Grünerløkka
Encyclopedia
Grünerløkka is a borough of the city of Oslo
, Norway
. Grünerløkka became part of the city of Oslo (then Christiania
) in 1858.
Grünerløkka was named after Friedrich Grüner who bought a mill in the area from king Christian V of Denmark
in 1672 (the last element is the finite form of løkke f 'paddock
'). During the 19th century, Grünerløkka became a working class area. Several factories were placed here, because of the advantages of being located close to the Akerselva
river. Christiania Seildugsfabrikk from 1856 and Aktieselskapet Herkules from 1898 were two of the factories established. Thorvald Meyer
bought parts of the Grünerløkka area in 1861. He built the main street of Grünerløkka, called Thorvald Meyers gate.
In 1866, Grünerløkka (Paulus parish) had a total population of
13 600. In 1900 the number had risen to 22 000. At that time, only 5 streets in Oslo had a population above 3000. Of these, three were located in Grünerløkka: Markveien, Thorvald Meyers gate and Toftes gate (note: gate means street in Norwegian
).
In 1864, a sq. meter was priced at about 30 Norwegian shilling (the Norwegian monetary unit at that time). Selling of land property started the year after 1864, though. Even if the land owner, Thorvald Meyer
, offered low-priced land, almost no-one bought any of it until after 1868.
The park
square called Olaf Ryes plass has its name from general Rye. It was an open field well out into the 1880s. The field was bought by Oslo
kommune from the Grüner family for 10 000 N.Kr. in 1883. A narrow diagonal street was built, which led from Markveien to Thorvald Meyers gate. It had a stopping point for horse and carriage at the middle point. This small piece of street, through what is now a pedestrian park square, remained until far out in the 1930s.
The neighbourhood has its own sports club, Grüner
, which was founded in 1914 with ice hockey
and football as the most important activities. Grüner Fotball plays its home games in Dælenenga idrettsplass and currently is part of the third division of the Norwegian football system. The ice hockey team plays the home games at Grünerhallen.
s, pubs and park
s. The area around the built-up park Birkelunden
, has been given a "historical zone" status and cannot be visibly rebuilt or modified. Grünerløkka is one of the most popular places for young people in Oslo to live. With its central location and nice atmosphere the property prices have surged and are among the highest in the country (almost as high as in the exclusive parts like Frogner
and Majorstua). Grünerløkka of today is one of the most vibrant areas of the city, a place full of life both during the day and at night.
In the municipal election of 2007 all borough councils became elective, until then most had been appointed by the city council. Labour became the largest party with 5 representatives, the Socialist Left have 3, the Conservatives, Liberals and the Red Electoral Allince 2 each, and the Progress party 1.
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Grünerløkka became part of the city of Oslo (then Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
) in 1858.
Grünerløkka was named after Friedrich Grüner who bought a mill in the area from king Christian V of Denmark
Christian V of Denmark
Christian V , was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, the son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
in 1672 (the last element is the finite form of løkke f 'paddock
Paddock
A Paddock is an enclosure for horses. It may also refer to: People*Algernon Paddock , American politician*Charlie Paddock , American athlete and actor*Del Paddock , American baseball player...
'). During the 19th century, Grünerløkka became a working class area. Several factories were placed here, because of the advantages of being located close to the Akerselva
Akerselva
Akerselva, or Akerselven, is a river which flows through Oslo. It starts at Maridalsvannet in Oslomarka, and follows the urban areas Nordre Aker, Sagene, Grünerløkka, Oslo centre and Grønland, whereby it finally ends at Paulsenkaien and Oset in Bjørvika. The river is considered to be a part of the...
river. Christiania Seildugsfabrikk from 1856 and Aktieselskapet Herkules from 1898 were two of the factories established. Thorvald Meyer
Thorvald Meyer
Thorvald Meyer was a Norwegian businessman who built his fortune primarily on real estate development in Oslo, but also forestry. He was a supporter of the arts, in particular the theater. He donated several of his properties to the city. One of the main thoroughfares, Thorvald Meyers gate,...
bought parts of the Grünerløkka area in 1861. He built the main street of Grünerløkka, called Thorvald Meyers gate.
13 600. In 1900 the number had risen to 22 000. At that time, only 5 streets in Oslo had a population above 3000. Of these, three were located in Grünerløkka: Markveien, Thorvald Meyers gate and Toftes gate (note: gate means street in Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
).
In 1864, a sq. meter was priced at about 30 Norwegian shilling (the Norwegian monetary unit at that time). Selling of land property started the year after 1864, though. Even if the land owner, Thorvald Meyer
Thorvald Meyer
Thorvald Meyer was a Norwegian businessman who built his fortune primarily on real estate development in Oslo, but also forestry. He was a supporter of the arts, in particular the theater. He donated several of his properties to the city. One of the main thoroughfares, Thorvald Meyers gate,...
, offered low-priced land, almost no-one bought any of it until after 1868.
The park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
square called Olaf Ryes plass has its name from general Rye. It was an open field well out into the 1880s. The field was bought by Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
kommune from the Grüner family for 10 000 N.Kr. in 1883. A narrow diagonal street was built, which led from Markveien to Thorvald Meyers gate. It had a stopping point for horse and carriage at the middle point. This small piece of street, through what is now a pedestrian park square, remained until far out in the 1930s.
The neighbourhood has its own sports club, Grüner
Gruner
- People :* Dov Gruner , Jewish Zionist leader* Eduard Gruner, Swiss engineer* Elioth Gruner , Australian painter* Gottlieb Sigmund Gruner , Swiss cartographer and geologist* Klaus Gruner , German handball player...
, which was founded in 1914 with ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
and football as the most important activities. Grüner Fotball plays its home games in Dælenenga idrettsplass and currently is part of the third division of the Norwegian football system. The ice hockey team plays the home games at Grünerhallen.
Grünerløkka in modern times
During the last decades the industry have moved out of the area. Today, Grünerløkka is dotted with small caféCafé
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
s, pubs and park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
s. The area around the built-up park Birkelunden
Birkelunden
Birkelunden is a park placed centrally in the Grünerløkka borough of Oslo, Norway. It is formed as a rectangle, more or less like a city block.-History:...
, has been given a "historical zone" status and cannot be visibly rebuilt or modified. Grünerløkka is one of the most popular places for young people in Oslo to live. With its central location and nice atmosphere the property prices have surged and are among the highest in the country (almost as high as in the exclusive parts like Frogner
Frogner
Frogner is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. In addition to traditional Frogner, the borough incorporates Bygdøy, Uranienborg and Majorstuen....
and Majorstua). Grünerløkka of today is one of the most vibrant areas of the city, a place full of life both during the day and at night.
In the municipal election of 2007 all borough councils became elective, until then most had been appointed by the city council. Labour became the largest party with 5 representatives, the Socialist Left have 3, the Conservatives, Liberals and the Red Electoral Allince 2 each, and the Progress party 1.