based-on the sea’s ‘whirl streams’ and shoals of fish, ‘whirlpool’ is the name of 3xns winning proposal for an aquarium in copenhagen. the round centre hall of the building and the different parts are ‘whirled’ in the slightly curved sequence of rooms. the first and longest of the whirlpool’s arms follow the shape of the landscape and the building, moving into the land. the blue planet building site is at the island of amager, right at the coast of øresund, north of kastrup havn, the complex is expected to open in 2013.

 

 

'whirlpool' aquarium, copenhagen by 3xn

 

 

‘we wanted to stage a totality of the experience one has visiting an aquarium. the starting point was this
magnificent experience of actually watching fish in their element. we wanted to create that adventurous
feeling, and we took inspiration in the natural phenomenon of the whirlpool or maelstrom drawing you
into the deep. a sculpture at the coast it unites the natural elements of water, air and earth.‘
kim herforth nielsen, principal of 3XN