For other uses, see Châteauneuf

Châteauneuf

Places in France known as Châteauneuf:* Châteauneuf, Côte-d'Or* Châteauneuf, Loire* Châteauneuf, Saône-et-Loire* Châteauneuf, Savoie* Châteauneuf, Vendée-See also:Places in France known as Châteauneuf:* Châteauneuf, Côte-d'Or...

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Chateau Neuf is a building in Oslo that houses Det Norske Studentersamfund

Det Norske Studentersamfund

The Norwegian Students' Society is Norway's oldest student society. Established in 1813 in Oslo, it has been the centre of debate, culture and politics for nearly 200 years....

, (The Norwegian Students' Society), including cafes, bars, performance centers, and other facilities for student assembly. It is situated at Slemdalsveien 15 near Majorstuen

Majorstuen

Majorstuen is a neighbourhood in the Frogner borough in the western part of Oslo, Norway.Majorstuen is known for its vibrant downtown, especially its shopping area. The area has several elegant townhouses circa 1880-1890. The area is also an important public transport junction in Oslo, where all...

 just south of the main campus of the University of Oslo

University of Oslo

The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...

 at Blindern

Blindern

Blindern is the main campus of the University of Oslo, located in Nordre Aker in Oslo, Norway.-The campus:Most of the departments of the University of Oslo are located at Blindern; other, smaller campuses include Sentrum , Gaustad , St...

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Though the name literally means "New Castle" in French, it also involves a pun on "nøff," the Norwegian onomatopoeic for the sound of a pig. The highest protector of the Students' Society is His Majesty the Pig.

History

Although the Students' Society was housed in permanent facilities at Universitetsgaten 26 from 1861 onwards, the society outgrew this structure by 1918 and moved to different locations around the city. In 1940, the society was offered Logen, but this plan fell apart with the German invasion of Norway.

In the 1950s, funds were raised to build a new structure, spearheaded by Jan P. Syse

Jan P. Syse

was a lawyer and Norwegian politician from the Conservative Party. He was Prime Minister of Norway from 1989 to 1990. He also served as Minister of Industry from 1983 to 1985...

 among others. Based on the University of Oslo's expansion plans, the site was picked, though the university changed its plans after Chateau Neuf's construction had started.

Ground was broken by C.J. Hambro

Carl Joachim Hambro (1885-1964)

Carl Joachim "C. J." Hambro was a Norwegian journalist, author and leading politician representing the Conservative Party. A ten-term member of the Parliament of Norway, Hambro served as President of the Parliament for twenty of his thirty-eight years in the legislature...

 in 1963 in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the society. The architects were Kjell Lund

Kjell Lund

-Personal life:Lund was born in Lillehammer as the son of Arve Johan Lund and Margit Tora Hornes. He married Tove Berg in 1954.-Career:Lund cooperated with architect Nils Slaatto for many years. Among their designs are Asker City Hall, Chateau Neuf in Oslo, and the module based system Ålhytta. Lund...

 and Nils Slaatto

Nils Slaatto

Nils Slaatto ., was for more than two decades one of Norway's most prominent and influential architects, having a strong and distinctive impression on Norwegian architecture.- Biography :...

. Construction was complete in 1971 and officially opened in 1973.