Z magazine 02 2013

Z LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE CARLSON REZIDOR HOTEL GROUP | 2013 N 002

Iceland

FROM REYKJAVÍK TO NÁMAFJALL

DRESSED BY SCANDINAVIA

KING IS BACK

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN KING

The triumph of Nordic

SIMPLICITY RADISSON BLU ROYAL HOTEL COPENHAGEN

102 REASONS

to

love

SCANDINAVIA

z l i f e s t y lAND e m a GASTRONOMY gazine | 1 AN ISSUE DEDICATED TO THE NORDICS, GUIDING YOU THROUGH NORDIC DESIGN, FASHION, TRAVEL, CULTURE

zlifestylemagazine.com

j e w e l l e r y d e s i g n c h a r lot t e ly n g g a a r d • w w w. o l e ly n g g a a r d . d k

denmark aarhus • guldsmed boye, søndergade 36a, tel. +45 86136444 c openhagen • ole lyngga ard copenhagen fl agship store, ny østergade 4, tel. +45 33330345 • ole lyngga ard copenhagen fl agship store, copenhagen airport, terminal 2-3 , tel. +45 3231484 silkeborg • guldsmed boye, vestergade 6, tel. +45 86811322 finl and hesinki • oy alexander till ander ab, aleksanterinkatu 17, tel. +358 90207000620 norway bergen • theodor olsens eftf., torgalmenningen 15, tel.+4755551480 kristiansand • mestergull t. berglihn as, sørl andssenteret, tel. +47 38049130 oslo • h.a. neerbye henrik, ibsensgate 60 , tel. +47 22545430 trondheim • juvelér dahlsveen ol av, tryggvasensgate 24, tel. +47 73525806 sweden göteborg • jarl sandin kungsgatan 67, tel. +46 31105900 stoc kholm • ole lyngga ard copenhagen fl agship, store hamngatan 11, tel. +46 86641155

G a N T. Co M

se abrook Some models are destined to be legends in their own lifetimes and Seabrook’s robust elegance makes it virtually immortal. The classic sport watch for land and sea. Built in solid stainless steel.

Quartz movement of ultimate quality with extended lifespan and durable precision. Date display and lab-tested scratch-resistant mineral glass. Genuine professional diving bezel for safe timekeeping while deep sea diving.

Long live the originals Some ideas have more staying power than others. Transcending generations, defining their time. Without being slaves to fleeting fads and trends. Made of that particular something that creates a classic. In 1968, Arne Munch was able to put such an idea down on a piece of drafting paper when he designed the first uno form kitchen A visionary idea of a cube. A form. About new and more flexibility. About uncompromising quality. About a simplistic and simple line which by staying on top for more than 40 years epitomises beautiful and sustainable design. The original.

www.unoform.com

contents

Join us behind the scenes for a sneak peak at an audition at the Radisson Blu Royal Park Hotel in Stockholm.

48 129

56

82

cOnTenTs Aword from Rezidor 16 A farewell to a top hotelier.

editor's Letter 20

The Nordic countries are undoubtedly on a roll.

News 23

Travel, design, food, wine, fashion, watches, jewellery, motor, beauty, grooming and technology.

Travel 48

Iceland – a hot island.

102 reasons 56

102 reasons to love Scandinavia.

Fashion 82

Desperately seeking an actress.

Business class 95

Free upgrades – we have found out how it really works.

Where to Eat 99

Discover the Nordic cuisine at Alberto K. 14 | z lifestyle magazine

Interview–Beyoncé 100

Icon 122

Intrigued by Beyoncé’s newfound love for the Nordics, we met up with her for an interview.

Arne Jacobsen personified the Nordic design wave.

Watches 105

The Triumph of simplicity 126

The world's largest watch fair was about both horology and architechture.

Up and coming 109

Greta Garbo, Yogurt Heaven, Running Club, Uppsala Anniversary, Wazaca.

Airlines 111

This time we take a closer look at Icelandair and Turkish Airlines.

