The River Aquarium is located in Mora, Portugal. Settled in the Ecological Wild Park of Gameiro, the structure stands admist a field of cork and olive trees.

 

The building was devised as a compact and monolithic volume with a pitched shelter of thin white pre-cast concrete porticos with single spans of 33 metres, evoking the profile of the canonical Alentejo whitewash barns known as “montes”.

 

The Aquarium has reception, ticketing and shop, cafeteria, changing exhibits hall, documentation centre, research and education, live exhibits, multimedia and a small auditorium. Inside, the exhibition spaces tend to be dark, in order to minimize UV impact on the live exhibits and allow visitors an in-depth viewing of the aquariums.

 

The water for the building is taken from a well on the plot, pumped into a deposit and regenerated after use. In addition, areas for animal quarantine, food preparation, laboratories, staff facilities, and logistics complete the technical floor.

 

The Mora River Aquarium includes more than 500 live specimens and is expected to receive 200,000 visitors per year.