Bergen Aquarium
The project
SuperDock is the first product by Nordic Circles. It is an regenerative urban quay front, perfected as an urban intervention to increase biodiversity in the water while at the same time fulfilling all urban needs of a quay side waterfront. The SuperDock at the National Aquarium in Bergen was the first prototype of the SuperDock, and an important proof of concept.
The site
Akvariet i Bergen is the location for the first prototyping of the Superdock structure. Akvariet agreed to the use of the North Sea tank as a testing site for both the interaction between the modules and marine life in the tank and the construction of urban furniture that could be used as part of the outside seating area.
Placing the Superdock ™ in the “North sea” tank provides very controlled conditions for monitoring the impact of the Superdock ™ on marine life. The water is taken 185 m out from the shore and the marine life in the tank reflects the fjord. The tank is not tidal and has no current. The Aquarium does also provide a great opportunity to inform the public about the project. The exposure to the public is important in raising awarness of the project and its goals of circular economy and biodiversity.
Project goals
The overall goal of the Akvariet prototype is to prove the concept for construction established in the sketch project phase. The prototype also needs to function as a showcase for Nordic Circles and therefor it must have high aesthetic quality.
Project Objectives
Test process with workshop and construction- (innovation process)
Test construction techniques
Test materials with a focus on metal
Test corrosion treatments
Test basic monitoring methods
Showcase- High aesthetic/tactile quality
What is excluded
The technical solution to installation in the fjord.
The possible function of the spant structure.
The cost efficiency of pattern making.
The biodiversity in natural habitat.
Team
Design and project management: VILL
Biology: NORCE
Strategy and communication: Willder
Engineering: Node
Dismantling of the raw materials: Norscrap
Steelworks: Størksen Rustfri Industri
Carpentry: Sætrevik Interiørsnekkeri
Site: Akvariet i Bergen
The raw material
The ferry Melderskin was built at Laksevåg, near Bergen, and travelled for a long period of time with passengers and vehicles in the region. It represents the very little unique 1 % of marine metal that ends up for decommission in the western part of the world.
Instead of processing the entire ferry through a pure destruction process, to be sold and sent to remelting (mainly ending up at factories in China), we introduce an alternative route to become a Superdock™ product. A route that results in giving qualities to urban life and contributing to increased biodiversity in Bergen.
Nordic Circles have collaborated with the shipyard at Hanøytangen to disassemble parts from the old ferry “Melderskin”. These modules have been taken out to become our first upcycled pilot project Superdock™. The story behind the products ”raw material” is adding identity and strengthens the storytelling of product.
Awards
Nordic Circles was recognised as a world changing idea by Fast company for the SuperDock project at the National Aquarium.
Photo: Alf Kåre Aasebø
Photo: Bård Bøe
