Opened in 2008 on the Oslo waterfront, this is the home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet. The Norwegian firm Snøhetta won the design competition from 350 entries, and the building was finished ahead of schedule and under budget.
Its angled surfaces of white Italian Carrara marble and granite seem to rise straight out of the fjord. The sloping roof comes down to the ground, forming a vast public plaza that anyone can walk up to enjoy views of the city and the water. Inside, the lobby is ringed by windows about 49 feet tall, and the interior surfaces are clad in warm oak, a contrast to the cool white stone outside.
It is the largest cultural building in Norway since Nidaros Cathedral was completed around 1300. It won the 2009 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture.
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