Overview
When was the last time you saw the stars in the sky? How many children can identify Orion’s belt? Light pollution has made engaging with the darkness of the night almost impossible for residents of dense cities. This environmental disturbance is a creation of human negligence and abuse of the accessibility of cheap light.
This thesis aims to address the preservation of our night sky and advance a theory of how conscious design can protect darkness.
Preamble
This thesis aims to answer why the preservation of our night sky is vital to our health and how architecture is responsible for making global changes in city centers' build environment. The following is a selection of research on Attention Restoration theory and the beneficial effects of the night on our physical and mental health. Finally, this thesis aims to present a design to reduce and control light pollution by educating the public through an observatory at Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve.
Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve
Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve is a conservation area and dark-sky preserve in the District Municipality of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada. The reserve consists of Crown Lands in the municipalities of Gravenhurst and Muskoka Lakes. It is notable as the first dark-sky preserve in Canada and for its geological and environmental features.
The location and topography make the Torrance Barrens a suitable location for night-time sky viewing opportunities. There is no light pollution of nearby cities, and the reserve is mostly surrounded by undeveloped private lands and other parks, allowing it to retain the natural darkness of the night. Because of its barren bedrock, telescopes and cameras can be stationed on a solid base, immune to vibrations. Furthermore, the natural open spaces and lack of surrounding high hills provide an unobstructed panorama of the sky and horizon.
