24/09/2025
Mountain-Fountain-Sky, the proposal for Choquequirao Museum-Hostel in Peru design competition 2025
*Background*
Simplify Lhe Inca cross, Lhe chakana, which represents Lhe cosmology and worldvicw of Lhe Incas. Keep the central hole, symbolising the sun or a portal to the unknown, and simplify the 4 stepped corners of Lhe cross, representing the cnrdinal directions of the Chakana, into a closed circle, representing the mountarn around the core space.
*Solar*
In Inca architecture, there are three import,mt sofor directions in the course of lhe year. Firstly, lhc ecrumox. Secoudly, the summer solstice. And the most important is the winter solstice, the Inti Raymi, the New Year of the Incas. The course of the sun is therefol'e an important aspect of the prnposal, so 3 land1narks were el'cated in the central space to coincide with these special times.
*Sky and Lunar*
The proposal also envisages a round pond in the centre of the circular comtyard, in which the sky is reflected to create a connection between earth and sky. The pond is also intended to provide a fresh feeling for visitors who are tiJ-ccl from the long journey. The pond was created with a waterfall that runs in the direction of the winter solstice to cmpha5i5e the importance of the course of the sun. The bouom of the pond is also indined so that the surface of the water takes on the shape of a moon depending on the water level at full, gibbous and crescent moons, which is why the proposal is also called Lunar Pond.
