We Are All Polaris

Design Competition

‘We Are All Polaris’ is my design response to the theme of CELESTIAL ARCHITECTURE. My design is a space that takes the monumental scale and BEAUTY OF THE UNIVERSE and translates it to human scale. But this space was designed not for the exploration of the world, but for the exploration of ourselves.

This space was designed to INSPIRE AND INVOKE REFLECTION. We are all ancient ancestors of the stars. Energy that was created at the beginning of time has been

passed down and lives in all of us. I intended for this space to help everyone realize that they are THEIR OWN COMPASS. And the only thing you need to do to find your way is to look inward. We are all Polaris.

Competition Brief

Presented By | Museum of Outdoor Arts

Launch Date | January 5, 2024

Submission Date | April 21, 2024

For thousands of years, humans have created

architectural and landscape structures that they

have integrated into the Earth’s landscape to ALIGN

with or reference CELESTIAL bodies above. This

includes the night sky, sunrise, sunset, planetary

alignment, moon cycles, star patterns, celestial

phenomena and more. From the ancient Pyramids

of Egypt and Stonehenge to more modern day land

art projects, such as Charles Ross’ Star Axis in New

Mexico, we hope to INSPIRE the next generation of

Celestial Architects through this year’s challenge.

Link to Competition Website | https://moaonline.org/design-and-build-2023-competition/

The competition offers FIVE hypothetical sites - Wooded deciduous forest, coastal bluff, low desert, plains/ grasslands or tropical rainforest. I chose GRASSLAND because I feel that it is the most accessible and enjoyable terrain for users. And my design will be in the northern hemisphere.

Images of planets orbiting around the CENTRAL star inspired my overall design and circulation. It gave me the initial idea of INTERSECTIONS and circulating around the prominent destination.

CHARLES ROSS' 'STAR AXIS' gave me the inspiration to pursue a concept surounding the OBSERVATION of the north star Polaris. Through studying this design, I realized that its important to make people feel like they are apart of the design.

The design features materials such as CONCRETE and STONE MASONRY. As well as relfective stone materials

coupled with WATER.

The primary material for the perimeter seating is WOOD.

There is a lot of intentional landscape details. The LANDSCAPING influences circulation, but DOES NOT DISTURB the user.

The project consists of TWO main buildings. The ‘SUN SPACE’ features a PERFORATED concrete surface that projects sunlight on the interior surfaces on a human scale. The perforated surface twists and ENGAGES with the sun as the sun moves from east to west. The ‘POLARIS SPACE’ features a circular window that POINTS TO POLARIS’ position to the north. This feature also takes something large scale and TRANSLATES it to human scale.

The sun space is IN CONVERSATION with the path of the sun. The sun space HARMONIOUSLY translates the suns position

as it moves across the sky.

APERTURES in the Polaris space allow for NATURAL VENTILATION.

The Polaris Space allows for GATHERING AND RESTING space and features a fireplace for added COMFORT AND CONVERSATION.

This space was not designed to have a direct entrance. This is a space that encourages JOURNEY AND STORY.

How the overhead cloth CONNECTS to the structure is presented below. The knitted cloth adds an ELEMENT OF LIGHTNESS to the otherwise heavy concrete and stone elements.

The Polaris space offers a window with a direct view of Polaris’ location in the north.

From the Northern hemisphere, Polaris rests at about a 45 degree angle from earth's horizon.

This space as a whole was designed to incorporate all of earths natural elements. EARTH, WIND, FIRE, WATER.

Interior View of the Sun Space. The twisting roof CAPTURES AND PROJECTS direct sunlight as the sun moves across the sky.

View Looking Out Through Polaris Window. This feature takes the SCALE OF THE UNIVERSE down to human scale. And simplifies the experience of celebrating the north star.