Astro tourism: Architects design an observatory pavilion for night sky seekers.

We are curious beings; wanting to explore and learn led us to understand the unknown skies. The earliest written records of these observations can be traced to 1600 B.C. The Babylonians studied and created records of star positions, planets, and eclipses. 

This study and sense of exploration quickly grew into more practical tools. Monitoring the motion of stars and planets became the primary means of navigation and time tracking.  Human history has witnessed major celestial events which even might have changed the course of history. 

Cultures throughout time have gazed up, wondering and questioning our place in the universe. This intense fascination resulted in the invention of telescopes to see the unseen. 

Since then, the history of astronomical observations has evolved into philosophy, literature, and different branches of science. 

In recent years we have seen celestial events of the transit of Venus and witnessed the supernova 1987A go off in real-time. 

Though we are the same beings who chased eclipses and got all romantic over starry skies, today we see the sky differently than it was 10 years ago.

With meteor showers every year and decoding constellations under different skies, the night-sky gazing has taken a turn.  A new trend of Astro-tourism is on the rise worldwide. Light and air pollution have caused people to go to remote locations to experience the night sky. Astro-tourism offers people a gateway and the most natural way to reconnect with the outside world, a way to look up and disconnect for a while with technology. Temporary amenities for these activities do give a one-night experience. 

How can we enrich this remote experience with facilities that will enrich sky-gazing and provide comfort? 

The nocturnal sky is sublime and inaccessible. When looking at it, we experience the most ancient sensation. The increase in public participation to experience this sensation is also a credit to it being a segment of sustainable tourism, as there is no damage to any form of resources.

People travel short or long distances to observe and enjoy the dark sky. Can we provide places of experience to act as a window to the stars? 

If yes, then can we make these visits more worthy and comfortable? Can we create observation spaces that act as temporary habitats while maintaining the crux of the activity? 

Brief: The aim of the competition was to create an observatory pavilion for night sky seekers. 

Design a prototype that can be placed anywhere and replicated all over the site.

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Some of the Best competition projects are as follows:

Winning Project: Lens to The Stars

By: Andreea Aftene

^{Fig: 1 Site and exploded view}

Description: Being in the heart of a National Park in Heves, Hungary, our main intention was to build something that embraces the beauty of nature without destroying it. Using mainly local materials such as wood, we created a module, a microhabitat that is multiplied on the site, resulting an ensemble, a place meant to give you a deep connection with the universe.

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People’s Choice: Orion's Pavilion

By: Jeffrey Zee, George Duo & Christopher Chow

^{Fig: 2 Section plan and Perspective view}

Description: The Orion's pavilion is a stargazing pavilion located in Hortobágyi National Park, Hungary. The pavilion aims to capture and enhance the stargazing experience through its design and form. It works with the site to create a minimal carbon footprint that utilizes the minimal resources required to construct.

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Editor’s Choice: Hortobágy Puszta Observatory Pavilion

By: Dana Ibrahim

^{Fig: 3 Exploded and exterior view}

Description: It was born from the earth and goes towards the sky. It embraces us and shows the sky. The primary idea of this competition is created from a human view angle in different positions, sitting, lounging, and lying when looking at the sky. We designed a slant wall for lying and lounging on according to the optimal human view angel and created portals to the sky.

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Editor’s Choice: Interstellar Portal

By: Parisa Masoudizad, Amirreza Banayan & Maryam Piraste

^{Fig: 4 Function of spaces and interior view}

Description: It was born from the earth and goes towards the sky. It embraces us and shows the sky. The primary idea of this competition is created from a human view angle in different positions, sitting, lounging, and lying when looking at the sky. We designed a slant wall for lying and lounging on according to the optimal human view angel and created portals to the sky.

                         

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