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15 Incredible Underwater Architecture Projects Around the World

August 10, 2023

Dive into hotels, restaurants, and greenhouses constructed under deep blue water

By Katherine McLaughlin
With 71% of the earth’s surface covered with oceans, it was only a matter of time before underwater architecture became a growing trend in urban design. Though submerged habitats have existed since the ’60s—generally used for marine research purposes—underwater hotels, restaurants, and museums have flourished all across the globe in the past decade. These hospitality and tourism initiatives certainly offer an experience unlike anything that can be done on land, but many of these projects aren’t solely for human pleasure. Rune Grasdal, architect and project manager at Snøhetta, spoke with AD in 2019 saying the idea of an underwater structure was “very intriguing,” when the firm was approached to design a submerged restaurant off the coast of Norway.
These conversations ultimately resulted in Under, a five-star restaurant beneath the Atlantic Ocean in Lindesnes. “The structure not only was going to be used as a restaurant but also would play an important role as a marine research center,” he said at the time. Underwater architecture is still a relatively new concept, but the possibilities are as deep as the ocean itself. Below, AD surveys 15 exquisite examples of underwater architecture you can visit today.
Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN/Getty Images
1/15

Resort World Sensota (Singapore)

At Resort World Sentosa in Singapore, the hotel offers a collection of 11 suites, called the Equarius Ocean Suites, that are designed like two-story townhouses. On the top level, guests enjoy an open living area, outdoor patio, and private Jacuzzi. Below, the underwater bedroom provides unparalleled views of over 40,000 marine animals.
Photo by Emmanuel Wong/Getty Images
2/15

Atlantis Sanya (Sanya, China)

Located on Hainan Island off the coast of China, Atlantis Sanya strives to bring “the ancient legend of Atlantis to life.” Of course, one of the best ways to experience this is by booking a stay in the Poseidon or Neptune Suite, which are fully submerged underwater.
Photo by Conrad Maldives Rangali Island © Justin Nicholas
3/15

The Muraka (The Maldives)

Part of the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, The Muraka is a first-of-its-kind luxury residence where the bedroom is submerged 16 feet into the Indian Ocean. The 180-degree curved acrylic dome encircling the bed makes for a one of a kind experience to truly sleep among marine life.
Photo by Sigrid Harms/picture alliance/Getty Images
4/15

Under (Lindesnes, Norway) 

This Snøhetta-designed restaurant is Europe’s first underwater restaurant, located at the southernmost point of the Norwegian coastline. Appropriately named Under, the 112-foot structure is half submerged into the sea and designed so that the structure’s exterior concrete shell will eventually function as an artificial reef for marine life.
Photo by Victor Romero
5/15

Ossiano (Dubai, UAE) 

Though the Atlantis Resort in Dubai also has a collection of underwater suites, Ossiano, the on-site, underwater restaurant shouldn’t be missed. Run by Michelin-starred chef Grégoire Berger, all ingredients in the 10-wave tasting menu are sourced from the ocean or within 31 miles from the coastline.
Photo by Jason deCaires Taylor
6/15

The Coral Greenhouse (John Brewer Reef, Australia)

Located in the John Brewer Reef in Australia, British sculpture artist and photographer Jason deCaires Taylor created an underwater coral greenhouse. The 165-ton structure is designed to evolve overtime as marine life slowly moves in. The structure even features “landscaping” consisting of gardens, paving, and floating trees.
Photo by Courtesy of The Manta Resort 
7/15

The Manta Resort (Tanzania)

The underwater room at the Manta Resort on Pemba Island, Tanzania, is a private floating room in the Indian Ocean. The three-story structure is anchored to the ocean floor, with the bedroom fully submerged for an up close view of everything happening below the sea.
Photo by MICHAEL PISARRI
8/15

Breef Underwater Sculpture Gallery (Nassau, Bahamas)

A partnership between Rosewood Baha Mar and The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation, BREEF Sculpture Garden is the world’s largest underwater sculpture garden and living art gallery. Here, visitors can also view Ocean Atlas, the world’s largest underwater sculpture.
Photo by STR/AFP/Getty Images
9/15

InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland (Shanghai)

Built into the side of an abandoned quarry in Shanghai,  InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland has 16 floors, out of 18, that are underground. Wrapped around an artificial lake, two underwater floors offer stunning views of fish and other lake swimmers.
Photo by Abaca Press/Alamy Stock Photo
10/15

Jules’ Undersea Lodge (Key Largo, Florida)

The only fully submerged underwater hotel in the United States, Jules’ Undersea Lodge is not for the casual traveler—guests have to scuba dive to reach the structure. Located off the coast of Key Largo in Florida, the submerged outpost was first designed as a research lab by Neil Monney and Ian Koblick. Besides being the only hotel in the US that requires scuba diving for entrance, the lodge was also the first underwater research lab that was made accessible to the public.
Photo by The Galataport
11/15

Galataport Istanbul Cruise Ship Terminal (Istanbul, Turkey)

The Galataport, located in Istanbul, is the world’s first underground cruise ship terminal. Set beneath Turkey’s coast, the terminal extends a little over 50 feet below sea level. Developed by BLG Capital, a Bilgili Holding Affiliate and designed by Bruno Ramos of BEA Architects in collaboration with Doğuş Group, the underwater portions of the port were inspired by the iconic cisterns of Istanbul, which were built during the Roman and Byzantine empires.
Photo by David C Tomlinson/Getty Images
12/15

L’Oceanogràfic (Valenica, Spain)

Located inside the City of Arts and Sciences—an avant garde architectural complex in Valencia, Spain—L’Oceanogràfic is an oceanarium set on the Turia River. Designed by Félix Candela, the space houses over 45,000 aquatic animals within nine two-tiered underwater towers.
Photo by Baca Architects
13/15

Australian Underwater Discovery Centre (Busselton, Australia)

Designed by UK-based Baca Architects, the Australian Underwater Discovery Centre is expected to be the world’s largest natural marine observatory. Set about 1.25 miles off the shoreline, the new facility will be located at the end of Busselton Jetty, the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Inside, the discovery center will include an underwater trail for viewing marine life as well as underwater dining.
Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
14/15

Frederick and Barbara Erb Polar Passage at the Detroit Zoo (Detroit, Michigan)

A visit to the Detroit Zoo grants guests the opportunity to visit the Frederick and Barbara Erb Polar Passage, an underwater tunnel that lets visitors see the massive animals swimming up close. The 12-foot-wide, 8-foot-tall attraction winds throughout 70 feet inside one of North America’s largest polar habitats.
Photo by Courtesy of Visit Kanazawa

The Swimming Pool (Kanazawa, Japan)

Though it’s not uncommon to be underwater in a swimming pool, this one at the The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, offers more than meets the eye. Designed by artist Leandro Erlich, the design is much more optical illusion than a place for a summer dip. A thin layer of water is suspended over glass at the top, creating an empty cavern for visitors to walk into and under.
This article is originally available in www.architecturaldigest.com