Located on the city’s main street Tanum Karl Johan is the oldest bookstore in Oslo. The bookshop was founded I 1832 by Papen (Johan) Dahl in the name of J.W. Cappelen, and it was Oslo’s first bookshop. It offers a vast selection, including many English titles. The project is a full renovation, which means fairly tearing down the void interior. From having several floor levels, the store reappeared will all functions on one floor with a stronger visual homogeneity to the street and more rough materials to prioritize the evident appearance of the book.

Architects: JVA
Location: Karl Johans gate, Oslo, Norway
Client: Tanum AS
Size: Bookstore ca. 750 sq.m, Offices ca. 225 sq.m
Completion: 2011

Fjærland is a village in the municipality of Sogndal, along the Fjærlandsfjord – the longest fjord in Norway. Known as a book town, it is located about 31 km northwest of the municipal center of Sogndalsfjora. There are book shops situated in old cow sheds and pigpens. Owned by the Orheim family for over a hundred years, the Hotel Mundal is a great choice to rest during your stay in the area. This is an old wooden building in 19th century style still in business as a hotel.

The major attraction in Fjærland is the Norwegian Glacier Museum. Designed by Sverre Fehn who received a Pritzker prize in 1997 as a professor of architecture, the museum is located at the scenic Jostedalsbreen National Park. The angular concrete bunker recalls the stone mountains carved by glaciers. Completed in 1991, the Norwegian Glacier Museum reveals more than you ever wanted to know about the flowing ice and how it has sculpted the landscape, the fjords and the mountains. There is a stunning multi-screen presentation on Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on the European continent. You can take a safe trip under the “glacier” and experience the sounds, light, water and winds. Photo: Bosc d’Anjou
 

Ornesvingen has for centuries been widely used by travelers as a place to stop and enjoy the view. Located at one of its many bends the viewpoint gives tourists breathtaking views over the recently acknowledged UNESCO world heritage site, making it one of Norway‘s major tourist attractions. The location offers a magnificent view of Geiranger town and Geiranger fjord, and the spot attracts more than 400 000 visitors every year.

The road swings through 11 hairpin bends up from the Geirangerfjord and to the highest point on the stretch, 620 metres above sea level at Korsmyra. Ornesvingen is the most spectacular viewpoint along the Orne (eagle)-road, a zig-zag road along the steep valley sides of Geiranger-fjord in Møre and Romsdal. Opened on 15th September 1955, the road was an attraction from the very first day, and was called Eagle Road because at its highest point it passed through terrain that had traditionally been the domain of a large number of eagles.

The viewpoint has been recently upgraded, and was officially opened on 21st June. The project consists of three overlapping white concrete slabs overhanging the edge of a 600 meter vertical drop, enabling the observer to step out into the airspace. The river on site is guided over a glazed front, forming a waterfall on the very edge of the viewpoint.

Design: 3RW Arkitekter- Sixten Rahlff
Landscape architecture: Arne Smedsvig, Smedsvig Landskap AS, May Elin Eikaas Bjer
Location: Geiranger, Norway
Completed: 2005

Aurlandsvegen is the mountain road between Aurland and Lardal where you’ll find a unique new breathtaking viewpoint Plattform – Stegastein. Opened in 2006 and pprox. 650 meters above the village Aurland and the fjord, the Stegastein viewing point offers some of the finest sightseeing opportunities in fjord Norway. It’s a perfect place to take your holiday photos. Don’t forget your camera.

The specially constructed new viewing platform situated 6 km from the centre of Aurlandsvangen. The construction is part of the commitment National Tourist roads in the direction of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, and has aroused international attention. At the end of the viewpoint, there is a glass wall, so when you are standing at the edge, it seems pretty scary with the open space, looking down to the fjord and village Aurland. Stegastein is a four meters wide and 30 meters long pier in laminated wood and steel that forms a vantage point 650 meters above sea level. From here you can enjoy simply breathtaking views over the Aurlandfjord. There are parking facilities here and toilets. The road between Aurland centre and Stegastein is open all year. It is a popular sightseeing bus roundtrip from Flam and Aurland to the spectacular viewpoint Stegastein.

The project starts at a carpark, directly by the road. From there 80m long structure makes its way down towards the BBQ-area, located on the costal rocks. The first 35m of the structure is a concrete ramp following the slope between the road and the coastal rock. At the end of the concrete ramp, there is a small viewpoint; the safest place to stop on days with bad weather. From there the structure continues as a wooden bridge, floating over the rocks.

Design: Code Arkitektur
Landscape Architecture: Aurora Landskap
Location: Senja, Norway
Completed: 2007

The hotel is build in nature without a huge footprint, and the rooms are practically bare on the inside save for a lamp, bed, and a couple of chairs. Although the bathrooms are painted canary-yellow, there are no wall hangings or other objects that detract from the spectacular scenery. Every room gets its own surprising view of a dramatic piece of landscape, always changing with the weather and the time of the day and the season.

