© 2010 Ralston & Bau / Storehagen Atrium.

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Storehagen Atrium, a 5000 m2 large governmental building, open it’s doors to the public in Førde, Norway. Constructed by Futurum, the building hosts the national Lotteri/Stiftelsestilsynet and the regional Cultural Department among other public institutions. After a competition by invitation, Ralston & Bau was chosen to design the signage of the building. The selected signage design is using the simplicity and clarity of the underground signage systems. The idea was inspired by the fact that Storehagen Atrium will be an important hub in Førde, a city with the desire to become a metropolis.

Characteristic subway lines are used all through the signage system with strong colors and graphical shapes dedicated to each floor and institution. Designed following the principles of Universal design they should make it easy for any user, like persons with visual impairment, to find their way.

The mission included designing the exterior and interior signs, from directions in the public areas to the name labeling on each office door. Each of the 200 doors in the building has an unique design pattern.

Ove Mjåtveit, projectleader of the projects says:

“Husstyret for leigetakarane i bygget ønskte forseggjorte og spesielle skilt, som signaliserte nytenking og blikk for framtida – samtidig som det også skulle uttrykke det trygge og stødige som våre statlege etatar representerer.  Vi likte Ralston & Bau sitt forslag svært godt, og valde difor dei til å gjere jobben. Prosessen med å samordne all skilting har vore meir utfodrende enn nokre av oss i husstyret hadde sett føre seg – men Ralston & Bau har heile tida vore positive og serviceinnstilt, og har ikkje minst hjelpt oss til å drive det heile framover. Arbeidet er straks gjennomført, og eg er både stolt og glad over resultatet!”

“The Tenants Council wished for bespoke signage that embodied forward thinking – as well as expressing the safe and secure values that our institutions represents. We liked Ralston & Bau’s proposition very much and choose therefore them for the assignement. The process to coordinate all signage has been more challenging then expected – but Ralston & Bau have all the time been positive and service minded and not least helped us to drive the project forward. The work is now almost done and I’m both proud and happy of the result!”

Name: Storehagen Atrium
Mission: Signage Design
Client: Sogn og Fjordane Fylkeskommune/Lotteri og Stiftelsestilsynet/Bufetat
/Konfliktrådet/Patient- og brukarombodet
Period: 2010
Delivery: concept, signage design, production follow-up
Production: Fluolux

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NSB and the PLT Innovation Lab’ chose Ralston & Bau to create the scenography and identity for the NSB Leader conference in May 2010. NSB is the public Norwegian train transport company.
200 participants attended to the leader conference and worked around service, customer relations and processes during two days. Ralston & Bau created the scenography design for the space, including the physical materialization of the workstations and graphical profiling for the conference.
The whole mission took one month to execute, from ordering to the opening of the event.

The project leader Bente Kristin Malo, says:

“Det har vært spennende for meg å lære av dere og se hvordan vi kan gjøre ting slik at budskap forsterkes gjennom å skape spennende omgivelser. Og ikke aller minst oppleve et unikt kvalitetsnivå på leveranser! Jeg håper vi får muligheten til å samarbeide med dere igjen.”

“It has been exciting for me to learn from you; see how we can do things in a way that strengthens messages through captivating environments and last, but not least, experience a unique level of quality when it comes to the delivery! I hope I’ll get the opportunity to work with you again.”

www.nsb.no

Name: NSB Leader Conference
Mission: Scenography Design
Client: NSB/PLT Innovation Lab
Period: 2010
Delivery: concept, space design, graphic design

© 2010 Ralston & Bau / Room impression with the team.

© 2010 Ralston & Bau / Paper workstations.

© 2010 Ralston & Bau / View into a workstation.

© 2010 Ralston & Bau / “Kundesporet” entrance area.

© 2010 Ralston & Bau / 200 participating NSB leaders.

© 2010 Ralston & Bau / Topview on workstations.

© 2010 Ralston & Bau / Member of the service team.

© 2010 Ralston & Bau / Workstations with LED lighting.

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Ralston & Bau are in the beginning of a new project: to design a 500 m2 hotel on the west coast of Norway. Our challenge and mission is to create a special place close to the values of our client; authentic living, foods and sustainability. The original building, a barrels factory is being replaced by a same size new structure using beautiful existing wood beams and a full glass front catching the sun for energy in it’s solar modules.

The design studio is commissioned for concept development, architecture and interior design.

In this beginning of the year Ralston & Bau has been asked to apply profiling designs on a series of small communication tools, such as cups, t-shirts and banners for the fair stand of Driftig.no Sogn og Fjordane’s Internet platform for education and businesses. The profiling of a company is only as strong as the coherent application that is made of it. Therefore we like to make the most of these communication tools. We consider them an opportunity to enrichen the initial design. Driftig.no will be present at carrier fairs all over Norway during 2010. The first date is in Oslo the 1st of February, (where you can also find Transplant represented), then in Trondheim the 11/02 and in Bergen the 16/02.

