The Dance of Life

Artful Oasis on High

This upper-level apartment was created as a curated oasis within one of Oslo’s most cutting-edge, creative neighborhoods. Offering a spectacular cityscape view from its balcony overlooking the fjord, plus a meticulously designed interior space hung with Norwegian art works for purchase, this vacation home rental in Oslo offers a uniquely urban, sophisticated, city-center stay.

An art-filled oasis at the heart of Oslo’s hip Bjørvika neighborhood, this upper-level apartment overlooks the city’s shimmering fjord. An open floor plan features a light-filled living area offset by geometric, floor-to-ceiling angled windows. Blonde wood floors and bone walls offer a backdrop for colorful artworks offset by bold black furnishings.

A sleek kitchen nook occupies one section of the open living and dining room, with countertop bar seating, glassy tiles along one wall, and modern appliances built into smooth black cabinetry. A balcony outside the living area offers additional seating and spectacular views towards the glinting, angular Munch museum as well as onto the neighborhood’s signature “Bar Code” architecture.

Each of the home’s two double bedrooms features minimalist décor, and both rooms have built in closet, drawer and vanity/desk units. One is painted and furnished in muted earthen tones, the other a palette of black, wood, and white. Each has its own private bathroom with spacious shower and a view over the canal-lined neighborhood.

AROUND

Located in one of the city's hippest waterfront neighborhoods, this vacation home rental in Oslo sits within the 12 apartment and office blocks known as “The Barcode”. The buildings get their name from their one-of-a-kind exterior surfaces covered with lines, gaps and Lego-like cladding that creates a giant architectural barcode when seen from a distance.

Central Oslo has become known in recent years as an art and architectural destination, with notable high-rise residences, ultra-contemporary museums, galleries and cultural institutions, and uniquely engineered, futuristic-looking bridges like the nearby Akrobaten bridge. Visitors to the Norwegian capital can take in the striking geometry of the Opera House, the luxurious, harborside Astrup Fearnely contemporary art museum, and those who stay at the apartment should be sure to take in the prestigious Gallery Brandstrup, the location from which many of the apartment’s contemporary artworks are sourced via a unique collaboration.

History buffs will love Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum, home to authentic reconstructed Viking longships, or the National Gallery with its medieval castle. The city’s huge port area includes both the country’s largest industrial port operation as well as a wharf where the country’s much-loved seafood was brought in. Today, the area is a popular destination for seafood lovers who come to enjoy the country’s sizeable catch at restaurants, cafes, waterfront markets and stellar raw bars.

LOCATION

Bjørvika, Oslo, Norway. Nearest airport: Oslo

BEST TIME TO VISIT: May to August