Fast-paced days and slow moments at home with Patrick Stangbye

Patrick Stangbye portrait — Patrick Stangbye is a creative strategist and director working with Italy-based Roa Hiking and his own project, Portal, where his love for the outdoors shines through in everything he does.

Patrick Stangbye lives life in motion, whether running ultramarathons along rugged trails or navigating the creative currents of his outdoor clothing brand, Portal. But when he steps through his front door, the pace softens and peace takes the lead.

Edit: Susa Pääkkönen | Photos: Johanne Nyborg

PATRICK STANGBYE FELL IN LOVE with long-distance running years back and has since then had a habit of pushing his body and testing his limits. What started with a 50K (about 31 miles) run in Oslo has since evolved to 100K runs in the mountains that stretch over a day, a night, and in some cases two.

“I've always been very curious, and for me, running is like going on an adventure,” Patric tells. “In a road marathon, for example, you're focused on the clock, aiming for a specific time, and that’s what determines if it’s a good race or not. But after the first time, you're not really worried about finishing, you know you can do it. With some of the runs I do, though, there is real uncertainty. You don’t always know if you'll reach the finish line today, tomorrow, or at all. And that’s part of the excitement.”

A bike stored inside — Patrick is always on the move, whether running through trails or cycling across the city.

Hiking and running shoes on a shelf — A perfect day for him starts in the forest. Just a short run from his front door in Oslo, the trails offer him both peace and pace.

Whether it’s the vastness of mountain trails, the rhythm of city streets, or the stillness of nature, each journey is an opportunity to learn something new or reconsider something old. Patrick works with creative direction and strategy for Italy-based Roa Hiking and on his own project, Portal, where his love for the outdoors and everyday movement is evident.

The time spent moving through changing landscapes has a strong influence on his work, where the colors and textures of nature often find their way into his creative output.

A book shelf — Research plays a big part in Patrick's work. The carefully selected books and magazines reflect both his curiosity and eye for detail.

“I have an analytical approach to everything I do. While I might not always be the most structured person, I approach everything I work on with a strong analytical mindset,” Patrick says.

“Research plays a big part in my work. I would like to pretend that I’m just a guy running around in the mountains, but even that process is deeply analytical. Same goes for choosing furniture; if something doesn’t fit right, which happens, I will evaluate and get a clear picture of why it didn’t work.”

Varier Ekstrem Lounge chair — Patrick approaches furniture and home decoration the same way he approaches everything else – analytically.

For Patrick, home is a place of calm. After the chaos of travel and fuzzy cities, he needs a space that brings him peace.

“I’m a very observant person. It doesn’t always need to be perfectly styled or super polished around me, but I find comfort in being surrounded by things I like and that are beautiful or interesting in some way. It doesn’t have to be completely zen, but I appreciate creating calm in my environment.”

Sitting across from someone who has ultra-marathons as a hobby makes you wonder what their relationship to comfort is. “I feel like we live pretty easy lives today. I have a lot of comfort in my daily life, good food, good coffee, and rituals I enjoy, but I also like the contrast,” Patrick says.

“I wouldn’t want to be comfortable all the time; that would be boring.”

“Comfort depends on how you define it. I don’t mind a little discomfort, like running in the rain, because as long as I’m moving, I don’t mind. I wouldn’t want to be comfortable all the time; that would be boring.”

For Patrick, Varier's Ekstrem lounge chair represents a connection to Norwegian design, something he started to value more after living abroad.

“I don’t own many Norwegian design pieces, but I wanted to understand what makes Norwegian design unique. Scandinavia has a lot of well-known design history, especially from Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Norway has its pieces, but I feel the pride isn’t as strong here. That’s why having something authentically Norwegian like the Ekstrem chair feels important to me. It has an organic feel, but blends well with more rational pieces that I have. I love how they play off each other,” he says.

“And it’s comfortable, though at first glance you might think otherwise. It’s playful, and you can sit in different positions.”

For Patrick, furniture should create an experience. “I pick pieces based on how they make me feel, more than just functionality, but they still need to work. Good design should engage you emotionally, and Ekstrem does just that.”