A Major Step Toward Climate-Friendly Urban Development
We are very pleased that Oslo City Council has now approved the zoning plan for Økern Sentrum. The plan sets a new standard for climate-conscious urban development and marks an important milestone in realizing the vision of a vibrant city center in the heart of Hovinbyen – Oslo’s largest urban development area.
Økern Sentrum, owned by Steen & Strøm and Storebrand, aims to address several major societal challenges by transforming today’s grey, underutilized areas into green urban spaces. The project will facilitate an active city life that is accessible to people of all ages and needs. It represents a comprehensive response to the goals and political ambitions outlined in Oslo’s municipal master plan.
Tripling Public Spaces, More Housing, and an Attractive Urban Ground Level
When we launched the new vision in 2019, we stated that rezoning could triple the number of public meeting places and squares, increase housing, and introduce locally adapted retail in an open urban structure. The final outcome confirms that we have met these goals:
- Public spaces will increase from approximately 10,000 m² to 30,000 m², including squares, parks, and reopened streams
- The share of residential development will rise from about 15% to 55%, with around 1,450 new homes
- The existing shopping mall will be replaced by an open urban ground level of 45,000 m², featuring retail, dining, services, cultural venues, and social offerings
Architecture, Culture, and Business Development
We have had a constructive collaboration with the City Council’s department and are pleased that the majority supported Alternative 5, which is largely based on the developer’s proposal. The plan ensures:
- 1,450 diverse housing units with high-quality shared indoor and outdoor spaces, tailored to market demand
- Provisions that allow flexibility and feasibility for sustainable cultural and business development
- Expanded requirements for high architectural quality, including the design of entrances, balconies, and high-rise buildings
Supporting Cultural Institutions
The Økern Sentrum development presents a unique opportunity to establish much-needed cultural venues in Hovinbyen and Groruddalen. We believe the project offers the best and most economically viable solution for the National Theatre’s need for new stages and the co-location of administration and production. The plan includes space for a theater, library, and cultural school, and we are ready to move forward with implementation – provided that municipal and national decision-makers invest in Økern Sentrum.
Positive Outlook on Student Housing
We support the inclusion of student housing and envision a minimum of 100 units with high living standards. It is important that students also have access to quality housing. The proposal from the Socialist Left Party (SV) for 10,000 m² of student housing was not realistic, and we are satisfied that it did not gain majority support. In noise-exposed areas, it is particularly challenging to build small shared units that still meet quality standards.
The Road Ahead
We look forward to initiating the preliminary project phase and continuing discussions with relevant authorities regarding technical infrastructure. We believe in a balanced development agreement with Oslo Municipality that can provide predictable conditions for project realization. Given efficient clarifications and permit processing, we anticipate a realistic construction start in late 2026 or early 2027.