Central Western Europe Kingdom of Norway Norway OSLO Oslo constitutes both a county and a municipality. Oslo is the economic and governmental centre of Norway. The city is also a hub of Norwegian trade, banking, industry and shipping. Oslo (Norwegian pronunciation: [ùslu]) is the capital and largest city in Norway. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by a fire in 1624. The Danish–Norwegian king Christian IV rebuilt the city as Christiania (briefly also spelt Kristiania). In 1925 the city reclaimed its original Norwegian name, Oslo. Oslo Kingdom of Norway july 2010 The Oslo Opera House (Norwegian: Operahuset) is the seat of The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the national opera theatre in Norway. The building is made to be skateboard-friendly, encouraging skateboarders through the use of materials and angles. Equally, areas that are acoustically sensitive discourage skateboarders through a contrasting use of poor materials and angles for skating The architects were the Norwegian firm Snøhetta who were also the architects of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (the Library of Alexandria) in Egypt. The Opera won the culture award at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona in October 2008. "She Lies" is a sculpture made of stainless steel and glass panels next to Oslo Opera House. It is permanently installed and floats on the water in the fjord on a concrete platform. Norway OSLO Opera House, july 2010. Norway OSLO Opera House, july 2010. The roof of the building angles to ground level, creating a large plaza that invites pedestrians to walk up and enjoy the panoramic views of Oslo. OSLO Opera House july 2010 The angled exterior surfaces of the building are covered with Italian marble and white granite and make it appear to rise from the water. The main auditorium seats 1,364 and two other performance spaces can seat 200 and 400. The main stage is 16 m wide and 40 m deep. The building is situated in the Bjørvika neighborhood of central Oslo, at the head of the Oslofjord. Norway OSLO Opera House, july 2010. Norway OSLO Opera House, july 2010. Norway OSLO Opera House. Norway OSLO Opera House. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Norway OSLO, july 2010. OSLO Kingdom of Norway july 2010 Norway OSLO, july 2010. Street ART. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Street ART. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Oslo is considered a global city and ranked "Beta World City" in studies performed by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network in 2008. In 2009, Oslo regained its status as the world's most expensive city. Pic: Stortinget, Grand Hotel, OSLO, july 2010. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Norway OSLO, july 2010. The Royal Palace (Norwegian: Slottet or formally Norwegian: Det kongelige slott) in Oslo was built in the first half of the 19th century as the Norwegian residence of the French-born King Charles III of Norway, who reigned as king of Norway and Sweden. The palace is the official residence of the present Norwegian monarch. The palace has 173 rooms. The crown prince resides at Skaugum in Asker west of Oslo. OSLO Kingdom of Norway july 2010 The Oslofjord is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the Torbjørnskjær and Færder lighthouses and down to Langesund in the south to Oslo in the north. Norwegian painter Edward Munch had a cottage and studio in Åsgårdstrand on the fjord and the Oslofjord appears in several of his paintings, including The Scream and Girls on the Pier. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Norway OSLO, july 2010. OSLO Kingdom of Norway july 2010 Oslo City Hall characteristic architecture and artworks make it one of Oslo's most famous buildings. Oslo City Hall, july 2010. Oslo City Hall, july 2010. Oslo City Hall, view from the sea, july 2010. The Oslo City Hall (Norwegian: Oslo radhus) houses the City Council, city administration, art studios and galleries. It is famous for its architecture, artworks and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Norway OSLO, july 2010. OSLO Vigeland Park july 2010 OSLO Vigeland Park, july 2010. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Vigeland Sculpture Park is a part of Frogner Park. It covers 80 acres (320,000 m2) and features 212 bronze and granite sculptures created by Gustav Vigeland. The Wheel of Life is a wreath depicting four people and a baby floating in harmony. It is a symbol of eternity, and implies the overall theme of the park: man’s journey from the cradle to the grave. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. 58 of the park's sculptures reside along the Bridge, a wide connection between the Main Gate and the Fountain. All are clad in bronze and contribute to the “Human Condition” theme of the park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. At the end of the bridge lies the Children's Playground, a collaboration of eight bronze statues, all in the likenesses of children at play. In the centre, mounted on a granite column, is the representation of a fetus. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Access to the Plateau is made via eight figural gates forged in wrought iron. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. The Fountain was fabricated from bronze and adorned with 60 individual bronze reliefs. Portraying children and skeletons in the arms of giant trees, it suggests that from death comes new life. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. The works of art reside along an 850 meter-long axis divided into six sections: The Main Gate, The Bridge, The Children's Playground, The Fountain, The Monolith Plateau and the Wheel of Life. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. The Monolith towers 14.12 meters (46.32 ft) high and is composed of 121 human figures rising towards the sky. This is meant to represent man's desire to become closer with the spiritual and divine. It portrays a feeling of togetherness as the human figures embrace one another as they are carried toward salvation. Most of the statues depict people engaging in various typically human pursuits, such as running, wrestling, dancing, hugging, holding hands and so on. Vigeland Sculpture Park . The Monolith Plateau . Oslo Norway july 2010. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Norway OSLO, july 2010. Vigeland Park. Gustav Vigeland personally sculpted every figure out of clay and individual craftsmen were contracted to fabricate the pieces into what they are today.