NEW RESTAURANT UNDER BY SNØHETTA

Photography © Ivar Kvaal

Yesterday Europe’s first underwater restaurant opened in Lindesnes, Norway. Located at the southernmost point of the Norwegian coastline, where the sea storms from the north and south meet, the project is situated at a unique confluence. Marine species flourish here in the both briny and brackish waters to produce a natural abundance in biodiversity at the site. The Snøhetta-designed restaurant also functions as a research center for marine life, providing a tribute to the wild fauna of the sea and to the rocky coastline of Norway’s southern tip.

In Norwegian, “under” has the dual meaning of ”below” and ”wonder”. Half-sunken into the sea, the building’s 34-meter long monolithic form breaks the surface of the water to rest directly on the seabed five meters below. The structure is designed to fully integrate into its marine environment over time, as the roughness of the concrete shell will function as an artificial reef, welcoming limpets and kelp to inhabit it. With the thick concrete walls lying against the craggy shoreline, the structure is built to withstand pressure and shock from the rugged sea conditions. Like a sunken periscope, the restaurant’s massive window offers a view of the seabed as it changes throughout the seasons and varying weather conditions.

NEW RESTAURANT UNDER BY SNØHETTAPhotography © Ivar Kvaal

The restaurant seats 35-40 dinner guests every night, in a dining room protected by half a meter-thick concrete walls. Its culinary focus is to create a fine dining experience based on high quality, locally-sourced produce, with a special emphasis on sustainable wildlife capture. 

“Under is a natural progression of our experimentation with boundaries, says Snøhetta Founder and Architect, Kjetil Trædal Thorsen. “As a new landmark for Southern Norway, Under proposes unexpected combinations of pronouns and prepositions, and challenges what determines a person’s physical placement in their environment. In this building, you may find yourself under water, over the seabed, between land and sea. This will offer you new perspectives and ways of seeing the world, both beyond and beneath the waterline”.

NEW RESTAURANT UNDER BY SNØHETTA

Photography © Ivar Kvaal

NEW RESTAURANT UNDER BY SNØHETTAPhotography © Inger Marie Grini/Bo Bedre Norge

Lindesnes is known for its intense weather conditions, which can change from calm to stormy several times a day. Upon arriving at the site, the visitor’s impressions of the unruly outdoors quickly dissolve as they are ushered through into the hushed, oak-clad foyer. The rich interiors create a warm, welcoming atmosphere inside the restaurant. As a metaphor for the journey of descending from land to sea, textile-clad ceiling panels reference the colors of a sunset dropping into the ocean, accompanying one’s passage down the stairs. The subtle elegance of the finely woven ceiling panels lends a serene ambience to the building. 

At the seabed, five meters below sea level, lies the panoramic eye of the building. An eleven-meter-wide and 3.4-meter-tall horizontal window offers a visual gateway to the sea and connects the guests to the wildlife outside. 

NEW RESTAURANT UNDER BY SNØHETTA

Photography © Inger Marie Grini/Bo Bedre Norge

NEW RESTAURANT UNDER BY SNØHETTA

Photography © Inger Marie Grini/Bo Bedre Norge

NEW RESTAURANT UNDER BY SNØHETTA

Photgraphy © Stian Broch

NEW RESTAURANT UNDER BY SNØHETTA

Photography © Inger Marie Grini/Bo Bedre Norge

NEW RESTAURANT UNDER BY SNØHETTA

Photography © Ivar Kvaal – with thanks, Snøhetta 


Under is a story of contrasts; the contrast between the landscape and the sea; above and below. The project underscores the delicate ecological balance between land and sea and draws our attention to sustainable models for responsible consumption. By focusing on the coexistence of life on land and in the sea, Under proposes a new way of understanding our relationship to our surroundings – above the surface, under the water, and alongside the life of the sea.

To see more, visit Under here.

 

Elisabeth 

The post NEW RESTAURANT UNDER BY SNØHETTA appeared first on ELISABETH HEIER.

©