Walls with a rich history

Walls with a rich history

Some of the oldest buildings in Bergen have been preserved, protected, and gained new meaning.

Sources: Bergen byleksikon, Riksantikvaren and the company’s home pages

Matbørsen/ Hotel Bergen Børs

THEN: The Bergen stock exchange

NOW: Hotel and restaurants

NOW: Hotel and restaurants

Photo by Bergen Børs Hotel, Thor Brødreskift

THEN: The Bergen stock exchange

Børsbygningen i Bergen, the stock exchange building, was the central meeting place for business in the county of Hordaland in the 1800’s. Here, prices and exchange rates were noted, especially regarding grain and fish, and people could keep themselves updated on national and worldwide affairs through journals and newspapers. The stock exchange also housed a library.

Børsbygningen, the stock building, was drawn by architect Franz Wilhelm Schiertz in 1862. In the period between 1918 and 1923, the Norwegian painter Axel Revold got the task to decorate the hall. The fresco painting was called Verket, and portrayed Bergen city center as a place for international trading.

Since Bergen Børs opened in 1862, it has also – among other things – housed the city’s bank, offices, a bike repair shop, a furniture store, and the tourist office.

Today, you will find a collective of restaurants on the premises. Matbørsen serves dishes inspired by the whole world, through different restaurant concepts. In 2017, the luxury Hotel Bergen Børs opened their doors, together with Bare Restaurant and Bar.

Telegrafen

THEN: National telegraph and phone centre

NOW: Shopping centre and office spaces

THEN: National telegraph and phone centre

NOW: Shopping centre and office spaces

Photo by Morten Wanvik

The building Telegrafen lies in Starvhusgaten 4 in Bergen’s city center. The main facade is turned toward the Bergen light rail and the music pavilion.

Originally, Telegrafen housed the National Telegraph and Telephone service, and was completed in 1927 in a neoclassical style. It was drawn by the two architects Finn Berner and Anton M. Kielland, after the Bergen fire of 1916. Telegrafen is among the most architecturally distinctive buildings that was built after the fire, and the facade features brick with marble detailing.

In 2002, the building was refurbished. Today, the shopping mall Telegrafen occupies the first floor, and the top three floors house office spaces. Today, the building is listed, and therefore protected.

Kjøttbasaren

THEN: Indoor market place

NOW: Restaurants and bars

THEN: Indoor market place

Kjøttbasaren, the meat bazaar in English, is located in the beginning of Bryggen in Bergen. The building was approved in 1874, and designed by the Norwegian architect Fredrik Von der Lippe. Then, the building was called the city's bazaar, and was opened on the first of July 1877. It was the only one of its kind in Norway, and housed 44 stalls selling products, and 27 stalls in the basement.

Kjøttbasaren was originally constructed to control the trade that took place on the square, and to control the turnover of foods in regards to cheating and hygiene. In 1879, the city's library moved into the loft, and stayed there until 1917. Also, different municipal agencies have had their offices in the city’s bazaar over the years.

From 1894-95 the city bazaar was rebuilt after drawings by engineer Hans Sparres, and the name was changed to Kjødbazaren. In 1986, the building was conserved. The Meat Bazaar was completely renovated and reopened in the 1990's, and today it houses Restaurant 1877, Biblioteket Bar, Starbucks and Egon.