The Building

Inspired by the past, redesigned for the future

In the heart of one of Europe’s fastest growing cities lies a building magnificent in scale, design and historical significance.

Inspired by its past life as the centre of Norway’s telecommunications and radio industries, Telegrafen is being transformed into a vibrant office, food and beverage destination for the modern age.

The Building

Telegrafen – the iconic Nordic Baroque-Nouveau landmark was once Norway’s largest office building. Today, it consists of over 25,000 sqm of office and F&B space, spanning an entire city block on one of Oslo’s oldest streets, Kongens gate.

In Telegrafen, Oslo has a distinctive new destination in the heart of Kvadraturen; a place that will inspire people to connect, day and night, for business and leisure.

The dramatic grand hall, with its luxurious interiors and upmarket restaurant and bar offerings, will become a key meeting place in the city.

A mixed-use opportunity

Historical details include wall frescoes, ceiling murals, carved granite and ground Labradorstein features, and majestic ceilings reaching up to 6 metres. These features, combined with best-in-class office, F&B spaces will make Telegrafen a truly unique offering that cannot be found anywhere else in Scandinavia.

A perfect business setting

Each floor can be separated into four separate sections with a social zone in the centre. The building’s common amenities include large meeting rooms, a state-of-the-art auditorium, as well as a full service concierge to welcome guests into the building.

With its monumental scale, luxurious interiors and clever blend of heritage and modernity, this is truly a signature business address for today’s established companies and tomorrow’s entrepreneurs.

An Architectural Treasure

The building was designed by two of Norway’s most famous architects, Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulsson, who also collaborated on the legendary Oslo City Hall.

A Journey in Time

Telegrafen was completed in 1924 as the head office of Telenor and Norway’s administrative centre for its telecommunications and radio industry until 1962.

Building A Fortress

1916

Prominent Norwegian architects, Arneberg and Poulsson won a competition to design the new headquarters for Telenor. The building was built as a fortress, a fireproof monument. As such, no wood was used in construction, and Norwegian marble, stone and cast concrete were the preferred materials used for the common areas.

Connecting Norway

1924

The Telegrafen building opened with a fanfare and more than 1,000 people from 19 separate departments moved in to start work. “Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings in Kristiania”, wrote the Morgenbladet newspaper.

Protecting An Asset

1940

When Germany invaded Norway during World War II, the German regime understood Telegrafen’s value and guarded it.

Telegrafen played host to countless confidential conversations as workers transmitted messages of war, peace and resistance.

A modern extension

1966
Nils Holter, a noted Norwegian architect, built an extension to this monumental building.

Iconic Heritage

1976

Kongens gate 21 was formally recognised as an important heritage icon when it became a listed building.

Like the Oslo City Hall, Telegrafen continued to restore and maintain its colourful fresco art by renowned Norwegian artist Alf Rolfsen.

A new Chapter

1990’s

Up until the early 2000’s, Telegrafen is Norway’s most important telecom exchange. After having moved its head office operations out of the building in 1962, Telenor consolidates its offices and moves out in the early 2000’s to start a new chapter at their new premises at Fornebu outside Oslo.

A Building to Connect

Present

In 2016, Telegrafen was acquired by a partnership comprising Malling Eiendom AS, Vedal Investors AS and a EPISO 4 LP (a fund advised by Tristan Capital Partners).

In August 2018, a full renovation commenced that in August 2020 had transformed the building into a state-of-the-art business address and F&B destination.

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