Name: Driftig
Mission: Merchandising Products
Client: NHO, Innovation Norway and the County of Sogn and Fjordane
Period: 2009
Delivery: concept, graphic design

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Sandra Dill was one of Birgitta Ralston’s first clients in the beginning of the 90′s when they worked on the design for an international organisation. When Sandra needed design for AccessA, which she presides, she googled and found Birgitta! This was the beginning of a change of look from the outdated identity. Logo and the communication documents and website has been redesigned since. A newly designed website will soon be online as well.

We were inspired by the icons and colours of the aborigines for the head illustration used on the communication tools. Colours as orange, for the local earth, fresh blue and green are combined through the profile. We intended to make the information flow as easy as possible, resulting in two main sections: everything what describes the journey the member is facing are marked with blue; and the help AccessA provides uses a green background.

AccessA also confided in us the mission to design the AccessA newsletter on a yearly basis. with the creation of a new illustration for each issue.

www.access.org.au

Name: Access
Mission: Patients Network profiling
Client: Sandra K. Dill
Period: 2009
Delivery: concept, profil reneweal, communication tools, web design


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The first part of the selection process involves choosing one of three Willy ocean themes (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian) that are representative of the colours and materials, after this you must select one of the fitting port themes (Los Angeles & Panama, Bergen & Havanna, Singapore & Mumbai) for the rest of the interior (besides the furniture). To complete the Willy look you choose then a general warm or cold theme for the less flexible parts of the ship that can only be slightly altered due to technical specifications such as the bridge and day rooms.  A simple graphic description guides you through these three Willy selection steps.

If you want to see more of the Willy furniture click here, to see the Willy identity click here.

www.vestnesocean.com

Name: Willy
Mission: Maritime Furniture & Interior Collection
Client: Vestnes Innredning
Period: 2005-2008
Delivery: concept development, interior design, furniture design and development, strategy , brand identity, web design, illustration
See also: Willy – Identity & Fairstand

To see the whole interior of the restaurant click here, for the Sous les Cerisiers identity click here.

www.souslescerisiers.com

Name: Sous les Cerisiers
Mission: Japanese-french Restaurant
Client: Sakura Franck
Period: 2008-2009

Delivery: concept, interior design and development, material selection, furniture design, identity.

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Both cultures have influenced the interior concept. A deep theatrical influence on the surroundings, typical in Japan and France, can be seen through the layers of scenography, costumes and shadows cast throughout the interior. A contrast of dark and light divides the room into two parts: the bright space with the bar as a center point is used for cooking courses during daytime, and the dark part, following a perspective angle, where the guests are placed to enjoy a gastronomic menu at night. Moveable and translucent walls separate the seating areas for privacy.

The official launch of the restaurant took place the 22 of September 2009.
To see details of the restaurant furniture click here, for the Sous les Cerisiers identity click here.

www.souslescerisiers.com

Name: Sous les Cerisiers, 10, rue Stanislas, Paris 6e
Mission: Japanese-french Restaurant
Client: Sakura Franck
Period: 2008-2009

Delivery: concept, interior design and development, material selection, furniture design, identity.

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© designed by Ralston & Bau / all right reserved

The concept is inspired by the works of the artist M. C. Escher, who used stairs as a major subject in his art. When you enter the showroom you arrive at the entrance of the Stair Garden – before your eyes different stairs are leading up to a second floor. Individually styled rooms give each stair a fitting surrounding, for example a Japanese inspired interior with a dark laqued stair and a happy family’s home entrance, where the stair becomes a playground.

Meeting spaces are included among the stairs. The whole Stair garden is an invitation to discover the product in an exquisite and human environment.

Name: Studio Hagen, Drammensveien 130, Oslo
Mission: 1000 m2 flagship showroom
Client: Hagen AS (Stryntrappa and Escalia)
Period: 2008-2009
Delivery: concept, interior architecture and design, facade design

© 2009 Ralston & Bau. Figgjo Exhibition in Måltidets Hus in Stavanger.

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Måltidets Hus is the new 9000 m2 national and international resource centre for food development, host of the Gastronomic Institute and Norwegian chef team. Ralston & Bau was commissioned by Figgjo to make an permanent installation in the reception hall. A central wall that runs three flights high was transformed into a generous, vertical feast table. Combined iconic Figgjo dishes form organic shaped plates and bowls of the table, the wall was covered with a innovative laminated wood material simulating a linen table cloth. The wood was engraved with the shapes of ghost silver ware and glasses, while a classic chair backrest on the wall top completes the illusion of the vertical table. The installation was opened to the public on the 16th of September. If you are in Stavanger, just pass by to take your bite of the vertical meal.
The installation is published amongst others on David Report, NotCot and Designspotter.

Anders Thingbø, CEO Figgjo thinks: This project has had found it’s own path since it s truly innovative! The reception of the finished result was allround positive…and the final design a surprise to many.
Constance Gaard Kristiansen, product manager Figgjo: I like the vertical table more and more!

Name: Permanent installation in Måltidets Hus
Mission: Installation wall
Client: Figgjo AS, Stavanger
Period: 2008-2009
Delivery: concept, design, material selection, technical production drawings.