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Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Guiding Architects

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post Oslo could be called "City of Fountains". Few other towns of this size has such a large number of fountains of all kinds, both in public and private spaces. Perhaps Norwegians long for the waterfall Read More 1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post A small, and somewhat hidden architectural "gem", is the Asker Mortuary, ca. 25 km west of Oslo, by arch. Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk (2000). The new structure is built beside the older chapel, The project h Read More 2 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Lilacs in MayIf one should point out one plant which is typical of Oslo, I would say it must be ....

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Dear friends, I hope you all are safe and healthy, in this Corona time. Here in Norway, society ....

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

A tradidional winter sport in Norway is speed skating. Originally an outdoor event, it now takes....

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Nineties nostalgia? In Fyret bar and restaurant, located in the old market stalls at Youngstorget square in Oslo, a sign warns you of off-line reality : 3 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Thanks to all of you who read and like and share our posts! Thank you!
Henning Nielsen with German group. 1 Comments

Very good, Mr Nielsen !
👍😎👍

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway Thank you, Mr. Reiret! Looking forward to our next tour 🤩

7 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

There is a place where all humans are equal, regardless of gender, age and wealth. Isn't there? ....

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

... and besides, it´s possible to take a bath also. The diving platform is not just decoration!

1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Sad news today. Dombås church, in the Gudbrandsdalen valley, burned last night. There seems to ....

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

... if you need a break: A nice and trendy café, inside and outside!

2 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post Exciting new art museum project by Danish BIG architects, in an old industrial setting at Kistefossen, to the north of Oslo. The new gallery spans the river. 1 Comments

Flotte bilder!

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway Takk Barbara!

4 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: Over 2 years ago

Opera Star -nobody listens to the guide.
Tour with the German-Norwegian association 30th August 2018. Half-day tour of the opera and other waterfront projects, and introduction to the history of Oslo Read More 1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: A long while ago

Tjuvholmen waterfront development Tjuvholmen waterfront development
Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway added 14 new photos.

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: A long while ago

Skådalen døveskole (School for the Deaf)
Arch. Sverre Fehn 1977 1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: A long while ago

Norwegian Opera and Ballet The opera (arch. Snøhetta 2008), in winter. Snow and ice on the fjord and snow on the opera roof creates an impression of the opera being part of a natural landscape.
Guide-A architectural guiding in Read More 1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: A long while ago

Oslo City Hall Arch. Arneberg & Poulsson 1929-50.
Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway added 8 new photos. 1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: A long while ago

„Stranden 1“ Aker Brygge. Interior courtyard.
Arch. Ghilardi+Hellsten, 2015 1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Posted: A long while ago

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

In the Nydalen district in Oslo, a large industrial transformation project, Snøhetta architects has finally achieved approval of their landmark tower, a mixed-function project with very high environmental ambitions. They aim at 0% purchased energy, and extensive use of wood in the building.
https://snohetta.com/projects/269-gullhaug-torg

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post Oslo has quite a few important architectural projects by foreign architects, we have recently presented the former US embassy by Eero Saarinen. Another "modern classic" is the Oslo Concert Hall, by Swedish architect Gösta Åbergh. The competition was arranged already in 1957, but for various reasons the construction was delayed until 1974, and the project was finished in 1977. it was intended originally to flank the Oslo City Hall and have a facade facing the fjord, but office projects were built which blocked this favourable location, and turned the site into a more of a "backyard". It is considered a town planning scandal in Oslo that such an important building was tucked away and to a large extent hidden from view.
The entrance is from a large plaza at the upper street level, a far better solution than from the lower level, reducting the negative effect of the location somewhat. The facades have a cladding of Norwegian Tolga marble, with anodized aluminum glazing bars and details. The lobby is made as a bridge over the lower street, and the structure is raised on sculptural pillars, creating a light expression and freeing the space below for parking. 2 Likes

