Marriott Hotel Project

Overview

Rockwork for a cylinder tank nineteen metres tall and six metres across, hand-sculpted and painted panel by panel.

Place: Hong Kong, China
Company: Pangea Rocks
Role: Master in Artificial Rock Work
Year: 2018

Project Brief

Ocean Park: Hotel Aquarium, Hong Kong, China.

19 m
Tank height
6 m
Diameter

The Challenge

Make it read as real

A hotel aquarium has to read as natural rock, reef or carved stone up close, and still meet the structure, safety and schedule demands of a live build.

The Solution

Shaped and finished by hand

Scope on this project: cylinder tank, hand sculpted and panel paint. Delivered as Master in Artificial Rock Work with Pangea Rocks.

The Outcome

A finished hotel aquarium at Marriott Hotel, Hong Kong, China.

Key Features

01

Cylinder Tank

Rockwork made to fit the curve of a cylindrical aquarium.

02

Hand Sculpted

Shaped by hand, not cast, for a one-off natural surface.

03

Panel Paint

Painting worked panel by panel so the whole surface stays consistent.

Visual Gallery

11 photos

Process

Typical build sequence for themed rockwork

Design
Forms, levels and colour references agreed from the concept or 3D design before work starts.
Armature
Steel bent and fixed to carry the final shape, with mesh tied over it as the base for the surface.
Shotcrete
Sprayed concrete built up over the mesh in layers to form the rock shell.
Carving
Texture, strata and cracks cut by hand while the surface is still workable.
Paint
Base coats, washes and dry brushing, worked until the surface reads as real.

Methods