Architecture practice Snøhetta was commissioned to build a new planetarium and observatory called Orionis, located in the northern French city of Douai near the Belgian border. The design concept is to serve as a link in a harmonious way, between the Scarpe River, the Arkéos archaeological museum, and a nearby residential complex.

The architects propose a project based on an ellipse-shaped plant, a geometric shape that can be easily observed in space, a fundamental aspect of the building's program, to observe and study space.

The building consists of 2000 m² and in its entirety seeks to respond to the needs of visitors, always maintaining the main theme of the planetarium. A circuit is generated inside the building that first passes through the store and exhibition space to reach the immersion room, from there a gentle ramp appears that takes users to the ground floor and then to the exit.
Orionis, designed by Snøhetta, is a leisure center to observe the immensity of space that is morphologically based on the ellipse. The building is divided into 2 floors: the first is the store and offices, and the second is the offices, with the two protagonists of the center: the observatory and the planetarium. Each of these is located in the imaginary foci of the ellipse formed by the plant, recognizable by two domes at the ends of the building.

The project seeks to maintain continuity with the landscape by proposing a plant cover. The exterior finishes of the building show a dialogue with the construction systems used in the region using materials from nearby buildings.

The lower level deck near the neighboring parcels is vegetated, adding a natural element that helps integrate the project into the existing site landscape. The dome of the projection room is covered with a light gray PVC membrane, which reduces its visual impact and improves the path of the ramp that winds around the façade.

In the project, importance is given to sustainability, which is why geothermal energy is supplied, which is used for both hot and cold seasons, and an intelligent natural ventilation system is also implemented.


Orionis by Snøhetta. Photograph by Jad Sylla.
 

Description of project by Snøhetta.

Situated on a remarkable site, between the adjacent Scarpe River, the archaeological museum Arkéos and a nearby residential complex, the project aims to harmoniously connect these elements and create an accessible and inspiring space for visitors. Snøhetta’s design is a unified building with curves that wrap around the two domes of the projection room and the observatory.

"The Planetarium is one of the first projects to be completely conceived, managed, and built by Snøhetta’s studio in Paris. We are extremely excited to showcase the Snøhetta approach for delivering high-quality cultural and educational buildings in France". ​

Oliver Page, Managing Director of Snøhetta’s studio in Paris.

In close collaboration with CET Ingénierie, Impact Conseil et Ingénierie, Cicanord, Studio Dap, and Atelier Silva Landscaping, Snøhetta has been working on the building since late 2019, seeing the project through from concept to construction. Orionis opened to the public on the 13th of May 2023.

Ellipse - a timeless and fluid concept

​“We wanted to propose an extraordinary meeting place and a new destination for the inhabitants of Douai. The architectural and urban concept of our project takes its inspiration from the elliptical movement of the stars. Being continuous, fluid, and perpetual are notions that we have reinterpreted in the project, not only in terms of the shape but also in the experience that visitors will have of the planetarium, all senses employed”.

Explains Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, co-founder of Snøhetta. ​

​​The concept of continuous movement has inspired the project throughout, defining everything from the reception area, the exhibition spaces, the amphitheater, and the domes of the building. The building is linked by a slightly inclined ramp, visible from the outside through the building’s partly translucent façade.


Orionis by Snøhetta. Photograph by Jad Sylla.

Integrated into the local environment
​The notion of timelessness is also found in the continuous movement of the Scarpe River and the surrounding landscape that weaves a physical and visual link to the planetarium. It is designed to integrate seamlessly with the Arkéos Museum and shares landscaped areas and parking lots intended to connect these two cultural entities. ​
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​The two domes aim to be a visual signal that can be seen from afar while not impacting the local neighborhood. Snøhetta’s goal was to reveal the building’s program and function from the exterior through its shapes.