Interview–King 114

Stephen King gives his first Scandinavian interview in 20 years.

Interview 119

Olivier Harnisch, new COO at Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

Responsible Business 120 Saving energy can be fun!

Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Copenhagen.

Motor 129

A summer classic – the “new” Beetle Cabriolet.

Books 139

West, James Frey, Art Now!, The Great Gatsby.

Movies 140

Trance, After Earth, White House Down, The Lone Ranger.

Music 143

Last Lynx, Trentemøller, Big Fox, Kvelertak.

Games 143

Candy Crush Saga, The Last of Us, Ridiculous Fishing, Plants vs. Zombies 2.

Souvenir 146

Liquorice – a Scandinavian affair.

a word from carlson rezidor

farewell to one of

the top

hoteliers This issue is dedicated to everything that is great about the Nordics, so I thought it appropriate to write about Christian Gartmann – one of the Nordic’s top leaders and a colleague who deserves recognition for his contributions to the hospitality industry.

Christian Gartmann has been the Area Vice President for our Nordic hotels for the past 6 years, and has been in the hotel industry for over 40 years – a unique and great career that many of us can only dream of.

Christian has always been humble about his success and his career, but I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about this extraordinary person who has been leading our This is where his journey truly began. He worked in all company in the Nordics. One of departments to learn all there was about this exciting and his many quotes is “keep your feet ever changing business. He has held several positions firmly on the ground, but keep your throughout the years: Resident Manager, Marketing aspirations and mind high in the Manager, General Manager, District Manager, Regional air” – he always made sure we were Director and Area Vice President. His positions took him humble, creative and proud. to the Middle East, Africa, the UK, Ireland, France, Poland His career in the hospitality industry and then, of course, the wonderful Nordics. During all his started when he was 16 years of age travels his lovely wife Jette stood by his side, helping to and studied at an esteemed hotel raise their family and supporting his career. school in Lucerne.

The Nordic region is one of the Rezidor Hotel Group’s After meeting Jette, the Danish most important markets, and it was a natural choice to love of his life, he moved to Denmark appoint Christian as Area Vice President, as he speaks and made it his goal to work for the six languages fluently. Several hotels were opened best hotel in Copenhagen – the classic during his tenure in the Nordics, one of them being our Arne Jacobsen-designed Radisson wonderful flagship Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel & SAS (now known as the Radisson Blu Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre, located in the Royal). He approached the legendary centre of Stockholm on the water’s edge. It is recognized hotel director Alberto Kappenberger as one of the most modern and sustainable buildings in and asked for a job. He was told he all of the Nordics. could start in the bakery and was I and my colleagues have had the privilege to work advised that if he wanted to move alongside and be inspired by one of the last true up, he should learn Danish as quickly hoteliers, who has given us his wisdom, strength, time as possible. Determined as Christian and passion for the hotel industry. has always been, he learned Danish.

This issue is titled 102 reasons to love Scandinavia.

We would like to add one more – 103: Christian Gartmann – a man who has contributed 40 successful years to the hospitality industry.

Thank you Christian. You will be missed!

16 | z lifestyle magazine

Angelica Montez de Oca Director PR & Communication, Nordic, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. angelica.montez@carlsonrezidor.com

Christian Gartmann, retiring Area Vice President.

Z L i festyle M agaz in e Z Lifestyle Magazine is created exclusively for the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and published By Evoque Media

CEO/ Managing Editor Joséphine W Norgren josephine@evoquemedia.se

Editor-in-Chief/Responsible Editor Paulina Bylén paulina@evoquemedia.se

Art Director Patrik Sjölander

patrik@evoquemedia.se

Associate and Digital Editor Hannah Broman hannah@evoquemedia.se

Watch Editor Kristian Haagen Jewellery Editor Charlotte Møbjerg Ansel-Henry Motor Editor James Holm Film Editor Gunnar Rehlin Proofreader/ Associate Editor Max Doherty max@evoquemedia.se

