Field trip 1: Oslo residents’ recreation and recreational opportunities
We visit is a popular recreational area, by Metro line 5 to Sognsvann. Opportunities for swimming or a walk along the lake. We will talk about the Sognsvann Line (urban expansion), the removal of the lake as a drinking water source, Oslo residents’ use of the area, and its role as a starting point for hikes in the forest.
Field trip 2: Half of Oslo is forest
The field trip starts with Metro line 1 to Frognerseteren. There we will enjoy coffee and buns, and a great panorama view of Oslo city. Our guide will tell us the history of the Holmenkollen line, and about Nordmarka, a forested region which makes up the northern part of Oslo.
Field trip 3: Oslo – from medieval town (by the fjord) to modern waterfront city in Bjørvika
Bjørvika is a neighbourhood in the centre of Oslo, situated between the Old City and Akershus Fortress. Since the 2000s, the neighbourhood has undergone urban development from a container port. When completed it will be a new cultural and urban centre in Oslo.
Field trip 4: When the garden city idea was realized in Norway
The garden city Ullevål Hageby was built between 1918 and 1926 and consists of 116 buildings with 653 apartments. It was intended for the working class, as an attempt to create healthy housing with more space, and with a small plot of garden for each house. However, over time the working class residents were replaced by middle-class families, and today the area has among the highest prices in the city. For transportation we use tram no. 17 or 18.
Field trip 5: From municipal rental housing for the working class to a gentrified, popular neighborhood
Toshov is a neighbourhood and an industrial area along the Akerselva river. The neighbourhood consists of tenement buildings from the late 1800s and residential complexes built 1917-1925. In later years, blocks of flats and high-rise buildings have been erected on the plots of small houses from the 1800s. For transportation we use tram no. 11, 12 or 18
Field trip 6: Norway’s first suburban satellite town
Lambertseter was built over a short period starting from 1951 and was the very first modern satellite town of Oslo. The planning of Lambertseter was inspired by anti-urban ideals, as such there are no narrow streets nor enclosed areas.It wqas designed for socialising, with open and bright areas placed strategically between the apartment buildings. For transportation we use metro no. 1 or 4.
Field trip 7: From rural farming community to immigrant-dense area
The Grorud Valley is an urban area in northeastern Oslo. In the 1960s and 1970s, the valley was transformed from an agricultural to a suburban landscape. However, in recent years, the valley has been associated with a large immigrant population and juvenile delinquency. Recently, various area-based initiatives aims to enhance local services and make lasting improvements to the local communities. For transportation we use metro no. 4 or 5.
Field trip 8: Street Voices
Gatestemmer (Street Voices) offers city walks hosted by individuals who may have faced challenges in traditional employment. Their guides share their personal and street-level stories, offering a rare glimpse into life on the margins of society. With lived experiences of homelessness, addiction, crime, or mental health struggles, each guide offers a unique perspective.
Fieldtrip 9: Rental housing in a nation of homeowners
In Norway, about a quarter of households rent their home, amounting to roughly 600,000 households. Still, the degree of collective organization among tenants, both private and municipal, is very low in Norway. The Tenants Organization, Leieboerforeningen (Lbf), is the country’s only advocacy organization for tenants. They play an important role in the housing policy landscape, and they have strong opinions on how the homeowner model has affected tenants' possibilities to participate in the housing debate. Come and meet tenants, learn more about tenant organizing, tenants’ power and powerlessness, and the situation for renters in Norway from Lbf!
Fieldtrip 10: Ferry trip to a small island in the Oslofjord: a cabin paradise with a fascinating history
Take a ferry from Rådhusbrygga and see the beautiful islands of the inner Oslofjord. We go ashore on Lindøya, which has gone from being owned by Cistercian monks in the 1700s to tent camping in the early 1900s. In the 1920s, workers rowed across and put up small makeshift summer cabins on leasehold plots. Today, the island is a cabin paradise with 300 red, yellow, and green cabins that are among the most sought-after in Norway. The buildings are protected as a culturally and historically significant expression of working-class leisure life. The island is now partly a nature reserve and a popular recreation area owned by the state. One of the cabin owners welcomes you into their garden!
Fieldtrip 11: Rental housing in a nation of homeowners
Enebakkveien 37 (E37) is a pioneering urban ecological co-housing project located in Gamle Oslo, Norway. Established in 2007 as a municipal pilot project, E37 represents a unique model for sustainable living, focusing on ecological building rehabilitation, affordable alternative housing, and extensive resident participation. Run as a cooperative, the community is built on circular principles, shared resources, and social solidarity. Together with its twin project Ormsundveien 14, E37 stands as a vibrant example of grassroots urban development, demonstrating how historic municipal buildings can be revitalized through dedicated community effort and ecological innovation. Resident representatives welcome you to their house and garden.