Kjelsås Bruk, Industrial heritage site in Nordre Aker, Norway
Kjelsås Bruk is an industrial factory at the upper waterfall of the Akerselva river, using water power for production since its founding. The complex contains multiple buildings with a long history of metal manufacturing.
A merchant founded the factory in 1855, and an industrialist later acquired it to establish a steel rolling mill. The site became an important center of Norway's steel manufacturing industry.
The building now contains around 70 studios and workshops where artists and craftspeople actively create their works. This repurposed factory has become a living space for contemporary artistic production.
The site is accessible via Kjelsås Station on the Gjøvik Line or by multiple tram routes. Visitors can explore the grounds and view the exhibition at the Frysja center.
The complex still harnesses the natural water power of the waterfall for energy today, a remnant of its industrial beginnings. This continued use of renewable energy from the same source as over a century ago demonstrates the durability of the original design.
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