July | 2016 | Michael Hoffman Photography

Posted

July 31, 2016

Oslo City Hall

The Oslo City Hall was built between 1931 and 1950 in a mixed modernist-historic style. On December 10th, every year, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in the main hall of the building (pictures 2, 4). While looking relatively unpretentious from the outside, the inner decoration of this brick building is pretty impressive. Over forty artists from Norway worked on wall paintings and sculptures to design a “palace for the people” (picture 5). The building is still in active use today. While the two towers house many city administration offices (picture 1), the city parliament meets on the first floor in the center of the building (picture 3). The city hall is open every day in summer from 09:00 to 18:00 and in winter from 09:00 to 16:00. Don’t miss it if you visit Oslo!

Posted

July 7, 2016

Undredal at the Nærøyfjord

Undredal is a small village situated at the majestic Nærøyfjord in Western Norway. Up until 1988, the remote settlement was accessible solely by water. Nonetheless, people lived here for centuries, cultivating the rich soil and living off sheep herding. It is famous for a delicious kind of cheese named Geinost, consisting of goat milk. Also, in Undredal, you can find the smallest Viking church in Norway; it has only forty seats (picture 6).

Posted

July 2, 2016

The City of Thousand Windows: Berati

Berati is situated in southern Albania and is well known for its history and architecture. Founded in the 9th century, it has always been a hotspot for different religions; up until today, Christians and Muslims live peacefully in the town. Though famous, Berati is mainly for its stone buildings, situated close to each other on a hillside facing the river Ishull. Visually striking are the large windows on these houses, so Berati also got the name “The City of Thousand Windows.”