Oslo Opera House
Ideal: Ideal for architecture, city views, and modern Oslo atmosphere.
Designed by Snøhetta, the building opened in 2008 and its architectural idea can be summed up in one sentence: the roof slopes straight down to the water, turning the building into a public plaza. The exterior uses Italian Carrara marble and white granite; the surface is split into angled panels evoking where a glacier meets the sea. The foyer's wave-like wall is made of more than 15,000 separate oak panels. Walking on the roof is free and there is no time limit.
Quick facts
- Built
- 2008
- Opened
- 12 April 2008
- Architect
- Snøhetta
- Commissioned by
- Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property
- Architectural style
- postmodern architecture
- Heritage status
- cultural heritage preservation in Norway
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
Can you walk on the roof of the building?
Yes — and that is the central idea of the design. The roof slopes down into the water like a glacier rising from the fjord, and anyone can walk to the top without a ticket.
What is special about the white marble?
The façade uses Carrara marble from Italy, worked in seven different textures so that it stays walkable even when wet. The patterning was set by the artists who designed it.
What is the glass structure in the water?
Monica Bonvicini's steel-and-glass installation She Lies. It floats on a platform in the fjord and rotates slowly with the current, representing an iceberg.
Why go?
- To see one of Oslo's modern architectural icons
- To climb the roof and take in fjord and city views
- Because it is a short but striking walk in the city centre
Travel tip
The building and fjord views are strongest in late-afternoon light — be sure to walk up onto the roof.
