Inside the world's largest underwater restaurant, which has a 36-foot window that looks right out into the seabed so guests can watch marine life swim by as they eat
Under will be Europe's first — and the world's largest — underwater restaurant when it opens in April 2019. The building will also function as a marine research center.
It's located at the southernmost tip of Norway, in the coastal village of Båly, in the Lindesnes region.
Source: Google Maps
The 100-foot long structure resembles a concrete tube that sits half-in and half-out of the sea. It rests on the seabed about 16.5 feet below the surface.
Source: Under
Under was built aboveground on a barge over a period of about six months. The structure was designed to be able to weather harsh conditions.
Source: Under
"The first problem is water pressure, as we're [16 feet] below the surface, but the biggest challenge is the waves," Rune Grasdal, a senior architect at Snøhetta, told CNN. "Wind and waves are extreme here. To withstand all these forces, the building is slightly curved, so it can better take to the waves, and it's thick: [1.6 feet] for the concrete and about [1 foot] for the acrylic windows."
Source: CNN
After construction was completed on the barge, the structure was towed into position about 600 feet away, lowered into the sea, and attached to a foundation on the ocean floor in July 2018.
Source: Under
The restaurant was purposefully placed in an area known to have harsh weather. Under's three-foot thick walls were designed to withstand pressure and shock from the rugged sea conditions.
Source: Under
"The most exciting experience will be visiting the restaurant during rough weather," Rune Grasdal, a senior architect at Snøhetta, told Forbes. "It will be fantastic to see the sea surface broken up by the big waves and the rain, making for a very dramatic view."
Source: Forbes
Under will have three levels that together span 5,300 square feet. First is the entrance and wardrobe area. From there, guests descend to a champagne bar, which serves as the transition between the shore and the sea.
The lowest level is the dining room, which will have two long tables and several smaller tables. Guests will be able to watch sea life go by through the 36 x 13-foot panoramic acrylic window while they eat. Muted lights installed in the seabed will illuminate the water.
Source: Under
Under will serve locally-sourced seafood dishes include cod, lobster, mussels, and truffle kelp, which is a local type of seaweed that apparently tastes like truffles.
Source: Under
The restaurant recommends that guests allot three-and-a-half to four hours "to fully escape into our Immersion menu," according to its website.
Source: Under
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