The first two restaurants in OperaKvarteret are already in business, together with a coffee shop. This marks the beginning of a rapid development where exciting shopping and trade possibilities will blend perfectly in with a busy street life.
OperaKvarteret will be a central city district offering a mix of shops, restaurants, offices and apartments. A wide variety of users and customers will contribute in making the area swarming with life around the clock. We are planning an exciting “city floor” in which you can easily move from alleys and passages to streets and open spaces.
At street level, there will 10,000 square meters of premises distributed amongst the different blocks. Shops, galleries, restaurants, cafés, workout centre and other services and facilities in the area brought together can stand comparison to any other high class urban area in Europe.
The central location of OperaKvarteret with regard both to communication and important traffic arteries will ensure a solid base for vivid surroundings connected to other happenings in Bjørvi
Takes biking seriously
OSU takes environmental issues seriously and we strive to develop future-oriented solutions able to bring people together. One feature is the specially designed bike parking zones in the areas between the buildings. We are also trying to establish one or two bike workshops to show that we are serious about it.
OSU is also trying to establish attractive places when it comes to food and restaurants. The ideal feature would be to establish a giant outdoor grocery market Mediterranean style. The goal is to attract people from other parts of the city searching for a new deli or something truly different.
Solid planning
Nothing is left to chance and all is in the details when OSU plans the city floor in OperaKvarteret.
The area belonging to the public is crucial to OSU. Pf course, they want all citizens of Oslo to take the new city district in use. For that reason, OSU conducts many studies and looks carefully at international trends on how city planners solve the challenge to merge business, trade, public spaces and facilities. It’s natural to look closer on what fellow Nordic cities have done since we share much of the same climate and culture. The planning phase is extremely important because OSU wants to avoid replacements and frequent changes. OSU now puts their 5-year plan into effect, but has also reflected much on a more long-term development of the city floor.
A good place to be
The public spaces between every building shall radiate with OperaKvarteret identity – in shape, in expression and in choice of materials. The outside areas shall be invitational, and nice and interesting to wander around in.
OSU puts emphasis on safety by providing good outdoor lighting in the whole area, also in smaller alleys, commons and streets. There will be an open passage throughout the entire Opera Quarter starting east going transversely to the west. The open crossroad is meant to engage the whole spectrum of shops, restaurants, services and cultural events thus creating a new kind of urban melting pot in the capital.