# Pockmarked Monolithic Museums The Zoo Basel Ozeanium Looks Like an Eroded Underwater Boulder By Amelia Roblin | Published 2013-01-14 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zoo-basel-ozeanium References: [plusmood](http://plusmood.com/2012/12/hhf-and-burckhardtpartner-win-2nd-prize-for-the-ozeanium-in-brazil/) & [burckhardtpartner.ch](http://www.burckhardtpartner.ch/en/current-projects.html) You really would feel as though you're entering a completely different world when you step inside the Zoo Basel Ozeanium. The enormous monolithic edifice is a competition entry for the new ocean-focused aquarium in Switzerland. It houses four primary exhibition spaces to expose visitors to the Deep Blue, Kelp Forests, the Polar Coast and Mangroves and Corals. The [monumental rock-like structure](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nature-rocks-visitor-centre) has big spherical voids hollowed out of its interior to accommodate these sections. Between them are high vaulted atriums that make circulation throughout the building easy for those one foot, with strollers and in wheelchairs. Circular cutouts and [transparent bubble-like protrusions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drifting-stones) offer astonishing views into the Zoo Basel Ozeanium's many well-populated tanks of mammals, fish, birds and plants. the HHF and [Burckhardt + Partner](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brutalist-school) project was executed with such imagination that it would certainly inspire its guests. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.0/10 - Popularity: 48% | Activity: 34% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: South America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/architecture) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Monolithic Structures:** There is an opportunity to create unique and visually captivating buildings for various industries, such as museums and aquariums, using monolithic structures with hollowed-out interiors. - **Circular Cutouts:** Circular cutouts and bubble-like protrusions create eye-catching architectural features that can be incorporated into innovative building designs. - **Ocean Education:** The creation of ocean-themed museums and aquariums offers an opportunity to educate people on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Museums:** Creating monolithic structures with circular cutouts and transparent bubble-like protrusions can provide a visually captivating experience to museum-goers and inspire future museum designs. - **Aquariums:** Incorporating monolithic structures with unique architectural features, such as circular cutouts and transparent protrusions, can offer visitors a captivating and educational experience at aquariums and boost attendance. - **Architecture:** Using the concept of monolithic structures and incorporating circular cutouts and bubble-like protrusions can inspire future innovative building designs and revolutionize the way we think about architecture and construction. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Rustic Ruin-Inspired Aquariums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-sea-of-cortez-research-center.md) - [Beautifully Sculptural Concrete Museums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lusail-museum.md) - [Cave-Inspired Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cave-bureau.md) - [Kilometer-Long Museums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zaishui-art-museum.md) - [Perforated Granite-Detailed Museums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chengdu-natural-history-museum.md) - [Brutalist Museum Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cantabrian-maritime-museum.md) - [Swept Roof Underground Museums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/deep-time-palace.md) - [Digital Marine Habitats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nereid-marine-habitat.md) - [Infinity Loop-Shaped Museums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yohoo-museum.md)