Aker Brygge was one of Oslo's first major waterfront redevelopment projects. Until 1982, this stretch of shoreline was occupied by Akers Mekaniske Verksted, a shipyard established in 1841 that grew to become the largest in Norway. During its peak years, the yard built everything from steamships to offshore platforms; Norway's very first oil platform was actually constructed here, right in the middle of the harbour. When the shipyard closed in 1982, the city was left with a huge piece of prime waterfront real estate.
Redevelopment began almost immediately. The first phase opened in 1986, with some of the old industrial halls converted into shops and restaurants while others were demolished to make way for new buildings. The transformation continued in stages over three decades, with a major renovation between 2010 and 2014 that reorganised streets and public spaces. Today over 900 people live here and roughly 6,000 come to work each day. The waterfront promenade is lined with restaurants in all price ranges, and despite being popular with tourists, many of them have loyal local followings as well.
At the western end of Aker Brygge lies Tjuvholmen, whose name translates to Thief Island. The name is not a marketing gimmick; it dates back centuries. In the 1600s and 1700s, the small island was notorious as a haunt for thieves and other dubious characters, and it even served as an execution site. Later it went through various incarnations: country estate, cow pasture, pottery workshop and public baths. The modern Tjuvholmen was completed in 2014 and is anchored by the Astrup Fearnley Museum of modern art, designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, famous for the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Next door is the boutique hotel called, fittingly, THE THIEF.
There used to be a small viewing tower here called Tjuvtitten, basically a lift that took you up, paused at the top, and brought you back down. It opened in 2012 but was plagued by problems from the start: wind closures, maintenance issues, and very few visitors. The tower has been closed since 2021 due to safety concerns, and the owners declared the costs for operation and security "disproportionately high" for the number of people who actually used it. When the closure became public in 2023, there was some outcry, but the tower has not reopened and has been repurposed for art installations instead.
Redevelopment began almost immediately. The first phase opened in 1986, with some of the old industrial halls converted into shops and restaurants while others were demolished to make way for new buildings. The transformation continued in stages over three decades, with a major renovation between 2010 and 2014 that reorganised streets and public spaces. Today over 900 people live here and roughly 6,000 come to work each day. The waterfront promenade is lined with restaurants in all price ranges, and despite being popular with tourists, many of them have loyal local followings as well.
At the western end of Aker Brygge lies Tjuvholmen, whose name translates to Thief Island. The name is not a marketing gimmick; it dates back centuries. In the 1600s and 1700s, the small island was notorious as a haunt for thieves and other dubious characters, and it even served as an execution site. Later it went through various incarnations: country estate, cow pasture, pottery workshop and public baths. The modern Tjuvholmen was completed in 2014 and is anchored by the Astrup Fearnley Museum of modern art, designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, famous for the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Next door is the boutique hotel called, fittingly, THE THIEF.
There used to be a small viewing tower here called Tjuvtitten, basically a lift that took you up, paused at the top, and brought you back down. It opened in 2012 but was plagued by problems from the start: wind closures, maintenance issues, and very few visitors. The tower has been closed since 2021 due to safety concerns, and the owners declared the costs for operation and security "disproportionately high" for the number of people who actually used it. When the closure became public in 2023, there was some outcry, but the tower has not reopened and has been repurposed for art installations instead.