the Y-block is a part of the government district in Oslo. It has drawings of the world renowned artist Pablo Picasso, which the Norwegian artist Carl Nesjar are etched into the walls. The architect is mr. Erling Viksjø, a well-known Norwegian arktitekt.
for many years the government has wanted to demolish the block to build a new and modern regjeringskvartal, but the protests have been many and loud.
the Norwegian cultural life have held demonstrations to stop the demolition because they feel that the block is grade ii listed. Norske arkitekters association and Fortidsminneforeningen has notified a lawsuit against the state. For a couple of weeks ago, met the parties in court to determine whether the block should stand until the trial is finished.
the Oslo district court has now ruled that there will not be a temporary ban on tear the block up to the main hearing has been up in court.
the Court has emphasized on three points. They believe that it is not likely that rammetillatelsen and reguleringsplanen is invalid. That decision is innnenfor the limits of the law, and that the proceedings have been correct. The court has not considered whether there is “danger of delay”.
Aftenposten talked about the matter first.
We are very disappointed with the ruling, said the plaintiffs ‘ lawyer Berit Reiss-Andersen of the Norwegian broadcasting corporation.
Now they will go through the ruling and discuss whether they should appeal the decision or not.
protracted conflict
Plans for a new regjerngskvartal started right after that Norway was exposed to the terror 22.July 2011. At the time, the plan was that the Y-block should fredes. It lacked only a signature on the decision. Now was the Y-block is partially damaged but possible to repair. After several investigations and an architectural competition fell the government down on a new regjeringskvartal without the Y-block.
the Government believes that utredningnene is good enough, and that the Y – block can’t stand for security reasons.
Many believe there is an error of judgment. The arguments from Norske arkitekters association and Fortidsminneforeningen go on that fredningsprosesen is not completed, that there is a lack of study of an alternative that incorporates a Y-block in a new regjeringskvartal and that international rules are violated.
It is not only in the Uk the protests have been strong. Europa Nostra is the umbrella organisation of the european kulturminnevernere. They have put the block on the list of the world’s seven most endangered cultural heritage sites.
the Heiress after Picasso would rather not that the block was to be demolished in 2014, but signed an agreement with the government that the arts should be taken care of. Art will they downsize and move to the walls in the new government district.
the Block was scheduled to have been demolished in October 2019. According to Statsbygg costs delays 30-50 million per month from april 2020.
