SIFTING LIGHT
Project Site: Chankillo Desert, Peru |2022
Advanced Studio | Critic: Sunil Bald
Located in the Peruvian coastal desert, Chankillo is and archaeoastronomical complex that features thirteen solar observatory towers and a fort located on a hilltop built some 2,300 years ago. The thirteen towers, forming an artificial horizon and marking the solar cycles, stand as a testimony of human’s long history of astronomical practices. With excavation and preservation efforts from a team of dedicated archeologists, Chankillo was recently recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This project, situated on the edge of Chankillo, offers the desert a museum and education center, archeology research facilities, a shelter for overnight camping and a long-term dwelling quarter for the archeologists.
Making use of the mild, arid climate, this building compound is made up of volumes built with Peruvian adobe, light roofs made of steel structure and fabrics. It embraces the solar cycles, sand, and changing sky of Chankillo desert, creating a rich visceral experience with a humble structure.
Left: Concept Drawing.
The building concept is initially inspired by the experience of archeology discoveries. The desert of Chankillo contains endless ceramic shards from the past. When the earth moves, it spits out pieces of thousand-year-old ceramic shards - the desert is full of them. The experience of meanderiing in sand through extremely precious yet abundant archeology wonders connects one to the past of Chankillo in a material, physical way.
At the same time, the soft, thread grids used by archeologists to document exact site conditions and make accurate culculations creates a effective contrast, adding rigor to the visceral ruins.
Left: Concept Drawing.
The building concept is initially inspired by the experience of archeology discoveries. The desert of Chankillo contains endless ceramic shards from the past. When the earth moves, it spits out pieces of thousand-year-old ceramic shards - the desert is full of them. The experience of meanderiing in sand through extremely precious yet abundant archeology wonders connects one to the past of Chankillo in a material, physical way.
At the same time, the soft, thread grids used by archeologists to document exact site conditions and make accurate culculations creates a effective contrast, adding rigor to the visceral ruins.
FORTIFIED
TEMPLE RUIN
OBSERVATION
POINT
SOLAR
OBSERVATION
TOWERS
PROJECT
LOCATION
ROAD THROUGH
CORNFIELD
Above: Site Plan. The site of chankillo is surrounded by endless hills to the north, south and west. But to the east, over a row of dunes and carob trees, is a valley with rich vegetations and agriculture fields. An existing road runs through the Casma Valley, connecting local inhabitants to the archaeological site.
Branching off from this road, the building compound sits at the entrance of Chankillo site and close to the local residents.
With as little disturbance to the main archeology sites as possible, this building compound is not only where one encounters the archeology wonders of chankillo, but also where one returns to after a day of explorations and discoveries.
Mirroring the experience of archeology discoveries, the programmatic volumes create a meandering experience through the desert, revealing the site of Chankillo with every turn of corner.
A soft grid covers the volumes, creating a roof that resonates with both the archeologists’ tools and the makeshift roofs often used to shelter archeology sites.
The roofs divide up and mark the four parts of the compound: Museum and education center; archeology research facilities; a shelter for overnight camping; a long-term dwelling quarter for the archeologists.
Below: Model of the building compound at 1:200 scale, with and without the roof.
A rendering of the entrance to the museum. The roofs also extend beyond the indoor volumes, allowing life to spill out, making space for covered open-air activities.
A rendering of the researchers' walk to the archeology research center.
The viewing deck on the roof of the museum connects the public programs with the enclosed archeology research center. The viewing deck provides a view into the museum collections as well as the desert, and also offers a glimpse of the wonders of archeology work conducted inside the preservation labs.
Below: Model of the building compound at 1:200 scale, revealing the overlap between the museum and the research center.
A rendering of the conservation lab.
The outdoor shelter for overnight visitors and dwelling quarter for the researchers are located on a hill, away from the museum and research center. The distance creates a sense of "commuting to work" for the researchers, providing a comfortable stay away from work on this desert, their work site.
A rendering of the covered area for the overnight visitors - an outdoor cooking and dining area is provided here, sharing a roof with the shower and bathroom volume.
A rendering of the communal lounge for the researchers to enjoy the sunset after a long day of work.
A rendering of the living quarter on site.
A rendering of the building compound, from the observation deck towards the Chankillo Desert.
Below: Model of the building compound at 1:200 scale.
