Darkness in architecture, architecture in darkness

In the over brightened world of today still there are remote places of preservation of natural darkness, like the Izera Dark Sky Park in Poland. I propose there the building of astronomical observatory with a performative space for experiencing light and darkness in order to teach about the beauty of the starry sky and recall value of natural sun light.

The astronomical garden The designed building is located in Orle settlement, where there is a touristic base already. Standing on a clearing with a slight slope of the terrain, in the place separated from the buildings of settlement. In order to minimalize interference to the natural terrain the building is lifted one floor above the ground level. The passage below its lifted volume is the beginning of the path of experiencing light and darkness. This path is flanked by a garden of shade-loving plants which traces the patterns of by the light accessing into the garden.\nThe observatory of light, shadow and stars After passing the garden, one enters the building through a spiral staircase. The elongated shape of the construction contributes to the idea of a journey through the building, during which one can experience the different light impressions. Deep indentations in the block force meandering in the building and let the sun's rays deeper into the space under the building. The facility combines an artistic installation that gives you the chance to experience sensual contact with light and shadow with an educational function. The building is oriented along the north-south axis. As a result of this, in the internal spaces one can observe the daily journey of the sun filltered through the openwork wooden facades. In the central point there is a high room with a hole that frames the sky. The space around can be used as a place for exhibitions related to astronomy. At the end of the journey there is the educational part - an auditorium and the observation dome. The reception of the building's space varies depending on the time of day and weather conditions. Thus, sunlight treated as an architectural matter reminds one about the natural, primary role of light and shadow in people`s life and the habitable enviroment. Shadow is an inseparable complement of this equilibrium.