Aquarium Expertise on the World Stage

The recent opening of the Antarctica penguin exhibit at the Melbourne aquarium provides further evidence of Melbourne-based architects Peddle Thorp expertise in aquarium developments across the globe.

The $28 million redevelopment of the Melbourne Aquarium features Australiaâs only collection of sub-Antarctic penguins and offers a great insight into this area of research.

Designed by Peddle Thorp architects, the Antarctica expansion has doubled the footprint of the Aquarium to approximately 6,000 metres² extending from Melbourne's Yarra River to Flinders Street. It follows Peddle Thorpâs design of the original building which opened in January 2000.

The Melbourne Aquarium opening adds to an impressive resume of works across the globe for the Melbourne-based company, having also created the worldâs largest acrylic viewing panel at the Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Centre â which opened in November.

The panel measures 32.88 metres wide x 8.3 metres high x 750 mm thick and weighs a staggering 245,614 kg.

Peddle Thorp had already designed the Busan Aquarium at Haeundai Beach in South Korea in 2003 and the Siam Ocean World in Thailand in 2006.

Peddle Thorp is one of Australiaâs major architectural practices. It has a strong and successful record in sporting venues having designed Vodafone Arena and Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne as well as Skilled Stadium in Geelong.

Aside from Melbourne venues, it has also designed the Pisa Multipurpose Stadium in Penang and the award winning Teda Football Stadium near Beijing.

Peddle Thorp's folio of work now ranges from art galleries to aquariums, sporting stadiums to streetscapes, hospitals to hotels, residential interiors to retail developments.