University of Oslo's Estate Department gave the go-ahead for extensive restoration work at the Norwegian Institute in Rome last year. Preparations began in the autumn, sealing off our library, packing down art works, and emptying offices on the third floor, which is to be totally remodelled.
The Institute is located in the part of Rome that is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. This implies that strict regulations must be observed for the rehabilitation of our building. We collaborate closely with the Soprintendenza di Roma on issues regarding the restoration of the facades, which will be kept in two carefully selected colours. Traditional lime paint is used, and the original wooden window frames are being restored rather than replaced. By this summer, we expect Viale Trenta Aprile 33 to look as it did in 1961, when the Norwegian Institute first moved in!
To achieve this, the University's Estate Department and the Institute cooperate with the Norwegian Defense Estate Agency, Italian architects from Studio Annesi, and our contractor Alba. The works are progressing, and we look forward to our reopening just over the summer.