Yangtze River Estuary Chinese Sturgeon Nature Preserve

Project Designer I Ennead Architects I 2018 I Competition 1st Place

Located on an island at the mouth of the Yangtze River and set within a 17.5-hectare landscape, the 427,000 GSF nature reserve building comprises a dual-function aquarium and research facility, bringing together efforts to repopulate the dwindling numbers of Chinese Sturgeon and Finless Porpoise with an engagement of the public to build popular support for ecological conservation.

A complex program includes a series of interior and exterior pools for breeding and raising both species mimicking their natural migration into waters of varying size and salinity, as well as facilities dedicated to their research and reintegration to their natural habitat. The project makes the important work of the institution visible to visitors through an immersive aquarium and exhibit experience, bringing them into direct contact with its activities.

Ennead Design Team:

Thomas Wong, Kevin McClurkan, Grace Chen, Stefani Fachini, Wenny Hsu, Dominik Sigg, Alan Cation, Di Chang, Weiwei Kuang, Oliver Li, David Schneider, Ursula Trost, Charles Wong