General Manager of Sales Carl Hasselrot carl@evoquemedia.se

Sales Dg Media København: epost@dgmedia.dk Stockholm: mail@dgmediasales.se Oslo: epost@dgmedia.no Project Manager Diamante Axvret, Daxmedia diamante@daxmedia.nu

Advertising Co-Ordinators Evoque Media traffic@evoquemedia.se

CFO Daniel Allert-Norgren Printing House Forssa Print OY Contributors Writers: Kristian Haagen, Charlotte Møbjerg Ansel-Henry, James Holm, Camilla Julner, Helen “Mags” Magnuson, Jacob Molin, Florian Nicolle, Mira Oebius, Kawa H Pour, Gunnar Rehlin, Akira Weber, Claire Woods Cover photo: Tom Munro Photographers: Fredrick Francke, James Holm, Daniel Lundkvist, Pierre Wester Photo assistants: Frank Lohmann, Fredrik Jansson Stylists: Camilla Julner, Linn Kardeskog Fashion shoot Styling Kawa H Pour | Photographer Jonas Jensen Photo assistant: Frank Lohmann Stylist’s assistant: Suzanne Larsson Make-up: Martin Sundqvist Hair: Elin Eriksson Models: Josefine, Elite Models, Mads, Scoop.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group Angelica Montez de Oca Director PR & Communication, Nordic, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group angelica.montez@carlsonrezidor.com

Holbergsgt 30 N-0166 Oslo, Norway | Phone +47 94 88 18 61 www.radissonblu.com | www.parkinn.com | www.hotelmissoni.com | www.carlsonrezidor.com | www.regenthotels.com Published by Evoque Media Karlbergs Strand 19, s-171 73 Solna, Sweden Phone +46 8 56 20 45 90 | E-Mail contact@evoquemedia.se www.evoquemedia.se

Recyclable

Z Lifestyle Magazine is created exclusively for the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group in the Nordic countries: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and is available at all Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson hotels.

30 cities, 59 hotels, 14,164 rooms. Z Lifestyle Magazine will be published in six issues per year. Print circulation: 52,000 copies. Digital distribution: 350,000 Club Carlson members in the Nordic region. Z Lifestyle Magazine is also available online. Evoque Media cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other material. All editorial material in Z Lifestyle Magazine is stored digitally and may be republished, either in printed form or in various digital media. Z Lifestyle Magazine’s contributors give their consent to digital storage and republication. Any reservation against this should be made before publication. All correspondence with Z Lifestyle Magazine may be republished. Third parties may quote us, but please cite the source. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the contributors or people interviewed, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Evoque Media or the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without permission of Z Lifestyle Magazine. Any taxes in connection with competitions and lotteries are to be paid by the winner. All prices in the magazine are based on current exchanges rates at the time of publishing.

18 | z lifestyle magazine

EDITOR’S LETTER

Sweet Nordic

Photography: Fredrick Francke

lovers

The Nordic countries are undoubtedly on a roll. This once unknown, remote corner of the world has become one of its strongest regions. Earlier this year, British magazine The Economist wrote about “the new supermodel”, describing how the Nordic countries have successfully reinvented their fusion of socialism and capitalism. In addition, the travel industry praises us for our love of travelling, and our ability to pursue it.

However, it’s not just our comparatively strong economies that have caught the interest of the outside world. Nordic film workers are currently taking Hollywood by storm, and Nordic crime novels are becoming increasingly popular abroad, as are their television show adaptations. The contrast between the traditional view of the Nordics and the dark atmosphere depicted in the novels has aroused the outside world’s interest.

In fact, the love for the Nordics also extends to world-famous celebrities like Beyoncé. She is H&M’s summer model this year, and her music video-esque commercials for the summer campaign were directed

by Swedish sensation Jonas Åkerlund. Also, the outfits she wears for her on-going world tour were made

by Norwegian designer Peter Dundas. Intrigued by Beyoncé’s newfound love for the Nordics, we met up with her for an interview.

