THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM

Location: Baltimore , Maryland

Portrait : It is the most successful
aquarium in USA

Architect : Cambridge seven

associates.

Exhibits & Circulation :Pier 3 Pavillion :Each floor possesses several exhibits
that communicate a main theme. This
building also houses two large tanks,
one of which simulates an Atlantic
coral reef, and one of which simulates
the open ocean.

Level 1: Blacktip Reef

Level 2: Maryland: Mountains to the Sea
Level 3: Surviving Through Adaptation
Level 4: Sea Cliffs, Kelp Forest, Pacific Coral Reef, Amazon River
Forest
Level 5: Upland Tropical Rain Forest, Hidden Life
Pier 4 Pavilion :This smaller building, opened in 1990, features the marine mammal exhibit, which is
home to Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. It also holds a temporary exhibit on assorted
jellyfish called "Jellies Invasion: Oceans Out of Balance".

THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM

a) Site Surrounding :Site is surrounded mostly by the public
buildings like Baltimore museum of art ,
Baltimore city hall, Baltimore orioles museum.
b) Topography :The Aquarium is built on flat
terrain without any contours.
c) Link of site with surrounding :The site is connected
with E.Pratt St. road.
The site can be approached
from the inner Baltimore
harbor also through boat.
d) Structure in General :Building type
- low-rise building.
Foundation System - Pile foundation.
Faade Material Concrete and Glass.
The Aquarium has a striking contemporary
design.
The Aquarium is mainly constructed of
concrete, metal cladding, and glass. Space
frames are used to support the gigantic glass
curtain wall.
e) Water Body :
At the rear there is inner Baltimore bay. The
water for the aquarium is brought up from
this bay.
f) Climatic Considerations :

Program Plan

Section

Program Section

TARAPOREWALA AQUARIUM
Location : MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA
Portrait : It is one of the biggest and
oldest Aquarium in INDIA

Context : To study technical services

involved.

Taraporewala Aquarium is located on a plot area of 4369.05 sq. m facing the

Arabian Sea and in the Heart of South Mumbai. The aquarium is located on
ground floor.
The first floor houses library, research center and office of the department of
fisheries.
The second and third floor houses a canteen and a seafood sales center in
the compound.
The exhibits here comprise marine forms in the 18 tanks arranged along the
walls, while 9 tanks in the center of the hall contain freshwater life.
It follows that the fish exhibits at the aquarium are constantly changing and
so is their placement in the tanks.

Water Circulation System :

Overhead
tank

Pump
From sea

Settling
tank

Settling
tank

filters
Underground
Reserviors

Pump

The circulation in this aquarium is of closed type i.e. water once taken into the
system is used over and over again. From the display tanks it goes to the filtration
tank , where it passes through layers of sand, gravel and pebbles. Then it flows to
basement reservoir, from where it is pumps to the overhead tank from where it is
supplied to the respective tanks by gravity flow.
GROUND FLOOR PLAN

TARAPOREWALA AQUARIUM
Miscellaneous :

Service Corridor:
Service
corridor

Main hall

Tank

Surrounding the tanks at the back is a

service corridor for cleaning of tank
and maintenance. It is 1m wide and
aptly at a higher level than the display
floor to facilitate cleaning and
maintenance operations. It has a
separate entrance and is not clubbed
with genral display area. The service
area also houses quarantine or
holding tank.

Display:
Tank :
The tanks are of R.C.C shielded by a 32mm
thick clear glass. The walls at the back are
maintained rough with P.C.C coarse layers.
These layers actually facilitate fixing of
bacteria apart from projecting natural
scenery.

There are hand rails bordering the tank and

limit the movement of visitors and protect
the glass. Also each tank is coupled with a
display describing the respective species.

General Observation:
The site is well placed opposite to the
Arabian sea in the busy marine drive.
No place for parking is provided.
Entrance area is congested.
Has a monotonous display technique.
Hygiene is neglected and service
corridors are not maintained.
The toilet at the end has a common
entrance.
a) Site Surrounding :Opposite to the site is the marine drive.
There are some hospital and school buildings
around the aquarium.
b) Topography :The Aquarium is built on flat terrain without any contours.
c) Link of site with surrounding :Site is connected with the six lane concrete road .
d) Climatic Considerations:-

Lighting :
The display are lit by
overhead florescent
tubes as incandescent
types generate heat
and cause discomfort to
species. The visitor area
is unlit for creating the
ambiance.

e) Structure in General :
Building type
- low-rise building.
Foundation System - Raft foundation
Faade Material Concrete.

MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM

SEA WATER SYSTEM :
Location: MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA.
Portrait : It is the most successful
aquarium in USA
Context : To study Activities.
to study circulation pattern
To study general lighting
requirements.
Mission : To inspire conservation of
ocean.

In the oceans edge galleries, fresh seawater is

pumped continuously and directly from
Monterey Bay to maintain the great diversity of
plant and animal life in exhibits. The outer bay
galleries operate on a semi-closed system.
Water from the main intake lines is piped to the
new wing where it is heated to 68 degrees
Fahrenheit and circulated through the exhibits.

DISABLED ACCESS:
All the exhibits and aquarium facilities are
accessible to people with disabilities.

Galleries : Nearly 200 galleries and exhibits are devoted

to diverse habitats of Monterey bay.
Site Dimension : site measure around 3.3 acres.
Exhibits and other public areas : 175,064 sq .ft.
(excludes decks)
Ocean view Decks : 25,500 sq. ft.
Total aquarium : 322,000 sq. ft.

PLAN
Exhibits Facilities :
Tunnel Aquarium
Marine gallery
Touch pool
Species tank
Splash zone
Underwater activity

Museum
Special exhibition
Feeding shows
Conservation center
Auditorium
Shark tank

MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM

a) Site Surrounding :Site is surrounded mostly by the

hotels and other public buildings.
b) Topography :The Aquarium is built on flat
terrain without any contours.
c) Link of site with surrounding :The site is connected
with wave street.
d) Structure in General :Building type
- low-rise building.
Foundation System - Pile foundation.
Faade Material Concrete and Glass
and steel.

View
Service Facilities:
Water supply and circulation
Waste water treatment
Compressed air system
Emergency power
Induction area
Quarantine area
Food preparation area
Laboratory

e) Water Body :
Monterrey bay is on trium.he rear side
of the aquarium.
f) Climatic Considerations :

Program plan