Like last year, the street of Karl Johan, by Spikersuppa in Oslo was transformed into a great piazza. Outdoors eating and drinking facilities created an atmosphere you usually would find in the southern parts of Europe. Streets of flowers and bright parasols, buzzing atmosphere and long nights brought your mind to Rome or Paris. It marked a new era for the most traditional part of Oslo. But, it doesn’t stop her. It is actually where it all begins. Paleet Oslo has just reopened.

The renewed Paleet aims to be a destination for inspiration, fashion and urban experiences, not only for those shopping in London or Milan, but also for the visitors seeking unique brands and skilled Norwegian staff. In this new mecca of fashion, food and mingling nothing is spared. You can sense the effect of old architecture meeting modern solutions at the entrance. The palette is warm, golden and elegant. The bright epoxy terrazzo-flooring sparkles from the elements of marble and nacre.

All shops have unique and individual phasades and the walls to the common areas are covered with precious matt varnished cedar. Even the floor columns emphasises the architectural qualities; the strong square columns are copper plated, the soft and round in brown leather. In the styled atrium you find an impressive chandelier installation in copper, that creates light scenarios as the overhead lights changes during the day. The “Wow factor” is definitely in place when Paleet opened its doors on September 3rd. A crowd of 5000 people gathered outside.

Centre for high-end qualities
The sound economy of Norwegians combined with tougher times in many European countries has made international designers head up north. Norwegians travel and experiences what the most exclusive cities have to offer. Brand awareness is high in all age groups. Norwegians have money, and can afford spend it.

– We are not alone in believing in the strength and attractiveness of Oslo city centre, says the centre manager of Paleet, Øystein Aurlien. – There are luxury shops side by side in the adjacent streets to Karl Johans gate and around Egertorget, and more fashion houses are on their way. It is important for Oslo that the high-end shops are placed together like this. We see now, after many years of growth in decentralized shopping malls, that people want to combine great shopping experiences with good food and drinks when visiting Oslo with their families and friends. It simply gives an extra quality dimension to city centre shopping when focusing on the wide array of selection and options, Aurlien elaborates.

The many opportunities of Paleet
– At Paleet visitors will find international high-end brands presented in stylish multibrand stores, next to several up-and-coming Norwegian monobrand fashion concepts. There is a unique atmosphere, in a historic setting, and the eating facilities are not found elsewhere in Oslo. Our guests are demanding and we intend to give them inspiration and shopping experiences previously not found in Norway, Aurlien continues.

The most ambitious concept at Paleet is YME, a curated universe of fashion, design, interior and art. Covering three floors YME offers something totally new within fashion, interior and art, not previously seen in Scandinavia.

Svean, one of Oslo´s leading fashion stores, has significantly increased its retail space and expanded its portfolio presenting brands as Each & Other, Acne, Carven and Philip Lim. Follestad is another strong participant within the young gentlemans crowd. There will be in total 16 various fashion concepts at Paleet. – Paleet has for many years been the main destination for high-end fashion in Oslo, a position we now will reinforce, says Aurlien.

There is 10 speciality- and lifestyle stores, each leading within its category. Among these the hairdressing salon Adam og Eva gives you the opportunity to do makeup and hair in what once was the dining room in the old, venerable private apartment of Thorvald Mayer, one of the city´s most powerful men at the end of the 19th century. – At that time this block of Karl Johans gate was called “a miniature Paris”, Aurlien continues. – It does something with the atmosphere here. We aim to preserve some of the elegance of that time in history, though adding quite a bit of novelty to prepare for the future.

The renewed Paleet appeals to many senses, also the culinary. 9 different food facilities will be open from morning to midnight. – We will have Asian, Italian, English, French, Mexican and much more, Aurlien tells us. – Furusetgruppen runs six of these. In addition Paleet will be the only spot in Oslo for United Bakeries, the French boulangerie CNNs Michael Mann claims is the reason why he every year covers the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

– The grand opening was a huge success, Øystein Aurlien concludes. – Feedback from visitors and stores has been beyond what we dared to hope for. We have already been assured that Paleet will live up to the expectations of both us and the population of Oslo, becoming the place to visit.

Photography by Einar Aslaksen