Earth Hourglass

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Area: 24.000 m²

Year: 2019

Type: Cultural

Involvement Level: Architecture, Competition Project

The main concept of the Memorial Complex is to immerse visitors in the significance of Man's influence on the environment through physical interaction with space and relief.

The design of the building carries the DNA of traditional architecture from ancient Egypt. The simplicity and symbolism of the form are the basis of the visual image. In the memorial complex, the ideology of Low-Tech architecture works in conjunction with elements of multimedia and green technology.

The construction of the building and technological solutions provide for the use of sand and soil from the site in the construction of the facility. The use of Stabilized Rammed Earth (SRE) technology, in conjunction with reinforced concrete, minimizes the transportation of building materials, thereby reducing environmental impact. Soil remnants are used in forming the landscape around the memorial complex.

The complex interacts with the environment and can be completely autonomous. Planning and technological solutions are applied, taking into account the geographical features of the site, its location, and the climatic conditions of the region. The basic principles of ventilating the complex are based on the use of traditional architecture schemes from the Middle East. The inverted pyramid at the center of the composition is heated during hot days, and the ascending flows of heated air, together with the expansion of the pyramid towards the top, create a low-pressure area. This formed draft draws air through the central opening of the dome. Air enters from the gorges of the ramp and the long staircase, which are always in the shade and maintain the coolness accumulated at night.

The exposition is built on a system of ramps and various spaces. Visitors are guided along a route that tells the story of the Earth's formation, five major mass extinctions of living organisms, the history of the emergence of Man, and its impact on the environment (the occurrence of the informal term Anthropocene). A smooth ramp with a gradient descent of 4.8 degrees allows for accessibility by individuals with disabilities and those with low mobility.

Passing along the route, visitors comfortably descend through the ramp system to the large hall under the Dome, where they are immersed in an information field devoted to Man's excessive consumption and its impact on the environment. The exit from the hall leads to the Long Staircase, which ascends to the top and serves as an allegory for the arduous journey towards restoring ecology.

Over time, the dome hall will change, reflecting themes such as excessive human consumption, natural recovery, environmental technology, and human achievements in restoring the Earth's ecosystem and preventing environmental disasters.