At the southernmost tip of Norway, gourmets should soon be able to descend into the sea. Because here, at Spangereid in the municipality of Lindesnes, Europe's first underwater restaurant is being built. Five and a half meters deep in the North Atlantic, visitors can eat from the spring of 2019 - overlooking fish and seafood, on the plate and in front of the window. One side of the restaurant will be an eleven by four meter display window.
"under" the creators have christened their project. The monolithic structure made of concrete is based on the rough coastline and half submerged in the water. The building is not just an aquarium and a magnet for visitors, but part of its environment. The Snøhetta architects made the outer shell rough. So that shells settle on the concrete cover over time.
The more shells populate the artificial reef, the cleaner the water, the operators calculate. And further: The purified water attracts even more sea dwellers, which in turn will attract a steady stream of visitors. As far as the business plan for the "under". Due to its connection to the underwater world, the place should also be used for research purposes.
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Restaurant "under": bottled waterThe findings of the marine biologists should then also improve the marine fauna. In any case, they will brighten the guests. Information boards should show the way to the water and the restaurant after opening.
A ramp brings visitors to the entrance. Once there, it goes back down to the champagne bar, which is already half in the water. Visitors can also take a first glimpse into the sea, because the taproom and the restaurant share a high window. The upper areas are lined with untreated oak. Below, the wood will then turn into gray concrete.
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Nicolai Ellitsgaard Pedersen will be in the actual restaurant - Chef de l'Under - offering two long wooden tables and several small tables for up to 100 guests. Matching the environment, the interior design also features dark blues and greens. This is exactly the philosophy of the Snøhetta team: architecture and landscape intersect.