One of Norway’s most innovative architecture firms is behind a new project that is testing the limits of timber design and digital fabrication. Oslotre, the Oslo‑based studio known for its use of robotics and advanced timber engineering, has been commissioned to build a series of six‑metre‑tall wooden teeth as part of a new attraction at Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park, one of Norway’s biggest and most well-known tourist attractions. The installation forms the centrepiece of a walk‑through experience that places visitors inside the mouth of “Jens,” the boy from Thorbjørn Egner’s classic tale.
Wood Central understands the studio is using advanced 3D modelling and high‑precision robotic milling to turn locally sourced Norwegian logs into enormous free‑form structures that will anchor the park’s largest investment in its history. The teeth are not part of a ride. Instead, they act as the architectural and visual backbone of the entire experience, guiding visitors through the narrative as if they have been shrunk down and dropped into Egner’s universe.
For Oslotre, the project is a chance to test the outer edge of what timber and robotics can achieve. “This project really pushes the limits of what we can do with wood and digital fabrication,” said Creative Director Jørgen Tycho. “We are working with local timber, advanced modelling and some of the most precise robots in the country. It is a rare opportunity to merge biology, storytelling and technology.”
Dyreparken’s project manager, Roy Bjerke, said the teeth are not simply decorative props but the structural and visual backbone of the entire experience. “The teeth are the scenography itself. They carry the whole attraction. Having partners who understand the material at this level is invaluable.”
Much of the fabrication is happening in Southern Norway, where Aanesland Treindustri and Sørlaminering are shaping the massive laminated elements using newly installed robotic milling systems. And for Aanesland, the project is an opportunity to showcase the region’s timber‑industry capabilities.
“We are proud to contribute to something so deeply rooted in Norwegian heritage,” said Gunnar Adolf Aanesland. “With the new robotics setup, we can shape almost anything, and the fact that the wood comes from Norwegian forests gives it an extra layer of meaning.”
Wood Central understands installation of the giant teeth is scheduled for later this year during the Norwegian summer, with OsloPre, Oslotre’s sister company, handling the complex assembly. The 1,500‑square‑metre attraction is set to open in spring 2027 in time for the park’s peak season.
