{"id":22562,"date":"2026-04-02T14:32:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T12:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8000\/bonnes-pratiques\/oslo-norway-heritage-focused-urban-renewal-to-design-a-new-centre\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T13:45:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T11:45:11","slug":"oslo-norway-heritage-focused-urban-renewal-to-design-a-new-centre","status":"publish","type":"bonnes-pratiques","link":"https:\/\/aivp.org\/en\/best-practices\/oslo-norway-heritage-focused-urban-renewal-to-design-a-new-centre\/","title":{"rendered":"Oslo (Norway): Heritage-focused urban renewal to design a new centre"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Oslo City Council and Port Authority of Oslo co-developed a strategy for highlighting heritage structures in developing older port areas into urban spaces while allowing the port to expand. The <\/span>Fjord City project<\/span><\/a><\/span>, launched in 2000, entails an urban renewal project concerning the waterfront areas of Oslo. The first plan was drafted in 2000 by the Oslo City Council and the work was initiated by Oslo’s Port Authority in 2008. The goal of this urban renewal project was to <\/span><\/span>preserve the maritime cultural heritage, which resulted in a detailed survey of all the heritage elements, with historical or scenic value and prompted the transformation of the port to a more sustainable waterfront. In Oslo, as in many port cities worldwide, the distance of ports from the central urban areas has led to decreased public awareness of the port’s activities. To reconnect the port and city and to also preserve the historic harbour, the City of Oslo decided to develop the Fjord City project.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Fjord City project was drafted in a format that allowed it to be used as a communication resource and to reforge links with residents through the port’s heritage. The Oslo authorities treated it as a strategic tool, taking advantage of the specific features of the city’s heritage to avoid the risk of standardising the areas earmarked for redevelopment. In doing so, they gave a specific soul to each new district.<\/span><\/p>\n

The heritage structures were then assessed by the port authority to decide which of them should be kept and used as part of the renewed waterfront. The Port will also use this as a future strategy of careful heritage assessment. This strategy was used successfully in the case of Vippetangen, a district located between the Akerhus fortress and the new urban area of Bjorvika, where the famous Oslo Opera House is based. During the preservation of the Oslo Opera house, a 2019 excavation uncovered remnants of Oslo’s medieval port <\/span>quayside dating from the 15th<\/sup> century<\/span><\/a><\/span>. If and how the archaeological site will be included in the heritage preservation project of Oslo port is yet to be determined.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the preservation of the older port facilities, the city’s goal is also reorganizing the city centre. For this reason, <\/span>a new ferry terminal is set to be built before 2025<\/span><\/a><\/span> <\/span><\/span>in the Vindal area. Building a new port will allow for the transformation of the <\/span><\/span>Vippetangen area in Oslo as part of the city’s harbour promenade project, a 9 km waterfront esplanade connecting various sections of the city. This will allow for adaptive reuse of iconic historic buildings, such as <\/span>Warehouse 38<\/span><\/a><\/span> (Skur 28), constructed in 1915 and that played a pivotal role in maritime traffic to the United States and the United Kingdom. The <\/span>Grain silo<\/span><\/a><\/span>, constructed in 1953, is an early concrete structure in the case of Norway. The design aimed for visual integration with the surroundings, evoking nearby churches and the fortress. Due to the decreased usage of the structure, in 2002, it was converted into student housing.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Filipstad zone, the preservation of three out of fifty port-built cranes from 1949 to 1961, as well as a unique heavy-duty crane designed in the 1960s capable of handling up to 200 tonnes, showcases distinctive architectural features that represent the area’s maritime heritage. <\/span><\/p>\n

In this heritage preservation and port renewal project, it is also important to mention the preservation of the <\/span>Arkehus fortress<\/span><\/a><\/span>, which is located in the west of the Oslo Opera House in a strategic location on the waterfront. The castle dates back to the 14th<\/sup> century and is considered part of the city centre of Oslo. North of the fortress, there is also the <\/span>City Hall of Oslo<\/span><\/a><\/span>, a building built in the 1950s, which is located close to the waterfront. In the same square as the city hall, the Nobel Peace Prize Centre is also located.<\/span><\/p>\n

With this urban renewal project, the port and city of Oslo have tried to give attention to the port by highlighting older structures and by relocating some port activities. It gives the opportunity to the public to witness contemporary port activities, such as the ferry port, while at the same time interacting with the older port characters, such as the port-built cranes in Filipstad zone. This project is part of <\/span>Oslo’s 2030 Agenda<\/span><\/a><\/span> that follows the 17 UN SDGs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional information:<\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

Fjord City information from the Oslo port authority<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Quayside archaeological finds<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Maritim kulturminneplan for Oslo havn (in Norwegian) (translation: Maritime cultural heritage plan for the Port of Oslo) (pdf)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Fjordline press release  – <\/span>“Fjord line aims to build Norway’s most modern and environmentally friendly ferry port in Sandefjord<\/span><\/a><\/span>”<\/span><\/p>\n

Warehouse 38<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Grain silo<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Arkehus fortress<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

City Hall of Oslo<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Oslo’s 2030 Agenda<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Oslo City Council and Port Authority of Oslo co-developed a strategy for highlighting heritage structures in developing older port areas into urban spaces while allowing the port to expand. The Fjord City project, launched in 2000, entails an urban renewal project concerning the waterfront areas of Oslo. 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