Architectural trip to Oslo, Norway

From 23 to 28th of July

Artchitectours proposes a 6- day trip to the innovative capital of Norway and several locations where urban planning and architecture have experienced an important transformation in the last 15 years .

Starting in 2008, the so-called Fjordbyen plan of Oslo was promoted to renovate Oslo’s relation with its fjord.  (whose origin dates back to the 1980s), This  urban project, with origin in the 1980´s, has been implemented with diferent master plans and phases, completely changing the image and use of Oslo’s seafront. It is in one of it´s main neighborhoods, Bjørvika, where 3 milestones of new Norwegian architecture have been built in the recent years: the Oslo Opera, the Munch Museum and the new Deichman Library. Apart from these projects, the city has seen avant-garde buildings proliferate by both local architects and international talents. Oslo is also a capital at the forefront of urban strategies to promote sustainability and the reduction of CO2 emissions. In this sense, we will do a visit and detailed explanation of the innovative neighborhoods of Tjuvnholmen and Vulkan.

In addition to Oslo, various locations will be visited, such as Lillestrøm , Magnor, Fornebu, Jevnaker and Hollmenkollen, where projects of great interest have been built in the recent years.

A great destination for those who love architecture, art and beautiful landscapes!

TRAVEL PROGRAM:

DAY 1- TUESDAY- 23/07/24 -INTRODUCTION TO OSLO

Morning: arrival in Oslo by your own means. If required, we can arrange the purchase of flights and private transfers from the airport upon request.
Arrival at the hotel, the Clarion Collection Hotel Gabelshus 4****, check-in
3:00 p.m. Meeting with the architect-guide and the rest of the group at the hotel reception.
3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Guided architectural tour to the docks of Aker Brygge and the city center. Among the buildings to be seen along the walk will be the Oslo City Hall (Arneberg + Poulsson 1950), Sentralen (2016),  the Norwegian Press House (2022), both projects by Atelier Oslo + Kima, the famous Studenterlunden park, the Akershus fortress (exterior view), and the National Norwegian Museum, recently expanded by Kleihues + Schuwerk (entry included- open until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday).
7:00 p.m.: End of the tour, free time to relax or stroll the city.
Overnight and dinner (included) in the Clarion Collection Hotel Gabelshus 4****, or similar

DAY 2- WEDNESDAY 24/07/24 – DISCOVERING  FJORDCITY

Delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel ( included )
8.50am  Meeting with the architect-guide at the reception of the hotel.
9.00am Architecture tour in Bjørvika
Bjørvika is the neighborhood that best represents the renovation of the Oslo coastline, developed in the urban plan Fjordbyen. This morning we will visit two of the most important buildings recently built in the city:

• Deichman Library Bjørvika (Atelier Oslo + Lund Hagem, 2020), an amazing recent building that stands out for its imposing common spaces, its structure and luminosity.
• Oslo National Opera and Ballet (Snøhetta, 2008), cultural icon of the Norwegian capital, built partly on the water of the Oslo Fjord. The Opera House has become a symbol of Oslo’s architectural renaissance and Norway’s most important performing arts center.

1:00 p.m. Lunch break in a restaurant close to the coast promenade (not included).
2:30 p.m. Tour in Gamle Oslo, Sørengautstikkeren and Munch Museum.
We will begin visiting various residential buildings and mixed developments in the area, such as the Barcode (2016). This project is made up of a row of 9 new high-rise buildings with a minimum distance of 12m between them, for multiple uses. The masterplan emerged from an international competition, won by Dark Architects, A-LAB and MVRDV. From there we will see the new Akrobaten Bridge (L2 Architects ), 206 m long that connects the two districts of Bjørvika and Grønland. Finally, we will visit the Munch Museum (Estudio Herreros, 2021), the largest museum dedicated to a single artist (entrance included, Wednesday closes at 9:00pm).
6:00 p.m.: End of the tour, free time to visit the museum or relax in the city.
Overnight and dinner (included) in the Clarion Collection Hotel Gabelshus 4****, or similar

DAY 3- THURSDAY 25/07/24 – TJUVHOLMEN AND AKERSELVA RIVER

9.00am  After buffet breakfast at the hotel (included), meeting with the architect-guide at the reception.
9.00am Architecture tour in Tjuvholmen
Walk through the Tjuvholmen neighborhood, developed as a high-standard eco-neighborhood after an international competition from 2002. In this mixed-use neighborhood next to the waters of the fjord, we will vist the Astrup Fearnley Museum of contemporary art, designed by architect Renzo Piano (2009-2012). Departure to Vulkan neighborhood,  where we will follow the course of the Akerselva River to see several interesting buildings and facilities.
1:00 p.m. Lunch break at the very popular Mathallen Oslo market (not included), in Vulkan , one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in the city.

2:30 p.m. Architectural tour in the districts of Vulkan and Grünerløkka, that have evolved from working class neighborhoods to places with a great dynamic and innovative atmosphere, with many old premises converted into shops and entertainment venues.
Visit to DOGA, the Norwegian Foundation for Design and Architecture. This center is one of the most active in promoting Norwegian architecture and design, with interesting temporary exhibitions. Later, stop at the Vega Scene ( Asplan Viak, 2018), very active and popular theater and civic center in the neighborhood. Finally, we will discover the Klimahuset (Lund Hagem + Atelier Oslo, 2020), a new exhibition building on climate and climate change in the Tøyen Botanical Garden in Oslo, with a very interesting wooden structure and interiors.
6:00 p.m.: End of the tour, free time to relax or stroll in the city.

Overnight and dinner (included) in the Clarion Collection Hotel Gabelshus 4****, or similar

DAY 4- FRIDAY 26/07/24 -LILLESTRØM, MAGNOR, KONGSVINGER

9:00 a.m. After the breakfast buffet (included), meeting with the architect guide and the private bus. Departure with the bus to Lillestrøm.
9.45h Stop in Strømmen, to visit its primary and secondary school  (2012, White Architects, 2012 ), whose project won the contest for its holistic and innovative , approach, creating a great variety of spaces for learning. Arrival in Lillestrøm to see the Bicycle Hotel building (Various Architects , 2016), an interesting bicycle garage. Continuation of the trip .
12:45h Group lunch ( included ) in a traditional scandinavian farm-restaurant beside the lake Stangnessjoen or similar.

2:00 p.m. Arrival to Magnor and visit to The Plus , a 7,000m2 furniture factory and visitor center designed by BIG Architects finished in 2022, located within an extensive forest. The center, with the highest existing qualification within the BREEAM sustainability certificate, BREEAM Outstanding, is a showcase of sustainable and highly efficient production, a working space, a visitor center and a leisure place for neighbors. Departure to Kongsvinger .
3:30 p.m. Arrival at Kongsvinger to see the city and its fortress, coffee pause in the bar-restaurant located in its interior. Quick visit of Kongsvinger´s Primary and Secondary School by HLM Architects. Departure to Oslo
6:00 p.m.: End of the excursion and arrival at the hotel in Oslo. Free time to rest or stroll in the city .

Overnight and dinner (included) in the Clarion Collection Hotel Gabelshus 4****, or similar

DAY 5- SATURDAY 27/07/24- FORNEBU, JEVNAKER, HOLMENKOLLEN

9.00am  After the delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel (included), meeting with the architect-guide and the private bus.
9.30am We will begin the visits at the Fagerborg nursery, a a contemporary building constructed in wood ( Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter , 2010). Departure to Fornebu, a municipality that is undergoing a very significant development, and where the old airport has been transformed into a new international business hub. We will visit the impressive Statoil headquarters (A-LAB, 2012), a complex that houses offices and business incubators on 28,000 m2. In the same area we will also see the IT offices – Fornebu Portal Building (A-LAB, 2009) and Fornebuporten ( Dark Arkitekter , 2016). Departure to Jevnaker.
1:00 p.m. Arrival to the Kistefos Museum in Jevnaker. Free time for lunch at the Kistefos cafe (lunch not included).

