Vervet neighborhood seen from a drone perspective.
©Vegard Stien

Vervet: Smart and urban in historic surroundings

A former shipyard has been transformed into a brand-new urban district just a stone’s throw from downtown Tromsø. Vervet has trendy eateries, a wonderful urban feel and the sea as its nearest neighbour. It’s little wonder that Vervet has already become a meeting place for Tromsø residents and visitors alike.

Vervet is Tromsø at its best. The new residents and visitors enjoy views of the harbour, Arctic Cathedral and Tromsø’s city mountain, Tromsdalstinden. Even though this is a brand-new part of the city, Vervet already has a good selection of places to eat and services.

Vervet harbour promenade 2022

On historic ground

No matter where you are in Vervet, you will be on historic ground. The very heart of Vervet is Maskinverkstedet dating from 1911. This building, which housed the old mechanical workshop, stands as a monument conveying the site’s history among modern architecture. After serving as the shipyard’s workshop for more than a century, it’s now a meeting place with a restaurant, café and cultural arena.

There is no doubt that Vervet takes history seriously.

“Vervet was a dream project for us because we wanted to give new life to the area while offering the people of Tromsø something unique. We are proud that we managed to create our own world while preserving the soul,” says the project developer. 

They have had a general focus on conveying the history of the site through the design of the buildings and by preserving historical elements. The history is also conveyed through decoration, design and photos.

It’s easy to enjoy oneself in the historic surroundings, with large green areas and limited vehicle traffic. The apartment buildings, which are now home to hundreds of Tromsø residents, are built of solid and trendy materials. Vervet, which was designed by the Norwegian architectural firm LPO, is a showcase for contemporary architecture and good urban planning. To put it briefly, Vervet is smart and urban.

Tourists have also discovered the new Vervet. On fine days, the quay promenade is teeming with tourists and locals alike. The tourists are constantly marketing Tromsø through their camera lens at Vervet.

 

Plenty of offerings

Several exciting businesses have moved into Vervet over the past year. When you walk along the quay promenade, you will discover restaurants such as Sumo with its “Asian fusion” concept, Delicatessen serving delicious tapas, the popular wine bar VinSmak and the microbrewery Brewyard Brewpub. Another highlight is Vervet Bakeri, which creates an aroma of freshly roasted coffee and freshly baked bread. Vervet’s main lounge, Maskinverkstedet, serves lunch and a la carte in its trendy industrial surroundings. When Vervet Scandic Hotel opens in 2025, it will be the largest hotel in Northern Norway.

Tromsø has certainly gained a new pulse with Vervet – and we are looking forward to the continuation!

Vervet © Vegard Stien

Accommodation at Vervet