It just doesn't seem right to visit a gargantuan inland building to learn about the ocean's creatures, so one situated adjacent to a body of water presents little advantage either. As is too rarely attempted, the Aquaria Floating Pavilion aims to infiltrate the underwater world, allowing visitors to best observe and appreciate fascinating sea species in a much more natural habitat.
Pat Panupaisal's design is an imaginative piece of architecture that consists of white weblike pods housing an interactive program, all tied in together by a central spine. This fibrous structure weaves above and below the surface of the water, integrating tidal bridges between the different spaces, cyclically becoming submerged and exposed with the fluctuating swell of the sea. The organically latticed Aquaria Floating Pavilion encloses an Aquaditorium for viewing live animals and a Skeletorium of marine life skeletons.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Underwater Architecture
- Opportunity for architects and engineers to design and construct innovative structures that integrate with the natural underwater world.
- Interactive Ocean Education
- Opportunity for education and tourism industries to enhance their offerings through interactive programs and exhibits that allow visitors to best observe and appreciate fascinating sea species in their natural habitat.
- Eco-tourism
- Opportunity for tourism industry to capitalize on the trend towards environmentally conscious travel by offering unique, sustainable, and immersive experiences that showcase the beauty and importance of our oceans.
Where This Applies
- Architecture
- Opportunity for architects to create innovative structures that integrate with the natural underwater world, such as underwater hotels and restaurants.
- Education
- Opportunity for educators to enhance their offerings with interactive ocean education programs that enable students to experience marine life in their natural habitat.
- Tourism
- Opportunity for the tourism industry to develop and promote eco-tourism experiences that provide unique, sustainable, and immersive experiences that showcase the beauty and importance of our oceans.