Architects: Jensen & Skodvin Arkitektkontor
Location: Gudbrandsjuvet, Norway
Construction period: 2007-2008
Client: Knut Slinning
Project Architects: Jan Olav Jensen, Borre Skodvin, Torunn Golberg Helge Lunder, Torstein Koch; Thomas Knigge
Budget: US $1.28 millions
Constructed Area: 800 sq. m
Price range: €300 per person per night.
For more photos: follow this link

Lights do not just enough to see where you drive, and mimics the sun at sunset. The best thing about tunnels is that to go on it should not pay any fees. Work begun in 1995 and the tunnel was officially opened in 2000. The construction cost cost 1,082 million Norwegian krone (€ 240, 000).

The Fram Museum has a triangle shape like building and the polar bear greeting you at the entrance. It is the perfect place to learn about expeditions to the North or South Pole and Greenland as they were explored by Norwegians who now are local heroes. At the centre of the museum there is world’s most famous polar ship, the Fram, from 1892 which has been preserved with its original contents and everyone is welcome on board to walk all over and see how life was on it. All over the walls you see maps, pieces of history, books, clothes, medical and other use objects, food, and tools.

The museum is located at Bygdoy, a short distance from the centre of Oslo and is easily accessible by bus or, in the summer season, by ferry from the City Hall quayside. Its closest neighbors are the Kon-Tiki Museum and the Norwegian Maritime Museum. The area itself is an attraction with, among other things, its rich hiking and recreational areas and the opportunities it provides for swimming in the sea. It is also home to His Majesty the King´s summer residence, Kongsgarden.

The main exhibition has explanatory texts in nine languages and describes the three great Fram Expeditions. Temporary exhibitions are made continually concerning different polar issues. Around the ship you will find objects from the different expeditions. There are also exclusive polar merchandise and probably the world’s biggest polar book store in our museum with 220 different titles.

Not to mention the view you have from the museum’s windows or terrace over the Oslo harbor, making it perfect for a drink/snack before oyu head back to town in the boat that stops right next to the museum. However, if you are as tough and cool as a real polar hero, the Fram Museum offers you to stay the night at the museum! Pack your sleeping bag and sleep on the main deck of the Fram!  For children between 7 and 13 years of age, with a parent or in a group.

Akershus Fortress or Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison. It is located along the coastline, very close to the touristic harbor and the City hall. It’s in walkable distance from any place between the Central Station and National Theater. The trails of the castle are all paved with grey stones and it feels like they only go up. On the highest points located towards the sea, it’s wonderful having a look at one of the many displayed cannons, the huge cruise boats or simply enjoy the awesome panorama over the harbor and Aker Brygge.

The castle also hosts the Norwegian armed forces and resistance museums. I had often encounters with police on horses since at the bottom of the fortress there are many stables. All around the castel, there is a large green area, where people can go for a barbecue, concerts and festivals (Oslo live festival) and during big sport events, the city sets up huge screens where events can be watched.

A portion of the fortress was replicated at the Norway (Epcot) pavilion at Epcot Center theme park in Orlando, Florida. Inside the fortress there is a small pond with a stage, where you can catch an orchestra or concert or fanfare playing. During the week, a cinema event taking place. Almost every day, in the castle’s garden, a film is projecting and is for free. Just meet some friends, buy beers and enjoy the day in this ancien castle…!

Client: KORO Public Art Norway
Location: Stavanger, Norway

The new concert hall will be located at the heart of the city’s planned arts district. Skylight will hang in the 5-story atrium of the Medplan building at 39′ high. The culture complex will be visible throughout Stavanger and its harbor and will offer both the programmatic events in the Hall and the larger seasonal cycles in the costal city.

Like many other capitals in the world, Oslo also have a history and a culture for alternative lifestyle. The culture centre of Hausmania is where it’s at in this town. Political agitation, concerts, ecological coffee shops, more-or-less talented artists in every corner. To conclude, a mess really, but at least an interesting and creative one.

If we have to talk about its location, it’s really hard to find where it’s at, where it ends and starts as it’s integrated into a lot of more or less maintained buildings grouped together. It’s hard to find you what goes on where and when, and it’s even hard to find the entrance. But if you get there while something is happening it can be an experience worth writing home about.

A lot of major happenings are in the big hall in the basement, like concert scene, a bar & a skate hall. It seems like you have entered the set of “Thrashin” (legendary skateboard movie from the 80?s). All kinds of styles are clashed together, but major emphasis on reggae, dubstep, punk, hip-hop and skateboard lifestyle. Hausmania is also home to artists and craftspeople within painting, photo, pottery, theatre, etc.. It’s really a difficult place to describe. You’ll have to go there yourself if the above is something might suit your preferences. Hausmania is located about the same spot as, and often confused with, the housing project Vestbredden allthough the two are different operations.

