![MUNCH Museum front (2020) 4](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/MUNCH_Museum_front_%282020%29_4.jpg)
Bjørvika is a neighborhood in the
Sentrum borough of
Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...
, Norway. The area is an inlet in the inner
Oslofjord
The Oslofjord (, ; en, Oslo Fjord) is an inlet in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the and lighthouses and down to in the south to Oslo in the north. It is part of the Skagerrak strait, connecting the Nor ...
, situated between
Gamlebyen
The Old Town of Oslo ( no, Gamlebyen, ) is a neighbourhood in the inner city of Oslo, Norway, belonging to the borough of Gamle Oslo and is the oldest urban area within the current capital. This part of the capital of Norway was simply called ...
and
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress ( no, Akershus Festning, ) or Akershus Castle ( no, Akershus slott ) is a medieval castle in the Norwegian capital Oslo that was built to protect and provide a royal residence for the city. Since the Middle Ages the fortress h ...
. It serves as an outlet for the river
Akerselva
Akerselva or Akerselven ( en, Aker River) is a river which flows through Oslo. It starts at Maridalsvannet in Oslomarka, and traverses the boroughs of Nordre Aker, Sagene, Grünerløkka, central Oslo and Grønland, whereby it finally ends a ...
. Since the 2000s, it has been undergoing
urban redevelopment
Urban renewal (also called urban regeneration in the United Kingdom and urban redevelopment in the United States) is a program of land redevelopment often used to address urban decay in cities. Urban renewal involves the clearing out of bligh ...
, being transformed from a container port. When completed, the Bjørvika neighborhood will be a new cultural and urban center in Oslo. The multi-purpose medium-rises of the
Barcode Project dominates the skyline to the north; to the east the residential area of
Sørenga is under construction. The
National Opera is located at Bjørvika, and both the
Oslo Public Library
Oslo Public Library (officially called in Norwegian ''Deichman bibliotek'', Deichman Library) is the municipalities of Norway, municipal public library serving Oslo, Norway and is the country's first and largest library. It employs over 300 peopl ...
and the
Munch/Stenersen museum is currently under construction here, the latter replacing the existing
Munch Museum
Munch Museum ( no, Munch-museet), marketed as Munch (stylised as MUNCH) since 2020, is an art museum in Bjørvika, Oslo, Norway dedicated to the life and works of the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch.
The museum was originally located at Tøyen, ...
in 2020.
Name
The
Norse form of the name was ''Bjárvík''. The first element is the
genitive
In grammar, the genitive case (abbreviated ) is the grammatical case that marks a word, usually a noun, as modifying another word, also usually a noun—thus indicating an attributive relationship of one noun to the other noun. A genitive can al ...
of ''býr'', "town, city" (modern
Norwegian
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
* Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
* Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including ...
''by''); the last element is ''vík'', "inlet, bay."
History
Oslo was first established in the 11th century in the area around where the
Alna River
The Alna River''Berlitz: Oslo Pocket Guide''. 2013. London: Berlitz. ( no, Alnaelva) is a river that runs through Oslo, Norway, from Alnsjøen to the Oslo Fjord at Bjørvika. It also drains Breisjøen, Steinbruvann, Tokerudbekken, and Øst ...
flows into the
Oslofjord
The Oslofjord (, ; en, Oslo Fjord) is an inlet in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the and lighthouses and down to in the south to Oslo in the north. It is part of the Skagerrak strait, connecting the Nor ...
, due to the strategic location both with regard to transport, trade and military. The place became the seat of a bishop in 1100. By 1300, the population had reached about 3000. Construction of
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress ( no, Akershus Festning, ) or Akershus Castle ( no, Akershus slott ) is a medieval castle in the Norwegian capital Oslo that was built to protect and provide a royal residence for the city. Since the Middle Ages the fortress h ...
started in 1299. At the time, the city was mainly made of wooden buildings, and had six churches, three monasteries and two manors: one for the king and one for the bishop. The city declined during the 15th and 16th century. Following the
reformation
The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...
in 1537, the economic base of the city fell away, and the city was repeatedly struck by fire.
Following the 1624 fire,
King Christian IV
Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years, 330 days is the longest of Danish monarchs and Scandinavian monar ...
ordered a new city plan, and changed the name of the city from Oslo to Christiania, in his own honor. A square city grid was introduced, and the first brick buildings were built. The city grew as an important port for lumber export, and the Bjørvika area east of the city developed with port facilities. By 1801, the city had 8900 residents.
