Located about two hours south of Perth in Western Australia, Baca Architects have been appointed by marine contractor, Subcon as the Lead Architects for the Australian Underwater Discovery Centre (AUDC). The commission will deliver Australia’s largest natural marine observatory (2km out at sea) at the end of Busselton Jetty, 2 hours south of Perth in Western Australia. The Australian underwater discovery Centre aims to be the worlds biggest natural marine observatory, complete with an underwater trail and
underwater dining. Bustleton Jetty managers are aiming for more than 200,000 new visitors bringing the total to more than 900,000.
Step into the Realm of Leisure and Hospitality Design: Where Elegance Meets Escape
Designing the perfect Escape
“The brief set out the client’s spatial needs and a requirement to deliver something iconic which will draw
tourists in,” added Coutts. “The goal is to promote the education, awareness and monitoring of the jetty’s immediate
marine environment and the wider environs of Geographe Bay.”
The Spy Hop Manoeuvre
Named for its whale-like attributes, the ‘Cetacean’ was voted as the most favourable of three designs proposed to the Busselton community through public consultation.
Inspired by a manoeuvre that whale watchers call “Spy Hop”, which is when an inquisitive whale raises its head and eye just clear of the surface to do its own bit of watching back at us.
The Pier
As well as the underwater dining - the pier and existing café are to be retrofitted. The new Australian Underwater Discovery Centre will create employment for 200 people as well as thousands of jobs over the coming years as cafés, hotels, service stations, retail stores, bus companies, trade agencies all prosper, returning some $200 million in economic benefit in Western Australia.
Location:
Busselton Jetty, WA, Australia
Status:
Submitted for planning
Scale:
900 sqm
Constraints:
2km out to sea and part on ocean floor
Cost:
$AU30 million
Team:
Main Contractor - Subcon Blue Solutions
Lead Architect - Baca Architects
Marine Engineering - Core Marine
Underwater Ocean Discovery Centre
Baca Architects has designed a marine observatory called the Australian Underwater Discovery Centre that will mimic a whale surfacing off the coast of Geographe Bay. Named for its whale-like attributes, the ‘Cetacean’ was voted as the most favourable of three designs proposed to the Busselton community through public consultation.
Inspired by a manoeuvre that whale watchers call “Spy Hop”, which is when an inquisitive whale raises its head and eye just clear of the surface to do its own bit of watching back at us.
Baca Architects have been appointed by marine contractor, Subcon as the Lead Architects for the Australian Underwater Discovery Centre (AUDC). The commission will deliver Australia’s largest natural marine observatory (2km out at sea) at the end of Busselton Jetty, 2 hours south of Perth in Western Australia.
The Australian underwater discovery Centre aims to be the worlds biggest natural marine Observatory, complete with an underwater trail and Underwater dining. Construction should start in the middle of next year, with the centre open by December 2022. Bustleton Jetty managers are aiming for more than 200,000 new visitors in 2023 bringing the total to more than 900,000.
The approach to the resort will take guests through a landscaped sequence from theirmoment of arrival, where they’ll leave their car behind in a park graced with rain gardens.
Bustleton Jetty Chairman Barry House says: “This is as authentic as it gets, because people are in the tank and the fish are looking in. By adding underwater dining, underwater sculptures, marine art and other features, this project will enhance Bustleton Jetty’s 155-year-old experience.”
Mr House says that at its peak times, people are turned away from the current Observatory because you can only fit 44 people in each hour”
In 2017 we started looking at how to make a visit to demand and after to feasibility studies a market research, determine that engaging our current unique Marine offering what’s the best way to grow and meet our environmental goals”
Jetty Chief Executive Lisa Shreeve Says the current underwater Observatory will become a marine research centre promoting clean oceans and feature public interaction with world-class research and laboratory to educate people about ocean climate change.
Mr House claims that the construction of the new Australian underwater discovery Centre will create work for 200 people’s ones operation thousands of jobs will be created over the coming years as cafés, hotels, service stations, retail stores, bus companies, trade agencies all prosper, returning some $200 million in economic benefit in Western Australia.
The Bay
Located off Geographe Bay in Australia, home to the largest sea grass meadow in Australia. The centre dubbed ‘Cetacean’ is designed to both integrate into this ecosystem of Geographe Bay and most importantly, to engage visitors in a better understanding and appreciation of what lies below.
The Trail
From the existing Busselton Jetty the centre takes you through an underwater leisure experience, heading down a twisting stair you arrive at a large observation space the curved walls forming a stepped seating area and large window openings to allow visitors to see the ecological beauty of the bay.
The route through the building acting as a trail of discovery which then addition leads a fine underwater dining experience.
Design Process
The ‘Cetacean’ design evolved from Stakeholder engagement. The vision focused on creating an organic, flowing journey that guides visitors toward an underwater observation area. The abstracted form was sculpted in clay by Baca practice founder Richard Coutts. Crackle glaze was applied to the models porcelain body to capture both the ethereal movement of water and ancient scars of wanderings.
"The skin of blue whales, vast and ancient, Carries the ocean’s whispers in every fold,
A tapestry of time woven in liquid shadows, Where sapphire and slate dissolve and remold.
Its texture speaks of mysteries deep— Smooth like glass kissed by the moon’s caress,
Yet marked with ripples, scars of wanderings, Etched tales of endless journeys through abyss.
Blue-grey hues, like dawn beneath the waves, Shimmer with faint echoes of sunlight’s reach, A living canvas painted by salt and tides,
With algae’s fleeting touch, like an artist’s breach.
Cool as twilight’s breath, their skin hums life,
A symphony of motion, vast yet serene, Its texture soft yet armoured by existence, A boundless sea itself, alive and evergreen."
SITE COMING SOON
