Observatory and Planetarium Brno

Big planetarium, small planetarium, Exploratorium, observation terrace, large and small observatories, lecture hall, and multifunctional entrance hall – this is today's building of the observatory and planetarium. The structure embodies the principles and goals of the natural science Exploratorium in the form of a multimedia center: to explore, explain, and lead to the protection of the natural world, especially in matters of astronomy.

The original building was gradually realized from 1949 to 1991. Kraví hora has served for several decades as a recreational area not only for the city's residents. The value of the observatory's location is mainly due to its position at the highest point of the Kraví hora slope, with a view of the city's skyline.

Our task was to meet expectations in terms of the building's function while also seeking an aesthetically impactful architectural concept expressing exact and perfect “cosmic” technology.

An architecture as a component of identity was created. The building of the observatory should not draw attention to itself. The visitor comes not for the building itself but to witness, through the ingenious technology installed within, cosmic phenomena invisible to the naked eye. Therefore, a restrained architectural approach to this space, without ostentation.

The goal was not only to create a house with interesting exhibits and programs but also a building itself demonstrating an interest in nature, natural sciences, and thus inspiring visitors. We are in the midst of nature – a park, and the building illuminates natural history. One of the logical objectives was therefore to connect the building with the surrounding park and greenery. A formal impression of transparency and optical connection between the building and the park was created. Large glazed areas allow interesting views through the building into the rich greenery. The decision to demolish the most problematic part of the original structure shaped the overall concept of the architectural solution. The central three-story section built into the resulting gap allowed for a clear layout with an entrance hall, Exploratorium, and logically connecting access to the observation terrace with views of the city skyline. A two-story wing with offices was added to the north gable of the original building, connected to the technical and technological background of the large planetarium.

The segmented interior of mutually permeating spaces features easy orientation, clear simplicity of the whole, and a deliberately simple selection of materials. Views into the surrounding greenery complete the atmosphere of the interior. Its geometrically simple layout, technical and technological equipment create various possibilities for thematic use. An intelligent control system for scenic lighting offers diverse options for the installation of permanent exhibits and individual displays or short-term exhibitions.

The predominant white color with a blue surface on the walls of the circular hall creates a calm and monotonous space for the expansive colorful surfaces of illuminated images of starry landscapes, which dominate the space with their dramatic and surprising artistry. Centrally located is a three-story illuminated graphic area with a real view into cosmic landscape, which, with its monumentality, dazzling graphics, and professional communicative capacity, is the central element of the interior.
The Exploratorium is a dark basement space without natural light designed for a completely unique method of exhibition based on the scenic relationship between exhibits and artificial lighting.

The building consists of an extension, a reconstruction of a building from the 1950s, a reconstruction of a building from the 1990s, and an infill in the gap. We sought a way to unify the segmented floor plan and varying heights of the facade into a logical whole. A cantilevered metal skin for the facade was proposed, which became the main expressive element. It was important that the facade, through its material and technical design, conveyed the ideological content of the building. The transparent “envelope,” interrupted only by large glazed areas, fulfilled this purpose – it appears light, yet unequivocal. Refined due to its partial transparency, which changes throughout the day and depending on the weather and time of day, the delicate texture gives the building a fragile and light aesthetic.

The surface structure consists of panels made from aluminum perforated and solid sheets coated with a special silver paint. The idea of the formal design of the facade arose entirely by chance during the computer processing of a digital photograph of a South Bohemian forest. Through posterization, the tree trunks created a vertically striped surface with differently intense colored stripes. The black-and-white execution of this structure was then radically condensed into a memorable artistic form.

All public spaces are air-conditioned, and the equipment technology is controlled by a highly efficient measurement and regulation control system. The amenities for visitors and employees are equipped to contemporary standards.
For the comprehensive completion of the building and its function, it was essential that the user realized the radical transformation of the original building into a modern institution. Based on the results of a public competition, a unified visual style with a new logo was created, which was reflected in the building's orientation system, new websites, memorabilia, and promotional materials.