Wilhelmsen House: Our History

From origins to apartment hotel in Tønsberg

Historical review

Wilhelmsen House traces its roots back to the 1920s, when it was established as a residence for nursing students in Tønsberg. In 1920, shipowner Halfdan Wilhelmsen and his wife, Ragnhild, established an endowment to fund such a residence. Completed in 1926 in the Neoclassical style, the building was a gift from the Wilhelmsen couple to the town’s nursing students and hospital. Locally, it was often known as “Elevhjemmet” (the Student Residence) or “Søsterhjemmet” (the Nurses’ Residence), as it housed student nurses - often referred to as “nursing sisters”-associated with Tønsberg Municipal Hospital. The residence played an important role in supporting the expansion and operation of the hospital in Vestfold by providing accommodation for nursing students and staff. Generations of nurses lived and trained here, creating a lasting connection between the building
and the town’s healthcare history.

After many decades of continuous use, the building faced the threat of demolition in the early 2010s. The hospital was planning an expansion that required more space, and for a long time, the plan was to demolish the old nursing students’ residence to make way for parking and new hospital buildings. This sparked strong opposition from local residents and heritage advocates. The Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage, the National Trust of Norway, the Gamle Tønsberg Foundation and the medical history society at Vestfold Hospital all spoke out against demolition. A local grassroots movement emerged under the slogan “Let the Student Residence Live!” Their efforts paid off - in 2013, politicians reversed the demolition decision, and Tønsberg investor Hans Petter Bjarøy bought the building to preserve and redevelop it
further. Bjarøy wanted to retain the Wilhelmsen name as a tribute to the family who had donated the building, renaming it Wilhelmsen House. Following extensive renovations led by Bjarøy Eiendom together with KB Arkitekter, the building reopened in 2015 as a modern apartment hotel with 49 rooms. The former nurses’ residence was thus given a new lease of life as a commercial accommodation venue, while continuing its legacy as a place where people can find a home away from home.

The student dormitory

Wilhelmsen House was originally used as a residence for nursing students. In the 1920s and for several decades thereafter, Tønsberg was a centre for nursing education, attracting students from across the country. The residence provided students with a safe place to live during their studies, often under the strict rules and routines that characterised nursing education at the time.

It is easy to imagine the hallways filled with conversations about morning care, medication and practical experiences at the hospital. Today, the building has been modernised, yet you can still sense an atmosphere of discipline and curiosity. In some parts of the building, original staircases and railings remain, recalling a time when students hurried up and down on their way to classes.

Hovedinngang til Wilhelmsen House med trapper

The Wilhelmsen family's contribution

The name “Wilhelmsen House” is no coincidence. The Wilhelmsen family, known from the shipping industry, has long roots in the Tønsberg area. Their involvement extended not only to shipping, but also to the local community. With a willingness to invest in the city’s development, the family helped to realize several social projects, and the student dormitory that is now Wilhelmsen House was one of them.

In addition to being a driving force for maritime education, the family has played a central role in preserving the city's cultural heritage. Tønsberg is Norway's oldest city, and in order to retain its unique charm, many enthusiasts have fought to preserve buildings from different eras. The Wilhelmsen family's legacy and efforts are reflected in the will to preserve historical values, and not least in the name that adorns the house to this day.

Cultural significance

Culturally, Wilhelmsen House represents an important link between Tønsberg’s shipping history and the city’s social history. Halfdan Wilhelmsen was a central figure in the city’s maritime industry, and the family fortune contributed to socially beneficial purposes such as this student hostel. The donation gave Tønsberg a lasting building that combines the city’s rich history as Norway’s oldest city with the emergence of modern healthcare in the 20th century. The house also has emotional value for many: Former nursing students – now in their old age – still come back to stay overnight in what was once “their” student hostel. According to today’s driver, it is not uncommon for old nurses to visit in groups and often ask to stay in their old rooms, which illustrates the building’s sentimental place in the city’s collective memory. Wilhelmsen House stands out as a symbolic landmark in Tønsberg, where architecture, history and cultural heritage meet in the walls.

Fasade wilhelmsen house I svart hvit sett forfra

Hovedinngang til Wilhelmsen House hotell i tønsberg

Architectural

Architecturally, Wilhelmsen House is a gem from the 1920s. The building was designed by the renowned architect Otto Legaard Scheen and built in a restrained Neoclassical style. Constructed in rendered masonry, it features a particularly distinctive entrance framed in larvikite, a shimmering stone that makes the entrance a small monument to Norway’s stone industry. The exterior has a cohesive, elegant appearance that has largely been preserved for almost a century. Bjarøy Eiendom and KB Arkitekter placed great emphasis on retaining this character during the 2015 conversion. As a result, the building’s exterior remains almost unchanged since 1926, making it a rare reflection of its era in Tønsberg’s townscape. When the building was saved, the National Trust of Norway described it as “a monumental building in Norwegian history and an important heritage landmark in Tønsberg”. The fact that the building was preserved “against overwhelming odds” and later awarded the National Trust of Norway’s Conservation Award 2015 is a testament to the great cultural significance attached to the building.