The approach to the pavilion, with the observatory dome beside it
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Options study · Unbuilt

Observatory, Planetarium and Sundial

Observatory, planetarium and museum
Existing pavilion reworked and extended
Design options, 2024

A headquarters for an astronomy club, made by reworking an existing single-storey pavilion and adding to it. A new planetarium and auditorium sinks into the ground beside the old building, with a museum and workshop on the level below, and a circular sundial doubles as an open-air amphitheatre for night-sky tours.

Accessible to everyone
A lift and gently ramped galleries link every level, so the planetarium, museum and observation deck are open to all visitors, with accessible toilets at the entry.
Powered by renewables
Solar panels on the pavilion roof power a building that runs by day and teaches about the sun.
Built to last
Reusing the existing pavilion saves the carbon of a new shell, and the brick additions need little maintenance.
The sundial amphitheatre seen from above, with the pavilion and dome beyond
The sundial amphitheatre
The pavilion, brick drum and observatory dome seen from the side
The pavilion and dome
Plan of the planetarium and auditorium level, with seating inside a circular drum, a lobby and display areas
Floor plan · Planetarium and auditorium level
Ground floor plan showing the lobby, library, two multi-use rooms, toilets and lift
Ground floor
Plan of the sundial and open-air amphitheatre
Sundial and amphitheatre
The brick drum that holds the planetarium Cutaway section through the planetarium and museum levels The entrance and car parking

Prepared as a pro bono options study to support a fund-raising round. Brenton has worked with community organisations on project funding and procurement, and it has been a pleasure to apply his architectural skills to a passion for all things astronomical.

Project team
Architect
Redshed Architects, Brenton Rasheed
Design team
Brenton Rasheed, sole designer
Client
A prominent astronomical organisation. Pro bono options study to support its fund-raising round

Sun study: shadows across the pavilion, observatory dome and sundial amphitheatre, from morning to afternoon.