TRYVANN (Nettavisen): – It’s going to be spectacular, says property investor Christian Ringnes to Nettavisen.
Ringnes scouts up the 118 meter high Tryvannstårnet, which is a landmark in Oslo. Now he wants to take over the iconic tower, when the municipality will soon put it up for sale.
– I want to create life up here, a restaurant and a cafe over six floors, high, high up in the air, he says of the plans.
Watch video interview with Ringnes:
video-description"> Christian Ringnes wants a very special tower at Tryvann.
To the old TV tower from 1962, he wants to attract people from the center of Oslo, up to the panoramic view at Oslomarka.
– It could be a very nice attraction for Oslo, and I think people will enjoy themselves up in the tower, says Ringnes with a smile.
– Ghostly
As we walk around and look at the Tryvannstårnet, he makes no secret of the fact that it will cost a lot to restore the tower.
– I’m not quite sure if I want the approval, because this will be a hugely expensive affair. There is partly asbestos in the building, and there are major challenges with escape routes. The capacity in the tower is not that big either, so there is not a whole lot of money to be made from a restaurant up there, says the billionaire.
– This will cost over NOK 100 million, I am quite convinced of that, he points out.
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Ringnes also comes with a small fire torch:
– So I think you almost have to get it, quite simply. Already in that will be a gift to Oslo municipality. Because I think the alternative will soon be that this will just remain as a slightly ghostly tower, he says.
– So you think that Oslo municipality should give you the tower?
– They are probably not going to do that, so it must probably cost very little. But it must not be more than a symbolic sum, he believes.
– Rotating floor
Through the property company Eiendomsspar, Ringnes already owns several other iconic buildings in Oslo, including the Ekeberg restaurant and the Grand hotel.
Now he wants to try to create a new cultural monument, and envisions large glass facades, a nicer restaurant and a cafe for the skiers.
– If we are extra clever, we will even create a rotating platform on top, so that you can just sit and be served the view at the table. I think it will be spectacular, he says.
He emphasizes that he must talk to his board before they finally decide to go ahead with the project.
– Because this will not be profitable, he repeats.
The Tryvannstårnet has also previously been open to visitors, but was closed in 2007 due to the requirements for a fire-proof escape route.
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– Powerful and iconic
Since 2017, however, the tower has been completely empty, after the FM network was switched off and Telenor-owned Norkring moved out.
– This is a powerful and iconic tower, which also has a proud history. It has many architectural traces that are important, underlines Ringnes, who says that he himself has a special fondness for the place.
– I was up here a lot when I was growing up, to ski down Tryvannskleiva. When we got up to the Tryvannstårnet we could finally strap on our skis, he recalls.
– There are a number of restrictions on the building, since it is a cultural monument. Are you afraid that it will ruin your plans?
– No, traditionally we have a good collaboration with the city antiquarian. The point here is very much that the tower is the tower, so destroying it would be pointless, says the investor.
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City council: – Submit a bid
The Tryvannstårnet is one of several municipal buildings that will now be sold. The million-sucking Skar camp, which Nettavisen has previously mentioned, is also to be sold. But whether the municipal tower will be given away to Ringnes, the city council will not answer that.
– There is an ongoing sales process that is handled by the Property and Urban Renewal Agency. I recommend everyone who is interested in the building to submit a bid, says Oslo city councilor for urban development, James Stove Lorentzen (H), to Nettavisen about the statements to Ringnes.
– Then we’ll see what the price ends up being. But it is good that there is interest and that someone has concrete plans for activity in the building, he adds.
Figures that Nettavisen has requested from the Real Estate and Urban Renewal Agency show that Oslo municipality has spent NOK 1.6 million on the operation of the Tryvannstårnet in the last three years. In addition, there has been rental income from the building totaling NOK 978,700.
– Investments are needed to get the Tryvannstårnet up and running, not least because the tower was primarily built, and has functioned, as a technical installation. It is our experience that stakeholders take account of costs for rehabilitation and development when they submit bids for properties that the municipality sells, says communications adviser Jørgen Lie Furuholt at the Real Estate and Urban Renewal Agency.
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He says that several actors have expressed their interest in Tryvannstårnet.
– In line with Oslo municipality’s sales instructions, we will put this property on the open market. With the caveat that unforeseen conditions should arise that we have not yet been able to map out, we plan to start advertising in early summer, says Furuholt.
Among other things, they are now working on drawing up conditions that will ensure public traffic over and access to the property in the future.
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Will there be fireworks?
In addition to Ringnes, it is known that the illusionist Alexx Alexxander, who also wants to buy Skar leir, is interested in the tower.
– This is where the world’s best cooperation is concerned. Me and Alexx Alexxander are very good friends, but I didn’t realize he was interested in the tower. Imagine the illusions and magic you can create up here, says Ringnes cleverly.
– When do you imagine that the tower can be opened to people?
– There is no reason to wait. I’ve become a grown man, and I want to see this while I’m still healthy and fast. From takeover, it is realistic that it will take from one to one and a half years, he says.
– Then I expect there to be a big firework display at the opening?
– This is not down in the city. It really is out in the forest, and you have to respect both animals and birds. It’s a little different down by Oslo harbour, says Ringnes, who received massive criticism after fireworks were set off at his 70th birthday celebration.
2024-03-17 17:08:00
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