The Window

Culture & Context

The title of the public art is ‘Ullerud garden: something to talk about’. Healthcare buildings for elderly people. These are architectural ceramics and art in public space as an interdisciplinary collaborative project in the city of Drøbak, made in collaboration with landscape architect Mona Kramer Wendelborg. The garden should be a place where you have something to talk about. For many, Ullerud garden will be the last place they rest their eyes – the last place they hear the sound of birds, to see the snow fall or the trees sprout. It has been important to make arrangements for both patients, relatives and staff to be able to use this new place – all in their own way. We made sure that there are many opportunities to find exactly the place that suits this particular day. For relatives and employees who are, for example, involved in palliative care, it should be easy to find ‘something to talk about’.

By looking out of the window, one should be able to be inspired by the changing seasons, activities taking place in the square, people coming and going and visits of lively birds in the trees. If the health is so good that you move around the garden, you will find many different places to stay. The fragrant, and quiet area by the “Stone”, the fresh meeting place by the “Window” – and the cafe with all its activity. Bicycle parking is deliberately placed in the middle of everything that happens at the cafe – this can lead to a small unplanned conversation, a little moment, a possible meeting between two strangers – or new acquaintances.

Artistic concept: The seasons. The thoughts. The time. The integrated art should inspire conversations and reflections. In this context, there are three main works by Arild Berg. The artistic design consists of approx. 30 areas for tiles, 140 tiles and approx. 50 large and small ceramic forms. There are three main works; The stone (h:0.5m w:1.5m d:3m), The window (h:2.5m w:5m d:0.25m) and The thougts (h:2m w:4m d:0.25m), as well two stair areas and 7 places with forms associated with benches to create conversations and the opportunity to touch. Atmospheric lighting of the integrated art bring life to the garden even in the dark winter months, and the art will then also be experienced from the balconies in the building. The art is to be an exciting and distinctive feature in the hospital area, which helps to give Ullerud Helsebygg its new identity. The aim has been to create a fusion of art, garden and social life. The art can be experienced as a unit through related motifs taken from the four seasons.

Process & Production

Leca blocks were built and covered with cement. Areas for tiles were planned, and the porcelain tiles were composed into the building structures.

Recipe Details

Porcelain tiles: 1220 degrees.