Arrakis Meteorological

Dusty with a Chance of Sandworms

The meteorological station as a building type could take advantage of weather not only as a practical concern but also as a metaphor for a formal language.   A meteorological station on Arrakis also has to contend with sand worms, dictating that the site be on the edge of a cliff.   This adds a unique condition since the ground plane is both horizontal (ground) and vertical (cliff).  The form of this building can take advantage of this condition by blurring the line between plan and section, roof plan and elevation, horizontal and vertical.

The sky begins where the earth ends. This is the joint between the earth and the sky. Upon entry one descends into a cavernous area underground but yet both inside and outside.  As the user descends below the ground plane, they will encounter the view along the south side of the spiral (stair), before emerging from the (vertical plane) of the ground.  The cylinder forming the ceiling above sweeping into a wall loosely references the curve of the sky.