Constellations Thesis Book by Nesrin Zidan
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Constellations:
A Star Interlude
By
Nesrin Zidan
A Tale As Old As Time...
Constellations: A Star Interlude
By
Nesrin Zidan
A thesis book for the Final Architectural Project submitted to the Department of Architecture, School
of Architecture, Art, and Design, American University in DubaiIn partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the Degree of Bachelor of Architecture
Fall 2022
Copyright © 2022
Nesrin Zidan ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Approval of the Thesis Book for Final Architectural ProjectDepartment of
Architecture, School of Architecture, Art, and Design, American University in Dubai
Student’s Full Name: Nesrin Zidan
Thesis Book Title: Constellations: A Star Interlude
Student Signature: __________________________ Date ___________________
Advisor / Professor Name: Dr. Abdellatif Qamhaieh
Advisor / Professor Signature: _________________ Date __________________
Dedication
This book is dedicated to everyone who believed in this book and journey
Mama, Baba, Noor, Saif, Jasser, Bandar, Narges, Omar, Seham, and my cat Lily
This book is for you.
Most importantly, my journey is dedicated to my grandfather, who always believed
that I am more than my fears and insecurities. You light my skies every night and I
knw the stars will help me find my way back to you...
Acknowledgement
I’d like to thank all my beloved colleagues who supported my journey and had faith in
me and this book.
I’d also like to thank all my professors who were an essential part of this journey and
where it lead.
I’d like to especially thank Dr. Abdellatif for his constant support and encouragement.
This book wouldn’t have come to be without your guidance and patience.
Abstract
Generations ago stars helped travelers find their way. Cities evolved, wars
ensued, and diseases plagued communities, but the stars remained constant. Men were
always fascinated by what they did not know, and the galaxies beyond were the biggest
mystery. Astronomy is a science that was pursued and taught long before NASA, especially
in the Middle East. It was first studied by the ancient Egyptians, then the Babylonians,
the Persians, and the Indians (Southern and Central Asia). The most precise
of those studies could be credited to Al Khawarzmians. They had created their period
and calendar, which stood out for their extreme precision. A thorough understanding
of astronomy was required to maintain such a calendar, which required stationary
observations of the daily motions of the moon and sun as well as the positions of the
stars at the vernal and autumnal equinoxes and the summer and winter solstices.
Yet it is a science that has witnessed a decline in our Islamic and Arab cities as
of late. Great institutions around the world have unfortunately endorsed Astronomical
studies and research with more vigor and passion than we have in a very long time.
Therefore, it is important to revitalize this science and show support to the youth who
are passionate about it, in this region. We can start by providing them with a space
that fulfills all those requirements, in their own countries, without having to travel
abroad to pursue those studies. If anything, our region has a rich history that is deeply
rooted in the Arts and Sciences, especially Astronomical studies, so why stray far to
seek what we already have?
In many ways architecture and algorithms go hand in hand, both seeking a
formula and structure to rely on. It is a study that is infinitely rich and resourceful to
the field of Architecture and not just Astronomy. I believe it is crucial to have in our
future, a prepared and educated generation of minds that are just as ready to pass on
the legacy of their predecessors and inspire boundaries to be overcome.
Keywords: Astronomy, Algorithms, Astrology, polymath, constellations,
stargazing, rationality, zodiac, space, cosmos.
Atlas
1.1. Introduction to Stargazing
I
p.30
Merope
3.1. Celestial Cartography
3.2. Sky Navigation Theory
3.3. Branches Of Astronomy
III
p.134
Alcyone
2.1. Prehistoric Astronomy
2.2. Ancient Egypt
II
2.3. Ancient Mesopotamia
2.4. Ancient Greece
2.5. Western Asia
2.6. Islamic Astronomy
p.38
2.7. Modern Astronomy
Map Of The Book
p.190
V
Electre
5.1. Programmatic Case Studies
5.2. Geographical Case Studies
5.3. Experential Case Studies
The Asteropes
p.334
8.1. Concept 1
8.2. Concept 2
8.3. Concept 3
Maia
4.1. Archeoastronomy
4.2. Architectural Theory
4.3. Star-chitecture
p.162
IV
Caeleno
6.1. Case Studies Program
6.2. Project Program
p.286
VI
VII
p.298
Taygete
7.1. Site Selection
7.2. Site Analysis
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Volume I: Atlas
1.1. Intr0 to
Stargazing
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1.1. Introduction to Stargazing
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Before all the technology, smart telescopes, and rockets launched into outer
space, we had nothing but our eyes on the sky. What lies above always intrigued mankind,
and we have long turned to the heavens for answers about the universe, its origin, and what is
ahead. The glittering sea of stars was a constant in the sky and our ancestors understood that
there is more to it. Tales and fables about the beginning of time and the birth of our universe
strike a deeper connection to the stars because it seemed like they anchored us to a time and
space, they were the guide through the vast deserts, high mountains, and the dark seas. Our
ancestors noticed patterns of star alignments just by looking up at the sky every night. They
also developed associations between the solar-lunar cycles and their daily lives below.
Perhaps they imagined that the heavens could reflect who they are so, they dreamed
whilst gazing in wonder at the seemingly infinite world away from their world, taking the
Sun, Luna, and Stars as Gods looking down on them, showing them the way, but only if they
looked more closely. The desire to learn and reach the stars (literally) created an itch that did
not seem to dissipate over millennia. What we now know as modern Astronomy, is an homage
to the magical thinking of our ancestors, who were persistent to learn their place in the
cosmos. This urge has transported mankind to a pocket dimension, where they can touch the
stars down at Earth.
Our ancestors had a strong bond with the stars even though they are far away, millions
of light years away. In the present scientific endeavors, we see the same need for meaning
that led our ancestors to look up to the sky and worship its gods. Our attempts at getting
closer are becoming a plea to understand the heavens. The Egyptians, Babylonians, the Islamic
Dynasty, and many others introduced methods and tools that allowed man to venture into the
universe. The foundation of the science lies in our history and roots. Our ancesctors in the
MENA region understood the language of the sky.
Stars that died more than five billion years ago produced the atoms that make up
our bodies and everything else in the universe. Knowing this—knowing that the universe is
where our material roots may be found—makes the connection between our existence and the
history of the universe, both individually and collectively, a sentimental bond. We’ve learned
that we are molecular machines made from stardust that can think beyond their origins and
into the future. The Occult Sciences belong to our ancestors and without ackowledging that
past, we cannot move forward. This is the worldview that contemporary science has been built
upon, and it is nothing short of extraordinary. It commemorates and breathes life into our
predecessors’ desire to understand the heavens. “They were looking up to find their origin; we
looked up and found it” (Gleiser, 2022).
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Volume II: Alcyone
2.1. Prehistoric Astronomy
2.2. Ancient Egypt
2.3. Ancient Mesopotamia
2.4. Ancient Greece
2.5. Western Asia
2.6. Islamic Astronomy
2.7. Modern Astronomy
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2.1. Prehistoric Astronomy
The primitive man first drew the constellations on the walls of the caves,
posing questions with seemingly no answers. This urge and curiosity, to understand
the skies, only grew stronger as astronomical science evolved from mere watching. The
questions changed and even multiplied, but that connection remained untethered. The
quest for understanding our beginnings and our role in the cosmos is connected by
modern astronomy with the sacred sky of our forefathers.
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The foundations of science start
with magical thinking. The introduction
of this field of science is credited to some
of the most influential civilizations around
the world, especially in the Middle East
(Gleiser, 2022).
The role astronomy played in
different cultures around the world, impressively
so in neolithic societies is fascinating.
Astronomy, or its primitive origin,
regular celestial observations, were
significant to our ancestors in its central
role in keeping track of the passing of the
seasons. They developed a clever criterion
that proved functional and reliable in
a time way before smartphones and the
highly detailed and meticulous maps of
today. With those astronomical observations,
sailors, and travelers, could mark
relevant locations and navigate their way
through the vast and new world. The application
of this data was not only limited
to calendars, but also agriculture.
Astronomical data influenced the
development of agriculture since farmers
could better predict and determine the
best time of the year to plant or harvest,
which helped cultivate more independent
civilizations (agricultural revolution) (The
History of Astronomy: A Timeline, 2019).
It is difficult to pinpoint when the
first constellations were sighted and recorded.
According to archaeological remains,
researchers were able to identify
possible astronomical carvings/ markings
illustrated on the cave walls at Lascaux
and Niaux in southern France. The Greater
Cursus at Stonehenge is another example.
It is a 3-kilometer structure that was
built to predict astronomical events such
as eclipses, solstices, and the lunar cycle
(North, 2010). However, it could be approximated
that our ancestors might have
documented some of their sightings, of
the starry night, on the walls of their caves,
around 17,300 years ago. Could their
first-ever portrayal of star arrangements
date back to over seventeen millennia ago?
(Rappenglück, 1996).
Moreover, our knowledge of the
constellations, tells us that more than half
of the 88 constellations, recognized by the
International Astronomical Union (IAU),
today, are credited to the age of antiquity
in Greece, which based their work on
earlier observations and data from the ancient
Babylonians, ancient Egyptians, and
Assyrians (The Constellations).
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“Architecture is not based on concrete and steel,
and the elements of the soil. It is based on wonder.”
-Daniel Libeskind
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2.2. Ancient Egypt
7,000 years ago, one of the most influential civilizations that have influenced
a multitude of fields such as medicine, agriculture, engineering, architecture, and
most importantly astronomy, was created. Their fascination with the creation of the
universe led them to miracles humanity cannot yet comprehend (Elhalfawy, 2016). A
scribe by the name of Amenope was tasked with assembling a catalog of the universe, in
the year 1100 BC. His list had to include “heaven with its affairs, earth and what is in it,
what the mountains belch forth, what is watered by the flood, all things upon which Re’
has shone, all that is grown on the back of earth.”
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The first items on that list were the
sky, then the sun, followed by the moon
and stars, all of which were keenly observed
by the imy-wnwt, or ‘hour-watcher,’
the name ancient Egyptians gave to
astronomers, at the time (Parker, 1974).
In fact, Egyptian mythology was
an indirect guide to the Egyptians’ astronomical
discoveries and practices.
Their mythology is rich in stories about
the conception of the phenomena of Day
and Night, which again features Nut and
the other gods of the Ennead (Deities in
Ancient Egypt).
Like their neighbors, the protodynastic
Egyptians also had a celestial
calendar. However, unlike the Mesopotamians
and Babylonians, theirs was a
lunar calendar based on the appearance
of the crescent, not in the evening, from
the West, but rather in the morning when
the crescent can no longer be seen, before
sunrise, in the east. These differences
were significant in distinguishing the geographic
conditions of each. For example,
since Egypt was located along the Nile
River, the seasons of the year were adjusted
to consider the season of the flood.
Moreover, this lunistellar year
gave rise to the well-known 365-day calendar
year (three seasons of four 30-day
months and 5 days added at the end).
Our 24 h day of constant length was finally
created because of the division of the
30-day month into three 10-day “weeks”
called Decans, and the observation of
stars called decans rising at dusk. Except
for decanal stars, planets and constellations
were solely mentioned in mythology.
Fig. 2.1. Illustration of Goddess Nut
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Fig. 2.2. Photo of tomb of Seti I (KV17), Valley of the Kings, West Thebes, showing an ancient star calender on the co
fin’s ceiling. Photo by Araldo De Luca
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Fig. 2.3. Ancient Egyptian Star Calendar
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Evidently, during the Ptolemaic
era, the zodiac was introduced to Egypt,
and eventually, the decans were just
names for the thirds of a zodiac sign.
True astronomical manuscripts also
emerge in this most recent time, although
they cannot be said to be of Egyptian
origin since they were already introduced
by the Babylonians and developed by the
Greeks.
Furthermore, texts that were
found in the pyramid of Unas, the last
king of the fifth Dynasty, depict the night
with an emphasis on three stars. It is believed
that this was the Egyptians’ introduction
to star clocks, which is estimated
to have taken place after the development
of the civil calendar by the 24th century
BC (Parker, 1974). There are two types
of star clocks. It is not until 2150 BC,
that we learn how the first type of clock
functions. We learn that there is a total of
12 hours at night, from diagrams on the
inside of coffin lids, which were named
‘diagonal calendars’ in their conception
early on. The mechanism behind these
clocks is that they consist of 36 intervals
of 10 days, with a total of 360 days and
12 stars per interval (one for each hour
in the night). The second type of clock
is found on the walls of Ramesside stone
tombs dating back to the twelfth century
BC. This clock is made up of 24 intervals
in 15 days, again for a total of 360 days,
but with 13 stars per interval (one for
each hour in the night, and an extra one
for the beginning of the night) (Depuydt,
1998).
Fig. 2.4. Illustration of Ramses II
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Fig. 2.5. Ancient Egyptian Solar System Chart
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Fig. 2.6. Abu Simbel Temple
Moreover, many ancient Egyptian temples and landmarks are oriented to notable
astronomical positions. A notable example would be the pyramids of Giza which
are aligned to the three stars on Orion’s belt (the constellation) which point towards
the North star (which was Thuban at the time instead of Polaris). Furthermore, the
Nabta Playa, the oldest astronomical site in Africa, is a stone structure assembled in a
circular way that is proven to be a huge calendar used to predict the summer solstice
(7 Ancient Cultures and how they shaped Astronomy, 2018).
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Lastly, the most striking is the
Abu Simbel temple, dedicated to Rameses
II. The temple is designed in such
a way that on his birthday, the sun illuminates
his statue for 20 minutes. It is a
solar phenomenon that occurs twice a
year, on the 22nd of February and on the
22nd of October, in the city of Aswan.
Fig. 2.7. Sundial Concept Diagram
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2.3. Ancient Mesopotamia
More than 5,000 years ago, in what is now known as Iraq, the Middle
East saw one of the earliest forms of civilization. It was called Mesopotamia by the
Greeks, a name that signifies its geographic position, which translates to between the
Rivers Tigris and Euphrates. By the end of the fourth millennium BC, the South of the
region had undergone a transition from small farming communities to large urban settlements
with a distinct societal decorum, providing the world with one of the greatest
civilizations.
