AQUARIUM: den blÅ plAnet
Designing a building that contains seven million litres of water, is comfortable for the inhabitants, can withstand aggressive elements and looks good were the challenges facing 3XN
Kim Herforth Nielson, head designer of Den Blå Planet, 3XN
What is the design? Our inspiration for the design was water. After weeks of brainstorming, we even- tually decided to shape the building like a whirlpool, pulling people into a world beneath the surface of the sea. As it’s located next to Copenhagen
Airport, people look down on the roof when they land and take off, so how it looks from above is very important. From a distance, the building has
the same propeller shape that a whirl- pool has, but it’s an abstract shape that takes on other images, such as a whale, when you get nearer. The façade is covered with small, diamond-shaped aluminium plates, known as shingles, which resemble a fish’s scales up close.
What’s the internal design? The inside is the same shape as the outside, so it’s like being underwater on the big waves. We want the building to be a part of the experience, so we’ve spread light on the walls and ceiling to resemble reflections and used sound to add to the feeling of being underwater. Visitors come into a circular foyer in
The sea animals and the tank’s contents have been sourced from around the world
the centre, then choose a river, lake or ocean to explore in the aquarium.
Head designer Kim Herforth Nielson Attractions include a large, hot water
tank for the tropical fish and the sharks, with a tunnel where visitors can walk through the water. Most of the areas are fairly dark, as the only light comes from aquariums, but there’s a lot of light in the tropical Amazonian forest. Visitors can walk underneath the forest and look into the water to see the piranhas and other fish.
What was your original brief? To make an interesting, iconic building for the sea elements. Our building has a very clear story – it’s not just a big installation for fish. One of the points in the brief was the ability to extend the building by at least
the building’s façade is covered with small aluminium plates to reflect the sky and resemble a fish’s scales up close
40
Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital
AM 2 2013 ©Cybertrek 2013
aqiurium photos: adam mõrk
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