Project description:

The project entails the conception, development, construction and operation of an aquarium – Azores Aquarium® – with facilities that will raise the venture to the level of a world class, nationally recognised theme park in the Azores. As one of the main pillars of tourist development, it will also promote the infrastructure essential for the kind of tourist entertainment envisioned for the region.

As the Azores is an archipelago in which the ocean is part of its secular culture, we believe that the project fits into the future proposals envisioned for this area in all aspects of knowledge, entertainment, promotion and research.

The architectural project is situated in Portas do Mar in the city of Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Portugal. Its location is crucial to the success of the project.

The aim of this project is to create a unique facility in the region – one that is scientific, cultural and recreational in nature and a strong catalyst for tourism – that recreates the region’s aquatic world and strengthens its educational and environmental aspects.

A series of exhibitions, visualised using live, dynamic models and multimedia, will provide added value to our understanding of the vast, extensive knowledge related to the biodiversity and richness of the region’s marine life.

The building itself is intended to be a landmark, whether for its bold, contemporary architecture, modern materials and transparencies and reflections; its environmental and energy sustainability, which is increasingly necessary and important; or its convenient location near the cruise ship terminal and city/region.

This building presents a route that invites the visitor to get to know/discover the region’s different marine species through aquariums and multimedia exhibitions located throughout its entire course. The visitor can also watch documentaries and films, and participate in conferences/workshops in the central auditorium. In the second part of the route, they will be able to “feel”, to enjoy an experience with dolphins, by seeing them in their aquatic environment, watching short, live shows and perhaps even interacting with these animals.