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It is said that the first appearances
of the famous Hailey’s comet were documented
by the Babylonians (7 Ancient
Cultures and how they shaped Astronomy,
2018).
From the tablets of the Babylonians
to the development of Astrology and
the Zodiacs, Mesopotamia is credited with
many achievements in the Sciences, especially
their study of the cosmos (Gleiser,
2022).
They looked at the stars and created
patterns. They noticed how some lights
in the sky moved differently than others,
establishing an association between the
stars and religion. A scribe in the early
third millennium BC, in the city of Uruk,
was able to deduce that the day and night
stars were the same; a piece of knowledge
that hadn’t been discovered for another
2,000 years in Europe (Steele, 2019).
The ancient Mesopotamians were
also able to form ideas about the solar
system. They understood this through
observing the recurring presence of the
planets that were visible to the naked eye,
which were Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars,
and Saturn with the inclusion of the moon
and Sun. This knowledge resulted in the
creation of a calendar of sorts.
.
Fig. 2.8. A tablet from the Enuma Anu Enlil dating back 6500 - 7000 years ago
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Unlike the western calendars, we
use today, that was based on the Sun, and
the Islamic ones, which were based on
the moon, Mesopotamian calendars were
based on both. A month would begin in
the evenings when the thin crescent of the
new moon appears. If on the thirtieth day,
the new moon crescent was not seen, then
the month would be complete and the new
one would begin the next evening, and the
cycle repeats. These created twelve months
that are made up of either twenty-nine or
thirty days (Steele, 2019).
Like most ancient civilizations,
the Mesopotamians, and later the Babylonians,
were superstitious. They believed in
the existence of Astrological omens, signs
the universe would give to warn the kings.
Some of these omens are listed in Enuma
Anu Enlil, a series of seventy Babylonian
tablets dedicated to astrology. In a section
of Jupiter’s omens, we see how different
instances of its movement, through constellations
or other celestial bodies, are recorded
with their significance.
For example, if Jupiter gets closer
to Venus, then it is an omen of chaos, where
people will be confused, and brother will
consume brother. Another popular omen
that seems to have been passed down to
more recent times, is the occurrence of a
moon eclipse. They would have a replacement
for the king sit on the throne so that
he suffers the evil of the eclipse instead of
the king. Later, these omens developed to
become more personalized and accurate.
Thus, the zodiac horoscope was born. The
knowledge of the zodiacal belt and its constellations
has been around as early as 700
BC (Van der Waerden, 1952).
The constellations are believed
to have been identified specifically in the
Seleucid age. This knowledge also consisted
of motions of the sun, stars under
a certain constellation, and the planets in
the “moon’s path,” the only difference is
that their observation has become more
backed up by a mathematical base. The
Babylonian zodiacs are calculated so that
they are precisely equal lengths, in which
each sign comprises 30 degrees; these coordinates
are believed to be recorded in
observational texts from around 200 -70
BC.
Therefore, their perception of phenomena
like solar eclipses, which once
alarmed them has become based on scientific
evidence. Now, they understand that
an eclipse is caused when the moon covers
the sun and that it is caused because the
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Fig. 2.9. The 12 houses of the Zodiac as we know them today
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sun only moves in latitude but can move
in circles (Van der Waerden, 1952).
These developments in astrology
birthed the concept of the seasons. Within
the zodiacal scheme, the year is divided
into four sections, with each segment
corresponding to a quarter of a circle. This
scheme explains that the twelve months
of the year are divided so that there are
three months in each segment of the circle.
This is familiar because recent knowledge
about the signs is still heavily based
on these ancient data. The concept of a
relationship between months and constellations
is very old. It dates back to the
Astrolabe lists (1100 BC or earlier), which
assigned 3 stars or constellations to each
month that were thought to rise in that
month.
The correspondence was poor
under this outdated approach, as numerous
constellations failed to rise within the
months that were designated for them.
Since at least one constellation could be
found in almost every sign of the zodiac’s
12th house, the correlation between zodiacal
constellations and months was considerably
better, and it was made even better
by the invention of the term “zodiacal
sign” (Van der Waerden, 1952).
There are diaries that record incidents
involving comets, meteors, and
more. If anything, this shows us how advanced
they were with their observation
skills, which is evident when comparisons
are drawn between the archaic tablets and
recent studies. It is still not clear how the
Babylonians made these observations. Did
they use any specific instruments? Were
their studies conducted individually or
in groups? This does not change the fact
that the level of achievement in this field
in such primitive societies is astounding
(Steele, 2019).
Fig. 2.10. 8-pointed Star of Innana
(Venus or Morning Star)
Fig. 2.11. Illustration of Babylonian Society
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Fig. 2.12. Ziggurat Ilustration
Interestingly, architectural ideas, such as skyscrapers
and high-rise structures, are said to originate
from ancient astronomical traditions of men building
higher to try and reach the stars. Some examples
would be the Tower of Babylon, which is often depicted
for its colossal structure, and their Ziggurats,
which were mainly built for religious purposes, are
great examples of such typology (Fatima, 2022).
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Fig. 2.13. The Babylonians calculated the 12 houses of the zodiac were all exactly
30 degrees in length
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2.4. Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is credited with many of the achievements of modern
civilization. From Philosophy to Architecture to theatre to the Arts & Sciences. Their
development of astronomical data from their predecessors from the predynastic times
was ground-breaking. They further elaborated on their observations and provided theoretical
data on what is known now as astronomy. Many scientific terms used in many
fields, especially in astronomy, originate from Latin and ancient Greek languages such
as Koine.
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The basic terminologies used in astronomy
comes from Greek descriptions,
which can be explained through the etymology
of the word. Astronomy, which is
according to Cambridge Dictionary is often
defined as the study of stars and their
movements. Its Greek origin ἀστρονομία
or astronmia, when broken down, ἄστρον
(ástron, meaning “star”) and νόμος (nomos
or nomia, means “law.” Other terms
include Astrology or astrologia, where
ástron is again “stars” and logia which
translates to “versed in tales or stories”)
which roughly means “telling of the stars”
(Fletcher, 2009). Lastly, the term Zodiac
is also Greek in origin. Zodiakos is an ancient
term that means “circle of animals”
or “of little pictures of animals” (Gleadow,
2001).
They built a considerable amount
of their studies on the inherited practices
and findings of the Mesopotamians/ Babylonians
despite the general belief that it
was established by the Greeks in the Hellenistic
period (Van der Waerden, 1952).
The Greeks were able to apply this knowledge
to create models of the universe that
enabled them to understand it. The Greeks
were determined to solve the riddles of the
universe and answer its questions.
Like the ancient Egyptians, the
arts portrayed their views on astronomy.
In fact, circa 700 B.C., Homer, the illustrious
poet of the Iliad and the Odyssey,
referenced a few constellations in his two
epic poems, the Odyssey, and Iliad. The
Greeks’ most important astronomical
writings, nevertheless, didn’t appear until
much later. In a song titled Phaenomena
from the third century before our time,
the poet Aratus listed many of the constellations
known to the Greeks (The History
of Astronomy: A Timeline, 2019).
The seventh and eighth volumes
of Claudius Ptolemy’s Almagest (second
century A.D.) include records of 48 of the
constellations and 1022 of the stars that
they were aware of, together with estimations
of their brightness and visible patterns.
However, the precise origin of these
constellations is still unknown. Ptolemy’s
depictions were likely greatly inspired by
Eudoxus of Knidos’ writings around the
year 350 BC (The Constellations). It is
difficult to deny Ptolemy’s influence on
the development of astronomy. Based on
these arguments, he developed a solar system
model that was used for centuries and
generated precise predictions about the
locations of the planets.
Fig. 2.14. A model of the ‘Armillary Sphere’ was designed by Ptolemy to demonstrate
the movement of the celestial sphere about with a stationary Earth at its
centre.
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In addition, he was among the first
astronomers to recognize that the Earth
orbits the Sun rather than the other way
around (The History of Astronomy: A
Timeline, 2019). Pythagoras, Thales, Plato,
and Aristotle were pioneers of this era
and presented a geocentric model of the
universe with the Sun circling the Earth
(Miller, 2013).
Moreover, a Greek scholar, Eratosthenes,
contributed to the calculation of
the earth’s circumference, his most accomplished
discovery. His computation was
off by only a few hundred or a few thousand
miles. It is closely accurate considering
the lack of apt technology during that
time. He is also responsible for calculating
the tilt of the earth’s axis and the conceptualization
of leap day (7 Ancient Cultures
and how they shaped Astronomy, 2018).
Over the years we were able to uncover
some significant discoveries in this
vast field. The Greek philosopher Anaxagoras
proposed the idea that the stars
are truly suns that are comparable to our
own but are situated at such great distances
that we cannot feel their heat here on
Earth, about 450 BCE. He was banished
from Athens because religious organizations
rejected his ideas. The astronomer
Aristarchus of Samos then released a heliocentric
explanation of the world in 280
BCE, according to which the Earth and the
planets rotated around a still Sun. However,
Aristrachus’ heliocentric hypothesis
was not widely accepted, and it would take
close to 1800 years for it to do so.
Moreover, the Antikythera mechanism,
an ancient astronomical computer
built in ancient Greece around 150 BCE,
was able to forecast the locations of stars
and planets as well as lunar and solar
eclipses (reproduced opposite). Ptolemy
improved the first geocentric model in the
same year, 150 A.D., in his masterwork
“Almagest,” which included his famous
observations on 48 constellations and
charted the motions of the stars and planets
(Miller, 2013).
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2.5. Western Asia
The practice of astrology has a long history in the countries of Central
Asia. Excavations at the Koy-Krylgan-Kala site (fourth century BC–fourth century AD)
reveal that this religious structure was designed using specific criteria so that it could
be utilized for astronomical observations, just as the Babylonian ziggurats. Moreover,
clay disc pieces and flattened rings were discovered during excavations at the location;
this combination resembles O. Schirmer’s reconstruction of a Greek astrolabe with a
circular alidade, as described by al-Biruni (Dani et al., 1992).
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Commonly, Asia was known for
being a patron of the arts and sciences
with many notable contributions. There
are numerous contributions of Ancient
India in the field of Astronomy but the
most notable one was by Aryabhatiya.
It is through him that Indian astronomy
veered away from the mystical and religious
and towards the scientific. Although
his works are under the premise that the
world is geocentric, many are still of value
to modern mathematics and astronomy.
Aryabhatiya was able to assume that
the Earth is rotating on its axis and that
the Moon and other planets shine through
the reflected light from the Sun (7 Ancient
Cultures and how they shaped Astronomy,
2018).
Astrology was a branch of science
that coexisted alongside astronomy
in Central Asia, as it did in other Muslim
nations. Consequently, al-Biruni, who disagreed
with astrology’s teachings, draws a
dividing line between astronomy and astrology.
He describes astronomy as “ilm
al-nujum” (the science of the stars) or
“ilm hay’at al-nujum” (the science of the
structure of the stars), the word “ilm” being
a reminder that astronomy is a science
(Dani et al., 1992).
On the other hand, he describes
astrology by the terms “sinacat al-nujum,”
“sinacat ahkam,” and “sinacat ahkam
al-nujum” (the art of star-counting,
the art of divination, and the art of predicting
the future by the stars); in other
words, astrology is an art or practice that
is separate from astronomy, which is purely
scientific. Additionally, the word “art”
has connotations of “swindle,” “machination,”
and other similar meanings in all
these contexts that indicate that astrology
does not follow the scientific method.
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Fig. 2.15. Painting of the Zodiacs as depicted by the Persians in the Safavid period
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Al-Biruni attacks astrology for
these reasons in many of his writings,
even dedicating a whole dissertation to
the subject titled “Warning against the Art
of Fraudulent Divination by the Stars.” In
his Tahdid nihayat al-making or Geodesy,
he openly criticizes astrological forecasts,
saying that “Generally speaking, the art
of prediction has weak foundations, and
the theses derived therefrom are likewise
weak.” The measurements made there are
unclear, and speculations take precedence
over well-grounded knowledge (Dani et
al., 1992).
The lunar Hijri calendar was most
often utilized in countries in Central Asia
as well as other Islamic countries. The basis
for this calendar is a year with 12 lunar
months. The period between two new
moons, which is equal to 29.5306 days, is
considered to represent the duration of a
lunar month. According to the Hijri calendar,
the year is a little over 354 days long.
This year is a leap year (kabisa), where the
fractions by which this number is exceeded
are joined together to create an additional
day that is intercalated every second
or third year (Dani et al., 1992).
Fig. 2.16. Al Biruni’s concept of the Lunar Eclipse
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Astronomy was highly popular
during the Post-Islam Persian civilization.
Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi or commonly
known as Azophi is one of the most brilliant
astronomers of all time. The Andromeda
Galaxy was first described in his book
The Book of Fixed Stars. Abu Mahmud
Hamid ibn Khidr al-Khujandi is a brilliant
astronomer who built a giant sextant with
the purpose of calculating the earth’s axis.
It was his own invention, and its massive
size made it possible to come up with a lot
more accurate calculations. His measurement
was just off by two minutes; a level
of accuracy that has never been attained
(7 Ancient Cultures and how they shaped
Astronomy, 2018).
The Persian, Sogdian, and
Khwarazmian calendars were long recognized
among the nations of Central
Asia. These were all solar calendars with
12 months of 30 days making up the year.
After the year or after the tenth month,
five more days were added, making the
year 365 days long. The vernal equinox,
which occurs on March 21, was the first
day of the year (Nawruz, which is the Persian
New Year). The first month of the
year, known as Farvardin for the Persians,
Navsard for the Sogdians, and Navsarju
for the Khwarazmians, began on this day
(Dani et al., 1992).
Following the undisputed foundation
of Islam in the area, the Khwarazmian
and Sogdian calendars were abandoned.