From 1814, Christiania became the capital of Norway, which had regained partial independence from Denmark and entered a union with Sweden. Industrialization started in 1840, initially along the
Aker River. The population grew rapidly, and new infrastructure was built. Commercial activities increased, and in 1854 the railway station was opened, connecting Christiania to Lake
Mjøsa via the
Hoved Line
In telecommunications, trunking is a technology for providing network access to multiple clients simultaneously by sharing a set of circuits, carriers, channels, or frequencies, instead of providing individual circuits or channels for each clie ...
. In 1835, the population was 18,000; by 1890, it had reached 151,000. From 1878, the Oslofjord was kept permanently open with
icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters, and provide safe waterways for other boats and ships. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller ...
s. By 1900, Kristiania was the leading shipping city in the nation, and among the most important in the world.
In 1960, sales of cars exploded following the deregulation of sales. A new road system through Bjørvika was opened in 1970. Ten years later, the
Oslo Tunnel
The Oslo Tunnel ( no, Oslotunnelen) is a , double-track, railway tunnel which runs between Olav Kyrres plass and Oslo Central Station (Oslo S) in Oslo, Norway. The tunnel constitutes the easternmost section of the Drammen Line and runs bel ...
connected the city's two railway networks together. Starting in the 1960s,
containerization
Containerization is a system of intermodal freight transport using intermodal containers (also called shipping containers and ISO containers). Containerization is also referred as "Container Stuffing" or "Container Loading", which is the pro ...
and
automation
Automation describes a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes, namely by predetermining decision criteria, subprocess relationships, and related actions, as well as embodying those predeterminations in machines ...
became leading trends in the development of the port technology. The steady construction of new roads and port facilities created a physical and visual barrier that hindered Oslo from having access to the waterfront.
European route E18
European route E18 runs from Craigavon in Northern Ireland to Saint Petersburg in Russia, passing through Scotland, England, Norway, Sweden and Finland. It is about in length.
Although the designation implies the possibility of a through jo ...
took up of waterfront,
until the
Bjørvika Tunnel opened in May 2010.
Archaeological findings
Archaeologists discovered six medieval ships at least 500 years old in April 2019 in the modern Bjørvika district in connection with urban refinement and the construction of a high-speed railway. The ships date back the 1300s-1600s. The project manager and archaeologist of the
Norwegian Maritime Museum
The Norwegian Maritime Museum ( no, Norsk Maritimt Museum) is located at Bygdøynesveien on the Bygdøy peninsula, on the western side of Oslo, Norway. The Norwegian Maritime Museum is situated near several other museums, including the Fram Muse ...
, Elling Utvik Wammer, noted that the findings are unique in Norway and called them “an archaeological fairytale”. The last ship found here in ten meters long is reportedly a cargo ship of the 16th century. Another archaeologist Marja-Liisa Grue supposes that it could be used to carry stones to nearby
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress ( no, Akershus Festning, ) or Akershus Castle ( no, Akershus slott ) is a medieval castle in the Norwegian capital Oslo that was built to protect and provide a royal residence for the city. Since the Middle Ages the fortress h ...
. The archaeologist team believe that the findings will light upon the great city fire of 1624 and the little-known period named
Reformation
The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...
in Norway history.
Fjord City
Bjørvika is being redeveloped as part of the Fjord City plans for the Oslo waterfront. In 2010, the Bjørvika Tunnel was completed, and in 2012,
Bispelokket and the rest of the remaining E18 was removed. A new avenue, Dronning Eufemias gate, is constructed along the current route of Bispegata. It will serve as a main route for public transport, and the
Ekeberg Line
The Ekeberg Line ( no, Ekebergbanen) is a long light rail line of the Oslo Tramway which runs from Oslo Hospital to Ljabru in Oslo, Norway. Operated by lines 13 and 19, it serves the area of Nordstrand and the neighborhoods of Ekeberg, Jom ...
of the
Oslo Tramway
The Oslo tram network ( no, Trikken i Oslo, short from ', 'electric') is the tram system in Oslo, Norway. It consists of six lines with 99 stops and has a daily ridership of 132,000. It is operated by , a subsidiary of the municipally-owned who ...
is planned to be rerouted along the avenue in 2018/2019. The area is just south of
Oslo Central Station
Oslo Central Station ( no, Oslo sentralstasjon, abbreviated ) is the main railway station in Oslo, and the largest railway station within the entire Norwegian railway system. It connects with Jernbanetorget station. It's the terminus of Dramme ...
