Extensive works in the Bjorvika area of the city to create unprecedented levels of new real estate are under way.
The masterplan will result in an eventual 170,000 sq m of new office space, 29,000 sq m of retail, and 1,900 homes being added to the city, close to Oslo Central Station. One of the key elements of the project is the Bispevika mixed-use development adjacent to the railway station, led by developer Oslo S Utvikling (OSU). With phased openings this year and next, the scheme comprises new retail, restaurants and gallery space. OSU retail development director Maria Rognerud said that the development was adding a “new neighbourhood for Oslo”.
“It’s a really intense development,” she said. “It’s proximity to central station makes it very exciting. We’re well on the way to achieving our goals down there. We set out to build this on a development-sale basis, and we have already handed over ownership of a proportion of the development. There’s been a lot of interest from international investors.”
Bjorvika is one of Oslo’s trendiest districts, and currently houses the Munch Museum, in honour of famous Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, and Barcode, a striking row of 12 buildings on the edge of the Oslo fjord. The first of these was completed in 2007 as part of the municipality of Oslo’s Fjord City strategy, with the final completion in 2016.
The overall project is due for completion in 2025, with a number of landmarks between now and then.
This article was first featured in the MIPIM News issue 2, read it in full here…!