Z Lifestyle Magazine ultimately decided to dedicate the entire issue to the Nordic countries, covering both well-known and lesser known aspects of the region. We invited five Nordic experts to participate in a candid, straightforward discussion about the Nordic countries, paternity leave, gender equality and the delicacy that is rotten fish. This is our declaration of love to five sparsely populated countries up north.

Paulina Bylén, Editor-in-Chief

20 | z lifestyle magazine

NEW LE KLINT 145 XL

Design: Aurélien Barbry A beautiful bell-shaped lamp (hence the name) folded by the dexterous “pleating ladies”. With this design the French designer Aurélien Barbry adds a new classic design to LE KLINT´s lamp collection.

And this version in size XL is ideal for the large room, both in private houses, offices and public buildings.

The lamp shades of Le KLinT are hand folded in Denmark since 1943. each lamp shade has been in the supple hands of our talented folding girls, who deliver Danish quality in unique design. www.leklint.com

Danish Design anD crafTsmanship since 1943 passion

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DeDicaTion

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fascinaTion

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innovaTion

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TraDiTion

PH Snowball , PH 4/3 Design: Poul Henningsen • MoSer Design: Anu Moser To l d b o d 1 5 5 / 2 2 0 G l a S S , To l d b o d 1 2 0 D e s i g n : L o u i s P o u l s e n

w w w . l o u i s p o u l s e n . d k

by Hannah Broman

news travel

Travel Light

of åland cliffs

The seashell-inspired Samsonite Cosmolite is back, better than before and in two additional colours: emerald green and dark blue. The Cosmolite is lighter than ever – the new cabin luggage weighs less than two kilos – with improved ergonomics.

The models are available in five sizes, and are made with Samsonite’s Curv technology – an impact-resistant lightweight material.

Åland is an island in the Baltic Sea and a classic holiday destination for people in the Nordics. Although foreigners are not permitted to own property on the island, it is possible to get the next best thing from Havsvidden. Their cliff houses are designed by Thomas Sandell, who is one of Sweden’s most prominent architects, and range from 43-131 square metres in size. 325,000-460,000 euros.

ship Ahoy!

Tallink Silja Line has introduced a new selection of exclusive wines for their Baltic Sea cruises. What’s really great about these new arrivals is how affordable they are, considering their quality. Z recommends in particular the champagne Canard-Duchêne Cuvée Leonie and the red wine Valpolicella Delio Appassimento, preferably with one of the restaurant’s seven-course meals.

Destination:

design

Design buffs will find a trip to the Swiss furniture manufacturer Vitra’s campus in Weil am Rhein well worth their time. Here you will find VitraHaus, the flagship store of Vitra Home Collection, and the Vitra Design Museum, one of the world’s leading museums of its kind.

From the left: Madeleine Glindre, Åke Persson, and Z's editor-in-chief Paulina Bylén.

And the winners are…

Flying FinnS

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport won the Skytrax World Airport Award for Best Airport in Northern Europe 2013, followed by Copenhagen Airport in second place. Helsinki Airport is known for being an efficient transit airport, connecting northern Europe to Asia.

In addition, Finnair won the Skytrax World Airline Award for Best Airline in Northern Europe 2013. Finnair is the only Nordic airline to be awarded with four stars by Skytrax, and has been named the best airline in northern Europe four years in a row.

The Radisson Blu Strand Hotel in Stockholm recently hosted Z Lifestyle’s release party, celebrating the first issue of the magazine. As part of the celebration, people were invited to participate in our Rezidor and Z Lifestyle quiz. Our knowledgeable participants received the following prizes:

Congratulations to:

1. Åke Persson. Weekend at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Copenhagen.

2. Gül Heper. One night in the Garbo Suite at the Radisson Blu Strand Hotel in Stockholm.

3. Madeleine Glindre. Glasses with corrective lenses and designer frames from Smarteyes.

4. Carolina Edlund. Decorative cushion from Designers Guild.

5. Elin Norlin. Viking Line cruise for two, with luxury cabin and spa.

6. Robert Nyström. Tallink Silja Line cruise for two, with luxury cabin.

z lifestyle magazine | 23

news sunglasses

by Hannah Broman

shades On the beach or in the city – sunglasses are the most important accessory of the summer. Here are some of this season’s essentials.

