Passasjene

Passasjene is a term used in Norwegian and Danish to describe enclosed or semi-enclosed pedestrian passages, often located in city centers. The word is used both as a generic description and as a proper name for specific arcade structures. Passasjene typically function as sheltered routes that connect streets, allowing foot traffic to move indoors or under cover while shops, cafés, or small services line their length.

Architecturally, passasjer often feature glass roofs or skylights and a mix of brick, plaster, metalwork, and decorative detailing. They emerged as part of urban modernization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, integrating retail activity with pedestrian movement and providing climate-controlled walkways in busy commercial districts. Many passasjer have been preserved as cultural heritage or renovated for contemporary use, retaining historical elements while serving modern needs.

In practice, passasjene contribute to city life by offering sheltered shopping corridors and social spaces that can function as both retail arteries and communal places. In Norwegian contexts, the term is used for several historic and modern passages, and the plural form passasjene is commonly employed when referring to multiple such structures in a given area.

See also: shopping arcade, pedestrian passage, urban arcade.