Plans to expand aquarium into oceanarium

Føroya Sjósavn, the Faroese National Aquarium, has become a beloved destination for children and adults alike, offering a unique opportunity to explore the rich and varied marine life of the Faroes.

But with its mere 280 m2 capacity, there has long been a wish to expand the facilities to match the ambitions of the North Atlantic Centre for Sustainable Marine Environment.

Recently, a plan was unveiled to build a 2,000 m2 centre with a huge circular aquarium in the middle of the building.

Sjósavnið, nýtt sjósavn

Caption: 

Architect's rendition of new oceanarium to be built on the same spot as the current aquarium in Argir

From the sjosavn.net website:

“With wet laboratories, research aquariums, lighting and climate-controlled spaces, aquarium facilities with controlled water, quarantine rooms, workshops, offices, classrooms, a lecture hall, apartment for guest researcher etc. the new national oceanarium will have ideal facilities for marine research.“

 >> SEE ALSO Big shark tank set up in Argir

“The defined purpose of Føroya Sjósavn is to be a centre of knowledge and learning about the sea. It is a living exhibition of life in our marine environment, providing facilities for research and education, where teaching of children in the centre’s Nature School has been an important part. But the very limited space provided by the just 280 m2 old Ice House has been far too small for years, and therefore plans for a new North Atlantic oceanarium and marine research centre were crafted.

sjósavnið.jpg

Caption: 

The Sjósavnið aquarium opened in 2007

“The new building envisioned in this folder is 2000 m2 with a total aquarium capacity of 700 tons. It is a building where sea life is exhibited in a beautiful and interesting way, but also a building that has the capacity to facilitate a wide range of activities such as teaching, courses, research, receptions, exhibitions, and water activities in the surrounding area. The need for such a centre focusing on the marine environment is evident in the Faroe Islands, and the building's location will make it a landmark for the capital and the whole nation."

Read more about the vision behind the project here.

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

More Faroese News in English.