snøhetta designs europe's first underwater restaurant in norway

having designed some of the world’s most notable public and cultural projects, snøhetta adds yet another landmark to its extensive repertoire. at the southernmost point of the norwegian coastline by the village of båly, the architecture firm has designed europe’s very first underwater restaurant. with its immediate proximity with the forces of nature, the restaurant, which will also function as a research center for marine life, is a tribute to the norwegian coast and to lindesnes – to the wild fauna of the sea and to the rocky coastline of norway’s southern tip.

‘under’ will provide an under-water experience inspiring a sense of awe and delight, activating all the senses – both physical and intellectual

half-sunken into the sea, the building’s monolithic form breaks the water surface to lie against the craggy shoreline. more than an aquarium, snøhetta‘s structure will become a part of its marine environment, coming to rest directly on the sea bed five meters below the water’s surface. with meter-thick concrete walls, the structure is built to withstand pressure and shock from the rugged sea conditions.

parts of the restaurant will also be dedicated to a marine biology research center welcoming interdisciplinary research teams studying marine biology and fish behavior

the level below ground has been designed with sensitive consideration for its geographic context and aquatic neighbors. the sleek, streamlined form of the building is encapsulated in a concrete shell with a coarse surface that invites mussels to cling on. over time, as the mollusk community densifies, the submerged monolith will become an artificial mussel reef that functions dually to rinse the sea and naturally attract more marine life to its purified waters. muted lighting from the inside of the restaurant and installed on the seabed will help stage the wildlife flourishing on the sandbank outside the 11 x 4-meter panoramic acrylic window.

guests will enjoy high-quality cooking of locally sourced seafood, such as cod, lobster and mussels

as visitors begin their journey through the restaurant they descend through three levels. from the entrance, where the tidepool is swallowed by the sea, guests enter the wardrobe area. visitors are then ushered down one level to the champagne bar, which marks the transition between the shoreline and the ocean. this physical transformation is emphasized by a narrow acrylic window cutting vertically down through the restaurant levels. from the bar, guests can also look down at the seabed level of the restaurant, where two long dining tables and several smaller tables are placed in front of the large panoramic window.

the structure will become a part of its marine environment, coming to rest directly on the sea bed five meters below the water’s surface

the restaurant’s color palette follows the logic of the different stories of the construction. while the champagne bar is characterized by colors inspired by the coastal zone, with its subdued colors evoking the sediment of shells, rocks and sand, the dining room is submerged in darker blue and green colors inspired by the seabed, seaweed and rough sea. the warm oak of the restaurant interior contrasts with the rough concrete shell, creating an intimate atmosphere. advanced heating pump technology that utilizes the stable seabed temperature functions to heat and cool the building year-round.

the building’s monolithic form breaks the water surface to lie against the craggy shoreline