Photography: pierre wester “Sassy beach vintage” from Smarteye’s summer collection has a great retro look, 58 euros.

Round sunglasses with metallic frames from Haga Eyewear’s Casey collection, for that John Lennon feel, 27 euros.

White frames that really pop.

These ivory and powder pink Prada Dixie sunglasses have that 50’s feel that only cat-eye frames can evoke, 215 euros.

A pair of Ray-Ban Aviators are always in fashion. This model sports Arista gold frames and green lenses, 175 euros.

These black frames with curling gold roses come straight from Dolce & Gabbana’s Sicilian Baroque collection, 225 euros.

Hit the beach in these Prada Sport sunglasses with gunmetal frames, 300 euros.

24 | z lifestyle magazine

BBQ Grill 200

Garden Trolley

BBQ Grill 100

Sideboard 100

BBQ Grill 300

THE ART OF BARBEQUE

Sideboard 50

Garden Kitchen Sink

interior design Editor

Camilla Julner

Camilla is an interior designer and stylist who creates her own world of spaces and images. Coming from a background in theatre set and costume design, she loves to travel and be inspired by foreign places and people from different cultures.

Step into the

outdoors

bright

summer

The Grinda outdoor set is inspired by the bright summer nights in the archipelago. Grinda is ingeniously designed by Matilda Lindblom. It has a steel frame with a springy seat, available in oak, white painted ash or teak. Chair, 350 euros, armchair, 360 euros and table, 990 euros, Skargaarden.

Photo: Johan Carlsson Skargaarden

News design

Classic furniture with a new touch has been a winning concept for established furniture manufacturers. We love new design, especially when it takes inspiration from the Nordic nature. These new products are sure to become beloved classics in the future.

Out & indoors

The Fifty armchair is clearly inspired by the 1950s “Flag Halyard Chair” by Danish designer Hans Wegner. Dögg & Arnved designed a straight backrest to allow for resting and reading, and for use outdoors as well as indoors. Fifty won the Wallpaper Design Award 2013 for Best Domestic Design, and is produced by Ligne-Roset. Armchair, 1,435 euros and Ottoman, 510 euros. www.ligne-roset.com.

Made by cOlour

Moomin

The motifs selected for Artek’s furniture, designed by Alvar Aalto, consist of decorative and masterfully drawn Moomin characters from Tove Jansson’s 1950s artwork. There are several levels and styles in the artistic trajectory of Jansson’s Moomin figures, ranging from detailed and precise miniatures to expressive and stylized images. Tove Jansson’s beautiful line work and the sympathetic Moomin characters are a great complement to the clear lines of Aalto’s furniture, giving them a new feel.

The Moomin Collection, 235–295 euros (excl. VAT), Artek.

Gärsnäs asked designer duo Fredrik Färg and Emma Blanche to design a modern Emma armchair (which is a traditional and beloved armchair from Sweden).

The award-winning Emma armchair has made both the press and the public lose their breath, and the handsewn design has already won two Swedish design awards. 1,630 euros, Gärsnäs.

Shifting

SeAsonS

Blom is about directing light. This lamp is inspired by the shifting light and seasonal changes of the Nordic countries.

Its designer Andreas Engesvik was a founder of the well-known design group Norway Says. Since 2009, he is working under his own name and design studio. Blom, Fontana Arte, 140 euros.

z lifestyle magazine | 27

News gastronomy

Luscious creative

CUISINE

CULINARY EDITOR

Helen “Mags” Magnuson

Helen “Mags” Magnuson lives and breathes culinary artistry. She has created several dishes with an international crossover flair, and she’s the creative force behind a variety of company events. In addition, she serves as a food critic and contributor to several magazines and blogs.

