The World’s Largest Underwater Restaurant
A restaurant five and a half meters below the surface in Norway, exposing you to the wonders beneath the sea. Half-sunken into the icy waters of Lindesnes, restaurant 'Under' invites you to dine five meters below the surface. It has total space of 495 square meters spread over three levels joined by a large oak staircase. The real protagonist of Under is the panoramic acrylic glass window that measures 11 meters wide by 3 meters high and covers the length of the restaurant wall. The view of the seabed offers a visual gateway to the sea and connects the guests to the wildlife outside. This provides you with an opportunity to take in the otherwise rarely seen marine ecosystem of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Under has been designed with sensitive consideration for its geographic context and aquatic neighbors. In time, the structure will become a part of its marine environment, as the roughness of the concrete shell will work 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 acrylic windows offer a view of the seabed as it changes throughout the seasons and varying weather conditions.
Under provides a journey into the unknown. Each guest is given a unique opportunity to experience a submerged universe, exploring marine life in ways they otherwise may never see. The construction of the restaurant cost about 7 million euros and was financed by Stig and Gaute Ubostad, two Norwegian brothers who had this idea to create an attraction that would increase tourism in the area and publicize the wild nature of Norway.