"Underwater restaurant Under, located off the coast of Lindesnes, Norway, is designed to fully integrate into its marine environment over time, and the roughness of the concrete shell allows it to act as an artificial reef, welcoming shellfish and kelp to inhabit it."
Architecture firm Snøhetta has released new photos of its underwater restaurant Under, which was completed three years ago in Norway and is now covered in marine life. Located in the remote Lindesnes region, the 495sqm building is submerged on a rugged coastline and now doubles as an artificial reef.
The Norwegian architecture firm designed Under as a concrete tube that resembles a sinking periscope. The concrete is exposed, creating a rough surface where algae and mollusks can inhabit. After its completion in 2019, it is now "embraced by nature," according to Snøhetta.
"Under the underwater restaurant on the coast of Lindesnes, Norway, is designed to fully integrate into its marine environment over time, with the roughness of the concrete shell allowing it to act as an artificial reef, welcoming shellfish and kelp to inhabit it," the firm said. Speaking to Dezeen. "Now, we are all delighted to see this plan become a reality, with nature fully embraced and inhabited by this building."
Under is Europe's first and "world's largest" underwater restaurant. Its walls are slightly curved and half a meter thick, designed to ensure resistance to waves and water pressure.
In addition to offering visitors a unique dining experience, the building hopes to attract marine life, promote biodiversity in the area, and provide chefs with fresh ingredients. It also provides a unique space for marine biologists to study marine life without disturbing it, and encourages visitors to learn about underwater life by taking a closer look.
"Many people believe that for humans to truly protect our nature better, more people need to understand it," the firm said. “This is also the core idea of the Under project. Being able to give people a deeper understanding of life in the ocean makes the Under restaurant an even more exciting project for marine biologists.”
According to the firm, the site is very biologically diverse, as it is located where the Baltic Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. The algae and mollusks now clinging to the restaurant's surface form an artificial mussel reef that purifies the water and naturally attracts more marine life.
Inside, the marine life is framed by a large acrylic window spanning 11 x 3 meters, which can be seen from every level within the building. To allow visitors to observe marine life through windows at night, Snøhetta worked with design studio Light Bureau to create muted seafloor and interior lighting.
After the underwater restaurant was completed, the studio also added a series of structures, such as rocks, to the surrounding seafloor, hoping to provide "better breeding grounds" for the creatures. Shortly after it opened, Snøhetta released a video of its construction, which involved submerging the structural shell, causing it to sink five meters below the ocean floor.
Photo by Timon Koch
Article Source：Dezeen
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