born in brunlanes, vestfold, røsjorde was the son of josef a. røsjorde (1917–1993) and torborg haugene (1915–1953). when he was in his early teen years his father who was an architect got employment as buildings manager for oslo's forestry administration and the family moved to midtstuen in the prestigious holmenkollen part of the capital. his father has designed many of the popular public cabins in the oslo forests.