My first step was to create a Pinterest board for design ideas and inspiration or general vibes: https://pin.it/7idDoFsqa
I imagine the Learning and Exhibition Center reflecting sustainability elements of the built environment with interactive activities for people of all ages and abilities to engage with at the same time. A frustration with similar places I’ve been to, like natural history or science museums, is that they are sectioned off by kids and adult, so just one age group can learn and enjoy at a time.
I really love stepping into a space and feeling like I’m somewhere else—have a really strong theme—so that would be something to explore in design. Additionally, I want to dampen the sound of other visitors, so it feels neither lonely nor overwhelming.
I’m imagining lots of greenery, natural soft lighting, and an atrium. Also, an intuitive way of moving about the space to find where exhibits, the cafe, entrances and exits, are.
Design Inspirations
- Incorporating natural elements like green walls, indoor gardens, and water features to connect visitors with nature.
- An atrium resembling a cave or canyon, with natural light streaming in.
- Elevated walkways and interconnected exhibition spaces that mimic the experience of moving through a forest canopy.
- Earth walls, reclaimed wood, curved concrete facade to create a tactile, immersive experience that feels sustainable.
Big Design Ideas
- Zones designed for all ages to explore together, such as multi-level interactive exhibits or shared learning pods.
- Feel like a natural extension of the hill, with terraces or green roofs that blend into the environment and big windows that welcome in the sky and light.
- Using sound-absorbing materials to create a calm yet social atmosphere.
- Visual cues and intuitive pathways to help visitors effortlessly find their way.
- Creating distinct themed areas (e.g., ocean, forest, urban ecosystems) that let visitors feel like they are stepping into different examples of sustainability.
Innovative Building / System Features
- Greenery: purify air, regulate temperature, and dampen sound.
- Smart glazing windows that adjust tint and transparency based on lighting needs and energy efficiency.
- Interactive solar panels: perhaps paths embedded with solar panels that light up as visitors walk. Or a nighttime glow feature powered by a day of PV charging—learning opportunity.
- Kinetic installations (like bikes or stepping pads) that generate electricity for exhibits.
- An architectural feature that collects and channels rainwater, doubling as an exhibit on water sustainability.
- Microclimate zones (e.g., humid, arid) that simulate diverse ecosystems. I’m thinking of the butterfly exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences.
