Pollution and overexploitation of natural resources were some of man’s actions that
the founding fathers of EXPO’98 had in mind as they envisioned a large public aquarium.
This aquarium was to maintain and perpetuate the message from Expo’98 while strongly
supporting and contributing towards an enhancement of Portugal’s cultural and educational
heritage.
Oceanário de Lisboa was thus born, a giant public aquarium entirely dedicated to
the oceans and their conservation.
The Oceanário de Lisboa was designed by a team from Cambridge Seven Associated, led by
American architect Peter Chermayeff.
It was built by Engil, although various other companies, each specialized in a
particular field, contributed as well.

During EXPO’98 it was known as the “Ocean’s Pavillion” and it was one of Expo’s most
popular attractions. In October 1998 Oceanário opened to the public, establishing a
life long connection between Lisbon and the Ocean while bridging the past, dedicated
to its discovery, and the future, filled with research and conservation activities.

The complex consists of two main buildings: one administrative structure and the
aquarium per se. The aquarium is forever connected to land by a bridge, symbolizing
a pier to an unforgettable voyage to a remarkable underwater world.