Oceanic Fusion. Aquarium Center in Konaev.

Satbayev University

Project idea

The development of culture and tourism is currently one of
the urgent tasks. The aquarium is a combination of opportunities for
a new direction of the recreation industry, as well as the reservation and reproduction of rare species of freshwater inhabitants not only in Kazakhstan, but also around the world. At the moment , there is one in Kazakhstan The Aquarium in Astana, which is considered the most remote from the ocean coast. However, this complex has a number of technical problems with the leakability of aquariums, the constant provision of its inhabitants with marine water and impractical small volume of the water zone. It should also be noted that this certainly affects the maintenance of marine and freshwater fish in the exposition of the metropolitan aquarium. This leads to the question of how to provide a highly comfortable aquarium complex for representatives of aquatic fauna and at the same time meet the cultural and entertainment
needs, as well as the preservation and reproduction of underwater inhabitants.
Designing an Oceanarium on the territory of Kazakhstan is still problematic, this is due to the lack of a coastal ocean zone or large seas, not counting the Caspian Sea. Nevertheless, the territory of the republic has several large reservoirs, such as Kapchagai reservoir in the suburban area of Almaty. the location of a large water body near a large city attractive to tourists acts as a good place for the design of a new
aquarium. This leads to another obstacle – water in the reservoir
it is fresh. Thus, this is the basis for a new configuration of the aquarium with only freshwater inhabitants, thereby solving the difficulties
with the provision of seawater and, accordingly, the transportation of animals.
As mentioned above, one of the main topical theses
of designing a freshwater aquarium is the prospect of further
development of tourism in Almaty and Konaev. The aquarium is one of
the driving factors for the formation of infrastructure around it and,
therefore, it is fully recouped. For the coastal zone of the Kapchagai
reservoir, this is especially significant in terms of the improvement
of the coastal range. In addition to the cultural and entertainment function the aquarium complex, it is worth considering scientific and educational activities.
This includes breeding of rare freshwater fish, including mandatory
research, and environmental education of the population. Given its
scale, the aquarium will include not only freshwater fauna Kazakhstan, but also representatives of fresh waters from different parts of the earth.
Based on the above-mentioned design concept of a freshwater aquarium, we can say that it will solve the mentioned problems and
meet the current research tasks.
The purpose of the project is, in addition to commercial, how to attract
third-party investments and the development of adjacent infrastructure, along with the development of tourism in the Almaty region, but also the popularization of environmental aspects of the aquatic fauna of Kazakhstan among the population and at the same time research work on the conservation of rare species.

Project description

The entrance to the territory of the aquarium complex begins from the main entrance on the south side, there are three multi-level parking lots for 500 parking spaces for visitors' cars nearby. At the entrance there is a parking lot with mini tour cars, which allow you to move freely and quickly around the site and also near the ticket office building, where you can buy tickets and an excursion.
There are three oceanarium complexes on the territory of the site. Immediately after entering the site, a view of the park area opens up with such elements of landscaping as reservoirs and green spaces. In the center of the plot there is a parametric bridge with observation points, it connects the entrance zone and the exit to the shore.
On the western side there is a complex “Sturgeon”, with an exposition of Asian Fish, Fish of Kazakhstan and a research center. The main entrance
of the exhibition building is reached by descending stairs on both sides. There are also decorative ponds nearby that create a mirror effect.
On the eastern side of the site there is a "Dolphin" complex representing Amazonian dolphins, Africa and a Coral Reef. Around the building there is an artificial river with Amazon dolphins and small bridges on the opposite side.
The "Shark" complex is also accessed by stairs down to each of the three entrances and several decorative ponds. To the left of the building there is a station with submarines for diving with sharks. Closer to the north, there is an ascent to
the site with a panorama of the reservoir and a recreational area.

The structure of the "Shark" complex directly reflects the image of the most dangerous underwater predator. This object is a kind of dominant among the projected ensemble, differing in volume and scale, but at the same time observing the general visual style. The space-planning solution is a symbiosis of two futuristic stylistics – bionics and parametrism, combining functionality and artistry.

The image of the "Dolphin" complex was inspired by the Amazonian pink dolphin and is also made in the bionic style.

The three-dimensional solution of the "Sturgeon" complex resembles a huge sturgeon, the fins and tail are made of bent colored glass, decorative elements are made of organic biocomposite material.

Technical information

The complex "Shark" consists of three floors. The two main entrances are located in two side blocks or fins of the building, each has a hall, dressing rooms and bathrooms, in the left block there is also a doctor's office
and a security and video surveillance room.
The main exposition is located on the ground floor, which begins with the main hall and basic information. From the hall you can also get to the
exhibition "Ancient World", where not only exhibits of the animal world, but also various art objects are exhibited. Directly with the museum are
administrative and office premises. The second entrance from the main hall leads to the exhibition area "Seabed", where six small aquariums with jellyfish and other deep-sea fish are presented. The next one is the "Northern Waters" zone, where an acrylic tunnel leads under the main aquarium and a passage through a tank with seals, opposite which there is also a vivarium with penguins. After the exhibition "Northern Waters" there is a large hall, from where you can get into two blocks and an amphitheater with a panorama of sharks, where concerts and entertainment events can also be held. In the left block “fin” there are two classrooms designed for seminars and scientific conferences. At the entrance to the left block there is a ticket office for a submarine excursion to the shark tank of Nicaragua. The right block is equipped with an exit, a souvenir shop and a coffee shop for visitors.
On the second floor there is also a spacious hall and a dining area with two restaurants, bathrooms and a children's room. Visitors are also invited to view the Northern Waters exposition from the second floor on a special observation bridge.
Technical and service rooms are located in the basement or basement. The entire floor is designed to accommodate tanks for the life support of aquariums and rooms for the automated control system of the aquarium.

The Dolphin building consists of three floors. The main entrance is located in the rear, in the left block there is an administration, office and office premises. In the right block there are cash registers, bathrooms and a gift shop. The exhibition begins with an acrylic tunnel passing under the artificial Amazon River, where you can see the dolphins of the Amazon.
Then there is the Reef World hall with a common large aquarium, small aquariums with octopuses, crabs, stingrays and sea turtles. The next zone opens the exhibition "Africa". In this hall there are tanks with Electric fish, inhabitants of the Congo River, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi. After the zone "Africa" there is a small recreational area with cafes and bathrooms.
After that, the Amazon zone is located with a large aquarium of the Amazon River, a vivarium with crocodiles and a tank with piranhas. The exhibition ends with an amphitheater with a panorama of dolphins. The ground floor consists mainly of technical rooms and tanks, quarantine zones for aquariums. On the technical floor there are four additional exits to the streets.

The "Sturgeon" complex consists of two floors. The first floor contains the main exposition, the entrance is located in the left block or fin of the building with a hall, a dressing room, a doctor's office, a security room and a souvenir shop.
Then the main hall begins. From where on the right side you can go to the exposition of "Asia" with three small aquariums and two large ones "
The Sea of Japan" and "The Philippine Sea". On the left side of the hall is the zone "Fish of Kazakhstan" with three reservoirs River fish, Balkhash and the Caspian Sea.
Next is the research laboratory. In this block there is an area open to visitors aimed at animal therapy. The scientific block also houses a laboratory, office premises, a veterinary department and a breeding department. A restaurant for visitors is located in the right block of the fin of the building.
The technical floor contains special technical and mechanical rooms, as well as office space and tanks for the life support of the aquarium.