June 12, in the year 632 marked the beginning
of the Persian era. The era was also
known as the Yazdgird era since it began
in the year Yazdgird III, the last Sasanian
emperor (632–51), succeeded to the
throne.
However, the year started on
March 21 according to the Persian solar
calendar. This calendar eventually had to
be changed since it lacked leap years; it
was not accurate enough. The Seljuq ruler
Jalal al-Din Malik Shah (1072–92) ordered
the reform, which was carried out in 1079
by a team of astronomers led by Umar
Khayyam. The new calendar system was
named the “Malik era” or the “Jalal era”
in honor of the king. Iran utilized this calendar
until the middle of the nineteenth
century (Dani et al., 1992).
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Fig. 2.17. 14th Century Korean Celestial Map (Stone)
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The Chinese have one of the most
detailed documentation of astronomical
observations. Gan De is one of the most
notable astronomers in Ancient China.
He was the first to take notice of Ganymede,
which at that time he described as
a small reddish “star” around Jupiter. Shi
Shen also created one of the most detailed
and oldest catalogs of the stars – the Star
Catalogue of Shi. The Chinese took notice
of stars that suddenly appear among other
fixed stars. It was believed that what they
observed was a supernova.
The Dunhuang Star Atlas was discovered
by an archaeologist in a Buddhist
cave in Dunhuang, China. It is said to be
the earliest known preserved star map in
the world which dates back before AD 700
(7 Ancient Cultures and how they shaped
Astronomy, 2018).
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Fig. 2.18. Constellations in the Chinese system gaurded by four great gaurdians of
the cardinal directions
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Fig. 2.19. Illustration of Al Biruni and his greatest discoveries
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2.6. Islamic Astronomy
By the ninth century, Islam had spread into areas where astronomical
knowledge, of the stars and their patterns, had long been useful for timekeeping, forecasting
weather and river floods (Ancient Egypt), and navigating through deserts devoid
of tracks. Under the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties, the first Islamic dynasties in
power during the eighth and ninth centuries, scientists expanded on this knowledge to
innovate new ideas and tools. In addition, astronomical writings from Greek, Sanskrit,
and Pahlavi (early Persian) were intensively translated into Arabic under the patronage
of the court, conserving this significant body of knowledge, and attempting to build on
it (Astronomy, 2019).
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Ptolemy’s Almagest was among
these translated texts that had the biggest
impact (the Latinized version of the Arabic
title Al-Majisti, or “Great Compilation”).
The book, which explains how the sun
and planets revolve around a fixed earth,
became the most crucial starting point
for astronomers operating in the Islamic
world. They sought to develop ideas about
the celestial bodies that would account
for these contradictions after identifying
differences between scientific models and
reality, supported by their observational
records.
Astronomical knowledge was crucial
because it made it easier to execute
Islam ritually correctly, which had a practical
purpose in the Muslim world. Daily
prayers are called at times set by the position
of the sun and are always performed
facing Mecca, the holiest city in Islam,
where the Ka’ba is located (the Qibla direction).
Due to the lunar nature of the Islamic
calendar, each month begins when
the new moon first becomes visible. To
accurately predict festivals and other significant
dates, such as the beginning of
Ramadan, when Muslims are compelled
to fast throughout the day, precise moon
observation is essential to establishing a
satisfying calendar (Astronomy and Astrology).
Interest in Astrology, however,
isn’t met with the same enthusiasm in
the Islamic world. The Qur’an states that
“No one but God shall know the future”
(Surah Luqman 31:34). There has always
been a strong interest in astrology, and
Islamic rulers virtually always used astrological
factors to guide their judgments
and actions. In astrology, two trends may
be identified. The first is grounded in data
and based on measurements or mathematical
theory i.e., mathematical astronomy,
whereas the second is irrational and mystical,
with no basis in any type of math.
Many Islamic philosophers had scathing
criticism towards astrology and its practitioners,
obviously referring to the second
type.
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Researching the lunar crescent visibility
criterion is a widespread practice
among Muslims because the new Islamic
Month requires a sighting of the new
moon after the sun sets on the 29th of Hijri
Month. Should a new moon be sighted
after sunset of the 29th Hijri month, the
next day would be announced as a new
Hijri month. If the new moon is not sighted,
then the current Hijri month would
be deemed complete on the 30th day, and
then a new Hijri month begins the day
after. This practice is inspired by the Babylonians,
who maintained 29 and 30-day
months.
The difference is the need for accurate
data is even more crucial because
Muslims are required to perform their religious
dues following a sacred timeline.
This can be found in religious texts such
as Hadiths. For instance:
Don’t you start fasting until you
witness the Hilal, and don’t you
break your fast until you witness
the Hilal. In the event of clouds,
count it.
According to Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani, this
hadith states that the Lunar Crescent must
be viewed on the 29th day of the current
Hijri month to determine the beginning of
the following Hijri month; otherwise, the
current Hijri month continues until the
30th day.
Fig. 2.20. Al Biruni’s illustration of the
North, South, East, and West directions
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Fig. 2.21. Solar Eclipse as depicted by Ottoman astronomer Ibrahim Tiflisi in 1479
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According to the Muslim worldview,
which is marked by the months of
Ramadan, Shawal, and Zulhijjah, people
fast and celebrate Eid Fitr and Eid Aidha
annually. Therefore, Muslims have had a
keen interest in studies on the sightings of
the lunar crescent since it is necessary for
Shawwal and Zulhijjah, and Ramadan to
begin. Because of this, Schaefer acknowledges
that astronomical research on the
visibility of the lunar crescent is among the
most challenging in the field of Astronomy
due to the delicacy of the information
obtained, which cannot be mistaken (Faid
et al., 2022).
Astronomy’s significance in Islam
did not stop there. The Kaaba, a holy site,
recognized by Muslims anywhere in the
world, is astronomically aligned, which
intrigued researchers to ponder whether
it was first constructed to symbolize Arab
cosmology. After all, if other structures
can be linked to the stars, why not here?
The minor axis of the cube-shaped structure
points to the summer sunrise, while
the major axis is aligned with the rising of
Canopus, the brightest star in the Southern
sky. The four cardinal points are also
represented by the corners; however, their
accuracy is not particularly good.
Many Muslim architects make
sure that housing is built with the Kaaba
in mind while designing mosques because
of the religious obligations connected with
facing the Qibla. Although the idea does
not resonate with many people, it is intriguing
to consider the potential effects
of such extensive planning on the history
of our times; for example, would future architects
compare the Muslim Kaaba-centric
architecture to the Roman temples?
Whole home developments were constructed
to point toward Canopus (Fatima,
2022).
Astrology used to be recognized
as a subfield of astronomy even if it is
not considered a science now. Astrology
mostly focuses on figuring out how to use
the stars to predict their effects on earthly
events. Therefore, a thorough knowledge
of the motion of the planets and the positions
of the stars was required by astrologers.
Astrological treatises were written by
eminent scholars of the era, including Abu
Ma’shar al-Balkhi (787-886), al-Biruni
(973-1048), and Nasir al-Din al-Tusi
(1201-1274) (Astronomy and Astrology).
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Fig. 2.22. Planispheric Astrolabe made by Hamid bin Mahmoud Al-Isfahani in 1152
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2.7. Modern Astronomy
Astronomy and Astrology have come a long way since the age of antiquity.
The rise of great minds, who have broken through the stratosphere with their innovative
theories and innovations in these fields. Humanity has gotten closer and closer
to reaching a breakthrough. The image is getting clearer, and the ambition to conquer
outer space remained rooted in our dreams.
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The 48 constellations originally
listed by Ptolemy were expanded upon by
European astronomers and celestial cartographers
throughout the 16th and 17th
centuries AD; these additional constellations
were mostly “new discoveries” made
by the Europeans who first discovered
the southern hemisphere (The Constellations).
Because of the rise of the religious
influence of the church, in Europe, at this
time, the Middle Ages are typically seen
as a dark era for scientific knowledge and
advancement. The Middle East, however,
was the region that surpassed Greek advancements.
From the ninth through the
sixteenth centuries A.D., astronomy flourished
all over the Muslim world, including
the Arab states of the period, Persia, and
Central Asia.
As a result, during ancient astronomy’s
Golden Age, impressive astronomical
observatories were constructed in what
is now known as Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Iran,
and Uzbekistan. Hundreds of stars and
constellations, including Altair, Deneb,
Vega, and Rigel, and lunar craters bearing
Muslim astronomers’ names, such as Alfraganus,
Albategnius, and Azophi, show
that Arabic astronomy is still influential
today (The History of Astronomy: A Timeline,
2019).
Modern astronomy in Europe
started to truly emerge during the Renaissance
period, with Copernicus’ publication
of his book “De Revolutionibus
Orbium Coelestium” in 1543 A.D., which
revived Aristrachus’ heliocentric theory
of the universe using actual backed data.
Moreover, Tycho Brahe made precise and
thorough observations of the locations of
the planets in 1576 AD to further support
the Copernican system’s superiority to the
Ptolemaic one.
After learning that the planets
orbit the Sun in an elliptical, rather than
a circular, manner, Johannes Kepler later
established his three laws of planetary
motion in 1605 A.D. The invention of the
refractor telescope by Dutch eyeglasses
manufacturer Hans Lippershey in 1608
A.D. marks the beginning of observational
equipment designed for astronomical
purposes.
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Fig. 2.23. Macrocosmic Harmony (1708) A Scenography of the Copernican system
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The most impactful design of a
telescope, however, is Galileo’s newly developed
telescope, which was used to make
some amazing astronomical discoveries,
such as witnessing the revolving moon
system of Jupiter and realizing there were
certainly celestial objects that didn’t circle
the Earth. It was created around the year
1609 A.D. Galileo came into direct dispute
with the influential church because of his
efforts to defend the heliocentric theory of
the cosmos. He was compelled to repent
after being found guilty of heresy in 1632
A.D, and he was sentenced to house arrest
for the remainder of his life (Miller, 2013).
Western civilizations ultimately
caught up to their Middle Eastern counterparts.
The Enlightenment period witnessed
further advancements where astronomical
understanding flourished. Sir
Isaac Newton created the first reflecting
telescope in 1668 AD, which looked farther
into space by using a curved mirror
rather than a lens. Later, Newton releases
his incredibly famous work, “Philosophiae
Naturalis Principia Mathematica,” in
which he affirms that the Earth revolves
around the Sun and provides an explanation
for the three Kepler laws. The law of
universal gravitation, which he also develops,
ushered in a new era of physics and
enlightenment. In the field of cosmology,
Messier also finds and records a large
number of galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters
in 1781 A.D. The study of the galaxy
has broadened and mind-boggling theories
such as the Black Hole Theory were
proposed in 1798 A.D by Laplace (Miller,
2013).
As we approach the 19th and 20th
centuries, the dream of touching the stars
is becoming more tangible. This period
marks the shift from theoretical studies
toward outer space exploration. We cannot
discuss the theories about space without
bringing up Albert Einstein’s Special
Theory of Relativity, which introduces us
to the relationship between space and time
in 1905 A.D, then in 1916 his General
Theory of Relativity, which discusses gravitational
force. In studying the galaxies, in
outer space, Edwin Hubble, who worked
at Mount Wilson Observatory and used a
60-inch reflector telescope to examine the
galaxies in space, demonstrated in 1923
A.D. that galaxies are different systems
from our own Milky Way and that the universe
was expanding.
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An interesting fact states that the first ever radio
telescope was built by Grote Reber in the USA in
1937 A.D. The telescope was used to pick up and
amplify radio waves from astronomical sources
compatible with it (Miller, 2013).
On the other hand, as technology
was advancing to new heights, some
countries were preparing for takeoff.
The Russian Sputnik 1 satellite
was launched into space in 1957
A.D, marking the beginning
of the space age, and became
the first man-made object
to orbit the Earth. Following
them, the Americans’
Apollo 11 mission landed
on the moon’s surface
with Astronauts Neil
Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
headlining the mission
in 1969 A.D.
This led to more
confidence in launching
several missions into
space. The Voyager 1
spacecraft was launched
in 1977 AD to study the
outer solar system. Furthermore,
it became necessary
to main a consistent
uninterrupted view of the
earth and the solar system.
The Hubble Space
Telescope (HST) was launched
into orbit by the space shuttle
Discovery in 1990 AD. The 2.4-meter
reflecting telescope is still circling
the planet and capturing incredibly
crisp views of space. Following that, radio
astronomers, Wolszczan and Frail, declared
the discovery of the first identification
of exoplanets in 1992 A.D. As of 2022, more than
5,000 planets outside our solar system have been discovered
throughout the years (Miller, 2013).
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Fig. 2.24. News Article from 1969 about the U.S Moon
Landing
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Volume III: Merope
3.1. Celestial Cartography
3.2. Sky Navigation
3.3. Branches Of Astronomy
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“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be
known.”
-Carl Sagan
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3.1. Celestial Cartography
The oldest navigation techniques entailed looking for landmarks or keeping
an eye on the sun, stars, and other celestial bodies. Few sailors in centuries past
sailed on open waters. Instead, to navigate, they sailed close to land. Ancient seafarers
used stars to determine their location when that was impossible.
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For instance, the Minoans of ancient
greece, who inhabited the Mediterranean
island of Crete between 3000 and
1100 BCE, left written records of utilizing
the stars for navigation. The varied constellations
at various times of the year, as
well as the distinct constellations in the
Northern and Southern Hemispheres,
must be known to navigators.
The Southern Cross, for instance,
is the most well-known constellation in
the Southern Hemisphere. Above the tropics,
the stars of this constellation are never
visible in the Northern Hemisphere. A
well-known constellation in the Northern
Hemisphere, the Big Dipper, is not visible
in the Southern Hemisphere (Rutledge et
al., 2022).
Navigators needed specialized
equipment to calculate information like
the angle between celestial objects and the
horizon. (Rutledge et al., 2022).
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• Gnomon: Utilizing the length of the
sun’s shadow as a gauge for latitude, this
was the earliest version of a sundial.
