Art, architecture and buildings in the Government Building Complex

Strictly speaking, the government building complex is not a single entity, but stretches over several streets and buildings. Block G, which now houses the Ministry of Finance, was built in 1906. The high-rise block (H Block) was completed in 1958.

Building development has continued until 2012, when the latest government building, R6, was occupied.

Both the H Block, which was completed in 1958, and the Y Block, completed in 1969, were designed by the architect Erling Viksjø. The decoration, carried out in the new material “naturbetong” (a type of concrete), was a radical new departure – the architecture and the art are so closely merged that they are inseparable.

The art in the New Government Building Complex

After the terrorist attack of 22 July 2011, a major effort was made by Public Art Norway (KORO) and the Norwegian Government Security and Service Organisation (DSS) to find and preserve the art in the damaged buildings. A total of approximately 1000 works of art were protected, cleaned and stored by KORO.

An art plan will be prepared for the new Government Building Complex. The plan will also encompass any return of art to the complex. The preparation of plans for both new and existing art will take place through a cooperative effort by the responsible ministries, DSS, Statsbygg and KORO.

In Block Y there are two integrated works of art, both based on sketches by Pablo Picasso and sandblasted by Carl Nesjar. They are the works “The Fishermen” on the exterior wall (8.2 x 13 m) facing Akersgata, and "The Seagull" (3 x 3 m) in the reception area.

In the new Government Building Complex, Block Y will be demolished. The area where Block Y now stands will be replaced in part by a park and in part by a new building. The works “The Fishermen” and “The Seagull” will be preserved and come into their own again in the new Government Building Complex. Statsbygg will propose a location for the art in consultation with KORO.

The Ministry will clarify future use of the two integrated works of art in Block Y with the rights holders. In any case, any Government decisions concerning the artwork in the damaged government buildings will be dealt with in accordance with Norwegian law (Copyright Act).

The final decision on the placement of the two works of art “The Fishermen” and “The Seagull” will be made in the preliminary project, i.e. no later than in 2019.

• Read more about KORO – Public Art Norway

The art in the Y-Block

The Y-Block has two integrated works of art, both based on sketches by Pablo Picasso and sandblasted by Carl Nesjar: “The Fishermen” on the façade facing Akersgata, and “The Seagull” in the vestibule.
In the new government building complex, the Y-Block will be demolished, and “The Fishermen” and “The Seagull” will be preserved.

In the various phases of the project for the new government building complex, Statsbygg has undertaken several studies of technical aspects of the relocation and temporary storage of “The Seagull” and “The Fishermen”. It has been found that both works of art can safely be removed from their current locations and relocated. The goal is to ensure that both works of art are incorporated in the new government building complex in locations where they can be seen by the general public, and that “The Seagull” will be more visible and accessible in the new government building complex than it has been in the past.

In collaboration with Public Art Norway (KORO), Statsbygg has assessed how the works of art can best be integrated into the rebuilt government building complex. The following six criteria have been applied: exposure (visibility and public accessibility), natural integration (in terms of daylight and consequences for workplaces, preservation of cultural heritage), context sensitivity (how the work is experienced), material sensitivity (how the materials in the new building affect the work of art), interaction with the surroundings/urban space, and costs and progress.

Statsbygg and KORO recommend that “The Seagull” be placed in the entrance/reception of Building A, and “The Fishermen” above the VIP entrance facing Einar Gerhardsen plass, also in Building A. The Picasso Administration has approved these locations.
Any copyright issues related to the artistic elements in the damaged government buildings will be decided in accordance with Norwegian legislation (the Copyright Act).

Read more about how the works of art are going to be preserved (pdf).

The art in the H-Block

The artworks are to be found in the reception area, on the walls of the stairwell and on the facades facing north and south.

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
8th floor, south wall The Beach
8th floor, north wall The Fishermen
11th floor, south wall Satyr and Faun

Kai Fjell (1907–1989)
Reception area

Tore Haaland (1918–2006)
12th floor, north and south walls
14th floor, north wall

Carl Nesjar (1920-2015)
Reception area, together with Inger Sitter. Now hidden by building alterations
2nd floor, north wall (with Inger Sitter)
4th floor, north and south walls
10th floor, north and south walls
13th floor, north and south walls

Inger Sitter (1929-2015)
Reception area, together with Carl Nesjar. Now hidden by building alterations
2nd floor, north wall (with Carl Nesjar)
3rd floor, north and south walls
6th floor, north and south walls
7th floor, north and south walls

Odd Tandberg (1924-2017)
5th floor, north and south walls
9th floor, north and south walls

Erling Viksjø (1910–1971)
14th floor, south wall
All decoration on the pillars and smaller wall areas
Pictograms on the facades

Source: The National Museum and The Directorate for Cultural Heritage 2013

Buildings in the Government Building Complex

These are the buildings in the Government building complex, year of construction, adress and architect. Where possible, click for further information:

• The G-Block – 1906. Akersgata 40. Architect Henrik Bull.
• The H Block – 1958. Akersgata 42. Architect Erling Viksjø.
• The Y-Block – 1969. Akersgata 44. Architect Erling Viksjø.
• The S Block – 1978. Einar Gerhardsens plass 3. Viksjø arkitektkontor. Demolished 2015.
• Møllergata 17 – 1988. Einar Gerhardsens plass 1. Viksjø arkitektkontor. Demolished 2020.
• Møllergata 19 – 1866. Became part of the Government complex in 1981.
• Grubbegata 1 – 1939. Became part of the Government complex in 1999.
• R4 – 1988. Einar Gerhardsens plass 1. Viksjø arkitektkontor. Demolished 2020.
• R5 – 1996. Akersgata 57-63, Teatergata 2-4. Architect Torstein Ramberg AS.  
• R6 – 2012. Teatergata 9, Keysersgate 6-8. BA Arkitekter AS.

Statsbygg, the Directorate for Public Construction and Property Management, owns and manages the buildings in the Government building complex.

Read more:

• The Norwegian National Museum: Picasso – Oslo. Art and Architecture in the Government Buildings
• An illustrated guide inside the G Block, the Ministry of Finance