The 3.5 million-dollar centre, reminiscent of a Welsh house, was designed by US architect James Donaldson. During its first year of existence, the Chubut Eco-Centre near Puerto Madryn has taught thousands of schoolchildren and their teachers to love, respect and admire nature in its marine form. By Antonio Malmassari and Bonnie Tucker Puerto Madryn's Ecocentro, a unique interpretation centre where visitors discover and admire Patagonia's marine ecosystems, has during its first year of operations become one of the biggest tourist attractions after whale-sighting, with the advantage that it is open all year round. The Ecocentro is the creation of a group of naturalists and scientists. It was designed by US architect James Donaldson and built with a 3.5 million-peso grant from the Isaura oil company, on land loaned for 30 years by the Puerto Madryn town hall.
Few visitors read the poem before entering.
More in the mood upon leaving, many do. The Ecocentro combines environmental education, scientific research and art in a building created to motivate people of all ages to seek understanding of the marine world that forms part of our lives whether we realize it or not. They are led to understand, feel and admire nature as if it were a work of art. In a ground floor wing, rotating exhibitions of paintings and sculptures related to the sea are a pleasure to explore. Sea stars, sea anemones and sea urchins in a pool mesmerize people with their delicate movements.