• Sea Astrolabe: By measuring the altitude
of the sun at noon (declination)
or the meridian altitude of a star with a
known declination, the marine astrolabe
was an inclinometer used to approximate
the latitude of a ship at sea. It was used by
sailors in the Middle Ages (1470). It was
a metal disc that had a ruler and scale on
it. Sailors might estimate the distance to
celestial bodies by holding a disc at eye
level from a ring at the top and adjusting
a ruler (Can you name 10 tools we used
to navigate the seas before ECDIS? 2017).
The idea predates the Roman Empire, and
it has been believed that Hypatia of Alexandria,
a female mathematician, and philosopher
who lived in Egypt in the fourth
century AD, was the creator of it. Moreover,
during the Middle Ages, the astrolabe
was well-known in the Islamic world.
It was a reduced version of an instrument
first created by Arab astronomers to gauge
the height of celestial bodies over the horizon
(What is a Mariner’s Astrolabe?).
Fig. 3.1. Gnomon and how it tells time
Fig. 3.2. A Sea Astrolabe and how to
wield it
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• Kamal: An Arabian navigational device
used to estimate latitude from the North
Star. With the top edge aligned with the
North Star and the bottom edge aligned
with the horizon, sailors would hold a
rectangular plate in front of their faces.
They could establish the ship’s latitude by
measuring the distance between the plate
and the tip of their noses using a thread
fastened to the plate’s center (History of
Navigation at Sea: From stars to the modern-day
GPS, 2019).
• Sextant: Thomas Godfrey in America
and John Hadley in England separately
developed the sextant in the 18th century.
The sextant is a double-reflecting navigational
tool. It’s employed in celestial navigation
to determine latitude and longitude
and to find the angle between the horizon
and a celestial body, such as the Sun,
the Moon, or a star (What is a Mariner’s
Astrolabe?). The tool consists of a circle
with a degree-marked arc and a revolving
moveable radial arm in the middle. The
horizon is aligned with a telescope that is
rigidly attached to the structure. The sextant’s
arc spans 60°, which is one-sixth of
a circle; thus its name (Britannica, 2019).
Fig. 3.3. A Kamal and how to weild it
Fig. 3.4. A typical Sextant
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3.2. Sky Navigation
Before the development of precise timekeeping and satellites, the first
theory of “lunar distances” or “lunars,” an early means of establishing an exact time at
sea, was published in 1524. A crucial step in calculating Greenwich time was for the
navigator to determine latitude and longitude using the angular distance between the
moon and another celestial body. Private yacht owners continue to employ celestial
navigation, particularly for long-distance global cruising vessels since satellite navigation
systems can occasionally malfunction. Thus, it is also regarded as a necessary ability
while traveling outside of the visual range of land (Davidson, 2022).
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You simply need to know a location’s
latitude—the number of degrees
north or south of the equator—and longitude—the
number of degrees east or west
of the prime meridian—to locate it on the
globe of Earth. A hypothetical line connecting
the North and South Poles passes
via the Royal Observatory at Greenwich,
England, and is known as the prime meridian.
Similar to how the equator designates
the 0° latitude line, it designates the
zero (0°) longitude line.
The latitude and longitude are distinctive
to each city. When the latitude is
preceded by a negative sign, that sign indicates
south, and a positive sign, north. Every
site, including cities, airports, and even
our own homes or apartment complexes,
can be located using only two integers and
sits somewhere on the global coordinate
grid. On the surface of the Earth, one degree
of latitude is equivalent to around 111
kilometers (King, 2019).
Every celestial object, like buildings,
has two coordinates that fix its location:
right ascension and declination, also
known as the object’s celestial coordinates.
Right ascension relates to longitude and
declination to latitude. Since there are no
highways in space, detecting an item with
your telescope requires knowing its coordinates.
Imagine the grid of latitudes and
longitudes on the earth as the surface of a
pliable, translucent soccer ball. You would
be able to gaze up and see lines of latitude
and longitude etched on the sky if you
could push the ball up into a huge sphere
that was centered on the Earth.
The celestial equator, which corresponds
to the 0° latitude line, now circles
the sky, while the north and south celestial
poles stand guard over the poles of the
earth. The celestial equator may be seen
from the equator of the Earth as starting at
the eastern horizon, passing directly overhead,
and descending to the western horizon.
It would also go around the back of
the Earth because we are in a sphere (King,
2019). Celestial coordinates, as opposed to
Earth coordinates, fluctuate because of the
precession of the Earth’s axis.
The equinox points move westward
due to precession at a rate of 50.3
arcseconds each year. The coordinate grid
is shifted along by the equinox as it drags.
Because of this, software and star catalogs
need to be updated often to reflect the latest
“epoch.” Every 50 years, this is carried
out (King, 2019).
Fig. 3.5. Illustration of the Celestial Sphere and its motion in space
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3.3. Branches Of Astronomy
Astronomy is a broad discipline of natural science that focuses on celestial
objects, such as the Solar System, Galaxies, and Extragalactic Objects (Astronomy
and Space Sciences). We can divide astronomy into 4 main fields, which are Astrophysics,
Astrometry, Astrogeology, and Astrobiology that can be categorized into 17
branches of astronomy:
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1. Astrophysics - A study in the field of
Astronomy, where applied physics and
other related sciences are used to explain
astronomical phenomena. This branches
out into 6 sub-fields:
Cosmology – The study of the creation of
the universe, its evolution, and its fate.
Spectroscopy – The study that discusses
how light is reflected, absorbed, and transferred
between matter.
Photometry – The study that explains
how the luminosity of astronomical objects
in space is based on electromagnetic
radiation.
Heliophysics – A study that explores the
effect of the dynamic and constant radiation
emitted by the sun on its surroundings
in space.
Helioseismology – This study observes
waves on the surface of stars to determine
the composition of their interior structure
and dynamics.
Asteroseismology – This study dissects
the internal structure of stars through the
observation of their oscillations.
Fig. 3.6. Illustration of Earth’s magnetic field
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2. Astrometry – Contrary to Astrophysics,
this study is concerned with the precise
position of celestial bodies. Additionally, it
offers a framework for understanding how
stars and other distinct objects in space
move. This study is dived into two other
branches:
Planetology (Planetary Science) – The
study concerned with the distances between
the solar system and the planets.
This includes their form, dynamic nature,
and their composition in history.
Exoplanetology – This study accounts
for the number of planets, especially those
that exist outside the solar system, and
where they would be found.
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Fig. 3.7. The movement of the planets and stars influences how scientists determine
their positions
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3. Astrogeology – A study that is closely
linked to Exogeology. They both concentrate
on the connections between geology
and astronomical objects like comets,
asteroids, meteorites, and moons. It also
encompasses disciplines such as. Selenography.
This is the study of the moon’s
physical characteristics. This study also
includes:
Aerology – The study of the geological
composition of Mars.
Selenography – The study that analyses
the physical features of the moon, and
thus, how the formation of features such
as lunar maria, mountain ranges, and craters.
Exogeology – A study that draws a connection
between celestial bodies such as
asteroids, comets, and moons to geology.
Fig. 3.8. Illustration of the Universe with the Sun at its core
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4. Astrobiology: This study involves
looking for life outside of Earth. What is
the history of life’s development and genesis?
Does life exist elsewhere in the universe?
What kind of environment may
sustain life? A reliable indicator of the
physical conditions that we are accustomed
to on modern Earth comes from
the observation of molecules in space.
Exobiology – The study of life in space,
where it is, and how likely it exists.
Astrochemistry – The study that breaks
down the substances and chemical makeup
of celestial bodies, such as stars, asteroids,
and meteors (Earthhow, 2022).
Fig. 3.9. Illustration for how life on Eath is influenced by outer space
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Inescapable
Magical
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“Too low they build, who build beneath the
stars.”
-Edward Young
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Volume IV: Maia
4.1. Modern Archeoastronomy
4.2. Architectural Theory
4.3. Star-chitecture
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4.1. Modern Archeoastronomy
A thorough examination of the numerous ideas and myths behind architecture
and an exploration of a few of those tales might help determine how the
constellations have influenced today’s architectural landscape. For instance, it has been
revealed that the three stars of the Orion belt were created alongside the Giza pyramids,
with each star’s vertices clearly connected to the other two. Astonishingly accurately,
according to contemporary historians, the pyramids were likewise aligned north-south.
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The calculations are explained by
their usage of the autumn equinox, but
what is fascinating is how this cardinal
alignment is reflected in contemporary
urban architecture (Fatima, 2022).
To commemorate the seasonal
changes with sunrise and sunset at the two
equinoxes of the year—Spring Equinox to
recognize the beauty of reviving life and
Autumn Equinox to thank the gods for a
bountiful harvest—many ancient towns
were aligned east-west. Locals in the city
of Chicago refer to the spectacular sunset
between skyscrapers as “Chicago-henge”
because of the city’s grid-like street layout,
which they liken to the sun-catching cliffs
in England.
The Forbidden City, which has its
own heavenly beginnings, is continued in
the Chinese city of Beijing. With the state
of technology, today, we have moved past
the point where rough predictions about
the weather, or the seasons, need to be
made. However, it is not hard to imagine
that once all the modern observatories
and smart telescopes are stripped away, all
that remains is the sky. The stars that existed
in earth’s youth watch over us every day
and night (Fatima, 2022).
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Furthermore, it is also rooted in
ancient astrology to align houses with the
direction of the sun and determine azimuth
angles. For ancient societies, this entailed
a thorough examination of the stars’
motions across the sky and how those
motions affected life on Earth. Most people
took their religious beliefs from there,
and even today, the architecture of our religious
structures is based on the stars in
the skies above.
The Pantheon is another example
of this. Only the oculus in the dome’s center
provided illumination for the interior’s
breath-taking decor. Due to the temple’s
placement of the cardinal points, the sun’s
rays are guaranteed to strike the entryway
at various angles as it rises or sets, moving
around the dome and illuminating the
beautifully carved panels that decorate the
inside. This layout may have been influenced
by the Roman sundial, which raises
the question of whether our structures
would have been constructed in the other
direction if we had occupied much of the
southern hemisphere.
By experimenting with light and
shadow, observing nature to mimic its
motions, and establishing what at first
glance appeared to be pagan practices into
useful logical processes, these approaches
assisted us in rediscovering design basics.
Is “green construction” not only a contemporary
adaptation of traditional design?
Did Louis Kahn not include spirituality
in the Salk Institute’s architecture, placing
the summer solstice sunset between the
two constructed sides? (Fatima, 2022).
Fig. 4.1. Illustration of the night sky
from the oculus
Fig. 4.2. Interior of The Pantheon
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4.2. Architectural Theory
The cosmic observation of nature responds to an ancient need of men to
understand space and time, which finds its material expression in architecture” (Piscitelli,
2018). Both disciplines are similar in the way that they rely on perspectives and
use the right line of sight to achieve the best possible angle. When observing the sky,
astronomers base their calculations on a factor of the distance between a celestial body
and the horizon while accounting for the coordinates or location that the body is being
observed from.
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In Architecture, the right perspective
can make all the difference in portraying
the true spirit and spatial experience
of a space. In both fields, the structure behind
the image is crucial, and in every different
perspective, special elements might
be highlighted and brought forth (Piscitelli,
2018).
An architect by the name of Leon
Battista Alberti pioneered the concept that
painting should be viewed as an imitation
of reality toward the beginning of the 15th
century. He is well known for his writings
on the subject in his book, “On Painting.”
He argues that paintings should convey realistic
and mimetic illusions. A painting’s
frame ought to be a window to the outside
world. “First of all, on the surface which
I am going to paint, I draw a rectangle of
whatever size I want, which I regard as an
open window through which the subject
to be painted is seen.” He claims that finding
a certain vantage point from which to
observe space is the greatest method to
depict it in a painting. As a result, when
we gaze at the painting, it is as if we are
gazing through a window and seeing a 3D
environment.
Alberti’s idea is further clarified by
a drawing by Albrecht Dürer. Dürer positions
a 3D item and ties a thread through a
window frame, with one end of the string
fastened to a hook in the wall, symbolizing
the best viewpoint for the painting. The
painter moves the other end of the string
on the painted item, which tells him where
to place the matching point on the image
plane based on where the string intersects
the picture plane (Cucker, 2015).
Astronomers from the past also
understood the importance of perspectives.
The tools they used were constructed
based on that notion. A telescope rests
on its stand in an angular placement and
can be adjusted to maximize views.
Fig. 4.3. Eye Level perspective
Fig. 4.4. Illustration of Alberti’s window
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The influence of major celestial
bodies isn’t only relevant to astronomy,
but to other sciences and fields too. The
sun especially is a crucial element to be
accounted for. Moreover, in architectural
composition, the placement of a building
should be strategic and intentional to take
external views and environmental factors
into account. Astronomical studies consider
such data.
Scientists study the motion of the
sun, moon, and other celestial bodies, to
predict natural phenomena such as eclipses
and the lunar cycle. An equivalent tactic
used by architects is building orientation,
which aims to improve certain features of
its surroundings, such as street attractiveness,
scenic views, drainage issues, etc.
Architects conduct thorough analyses
of any site they work with to make
informed decisions on its construction
to improve the experience of the user in a
given space. Climate, wind, and solar direction
are some of the default data an architect
needs to consider before designing
the building.
While certain passive solar features
are relatively new, orienting a house to the
Sun’s path is a tradition that predates early
civilization. There are countless examples,
including the amazing Pueblo remains in
southwest Colorado and the south-facing
doors on Neolithic and historic Ming Dynasty
homes. The precise orientation of
the structure is a key aspect of passive solar
design since the relative position of the
Sun has a significant role in heat gain in
buildings (Gromicko & Gromicko).
SPRING/
AUTUMN
EAST
Fig. 4.5. Sun positions considered for
building orientation
NORTH
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Fig. 4.7.
