Constellations Thesis Book by Nesrin Zidan

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


2.2. Ancient Egypt


2.4. Ancient Greece

2.5. Western Asia



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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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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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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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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


3.2. Sky Navigation


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“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be

known.”

-Carl Sagan

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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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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



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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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170

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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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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180

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Fig. 4.7.

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183


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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184

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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187

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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191

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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193

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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195

Fig. 5.2. Aerial view of the museum

Fig. 5.3. Interior of the museum showing the Planetarium

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196

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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197

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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199

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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201

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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204

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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209

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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212

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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217

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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220

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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221

...

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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223

...

224

Fig. 5.21. Different shots of the central courtyard and its surroundings

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225

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226


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


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”.

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228


“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.


...

235

5.

1.

3.

...

236

1. Theater

2. Lobby

3. Office Area


5. Exhibition Hall

3.

2.

4.


...

237

1.

5.

...

238

1. Lobby

2. Exhibition Hall

3. Theater

4. Swimming Pools


1.

5.

2.

3.


...

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


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


...

249

...

250


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.


...

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


National Museum of Qatar

Ateliers Jean Nouvel +

...

259

Location: Museum Park St, Doha, Qatar

Designed in 2008

Built in 2010 -2019


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


Confrence Room -

...

276


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


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



...

287

...

288

...

289


...

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 - - -


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 - - -



Rooms

- - -

3 - 6,367 sqm


Lobby 5 - 1,950 sqm

Pools 3 - 1,700 sqm

Gift Shop - - -

Camping Area 70 100 7,000 sq


Cafe 1 175 175 sqm

Learning Studios - - -

Library - - -

Office Area 5 - 985

Confrence Room - - -

Copy-machine room - - -

Archive - - -

National Museum Of Qatar




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





Rooms

2 - 3,000 sqm

- 9,100 9,100 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




...

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





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


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


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



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


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


Fossil Rock

Site, Sharjah

Site Views



Clear Site Boundary

Total: 11

Context


Al Marmoom

Reserve Site,

Dubai

Site Views



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


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


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


Rainy Days

0 %


0 days


...

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

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332

Site Lunar Calendar

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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.

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334

“Straight is the line of duty, but curved is the path

of beauty.”

-Hassan Fathy

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335

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336

Volume VIII: The Asteropes

8.1. Concept 1

8.2. Concept 2

8.3. Concept 3

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337

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338

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339

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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

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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

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343

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344

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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

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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.

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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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