Linking landscape to its surroundings ​
​The design of the outdoor spaces has two distinct characteristics; the surrounding landscape and an elliptical interior courtyard. Both help to create a coherent and contextualized cultural destination that takes advantage of the outstanding features of the site while integrating seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.
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​The landscape is designed to promote biodiversity and integrates the materials present on the site. The garden has a continuous pathway that connects various outdoor spaces and the building. The path is paved with natural bluestone from Belgium, providing an additional layer of texture and visual expression. Also, plants and trees are strategically placed to integrate the parking spaces and the forecourt.


Orionis by Snøhetta. Photograph by Jad Sylla.
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​The roof is planted with wild grass, creating a natural and organic visual element that is highly visible inside the building. ​
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​Once inside the building, the planted and glazed patio is visible from all interior spaces and works as a calm outdoor space, providing a connection to the natural landscape outside.

Users at the heart of the project
​The design of the building addresses the needs of the many users maintaining a sense of coherence and continuity with the overall theme of the planetarium.
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​The visitor circuit flows smoothly from the entrance, through the gift shop and exhibition space, all the way to the immersive room. Then, the ramp gently brings the audience back down to the ground floor and towards the exit. ​
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​Specific areas have dedicated access to ensure that the flows do not intersect, such as the observatory area and offices on the first floor.


Orionis by Snøhetta. Photograph by Jad Sylla.

Materiality a key element
The planetarium's exterior envelope is inspired by the surrounding region and the materials used in nearby buildings such as the Arkéos Museum and brick houses. The project is composed of three main colors: the evolving wood color of the poplar, the rust color of the steel brise-soleils, and the light gray PVC membrane that covers the dome of the projection room.
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​The color of the steel panels in front of the curtain walls on the main façade and wood siding, both inspired by the Arkéos Museum, contribute to a cohesive design that blends with the environment.
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​The roof of the lower level near the neighboring parcels is vegetated, adding a natural element that helps integrate the project into the existing site landscape. The screening room dome is covered with a light gray PVC membrane, reducing its visual impact and enhancing the path of the ramp that winds around the façade.

Sustainability ambitions
​Sustainability played an important role in the design of the project. The heating for the showroom's floor is supplied by geothermal energy, and it provides heating for the building during the winter and cooling during the summer. Additionally, sensors are installed on multiple openings to allow for intelligent natural ventilation. Finally, the sunshades and the green roof also contribute to responsible regulation of the building's temperature and rainwater. Locally sourced materials were preferred to limit the carbon footprint and allow for a low environmental impact construction site.

More information

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Architects
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Collaborators
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Architecture and Interior Architecture.- Snøhetta. ​
​Building engineer.- CET Ingénierie.
​Environnemental engineer.- Impact Conseil et Ingénierie.
​OPC.- Cicanord. ​
​Acoustic engineer.- Studio Dap. ​
​Landscape.- Atelier Silva Landscaping and Snøhetta.
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Client
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Douasis Agglomeration.
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Area
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2000 sqm.
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Design start.- 2019.
End of project.- 2023.
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Location
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4533 Rte de Tournai, 59500 Douai, France.
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Snøhetta is an integrated architecture, landscape, and interior design company based in Oslo, Norway, and New York City, formed in 1989 and led by principals Craig Dykers and Kjetil Thorsen. The firm, founded in 1989, which is named after one of Norway's highest mountain peaks, has approximately 100 staff members working on projects around the world. The practice pursues a collaborative, transdisciplinary approach, with people from multiple professions working together to explore diverse perspectives on each project.

Snøhetta has completed several critically acclaimed cultural projects, including the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt; the National Opera and Ballet in Oslo, Norway; and the Lillehammer Art Museum in Norway. Current projects include the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at the World Trade Center site in New York.

In 2004 Snøhetta received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, and in 2009 the firm was honored with the Mies van der Rohe Award. Snøhetta is the only company to have twice won the World Architecture Award for best cultural building, in 2002 for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and in 2008 for the National Opera and Ballet in Oslo.

Snøhetta

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Published on: July 6, 2023
Cite: "New planetarium and observatory, Orionis by Snøhetta" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/new-planetarium-and-observatory-orionis-snohetta> ISSN 1139-6415
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