ARCHITECTURE
Opened on the 14 th February 2003, the largest marine complex in the whole of Europe is shown to the world as a unique space in the form of a journey through the seas and oceans of our planet to show visitors its most outstanding marine ecosystems.
Its avant-garde architecture, the arrangement of the various aquariums, and its scientific, leisure, and educational vocation make the marine world more accessible to visitors and make them aware of the need for protecting its fauna and flora.
- Surface area of 110,000 square metres.
- One of the largest dolphinariums in the world with 26 000 cubic metres of water and a depth of 10.5 metres.
- 6,761 square metres of methacrylate panels of up to 33 centimetres thick.
- 150,000 cubic metres of concrete and 15,000 tons of steel.
- Over 25 kilometres of piping with diameters ranging from 1.4 centimetres to 1.3 metres.
The Oceanogràfic is made up of different buildings that contain the most significant ecosystems representations of each planet's seas and oceans. A spectacular sphere 26 metres in height, this space simulates two of the most singular wetland areas on the planet: mangrove swamps and fens. A large dome by way of an igloo represents the Arctic region. Underwater Restaurant, located in the centre of the complex, is the most emblematic building of the Oceanogràfic owing to its unique roof designed by Felix Candela. It represents a paraboloid figure similar to that of a water lily, and contains a large aquarium on the ground floor that fits perfectly into the whole of its perimeter.
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