Tatiana Bilbao’s new marine research and education centre in Mazatlán, Mexico, situates architecture and humanity within the delicate ecosystem of the Pacific. Sketch: Tatiana Bilbao Estudio
Imagine a future where sea levels continue to rise, submerging streets, buildings, and entire cities. At some point in an even more distant time, fragments of this underwater world might resurface, appearing as ruins from a long-forgotten past. Tatiana Bilbao Estudio, based in Mexico City, adopted this speculative scenario as the narrative for their design of the Gran Acuario Mazatlán, which incorporates the Sea of Cortez Research Centre. Located in Mazatlán, in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa, this facility is dedicated to studying and preserving the ecosystems of the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez) and the Pacific Ocean. At the same time, it provides public education on this region’s extraordinary biodiversity. Through a mix of permanent and temporary exhibitions, the institution offers visitors an immersive experience that deepens their understanding of the fragile marine and coastal environment.
Ruins from the future
Architecture as storytelling is embodied in a building imagined as a relic of the future, articulated in the language of ruin. Rising up to 22 metres, the aquarium’s monumental concrete structures are arranged in an orthogonal grid. They are embedded within Mazatlán’s Parque Central, a public park opened in 2021 along the city’s coastline. The dark, reddish-brown concrete, uniform both inside and out, underscores the building’s monolithic, brutalist aesthetic. Spanning 17 000 m2, the facility conveys an immediate sense of raw, natural force. Stairs and ramps wind through the centre’s four levels, culminating in a green, landscaped roofscape. Lush tropical flora envelop the walls, organically reclaiming the structure. “We cannot control nature because we ourselves are an integral part of it,” says Tatiana Bilbao. Through the architecture of Gran Acuario Mazatlán, the Mexican architect seeks to convey a reconciliatory message, the building’s poetic expression inspiring hope for humanity’s reintegration into its original ecosystem, vital for survival as a species.
Underwater worlds
From the roof, accessed via a grand staircase, visitors descend into an immersive world of bunker-like spaces. In some areas, expansive openings in the 55 cm thick concrete ceilings allow daylight to penetrate the depths below. Open passageways and spiral staircases connect the various halls and levels. The public exhibition programme highlights three primary ecosystems: the open sea, the coast, and underwater forests. The internal layout is designed for both permeability and adaptability. Towering aquariums, some stretching from floor to ceiling, are integrated into the halls, offering visitors both intimate and panoramic views of the vibrant underwater world. The acrylic glass panels for these tanks were manufactured in Japan and assembled on site under complex technical conditions. Most of the tanks are protected by ceiling structures constructed from prefabricated concrete beams.
Marine expertise
An interdisciplinary team, includ¬ing marine biologists, contrib¬uted to the planning and con¬struction of the facility, address¬ing both technical and practical considerations. This partnership ensured materials were rigor¬ously evaluated and that the large aquariums were precisely positioned and oriented. The institution’s research and adminis¬tration units occupy the third floor, while the technical and equipment rooms servicing the water tanks are located on the first floor. Ruins from the future defy classification within conventional building typologies. As Tatiana Bilbao observes: “The history of the building was told a long time ago, but perhaps we can say that it has yet to begin.”
Text: Sandra Hofmeister
German version and full article in DETAIL 1/2.2025