Marine research institute and public aquarium

Abstract

The site chosen for the Marine Research Intitute and Aquarium is in Cox’s Bazaar, one of the prime tourist locations in our country. The project was envisioned as bringing new life to the waterfront area in which the site is located as well as providing a point of interest for the entire region itself. The lack of awareness regarding marine ecosystems even in professional sectors is a huge gap which remains due to the lack of resources and opportunity to further our knowledge of the Bay of Bengal. The site was choosen for its close proximity to the ocean due to the large supply of water that is required to maintain the Aquarium exhibits. The project was segregated into two sections, an administrative and research oriented section that was closed to the public and an exhibition space that was accessible to the general public. Case studies were carried out and the “Ozeaneum”, a German Oceanographic Museum was chosen as the overseas case study. The Ozeaneum was selected because of its strong formal expression and relation to context. “Modern Hatchery” is a local project that was chosen for the case study.