Chiang Mai Aquarium

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7,500 m2
Total building area
133 meters
Tunnel length
6,040 m3
Total volume of tanks
12 months
Program
  • Concept design
  • Architectural and engineering design
  • Specialist technical design
  • Exhibit design

Completed in 2008
location: Chiang Mai, Thailand

We were approached with an intriguing proposition by the Chiang Mai Zoo: design and build an aquarium within an unused water reservoir, whilst keeping architectural consistency with the existing buildings within the zoo.

Chiang Mai Aquarium
Chiang Mai Aquarium
Chiang Mai Aquarium
Chiang Mai Aquarium
Chiang Mai Aquarium
Chiang Mai Aquarium
Chiang Mai Aquarium
Chiang Mai Aquarium
Chiang Mai Aquarium

Explore the Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium, a groundbreaking project by Aquamarine, ingeniously built within a repurposed water reservoir. Spanning 7,500 square meters across two levels and seven thematic zones, this world-class facility is home to over 30,000 marine and freshwater creatures from 250 species, offering an authentic cross-section of aquatic biodiversity.

e Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium, a groundbreaking project by Aquamarine, ingeniously built within a repurposed water reservoir. Spanning 7,500 square meters across two levels and seven thematic zones, this world-class facility is home to over 30,000 marine and freshwater creatures from 250 species, offering an authentic cross-section of aquatic biodiversity.
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At its heart lies the world’s longest underwater tunnel, where visitors journey beneath both freshwater and saltwater habitats, tracing the path of the Mekong River from its origins on the Tibetan Plateau to its meeting with the East Vietnam Sea. This design mirrors one of the planet’s most vital ecosystems, the Mekong River, which harbours nearly 2,000 aquatic species and serves as the project’s central inspiration.
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The aquarium is not only a marvel of engineering and design but also a cultural landmark. The roof structure blends traditional Thai architectural forms with modern innovation, reflecting sustainability and harmony with Chiang Mai’s heritage.
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Beyond its striking design, the Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium stands as Southeast Asia’s first fully integrated marine breeding centre, serving as a vital hub for education, research, and conservation of marine life and biology throughout the region. Aquamarine’s role was pivotal, from conceptual design inspired by the Mekong’s biodiversity to delivering a complex, ecologically sensitive project that enhances global understanding of aquatic ecosystems.
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