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Dolphin Sanctuary
Galveston, Texas, USA | Public Aquarium and Animal Hospital, Spring 2014
The Sanctuary seeks to reclaim the industrial landscape as an ecological one. Much of Texas' coastline has been dredged and artificially sculpted, destroying the natural ecosystem in favor of industry. This project argues for a new type of hybrid between these disparate agendas, to project a building which reclaims a former industrial site to allow the two to coexist. Situated on an abandoned ship channel port, the Dolphin Sanctuary maintains Galveston's dredged coastline, but fills it with a new type of habitat that takes advantage of its deep waters for natural dolphin enclosures.
The building's high elevation gives it a strong presence from the ferry dock and queue, creating a new tourist destination. The parking lot and marina are inserted into the building's form, carving out a general flow or promenade from car to boat. Visitors travel down a promenade through a sequence of these programmatic oculi, to help them transition from their removed role as visitors into their educated and engaged role as volunteers.
The building is elevated on open lattice-like structures that have a light footprint. As they enter the water, the structures double as a catalyst for artificial reefs, which favor the slightly deeper waters of the former port site.
The lattice structures also house the dolphin medical tanks, allowing them to be structurally independent and to have unique positionings within the project sectionally.
Michael Matthews, AIA
Contact: mikedavematt (at) gmail
Resume available upon request |
Michael Matthews Studio
Full Service Licensed Architecture Firm
Registered with American Institute of Architects
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