Urdi House

Urdi House is an Empire style manor set as a single-story building with four Doric columns and a triangular pediment under a double hip roof. The structure covers about 250 square meters and offers views of Bergen and the eastern mountains from its northeast-facing front.

The house was designed by town surveyor Ole Peter Riis Høegh, who worked in Bergen between 1834 and 1848 and gave the building its neoclassical character. It received protected status as a cultural monument in 1927.

The house was originally called Uren but was renamed Urdi in 1895 when artists Olav Rusti and Frida Hoeck Rusti took over, bringing an artistic character to the place. This name change marked its shift toward creative use and significance in the local cultural scene.

The building sits in the Gyldenpris neighborhood and faces northeast toward the city and surrounding mountains, making its location easy to spot. The classic architectural style helps visitors imagine the historical structure of Bergen while exploring the area.

In 1896 Norway's first national folk music competition took place here, featuring Hardanger fiddle performances and attended by celebrated composer Edvard Grieg. This event established the house as a landmark in Norwegian musical tradition.