Wednesday, January 8th
Today was a busy day marked by extraordinary architecture, new international connections, and exciting excursions!
Once again, the architecture of Oslo proves to be spectacular in so many ways. The Oslo Opera House is characterized by the angular design and the close proximity to the Oslo Fjord, which allows for breathtaking photos. After gathering for a quick group photo, we walked around the entirety of the Opera House. This allowed us to see the designers at work through the windows as they perfected costumes and wigs for current/future performances.
Next, we ventured to The Deichman Bjørvika Library, which is a modern and architecturally-remarkable library that offers a variety of resources to the people of Oslo. The six floors offer several amenities to visitors including a cinema, study spaces, a music stage, an extensive makerspace, a recording studio, physical music, and of course, literature. According to our guide, visitors can choose from well over 1,000 seats in the library, and it seemed that every seat was filled (even on a Wednesday afternoon)!
As an Environmental Studies major, I was most intrigued by the biophilic design of the library. For example, the skylights can be seen from every floor of the library, even the basement, due to the cyclical design. This provides natural light for every visitor. Our guide also informed us that the frosted windows actually consisted of three layers. The outer layer reflects light, which assists with temperature control in a more environmentally friendly manner. In this same vein, one of the many art installations that intrigued me most was the Future Library. This installation is an 100 year project that will be completed in 2114. Each year, an author is chosen to contribute a piece, which can be in the form of an essay, a poem, or even a single word. Once the author is finished, it is placed in the Future Library. In 2114, the anthology will be printed on paper from Norwegian spruce trees growing right now in Nordmarka. Margaret Atwood was the first contributor to the Future Library in 2014. This project is defined by a sense of patience and the collective coordination of artists and readers for generations to come, especially because the authors and readers of today will likely never experience the final project. I took a course last semester that discussed the Future Library, so it was surreal to see it in person!
After our extensive and informative tour of the Deichman Bjørvika Library, we joined other St. Olaf students who are currently participating in the Norway Innovation Scholars Program and St. Olaf alumni for a reception within the library. This was a great opportunity to connect with past and current St. Olaf students and to hear more about their experiences in Norway.
To end the night, a large group ventured out to Ekeberg Park to see Pipilotti Rist’s light installation entitled “Nordic Pixel Forest”. This hanging installation consists of 24,000 LED lights that resemble ice crystals. Throughout the installation, speakers allow visitors to enjoy a soundscape consisting of calming music, birds chirping, insects buzzing, and an occasional reindeer grunt. The lights change colors in time with the tinkling music. One of the best parts of this excursion was the beautiful aerial view of Oslo. The panoramic view of the city lights, the water, and the clear sky was beyond breathtaking, and no photo could truly do it justice.
As we continue on our interim adventure, I’m sure we’ll continue to see Norwegians gather in a collective community as we’ve done today. Norwegians emphasize the importance of community building and living in a manner that contributes to the greater good. Today we saw this as individuals gathered to study at the library, as current and past Oles gathered to form relationships and share new perspectives, and as students embarked on new experiences. Personally, I hope to bring these important values back to St. Olaf when we return to the hill!