Invisible Structures InvisibleStructures
Observatories reveal the mechanics of the universe. These earthworks, structures, and buildings have been built throughout all eras of mankind, and they led to ideas and innovations that advanced civilization both scientifically and culturally. They were formerly integrated into communities, but as their architecture changed through history, they moved to the outskirts of society.
These research stations are now sophisticated and highly engineered buildings that are hidden away on mountaintops. Top-tier observatories also demand a geograpic location with high elevation, low precipitation, and cool temeperatures. Light pollution keep them away from cities, which creates a disconnect between scholars’ research and society’s interaction with these sites.
Einstein Tower
McMath Pierce
There is a growing demand for the limited time slots available, especially for the most technologically advanced buildings. New observatories are necessary, and they should integrate their discoveries into a public site that offers multiple depths of immersion. This site can connect researchers with the cosmos for emerging science, enrich students through an educational environment, and immerse sightseers into an optical experience.
This thesis incorporates the contrast among observatories throughout history. It is focused on finding a home for the stalled thirty-meter telescope project. This massive observatory and education center will be located on the Magdalena Mountains, less than 100 miles south from Albuquerque, New Mexico. It integrates the technical requirements of this megastructure with the spectacle and intimacy of a celestial setting for curious minds.
Newark Octagon Uraniborg
1842 CE
1578 CE
300 CE
Cincinnati Observatory
- 4B Dry & Temperate Light Pollution - Bortle Scale 0/1
Solar and Lunar Angles
Entrance Towards Summer Solstice Buildings Orbiting Circulation Rotating Northern Risers
Sliding Doors
Protective Shell
Rotating Frame
Altitude Control
Azimuth Control
Building Foundation
Heliostat
Spectrometer