, and can also be reached via the
Oslo T-bane
The Oslo Metro ( no, Oslo T-bane or or simply ) is the rapid transit system of Oslo, Norway, operated by Sporveien T-banen on contract from the transit authority Ruter. The network consists of five lines that all run through the city centre, wit ...
at
Jernbanetorget
Jernbanetorget is both a rapid transit station on the Oslo Metro and a tram stop of the Oslo Tramway. The metro station is in the Common Tunnel used by all lines under the city centre. It is located between Stortinget to the west and Grønland ...
.
HAV Eiendom, a subsidiary of the
Oslo Port Authority
''Oslo Port Authority'' ( no, Oslo Havn KF) is a kommunalt foretak (municipal enterprise), and accountable to the Municipality of Oslo. For many years, Oslo Havn KF was known as ''Oslo havnevesen (OHV)'' but was renamed on June 8, 2004, to its cu ...
, is responsible for developing the area. When finished, it will have 4–5,000 apartments and about 20,000 jobs. In addition, several major cultural institutions will be located in Bjørvika. It is estimated that 30,000 people will travel to the neighborhood each day.
In 2008, the
Oslo Opera House
The Oslo Opera House ( no, Operahuset) is the home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the national opera theatre in Norway. The building is situated in the Bjørvika neighbourhood of central Oslo, at the head of the Oslofjord. It is ...
opened at Bjørvika. Costing and built by
Statsbygg, it was designed by
Snøhetta
Snøhetta is the highest mountain in the Dovrefjell mountain range in Norway. At , it is the highest mountain in Norway outside the Jotunheimen range, making it the 24th highest peak in Norway, based on a topographic prominence cutoff. At , ...
. Bjørvika was preferred as a location over
Vestbanen. The opera is in size and has a large, slanting roof open to the public. In 2008, the
Norwegian Parliament
The Storting ( no, Stortinget ) (lit. the Great Thing) is the supreme legislature of Norway, established in 1814 by the Constitution of Norway. It is located in Oslo. The unicameral parliament has 169 members and is elected every four years base ...
also decided to build the
Munch Museum
Munch Museum ( no, Munch-museet), marketed as Munch (stylised as MUNCH) since 2020, is an art museum in Bjørvika, Oslo, Norway dedicated to the life and works of the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch.
The museum was originally located at Tøyen, ...
, the
Stenersen Museum and the
Oslo Public Library
Oslo Public Library (officially called in Norwegian ''Deichman bibliotek'', Deichman Library) is the municipalities of Norway, municipal public library serving Oslo, Norway and is the country's first and largest library. It employs over 300 peopl ...
at Bjørvika to form a new cultural center.
Between Dronning Eufemias gate and the central station are twelve medium-rise buildings, up to 22 stories tall. These have officially been christened the
Barcode Buildings. The first, the offices of
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is an international professional services brand of firms, operating as partnerships under the PwC brand. It is the second-largest professional services network in the world and is considered one of the Big Four accounting ...
, was completed in 2007. The last building was completed in 2016. The height of the buildings created a heated debate.
Sports
Bjørvika SK is the local sports club established in 2009. They currently field a soccer team that plays in the Oslo Fotballkrets 8 division.
Economy
The head office of
Avinor
Avinor AS is a state-owned limited company that operates most of the civil airports in Norway. The Norwegian state, via the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications, controls 100 percent of the share capital. Avinor was created on 1 ...
is located in Bjørvika, on the sea side of
Oslo Central Station
Oslo Central Station ( no, Oslo sentralstasjon, abbreviated ) is the main railway station in Oslo, and the largest railway station within the entire Norwegian railway system. It connects with Jernbanetorget station. It's the terminus of Dramme ...
.
[Contact us]
." Avinor
Avinor AS is a state-owned limited company that operates most of the civil airports in Norway. The Norwegian state, via the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications, controls 100 percent of the share capital. Avinor was created on 1 ...
. Retrieved on 9 March 2010.
See also
Bjørvika tram stop
Bjørvika is a tram stop in the Oslo Tramway. It was opened for daily use on October 4, 2020. It is served by lines 13 and 19. Bjørvika is nearby the bus station called Bjørvika, and it served by multiple local and regional bus routes. It was a ...
Bjørvika Tunnel
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bjorvika
Neighbourhoods of Oslo
Fjord City