This tiny restaurant in Brussels is topped with an aquaponic farm that grows eels! Leopold Banchini Architects designed the unique space where clients literally eat under the fish tank. The Aquaponic Eel bar, located at the Recyclart Gallery in Brussels, is an experimental fishery that produces both the meet and the herbs necessary to cook the famous Belgium dish Paling in ‘t groen.
The Aquaponic Eel bar was inspired by the mysterious reproductive cycle of the European Eel, which transforms several times during its lifetime. Although the eel has become the primary ingredient in a famous Belgian dish, this animal has been notoriously hard to breed in captivity.
Related: IKEA’s Space10 is working on on-site hydroponic farms for restaurants
The eels above produce excretions that serve as nutrients for the plants, while the plants filter the water for the fish. The entire food production cycle happens in and around the metal structure, providing visitors with an unforgettable dining experience.
Photos by Dylan Perrenoud
