Burj Al Arab Aquarium Project

Overview

450 m² of rockwork and 5,500 corals for the hotel's entrance aquariums and the Al Mahara tank.

Place: Dubai, UAE
Company: Pangea Rocks
Role: Master in Artificial Rock Work
Year: 2016

Project Brief

Hotel Aquarium, Dubai, UAE.

450 m²
Rockwork
5,500
Corals

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: corals, rockwork and luxury hotel. Delivered as Master in Artificial Rock Work with Pangea Rocks.

The Outcome

A finished hotel aquarium at Burj Al Arab Aquarium, Dubai, UAE.

Key Features

01

Corals

Sculpted coral pieces that dress a reef scene.

02

Rockwork

Artificial rock surfaces shaped and textured to read as natural stone at close range.

03

Luxury Hotel

Theming for a high-end hospitality setting.

Visual Gallery

10 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