As inhabitants of earth, humans have always been striving to understand, experience, and explore nature. By Merging science and nature through design, Synergy creates an experience for this exploration. It is a research and recreation center that focuses on environmental, and geologic studies.
The functions include museum halls, library, auditorium, restaurant, research laboratories and offices, and more. The main focus of this proposal is to create a space that not only strengthens The UAE in the field of geology, but also, invites the users into learning, and interacting.
The functions include museum halls, library, auditorium, restaurant, research laboratories and offices, and more. The main focus of this proposal is to create a space that not only strengthens The UAE in the field of geology, but also, invites the users into learning, and interacting.
The design philosophy is based mainly on interaction, and exploration of potential interactive environments. The spaces such as library and lounges are designed in order to increase interaction between users, while the interior design of the majority of the spaces is reminiscent of forms found and evolved in nature through evolution.
The concept follows the design philosophy for creating maximum interaction between spaces, both horizontally and vertically while visually creating a tension between the vertical and the horizontal. This is to achieve walkable slopes using tensile, and rheotomic surfaces. Being inspired by illustrations of Sir D’arcy Thompson on growth and form, and usage of grids and nodes both in these illustrations and rheotomic surfaces, this horizontal and vertical tension was achieved in spaces such as the staircase, and more.
The structure chosen is an underground winery which blends in with the proposed site which is jebel hafeet. This site provides ample research opportunities while simultaneously offering a connection to nature for visitors.
The main focal point of the project is the staircase (The Link) which connects all levels together. It is inspired by the topographic formation of lands and follows the idea of minimal surfaces in achieving walkable slopes. The Link is located at the center of the project and links interactive spaces such as the library, display areas, and lounges. The steps offer spaces for sitting, reading, and interacting while maintaining a visual and physical connection to the rest of the spaces through voids and bridges.
The structure chosen for this project is Antinori Winery, By Archea Assosiati, which is an underground structure that blends in with the landscape. The site chosen is Jebel Hafeet Mountains, Al Ain, UAE. The reason behind this choice is creating a space that not only blends in with its environment and nature, but also, provides ample research opportunities. Through the design phase of this project, some alterations were made to the actual structure to make this space more suitable for the proposed function. The project consists of three overall floors and a mezzanine level above the first floor for the temporary displays. The first floor consists of Museum display halls, reading/lounge areas, meeting/lecture spaces, minor offices, storage spaces, and bathrooms. The museum flow follows a chronological order with displays such as fossils, holograms with virtual ocean and land images, minerals display, and more. The second floor consists of the library, restaurant, auditorium, minor offices, bathrooms, storage spaces, and an outdoor seating space overlooking the mountains. The third floor is dedicated to research laboratories, offices, staff lounges and more. The laboratories are mostly modular spaces that could change with the users' daily change of needs.
One of the other main features of the space is the tunnel designed for display of minerals and precious/semi-precious stones. The tunnel is dimly lit using special lighting for the display of these elements. This space is reminiscent of underground mines and is also inspired by forms that evolve in nature through time.
Physical Model of The Link
Concept Model
The concept model which is an experimental tensile module elaborates the bridging of the surfaces (slabs) to achieve walkable slopes as circulation spaces, while maintaining the interior functions in between. The nodes are connected together to form the links within slabs.
