flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

‘Under’ will be Europe’s first underwater restaurant

Retail Centers

‘Under’ will be Europe’s first underwater restaurant

The Snøhetta-designed restaurant will also function as a research center for marine life.


By David Malone, Associate Editor | October 25, 2017
Under resting on the seabed

Rendering courtesy of Snøhetta

A new restaurant from Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta looks like it sprang from the pages of a concept art book for James Cameron’s 1989 film The Abyss. ‘Under,’ which will become Europe’s first under water restaurant, will exist at the southernmost point of the Norwegian coastline by the village of Båly. In addition to being a restaurant Under will also function as a research center for marine life.

The restaurant and research center will be half-sunken into the sea. The exposed part will lie against the craggy shoreline while the underwater aspect of the building will become part of the marine environment and rest directly on the seabed five meters below the surface. Meter-thick concrete walls will provide protection against the pressure and shock of the rugged sea conditions and large acrylic windows will offer views of the seabed as it changes throughout the seasons and varying weather conditions.

 

The large acrylic window in UnderRendering courtesy of Snøhetta.

 

A path lined with informational plaques will lead guests to the restaurant’s entrance at the water’s edge. These plaques will tell a story about marine biodiversity and the Norwegian coast. The entrance to the restaurant is clad in untreated, locally sourced oak that will eventually fade into a grayish color.

From the entrance, guests will descend through three levels: the wardrobe area, the champagne bar, and the restaurant. At the champagne bar level, a narrow, vertical acrylic window showcases the transition between the shoreline and the ocean. Each level uses a color palette that reflects its surrounding location. The champagne bar is inspired by the surrounding coastal zone’s subdued colors of shells rocks and sand. Meanwhile, the dark blues and greens of the seabed, seaweed, and sea highlight the restaurant.

 

Half-submerged UnderRendering courtesy of Snøhetta.

 

Under can comfortably accommodate 80 to 100 guests and will use muted lighting inside the restaurant and on the exterior seabed to help view the sea life outside of the largest 11 X 4-meter panoramic acrylic window. The research teams studying marine biology and fish behavior will help create conditions on the seabed that will attract fish and shellfish to the area surrounding the restaurant. A coarse concrete shell encapsulates the entire building and encourages mussels to cling on. Over time, the submerged concrete building will function as an artificial mussel reef that rinses the sea and naturally attracts more marine life to the purified waters. 

 

Under's entranceRendering courtesy of Snøhetta.

 

Aerial view of UnderRendering courtesy of Snøhetta.

Related Stories

High-rise Construction | Mar 12, 2015

Foster and Partners designs 'The One' in Toronto

Developer Sam Mizrahi worked with Foster and Partners and Core Architects to design Toronto's tallest skyscraper aside from the CN Tower, The One, which will house a luxury shopping mall and condos.

Retail Centers | Mar 10, 2015

Retrofit projects give dying malls new purpose

Approximately one-third of the country’s 1,200 enclosed malls are dead or dying. The good news is that a sizable portion of that building stock is being repurposed.

Retail Centers | Mar 10, 2015

Orlando's Skyscraper to be world's tallest roller coaster

The Skyscraper is expected to begin construction later this year, and open in 2016. It will stand at 570 feet. 

Codes and Standards | Mar 5, 2015

Charlotte, N.C., considers rule for gender-neutral public bathrooms

A few other cities, including Philadelphia, Austin, Texas, and Washington D.C., already have gender-neutral bathroom regulations.

Office Buildings | Feb 18, 2015

Commercial real estate developers optimistic, but concerned about taxes, jobs outlook

The outlook for the commercial real estate industry remains strong despite growing concerns over sluggish job creation and higher taxes, according to a new survey of commercial real estate professionals by NAIOP.

Mixed-Use | Feb 13, 2015

First Look: Sacramento Planning Commission approves mixed-use tower by the new Kings arena

The project, named Downtown Plaza Tower, will have 16 stories and will include a public lobby, retail and office space, 250 hotel rooms, and residences at the top of the tower. 

Codes and Standards | Feb 12, 2015

New Appraisal Institute form aids in analysis of green commercial building features

The Institute’s Commercial Green and Energy Efficient Addendum offers a communication tool that lenders can use as part of the scope of work. 

Modular Building | Feb 12, 2015

New shipping container complex begins construction in Albuquerque

The Green Jeans Farmery already has a hydroponic farm component courtesy of owner and entrepreneur Roy Solomon.

| Jan 7, 2015

4 audacious projects that could transform Houston

Converting the Astrodome to an urban farm and public park is one of the proposals on the table in Houston, according to news site Houston CultureMap.

Smart Buildings | Jan 7, 2015

Best practices for urban infill development: Embrace the region's character, master the pedestrian experience

If an urban building isn’t grounded in the local region’s character, it will end up feeling generic and out-of-place. To do urban infill the right way, it’s essential to slow down and pay proper attention to the context of an urban environment, writes GS&P's Joe Bucher.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Adaptive Reuse

Empty mall to be converted to UCLA Research Park

UCLA recently acquired a former mall that it will convert into the UCLA Research Park that will house the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy at UCLA and the UCLA Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, as well as programs across other disciplines. The 700,000-sf property, formerly the Westside Pavilion shopping mall, is two miles from the university’s main Westwood campus. Google, which previously leased part of the property, helped enable and support UCLA’s acquisition.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021