The National Aquarium Denmark, or Den Blå Planet opened to the public in March 2013 and is the largest aquarium in Northern Europe. The whirlpool-shaped Blue Planet aquarium was designed by Danish studio 3XN. The design of The Blue Planet is based on the story about water and life under the sea. The design team visualised the construction as a whirlpool which draws visitors into the depths to the fascinating experiences waiting among fish and sea animals from all over the world. The building comprises of a series of curved wings, designed to mimic the shapes generated by swirling water, and is clad in shimmering aluminium shingles that are reminiscent of fish scales.