Constellations Thesis Book by Nesrin Zidan

Design Narrative
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Originating from the arcs that influence
the site, a series of orbital forms spirals
around the entire building and culminates
at the top of thr Museum. The spiraling
ribbons evoke a sense of dynamic motion
that emerges from the ground and soars
upward toward the sky. Influenced by
the complex paths of a three-body orbit,
the ribbons incorporate curved trajectories
that are affected by the gravitational
attraction of three “celestial bodies” in
the architecture: the Oculus, the Inverted
Dome, and the Sphere. Each major element
acts as an astronomical instrument,
tracking the sun, moon and stars and
reminding us that our conception of
time originates in distant astronomical
objects. The building form, program, and
circulation further incorporate the orbital
movement, supporting the flow of visitors
through the galleries and the experience
of three central bodies.
The Oculus is a central element in the
entry experience: while it is suspended
in the cantilevered form of the Museum’s
galleries above, it is nonetheless very
much a part of the public realm. With
the Museum’s entry plaza as a venue for
festivals, the Oculus qould take on a centralizing
role. The permanent exhibit sequence
culminates in the Inverted Dome,
where visitors emerge from the interior
to a sublime spatial experience focusing
on the uninterrupted sky dome. It sits
atop the central atrium around which
all galleries are organized and through
which all visitors pass. A spiralling ramp
within a multi-story extends below the
Inverted Dome and can be used as both
the means of descent from the top of
the Museum and vertical circulation
between floors . The atrium is the heart
of the Museum.
The Sphere contains the Planetarium
entry, preshow and sky show; it is an
important icon and reference point
to visitors within the Museum and an
ever-present form that is integral to the
Museum’s identity.
With its striking relationship to the
horizon and sky, the sculptural massing of
the Planetarium can be appreciated from
multiple vantage points by day and night,
imparting a powerful sense of civic pride
and identity. The combination of the orbital
forms and the building’s three celestial
elements creates “sublime” environments
that unfold through the museum experience
in a process of gradual discovery.