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4.3. Star-chitecture
Astronomy is considered the oldest discipline in the world. The architecture
of ancient civilizations aligns with this knowledge. Monolithic structures such as
Stonehenge, ziggurats, and the Mayan El Caracol in the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico,
were considered the world’s first observatories. This function remained relevant, and
with the emergence of new discoveries and gadgets, new requirements for the growth of
the field were born. An observatory was built in Cairo in 1120 AD. This may have been
the first observatory to be built during the Islamic Medieval Ages. The observatory was
destroyed in 1125 AD though (Russell, 2008).
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Visionary architect Étienne-Louis
Boullée, who was heavily inspired by
Newton and his work, wanted to commemorate
his legacy with an architectural
design that infused both the poetic
nature of architecture and the preciseness
of astronomy and science. He created a
sphere 500 feet in diameter, taller than the
Pyramids of Giza, nested into a massive
pedestal, and surrounded by hundreds of
cypress trees to give it the mesmerizing
appearance of being both half-buried into
the Earth and hovering unanchored from
gravity to commemorate Newton.
It was essentially the first domed
planetarium design ever created. He chose
a sphere because of the mathematical conclusion
that the Earth must be spherical
because gravity is weakest near the equator.
This was one of Newton’s most innovative
discoveries (Popova, 2021).
Boullée relied on Newton’s optics
to imagine something that was a hybrid
of Hayden Planetarium and Stonehenge
at a period before it was common to have
access to electric light and light projection.
He designed the interior to feature
an elaborate pattern of small holes on the
black-painted interior, representing the
positions of the planets and constellations.
This dome had been impressively
visualized more than 150 years before
the first modern planetarium dome, with
flowing light within to create a stunning
nighttime scene.
Boullée’s planetarium was reversible,
unlike the current equivalent;
at night, the single spherical light would
illuminate the small holes from the other
direction, giving the dome the appearance
of a self-contained cosmos when viewed
from above.
Although unbuilt, Boullée’s work
still inspired architects in the eras to come,
and his design still holds relevance even
today. For instance, inspired by the Cenotaph
of Newton, Lebbeus Woods created
a cenotaph for Einstein in 1980 (Miller,
2018).
Fig. 4.6. Painting of the dome of the
Cenotaph
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The celestial sciences have always
found their manifestation in architecture.
They both evolved beyond imagination.
The profound sense of becoming one with
the cosmos. When man decided to venture
into space exploration and the study
of astronomy expanded.
All around the world observatories
were erected. NASA’s Glenn Research center
was founded in 1942, and later, in 1960,
the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
was built. Consecutively, in 1961, NASA’s
Johnson Space Center opened, and soon
after, in 1962, the Kennedy Space Center
was founded. Space Exploration was at
its peak, and in 1971, the Soviets founded
their own space research complex, Salyut
1, which was the world’s first-ever space
station (Wilkinson, 2022).
As a result of the major achievements
in the field, sharing those discoveries
with the public has become essential
too. In more recent times, new programmatic
innovations were introduced to
make astronomy more accessible. Therefore,
public spaces were morphed to provide
an experience with the construction
of museums, planetariums, theaters, etc.
Outer space continues to inspire architectural
design in other ways, indirectly.
The concept of stargazing represents
an escape from the rigid confines
of reality and is associated with fantasy
and a more poetic outlook on life. Architecture
tries to provide that sense in many
instances because when people inhabit a
space, they become one with it, the same
way our ancestors felt as though their destinies
were bound to the stars; the heavens,
and what is beyond what they were
seeking.
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“Architecture is the thoughtful making of space.”
-Louis Kahn
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Volume V: Electre
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5.1. Programmatic Case Studies
5.1.1. Shanghai Astronomy Museum by Ennead
5.1.2. Biodome Science Museum by KANVA
5.2. Geographical Case Studies
5.2.1. Wadi Rum Sanctuary by Rasem Kamal
5.2.2. House Of Water by Tredje Natur
5.3. Experential Case Studies
5.3.1. National Museum of Qatar by Jean Nouvel
5.3.2. Lascaux IV by Snøhetta
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5.1.1. Core Case Study 1
Shanghai Astronomy Museum
Ennead Architects
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Location: Lin Gang Da Dao, Pudong Xinqu, Shanghai
Shi, China
Designed in 2018
Built in 2021
Built-Up Area: 39,000 m2
Opening Date: July 17, 2021
Designed by Ennead, the monumental new museum creates an immersive experience
that places visitors in direct engagement with real astronomical phenomena. Through
scale, form, and the manipulation of light, the building heightens awareness of our fundamental
relationship to the sun and the earth’s orbital motion. At 420,000 square feet,
the new astronomical branch of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum will be
the largest museum worldwide solely dedicated to the study of astronomy.
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Architect’s Vision
“In making this building, we wanted to create a place
where the institutional mission is fully enmeshed with
an architecture that itself is teaching, and finds form in
some of the fundamental principles that shape our universe,”
said Thomas J. Wong, Design Partner at Ennead
Architects. “The big idea of the Shanghai Astronomy
Museum was to infuse a visceral experience of the
subject matter into the design and to deliver that before
you even enter the building. And at the end of your visit,
there is this culminating moment directly with the
sky, which is framed and supported by the architecture.”
Fig. 5.1. Astronomical design concept; the oculus, inverted dome, and the sphere
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Fig. 5.2. Aerial view of the museum
Fig. 5.3. Interior of the museum showing the Planetarium
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Three-Body Orbit:
The gravitational pull around three objects
Relative Size of the Earth
12,742,000 m
Relative Size
of the Moon
3,474,800 m
Relative Distance to the Moon
384,400.000 m
Fig. 5.4.
Orbital gestures form the building as well
as its relationship to the site. The site arcs
evolve from the interaction of multiple
“gravitational forces”: urban master plan,
adjacent context, visitor approaches, exterior
exhibits, and the introduction of three
“celestial bodies” within the main Planetarium
building. The orbits emerge from
the circular master plan of Lingang City
and connect tangentially to the adjacent
circular ring road. These site arcs lock the
Planetarium and its three “celestial bodies”
into the larger city structure and not only
position the building within the green
zone but also geometrically link it to Dishui
Lake at the city center. A metaphorical
inward spiral continues from the scale
of the city to the precinct of the site and
eventually to the heart of the Planetarium
building where the dynamic energy of
these orbits activates the architecture.
The orbital trajectories through the site
articulate a geometric structure that
organizes the design and planning of the
outdoor experience, the auxiliary programs
and the main Museum. They also
help to define the variety of site features
and circulations: from outdoor exhibits
to major approaches to the Planetarium,
whether by car, by bus or by footfrom the
subway station across the bridge.
These orbital arcs may be expanded
beyond the site to demonstrate a broader
understanding of cosmic scale. For
example, if the Planetarium sphere is
imagined as the Earth, an arc within the
greenbelt beyond the Planetarium site
would represent the orbit of the moon
around the Earth.
Design Narrative
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Scale, distance and the organization of the
cosmos could infiltrate the entire city and
region, where a rendering of astronomical
orbits could spread out across the land
with the Shanghai Planetarium or Dishui
Lake as the center point. Visitors could
embark on their own inter-galactic expedition,
seeking, for example, the marked
locations through the city of the planets
with Dishui Lake as the relative location
and scale of the sun.
Relative Size of the Sun
1,391,000,000 m
Scale of the Universe
It is difficult for humans to understand
astronomical scales, but if we compare the size
of Dishu Lake to the size of the sun, our Planetarium
is nearly the relative size of the Earth.
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Exterior Envelope
Circulation
Ring Road
Observatory
Site Organization
Youth Observatory Camp
Outer Site Orbit
Fig. 5.5.
From the Subway
Design Narrative
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Originating from the arcs that influence
the site, a series of orbital forms spirals
around the entire building and culminates
at the top of thr Museum. The spiraling
ribbons evoke a sense of dynamic motion
that emerges from the ground and soars
upward toward the sky. Influenced by
the complex paths of a three-body orbit,
the ribbons incorporate curved trajectories
that are affected by the gravitational
attraction of three “celestial bodies” in
the architecture: the Oculus, the Inverted
Dome, and the Sphere. Each major element
acts as an astronomical instrument,
tracking the sun, moon and stars and
reminding us that our conception of
time originates in distant astronomical
objects. The building form, program, and
circulation further incorporate the orbital
movement, supporting the flow of visitors
through the galleries and the experience
of three central bodies.
The Oculus is a central element in the
entry experience: while it is suspended
in the cantilevered form of the Museum’s
galleries above, it is nonetheless very
much a part of the public realm. With
the Museum’s entry plaza as a venue for
festivals, the Oculus qould take on a centralizing
role. The permanent exhibit sequence
culminates in the Inverted Dome,
where visitors emerge from the interior
to a sublime spatial experience focusing
on the uninterrupted sky dome. It sits
atop the central atrium around which
all galleries are organized and through
which all visitors pass. A spiralling ramp
within a multi-story extends below the
Inverted Dome and can be used as both
the means of descent from the top of
the Museum and vertical circulation
between floors . The atrium is the heart
of the Museum.
The Sphere contains the Planetarium
entry, preshow and sky show; it is an
important icon and reference point
to visitors within the Museum and an
ever-present form that is integral to the
Museum’s identity.
With its striking relationship to the
horizon and sky, the sculptural massing of
the Planetarium can be appreciated from
multiple vantage points by day and night,
imparting a powerful sense of civic pride
and identity. The combination of the orbital
forms and the building’s three celestial
elements creates “sublime” environments
that unfold through the museum experience
in a process of gradual discovery.
This graphic calendar charts the measurement of time by the
Planetarium’s three “celestial bodies” over the course of various
increments of time: a day, a season, a year. It combines
a modern calendar and traditional Chinese delineations of
time, including the lunar calendar and the 24 festivals of Jie
Qi, demarking the equal division of the calendar year based
on the Earth’s position relative to the sun. The building acts as
an astronomical instrument, tracking the movements of the
Earth, the moon and the path of the sun in the sky. Special
festivals - Chinese New Year, the autumn moon festival, the
summer solstice - are marked in or on the building in a variety
of ways: registrtion marks, alignments of figures cast by
the sun, completion of geometric shapes defined by sunlight,
framing of the full moon.
The result is a continually changing experience
of the building through the three celestial
bodies, which synchronize with events
throughout the year. This creates a Plantarium
that is integrally linked with its location, the
surrounding community and the traditions of
a culture in which it originates.
Daily Calender
January February March April May June
03:00
04:00
06:00
07:00
08:00
09:00
The Oculus
The Sphere
The days of the year we take for granted, are
a measurement of the Earth’s rotation about
its axis as it turns to face towards or away
from the sun.
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
As the sun moves from
East to West over the
course of the day, it
shines light through the
oculus, telling visitors the
time of day.
Every day the light
through the skylight
around the planetarium
moves over the floor to
form a full eclipse at noon.
16:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
20:00
The Lunar Calendar marked on Earth by
the phases of the moon, is a measure of
each orbit of the moon around the Earth.
21:00
22:00
23:00
00:00
01:00
02:00
Lantern Festival
Lunar Calender
The measurment of the seasons charts our
orbit around the sun, making a full cycle
every year.
Yearly/ Solar Calender
Fig. 5.6.
Slight
Cold
Great
Cold
Vernal
Begins
Rain
Water
Insects
Awaken
Vernal
Equinox
Clear &
Bright
Great
Rain
Summer
Begins
The Shanghai Planetarium Calendar
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July August September October December
November
The Summer Solstice
The Inverted
Dome
All of the building’s instruments respond to noon
on the summer solstice, when the sun is at its
highest point in the sky and the day is the longest
of the year.
The Earth's rotation
in marked in the light
shining inside the lobby
through the glass dome.
Then the moon is high in the
sky during the winter months,
it is possible to see it through
the oculus, and to see its
reflection in the pool below.
Mid-Autumn Festival
An unobstructed horizon
in the inverted dome is the
best place to celebrate the
harvest moon.
Grain
Full
Grain in
Ear
Summer
Solstice
Slight
Heat
Great
Heat
Autumn
Begins
Limit
Heat
White
Dew
Autumn
Equinox
Cold
Dew
Frosts
Decent
Winter
Begins
Light
Snow
Great
Snow
Winter
Snow
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Setting A Horizon
Stargazing from the Inverted Dome eliminates
the outside world and re-creates the horizon
on which one can see the rise and fall of the
constellations without obstruction.
Fig. 5.7. Section through inverted dome
The Occulus
Winter
Solstice
Equinox
Summer
Solstice
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Fig. 5.8. Section through the oculus
Fig. 5.9. Section through the sphere
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Fig. 5.10. Planetarium section showcasing the different phases of the moon
captured by the oculus in different times of the day
Fig. 5.12. View of Entrance (up) and Lobby (down)
Fig. 5.11. Design process sketches
Fig. 5.13. Top view of inverted dome (up) and side view (down)
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Bus Parking
Astronomical
Sculpture
Outdoor
Exhibit
Main
Entry
Site Plan
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Trash
Room
Parking
Observatory
Canteen
Camp
Water
Garden
Sun Tower
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Exterior Shell
Roof
Level 02
Level 01
Lobby
Outdoor Exhibition
Indoor Exhibition
Back of House (BOH)
Temporary Exhibition
Lower Level Lobby
Permanent Exhibition
Dome Theater
Chinese Ancient Astronomy
Entrance Lobby
Fig. 5.14. Exploded 3D of museum
Home Zone
Starry Sky
Outdoor Terrace
Journey Zone
Universe Zone
Inverted Dome
Assembly & Structure
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Inverted
Dome
Planetarium
3D Model of Structural Base
Structural Arrangement (Radial)
Material Selections
Concrete Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Anodized Aluminum Panels
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Floor Plan: Partial B1 Mezzanine
1. Temporary Exhibitions
2. Armillary Sphere
3. Multi-Functional Lecture Hall
4. Hobby Classrooms
5. Planet Paradise
6. Planet Paradise (Outdoor)
7. Gift Shop
8. Astronomy Themed Restaurant
9. Staff Dressing Room
10. Mechanical Parking
11. Truck Loading Area
12. Instruments & Collection Storerooms
13. Equipment & Machine Rooms
Floor Plan: Level B1
Floor Plan: Level 1 Mezzanine
N
14.
