The National Research Institute for Astronomy & Geophysics
- Owner Culture, Social and Scientific Society (Dr. Soad Kafafy)
- Area 147 000 m2
- Cost 25 000 000 $
- Date September 1996
- Description Research Campus
- Service Planning, Design & Landscape for all stages, Detailed design, Construction management, Site supervision and project management for first stage.
Project Description
The National Institute for Astronomy and
Geophysics is one of the most important research institutes in Egypt. It is
located on Moqattam Plateau in Helwan. The complex has been planned and designed according to the concept of
environmental architecture. This project comprises 18 buildings, and has been
planned to accommodate future requirements. The main building accommodates the administration and the conference
center, comprising main conference hall and three smaller halls. The National Geophysics and Astronomy Research Center contains: The Main Building, Administrative Building, Exhibition & Sky Dome Building, Astronomy Department Building, Galaxy Department Building, Earthquake Department Building, Solar Research Department Building, Space Research Department Building, Gravity Department Building, Magnetism & Electricity
Building, Workshops & Garage Building, Stores Building, and Rest House. The competition was to design new premises, including all specialized
departments, computer center, main library, conference center, comprising main
conference hall for 500 persons, 3 secondary halls for 150 persons each, a
museum for geophysics, a planetarium, a hotel and visitor center and a small
sports and social club. The whole complex was designed to secure a comfortable environment both
inside buildings and inner spaces between them. All the buildings are served by a ring road that facilitates car parking
for each building. The design started by developing 3 alternatives and make an evaluation
between them then dictated the main form of the master plan. The master plan consists of a main spine extending from south east to
north west. The department buildings were designed as fingers branching out on both
sides of the spine. They are designed around a series of courtyards differing in size. This generates air movement between the
courts.
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