Blue Oasis

University of Jordan, Department of Architecture, Amman, Jordan

Project idea

Aqaba, a coastal city in the southern part of Jordan, boasts a breathtaking diversity of marine life, making it an attractive destination for residents and tourists. With such a limited shoreline, all coastal activities in Jordan are concentrated within this stretch. This situation places all coastal habitats under continuous direct and indirect pressures throughout the year. Which result in the decline of biodiversity, loss of habitat, disruption of food chains, and the extinction of some species. Therefore, negative affect on social and economic aspects.

The vision of the project is to create a facility that serves not just as a showcase for marine creatures, but also as a platform to educate visitors about marine ecosystems and the importance of their conservation, by creating an immersive experience that establishes an interaction between the environment and the architecture. By integrating elements that evoke the sense of the place to create an environment where individuals can immerse themselves in the beauty of the underwater world.

This experience is intended to instill appreciation for the marine ecosystem, while simultaneously promoting a sense of responsibility towards its preservation and the conservation of its biodiversity.

Project description

This project aims to enhance understanding by serving as a window into the underwater universe. and educate visitors about marine ecosystems and the conservation importance, to contribute to the conservation efforts of endangered marine species and corals, and to provide a controlled environment for research into marine life and ecosystems.

The importance of conservation in Aqaba is underscored by the presence of 14 threatened species of coral and 30 near-threatened species. Additionally, over 150 types of marine species are currently endangered in the area.

Furthermore, it is concerning that over the last three decades, the world has lost nearly half of its coral reefs because of global warming. Without major intervention, it is projected that by 2050, the world could lose 90% of its coral reefs, leading to the extinction of many marine species.
corals in the Gulf of Aqaba can withstand water temperature irregularities and other effects of global warming, and for this reason, Aqaba can serve as a coral gene bank that can support the efforts to restore coral reef ecosystems in other parts of the world.

Technical information

The project consists of two main parts, one of them, which is for visitors, serves as an exhibition for marine creatures, and the other one is dedicated to conservation works and intended for researchers and staff. The linking area between them features an outdoor plaza and a spiral suspended walkway above external tanks (used for planting coral and marine species), for educational purpose by showing visitors the process of conservation, as well as enjoying the view to the sea.

3 types of spaces were used in this project to enhance the experience which are, outside-inside spaces where natural marine and terrestrial elements reflected inside, inside-outside where indoor features reflected outside such as in the outdoor plaza and the spiral suspended walkway, and in-between spaces to function as a transitional area between the outside and the inside as in the entrances.