2024 - North Sun

The North Sun Project designed to function as a natural history museum and a library provides a unique opportunity to blend education, exploration, and research. Natural daylight serves as the foundation in the design of this building, going beyond mere aesthetics to become an essential component blended with its functionality.

The concept of the building draws inspiration from the timeless navigation techniques of ancient sailors, who relied on the North Star to guide them through the darkness of the night. In a poetic twist, this concept is reimagined for the modern era, with the sun taking on the role of the North Star to guide people in the building. Just as sailors once looked to the North Star for direction, visitors to the building are guided by the glow of sunlight, which becomes their guide as they navigate in the building. The strategic placement of windows and skylights captures and directs sunlight into the building, creating a natural guidance that leads visitors from one area to another.

The skylight design aims to allow direct sunlight into the exhibition hall in different sizes. To ensure sunlight hits specific areas, movable reflective panels are placed at the edges of the windows. That reflects the sunlight to another layer with reflecting panels. These panels track the sun throughout the day, directing light precisely where needed. Additional reflective panels on the roof further focus the sunlight on specific areas, highlighting the sculptures. These panels can be manually adjusted to meet specific lighting needs. To manage heat and maintain comfort, thermochromic windows are used. These windows control the amount of near-infrared light entering the space, keeping the area cooler while still allowing visible light through. This setup not saves energy but also enhances indoor comfort.