The Anti-Gravity Arch

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The Anti-Gravity Arch

Firm

Atelier Hanni Architecture [ AHA ! ]

Type

Commercial › Exhibition Center
Hospitality + Sport › Movie Theater
Cultural › Gallery Hall/Theater Cultural Center Museum Observation Tower
Educational › Auditorium
Landscape + Planning › Public Park
Transport + Infrastructure › Bridge

STATUS

Concept

SIZE

25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

| Project proposal for the "Urban Confluence Silicon Valley", an international open ideas competition, organized by The San Jose Light Tower Corporation (SJLTC).

In the heart of San Jose (CA, USA), at the confluence of the Guadalupe River and Los Gatos Creek, stands a glass and metal inclined arch, seeming to levitate over the greenery of Arena Green Park. The Arch’s bottom hosts workshops and exhibition spaces dedicated to ecology and the discovery of local nature. At its top, the «sky-theatre» is composed of two auditoriums with curved and glazed roofs, arranged around an observation terrace. All these activities are interconnected thanks to the «sky-journey ship», a panoramic elevator that runs through the arch’s curvature, offering users a unique experience of discovery.

How did we achieve the competition’s objectives?

-By celebrating the culture of innovation in Silicon Valley, through the use of two
technical achievements. The first concerns the form that draws an inclined arch that
seems to free itself from terrestrial gravity and levitate over the Green Arena Park.
The second is the “sky journey ship”, a panoramic elevator designed as a space-ship
that serves the project by taking a path which trajectory embraces the arch’s form,
following a 30° inclined curve. This elevator is constantly held in a horizontal position
thanks to a satellite 3D positioning system.

-By establishing a strong visual presence during the day, at night, and at distance
The project is a glass and metal colossus culminating at 200 feet that is in contrast
with the vegetated environment of the park, thus producing a strong visual impact.
We designed a lighting strategy to highlight the arch curved lines and to allow the
levitation illusion to persist during the night.

-By respecting environment:

The arch shape stems from the desire to preserve the park’s vegetation cover to the
fullest. The low floor-area ratio of the architectural object minimizes its impact on the
immediate environment. Otherwise, limiting the impact of artificial light on the
balance of the site’s biocenosis is among project’s priorities. We equipped the arch
with a control system, managing the periods, durations and lighting intensity in a way
that it doesn’t exceed the current one. We have also excluded white light sources that
are damaging to the fauna and flora. In order not to disturb birds on their migratory paths, the sky-oriented glass and metallized parts of the project were designed in such a way as to filter the emanating light from inner spaces of the project besides eliminating glare. We have also adjusted the lighting orientation by associating two types of covers, one glazed, sky-oriented, and the other one, opaque, oriented towards the two rivers’ banks, which has no light emanation and so no impact on the rivers’ ecosystem.

-By creating a world-wide iconic destination that builds civic pride:

More than an iconic object, it is also a tourist destination and a source of ecological
knowledge. It hosts workshops and exhibition spaces dedicated to the ecology and
the discovery of Silicon Valley’s nature. Moreover, the project’s attractiveness is
strengthened by the «Sky theatre», a monumental space placed at the arch’s top.

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The Anti-Gravity Arch

Other Projects by Atelier Hanni Architecture [ AHA ! ]

Audin Observatory Tower [AOT]

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The Anti-Gravity Arch

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Collaborating Firms

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The Anti-Gravity Arch

Other Projects by Atelier Hanni Architecture [ AHA ! ]

Audin Observatory Tower [AOT]

The WAHA

The Anti-Gravity Arch

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team