The Winter Home in the Mountains and the Summer Home by the Sea

[Larzen]

A photoseries fo Haakon and Mette-Marit hand in hand in the spanish statevisit
http://www.side2.no/kjendis/article656206.ece

Today Haakon and Mette-Marit together with people from Krisitansand administartion was at the planned summerhouse location, they did not want to talk to Fedrelandsvennen who caught them there, Fedrelandsvennen says they will publish tomorrow exclusive pictures of Haakon, Mette-Marit and Sverre Magnus in the paper edition tomorrow
http://www.fvn.no/na24/article371057.ece
here is one of Haakon
www.fvn.no

[Larzen]

Here are the rest of the pictures, from fedrelandsvennen
The woman with the pink top and curly hair is their choef of staff, Gry Mølleskog. FVN writes it a secret trip but at the palace Astrid Versto says to VG it is not a secret trip, but they dont send a press release everytime the couple is going somewhere
http://www.fvn.no/na24/article371280.ece

[norwegianne]

Press release from http://www.kongehuset.no:

24.10.2006

Flekkerøya

Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess wish to express their thanks to Kristiansand municipality for the initiative they took in regards to the Crown Princely Couple taking over NRK's former property on Flekkerøya in Kristiansand. However, the Crown Princely couple have decided to decline the offer.

The decision is made after a total evaluation, where the complexity of the project have been taken into account. This is due to the protected area that would've been affected, concern for landowners in the area and necessary safety precautions.

TRH the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess will continue to look for a summer home in Southern Norway.


Translated by me.

[zarat]

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/lo...cle1507282.ece

The same topic but from aftenposten

[Lakshmi]

After Haakon and MM changed their mind about the summer house all the controversy will be put to the rest. On the other hand it great that royal couple was not treated differently than regular citizens. I think Haakon and MM decided to change their plans and to looke a summer house somewhere else mostly because all the media negative coverage and it was wise decision from their side.

[sm1939]

Originally Posted by Lakshmi

After Haakon and MM changed their mind about the summer house all the controversy will be put to the rest. On the other hand it great that royal couple was not treated differently than regular citizens. I think Haakon and MM decided to change their plans and to looke a summer house somewhere else mostly because all the media negative coverage and it was wise decision from their side.

I total agree with you to much like hard work !! very wise decision !!

[rominet09]

Right decision to make, they are right

[dazzling]

Royals drop controversial summer home plans

Norway's so-called "crown couple" have dropped their efforts to build a large summer home on an island off the coast near Crown Princess Mette-Marit's hometown. The project had sparked criticism that it would give new meaning to the term "royal privilege." full article & source

[norwegianne]

Haakon and Mette-Marit's quest for a holiday place was successful earlier this summer - when they acquired two plots of land in Numedal in Buskerud county. One of the plots is designated for the security detail, and one is for their own use. They can build a cabin up to 150 square metres in size (approx. 1,614 square feet) on each of the plots.

It's being alledged that they got them for less than market-price - but considering that the news of the royals finding a place to build, set a surge in the numbers of interested buyers in the same area, so much that they had to stop the sales for a while because of too many enquiries, I'm sure it was worth it to the cooperation selling, as well as the municipality, in sheer promotional value, if it was the case.

I suppose they figured it was easier to build from scratch rather than try to adapt a place that was already standing to their needs.

[HRH Kerry]

Originally Posted by norwegianne

...One of the plots is designated for the security detail, and one is for their own use. They can build a cabin up to 150 square metres in size (approx. 1,614 square feet) on each of the plots...

1614 sq ft isn't very big. If they are going for cozy then that is exactly what they will get.

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by HRH Kerry

1614 sq ft isn't very big. If they are going for cozy then that is exactly what they will get.

For a cabin - it's fairly big, imo, but it is rapidly becoming the standard size these days. People don't want the days of living without electricity and tapwater and living in less than 300 sq ft cabins when they're in the mountains anymore.

[Marengo]

Where is Numedal btw? Far away from where the couple is living right now?

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by Marengo

Where is Numedal btw? Far away from where the couple is living right now?

Aftenposten has a google map over it: http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/ko...=kart&token=-1
(With the bubble showing where the homes will be built, approx.)

They're living in Asker, now.

[norwegianne]

They started the work on the cabin yesterday, (picture from then in this article: Kjøpte hyttetomtene for 3,5 millioner)

and VG reports that it began to take shape today. It will be built in massive wood, without the use of nails, glue or other environmentally dangerous chemicals used to treat wood.

Kronprinshytte i ekspressfart

The other article above states that they paid 3.5 milions for the plots - considerably less than anyone else would have had to pay, but given the rush from other people to get holiday homes close to royalty, I would say that the marketing value would probably pay for the difference

[Marengo]

just wondering who sold the plot? If it wasn´t sold by the state why would people care if it was sold below market price?