The cultural institutions that changed Oslo

There are moments when a city changes its character. Not abruptly, and not with great fanfare, but through buildings that open themselves to people and invite them in. Bjørvika in Oslo has become such a place. In just a few years, the area has emerged as a cultural hub that has not only transformed the cityscape, but also the way residents use and experience the city.

“Oslo Opera House, Deichman and MUNCH have become open living rooms for the city, accessible, welcoming, and instrumental in shaping a new urban identity,” says Geir Juterud, Executive Vice President at Multiconsult.
 

Geir Juterud, Multiconsult

“I am proud that we have helped realise the architectural concepts envisioned from the original design competitions, and that these buildings have become such a success with the public.”

The cultural institutions in Bjørvika have done more than bring culture to the capital. They have changed how Oslo is used and experienced. They have created new ways of inhabiting the city. They have opened Oslo towards the fjord. And they have given people more places to meet, free of charge and without barriers.

An opera house open to everyone

The white marble roof of the Oslo Opera House has long since become part of Oslo’s identity and one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Designed by the architectural firm Snøhetta, the building opened in 2008 and is the oldest of Bjørvika’s cultural institutions.

The Opera House is more than a venue for opera and ballet. It is a public space in its own right. Its distinctive roof slopes down towards the fjord and is open to everyone, making it one of the city’s most popular meeting places.

As a result, the Opera House has taken on a dual role: both as a national cultural institution and as one of Oslo’s most accessible public spaces.

“There is something unique about an opera house that you can experience without buying a ticket. You can simply walk up, sit on the roof, and be part of it. It is architecture that invites people in rather than shutting them out,” says Geir Juterud.

The library that became Oslo’s new living room

Deichman is Norway’s oldest and largest public library. When plans were made for a new main library in Bjørvika, the ambition was clear: to create a vibrant building where people could meet, spend time, and feel at home.

The result has become exactly that. From early morning until closing time, students work alone or together, book lovers settle into quiet corners, families fill the floors with life, and people gather over a coffee and conversation.

Today, the library is far more than a place for books. It has become one of Oslo’s most important public meeting places, a space where knowledge, culture and everyday life come together.

“Deichman is perhaps the clearest example of how a cultural building can be a meeting place and not just an institution,” says Geir Juterud, Executive Vice President at Multiconsult.