SPACE OBSERVATORY, RESEARCH AND LEARNING CENTER

The site has a unique geographical coincidence. The tropic of cancer and 90 degree east has intercepted in the site. The project is the celebration of this unique attribute along with it's primary goal is to facilitate and enhance astronomy and astrophysics related fields in Bangladesh.

The site is located in Bhanga, Faridpur, Bangladesh. It is a rural site still not touched by the development works like country's first expressway, Padma bridge and so on. So the site has potential in connectivity from the capital and other cities yet possess the flexibility of planning for a Dark Sky site for astronomical expendations.

Throughout history, numerous ancient civilizations have practiced and shaped astronomy. The goal is to trace the Indian Astronomy knowledge stream from ancient scripture-based astronomy to modern astronomy. A journey to re-create the development of astronomy from a Siddhantic or Continental perspective.

Depressing the axis mass allows the exposure of sky to enhance the connection of human to celestial objects. Or provide the impression of infinity. The fact that the experience differs in two axes allows for a wide range of participation. The prominence of the axis will be based in architectural detail to generate a sense of axis throughout the entire site.

The masterplan explored the way of enhancing the cross and axes in a way that embrace the Sky as a background. From any point of the project whether its indoor or outdoor, the main focus was the relation between human and the sky.

The diagram explores the connection of public and private functions while enhancing the axes' prominence in the site. The central cross or axis mundi holds the total public space along with the two axes. Other functions are located along a required service road in the sides.

The entry is designed to feel and question the drama in two axes'. One hold the clear plinth to walk on other hold a visually heavy linear massing leading to a big depression in the center. Dilemma and drama yet the Sky is everywhere. The main mass is depressed in the ground which create the main entry as a total landscape of sky holding the project.

The plinth. Here the sky is the most prominent element that is holding the mystery of the axis. The exploration both in the form of spiritual and literary. The axis mundi then unfolds the perpendicular second axis with another surprise. The boldness of the axes prevails on the site as all the architectural elements brings the sky within.

The Museum is consist of 7 galleries, one amenities hall and many motif along with the gallery spaces. The planetarium is designed in the front independent from the museum.

The galleries are designed as a journey from ancient Indian astronomy to contemporary modern astronomy. Not all the participents can circle the full journey in one walk as general age and attention span is different for everyone. For that There are breaks and bypasses designed for every gallery to create and enjoyable experience for all.

This gallery represents the ancient Indian scripture based astronomy, its origin and practices. The sculpture garden is visually connected as these sculptures were created and interpreted from the scriptures of the galleries later.

Sculpture Garden. The interpretation of the classic rig veda created these sculptures later found in many Janter Manters in India.

Modern astronomy gallery. Consists of early instruments used in astronomy. Also the Star gallery connects the basement and upper level. Connection to Sky is created with this gallery.

Contemporary gallery entry from Axis Mundi. This shows the prominence of the second axis along the line. which created the entry in the contemporary gallery as well as divided the whole mass with the force.

Inside the contemporary gallery the sky is eminent with the line or break in the massing caused by the perpendicular axis. The primal characteristics of light and shadow creates an unique effect every time.

The force of the perpendicular axis expressed in the image. As it has broken the visually heavy massing into parts allowing the diverse effect of sky entering the galleries.

The Sections shows the drama of light and shadow in different parts of the building as well as the relation of the massing and flow in the campus.