Imagine this, enjoying a delicious meal with a gorgeous glass of wine in the middle of the ocean. Sounds like something out of a James Bond movie, right? Well, in Norway you can now experience the largest underwater restaurant in the world, perfectly named, Under.
The restaurant began on a barge, where they constructed the first section over the course of six months. In July 2018, the work was completed, and it stretched around 110 feet in length. It was then submerged into the water by using 18 anchor points. Amazingly, over half of the restaurant is resting under the surface of the water and has three separate floors with complete underwater views due to its 11-meter panoramic window.
The space will never get too crowded with a limit of no more than 100 people allowed in the restaurant at one time, enabling the guests to enjoy the sensational marine life and relaxing dining experience. Opening in spring 2019, as you enter the building, a large glass walkway leads you into the restaurant.
The company responsible for the design is Norwegian company Snohetta, who have their name against architectural masterpieces such as the Oslo Opera House, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt and Times Square in New York – these guys are way up there with the best in the business. Lead architect, Rune Grasdal, explained their thought process behind the design, “When the client came to us, they had already done some sketches on another site close to current one, but we convinced them to build a few hundred meters away, where the sea is actually rougher. We thought this would better capture the nature of the area and I think that’s also what makes this more spectacular compared to other underwater restaurants in the world, as they are in very controlled areas.”
Keep your eyes peeled for information for Under’s grand opening.