Designing Aquatic Environments for the Future

Innovation, Sustainability, and Community Impact

Designing world class aquarium environments requires far more than technical excellence alone. It demands an understanding of climate, ecology, visitor behaviour, long term operations, and the deeper responsibility these spaces carry as places of education and conservation.

At Peddle Thorp Architects, our extensive experience across sports, aquatic, recreation, and leisure destinations is strengthened by specialist expertise in complex aquatic environments. Projects such as the Dubai Mall Aquarium and the Cairns Aquarium have shaped our understanding of what it takes to deliver facilities that are operationally robust, environmentally responsible, and deeply engaging for visitors.

A defining principle of our approach is the balance between international best practice and local understanding. Every site presents different environmental forces, cultural narratives, and community expectations. Our role is to translate global experience into meaningful local outcomes.

Intelligent Value Through Early Design

True value is achieved when cost intelligence is embedded early. Through BIM supported design workshops, we test design options, assess system performance, and quantify cost impacts in real time. This allows informed decisions that protect project budgets while enhancing functionality, durability, and experience.

It is not simply about reducing cost. It is about ensuring every investment delivers long term value.

Designed for Demanding Marine Conditions

Aquarium environments operate in some of the toughest conditions in building design. Heat, humidity, salt laden air, and sensitive ecological systems demand highly considered responses.

Our designs incorporate climate responsive glazing, effective shading strategies, corrosion resistant materials, and precisely calibrated life support systems. These measures protect marine life, extend asset longevity, reduce maintenance demands, and improve operational efficiency.

Sustainability That Performs Across the Entire Life of the Building

Sustainability is not an add on. It is a core design driver.

Photovoltaic solar generation, heat recovery, intelligent building management systems, thermal energy strategies, and advanced water recycling all contribute to lower energy consumption and reduced reliance on potable water. Durable, low impact materials are selected in line with Green Star and broader sustainability benchmarks.

This whole of life approach ensures aquatic environments operate efficiently not just on opening day, but for decades beyond.

Strengthening Regions Through Design

Large scale civic and aquatic projects present powerful opportunities for regional participation. By engaging local suppliers, trades, and specialists early in the process, we support skills development, workforce capacity building, and economic growth within regional communities.

Digital collaboration tools further enable strong local input and oversight throughout the design process.

Turning Sustainability into a Visitor Experience

Aquariums today are evolving into immersive learning environments. Through interactive displays, virtual and augmented reality, and carefully crafted audiovisual storytelling, sustainability, conservation, and science are embedded directly into the visitor journey.

These experiences foster emotional connection, deepen understanding, and inspire long term care for marine ecosystems.

A Model for Future Aquatic Environments

By combining intelligent cost control, climate responsiveness, world class sustainability, and meaningful community engagement, contemporary aquatic environments are becoming resilient, future focused civic assets.

At PTA, we believe the most successful projects balance innovation with care, ambition with responsibility, and global insight with local relevance. That belief continues to guide our approach to aquatic environments across Australia and internationally.