Oslo, Norway
Snøhetta has released new photographs of the world’s largest underwater restaurant completed in 2019 to show how nature has embraced the underwater structure and how marine species have flourished in both briny and brackish waters to produce a natural abundance of biodiversity at the site.
The Snøhetta-designed restaurant serves not only as a hospitality venue but also as a research center for marine life, providing a tribute to the wild fauna of the sea and to the rocky coastline of Norway’s southern tip.
Thus, marine biologists have the opportunity with a unique space to study marine life without disturbing it and encourage visitors to learn about underwater life by observing it up close.
In Norwegian, “under” has the dual meaning of ”below” and ”wonder.”
Half-sunken into the sea, the building’s 34-meter long monolithic form breaks the surface of the water to rest directly on the seabed five meters below.
The structure is designed to fully integrate into its marine environment over time, as the roughness of the concrete shell will function as an artificial reef, welcoming limpets and kelp to inhabit it.
With the thick concrete walls lying against the craggy shoreline, the structure is built to withstand pressure and shock from the rugged sea conditions.
Like a sunken periscope, the restaurant’s massive window offers a view of the seabed as it changes throughout the seasons and varying weather conditions.
“The underwater restaurant Under on the Norwegian coast of Lindesnes was designed to fully integrate into its marine environment over time, as the roughness of the concrete shell was aimed to function as an artificial reef, welcoming limpets and kelp to inhabit it,” states the studio.
“Now, we are all thrilled to see all the planned integrations coming to life, as nature has fully embraced and inhabited the building.”
the site is very biodiverse, as it is situated where the Baltic Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.
The algae and mollusks that now cling to the restaurant’s surface form an artificial mussel reef that will purify the water and naturally attract more sea creatures.
Project: Under Restaurant
Architects: Snøhetta AS
Client: Stig and Gaute Ubostad
Photographers: Timon Koch