Welcome to the world of Mags.

Neat artistic spell meets sharp, edgy design and function that tickles the senses – it’s the ultimate dining experience according to Mags.

Classic & SheeR

This neat little award-winning glass by Iittala, named ”Aarne”, was designed

by Finnish glass pioneer Göran Hongell.

The retro glass is the perfect vodka container for drinks and shots alike.

Classic with a twist never goes out of style. www.iittala.com

Brass & Steel

Finally, there is a professional kitchen range suitable for the home.

Now anyone can feel like a master chef! Chief designer Henrik Otto and his staff at Electrolux have managed to combine all the vital ingredients of excellent cooking in their Grand Cuisine, garnished with an elegant design. www.grandcuisine.com

Art&

CuiSine

Boundaries are blurred and art is created when chef Sayan Isaksson makes his signature dishes at Japanese crossover restaurant Råkultur in Stockholm. East meets West in an exceptional experience that appeals to all senses. Also, don’t miss out on “Diversions”, a masterpiece of a cookbook, filled with marvellous images by photographer duo Bohman+Sjöstrand. It’ll make your heart sing. www.rakultur.se

Pure & CleaR

Sharp & Clean

Japan has always been considered to have the best knives, created by the most skilful blacksmiths in the world. The knives are carefully made to utter perfection, and no chef can live without their sharp edges. Just ask Stefano Catenacci, master chef at Operakällaren in Stockholm. These knives do wonders in the kitchen, but are also magnificent pieces of art with beautiful blades and exquisite handles. Like these ones from Satake, adorned with mother of pearl.

28 | z lifestyle magazine

Na zdorovie, Mr. President! Youri Dolgorouki, the official Russian vodka is distilled four times, making it an exceptionally pure drink. It is best ser ved chilled with an ice cube, and perhaps a slice of lemon – or in a variety of cocktails.

It also goes well with your meal. Pure and clean is definitely the way to go.

Svenskt Tenn Strandv채gen 5, Stockholm www.svenskttenn.se

Jaber mode, Strandv채gen 9 Stockholm

by Kawa H pour

news fashion

spot on

Seductive, deep autumn colours, bold gold and smart silhouettes create an elegant and sharp look this season.

Scandinavian

DetailS To top off a successful look; glasses and earrings by Efva Attling, and hat By Malene Birger.

Strike gold

Eye-catching, twisted gold rings from Lara Bohincs.

A/W13 Mulberry

Mulberry’s Emma Hill has been inspired by the English countryside; with its rural scene, botanical colours and veil of dark, mysterious earthiness.

The Great DébuT

MaX MaRa

These flats are both comfortable and stylish – truly a real luxury.

New Yorker Alexander Wang started out as a street designer, but his sense for fashion has taken him to the biggest fashion houses. For his début collection for Balenciaga, he searched their archives to decipher the codes of the prestigious fashion house. Staying true to Cristóbal’s heritage, Alexander Wang put forth cocoon coats, petal skirts and bracelet sleeves.

z lifestyle magazine | 31

news fashion by Kawa H pour

Mixed look This season is all about contrasts.

Classic, casual and simple with a coat layered over a polo – and don’t forget the leather!

Mix n’ match

Key accessories for the mixed look. Mulberry’s classic printed leather creates a contrast that makes your edgier outfits pop.

All from Mulberry.

Ravish raf

Raf Simons showed off a very mixed and interesting line-up this year. The recurring graphic motifs are what truly unlocked the collection.

UNDerground KINGS Tough Texture

Leather prints are great for adding a tougher touch to the stripped-down look, like these shirts from Hugo Boss.

32 | z lifestyle magazine

The autumn/winter 13 Damir Doma collection has once again placed underground and alternative trends in the spotlight.

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news watch Watch Editor Kristian Haagen Our Danish contributor Kristian Haagen is Scandinavia’s foremost expert on watches. He writes about his passion in several international magazines, and recently had his third book about watches published. He is also a dedicated watch collector.

