Read more about the history of the Storting building here

Abid Q. Raja, Member of Parliament for the Liberal Party,  Akershus

“I love the Storting building. It’s so awe-inspiring. It fills me with feelings of such respect: for the building itself; for those here now and for those who have been here before us; most of all, for what the building symbolizes. Members of Parliament come and go, but the building and what it represents will hopefully be here forever.”

Olemic Thommessen, President of the Storting

“I greatly enjoy being in the Storting building. It’s an impressive parliament; well suited to perform its role as the backdrop for our parliamentary work. It’s subdued in its expression, but also grand and festive. The building has an intimacy that provides the perfect framework for good political debate and work. Perhaps what’s most unique about it as a parliament building is that the Chamber is open and visible to the world outside. It’s actually possible for people to see the MPs at work as they deal with all the major and minor matters that affect everyone’s day-to-day lives.”

Marit Nybakk, First Vice President of the Storting

“The Storting building is an integral part of the urban community; its wings virtually embrace the grass in Eidsvolls plass. For me it’s my place of work, a place where we’re all constantly running up and down stairs and along corridors between meetings and appointments, receiving guests and lobbyists. Since I’m an MP for Oslo, I also use my office as a base for my out-of-house work. I’m as proud now as I’ve ever been when I give visitors guided tours, because Langlet’s building’s got soul!”

Peter Butenschøn, architect and author of the book The Storting – 150 years of the Norwegian Parliament Building.

“As a child, growing up in the countryside, I thought that the Storting building was a bit odd, slightly peculiar. The building has always been unique, one of a kind; it doesn’t look like anything else. Over time I’ve grown to regard it as an experimental, unconventional and audacious expression of a new Norwegian democracy; a democracy that in the 1860s was intent on shaping our most important national building on its own terms and no-one else’s. It’s not simply a copy of other nations’ and eras’ styles; it’s written its own architectural history. And that’s basically pretty wonderful!”

Harald Grønn, former Chamber Secretary, retired in 2015 after more than 40 years in the Storting.

“It was with a certain awe and trepidation, both for the building itself and for what was inside, that I opened the heavy door at Løvebakken for the very first time in the autumn of 1973. Little was I to know how long-lasting my relationship with this building – with its abundant and pulsating life – would prove to be. But if you first get the Storting “under your skin”, it’s there for life. It’s been a privilege to have been part of what you could call the moveable furniture in this stronghold of democracy.”

Torbjørn Røe Isaksen,  Minister of Education and Research

“For a young lad from Porsgrunn visiting Oslo, the Storting building was a monumental and majestic structure. Then I was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2009. It was still a solemn feeling to come to work, but to be honest, more than anything else I was just confused by all the passageways and meeting rooms. I’m very fond of the Storting building, even though I have to admit that I don’t exactly consider the modern part to be an architectural gem.”

Lisbeth Skei and Kjetil Løset, political journalists from NRK and TV2 respectively

“The Storting building is our place of work as well. We often spend a huge part of the working day here, and we basically use the building in just the same way as the MPs and staff. You’d never guess how many nooks and crannies there are. Even though the informal conversations in the corridors are interesting, for journalists like us the Central Hall is the heart of the building. This is where we sit and wait for the MPs and Ministers to come out of the Chamber to account for themselves. The place has a life of its own, but the decision makers are remarkably accessible.”

Per Kristian Engebretsen, member of the parliamentary staff since 1975.

“I’ve had a genuine love affair with the Storting building for decades. It’s got soul, it’s exciting, it’s ever so slightly mysterious, and yet at the same time it gives you a huge sense of security. I’ve had the immense privilege of helping to maintain it, run it, develop it and return it to its historical roots. My first impression of the building was as a 3-year-old in 1952, just before they demolished the beautiful, old annexe. It’s going to be really exciting to be part of what happens in the coming years, and I hope that the building itself will have a greater say in its future development.