Floor Plan: Level 1
0 10 20 30 40 50
Floor Plan: Partial Level 1
1. Preface Hall
20. Guard Room
2. Large Meteor
21. Cloak Room
3. Zodaical Constellations 22. Fire Ctrl. Room,
4. Pendulum
Bldg. Security, BA Ctrl.
5. Armillary Sphere
23. Office Lobby
6. Science Mall
Security
7. Universe News Studio 24. Transformers
8. IMAX Theater
25. Universe News
9. Chinese Ancient Astronomy Press Room
Exhibit
26. Broadcasting
10. Slide to Planet Paradise Room
11. Astronomy & Society 27. Expert Lounge
12. Planetarium
28. Small Meeting
13. Universe News Broadcasting Room
Wall
29. Medium Meeting
14. Tickets Booth
Room
15. Starry Sky Hall
30. Service Room
16. Home Zone
31. Small Meeting
17. Volcano Theater
Room
18. News Meeting Room 32. Management
19. Infirmary
Program Investigation ...
213
1. Universe Zone
2. Journey Zone
3. Planetarium
Floor Plan: Level 2
1. Reception
2. Meeting Room
3. Executive Office
4. Executive Office
5. Executive Office
6. Meeting Room
7. Regular Office Area
8. Meeting Room
9. Meeting Room
10. Meeting Room
11. Tea Room
12. Copy Room
13. Archive
14. Regular Office
Floor Plan: Level 3
0 10 20 30 40 50
N
...
214
Program Investigation
1. Lobby
2. Temporary Exhibition
3. Planetarium
4. Universe Zone
5. Journey Zone
6. Astronomy Themed Restaurant
7. Instruments & Collection Storerooms
8. Equipment & Machine Rooms
9. Home Zone
4.
5.
1.
7.
2.
8.
Section A-A
5.
9.
1.
3.
7.
2.
6.
Section B-B
0 10 20 30 40 50
Program Breakdown ...
215
Spaces Functions Areas (m2)
Cores
Vertical Circulation
Temporary Temporary Exhibitions 645 m2
Large Meteor
Zodaical Constellations
30 m2
65 m2
Permanent Planet Paradise (2x) 1,225 m2
Armillary Sphere
Starry Sky Hall
Home Zone
Chinese Ancient Astronomy
Exhibit
Universe Zone
Journey Zone
180 m2
250 m2
975 m2
3,000 m2
2,075 m2
1,710 m2
Theaters Planetarium 575 m2
IMAX Theater
Volcano Theater
505 m2
200 m2
Wet Areas Staff Dressing Rooms 145 m2
Men’s Toilets (3x)
Women’s Toilets (3x)
Staff Toilets (Cloak Room)(3x)
105 m2
105 m2
25 m2
Back Of House (BOH) Mechanical Parking 805 m2
Table 5.1. Area Calculation
Truck Loading Area
Instruments & Collection
Storerooms
Service Room
Management Area
Fire Control Room, Bldg. Security,
BA Control
Transformers
870 m2
1,260 m2
7 m2
235 m2
95 m2
375 m2
Front Of House (FOH) Entrance (Foyer) (2x) 135 m2
Lobby
Pendulum
Tickets Booth
1,400 m2
190 m2
25 m2
Commercial Gift Shop 70 m2
Science Mall
300 m2
Food & Beverage Astronomy Themed Restaurant 585 m2
Educational Multi-Functional Lecture Hall 180 m2
Hobby Classrooms
Astronomy & Society
Universe News Broadcasting
Wall
205 m2
470 m2
205 m2
Offices News Meeting Room 30 m2
Infirmary
Guard Room
Office Lobby Security
Universe News Press Room
Broadcasting Room
Expert Lounge
Small Meeting Room
Medium Meeting Room (5x)
Executive Office (3x)
Archive
Copy-machine Room
Tea Room
Regular Office Area (2x)
Reception
30 m2
35 m2
100 m2
115 m2
20 m2
25 m2
62 m2
255 m2
65 m2
45 m2
45 m2
11 m2
510 m2
50 m2
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Fig. 5.15. Stargazing from the inverted dome. Images courtsey of Ennead Architects
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5.1.2. Relevant Case Study 1
Biodome Science Museum
KANVA
Location: Montreal, Canada
Year: 2020
Area: 15,000 m²
KANVA’s mandate was to enhance the immersive experience between visitors and the
science museum’s distinct ecosystems, as well as to transform the building’s public spaces.
In doing so, the team proudly embraced the role that the Biodome plays in sensitizing
humans to the intricacies of natural environments, particularly in the current
context of climate change and the importance of understanding its effects.
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Architectural Drawings
Fig. 5.16.
Form Generation
Exhibition Halls
Fig. 5.17.
Ground Floor Plan
Section
Fig. 5.18.
Fig. 5.19. Interior view of museum’s reception
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222
From the onset, KANVA studied
the tremendous complexity of the
building, a living entity comprised
of ecosystems and complex machinery
that is critical to supporting
life. They realized that any type
of intervention would need to be
extremely delicate and that a global
strategy to the scale of the mandate
would require careful coordination
and management of numerous
micro-interventions.
Fig. 5.20. Interior view of exhibitions (central space)
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224
Fig. 5.21. Different shots of the central courtyard and its surroundings
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225
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226
5.2.1. Core Case Study 2
Wadi Rum Excavated Sanctuary
Rasem Kamal
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227
Location: Wadi Rum, Aqaba City, Jordan
Type: Hospitality, Museum, Cultural, Hotel
Designed in 2008
Built-Up Area: 40,000 m2
Wadi Rum, or valley of the moon, is a vast empty desert in south of Jordan, surrounded
by series of fascinating colorful mountains. The selection of this site in particular was
for two key reasons; it is an ideal location to excavate natural ground with a high flexibility
of horizontal expansion. Furthermore, this site needs a very minimal and sensitive
intervention -since it was declared a world protected site by UNISCO in 2011- without
adding a new structure above ground that might compete with the existing mountains
and distract visitors visually.
These “Excavated Sanctuaries” announce themselves from their interior not exterior, in
other words, this is a new redefinition of the modernists’ phrase “form follows function”
into “subtraction follows function”.
...
228
Architect’s Vision
“This project represents the architectural product
of a thesis that focuses on subtraction not
addition, subtracting voids and spatial volumes
according to users’ need of functions, circulation
and natural light,” explained Kamal.
“These voids could be excavated in the natural
ground in order to create a concealed and non-distracting
architectural presence above ground, along with
an unlimited flexibility to subtract underground.”
“These excavated sanctuaries announce themselves
from their interior not exterior,” said
Kamal. “In other words, this is a new redefinition
of the modernists’ phrase ‘form follows
function’ into ‘subtraction follows function’.”
Fig. 5.22. Excavation Grid and various circulation loops
Fig. 5.23. Programmatic Slicing
Overlapped Program Breakdown
...
231
Courtyards
Hospitality
Theatres
Back Of House
Offices / FOH
Exhibition Halls
Chambers
Circulation
Overlapped Program
Total Subtracted Volume
Fig. 5.24.
...
232
Site Map
Fig. 5.25. Top view of site
...
233
...
234
1. Theater
2. Entrance Lobby
3. Exhibition Hall
4. Sleeping Chambers
5. Office Area
2.
4.
Program Investigation
...
235
5.
1.
3.
...
236
1. Theater
2. Lobby
3. Office Area
4. Sleeping Chambers
5. Exhibition Hall
3.
2.
4.
Program Investigation
...
237
1.
5.
...
238
1. Lobby
2. Exhibition Hall
3. Theater
4. Swimming Pools
5. Sleeping Chambers
1.
5.
2.
3.
Program Investigation
...
239
4.
...
240
Fig. 5.26. Response to existing contour lines
Fig. 5.27. Bedroom Prototypes
Fig. 5.28. Circulation tubes
Fig. 5.29. Enlarged Courtyard prototype
...
241
...
242
...
243
...
244
Fig. 5.30. Poolside Renders
...
245
Main Street
Datum
Sub-Station
Tickets
Tour Orientation
70 Parkings
Check Point
Parking Entrance
Entry Courtyard
Bus Drop-Off
Outdoor Theatre
Meeting Room
Service Track
Fig. 5.31. Sectional Isometric of Entry & Lobby
...
246
Fig. 5.32. View from the valley
Concrete
Sand
Fig. 5.33. Wall Section
Materiality & Structure
...
247
Fig. 5.34. The excavations are inspired by Ant Colonies
...
248
Spaces Functions Areas (m2)
Circulation Vertical Circulation -
Corridors -
Temporary Exhibitions Exhibition Halls (7 x) 1,900 m2
Theaters Auditoriums (2x) 1,710 m2
Outdoor Theater
300 m2
Wet Areas Staff Toilets -
Men’s Toilets -
Women’s Toilets -
Back Of House (BOH) Storage -
Mechanical & Service Track 6,367 m2
Parking (70x) -
Front Of House (FOH) Ticket Booth 70 m2
Lobby (5x)
1,950 m2
Pools (3x)
1,700 m2
Commercial Guest Sleeping Chambers (70x) 7,000 sqm
Offices Meeting Room -
Offices (5 x)
985 m2
Table 5.2. Area Calculation
...
249
...
250
5.2.2. Relevant Case Study 2
House Of Water
Tredje Natur
...
251
Location: Copenhagen harbor, Denmark
Year: 2012 - 2014
TREDJE NATUR designs a collaborative platform presenting new solutions to future
water challenges. House of Water displays the most advanced technologies from over
60 companies in the water sector, in a hybrid landscape that merges water, technology,
and architecture. The house highlights Denmark’s position as a globally recognized
water-hub, and creates a shared public space, bringing the community together
around new knowledge, technologies, and solutions.
...
252
Exploded Isometric
Fig. 5.35.
Fresh Water 2.5 % Salt Water 97.5 % Ice Ground Water Water Surface
70 % Water
Water Studies
Fig. 5.36.
Architectural Drawings
...
253
Agricultural
Water
Industrial
Water
Café
Water
Technologies
Staff
Area
Offices
Water Resources
Agricultural
Water
Entrance
Lobby
Gift
Shop
Urban Water
Water Supply
Toilets
Waste Water
Conservation
of Water
“Water is essential for all living things – even in
the city! By making and integrating the city’s water
solutions in our strategies, we create both magical
experiences and a variety of pragmatic potentials.
Utilizing water creates potential for meeting
places that are rich in experience to strengthen the
cohesion and thus the sustainability of the city.”
Ground Floor Plan
– Flemming Rafn Thomsen, Founding Partner in
TREDJE NATUR
...
254
House of Water is a visionary idea
for a new water attraction potentially
located in the Copenhagen
harbor, helping to brand Denmark
in relation to water. The House of
Water combines typologies of Danish
landscapes with Danish water
technology. A series of exhibitions
focusing not only on technology,
but the importance that water plays
in our lives, creates a learning landscape
through sensory phenomena.
Fig. 5.37. Aerial view of building
...
255
...
256
Fig. 5.38. Project Geographical location
Fig. 5.39. Interior view of Lobby
...
257
...
258
5.3.1. Core Case Study 3
National Museum of Qatar
Ateliers Jean Nouvel +
...
259
Location: Museum Park St, Doha, Qatar
Designed in 2008
Built in 2010 -2019
Built-Up Area: 40,000 m2
Opening Date: March 28, 2019
This innovative design inspired by the desert rose grows organically around the original
20th century Palace of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Jassim Al Thani. The relationship between
the new and the old building is part of the creation of the bridge between the past and
the present that Sheikha Al Mayassa, sister of the emir, advocates, since it is the way
to “… define ourselves forever, instead of be defined by others […] and celebrate our
identity … “.
The design of the new museum logo combines three evocative doors of the Old National
Museum, which represent the past, present and future of Qatar, reflecting the museum’s
central narrative and what has come to symbolize.
...
260
Architect’s Vision
The National Museum is dedicated to the history of Qatar. Symbolically, its
architecture evokes the desert, its silent and eternal dimension, but also the spirit
of modernity and daring that have come along and shaken up what seemed unshakeable.
So, it’s the contradictions in that history that I’ve sought to evoke here.
As you walk through the different volumes, you never know what’s
coming next in terms of the architecture. The idea was to create contrasts,
spring surprises. You might, for instance, go from one room
closed-off pretty high up by a slanting disk to another room with a
much lower intersection. This produces something dynamic, tension.
Fig. 5.40. Circulation Concept sketch
...
263
...
264
Architect’s Vision
Fig. 5.41. Site Plan
Design Narrative
...
265
Table 5.42. Desert Rose Crystal which can exist only in harsh environments
Taking the desert rose as a starting point
turned out to be a very progressive, not to
say utopian, idea. I say ‘utopian’ because, to
construct a building 350 metres long, with its
great big inward-curving disks, and its intersections
and cantilevered elements – all the
things that conjure up a desert rose – we had
to meet enormous technical challenges. This
building is at the cutting-edge of technology,
like Qatar itself.
...
266
Circulation
...
267
...
268
Fig. 5.43. Visitors map around museum
...
269
...
270
Structure of disc
Primary structure +
substructure
Insulation and waterproofing
complex
Final cladding arrangement
Fig. 5.44.Structural breakdown of circular discs
Materiality & Structure
...
271
Structure of intersected discs
Basic structural form
Fig. 5.45. Construction Process
...
272
Program Investigation
Main-Floor Plan
1. Main Entrance
2. Main Lobby
3. Courtyard
4. Sheikh Abdullah Bin
Jassim Palace
5. Auditorium
6. Learning Studios
7. Permanent Gallery
8. Temporary Exhibition
9. Gift Shop
10. Cafe
11. Restaurant
12. Library
13. Offices
14. Storage/ Conservation
15. Back Of House
Section A-A
Section B-B
Section C-C
1. Main Entrance
2. Main Lobby
3. Courtyard
4. Sheikh Abdullah Bin
Jassim Palace
5. Auditorium
6. Learning Studios
7. Permanent Gallery
8. Temporary Exhibition
9. Gift Shop
10. Cafe
11. Restaurant
12. Library
13. Offices
14. Storage/ Conservation
15. Back Of House
...
