The Ark is the centrepiece of the Earth Centre. It's a lightweight enclosure
covering 10.000m2 of space to be completed at the end of the year 2001.
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The Ark is a vast exhibition hall housing a wide range of exhibits on the theme of a sustainable future. An exhibition translating ideas, research and world events into a languange understandable for many. “What our communities demand from us today is a new architecture. An architecture which fits a new attitude to nature. An architecture that is soft and organic, to enclose the energy efficient, non-polluting technologies of the 21st century.”
The Ark aims to express these ideals in a built form that will act as an exemplar to mark the beginning of the next millennium. The building is conceived as a brightly coloured hovering butterfly-like form, creating a harmony with the newly restored landscape. The roof creates a single span under which the exhibits are arranged on three free-form floors connected by generously planned stairs and lifts. Hundreds of highly coloured shell-like forms create a living, breathing skin of energy generating photovoltaic panels allowing almost the entire building to be naturally lit.
A system of natural and mechanical ventilation ensures the Ark will become a showcase for sustainable design principles, demonstrating innovative techniques for the passive and active use of natural resources.
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