Observatory Showcases Simple Timber Design

Finding a good location for an observatory is tough in Britain due to the dense population and the resulting light/air pollution. That’s why the new Kielder Observatory chose a remote region in Northumberland, which offers clear skies and an uncluttered landscape perfect for star gazing. If you can handle the commute to the area, you will be rewarded by a beautifully designed all timber structure that houses both professional equipment and rooms for amateurs to enjoy the same views. The building itself is powered completely by a 2.5kw wind turbine and solar panels. What makes this project so inspiration is not simply the design, but the fact that it was built for only £415,000 (which we’re told is a good deal on an observatory). The Guardian details:

Barclay’s observatory is a happy balance between what appears to be little more than a simple, almost cartoon-like, timber gangway with some sheds on top and some fine technology inside, with the cranks and cogs needed for the telescope turrets sitting delightfully within the simple wooden walls, floors and ceilings. It is rather like being in an early Victorian steamship, especially in the dark, when the red lamps glow (red keeps light pollution to a minimum).

[via The Guardian]
(Also be sure to check out the gallery of other great observatories)