Den Blå Planet

This guide to Den Blå Planet in Copenhagen opens in 1944, when a citywide strike cuts power to the aquarium's pumps and the director's staff climb onto bicycles to keep the tanks alive by pedaling. From there it goes back to a Christmas Eve walk in 1934 between engineer Knud Hoejgaard and his zoologist son, whose offhand idea led to Denmark's Aquarium opening in 1939 to crowds so large people fainted from the ventilation. You'll also hear how the outgrown original aquarium led to the current building here on Amager in 2013, designed by the Danish firm 3XN. Listen as you approach the building and notice its curved aluminium form from outside first.