Musan Underwater Museum

          
The creative objective is to create a seamless link between the land and the ocean, combining two disparate wonders, one created by man and one designed by nature. To develop a portal to the underwater realm that offers visitors ephemeral encounters with the natural beauty beneath the water’s surface, delivering an otherworldly experience that illustrates the connectivity of man with nature, a hybrid organic form in harmony with its surroundings.
The sculptural installations aim to enhance the story of Ayia Napa’s as a dynamic, modern, cultural resort at the forefront of conservation and eco tourism, the sculptures will explore the rich cultural and natural heritage of the region, highlighting the exceptional natural beauty found beneath the sea surface whilst giving sea life the opportunity to flourish creating an outstanding example of successful human interaction with the environment.

REEF REFORESTATION: UNDERWATER FOREST

A collection of submarine figurative sculptures dispersed amongst a series of sculpted organic trees and subterranean plants will create the World’s first underwater forest. A symbol to enhance the story of Ayia Napa’s newly created Marine Protected Zone, whilst acknowledging the deforestation practices of the past.
The narrative questions if the next generation will reinterpret the symbiotic relationship between mankind and nature to provide a better balance in favour of nurturing fragile ecosystems, highlighting how positive human intervention in the oceans can shape a more sustainable and productive future.

CONCEPT DESIGN

Entering the forest from the shore end, visitors will drift through the artwork absorbing the natural beauty all around them, creating an ephemeral experience for scuba divers and snorkelers to explore an alternative underwater universe where marine life takes centre stage, a portal beneath the ocean. Stretching for a total of one hundred and seventy metres from entrance to exit the museum will offer both divers and snorkelers an experience that will last an hour. Repositioning the visitor as the attraction and sea life as the observer, the sculptural installation will entice visitors under the surface to explore the beauty of the sub-aquatic environment. Tall organic structures will rise up from the seabed to stand at over eight metres tall, creating the ideal habitat to encourage the aggregation of fish. Distributed within the museum and amongst the organic structures, a series of figurative sculptures lie in wait to be discovered by the visitor.
Acknowledging the heritage of Cyprus, the figurative sculptures within the museum will consider a magical, mystical, other worldly style, combining traditional sculptural formations with a contemporary design.
The configuration of the sculptures within the museum will follow the topography of the seabed sitting within the open expanse of sand situated South of Pernera Beach.