Visiting one of the world’s most beautiful aquariums is perhaps the best way to peek inside the homes of countless marine species. Here, guests have the opportunity to learn how these animals live and watch them in action. In addition to being incredible vessels for education, they can also be enriching for the architecture and design obsessed. After all, there’s much more to these spaces than just vats of water. In Detroit, emerald-colored glass tiles envelop the oldest aquarium in the Unites States, while one in Zhuhai, China, has decked out the interiors to look like coral reefs. Below, AD visits 7 stunning aquariums around the world. You may just want to dive into the tanks and take up residence with the fish.
Photo: Courtesy of the Belle Isle Aquarium1/7Belle Isle Aquarium (Detroit, Michigan)Appearing more like something out of Oz than an aquarium in Detroit, Belle Isle is awash in green opaline glass tiles. The show-stopping emerald vaulted ceiling—along with the rest of the facility—was designed by local architect Albert Kahn in a Beaux Arts style in 1904. In addition to being one of the world’s most beautiful aquariums, it is also the oldest in the United States.
Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/Getty Images2/7Dubai Aquarium (Dubai, UAE)If you’ve ever dreamed about jumping into the giant tanks that house stingrays, sharks, and other aquatic life, the Dubai Aquarium might be the next best thing. While you won’t be in the water, a glass tunnel lets you immerse yourself directly inside the fish’s habitat without sacrificing any sweet oxygen.
- Photo: Vostok/Getty Images4/7Tropicheskiy Aquarium (Moscow, Russia)The world’s tallest cylindrical aquarium is located in Aviapark, a mall in Moscow, Russia. The glass tube, which is home to 800 fish, spans four stories and serves as an electric blue centerpiece in the shopping center’s atrium. The large habitat has a near 20-foot diameter, is over 6,500-feet tall, and holds almost 100,000 gallons of water.
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- Photo: Isadco Gmbh/Alamy Stock Photo5/7Atlantic Sea-Park (Ålesund, Norway)Instead of pastoral fields or mountain ranges, what if your glass curtain walls looked out into the depths of the endless blue ocean? That’s more or less what it feels like inside Atlantic Sea-Park in Ålesund, Norway. Of course, the clean lines and refreshing simplicity feel on-brand for a Scandinavian establishment.
Photo: Courtesy of S.E.A Aquarium Singapore6/7S.E.A. Aquarium (Singapore)Movie theater big screen meets fish habitat at S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore. Home to over 1,000 species, the space has viewing platforms that allow guests to sit back and watch the ever-changing live display.
- Photo: VCG/Getty Images7/7Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (Zhuhai, China)The walls of Chimelong Ocean Kingdom are designed to look like coral. The massive complex is home to more than just an aquarium; guests will also find a collection of rides and shows on the property. The theme park was designed by PGAV Destinations, a studio that specializes in amusement parks, museums, zoos, and aquariums.
