With its 9,000 m2, the Blue Planet is Northern Europe's largest and most modern aquarium.

The Blue Planet is one of the few aquariums in the world that can show wildlife from all around the world. This is due to the extensive water treatment systems that can deliver hot and cold saltwater as well as freshwater.

The 700,000 annual visitors can therefore experience changing organic expressions as they move through the vortex building, with a variety of exotic themed exhibitions, for example a Faroese rocky coast aquarium with wave splashes, North Atlantic fish and flying sea birds.

Natural environment and clean water
COWI, in collaboration with PLH architects, were building consultants throughout the process and developed a very detailed construction program with a subsequent architectural contest and follow-up on the proposed solutions.

In collaboration with National Aquarium Denmark, COWI also developed the comprehensive requirement specification for the bids on the technical installations. All of it with the main goal of minimising the energy and water consumption.

The aquarium's technical installations simulate the animals' natural environment. Powerful LED lamps have been fitted in the aquariums to imitate sunlight, waves and activity. And the temperature of the water can be adapted to the seasons.

All of this creates a healthy environment in the aquariums and ensures that the animals thrive.

In addition, nature's own methods are simulated when cleaning the seven million litres of water in the aquariums. One to five times an hour the many litres of water are circulated through various filters, and the surplus water from this sterilizing process is UV treated before being released into the sea in order to avoid leading out microorganisms without natural enemies to uncontrollable propagation.