Pyramid shaped observatories There are some pyramid shaped observatories around the world, like the Solar Lab Pyramid in the Canary Islands or The Pyramid International Laboratory in Nepal.

I was wondering, why a pyramid? Because of its relative stability, or is there something else?



below: Solar Lab Pyramid in the Canary Islands.



below: The Pyramid International Laboratory in Nepal.
Both are solar observatories, and so have different requirements from conventional telescopes. 

The sloping sides may allow for smoother air flow around the building, as heating during the day causes air to rise, which affects the resolution of the image. Also the pyramid is structurally strong (useful when you have a building on top of a mountain) and attractive, echoing she shape of the mountains. The Nepali observatory uses the flat walls to mount photovoltaic cells.