Norway: Restoration of Manor House in Eidsvoll celebrated

The Local Award Ceremony for the Manor House in Eidsvoll in Norway, winner of a 2015 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award in the Conservation category, took place at its premises on the afternoon of 16 August 2015. The President of Europa Nostra Norway, Erik Schultz, presented the Award to Statsbygg – the Norwegian government’s key advisor in property affairs, which was responsible for the rehabilitation of the Eidsvoll House – in front of an audience of some 80 people, including officials, heritage and culture experts, and the general public.

“The Eidsvoll House is a national treasure and it is a great honour to receive this award from the European Union and Europa Nostra. Today we are particularly proud of the collaboration between Statsbygg, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage and the Eidsvoll 1814 association”, said Lasse Kwetzinsky, Statsbygg’s Project Manager for the restoration work, during the ceremony.

EU Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to Norway, Helen Campbell, travelled to Eidsvoll to celebrate this outstanding heritage achievement, accompanied by representatives from Statsbygg and Eidsvoll 1814. The programme featured specialised lectures and guided tours.

“I would like to give unconditional praise to all those who have participated in this conservation work. Without their efforts this would not have been possible. When the Eidsvoll House was built, techniques were employed that are no longer used today. During the restoration process, these techniques had to be ‘re-invented’ ’’, stated Synnøve Lyssand, Director of Construction at Statsbygg.

The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy County Mayor for Akershus, Lars Salvesen; the Head of Eidsvoll 1814, Erik Jondell; the Director of Construction at Statsbygg, Synnøve Lyssand Sandberg; and the Mayor of Eidsvoll, Einar Madsen.