For the second time in a few months I am in awe of a project that somehow involves a parking lot. After the underwater one that houses 7000 bikes in Holland, comes this one Fjordarium in Norway. What is it about?
An old abandoned parking lot near the center of Oslo will undergo a radical transformation thanks to Haptic Architects and Oslo Works. Their idea? Create a sustainable tourist attraction that offers spectacular views of the fjord's marine life.
Fornebu Brygge: an ambitious and sustainable project
The ambitious project, called Fornebu Brygge, envisages a 45.000 square meter (approximately 484.000 square foot) development on the water's edge, with the Fjordarium as the centerpiece. This particular aquarium will house several underwater galleries to discover and learn about marine life.
But that's not all: the project will also include a marine centre, a water sports centre, restaurants and cafés, a new ferry terminal and a new park. In summary, an extraordinary landscape redevelopment.
Fjordariu: draft and pollution proof
Developed in close collaboration with the Norwegian Institute for Water Research, the Fjordarium will be designed to preserve marine biodiversity and resist the currents of the fjord.
Thanks to its architecture, it will also bring natural light into the underwater spaces, offering a one-of-a-kind experience and focusing on the challenges and solutions for cleaning up the fjord, polluted by agricultural waste.
The materials used? Mostly wood and zero-emission concrete. The steel will also be sourced from decommissioned oil rigs, ships and pipelines.
Fjordarium, from parking to sustainable artwork
The Fjordarium (and more generally the entire Fornebu Brygge project) are the perfect example of creativity and innovation that go hand in hand with eco-sustainability.
I have no difficulty believing that this structure will be one of the jewels in the "Norwegian crown", and a place visited by both citizens of the Scandinavian country and tourists.
Talent always pays off in the end.
