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Nano Centre

Part 2 Project 2008
Olga Banchikova
 Moscow Architectural Institute | Russia
As any other advanced technology, nanoscience has a visible impact on many areas of life. Fear and high hopes pinned on nanotechnology, futuristic concepts of high-end companies and bright medical perspectives have recently become a substantial social phenomenon, which is worth considering and responding with the means of architecture.
Visual references, which might be found under an electron microscope, are rather diverse. However it was possible to generalize some principles, like repetitive structures, lattice, patterns and frequent likeness between nano- and macro-scale objects, when they are viewed irrespective of the medium.
The design of headquarters for nanoscience succeeds to multiple references in the history of architecture as well as the newest scientific achievements have become possible only due to the consistent progress of research. These are gothic buttresses, arabesques and other geometrical patterns, organic style and constructivism, classical antique organization of space, which assumes the changes of an object perception according to the changes of viewpoint.
The project of Nanocentre is aimed at creating an adequate and inciting image of today’s nanoscience, which would reflect different sides of the matter, represent the cutting edge of technology and stay relevant in the due course of social and scientific development, providing a flexible facility for ever changing requirements.



Though the position of nanoscience in present-day reality is more than widely discussed, the project in question is based on student’s genuinely novel research, dealing with technical, social and metaphysical sides of the matter. Originally developed program and construction have been crystallized from analysis of actual state of nanotechnologies, positive demands and mass expectations. The resulting solution brings together topological, social, physical, engineering and artistic approach to the integration of “nano” into the noosphere. The terminal design considers extreme scale differentials, infinite structural sequences, and functional requirements for interprocessing communication, shape, surface, interaction with environment, and resourcefully solves arising contradictions.
2008
The bridge to nanoworld.
Frequent structures and patterns of nanoscale.
Bunches of nanotubes form unconfined shapes by systematic inner structures.
The proper Klein unilateral surface requires one extra dimension, where we might dream to step via evolution of nanoscience.
Visual, technical, cultural site requirements for the Centre of Nanoscience.
Reinterpreting the Cleanroom’s, inner sanctum of nanoresearch, spacial positioning and interrelations. Program requirements in correspondence with exterior.
The concrete honeycomb with nano-dispersed reinforcement constitutes a load bearing and covering three-dimensional structure, which occasionally pierces the inner volume.
Sizes of hexagonal cells AND the tilting of virtual Klein surface, which “cuts”/bounds the lattice, vary accordingly to the function and requirements of inner spaces they refer to.
Highly transparent and penetrable, the building is pellucid where it openly communicates with environment and closed where it should preserve the solemnity of research and experiment.
Responsive to demands of the times, the multifunctional enveloping structure of the Nanoscience centre can sustainably host ever changing facilities due to independent space partitioning system.
In the beginning, entrance ramp works as a half-interior exhibition space with apertures looking into the Cleanroom, then goes through the whole building in a loop.
The Centre, referentially to architectural or scientific examples, might remind on the sequence of gothic buttresses or a terrifically zoomed particle structure.
Oddly shaped by the honeycomb structure, glazed openings offer views on the landmark and botanic garden.
The plicate building skin and light design are well corresponsive to human scale.
The unbreakable infinite sequence: from mega- to nano-scale. Still much to pursuit. Night view of the Centre.
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