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Biodiversarium, a public outreach project that explores Mediterranean biodiversity through recent research discoveries at the Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-mer, will open this summer.
Biodiversarium is two visitor spaces open to the public: one site dedicated to marine biodiversity and open since 1885 (the Aquarium de Banyuls) that is will be joined this summer by a second site devoted to terrestrial biodiversity, a naturalized Mediterranean garden called the Jardin Méditerranéen du Mas de la Serre.
The Jardin Méditerranéen du Mas de la Serre, on three hectares of parklands in the hills above Banyuls, is a showcase for local and regional biodiversity, as well as its scientific and economic interests. A garden walk, permanent and temporary exhibits and activities for visitors of all ages will be offered when the site opens in Summer 2010.
In November 2009, the Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-mer launched a European-wide design contest for the scenography of a museum space in this garden. The contest ended on 11 January 2010.
Today, the jury is pleased to present the winning projects. The challenge for the participants was to find a simple, efficient way to create a strong visual narrative for the exhibits about terrestrial biodiversity while providing visual hooks for linking them with the aquarium presentations, in addition to working within important technical and financial constraints.
The jury was seduced by the three projects that appear to be the most easily adapted to the site and the presentation message, as well as being easily reconfigurable as new research discoveries are made.
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