MARINE RESEARCH CENTER AT BALI, INDONESIA   JUNE 2010

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PROJECT IS CONCEIVED AS A BALINESE VILLAGE FLOATING ON THE WATER.

A SPHERE IS CHOSEN AS THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCK SINCE IT WITHSTANDS WATER PRESSURE BETTER THAN ANY OTHER GEOMETRY. THE REQUIRED PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED AMONG SEVERAL SPHERES, AND CIRCULATION TAKES PLACE ON THE OPEN DECK WHICH DIVIDES THEM AT WATER SURFACE LEVEL TO “ABOVE WATER” AND “UNDER WATER” PROGRAMS.

THE DECK, MADE OF LOCAL INDONESIAN TEAK, PROVIDES EASY ACCESS TO THE WATER AND GENERATES CLEAR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE INDOOR PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS. THE UNDERWATER PORTION IS MADE OF GLASS, WHILE THE PORTION ABOVE WATER IS MADE DIFFERENTLY: THE SURFACE FACES THE OPEN OCEAN IS MADE OF SEVERAL LAYERS OF PERFORATED FIBERGLASS PANELS, A BOAT BUILDING MATERIAL THAT CAN WITHSTAND THE ABUSE OF THE POUNDING WAVES, WHILE THE SIDE FACES THE DECK IS SHIELDED FROM THE SUN BY A LAYER OF METAL FABRIC AND WOODEN LOUVERS.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN IS ACHIEVED IN SEVERAL WAYS:

• THE SPACES ARE ALL SHADED BY LOUVERS AND COOLED BY CROSS WINDS.
• TRIPLE LAYERS – SKIN, LOUVERS AND METAL FABRIC PREVENT DIRECT SUN FROM HEATING THE SPACES.
• USE OF LOCAL RESOURCES.