Biota! facts for kids
Architect's image of Biota!
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| Location | Silvertown Quays, Docklands, London |
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| Coordinates | 51°30′11″N 0°1′55.2″E / 51.50306°N 0.032000°E |
| No. of species | 550 (planned) |
| Major exhibits | Amazon, British Isles, Atlantic & Indo-Pacific biomes |
Biota! was a really cool idea for a new aquarium in London. It was planned for a big area called Silvertown Quays. This area is next to the Royal Victoria Dock in East London.
The building was designed by famous architects, Terry Farrell & Partners. It was going to cost about £80 million! The plan was approved in March 2005. People hoped it would open in 2008. But sadly, the project was stopped in 2009.
Contents
What Was the Plan for Biota!?
Biota! was going to be run by the Zoological Society of London. This group is famous for its animal care. The aquarium would have been special. It was designed to be the first aquarium in the world focused completely on conservation. Conservation means protecting nature and animals.
Exploring Earth's Ecosystems
The design for Biota! included four main areas. These areas were called biomes. Each biome would show a whole ecosystem. An ecosystem is like a natural community. It includes all the living things and their environment.
- The biomes would have had trees and other plants.
- They would also feature many different animals.
- This included tiny invertebrates (like insects).
- There would be amphibians (like frogs) and reptiles (like lizards).
- Even mammals and birds were planned.
- And of course, lots of different fish!
"The aquarium at Silvertown Quays will be an international visitor attraction worthy of Europe's world class city. The Zoological Society of London, which will operate the aquarium is well-known worldwide for its research and conservation efforts."
—Ken Livingstone, former Mayor of London
Why Biota! Didn't Happen
The opening date for Biota! kept getting pushed back. This was because the Silvertown Quays project had trouble getting enough money. In June 2008, a magazine called Building said the aquarium was "under review." This means they were rethinking the plan.
The Global Financial Crisis
The main reason was the global financial crisis. This was a time when money was hard to get for big projects. Because of this, the whole Silvertown Quays development was at risk. The original plan said the aquarium had to be built first. If the aquarium wasn't built, the rest of the project couldn't go ahead.
In September 2009, the group that owned the land, the London Development Agency, pulled out of the agreement. This decision effectively ended the Biota! project.
Other Attractions Planned
Biota! was meant to be one of the main attractions. It was part of a huge £1.5 billion development. This development covered 60 acres of land. Another big attraction planned was Silvertown Venture Xtreme. This was going to be a center for extreme sports and surfing.
