Piranesi’s Campo Marzio overlayed with the observable constellations. These constellations were used to determine the exact positioning for each room and observation deck.
This theoretical studio reimagines Piranesi’s version of ancient Rome by asking students to create large-scale cabinets of curiosities. Students could choose any collection and design any way to house them. The Planetary Panopticon was designed to collect and observe science fiction stories. If the universe were truly infinite, then theoretically, every possible arrangement of matter would exist somewhere—including exact replicas of the planets found in classic sci-fi books. The Panopticon utilizes telescopic technology to observe and monitor these planets, stars, and celestial bodies. This colossal structure stands as a testament to humanity’s insatiable curiosity about the cosmos and innate wish to control it.
Section through the observatory and basement viewing rooms. Piranesi believed that multiple versions of Rome existed and there was an inverted version of the city suspended below. This theory influenced the design for the basement levels of the building.
Collages showing the construction of the building's central telescope and how it works to record scenes from planets before projecting the views into the building.
The structure is placed within Piranesi’s Campo Marzio plan at the Sundial Piazza. This space is inherently derived from a precise alignment with celestial movements, especially the sun’s position, which is why it can be repurposed for orienting and viewing galaxies at night. The addition of an observatory-like space honors the piazza’s historical connection between astronomy, timekeeping, and viewing orbiting bodies. In this reinvention of Rome, a telescope is raised instead of St. Peter’s obelisk. This operation was a feat of engineering requiring 900 men using 140 horses and 40 winches to slowly and precisely raise the obelisk into place. In this project, there is still a sense of wonder and power on display while the panopticon is constructed.
Section model depictng the glass lens material the building is made of.
Inside the panopticon lies a web of interconnected rooms, each dedicated to viewing a unique planet. These rooms are self-contained observatories with walls and ceilings made entirely of lenses, creating an unobstructed and immersive view of the given planet or galaxy. The lenses are composed of advanced materials that can adapt to the intensity of light and provide crystal-clear, distortion-free images. Within each observatory room is also a sophisticated tracking system to continuously monitor and record what is happening on the surface of each planet. The vast network of sensors and telescopes ensures that nothing in the universe escapes its gaze.
The panopticon is able to record all planets simultaneously and project the views within observatory rooms of the building.
