Douai, France

Drawing inspiration from the elliptical and continuous movement of the stars, Snøhetta and Atelier Silva Landscaping have created an accessible and inspiring space for visitors, following a timeless and fluid architectural concept.

A gently sloping ramp visible from the exterior through the partly translucent facade connects the different levels.

For its part, the elliptical central courtyard provides a focal point within the complex, allowing cross-views between different spaces.

“​We wanted to propose an extraordinary meeting place and a new destination for the inhabitants of Douai,” states Snøhetta’s Co-Founder Kjetil Trædal Thorsen.

“The architectural and urban concept of our project takes its inspiration from the elliptical movement of the stars,” he adds.

“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.”

​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.

The visitor route is a smooth flow from the entrance to the immersion room, passing through the gift shop and the exhibition space.

The planetarium’s outer skin is integrated into the environment through the use of the same materials applied in nearby constructions, combining wood, the rust color of the steel parasols, and the light gray PVC membrane that coats the dome of the screening room.

Project: Orionis Planetarium and Observatory
Architects: Snøhetta AS
Landscape Architects: Atelier Silva Landscaping
Environmental Engineer : Impact Conseil et Ingénierie ​
Photographers:  Jad Sylla