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Oslo Opera House : Architecture

Arts Building in Norway – design by Snøhetta AS

10 Feb 2009

Opera House Oslo

Mies van der Rohe Award Winner, 2009:

The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, Oslo (Norway)
Design: Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Tarald Lundevall, Craig Dykers / Snøhetta

picture : Jens Passoth

Opera, from west

photo : Statsbygg

Client
Client: Ministry of Church an Cultural Affairs
Building Client: Statsbygg (The Governmental Building Agency)
End User: The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, Oslo

Exterior, night

image : Erik Berg

Norwegian Opera & Ballet – Program
The Norwegian National Assembly voted in 1999 that the operahouse was to be built in Bjørvika, on the seafront at the Oslo fjord. In this way the building would be the foundation for the urban redevelopment of this area of the capital.
The government wished that the Norwegian Opera & Ballet should be a monumental building which would mark Norway as a cultural nation as well as highlighting the social and cultural importance of The Norwegian Opera & Ballet. The Opera House building should be a landmark within architecture, construction, use of materials and technical solutions.

Building site, winter

photograph : Statsbygg

Norwegian Opera & Ballet – History
The National Assembly votes to build the operahouse in Bjørvika, Oslo
International, anonymous architecture competition, 240 entries
Norwegian architects Snøhetta winner of the Oslo Opera House design contest
Schematic design delivered
The National Assembly votes to execute the design. Budget confirmed.
Groundworks begin on the Opera House 17 February
Foundation stone laid H.M.King Harald V 3. September
The Stage tower, the opera’s highest point, completed 11 May
”Weather tight” construction in february, Interior works commence
Oslo Opera house building completion
End user moves in, testing period, formal opening 12 April

Norwegian Opera House – Open day, Aug 2007

picture: Snøhetta, architects

Norwegian Opera House : Building Client & User
Statsbygg is Norway’s largest civil property manager, with 650 employees. It is the state’s main consultant on building and property issues, development and management. Statsbygg is a management company under the Ministry of Renewal and Administration, but provides services and support to all ministries and state organs.

Inside the wooden wall

photo : Nina Reistad

In 1998 the National Assembly decides that Statsbygg would be the building client for the new Norwegian operahouse in Oslo, responsible for planning and management. Statsbygg procure services in the private sector, but are responsible for professional coordination and quality control of the consultants, contractors and suppliers.
The Norwegian Opera and Ballet is the building’s end user. They are Norway’s largest music and theatrical institution. Their core purpose is to be the national producer of opera, ballet, music and dance theatre, and concerts. They intend to have approx. 300 shows and 250,000 visitors per year. The Operahouse will be a workplace for approx. 600 employees from more than 50 professions.

Norwegian Opera House + Oslo City Centre

image : Statsbygg

Architect: Snøhetta AS

Oslo Opera House – More Information & Images

Oslo Operahouse architect : Snøhetta

Foyer ; Public restroom ; Stage 2

photos : Snøhetta, architects

Norwegian Opera & Ballet, Oslo – Building Information

Gross area 38 500 m2
Public areas 11 200 m2
Stage areas 8 300 m2
Rehearsal rooms, workshops, admin. 19 100 m2
Footprint 15 590 m2
Length, incl. plaza 242 m
Width 110 m
Seats in Main auditorium 1 360
Seats in Second Auditorium 400
Gross stage height 54 m
Depth of sub-stage below water level 16 m
Project cost, today’s price, ca. 500 mill. Euro

The big auditorium

image : Nicolas Buisson