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Designing with Water: Reimagining Public Spaces

Explore how Oceanis elevates public spaces with sustainable aquatic and geothermal designs that bring communities together.

Aquatic design has evolved into a powerful tool for reshaping public spaces, breathing life into urban environments, and creating sustainable, engaging communities. From revitalizing city centers to enhancing recreational facilities, expert aquatic design plays a crucial role in public projects worldwide. It’s a testament to the potential of thoughtful, innovative design in shaping the world around us.

With extensive global expertise and a strong commitment to innovation, Oceanis is a key player in transforming aquatic design, helping set new industry benchmarks.

The Importance of Sustainable Aquatic Design in Public Spaces

Public spaces serve as more than just open areas—they are vital community hubs where people gather, unwind, and connect. Incorporating well-designed aquatic elements into these environments can profoundly enhance their value, adding both visual appeal and functional purpose.

A report by the Royal Life Saving Society, The Health, Social, and Economic Value of the National Aquatic Industry, reveals that 90 percent of Australians live within a 20-minute drive of a public pool. These aquatic facilities contribute an impressive $9.1 billion annually in economic, health, and social benefits.

These state-of-the-art swimming complexes promote wellness, making aquatic features integral to the success of public projects. Beyond encouraging social interaction and providing aesthetic beauty, these designs can also advance sustainability through innovative water management techniques.

The Oceanis Expertise

For the past 25 years, Oceanis has consistently demonstrated its ability to create public spaces that not only captivate but also serve the community in meaningful ways. With a focus on innovation, Oceanis incorporates future-proof technology and environmentally conscious practices into every project, ensuring that each design not only meets aesthetic standards but also aligns with broader environmental goals.

Ryan Rao, Oceanis’ Principal and Head Project Engineer, emphasizes the importance of expertise in aquatic projects: “Designing aquatic spaces involves blending artistic vision with technical expertise, covering everything from water treatment to energy efficiency. The goal is to create spaces that are not only visually appealing but also environmentally sustainable.”

Oceanis embodies this philosophy, integrating robust design principles with a commitment to ecological balance.

Case Studies: Aquatic Design in Action

Oceanis’ technical skillset and project experience with aquatics energy efficiency, particularly in pool heating efficiency, brings unique skills and concepts for water heating design and opportunities for clever design of these aspects.

Two recent projects, the Craigie Leisure Centre and the Bluewater Lagoon, are prime examples of the success that can be achieved with clever approaches to aquatic centre energy use.

For Craigie Leisure Centre, Oceanis has greatly improved the efficiency of the Centre’s previously under-performing pool heating system, enabling a significant increase in their use of renewable energy and a large reduction in carbon emissions.

Oceanis worked with the Craigie Leisure Centre Staff to investigate the cause of the inefficient heating system, and provide key recommendations after modelling and analysis. This project exemplifies how thoughtful design can enhance public spaces while supporting sustainable urban planning goals.

The project was recently awarded LIWA’s 2024 Sustainability Award, a strong endorsement of Oceanis’ approach to energy efficient aquatic centre design.

Another fun project for Oceanis, the Bluewater Lagoon in Queensland, the team designed pools, water slides, rides, water jet effects, and waterfalls as well as lap swimming areas and a major water recycling plant. Achieving high quality water to meet both visitor expectations and local codes and standards compliance is vital to a water parks’ visitation success.

Our deep understanding of water quality standards and compliance was crucial in the park’s success, meeting visitor expectations and regulatory requirements. Today, Bluewater Lagoon is one of the region’s most popular attractions, delivering significant economic benefits to the Mackay area.

Why Aquatic Design Matters

Aquatic design is more than aesthetics—it shapes how people experience and interact with public spaces. It contributes to the economic vitality of communities, attracts tourism, and improves public health by encouraging outdoor activity. Done right, aquatic design becomes a cornerstone of urban development, enhancing quality of life and fostering a sense of place.


Oceanis is dedicated to delivering tailored solutions that address the unique needs of each project. Through a combination of creativity, technical expertise, and future-proof design, Oceanis helps communities reimagine what’s possible in public space design.



Discover how Oceanis creates impactful environments through expert aquatic design: oceanis.com.au/projects