Guiding Architects

Guiding Architects @Home -This week: Henning Nielsen of Guide-A in Oslo "Suddenly we‘re forced to pause for a while and refrain from everything unnecessary. The environment gets a chance to catch its breath, and we can finally concentrate on important things. Is there a project in your city with a remarkable or unusual approach to sustainability?" Here comes the ninth edition of our new interview series. This time Henning Nielsen of Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway shares his tips with us. #Architecture #Interview #Oslo #GuideA #GuidingArchitectsOslo 10 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post Most cities have their little secrets, hidden places that only locals or very enterprising visitors know about. Oslo too has these out-of-the-way gems, and the Guide-A team is happy to include some of these attractions in our tours, whenever this can be included in the program schedule. But we also offer a "Secret Oslo" tour specifically for this subject. This would typically include one or more of Oslo's old wooden suburbs, of which there are half a dozen or so, originally lower class districts which now have been renovated. In the 1970s, there was a long struggle to preserve these suburbs, which were regarded as slums by the authorities, destined for demolition. Today they are both very popular and very expensive neighbourhoods.
There are also some hidden nature pearls in the built-up zone, like small rivers and brooks with their own ecosystems, as a contrast to the urban fabric. You are invited! 1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post "The American Embassy building should be like a person dressed in a Tuxedo", said world famous architect Eero Saarinen about his project in Oslo. A certain formalism is noticable in the strict rhytm of the facades, no capricious elements are allowed here. The Embassy from 1959 has a triangular shape and faces the Royal Palace park across the street. The 577 tall windows are framed by load-bearing pre-fab concrete elements, with mixed-in Labradorite stone. Over the years the Embassy's location, with housing and office buildings as neighbours, became increasingly precarious. Fences and other protective elements were gradually added, reducing the architectural quality of the project. Finally it was decided to build a new embassy compound in a western suburb. Though initially unpopular in the local community, it is now less controversial. A fortress is, after all, not a likely target for terrorist attack.
The old building is now a listed monument (protected by law). It was sold to an investor, who plans to include some kind of public function in the structure, possibly a rooftop restaurant with a view towards the Royal Palace. Whatever is left of original interiors will be renovated. This is a project that we certainly look forward to show to our visitors! 2 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post Oslo -city of views.
A special feature of Oslo is the great variety and the beauty of the town's many viewpoints, from Akershus Castle, the opera roof and soon the viewing platform on top of the new Munch Museum in the city center, from parks in the inner city and from the larger hills of the Oslo forest. And of course, the most famous place of all, the Holmenkollen ski jumping hill. Another popular venue is the Ekeberg restaurant, the first Modern Movement structure in Oslo, close to where Edvard Munch painted his famous Scream picture (the background is actually a very abstracted view of Oslo). Here one has a more close-up view of the town, and especially of the new waterfront development area Bjørvika, with the opera and the new Munch Museum. One can also enjoy nice views en route, on the tram up Ekeberg hill, or the metro line to Holmenkollen. Our tours generally include one or more of these viewpoints. 2 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post In the old industry and shipping town Porsgrunn, 150 km south of Oslo, an exciting new project will soon be finished. This is the Powerhouse Telemark, an office building designed by well-known Snøhetta architects. Powerhouse is a collaboration between a real estate company, architect, builders and others who develop plus-energy houses.
https://www.powerhouse.no/en/about-us/ 3 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post The town of Drammen is situated 40 km west of Oslo, and has in the recent ca. 25 years experienced a dramatic transformation, from a dreary, run-down former industrial hub, plagued with heavy traffic and a polluted river, to a thriving city with new traffic solutions and waterfront development. The promenades along the cleaned-up Drammenselva river are the pride and joy of the population, and the city center is being renewed, with the large Union Brygge project as centrepiece. Guide-A offers architectural tours to Drammen, combined with other projects in the area. 1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post Do you like trains? I do! And nice trains deserve nice stations. In the Oslo region, new and upgraded railway and metro lines have resulted in a large number of station projects in recent years. Here are some examples:
* Holmestrand station, arch. Gottlieb Paludan Architects / Rambøll 2016, in a 12,5 km long tunnel, where trains can pass at 250 km/h on the middle tracks. It features a 70 m high elevator, connecting the station with suburbs on top of the hillside.
* Lillestrøm station, arch. Arne Henriksen 1997. Henriksen is the "grand old man" of modern railway architecture, and has designed a large number of both railway and metro stations. Lillestrøm station was rebuilt as a result of the new high speed line to Gardermoen Airport.
* Lysaker station, arch. Snøhetta 2009, with extensive use of coloured glass in the station hall passage and sculptural platform roofs.
* Nathionalteatret station, west entrance, arch. Arne Eggen 1999. This is a great example of using untreated concrete, where cave-like corridors to the platforms have artwork by Terje Roalkvam, and the shallow concrete vault in the entry hall creates a resounding echo from the commuters' feet.
* Nydalen metro station, arch. Kristin Jarmund 2003, rebuilt 2016, with artwork by Ole Jørgen Næss.
* Slependen station, arch. Arne Henriksen 1993, rebuilding of a suburban railway station with a monumental rotunda for a step-less ramp from housing areas on a higher level.

