Massar Children’s Discovery Centre

The Massar Discovery Centre in central Damascus, was designed to house this NGO’s interactive learning experiences. Massar was established as a national organisation in 2005 to empower young Syrians to contribute actively in shaping their communities and future.

Nighttime aerial view of a modern, illuminated architectural building with curved, flowing design surrounded by trees and a park with pathways and lights.

Location
Damascus, Syria

Completed
2006-2011

Client
Syria Trust for Development

Satellite view of a construction site and surrounding roads, buildings, and parks in an urban area.

Our Director, Anne Marie Galmstrup, was the project architect and driving force behind this building project between 2006-2011 while at HLA. She relocated to Damascus to provide the essential coordination between the client team, Governorate officials, local architect, contractors and overseas exhibit designers, as well as specifying the procurement route for the buildings, public realm and arts & craft programme.

Interior of a large, modern building with children and adults, colorful globe decorations, and spiraling staircase with sunlight streaming through the ceiling.
Children playing outside a modern architectural building with geometric patterns and a large curved roof.
Galmstrup Children’s Discovery Centre 83_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition - Materiality
Interior view of a modern architectural building with concrete walls, a large spiral staircase, and a glass ceiling designed like a floral pattern. People are walking and gathering inside the space.
Galmstrup Children’s Discovery Centre 84_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition - Materiality
Galmstrup Children’s Discovery Centre _86_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition - Materiality
Galmstrup Children’s Discovery Centre _85_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition - Materiality

Context

The design of the building, known locally as the Massar Rose, comprises a series of curved petal walls layered around a central atrium and orientation space. The top-to-ground sequence of six main hands-on exhibition levels varies in size, width, height and the whole building sits within a public park also designed as a learning environment. The building’s envelope consists of internal clay- plastered walls speckled with indirect daylight, and an external facade relief of local limestone creating dramatic shadows from the strong sunlight and improving the thermal mass.

Galmstrup Children’s Discovery Centre _88_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition - Materiality

History

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Galmstrup Children’s Discovery Centre _89_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition - Materiality

Engagement

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