Funky Glamour at Sommerro

Published 9/5/2023

by
Bendik Kaltenborn
for
Bielke&Yang
Sommero

Sommerro, Oslo’s stunning new art deco hotel, opened in fall 2022, after a total renovation that transformed the former electrical company into a versatile destination for tourists and locals alike.

ByHands is very proud to have been part of this project, through the work of illustrator Bendik Kaltenborn, who since 2019 has worked closely with renowned graphic design agency Bielke&Yang on the hotel’s visual identity. Bendik’s illustrations for Sommerro have been described as mixing “old world glamour with modern quirky funk” - perfectly complementing the work of architects LPO Arkitekter and interior designers GrecoDeco in transforming the house to suit a modern lifestyle, while remaining true to the stylistic heritage of the original building.

Drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, including the original Per Krogh frescos in one of the common areas, Bendik’s colourful and whimsical yet elegant illustrations have become an integral part of the hotel’s image: they can be found on everything from coasters, umbrellas and Røros Tweed wool blankets, to the line of hair and body products in the hotel’s public pool and sauna. All the pieces in this project shine in their own right, whether as individual figures on a postcard or as one of many intricate details in the fabric called Oslo, where the city’s traditions and culture, urban life and closeness to nature, live side by side in a harmonious web of colours. Incorporating the duality of retro and modern in each artwork, Bendik has truly captured the essence of Sommero as a place where the opulence of earlier eras has been reimagined with modern sleekness.

The most ambitious of its kind in Norway, the project has gained praise for incorporating a clear graphic profile and branding into the development of the house from the very beginning. It has already received the DOGA Award for Design and Architecture, and won gold in the Visuelt Awards in the categories Large-scale identity design and Identity illustrations, May 2023.

We would like to thank both Sommerro and Bielke&Yang for this wonderful collaboration, and Bendik for his amazing work - a match made in heaven, if you ask us!

Photos by: Lars Petter Pettersen