Georg Sverdrups hus: A National Landmark Clad in Norwegian Larvikite

When the University Library of Oslo relocated to Blindern in 1999, the university gained a new architectural landmark. Georg Sverdrups hus marks the entrance to the campus and is designed as a monument to knowledge and community, clad in the darkest Larvikite from Lundhs Real Stone®, Lundhs Emerald®.

A New Center for the University

The architectural firm Telje-Torp-Aasen won the 1994 design competition with the proposal KABA. The main goal was to create a building that connects the upper and lower parts of Blindern and serves as a central meeting point for students and staff.

The building combines a functionalist floor plan with classical references to library and temple architecture. The curved glass façade facing the park and the row of columns along the main entrance give the building an open and inviting character, while the choice of materials conveys weight and durability.

Larvikite as an Architectural Expression

To emphasize the building’s symbolic value and create a lasting impression, the architects chose a façade clad in dark, polished Larvikite. The stone used, Lundhs Emerald®, is sourced from our quarries in Klåstad, Larvik, and is renowned for its dark background with striking iridescent blue feldspar crystals.

The Larvikite gives the building a deep, reflective surface that changes character with light and weather. It mirrors the campus and surrounding nature while imparting a monumental and timeless quality. The use of Norwegian natural stone highlights the desire for a material that combines aesthetic strength with technical durability.

Durability and Expression

As a façade material, Lundhs Emerald® is particularly valued for its dense structure, low water absorption, and high resistance to frost and mechanical wear. The polished surface accentuates the stone’s characteristic labradorescence while preserving its rich color over time. This makes it ideal for exterior cladding, where both longevity and visual impact are essential.

More than 25 years after its completion, Georg Sverdrups hus remains one of the university’s most striking buildings. The polished Larvikite has retained its gloss and quality, and the natural stone’s dynamic surface continues to reflect light and surroundings in new ways.

The building stands as a lasting example of how Norwegian natural stone can unite function, symbolism, and aesthetics in modern institutional architecture.

Project: Georg Sverdrups hus, University Library of Oslo
Completed: 1999
Address: Moltke Moes vei 39, 0851 Oslo, Norway
Client: Statsbygg
Architect: Telje-Torp-Aasen Arkitektkontor AS
Landscape Architect: 13.3 Landskapsarkitekter AS
Interior Architect: Telje-Torp-Aasen Arkitektkontor AS
Façade Material: Lundhs Emerald®, polished Larvikite, from Klåstad, Larvik
Gross Floor Area: 29,730 m²

Sources:
University Library of Oslo: About Georg Sverdrups Hus – History and Architecture (ub.uio.no)
Arkitektur N: Georg Sverdrups Hus – New University Library, University of Oslo (arkitektur-n.no)