273
Fig. 5.46. Exploded Isometric of Lobby
Enlarged Section B-B
...
274
Fig. 5.47. Exterior view showcasing the intersection of cantilevered discs
...
275
Spaces Functions Areas (m2)
Cores Vertical Circulation -
Temporary Temporary Exhibitions 2,000 m2
Permanent Exhibitions 8,000 m2
Projected Exhibitions
3,000 m2
Theaters Auditorium 900 m2
Wet Areas Staff Toilets (2x) 180 m2
Men’s Toilets (7x)
Women’s Toilets (7x)
154 m2
154 m2
Back Of House (BOH) Storage & Conservation 3,000 m2
Mechanical & Service Rooms
9,100 m2
Front Of House (FOH) Ticket Booth 130 m2
Lobby
Courtyard
3,000 m2
6,950 m2
Park 112,000
m2
Commercial Gift Shop (2x) 375 m2
Food & Beverage Restaurant (2x) 3,750 m2
Cafe
350 m2
Educational Learning Studios 410 m2
Library
3,000 m2
Offices Office Area 3,250 m2
Table 5.3. Area Calculation
Confrence Room -
...
276
5.3.2. Relevant Case Study 3
Lascaux IV
Snøhetta + Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture
...
277
Location: Périgueux, France
Year: 2017
Area: 8365 m²
The new International Centre for Cave Art in Montignac, France welcomes visitors
to an immersive educational experience of the prehistoric Lascaux cave paintings.
Known by archaeologists as the ‘Sistine Chapel of Prehistory’ due to their spiritual
and historical significance, the 20,000-year-old paintings are among the finest known
examples of art from the Paleolithic period.
The new Lascaux IV Caves Museum is situated at the intersection of two unique landscapes,
between a densely-forested, protected hillside and the agricultural Vézère Valley.
Snøhetta’s design conceives the museum as a fine cut in the landscape, inviting visitors
into a curious world of prehistory.
...
278
Entry
Architectural Drawings
Ground Floor Plan
Circulation
Fig. 5.48. Replica installation
Section
...
279
Architects Snøhetta and SRA,
alongside scenographer Casson
Mann, worked closely with a team
of archaeologists to create a holistic
museum and educational
experience. As an interpretation
center featuring state-of-the-art
experiential storytelling technology
paired with a facsimile of the caves,
Lascaux IV offers visitors an opportunity
to discover the caves in a
unique way that reveals a sense of
wonder and mystery, as if they, too,
were the first group of adventurers
to stumble upon the cave paintings.
...
280
Fig. 5.49. Interior of theatre
...
281
Throughout the museum, the
visitor experience sequences a
balance of stark differences in
atmospheres, light and intensities
– from the enclosed exhibition
spaces ensconced in the hill, to the
light-filled lobby and transition
spaces. The juxtaposition between
descent and ascent, inside and outside,
earth and sky, or nature and
art, evoke the analogous experience
of the caves.
...
282
Fig. 5.50. Illustration of Exhibits
...
285
...
286
Volume VI: Caeleno
6.1. Case Studies Program
6.2. Project Program
...
287
...
288
...
289
6.1. Case Studies Program
...
291
...
292
Shanghai Astronomy Museum
Zone Spaces Functions No. Areas Total
Cores Vertical Circulation - - -
Temporary
Permanent
Horizontal Circul. - - -
Temporary Exhibits 3 645 + 30
+65
740 sqm
Indoor Exhibitions 7 - 9,415 sqm
Outdoor Exhibitions 1 - -
Theaters Auditorium 2 505 + 200 705 sqm
Wet Areas
Back Of
House
(BOH)
Front Of
House
(FOH)
Food &
Beverage
Commercial
Educational
Outdoor Theater - - -
Planetarium 1 575 575 sqm
Staff Toilet +Locker 3 145+ 30 175 sqm
Men’s Toilets 3 35 105 sqm
Women’s Toilets 3 35 105 sqm
Storage & Conservation
Mechanical & Service
Rooms
1 1,260 1,260 sqm
3 375 + 95 +
7
477 sqm
Ticket Booths 1 25 25 sqm
Lobby 1 1,400 1,400 sq
Pools - - -
Gift Shop 2 300 + 70 370 sqm
Camping Area - - -
Restaurant 1 585 585 sqm
Cafe - - -
Learning Studios 2 180 +205 385 sqm
Library - - -
Offices Office Area 9 - 785 sqm
Copy-machine room 1 45 45 sqm
Archive 1 45 45 sqm
Confrence Rooms 7 - 350 sqm
Wadi Rum Excavated Sanctuary
Functions No. Areas Total
Vertical Circulation - - -
Horizontal Circul. - - -
Temporary Exhibits - - -
Indoor Exhibitions 7 - 1,900 sqm
Outdoor Exhibition - - -
Auditorium 2 950 +760 1,710 sqm
Outdoor Theater 1 300 300
Planetarium - - -
Staff Toilet +Locker - - -
Men’s Toilets - - -
Women’s Toilets - - -
Storage & Conservation
Mechanical & Service
Rooms
- - -
3 - 6,367 sqm
Ticket Booths 1 70 70 sqm
Lobby 5 - 1,950 sqm
Pools 3 - 1,700 sqm
Gift Shop - - -
Camping Area 70 100 7,000 sq
Restaurant 1 300 300 sqm
Cafe 1 175 175 sqm
Learning Studios - - -
Library - - -
Office Area 5 - 985
Confrence Room - - -
Copy-machine room - - -
Archive - - -
National Museum Of Qatar
Functions No. Areas Total
Vertical Circulation - - -
Horizontal Circul. - - -
Temporary Exhibits 1 2,000 2,000 sqm
Indoor Exhibitions 2 8,000 8,000 sqm
Outdoor Exhibition - - -
Auditorium 1 900 900 sqm
Outdoor Theater - - -
Planetarium - - -
Staff Toilet +Locker 2 90 180 sqm
Men’s Toilets 7 22 154 sqm
Women’s Toilets 7 22 154 sqm
Storage & Conservation
Mechanical & Service
Rooms
2 - 3,000 sqm
- 9,100 9,100 sqm
Ticket Booths 1 130 130 sqm
Lobby 1 3,000 3,000 sqm
Pools - - -
Gift Shop 2 - 375 sqm
Camping Area - - -
Restaurant 2 - 3,750 sqm
Cafe 1 350 350 sqm
Learning Studios 3 410 410 sqm
Library 1 3,000 3,000 sqm
Office Area 2 - 3,250 sqm
Confrence Room - - -
Copy-machine room - - -
Archive - - -
Proposed Program
Functions No. Areas Total
Vertical Circulation - - -
Horizontal Circul. - - -
...
293
Temporary Exhibits 2 1,000 1,000 sqm
Indoor Exhibitions 6 750 4,500 sqm
Outdoor Exhibition 1 500 500 sqm
Auditorium 2 450 900 sqm
Outdoor Theater 1 250 250 sqm
Planetarium 1 600 600 sqm
Staff Toilet+Locker 3 50 150 sqm
Men’s Toilets 3 35 105 sqm
Women’s Toilets 3 35 105 sqm
Storage & Conservation
Mechanical & Service
Rooms
1 1,250 1,250 sqm
2 250 500 sqm
Ticket Booth 1 50 50 sqm
Lobby 1 1,ooo 1,000 sqm
Pools - - -
Gift Shop 1 85 85 sqm
Camping Area 1 2,250 2,250 sqm
Restaurant 1 500 500 sqm
Cafe 1 175 175 sqm
Learning Studios 5 200 1,000 sqm
Library 1 1,500 1,500 sqm
Office Area 6 135 800 sqm
Confrence Room 3 100 300 sqm
Copy-machine room 1 45 45 sqm
Archive 1 45 45 sqm
...
294
Back Of House
6.2. Project Program
Temporary Exhibits
Indoor Exhibits
Outdoor Exhibits
Theater
Outdoor Theater
Planetarium
Toilets
Staff Area
Ticket Booth
Lobby
Gift Shop
Camping Area
Restaurant
Cafe
Learning Studios
Library
Office Area
Conference Room
Copy-machine Room
Archive
Storage & Conservation
Mechanical & Service
Area
Temporary Exhibits
Indoor Exhibits
Outdoor Exhibits
Theater
Outdoor Theater
Planetarium
Toilets
Staff Area
Ticket Booth
Lobby
Gift Shop
Camping Area
Restaurant
Cafe
Learning Studios
Library
Office Area
Conference Room
Copy-machine Room
Archive
Storage & Conservation
Mechanical & Service Area
Direct Adjacency
Almost Adjacent
Potential Adjacency
Offices
Admin
Education & Research
Permanent Exhibitions
Restaurant
Storage
Outdoor
Exhibitions
Temporary Exhibitions
Program Bubble Diagram
...
295
Camping Area
(Stargazing)
Planetarium
Theaters
Tickets
Lobby
Library
Gift Shop
Cafe
Direct Link
Indirect Link
...
296
...
298
Volume VII: Taygete
7.1. Site Selection
7.2. Site Analysis
...
299
...
300
...
303
The Chosen Geographical Region: United Arab Emirates, Asia
...
304
7.1. Site Selection
Al Marmoom Reserve, Dubai
...
305
Mushrif National Park, Dubai
Fossil Rock Site, Sharjah
N
W
E
S
...
306
Mushrif National Park, Dubai
Area: 15, 250 sqm
Fossil Rock Site, Sharjah
Area: 20, 500 sqm
Al Marmoom Reserve, Dubai
Area: 34, 000 sqm
Site 1 Criteria Rating
Mushrif Park
Site, Dubai
Site Views
Existing Infrastructure
Low Light Pollution Level
Clear Site Boundary
Site Selection Criteria
...
307
Total: 16
Context
Site 2 Criteria Rating
Fossil Rock
Site, Sharjah
Site Views
Existing Infrastructure
Low Light Pollution Level
Clear Site Boundary
Total: 11
Context
Site 3 Criteria Rating
Al Marmoom
Reserve Site,
Dubai
Site Views
Existing Infrastructure
Low Light Pollution Level
Clear Site Boundary
Total: 15
Context
...
308
Dubai Cultural Background
The increasing globalization and the
settling of various immigrant groups
have transformed the city into a melting
pot of different nationalities and have given
rise to a cosmopolitan culture that is in
sync with other global cities.
The UAE culture mainly revolves around
the religion of Islam and traditional Arab
culture. The influence of Islamic and Arab
culture is not only on its architecture, music,
attire, cuisine, and lifestyle are very
prominent as well.
Oil resources have
enabled massive modernization.
Towns have been transformed,
especially after 1960, from
mud-walled communities into commercial
capitals integrated in the global economy.
Because of the small population and
harsh desert interior, 80 percent of the
population lives in the coastal capital
cities, leading social scientists to
describe them as city-states.
...
309
1984 1990
2003
2021
2010
Geographical Evolution
...
310
Mushrif Park Historical Background
Mushrif Park is 5.25 square kilometre (1300 acre) family-oriented
park in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is located in the eastern part of
the city (near the suburb of Khawaneej), about 16 km (10 mi) from the
traditional center of Dubai. The park was created in early 1980s by Dubai
Municipality and was widely expanded and refurbished in 1989. It is considered
to be Dubai’s oldest National Park. The park’s rocky and green
nature remains intact and untouched by the city around it. The park was
initially used as an animal sanctuary for a short period of time.
Today it is known for more than just its nature and services. Al
Thuraya Astronomy center is a recent addition to its diversity. The astronomy
center at Mushrif Park was established some few years back.
This was founded in 2018 on the command of His Highness Sheik Mohammed
Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to promote Arabian heritage and
encourage the research of aerospace technologies in the nation. The center
has the biggest telescope in the area, which is open to the general public for
viewing.
...
311
...
312
7.2. Site Analysis
Mushrif National Park, Al Khawaneej, Dubai
Area: 15, 250 sqm
...
313
80 m
275 m
220 m
Site Boundary
N
Building Concentration
W
E
S
...
314
Site Landmarks
A
AL RASHIDIYA
MIRDIF
Tripoli St.
NADD AL
HAMAR
AL WARQA
N
W
E
S
...
315
l Khawaneej St.
Mushrif MUSHRIF Park
Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan St.
Quranic Park - 10 mins from site
AL KHAWANEEJ
Dubai Safari Park - 10 mins from site
...
316
Site Landmarks
Al Thuraya Astronomy Center for
Dubai Astronomy Group
...
317
...
318
Site Access
MIRDIF
Mushrif MUSHRIF Park
N
AL WARQA
Main Road Access
Roads
W
E
S
...
319
Entry Points
Footpaths
Park Roads
50 m
0 m (Sea Level)
Terrains
...
320
Massing Studies
MIRDIF
Mushrif MUSHRIF Park
AL WARQA
N
W
E
S
...
321
Mass
Void
Mass & Void
G + 1
G
Building Heights
View of Mushrif Park Range
...
322
Site Views
Front of Al Thuraya Astronomy Center
...
323
Back of Al Thuraya Astronomy Center
Desert view from site
...
