Strong growth in the number of B.C. wineries is fuelling a growing niche for architects who want to specialize in building winery buildings.
The number of wineries in B.C. has grown to more than 200 today from 13 in 1984. Each week new wineries seem to sprout.
“Winery architecture is a growing niche,” CEI Architecture principal Nick Bevanda told Business in Vancouver July 20.
Bevanda has helped build winery buildings at Black Hills Estate Winery and Road 13 Winery, as well the restaurant building at Tinhorn Creek.
Current and future projects include structures at:
- Lavender Ridge Winery;
- Terravista Vineyards; and
- Quail’s Gate.
He pointed to others such as Robert Mackenzie Architect principal Robert Mackenzie, who has nearly a dozen winery projects to his credit.
Even noted B.C. architectural firm Bing Thom Architects has worked on a winery project at Tantalus Vineyards.
“Early B.C. wineries that were constructed were very much unsophisticated, [they were architectural] responses that were based and rooted in imagery: the French chateau or Italian villa, that sort of thing,” Bevanda said.
“It is now very satisfying for architects. We’re talking with people who have a design sense. A lot of winemakers and owners at this point in time want to put in contemporary buildings.”
Glen Korstrom
Twitter: GlenKorstrom