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post From early summer in Oslo to the remnants of winter at Hardangervidda mountain plateau, just 3 hours drive to the west. Here the snow still covers the ground, and the tall wooden sticks (which show the snow-clearing trucks where the road is) give an idea of how much snow there can be here in winter. Road 7 crosses the Hardangervidda, and is now a national scenic road, where the main attraction is the viewpoint at Vøringsfossen waterfall. These pictures, from May 30th at about 21.30, show how late the sun shines at this time of year in an open landscape. 5 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Lilacs in May
If one should point out one plant which is typical of Oslo, I would say it must be the Lilacs. Widely used in both private gardens and public parks, their blooming in the second part of May announces the coming of summer. Their seductive sweet smell wafting through open windows, on a lovely warm sunny afternoon like today, relieves every care and worry. There is no escape; I must go and buy more Lilacs to plant in the garden. 2 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Dear friends, I hope you all are safe and healthy, in this Corona time. Here in Norway, society is slowly starting up again, although we now are all separated by Plexiglass screens. One happy event is that the new main library in Oslo, the Deichman, scheduled to open in March, will now be open from 18th of June. This project by sarch. Lund Hagem and Atelier Oslo has great interior spaces, and is well worth a visit, whenever you have a chance to come to Oslo. Soon, hopefully. All the best to you! 6 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

A tradidional winter sport in Norway is speed skating. Originally an outdoor event, it now takes place in skating halls. In recent years, however, another kind of skating has become increasingly popular; Skateboard. In 2017, athletes of this sport got their first indoor facility in Oslo, designed by Dark architects. All main types of skateboarding can be performed here; street, bowl and vert. The project also features an outdoor arena, as well as cafe and media room, where the skaters can record their performances. The glazed short sides of the building are in contrast to the main facades of perforated metal cladding. The pattern of the perforation consists of Morse signs, showing part of a ruling which -many years ago- outlawed the use of skateboards in public places. 1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Nineties nostalgia? In Fyret bar and restaurant, located in the old market stalls at Youngstorget square in Oslo, a sign warns you of off-line reality : 3 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Thanks to all of you who read and like and share our posts! Thank you!
Henning Nielsen with German group. 1 Comments

Very good, Mr Nielsen !
👍😎👍

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway Thank you, Mr. Reiret! Looking forward to our next tour 🤩

