Architecture Studio II 4.024 | MIT Architecture
March 2021
Instructor: Marlena Fauer
TA: Erin Wong
As mankind ventures further and further into space, continuously creating new technologies, many fear that we are losing our connection to the physical environment around us. This tension is examined through the combination of the sextant and the pyramids of Teotihuacan, two very different forms of observation.
While the sextant is small and portable, meant for a single user, Teotihuacan consists of massive climbable structures. The sextant is oriented only to the position of the sun and the horizon; Teotihuacan's pyramids are firmly grounded and aligned with physical landmarks. In short, one provides information while the other offers an experience.
In this project, the sextant is deconstructed and built to monumental scale. By exploding the instrument and scaling it up, using the sextant becomes a grounded, physical experience - users can walk on and around the different parts, which are rooted in their positions. The alignment of the sun becomes a community effort, as multiple people must work in parallel to manipulate the many component parts. In order to look into the sky, users must first experience the Earth around them, as they navigate their physical surroundings and obstacles.
Below are sketches detailing the processes of researching the sextant and Teotihuacan, as well as the evolution of the final design.
