Famous transdisciplinary design firm Snøhetta pushes the boundaries of planetarium design into the unapologetically modern with its new project Orionis. Located in Douai, France, this planetarium in the northern part of the country utilized local materials and embraced "the elliptical movement of the stars" as inspiration.
Orionis, which shares its parking lots and landscaped areas with the Arkéos archaeology museum, includes reception areas, exhibition spaces, an amphitheater, and screening rooms. The planetarium design spans a total of 2,000 square meters A slightly inclined ramp connects the different parts of the building, leading to an elliptical courtyard with a planted garden visible through glass walls. Snøhetta incorporates a number of sustainable features in the planetarium design, including geothermal heating, natural ventilation, and a green roof.
Snøhetta co-founder Kjetil Trædal Thorsen shares about the project that "[the firm] wanted to propose an extraordinary meeting place and a new destination for the inhabitants of Douai."
Stars-Inspired Elliptical Planetariums
Snøhetta Designs a Modern Planetarium Design in France
Trend Themes
1. Modern Planetarium Design - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Develop advanced technology for immersive and interactive experiences in planetariums, such as virtual reality or augmented reality.
2. Sustainable Architecture - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Create eco-friendly building materials and techniques that can be incorporated into planetariums and other architectural projects.
3. Transdisciplinary Design - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Foster collaborations between different disciplines, such as architecture, astronomy, and technology, to create innovative planetarium experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Planetariums - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Integrate cutting-edge technology and immersive storytelling techniques to revolutionize the planetarium industry.
2. Architectural Design - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Explore new approaches to sustainable architecture that prioritize energy efficiency and environmental impact.
3. Collaborative Design - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Foster cross-disciplinary collaborations between designers, engineers, and artists to create unique and groundbreaking architectural projects.