Oslo Operahuset - Snohetta (2008)

emerging from the Oslofjord like a mighty iceberg

The Oslo opera stands as an iceberg docked in Oslo harbour, this Landform Building integrates in it's surrounding, and is close to Norwegian Traditions, for years Snohetta have been perfecting their project approach as a synergy of architecture and landscape, in a powerful Néo-Romantic manner

Opened in 2008 the Operahuset is more than a simple opera, it is the focal point of the Fjord City development, the building can be climbed on, and it is not given, it's a hike, the arrival at the top grants you with the reward of a unique view on the Oslo bay.

We could call this a « landform building », indeed it's Iceberg metaphore is more than a simple formal strategy, it is, in Snohetta's word, a « fifth facade », there is a discourse on nature and culture here, that goes as far as the materials used, Italian Marble that doesn't change color with rain, like Ice. The wood inside is locally sourced from Norway.

The relation the building has with it's context, nature, and Norwegian culture is strong, it is a building that only makes sense in Oslo.

If the building could be considered Metamodern, so could the agency strategies. Snohetta are one of these agencies of the 90's trying to overcome Post-Modern strategies, for example this hike on the building is close to a modernist position that Corbusier developed in the past already.

Snohetta are considered an international agency, but like Herzog&DeMeuron in Basel, they still do smaller project in Norway, and seem to be of these agencies that can make things in the international scene move forward..