Gilles & Cecilie

Explained in a simple way, the process of creating murals

Økern Portal is an office building between Økern and Løren in Oslo. Shaped like a horseshoe with a partially sunken pavilion in the middle that connects the different sections. The pavilion is the heart of the building, gathering people for lunch and meetings. This space is open to the public with a cafe, eateries and entrance to the building's award-winning roof garden.

We in Gilles and Cecilie were commissioned to make the common areas more colourful. To make the pavilion special and unique. We are endlessly inspired by our surroundings, architecture and nature, and try to unite this when we create art. In this project we have visited the building several times to observe and discover the beautiful reflections that shine into the building through windows and play on the playful recycled aluminum facades. We are equally inspired by metaphysical spaces and the space between fantasy and reality. Fortunately, the name of the building, Økern Portal, allowed us to explore the meaning of portals and spaces.

This led us to compose our murals as collages. We have observed the building from various angles, up close and from a distance. We have visualised the light's reflections and organic natural forms found in the portal's many garden areas.

Several large formats have been painted that lead the public into the pavilion and towards the roof garden. Murals that welcome the public with colour. We invite them to see Økern Portal from a different perspective.

In addition to the murals, there are five areas of painted typography as part of the signage, which makes it easier to see where the roof garden is and where the pavilion is.

All the murals were painted by Gilles and Cecilie on site. Throughout the summer months, the painting process is like a live performance, it is open to all to see the walls transformed from a blank canvas to a living work of art. In this way, we are lucky to be able to have conversations with the audience during the process, and they can see complexity from drawing, masking, planning and painting.

Our goal is to bring people together and create spaces that inspire by transforming ordinary walls into colourful destinations.

The audience and why colours are important at work

The audience and why colours are important at work

"Colours are like vitamins for the brain", says Kari Ryberg, Swedish architect and psychologist. She has studied colour for more than 30 years and claims that we need colour to stay alive. Especially during the dark Scandinavian winters. An environment with only black and white increases depression.

In 2015, the University of Texas conducted a study on colour in which three groups worked in rooms with different colours: white, red and aquamarine. Everyone did less work in the white room. Their productivity decreased. These are just two examples of why we need colour in everyday life for general well-being.

Økern Portal with Radisson Red Økern, has a total area of 82,245.2 square meters. More than 3 thousand people work here. The building is for both business and the local environment. The long-term goal is to make the Pavilion an attractive place to be. Looking forward to sitting there during lunch, but also for meetings or working outside the office or from home. Open to tenants and the public. Central, but local.

Økern and Løren have 11,000 inhabitants, the average age is around 30-35 years.

A local place to take a break.

The visual expression

Murals can help create a better working environment. Together with the surroundings and the furniture, the mural invites you to a good place to sit, to have conversations, generate ideas, rest, be inspired, reflect.

Inspiring environments and sophisticated colour palettes are part of an overall experience with friendly service, great rooftop views and local gardening to stimulate all our senses.

The art invites the public to see our surroundings in a new light, to play with architecture, colours, light and reflections. We tell stories with hand-painted collages. By painting entire surfaces, we add depth and a new perspective to the room. Murals to rest the eyes, arouse curiosity or be part of showing the way.

About Gilles & Cecilie

A brief summary of Gilles & Cecilie Studio.

Established in London in 2006.

They met during a fire alarm at Central Saint Martins School of Art.

Gilles and Cecilie tell the story with pictures. They have more than 20 years of experience, knowledge and ability to make rooms colourful. They paint murals and mix illustration, architecture and art in their pictures. They explore poetry in everyday life. Through their prism and striving to see the ordinary from a different angle. Central to their art is wall painting. To tell stories about life and dreams in collage-like compositions. Their visual style is defined by making everyday life more colourful.

Life can be trivial, difficult, boring, routine and chaotic. Art is their way of living, their lifestyle and the pursuit of creating good moments for each other and their surroundings. Painting murals is their contribution to making more art available in public spaces for general well-being and a positive colour experience for people.

About Økern Portal

Owner: OPF

Operation: Malling & Co

Architects: ARK, Lark, iARK

Plant walls: Bio office

Roof garden: Unbuilt

Service: 4service

Interior: Mezzanine, AER