The semi-submerged building in Norway will function as a restaurant and a research centre for marine life
How often do we come across a complex yet eccentric architecture that is deliberately built to tilt, a futuristic apartment built to standout with its semi-rotation or even a person-made modern skyscraper built to a teetering angle?
Well, there are a few, such as the Capital Gate tower currently under construction in Abu Dhabi, UAE, that leans four times as far as the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, also better known as the church’s bell tower, and La Luciole Concert Hall in Alencon, France, an architecture construction showing two tilting “cylinder-looking” towers partly hidden underground.
But you’d have already known these.
While some building exteriors are indeed built to impress and show to the world the most astonishing sides of human’s civilisation, and how the relationships of both buildings and the reveal of a marvelous beauty from human’s inclinations towards art play a significant role in our landscapes today.
Snøhetta designs “Under”, Europe’s First Underwater Restaurant in Norway
Very soon, we will have Europe’s first underwater restaurant located at the southernmost point of Norway. Designed by Snøhetta, it will feature a semi-submerged building that will house a restaurant, marine research centre and artificial mussel reef.
“The sea bed facing the building will be optimised to encourage fish and shellfish to proliferate, and the walls themselves would act as an artificial mussel reef.” – According to the statement
“Under” in Norwegian’s context means very close to “wonder”, designed to emulate a concrete grey box with a restaurant able to accommodate up to 100 guests. According to Snøhetta, whether sliding into or out of the water, there’s a front-facing 11m x 4m panoramic glass panel, giving a view into the depths beyond.
Part of the restaurant will cater to biology research activities during the day to study marine biology and fish behaviour
Inspired by the coastal zone, the interior will feature subdued dark blue and green shades contrasting with warm oak and the 1m thick concrete on the outside
“Under” is another project within Oslo- and New York-based Snøhetta’s portfolio of waterside architecture works. They have also previously designed Times Square Reconstruction project in Manhattan, the Desmond Tutu memorial arch in Cape Town and the SFMOMA extension as well as the Norwegian Opera and Ballet.
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