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Function
As part of their redevelopment of their original campus on the Gulf Freeway, Schlumberger wanted to decorate their leasing office with memorabilia and photographs that highlighted each of twenty-one buildings in the complex. MKG culled through 60 years of amassed archives and selected material that highlighted Schlumberger’s history within Houston as well as within the oil production business.
Aesthetics
The history of the original Schlumberger campus, which was built in the 1940’s, influenced the overall aesthetic of the artwork. For example, once each building was photographed in black and white, MKG commissioned an artist to hand paint each photograph, providing a mid-century aesthetic for the conference room, and enlivening the architectural photographs.
Site Specificity
The photographs of campus buildings were hung “salon style” in the main conference room for the leasing office, providing a point of reference as the agents discussed different aspects of each building to potential tenants. The rest of the offices are decorated with reformatted images from the Schlumberger archives, including cartoons from the 1950’s depicting company events, original photography, and trophies. All of this material gives a fresh look to historical material which highlights Schlumberger’s important place in Houston history.
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