Europe’s first underwater restaurant opened on March 20 in Lindesnes, at the southernmost tip of the Norwegian coast.
Europe’s first underwater restaurant opened on March 20 in Lindesnes, at the southernmost tip of the Norwegian coast. It bears the name “under”, which means both “under” and “wonder” in Norwegian. Surrounded by rough rocks and crashing waves, the 34-metre-long monolith juts out of the sea. Five and a half meters below sea level, the building merges with the seabed and combines architecture, gastronomy and marine research.
The restaurant concept was developed by the operators together with the architecture firm Snøhetta and experienced local partners. The focus is on promoting people’s relationship with the environment and nutritional awareness. These approaches are reflected in both the culinary offerings and the architecture.
The dining room with a panoramic view of the North Atlantic Ocean offers space for 30 to 40 guests, who are offered local and seasonal dishes in an 18-course menu. The menu ranges from regional seafood to seaweed and other types of aquatic plants.
The architecture of the under underlines the concept by emphasizing the contrast between the surface and the underwater world. While the first part of the building looks like a rock protruding from the water, the body under water merges with its surroundings. The rough concrete shell functions as an artificial reef for limpets and seaweed. This contrast between the surface and the depths of the sea is also continued inside the building. The entrance area and stairs to the mezzanine floor are clad in warm wooden panels. At the interface between the surface of the water and the ocean, Snøhetta replaces the wooden paneling with a textile covering that becomes darker and darker as the depth increases. The dining room with panoramic windows is located on the seabed. Here, architecture and environment merge – seasons and weather conditions are clearly perceptible. When the sea changes from calm to raging, it affects the entire atmosphere in the room.
The region in the south of Norway is known for its extreme weather conditions. The weather can suddenly change from sunny and calm to overcast and stormy – several times a day. The construction of the under therefore posed a particular challenge. Slightly curved and half a meter thick concrete walls protect the under from strong water pressure and drastic weather conditions. During the construction phase, however, the foundations kept drifting upwards. Snøhetta counteracted this with a massive anchorage on the foundation stone under the seabed. In order to make the prefabricated building sink, it was initially filled with water, which was drained again once it was successfully connected to the foundation.
All pictures: © Ivar Kvaal
