By Gregory at September 2, 2012 | 14:47 | 2 Comments
Oslo is the largest city in Norway and the country’s economic hub, with a true-to-its-roots leaning toward maritime trade and industries. But a ruffian Viking heritage and a number two spot among the world’s most expensive cities in 2010 are no reason to plunder the capital city. Vigeland Sculpture Park alone grants free access to 212 sculptures, beautiful fountains, and plenty of tree-lined lawns that will easily please your pockets. From the Nobel Peace Prize, to snow kiting on skis, to Edvard Munch’s infamous “The Scream,” the City of Tigers has a ton of free offers both indoors and out.
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By Gregory at June 17, 2012 | 01:00 | 0 Comment
Everyone I know who’s visited Oslo has told me it’s boring.
Bjorn, my Olso guide, doesn’t agree. “But,” he concedes, “parts of Oslo are becoming ugly.”
We’re standing on the roof of the Oslo Opera House, which only opened in 2008 but is already among the city’s most iconic structures. A practicing architect himself, Bjorn is mostly complimentary of the opera house, although he believes the decision to build it out of white Italian marble (which is now yellow) instead of grey Norwegian granite was a mistake.
He points toward the northeast. “Those buildings you see right there are known as the ‘Barcode,’ what with how tall and thin they are. They were designed so as to only minimally obstruct the scenery around them — the idea is that you can see through the bars.”
The Sea, The Green and The City Between
The problem with this well-intentioned idea is that it is only applicable if you’re looking at the buildings straight on.
“The original concept of Oslo was simple,’ Bjorn explains. “The sea, the green and the city between. Only now, thanks to our new Manhattan project, you can’t see the sea from the green, or the green from the sea — it’s only city now.”
He directs my attention south, where another new construction project is rapidly rising. “This is the first phase of a project the government has dubbed the ‘Fjord City,’ which they eventually want to extend around the entire Oslo bay.
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