This is Norway’s largest museum of cultural history with collections of objects from around the country and more than 150 buildings in the open air museum. The purpose of this cultural place is to show how locals used to live from 1500 until present, showing differences from region to region and from class to class. The outdoor museum is simply breathtaking great to walk through it in the summer. One of the main attractions is the Gol Stave Church (Gol Stavkirke) dating from 1200.

The indoor museum hosts various permanent and temporary art, crafts and cultural expositions all year long. Some of the most interesting is the one around Easter time where you get to see how Easter is celebrated all over Norway, and the Sami culture is fascinating to see.

Since the museum tries very hard to reproduce many aspects of how people used to live, many of the houses – otherwise closed in the winter – are open during summertime for visitors and actors play the roles of inhabitants. They get dressed in national costumes and do the work specific for the area and age of the house, from farming to sewing, producing silver jewelry or pottery.

In the museum area, a small shop cells specialities with old wrappings. And in some of the houses, during the summer you can tasted the traditional sweet ”lefse”, warm on salty butter on top. Or you can catch a ride in a horse pulled carriage.

The Norwegian Folk Museum was founded in December 19, 1894. The museum also work with educators to prepare and plan for teaching and learning in the museum environment, and the staff will do every effort to help you tailor your visit to your curricular needs. there, your students can explore, discover and learn in an enriching and inspiring environment. Enjoy!

The Øya festival is one of the biggest festivals in Norway. It is usually happened in August on the grounds of Middelalderparken (the Medieval Park). The audience reaches about 60.000 people for 4 days and countless others during lots of the preceding club parties and the club night. Each year more than 80 bands played in the park.

The best advantage of the festival is the location – it takes 10 minutes to walk from Oslo S station to the festival area, thus making it possible to forget the trouble of camping, like for many big 4 days events outside cities. The Middelalderparken hosts the ruins of the medieval church Mariakirken , first built in 1050 AD. Due respect for the architectural site, people are not allowed to sit on them. But they certainly contribute to the charm of the location, next to the lake that surrounds the whole area.

The festival is located on four stages and it is for all ages so it is not uncommon to see parents with little kids. It is also a festival offering more than music. A wide area with tents for food, drink, selling gadgets, magazines, clothing from various sponsors. And there’s always some place on the grass where you can relax and catch tan.

The other best thing of this massive gathering is the wide variety of music styles, from the blackest of metals, to the cheesiest pop, hip-hop, mellow rock, jazz, weird experiments, African or South American music. Don’t miss the one of the coolest fest in Europe, it’s your chance to go there this year….

This center is dedicated to Hamsun, located just above the Arctic Circle by the village of Presteid of Hamaroy near the farm where the writer grew up. Knut Hamsun is Norway‘s most inventive twentieth-century writer, fabricated new forms of expression. The 2500-square-meter center includes exhibition areas, a library and reading room, a café, and an auditorium.

The structure is conceived as a compression of spirit in space and light, concretizing a Hamsun character in architectonic terms. The concept for the museum, “Building as a Body: Battleground of Invisible Forces,” is realized from inside and out.  The wood exterior is punctuated by hidden impulses piercing through the surface: An “empty violin case” balcony has phenomenal sound properties, while a viewing balcony is like the “girl with sleeves rolled up polishing panes.

Any other aspects of the building are made of black wood exterior skin, characteristic of the great wooden stave Norse churches. On the roof garden, long grass refers to traditional Norwegian sod roofs in a modern way. The rough white-painted concrete interiors are characterized by diagonal rays of light calculated to ricochet through the section on certain days of the year. These strange, surprising, and phenomenal experiences in space, perspective, and light provide an inspiring frame for exhibitions.

Choice Hotels Scandinavia is the leading hotel chain in Scandinavia, with 170 hotels at more than 100 destinations throughout the Nordic region. Specifically this one is the headquarter housed in an old villa from 1916, located in Oslo, Norway. The hotel offers options for conferences and meetings that meet all needs. It caters to large and small, long and short, simple and exclusive, traditional and creative meetings. Modern infrastructure, flexible facilities, advanced technology, expertise and a dedicated team enables the hotel chain to offer ‘Next Generation Meetings’.

Wreless internet is everywhere. Most hotels also offer a significant streaming capability to enable global live web-cast meetings. Whether you wish for a tailor-made event or a simple and efficient conference, Choice Hotels Scandinavia will always strive for excellence. With professional conference managers, fantastic capacity, technical solutions and exciting products, Choice Hotels Scandinavia can offer you something out of the ordinary all year round. There are 73 hotels in Norway (170 hotels in Scandinavia) with large conference facilities at all major destinations. There are 73 hotels in Norway (170 hotels in Scandinavia) with large conference facilities at all major destinations.