Brimming with cultural hotspots, eye-catching hotels, cool galleries, scenic viewpoints and bold architecture, Norway is a haven for design inspiration. Check out the May issue of Viking magazine to learn more about some of our favorite places, including Juvet Landscape Hotel, Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art and Under Restaurant. Here are two more architecturally inspiring places to add to your bucket list.
KODE
To experience world-class art in Bergen, head to the city center. KODE is one of the largest art, craft and design museums in Scandinavia. It encompasses four buildings, each with its own focus. KODE 1 is dedicated to fine craft and design and is a permanent home to collections of silver and gold items produced in Bergen. There’s always something new and different at KODE 2. This gallery is home to temporary and visiting exhibitions, as well as Bergen’s largest art bookstore. KODE 3 houses works by Norwegian artists, including Edvard Munch, J.C. Dahl and Harriet Backer. KODE 4 showcases modern art and houses Norway’s first art museum designed for children, along with famed seafood restaurant Lysverket. Also, part of KODE are the homes of three of Bergen’s greatest composers and artists, Edvard Grieg, Ole Bull and Harald Sæverud.
The Arctic Cathedral
Tromsdalen Church, or the Arctic Cathedral, is known for its modern design. Built in Tromsø in 1965 and designed by architect Jan Inge Hovig, the structure features a pointed roof with aluminum-coated concrete panels on either side. The cathedral’s triangular shape allows as much light as possible to come in. Other craftsmen contributed to the Arctic Cathedral over the years. Artist Victor Sparre added the stunning glass mosaic in 1974, which dominates the interior of the cathedral. The mosaic, one of the largest in Europe, depicts three beams of light streaming from God’s hand onto Adam, Eve and Jesus. In 2005, an organ was built featuring a French Romantic design, pine woodwork and nearly 3,000 pipes. The cathedral has attracted famous visitors, including King Harald V, Queen Sonja and Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg.