The story
From the moment planning began, Bernard Block took shape as a continuation of Bernard Avenue’s energy. Located at the heart of a changing city, where history and progress converge, it became an anchor for the extension and revitalization of this beloved “High Street”. Its carefully curated public realm was designed as a gateway to our evolving downtown core, weaving placemaking and storytelling to honour the past while embracing the future. Inspired by this confluence of heritage and progress, we partnered with local historian Wayne Wilson to reimagine a defining feature of the region’s transformation: the Flumes.
A tribute to past & progress
Water was an important and revolutionary element in the “greening” of the Okanagan Valley, nourishing barren hills into the agricultural and horticultural oasis we enjoy today. Beginning at the turn of the 20th century, flumes — manmade wooden channels — were the innovative method behind this transformation, guiding life-sustaining water from the surrounding mountains and hills to enable the creation of orchards, vineyards, and rich fertile crops.
Fittingly, water — guided down the building by flumes — is expressed in the public realm of Bernard Block at its most prominent corner on Bernard Avenue and St. Paul. Grounded in historical accuracy, the entire design of Bernard Block and the Flumes pays tribute to the region we call home, honouring both the past and the progress of
Meet me at The Flumes
The Flumes are designed to play host to the rhythm of everyday life. Sit on the bench and reflect while you enjoy the sound of water trickling into the fountain. Enjoy your morning coffee or lunch while you people-watch or take a break from a day of shopping while soaking in the year-round sun of the Okanagan. Meant to be a gathering place, the Flumes is the perfect place to connect and collaborate.