Trolltun Borettslag

Open House Oslo
Norwegian. English subtitles available.

Trolltun at Bøler in Oslo is one of two large and unusual housing projects for practicing artists in Oslo.  It opened in 1959, after many years of lobbyism and hard work by the Young Artists Housing and Building Cooperation, in collaboration with OBOS, The Norwegian Housing Bank and the City Council of Oslo. 

The famous painter Edvard Munch was amongst the forces who supported the establishment of artists colonies in Norway. He was inspired by Van Gogh’s ideas from Arles in France. Munch’s ideas found support amongst leading cultural and societal politicians that were imprisoned at Grini during the second world war. When they came in ministerial position, some years later, they emphasised artists rights´ and regarded art as an important aspect of the welfare state. Oslo’s chief councillor for housing, Trygve Nilsen, worked the artists case in particular and was key for the young artists to succeed with the establishment of Trolltun. 
During the After-War period in the 1940´s and 1950´s, when Trolltun was planned and established there was massive housing shortage in Oslo. The city was under expansion and Bøler was one of several «New Town’s» that was built at the eastern fringe of the city. 

Amongst modern high rise and dense building blocks, the architect Helge Thams (1905-1997) drew five rows of picturesque and traditional townhouses, 32 in all, with ateliers. The flats ranged from 69 to 85 square meters in size, with washing rooms and ateliers of 34 - 42 square meters. 

Seven of the apartments were reserved for sculptors. Four of these had larger private backyards, designed as chopping grounds. 

The houses had and still have wooden facades. The wood was and is treated with iron vitriol. Only very few Norwegian architects had used this on facades earlier and amongst the neighbours it was not a popular choice at the time, as regular paint was more common. 

Trolltun was and still is a haven to the young artists and their families who moved in. Many of them became our country’s most famous modernists, including Carl Nesjar who collaborated closely with Pablo Picasso in designing and carving wall murals for Norway´s government building in Oslo´s city center. This building was bombed by a Norwegian terrorist on the 22. July 2011 and is now demolished, against all advise from the Norwegian as well as the international arts- and architecture heritage movement. Anyhow – and besides Nesjar - the colony has served as home for a range of reckoned painters and sculptors, photographers, ceramicists, image weavers, jewellery designers, drawers, architects, and writers. 

Back in 1959, the total price for ALL the 32 flats with ateliers, infrastructure and outdoor areas was less than 2,3 million Norwegian kroners - approximately 230 000 Euros. The artists succeeded in making a very rare and original agreement with the City Council. They were able to pay one of their loans - equalling 5000 Norwegian kroner - 500 Euros - by giving their art to or do decorating work for the council. Some of this art can still be seen locally at Bøler. Some of it can be found in many of Oslo’s public buildings and some adorns public spaces all around Oslo.

This film was made possible with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norway, and is a part of a series of six short films, all about social, environmental and economic sustainability.

Source: Kunstnerhus, Berg/Guttu (Ed.) (Gaidaros Publishers, Norway)