community, it’s a source of pride and possibility. And for the next generation of Rwandan women, it’s a reminder that their hands can build not just buildings, but futures.
You can learn more about the company’s mission and their spirits on Virunga Mountain Spirits’ website.