Oslo Opera House

Rising elegantly from its perch at the water’s edge at the head of the Oslofjord, the Snøhetta-designed Oslo Opera House mimics the subtle, powerful shape of a glacier. The stark white, slanted exterior is covered in Italian marble and granite, and is mirrored by She Lies, a permanent art installation that floats in the fjord and resembles an iceberg. The piece, constructed out of steel and glass panels, is moored to the harbor floor and moves with the tides and wind. The arts complex, which is home to The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet and national opera, is the largest music and performing arts institute in Norway and a gathering place for visitors and locals alike, who lounge on the outdoor terrace and small grassy lawn.