# Telescope-Resembling Planetariums The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium in Montreal Looks High-Tech By Jamie Danielle Munro | Published 2014-05-12 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/planetariums References: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/architecture/cardin-ramirez-julien-aedifica-rio-tinto-alcan-planetarium-05-12-2014/) & [cardinramirezjulien](http://www.cardinramirezjulien.com/fr/) Planetariums come in a variety of shapes and sizes, which is exactly what Cardin Ramirez Julien and Aedifica experimented with for the design of the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium. The design looks like two telescopes peering up towards the sky. DesignBoom states that "the team emphasizes an intimate connection to nature in the visitor’s experience. Starry skies are typically viewed outside of urban areas. Thus, the intent was to implement the essential qualities of the outdoors into the building’s design." Given that the structure was built in Montreal, the second largest city in Canada, gazing up into a starry sky tends to be difficult. Moreover, the distinct cone shapes also help to distinguish the building from the surrounding architecture, which is difficult to compete with. Photo Credits: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/architecture/cardin-ramirez-julien-aedifica-rio-tinto-alcan-planetarium-05-12-2014/), [cardinramirezjulien](http://www.cardinramirezjulien.com/fr/) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.4/10 - Popularity: 2% | Activity: 1% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/architecture) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Telescope-like Architecture:** There are opportunities to experiment with telescopic architecture to create unique and intimate building experiences that connect visitors to nature. - **Nature-inspired Design:** Designers can take inspiration from nature to implement essential qualities of the outdoors into building designs to create immersive experiences for visitors. - **Distinctive Architecture:** Unique architecture, such as the telescope-like structure of the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, can help distinguish buildings from surrounding architecture and create a memorable experience for visitors. ### Who This Affects Most - **Architecture:** Architecture firms can experiment with nature-inspired designs and incorporate distinctive features into their designs to create unique and memorable building experiences. - **Tourism:** Tourism companies can invest in unique and distinctive architecture, such as telescope-like planetariums, to create one-of-a-kind experiences for visitors. - **Education:** Educational institutions can invest in nature-inspired and immersive designs to create engaging and memorable learning experiences for students. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Miniature Astronomy Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tiny-planetarium.md) - [Domed Underground Sports Centers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alma-complex.md) - [Crystal-Clear Smart Telescopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-telescopes.md) - [Immersive Dome Exhibit](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lumisphere-experience.md) - [Smart Personal Observatory Telescopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vaonis-hyperia.md) - [Sun-Inspired Disc-Topped Museums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/science-island-museum.md) - [App-Controlled Smart Telescopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/evscope-equinox-2.md) - [Galactic-Themed Sci-Fi Museums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/star-cloud.md) - [Remote Viewing Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/telepresence-observation-pavilion.md)