324
Environmental Analysis
N
NNW
NNE
NW
NE
m/s
15.00 <
13.50
WNW
W
WSW
ENE
E
ESE
12.00
10.50
9.00
7.50
6.00
4.50
SW
SE
SSW
SSE
S
Wind Rose Diagram (1st Jan - 31st Dec)
3.00
1.50
< 0.00
290
280
W
260
250
300
240
310
350
340
330
320
230
220
210
200
190
N 10
S
170
20
160
Total Radiation Diagram (1st Jan - 31st Dec)
30
40
50
130
140
150
60
70
120
80
110
E
100
kWh/m2
1163.13
1046.81
930.50
814.19
697.88
581.56
465.25
348.94
232.63
116.31
< 0.00
W
300
240
330
210
N
S
30
150
60
120
E
C
46.00 <
42.76
39.52
36.28
33.04
29.80
26.56
23.32
20.08
16.84
< 13.60
W
300
240
330
210
N
S
Sun Path According to Wind (21st Mar) Sun Path According to Wind (21st Jun) Sun Path According to Wind (21st Dec)
30
150
60
120
E
degrees
360.00 <
324.20
288.40
252.60
216.80
181.00
145.20
109.40
73.60
37.80
< 2.00
W
300
240
330
210
N
S
30
150
60
120
E
m/s
15.00 <
13.50
12.00
10.50
9.00
7.50
6.00
4.50
3.00
1.50
< 0.00
...
325
N 10
20
330 340 350
30
320
310
300
290
280
W
260
250
240
230
220
210
150
200
160
190 170
S
Radiation Cella Dome (1st Jan - 31st Dec)
N
330
30
300
60
W
E
240
120
210
150
S
kWh/m2
40
50
2438.11 <
60
2224.17
70 2010.24
80 1796.30
1582.37
E
250
1368.43 240
100
230
1154.50
110
220
940.56 210
120
200
726.63
190
130
S
512.69
140
170
160
< 298.76
150
140
130
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
110 100 E
120
Sunhours
400 hrs
Sunhours
300 hrs
200 hrs
100 hrs
0 hrs
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
N
N
C
330
30
C
330
30
30.40 <
40.00 <
29.76
38.89
300
60
29.12
37.78
300
60
28.48
36.67
27.84
35.56
27.20
W
E
34.45
W
E
26.56
33.34
25.92
32.23
240
120
25.28
31.12
240
120
24.64
30.01
210
150
210
150
< 24.00
< 28.90
S
S
Sun Path According to Temperature ( 21st March) Sun Path According to Temperature ( 21st Jun) Sun Path According to Temperature (21st Dec)
C
26.00 <
25.20
24.40
23.60
22.80
22.00
21.20
20.40
19.60
18.80
< 18.00
...
326
Site Conditions
Dense Vegetation
Light Vegetation
Relative Humidity
Sparse Vegetation
30 mm
Precipitation
Precipitation
20 mm
10 mm
Relative Humidity
100 %
80 %
60 %
40 %
20 %
Dry Bulb Temperature
Humidity
Rainy Days
0 mm
30 days
23 days
15 days
8 days
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Rainy Days
0 %
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
0 days
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
...
327
lus
cing NE
...
328
Lynx
Leo Minor
www.skyandtelescope.org
Ursa
Ursa
Minor
Major
Polaris
Draco
North
Camelopardalis
Pollux Castor
Facing NE
Cepheus
Gemini
Cancer
Auriga
Capella
Perseus
Lynx
Cassiopeia
Camelopardalis
Lacerta
Dene
Cygnus
Pollux Castor Algol
Mars
Andromeda
Betelgeuse
Orion
Canis Minor
Procyon
Gemini
Aldebaran Taurus
Triangulum
Aries
Auriga
Pisces
Mars
Capella
Pegasus
Perseus
Algol
Cass
us
Lepus
Rigel
Facing East
MonocerosEridanus
Mira
Betelgeuse
Orion
Cetus
Aldebaran Taurus
Jupiter
Triangulum
Aries
Aquarius
Fornax
Rigel
Sculptor
Fomalhaut Mira
Piscis Austrin
Columba
Facing SE
Caelum
Canis Major
Sirius
Lepus
Eridanus
Cetus
Phoenix
Grus
The Emirates
Constellation
Pictor
Canopus
Fig. 7.1.
tion: Mushrif Park Site
Puppis
Dorado
Reticulum
de: 25° 21' N, longitude: 55° 45' E
Horologium
Columba
Facing SE
: 2022 November 28, 21:00 (UTC +04:00)
Canopus
Fornax
Achernar
Caelum
Facing South
Tucana
Horologium
Hydrus
Pictor
Reticulum
Indus
Power
Ach
Facing
Facing
Site Star Calendar
...
329
Facing NW
Ursa Minor
Draco
Hercules
Polaris
Vega
Cepheus
Lyra
iopeia
Deneb
Cygnus
Albireo
Lacerta
Vulpecula
Sagitta
Andromeda
Pegasus
Equuleus
Delphinus
Altair
Aquila
Facing West
Pisces
Scutum
Jupiter
Aquarius
Saturn
Capricornus
Moon
Sculptor
Fomalhaut
Piscis Austrinus
Sagittarius
Phoenix
Grus
Microscopium
Facing SW
W
N
E
ernar
Corona Australis
South
Tucana
Indus
S
...
330
N
W
E
S
Summer Solstice
December 21
Spring Equinox
September 22
Autumn Equinox
March 20
Winter Solstice
June 21
Relative Planet Scale
+ Symbol
Mercury Venus Earth Moon Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto
Site Astronomical Site Star Alignment Calendar
...
331
...
332
Site Lunar Calendar
...
333
Fig. 7.2. Lunar Calendar
The best time to view the stars is when the moon is new or at least at its smallest form.
When the moon is full or nearly full, its illumination overrides the light from the stars.
Thus, people who are interested in stargazing keep track of the moon phases to find the
right time to observe the night sky.
...
334
“Straight is the line of duty, but curved is the path
of beauty.”
-Hassan Fathy
...
335
...
336
Volume VIII: The Asteropes
8.1. Concept 1
8.2. Concept 2
8.3. Concept 3
...
337
...
338
...
339
...
340
Design Narrative
Concept 1
Whirl
Concept 2
Ancillary
Keywords
Whirl
Ancillary
Vortex
Zodiacs
Spherical
Levitating
Navigation
Genesis
Observation
Assimilate
Cosmic
Plasma
Concept 3
Vortex
...
341
...
342
Concept 1: The Armillary Sphere
An armillary sphere (also known as spherical astrolabe, armilla, or
armil) is a model of objects in the sky (on the celestial sphere), consisting
of a spherical framework of rings, centered on Earth or the Sun, that represent
lines of celestial longitude and latitude and other astronomically
important features, such as the ecliptic.
Its structure is based on primordial shapes such as the circle and
concentric sphere. An adaptation of this form can create many potential
architectural opportunities (lighting, views, circulation, etc). The basic
forms of this shape are the sphere and the ring.
Shadows
...
343
...
344
...
345
Concept 2: Ancillary
Celestial navigation, also known as astronavigation, is the practice
of position fixing using stars and other celestial bodies that enables a navigator
to accurately determine their current location. Through the fundamental
elements of Celestial Navigation we were able to identify our
existence to a time and place continuity. It is a practice as old as time and
has taken many forms.
Architecturally, there is potential in exploring how reflecting the
sky on the ground can lead to unique knowledge about our location. The
Emiraes constellation being sighted from the selected site is a miracuolous
coincidence.
Horizon Line
...
346
Concept 3: The Vortex
A Vortex is a term most used to describe a movement due to a
central feild. In fluid dynamics, a vortex is a region in a fluid in which the
flow revolves around an axis line, which may be straight or curved. Scientists
often study vortices because they are powerful forces of nature that
defy gravity and the laws of physics.
Conceptually, a Vortex can be also explained through architecture.
It could be described as a mass that often utilises a strong central core
(main program and structure) with the other sub-programmatic elements
serving it all around. The use of spirals in architecture is a good representation
of this idea.
...
347
Andromeda
Antlia
Apus
Aquarius
Aquila
Ara
Aries
Auriga
Boötes
Caelum
Camelopardalis
Cancer
Canes Venatici
Canis Major
Canis Minor
Capricornus
Carina
Cassiopeia
Centaurus
Cepheus
Cetus
Chamaeleon
Circinus
Columba
Coma Berenices
Corona Australis
Corona Borealis
Corvus
Crater
List Of Constellations and their meanings
The Princess of Ethiopia
The Air Pump
The Bird of Paradise
The Water Bearer
The Eagle
The Altar
The Ram
The Charioteer
The Bear Driver
The Sculptor’s Chisel
The Giraffe
The Crab
The Hunting Dogs
The Greater Dog
The Lesser Dog
The Sea Goat
The Keel (of Argo Navis)
The Queen of Ethiopia
The Centaur
The King of Ethiopia
The Sea Monster (Whale)
The Chamaeleon
The Compasses
Noah’s Dove
The Hair of Berenice
The Southern Crown
The Northern Crown
The Crow
The Cup
Horologium
Hydra
Hydrus
Indus
Lacerta
Leo
Leo Minor
Lepus
Libra
Lupus
Lynx
Lyra
Mensa
Microscopium
Monoceros
Musca
Norma
Octans
Ophiuchus
Orion
Pavo
Pegasus
Perseus
Phoenix
Pictor
Pisces
Piscis Austrinus
Puppis
Pyxis
The Pendulum Clock
The Water Snake
The Southern Water Snake
The American Indian
The Lizard
The Lion
The Lion Cub
The Hare
The Scales
The Wolf
The Lynx
The Harp
The Table Mountain
The Microscope
The Unicorn
The Fly
The Carpenter’s Square
The Octant
The Serpent Bearer
The Hunter
The Peacock
The Winged Horse
Perseus (the hero)
The Phoenix
The Painter’s Easel
The Fishes
The Southern Fish
The Stern (of Argo Navis)
The Compass (of Argo Navis)
Crux
Cygnus
Delphinus
Dorado
Draco
Equuleus
Eridanus
Fornax
Gemini
Grus
Hercules
Triangulum
Tucana
Ursa Minor
Virgo
Vulpecula
The (Southern Cross)
The Swan
The Dolphin (Porpoise)
The Swordfish
The Dragon
The Foal
The River
The Laboratory Furnace
The Twins
The Crane
Hercules (the hero)
Triangle
Toucan
Little Bear
Virgin (Maiden)
Fox
Reticulum
Sagitta
Sagittarius
Scorpius
Sculptor
Scutum
Serpens
Sextans
Taurus
Telescopium
Triangulum Australe
Ursa Major
Vela
Volans
The Net
The Arrow
The Archer
The Scorpion
The Sculptor’s Workshop
The Shield
The Serpent
The Sextant
The Bull
The Telescope
Southern Triangle
Great Bear
Sails
Flying Fish
The list of constellation names with meanings is provided courtesy of The Cambridge
Guide to the constellations, published in 1995.
Note: The highlighted constellations also represent the 12 houses of the zodiac, which
we now also associate with our birthdays.
List Of Figures
Fig. 2.1. : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nut_%28goddess%29
Fig. 2.2. : https://madainproject.com/kv17_(tomb_of_seti_i)
Fig. 2.3., Fig. 2.5. : https://historicaleve.com/ancient-egyptian-calendar/
Fig. 2.4. : https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/ancient-egypt-ramesses-iigm483317688-70865237
Fig. 2.6. : https://www.icruiseegypt.com/abu-simbel-day--night-excursions
Fig. 2.8. : https://www.curriculumnacional.cl/link/http:/hotcore.info/babki/Astronomy-Paintings-By-Ancient-Europeans-Discovered-The.html
Fig. 2.9. : https://finance.yahoo.com/finance/news/heres-read-birth-chart-professional-000355157.html
Fig. 2.11. : https://indigenouspeoplenet.wordpress.com/2022/08/20/mythologies-of-babylonia-assyria/
Fig. 2.13. : http://thebiblenet.blogspot.com/2021/05/babylonian-mesopotamian-gods-and.html
Fig. 2.14. : https://www.britannica.com/science/armillary-sphere
Fig. 2.15. : https://mobile.twitter.com/BiruniKhorasan/status/1165876497799962624
Fig. 2.16. : https://muslimheritage.com/precious-records-of-eclipses/
Fig. 2.17. : http://english.cha.go.kr/chaen/search/select
Fig. 2.18. : https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/2022-01-31/its-new-year-out-mywindow-this-week-on-the-storytellers-night-sky
Fig. 2.20. : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AzerbazkanBiruni.JPG
Fig. 2.21. : https://whewellsghost.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/whewells-gazettevol-40/
Fig. 2.22. : https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Planispheric-Astrolabes-from-the-National-Museum-of-Gibbs-Saliba/
Fig. 2.23. : https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/480546/view/copernican-worldview-1708
Fig. 2.24. : https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0720.html
Fig. 3.6. : https://www.newscientist.com/article/2285964-the-moon-may-never-actually-have-had-a-strong-magnetic-field/
Fig. 4.2. : https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/274449/astronomers-show-ancient-rome’s-sun
Fig. 4.4. : https://perspectiveresearchcentre.com/origins-definitions-and-categories/
Fig. 4.5. : https://www.pinterest.com/pin/549509592003729209/
Fig. 4.6. : https://www.archdaily.com/544946/ad-classics-cenotaph-for-newton-etienne-louis-boullee
Fig. 5.1. - Fig. 5.15. : https://www.archdaily.com/965203/shanghai-astronomy-museum-ennead-architects?ad_source=search&ad_medium=projects_tab
+ https://www.
archdaily.com/607311/ennead-tapped-to-design-shanghai-planetarium
Fig. 5.16. - Fig. 5.21. : https://www.archdaily.com/960966/biodome-science-museum-kanva?ad_medium=gallery
Fig. 5.22. - Fig. 5.34. : https://architizer.com/projects/wadi-rum-excavated-sanctuaries/
Fig. 5.35. - Fig. 5.39. : https://www.tredjenatur.dk/en/portfolio/how-house-of-water/
Fig. 5.40. - Fig. 5.47. : https://www.theplan.it/eng/architecture/national-museum-of-qatar-by-ateliers-jean-nouvel
+ https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/national-museum-qatar/
Fig. 5.48. - Fig. 5.50. : https://www.archdaily.com/868408/lascaux-iv-snohetta-pluscasson-mann
Fig. 7.1. : https://skyandtelescope.org/interactive-sky-chart/
Fig. 7.2. : https://gostargazing.co.uk/dark-sky-calendar/
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