It’s been closed and neglected for decades, but now an old broadcasting- and observation tower in the hills above Oslo has finally been sold by city officials to an investor who plans to fix up and reopen it to the public. Christian Ringnes has big plans to restore the tower at Tryvann, so it can once again welcome visitors.
Ringnes, one of Norway’s most prominent real estate investors and developers, confirmed to newspaper VG on Tuesday that he and his company Eiendomsspar had prevailed in their long-sought purchase of what’s still called Tryvannstårnet. Ringnes, who owns and renovated Oslo’s Grand Hotel among other properties, has brought new life back into other old and neglected real estate in Oslo. Ringnes paid a relatively modest NOK 14 million (USD 1.25 million) for the tower, its underground facilities and around three acres of the forest land on which it sits.
He told VG he’ll now need to invest millions more in order to bring the property up to code, install a new elevator and make massive renovations before it can reopen as a café- and restaurant complex over three levels. He’s also planning a kitchen level, another devoted to cloakrooms and public conveniences and one for “surprises” that could be anything from a roller skating rink to a zipline.
The entire tower, which state broadcaster NRK used until going digital in 2017, was a popular tourist attraction until it had to close in 2004 for safety reasons. Its old fire escape routes were outdated and it was simply no longer needed for other purposes.
It took 20 years before the City of Oslo, which owned the tower and sought public purposes for it, finally put it up for sale last year. Six months later Ringnes won what he called a “brutal” bidding process with the city even though he was the sole bidder. The city reportedly set some tough demands but new city government leader Eirik Lae Solberg of the Conservative Party said he’s glad “good buyers” like Ringnes and his company will take over.
“Property that stands empty and falls apart has no purpose,” Solberg told VG. “They (Ringnes and Eiendomsspar) will take good care of the tower, and give it back to Oslo and Norway.”
That will take time, given the unusual nature of the property and all the renovation it needs. Ringnes, who recently turned 70, said he thinks it would be “fun to open it on my 75th birthday.” He guarantees it will feature a new elevator, along with all the stairs now required to get up to the top.
NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund
