How does a house get into an aquarium? The installation process at LEGOLAND® ATLANTIS
In October 2009 the construction of the bright red underwater house was completed and it was transported by truck from where it was built in Brno in the Czech Republic, to Günzburg, Germany, where it was temporarily placed in storage.
To prepare the house for final installation in LEGOLAND® ATLANTIS by SEA LIFE, in mid-February the responsible engineer tested all of the connections, completely checked all of the equipment and did a dry run to test the installation.
On 1 March the big day had finally arrived. Lloyd's new home was lowered into the ATLANTIS Ocean Tank. This was no easy task because first of all space had to be made for the house. The first step was to put the LEGO® submarine model into storage.
The truss which supports the house was then able to be lowered by crane through the opening at the top of the tank. Next came eight large concrete blocks which counteract the approximately eight tonnes of buoyancy of the house, thereby keeping it at the bottom of the tank. During the world record attempt this will prevent the house from popping up out of the water like a cork in a champagne bottle.
The big moment came after all of the blocks had been placed on the truss. The 1.4-tonne underwater house was suspended above the opening in the roof of the aquarium tank. The house first needed to be completely flooded with water before it could be submerged and fastened with large bolts to the truss. Once this step had been completed, the pumps were switched on to force the water out of the inside of the house. After two hours, the job was done.
The technical equipment, electrical and air supply, compressors as well as all of the safety and monitoring systems were installed after the interior of the house had completely dried. They were checked over completely by means of extensive tests to ensure that they were all in proper working order.
Divers brought the interior fittings and all of the equipment in packed waterproof bags through the 70 x 70 cm hatch in the floor of the house. Then it was up to Lloyd to make himself at home for his two weeks under water by arranging the table, chair, bed, other furnishings and household items within the house.
