The ANTIREALITY has designed Ocean Gate an underwater observatory concept for the Bahamas. Architect's statement: The observatory is an architectural concept intended to create a ‘gate’ opening seacoast to the underwater world of flora and fauna. The object is situated in a coastal area and forms a spatial connector between the beach and the sea. The aim of the project is to attempt to create a marine observatory whose structure would merge well with the beach area without overwhelming the seaside landscape. The body of the building refers both to the form of a sea wave and to that of living species typical of marine areas. The structure of Ocean Gate evokes an association with a gigantic shell that in a smooth manner opens oceanic waters apart. The building shape is intended to encourage passers- by to venture on a journey to the underwater sea realm.

BUILDING ELEMENTS AND FORM

Ocean Gate comprises a water plaza that integrates the building with the beach, the shell that serves as a connector between the external world and the marine interior, a glass tube created as an observation space whose structure is fully immersed in seawater. The streamline shape of the building is not the sole attempt to interpret aqueous forms intended to make the structure an integral part of the beach that harmonizes with its space. A significant element that allows bringing forward the marine nature is an external cover, which is the only part of the building that emerged above the water surface. The façade of the shell is covered with aluminum tiles whose metallic form is a reference to fish scales. Elements of the external cover reflect the surroundings, thus helping the object become optically immersed in the sea basin.

FUNCTION AND STRUCTURE

The shape and the visual reception of the building changes radically with the observer’s position. A significant element of the design idea was to create an object that despite its considerable volume would merge well with the surroundings, being clear and intuitive at the same time. Visitors can choose between two options for reaching the building. The main entrance is a tunnel that leads through the square, smoothly transforming into a narrow tube (this route requires no direct contact with water). The object can be also accessed via the water square (it is an area that is visually consistent with the rest of the beach), at the end of which the recipient finds a flight of stairs leading into the object. The steps that connect the square with Ocean Gate are directed towards the sea interior, engulfing the entrance from the observation tube. Owing to seats incorporated in the steps, visitors can admire the aqueous interior already from the square.

The structure of Ocean Gate comprises two basic parts: the shell and the tube. The load-bearing system, of the shell, is formed of steel frames whose shape corresponds to the structure of the façade that can be seen in visualizations. The tube is part of the object made completely out of glass supported by a steel frame. Its width changes with the depth at which it is located (from 17 to 4 m), whereas its total length is about 70 m. The entire object rests on pile foundations.