Bigger

Does not always mean better Z Lifestyle spent five days admiring horological news at the Basel World watch fair. Here are five of my personal favourites. liquid time

The sequel to HYT I offers a movement upgrade by Guilio Papi of renowned Renaud & Papi.

The idea of the watch is still the same brilliant construction of liquids slowly showing the consumption of the day in two-times-twelve hours retrograde.

riviera dreams I was three years old when the Tudor Chronograph ref. 7169 was first released in 1973 – oblivious to the sweet life by the Riviera, or behind the wheels of sexy Ferraris. It wasn’t until much later that these funky looking apparatuses with the distinct “base plate” chronograph dials got my attention.

Two millimetres larger than the original, the new 42-millimetre version of this retro ticker is offered with both a bracelet and a striped textile strap, made by one of the finest strap maker families in France.

danish precision This watch from incredible Danish brand Urban Jürgensen & Sønner offers one of the most impressive grand feu enamel dials I have ever seen. I’m not just saying that because I, too, am Danish; I’m saying it because it probably is the best enamel dial work I have ever seen on a wristwatch. If you happen to read these appraising words and ever get the chance to see this watch up close, make sure you bring a strong loupe. This tool will come in handy with any watch from Urban Jürgensen & Sønner, as it is the stunning details that make their watches shine.

60’s tribute

My eyes are glued to a model that was actually presented all the way back in January. It’s the 40 millimetre 1966 Tourbillon with a simple and immaculate opaline dial and, of course, the legendary Golden Bridge Tourbillon that Girard-Perregaux made ever so famous.

I know it’s “last season”, but my reaction simply proves that this classic design is future-proof.

backdoor man I have never really been a fan of this slightly smaller model, but when the new 39 millimetre ref. 5227 was introduced at Basel World 2013, I couldn’t stop myself from looking twice. Not only does this new version of the iconic watch offer a stunning new creamy dial, it also offers a hinged back – or dust cover, as Patek Philippe calls the feature.

If I were to engrave this watch for my son, it would read: “Son, if you’re ever going to trade this watch for a car, then please make sure it's a Rolls-Royce.”

z lifestyle magazine | 35

news jewellery Jewellery Editor

Charlotte Møbjerg Ansel-Henry

is one of the leading jewellery experts in Scandinavia.

She is a regular guest at the Danish tv-show Go´morgen Denmark, has a weekly editorial spread in one of Denmark’s most popular Fashion magazines, creates marketing campaigns for jewellery brands and advises numerous fashion and jewellery designers on the best marketing strategies for their brands.

Fashion

Statement

Exceptional jewellery pieces that bend the rules and break with tradition have certainly hit the scene with a bang. Here are my favourites.

statement piece

Hollow Moon plated in rose gold.

Bjørg is known to disregard the norms in her jewellery design, which is also the case with her new product line. The hand jewellery Hollow Moon challenges past traditions, and is a beautiful example of how a statement piece can clear the way for new types of jewellery. 423 euros.

ExtaSe

ake e

th

ye

ar

of

sn

Carla Amorim brings us Extase Earrings with white gold, emeralds and diamonds. It should come as no surprise that these emerald earrings were named after the mesmerizing flora and fauna of her homeland Brazil. Their tempting feminine design radiates a distinct, sensual modernity. Startling and dramatic – an absolute statement piece.

Price on request.

Couture Serpent Ring in 18 karat white gold with Forevermark white diamonds and a 5 carat Forevermark central diamond. Stephen Webster has launched a new line of diamond jewellery that features greater variety in terms of design and price.

Stephen Webster combines traditional ideas with modern design like no one else. The recognizable snake has become even sharper, taking the shape of a dangerous cobra that twines around two fingers. Price on request.

brilliant

finger Full finger ring: 4.40 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds mounted in 18 karat white gold. Jacob & Co, price on request.

French

finesse

18 karat gold earcuffs with 0.61 carat diamonds.

