TREKANTEN

LIGHT DESIGN

Trekanten is a brutalist building in Oslo from 1969, by the architect Erling Viksjø. Given the unusual plot, he designed the building as a perfect triangle, continuing the theme throughout the building – hence its name. The facade is sandblasted concrete; a technique he developed and patented. The building was completely renovated in 2022 by Mad Arkitekter and Radius Design, and contains offices, a canteen, a multi-purpose venue and a café.

In 2025 I was asked to help make the café more visible and inviting, to which I suggested a decorative lighting plan.

Inspired by Chinese paper lanterns, I proposed an original lamp design in dark red plexiglass to add more warmth to the grey of the concrete surfaces. In collaboration with Affix we came up with round, rectangular and triangular designs - of which the latter was chosen. Affix drew the final design, and produced and installed the 27 lamps according to plan.

The lamps are hung inside and outside along the glassed front, in varying heights, all the way up to the treetops - to lessen the contrast between the inside and outside, and to make Trekanten visible from afar.

All photos by Anne Valeur.