Purpose built ‘National’ Sea Life Aquarium for Germany

Merlin Entertainments commissioned Kay Elliott Architects to design a new ‘National’ Sea Life Aquarium for Germany, in Oberhausen.

The development is seen as a key attraction for the continued regeneration of this former industrial area. The site is located adjacent to a large shopping centre and overlooks a new marina development currently under construction. Visitors are taken on a themed journey from the glacier source of a mountain stream down through caves, shoreline, harbour, a walk through a ray tank, galleon and ocean tank, before winding their way back up through fjords and shipwreck to the theatre, discovery and Greenpeace areas, finally exiting the display via the shop and restaurant.

The displays are centred around an 1100m3 ocean tank, with visitors being able to walk through tunnels across the sea bed, view across the tank at mid level and finally view a Norwegian fishing village across the wave-topped tank from the restaurant.