Every year the Arkitekturopprøret names Norway’s best and worst new buildings.

Oslo had two nominees for this year’s Grøss medal and two nominees for the Arkitekturopprøret’s honorary award.

The nominees for the honorary award in the city were the new part of Blindern Student Home and “Ungen tilbygg”,a brick addition to a wooden house on Ila.

The nominees for the Grøss medal in the city were the new Tøyenbadet and Construction city, a large office building in Ulven.

Neoclassical copy

around 15,000 people voted in this year’s selection. Since the counting machine went into overdrive at one point, first place was shared between the two leading contributions to the honorary award.This is stated by Arkitekturopporeð in a press release.

As a result,the new part of Blindern Student Hostel ended up in joint 1st place with Stavkirken at Lothepus Camping in Odda.

Oslo Buildings Nominated for Architecture Awards – and One Receives a “Grøss” Medal

Oslo saw several buildings nominated for national architecture awards, though none ultimately took home the top prize. A young extension in Ila’s Våghalsen street was among the nominees but didn’t quite make the cut. Arkitekturuppørre (The Architecture Rebellion) praised the extension’s design, noting how it utilizes the friendly salt roofs common in wooden houses to create appealing gables facing both the street and a shared courtyard. They also highlighted the use of bricks to add depth and detail, and the exposed beam construction visible through a glass field, drawing a comparison to the triglyphs and metopes of Doric columns.

Though, Oslo also had a building recognized for less flattering reasons. The “Grøss” medal,awarded by Arkitekturopprøret to the ugliest new building constructed in the country over the past year,did not go to an Oslo nominee. The unfortunate winner was “The Three Sisters” in Kanalbyen,kristiansand.

Despite this, Oslo wasn’t entirely absent from the “Grøss” awards. Tøyenbadet (Tøyen Swimming Pool) was voted the country’s third ugliest new building in 2025.

The building authorities in Oslo never cease to surprise, and just when you thought they couldn’t approve anything worse, there are buildings that you would think could not be built in this century, they write about the office building.

Photo: The Architecture Rebellion

The organization believes this was a lost possibility to create a proper quarter with a courtyard.

– Rather, the new district of Ulven is left with a kind of continuous architectural attack, which fittingly houses a construction industry almost entirely incapable of building something the population actually likes.

Norway’s Salmon Industry Faces New Challenges

Norway’s salmon industry, a global leader in aquaculture, is confronting a complex mix of challenges. While demand for salmon remains strong, the sector grapples with rising costs, biological threats, and increasing scrutiny over environmental impact. These issues threaten Norway’s dominance and require innovative solutions.

Rising Costs squeeze Profits

Production costs are escalating. Feed prices, heavily influenced by global grain markets, are a major factor. Energy costs, always meaningful for fish farms, have also spiked. These increases directly impact profitability for salmon farmers. Many companies are exploring ways to improve efficiency and reduce waste to mitigate these financial pressures.

Sea Lice: A Persistent Biological Threat

Sea lice infestations continue to plague salmon farms. These parasites can severely harm fish, leading to disease and mortality. Traditional treatments are losing effectiveness as lice develop resistance. Farmers are investing in choice strategies, including cleaner fish – like lumpfish – that eat sea lice, and innovative technologies like laser systems to target the parasites. Though, finding consistently effective and sustainable solutions remains a priority.

Environmental Concerns and Regulation

The environmental impact of salmon farming is under increasing scrutiny. Concerns center around pollution from fish waste, the potential for escaped farmed salmon to interbreed with wild populations, and the use of antibiotics. The Norwegian government is responding with stricter regulations. These include tighter controls on waste discharge and requirements for more robust containment measures. The industry is actively researching and implementing more sustainable farming practices, such as closed containment systems, to address these concerns.

Innovation as a Path Forward

Despite the challenges, Norway’s salmon industry isn’t standing still. Significant investment is flowing into research and advancement. areas of focus include:

• Genetics: Breeding salmon that are more resistant to disease and require less feed.
• Technology: Developing advanced monitoring systems to detect and respond to problems quickly.
• Sustainable Feed: Exploring alternative feed ingredients to reduce reliance on wild-caught fish and soy.
• Offshore Farming: Moving farms further out to sea to minimize environmental impact and access better conditions.

The future of Norway’s salmon industry depends on its ability to adapt and innovate. Addressing these challenges effectively will be crucial to maintaining its position as a global leader and ensuring the long-term sustainability of this vital sector. Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries provides further information.

2025/11/28 00:18:51