Vetter Mountain Scientist Retreat

Vetter Mountain Scientist Retreat

Students were tasked with designing a research facility situated atop Vetter Mountain, a summit sitting amongst the San Gabriel Mountains in the Angeles National Forest. The facility would act as a retreat for 2 scientists to conduct astronomical research for one month at a time and as an education center for the general public, visitors, and recreational guests such as hikers and bikers.

The proposed design exentuates the idea of a building acting as a vehicle of circulation. A bridge structure connected to a tower form spans across the site and touches down on the upper and lower summit pads. A circulatory attachment is then added to the southern facade, which allows for movement across the site and in to the facility’s main program space which exists in the bridge. A sprawling ramp works in tandem with the building to provide for a continuous flow of circulation between the public summit pads and private scientist quarters.