2:00 p.m. Visit of the Kistefos contemporary art museum and sculpture park, also known as The Twist (BIG architects, 2019). Located over the Randselva River, The Twist is perceived as a twisted bridge at its center, forming a work of art within the Kistefos Sculpture Park, beside sculptures by artists such as Yayoi Kusama , Claes Oldenburg , Tony Cragg , Olafur Eliasson , or Anish Kapoor.
Departure to Holmenkollen. Arrival at the Ski Museum in Holmenkollen (Julien de Smedt Architects, 2011), considered the mecca of Nordic ski sports and one of the most important tourist destinations in Norway. The construction, originally adapted to the natural landscape, includes a jumping platform. Return to Oslo.
6:00 p.m.: End of the excursion and arrival at the hotel in Oslo.

Overnight and dinner (included) in the Clarion Collection Hotel Gabelshus 4****, or similar
10:00 p.m.: Optional night out in Oslo, with visit to a cocktail bar with panoramic views of the city (not included)

DAY 6- SUNDAY  28/07/24- BYGDOY, OSLO

9.00am  After a delicious breakfast (included), meeting with the architect-guide at the hotel reception .
9.30am Walking tour in the Bygdøy Peninsula – Oslo. For Sunday morning we propose a pleasant architecture and culture walk in the Bygdøy peninsula, a very popular rest and leisure area in Oslo with parks, forests, beaches and various museums, as the Norsk Folkemuseum, the Kon – tiki Museum or Viking Ship Museum.
Visit to the Norsk Folkemuseum, an open-air museum that shows the history and culture of the different regions of Norway through 155 buildings from different parts of the country. One of them is the very well-preserved Gol Stave Church (12th century), a great example of norweigian medieval wooden churchesesayuno buffet en el hotel (incluido), check-out.

Visit to the Kon –Tiki Museum designed by FS Platou and Otto Torgersen and completed in 1957, that will be extended by the firm Snøhetta.
Finally, we will take the boat Bygdøyfergene ferry from Bygdøy to Rådhuset , about 30 minutes long

1:00 p.m. End of the tour and return to the hotel. If you require transportation to the airport, private optional transfers are offered upon request.

* Variations may occur in the travel program or selected visits for reasons beyond the company’s will.

HOTEL

The Clarion Collection Hotel Gabelshus 4**** is located in an elegant mansion located in the exclusive Frogner neighborhood , a neighborhood of embassies and high-end residences in Oslo. It is located within a15 minutes walk from the docks of Aker Brygge, the Nobel Center and the Town Hall of Oslo, and 200 meters from the tram stop that connects to the old center of Oslo.

The hotel, decorated in a modern and cozy style, offers spacious and comfortable rooms, with a desk, refrigerator, satellite TV, and free WiFi , private bathroom with shower or bathtub. The hotel facilities include meeting rooms, lounges, restaurant, fitness area, sauna and a small library. Guests can also relax on the sunny garden terrace.

In the mornings, a delicious breakfast buffet with a wide variety of options is offered, as well as organic and gluten-free meals. In the evening, a dinner buffet is served at the hotel with a wide variety of hot and cold dishes and salads, as well as traditionally Norwegian recipes (included).To make sure you enjoy your stay, coffee, tea and waffles or cakes are offered in the afternoon.

*The rooms are pre-booked at the indicated hotel. In case that the hotel must be changed for reasons beyond the company´s will, a similar hotel of the same category will be offered.

PRICE– $2.225/2.085 € P/pax in double room on a base of minimum 12 participants

And there’s much more to discover…

SEE YOU IN OSLO!

Contact us at info@artchitectours.com for more information.