Fall 2015. George Proctor. O’Neill Observatory Regional Park Observatory.

The O’Neill observatory is programmed to provide for the year-round residence of two biologists tasked with the preservation of the regional park located in Orange County, California.

Situated on a sloping site in the lowland, the observatory requires a high elevation for the biologists to observe and record data, while necessitating that the building has the most minimal impact on the site possible. A tower houses the scientists’ program, while a shaded enclosure creates a gathering space for educational programs. The site is graded lightly along the topography, while the grid of the shaded enclosure is juxtaposed against the slope of the topography and the orientation of the tower. The project creates a pass-through condition for visitors.

In order to passively cool the building, a mechanical skin is engineered for the enclosed educational area. It allows for a fine control of porosity for light both in terms of intensity and height-datum. Allowing to shade different faces of the building differently, the position of the governing louvers can be programmed, and the building adjusts the position of the skin throughout the day, maintaining an adequate temperature and sunlight exposure.