Welcome to Oslo

Welcome to the Oslo issue

59.9139° N, 10.7522° E

Situated between forests and the fjord, Oslo is a compact city where old meets new. Since being founded at the end of the Viking Age by King Harald Hardråde, this cultural capital has grown to nearly 700,000 inhabitants, making it Norway’s most populous city today. The Akershus Fortress serves as a reminder of Oslo’s medieval history, while the Opera House stands side-by-side with the new Deichman Main Library, representing modern-day architectural feats. Moreover, the Munch Museum and Vigeland Park feature two of the most famous Norwegian artists—painter Edvard Munch and sculptor Gustav Vigeland. On the Bygdøy peninsula, both the Viking Ship Museum and the Norwegian Folk Museum share tales of the country’s past, and at Aker Brygge, the largest art museum in the Nordic region is scheduled to open in June of 2022.

Given Oslo’s historic past and promising future, it’s not surprising that creatives from all walks of life have decided to call this city home, many of whom settle in a borough called Grünerløkka. Known as the hipster part of town, this old industrial district has since transformed into a vibrant neighbourhood with pop-up stores, vintage shops, art galleries, design boutiques, street art and graffiti, artisanal food, flea markets, unique eateries, and more. Bordering Grünerløkka to the west lies a borough called St. Hanshaugen, known for its plethora of parks and rich cultural offerings. It is here that the award-winning Makerie Studio is located, a creative workshop founded and run by Julie Wilkinson and Joyanne Horscroft, specialising in three dimensional showpieces such as the Oslo skyline that graces the cover of this issue. Directly south of St. Hanshaugen lies the city centre, which is home to the iconic bronze tiger sculpture that stands outside Oslo Central Station. Made by Elena Engelsen to celebrate the city’s thousandyear anniversary in 2000, this sculpture is a popular meeting spot for locals and tourists alike. The main walking street of the city—Karl Johans gate—runs from the tiger sculpture to the Royal Palace, which is the official residence of the Norwegian Royal Family and one of the country’s most important buildings. Sprinkled throughout the city centre’s side streets are dozens of coffee shops, microbreweries, food trucks, pubs and clubs, music venues, fine dining restaurants, cocktail bars and more, which together make up Oslo’s vibrant urban scene.

It is evident that Norway’s capital has a lot to offer for the culturally-inclined and artistically-minded, and yet the city remains in a period of constant growth and transformation. Recently opened coworking spaces foster collaboration among artists, while the many green spaces around town provide inspiration for future projects. The extensive festival program caters to all types of music lovers—from rock and jazz to opera and fusion—and the more than fifty museums cover a variety of topics—from art and history to bibles and Vikings to animals and sports. As new attractions emerge and old neighbourhoods are redeveloped, the creative opportunities in Oslo will only continue to increase in the coming years. In this issue, we feature a mix of independent makers and large-scale businesses to showcase the true diversity of Oslo’s creative community.

Architecture / Art / Design

14 20 26 36 42 48 56 Makerie Studio Empress Julie Solberg Berntsen Varier Furniture House of Creation A-lab Aula 64 74 84

Kubik Interior Architects Aurora Verksted Thorsønn 92 Multiform Oslo 100 David-Andersen 108 Moltzau Packaging 110 Gallery Nobel