7 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

There is a place where all humans are equal, regardless of gender, age and wealth. Isn't there? That place we all go to when our body has a certain need. Yes, it's the toilet. And some of them are public. At Eidsvolls Plass square in Oslo, right next to the Norwegian Parliament, the artist Lars Ø. Ramberg has designed this project, called "Liberte".
Ramberg has been living in Germany since 1998, and is for instance well known in Berlin for his giant "ZWEIFEL" sign on the roof of East Germany's former "Palast der Republik (parliament), now demolished.
The present project dates from 2014, as part of the 200th year anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution, which explains the proximity to Parliament. However, the original concept goes back as far as 2003. It consists of three French-made public toilets of 1979 vintage, adorned with rooftop signs depicting the three main slogans of the French Revolution; "Liberte-Fraternite-Egalite", and painted in the red-white-blue of the French Tricolour. While this might seem like a slight affront to French visitors, there is more behind the idea than trying to be "funny".
Inside the toilets, an audio installation provides excerpts of world war two speeches by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Charles de Gaulle and Norway's king Haakon 7th. This creates a link between the Norwegian Constitution -which was inspired by the earlier American and French constitutions- and basic democratic rights.
And what, might you ask, has all this got to do with public toilets? Well, in fact one of the demands from the French Revolution was to provide the public with proper toilet facilities. To do what one has to do in decent privacy, can also be regarded as a sort of human right. But if you're in a hurry, don't reflect too much on freedom and democracy. Just do it! 1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post Snøhetta, the highest peak in the Dovrefjell mountains, is situated ca. 400 km north of Oslo. This area has a 10.000 year long history of human activity, much of it connected with reindeer hunting. Even today, wild reindeer can be seen in these mountains, and Hjerkinn village has a visitor's centre for wild reindeer. Part of the project is Viewpoint Snøhetta, a viewing pavillion and shelter for hikers, which opened in 2011, and, of course, was designed by Snøhetta architects, In the same year, the project won the prestigious "World building of the year".
The simple box-like exterior in corten-steel and glass underlines the contrast with the sculptural interior in wood. Inside, there is room for 35 visitors. You can get there by a 1,5 km walk from the parking lot. Hjerkinn is also easily accessible by train and long-distance bus. Along the path, there is a historical time line describing major events and changes in the area. Viewpoint Snøhetta attracts visitors from the whole world, though it is only open in the summer season. 4 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post A project that may be something of a "hidden gem" for foreign visitors, is the Hvalstrand Bad restaurant, 20 km to the west of Oslo city center. Open mainly in the summer season, this elegantly curved "glass box" from 1934, by Norwegian-French architect Andre Peters, is a good example of the 1930s enthusiasm for open-air life. Situated in a public nature park by the Oslo fjord, the project features a nice beach, and the time-typical concrete diving tower, demonstrating the structural and sculptural possibilities of this material. However, the present tower is a modern copy, as the original structure was in a very bad condition. Some small wooden houses were also built for public facilities, a couple of them are still there.
Visitors could go by boat or bus from Oslo, but pictures from this period also show a large parking lot with hundreds of cars at the most. The 1930s was the beginning of mass car ownership, creating more individual freedom of movement than before.
The restaurant is a listed building, and has recently been carefully and lovingly restored. Much of the the interior is preserved, including the circular dancing floor and a time-honoured cash register. 1 Comments

... and besides, it´s possible to take a bath also. The diving platform is not just decoration!

1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Sad news today. Dombås church, in the Gudbrandsdalen valley, burned last night. There seems to be large internal damage (see link, in Norwegian). The church was built in 1939, of local stone material, designed by architect Magnus Poulsson, one of the Oslo City Hall architects. Hopefully, there is no serious structural damage.
https://www.nrk.no/innlandet/store_-innvendige-skader-pa-dombas-kirke-etter-brann-1.14910702 1 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post At the very southern tip of mainland Norway, by Lindesnes, the world-famous Under restaurant opened in March 2019, designed by Snøhetta architects. The concrete "box" structure was built on a barge nearby, and "slipped" into the water, with the dining area 5,5 m under the surface. As much as possible of the materials used are of local origin. The sea bottom was kept intact, and diners have a unique view of life under water through the 23 m long panoramic window, made of 26 cm thick acryl. In February 2020, the restaurant got a Michelin star. Maybe not the last? 2 Likes

Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway

Photos from Guide-A architectural guiding in Norway's post If in Oslo, we strongly recommend a visit to the Museum of Architecture (part of the National Museum of Art), in the city center, close to the Akershus Castle. The museum is situated in the first Bank of Norway building in Oslo (arch. C. H. Grosch 1830), which was renovated with a new pavillion in 2008, by Norway's only Pritzker Prize winning architect Sverre Fehn. The interiors feature exquisite use of oak wood, and the pavillion (for temporary exhibitions) is of almost "archaic" simplicity, with a concrete structure where four massive columns support a shallow vault. The exterior walls are of glass, including structural elements and sunshading, outside of which is an outer perimeter wall of concrete, which may be regarded as a reference to the nearby fortress. 1 Comments

... if you need a break: A nice and trendy café, inside and outside!

2 Likes