With the intention of building an space where develop outdoor show with wild fauna, specifically killer whales, Loro Parque S.A. commissioned Comercial Maritima the construction of the enclosure’s roof, and calling it “Orca Ocean”. The roof was designed by Arenas & Asociados and its final version was chosen by Wolfgang Kiessling between the various ideas presented by our design team.
The roof, located in Puerto de la Cruz, on the island of Tenerife was conceived similar as a seashell taking as refence the marine environment of the place. Its curved shape eases its adaptation to the topography, since behind the enclosure are the slopes of La Orotava, the first foothills of Teide. From the stands, the design allows a magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean, extending the plan of the swimming pools of the enclosure to infinity.
Structurally speaking, the roof is a true tensile structure, composed of a structural steel skeleton and PVC textile meshes.
Inside the metal structure, the two inclined arches, with an octagonal section, fly over the exhibition pool bridging its 70-meter span. Other important elements, within the metallic structure, are made up of the rear perimeter masts, 8 meters high and which serve as anchors for the semiconoids that protect the spectators of the stands from external environmental conditions, sun and rain.
The Orca Ocean facilities were inaugurated on February 17, 2006, the cover provides protection to the thousands of daily visitors that the attraction receives.
