The year 2021 seems to hold only great projects in store for us. Baca Architects has designed a marine observatory called the “Australian Underwater Discovery Centre” that is shaped like a whale that seems to emerge from the sea.

The project was developed to replace an observatory that already existed but unfortunately was not very popular. Hence the idea of the architects to start from the existing building and modify it to make it more functional to the demands of visitors.

“Australian Underwater Discovery Centre” will be positioned partially underwater and will feature a large window overlooking the ocean floor, in order to admire the seabed and its species.

The AUDC will also have a beautiful restaurant below sea level where you can see many sculptures and artwork placed on the ocean floor.

– Read also: Under, the first underwater restaurant in Europe

But the shape is definitely the most curious and unique detail of the entire project by Baca Architects.
The studio had initially made three different proposals regarding the shape of the Discovery Center, the first, the one that won, in the shape of a whale, the second and third took the forms of a cave and a boat.
In the end, it was the citizens themselves who voted for the best project and as we have already said, it was the whale-shaped structure that won.

Its completion is scheduled for 2022. The structure will be prefabricated at a nearby shipyard before being towed and transported to the site.

Here are all the images of the gleaming “Australian Underwater Discovery Centre” by Baca Architects.