In only a few days, the UN Security Council can start using their newly renovated meeting room. The room was originally a gift from Norway to the UN Headquarter in New York in 1952.
"This is one of the most important rooms in the world, and it is a Norwegian room. It is a room that we can be proud of," says Henrik Width, Vice Consul General at the Consulate General in New York, to NTB.
When the Norwegian politician Trygve Lie was chosen as the first UN Secretary General in 1946, the UN decided to build its headquarter on Manhattan in New York City. The Scandinavian countries were asked to donate and design a room each, and Norway decorated the room where the UN Security Council holds their meetings.
Architect Arnstein Arneberg designed the room; artist Per Krogh made the painting for the room, whereas Else Poulsson designed the wallpaper. The room was completed in 1952, and was given to the UN as a gift from Norway.
More than 60 years later the room has undergone a significant renovation process. Although the room has been updated with the latest technology, the original Norwegian design has been kept, Width explains.
The design is modernistic, and symbolic. The patterned, yellow and blue wallpaper, for example, symbolizes faith, hope and love in the shape of an anchor, wheat that grows, and hearts.
"It was important to us to maintain this message because it is still relevant. In principle, the room looks the exact same now as it did when it was completed in 1952, Width says.
(Aftenposten/NTB) (Picture Wikimedia)
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