Ocean observatory

Ocean Observatory

The oceans cover more than 70% of the earth and are currently endangered by climate change, pollutants and other factors. This project is based on doctoral research by Simon Finn proposing a a large-scale marine artwork designed for site-specific conditions at Portarlington on Port Philip Bay. The project addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals 14 (Life below water), 11 (Sustainable Cities) and 13 (Climate Action).

This large, semi-submerged structure is proposed for a location near the shore in proximity to a seasonal tourist site, where it is designed to be socially and environmentally interactive. It aims to provide an innovative public venue for leisure activities such as swimming or diving, whilst also providing an educational focus as an observatory of local marine life and encouraging public engagement in sensing environmental change to oceanic ecosystems.