As the debate around Norway’s new national stadium has pointed towards locations such as Stovner and Ski, and football fever continues to rise alongside World Cup ambitions, we wanted to introduce what we believe is a stronger idea to the conversation. The new national arena should be located in the heart of the city – on a new urban deck built above the railway tracks at Oslo Central Station.

Could such a vision actually be realised? The idea has surfaced several times before, including in discussions surrounding the bus terminal redevelopment a few years ago and Vålerenga’s stadium plans more than two decades ago. We believe the opportunity to make it happen is greater than ever, driven by the unique national appeal of an arena that truly belongs to everyone.

Our proposal to place a new national arena above Oslo S, the country’s largest public transport hub, is about far more than football. By building over existing infrastructure, the project has the potential to transform an area that today acts as both a physical and visual barrier between neighbourhoods. At the same time, the arena would benefit from unparalleled accessibility, with trains, metro lines and buses converging in one location.

The ambition is to create a national gathering place capable of hosting sport, culture and major public events, while also contributing new public spaces, green qualities and stronger connections across the city centre. In this way, the arena becomes more than a venue for large-scale events; it becomes a catalyst for urban development.

Rather than limiting the debate to where a new national stadium should be located, we wanted to broaden the conversation to what it could be.

You can read more about the initiative and the ideas behind the project in Aftenposten (subscription required) and Nettavisen.