A building to last the testimony of time

I confess walking up the grand sweep of paving to the City Hall of Oslo felt a little bit like walking into the nightmare scape of the famous German movie Metropolis. The building (started in 1931… must have been something in the zeitgeist, Metropolis was made in 1927) has two imposing twin towers and is made out of an ominous dark red brick.

However, when you walk through the front doors, very humble relatively speaking, and step into the daunting interior, you are transported into a magnificent testament to Art Deco; where the vertical lines are positively vertiginous. I’m a little jet lagged, so I confess the effect might have been more pronounced, but truly a stunning building. The history of Oslo, Norway, appears in giant murals, and the far wall reveals the lovely vista of the intimate harbour beyond.

Tonight was the welcome from the Mayor of Oslo to the many mayors of Europe who have come to this conference and some, if not all, of the speakers.

A Bjork kind of gal sang us into the mood (great guitarist) and I confess the net effect was mightily impressive.

It occurred to me in the midst of this ‘show’ that it takes true courage to challenge the powers that be. In most countries, everything about the edifices of power is designed to intimidate and silence opposition or real challenge. Incumbent authorities the world over, since we have been keeping records, have not been inclined to give up influence because the masses don’t think it’s fair or inclusive. They give up power when they are taken to the edge of their own comfort by angry masses storming walls and demanding a voice at the table.

That is the history of revolution fuelled by social discontent.

So I had a lightbulb moment when the singer was ’hummingbirding’ her way into the room: that this is what this gathering is about. On the principles of inclusion, collaboration and fairness, celebrating innovation and breakthrough thinking, the majority of the people gathered in this famous hall are here to find out how to protect our future. They may wear suits and look pretty comfy, but they are the perfect revolutionaries, who, history has taught us, are often the middle class of a society.

They worry about the climate crisis and they are here to share ideas about what we can all do to ensure a liveable future. Their mandate is the transformation of urban spaces – from buildings to transport, from food source to education.

It’s an impressive gathering. I just wish, when all is said and done, if we really only have 10 – 15 years to get our shit together, that we would put a small fraction of what we are investing in infrastructure into the education of leaders who need to change their behaviour.

Common sense is very far from common practice. So maybe we will rescue ourselves from our self inflicted existential pain. Just part of the transformation is a new way of leading.