Deriving from Tatiana Bilbao’s idea to create a public building that presents the immersive experience of diving into marine life, she modified a large site on the Cortes sea shores to become a marine life research center. As part of the regeneration program of the Central Park of Mexico, this building also provides a place where humans and buildings can build a harmonious relationship with the surrounding environment.

Cortés Sea Research Center by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio (cr : Christian Belmont) 

In creating this immersive experience, Tatiana combined four elements: the ocean, sea shores, land and resort, and education into one multifunction building consisting of numerous unsystematically arranged yet still associated with other rooms creating a maze pattern. This pattern allows visitors to explore the whole room freely and feel the distinctive experience in every room.

Cortés Sea Research Center by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio (cr : Tonatiuh Armenta) 

Cortés Sea Research Center by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio (cr : Tatiana Bilbao Estudio) 

Those rooms are arranged vertically for three levels with different functions on each level. On the first level, visitors will be welcomed by a spacious plaza that connects with the public areas and the conservation room. Up to the next level, the exhibition room, the public plaza, and the public space are placed simultaneously. On the first and second levels, several fish tanks of various sizes stand on the floor, showing the beauty of marine life with fish swimming freely inside the tank. Meanwhile, the upper level, the third level, consists of the maintenance room for the fish tanks equipped with the bathrooms, changing rooms, and diving equipment. 

Cortés Sea Research Center by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio (cr : Tonatiuh Armenta) 

Moreover, Tatiana presents this distinctive experience through the interior and exterior. The concrete walls are decorated by a smattering of green from the vines that creep along the wall surface creating harmony between architecture and nature. Vegetations and trees that are placed inside the building provide refreshing air and blur the borders between the building and nature. 

Cortés Sea Research Center by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio (cr : Tonatiuh Armenta) 

Cortés Sea Research Center by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio (cr : Tonatiuh Armenta) 

Concrete materials used in this building represent stones that can blend the building with the land and the alluring view of the Cortes Sea. The building thrives to throw away the borders between humans, buildings, and nature along with the fact that this building can be the connector between humans and nature.

Cortés Sea Research Center by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio (cr : Tonatiuh Armenta) 

Cortés Sea Research Center by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio  (cr : Tatiana Bilbao Estudio)