The design of an International School of Astronomy & Astro-Tourism Centre in Sutherland, Karoo

M. Tech. Architecture (Professional)Over the last decade, South Africa (RSA) has experienced a substantial growth in the field of astronomy and astrophysics. Post 2005, the largest optical telescope in the Southern hemisphere, known by its acronym, SALT, was constructed in RSA. It is expected that by 2024, this country will host the largest array of radio telescopes in the world, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). It could be argued that RSA is at the forefront of modern cosmological research. This exponential growth in the field of astronomy has resulted in local astronomical bodies and universities falling behind in astronomy education. This provides a unique opportunity to strengthen the latter. The aim of this dissertation is to design an International School of Astronomy and Astro-Tourism Centre. The proposed building aims to introduce a unique facility in the Northern Cape that would benefit the field of astronomy worldwide. The proposed facility is situated at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Sutherland. It is nested within the South-west-embankment of the mountain, currently hosting the Southern Africa Large Telescope (SALT). The resultant design takes on a linear building typology with radial aspects to document astronomical events. The project investigates the semi-arid Karoo climate and how the resultant architecture reacts to harsh environmental conditions