Gaia Repossi’s contemporary and innovative jewellery with four curves and hinges is the ultimate example of sophisticated elegance with a cool twist.

10,400 euros.

36 | z lifestyle magazine

Be Loyal To Your Skin

Nordic distributor: The Hair & Body Company, 08-619 01 88

Travel in a DeLuxe to Helsinki Treat yourself to well-deserved luxury on sea. Book a lovely cruise to Helsinki in a DeLuxe cabin with special breakfast included. On our Helsinki ferries we have an exclusive wine bar stocked with quality wines which you can not only enjoy onboard but purchase home with you.

Experience the Baltic Sea’s best fish and seafood rest– aurant Happy Lobster. You can enjoy dishes of lobster, smoked shrimp, oysters and large seafood platters in a luxurious and relaxed atmosphere.

DeLuxe-package to Helsinki from

2044:–

Price incl cruise travel, sharing a double Deluxe-cabin and specialbreakfast for 2 people, 2 drink and 2 dinner coupons.

08-22 21 40* www.tallinksilja.se *Service charge will be added, unless booked online. Price per person when two people share cabin. Valid on selected departure dates until 14.11.2013. Limited no. of places.

News motor motor editor JAMES HOLM Car enthusiast and editor extraordinaire James Holm has travelled the world and raced the fastest cars on the hottest tracks, Nürburgring in Germany being one of his favourites. In addition to Z Lifestyle, you can find his insightful articles and breathtaking photography in a number of international motor sport and car magazines.

hot convertibles

This is the season of clear blue skies, endless summer days and sundrenched asphalt. James Holm lists this summer’s hottest convertibles.

Opel Cascada

– Cruising through hot summer days Opel has had a couple of tough years recently. Hopefully its latest addition, the Cascada, will help the car maker get back on its feet. The Cascada features outstanding design, and the car just screams of comfort. Luckily it’s not just the looks that are pleasant, as the soft chassis and silky smooth driving makes this a really nice way of traversing sun-drenched roads.

Stingray Convertible – A proven American concept

Across the pond we find this classic convertible, with a 6.2 litre V8 engine, 455 horsepower and rear-wheel drive.

Thanks to a newly developed aluminium chassis, the coupé and the convertible handles more or less identically, which is quite unusual.

Jaguar F-Type – The best of two worlds

This is a ride for people who love the attention, but who still want to be able to pull off some fast laps at the race track. Jaguar has managed to tick both of these boxes, which has often proven difficult in the past. The fabric roof can be retracted in 12 seconds, at driving speeds of up to 50 km/h. The F-Type comes with a V6 or V8 engine, the latter of which delivers a total of 495 horsepower.

Lamborghini

Golf R Cabriolet

– An unconventional way of drying your hair Finishing off the seventh generation of Golfs, Volkswagen has introduced the R Cabriolet. Although it lacks the four-wheel drive found in the coupé, the Golf R Cabriolet still offers some really enjoyable driving thanks to its well-balanced chassis and strong engine. With its rapid dual-clutch transmission, the car accelerates from 0–100 km/h in about six seconds.

With a top speed of 350 – The raging bull from Sant’Agata Bolognese km/h and acceleration from 0–100 km/h in 3 seconds sharp, the Aventador stands out among this summer’s convertibles.

The 6.5 litre V12 engine delivers 700 horsepower to all four wheels, and the transmission’s Corsa mode makes the car kick like a raging bull every time you shift gear.

z lifestyle magazine | 39

news beauty

by Joséphine W Norgren & hannah broman

Nailed it The new nail polish collection from Clinique, simply called “A Different Nail Enamel for Sensitive Skins”, is created for those who struggle with eczema around the eyes, which regular nail polish can sometimes cause.

There are twelve different colours in the permanent nail polish collection, some of which can also be found in the lipstick collection.

Gold digger

YSL’s summer look 2013 is dominated by golden tones, inspired by the Saharan sunset, with the occasional streak of violet and coral.

The jewel in the crown is the Marrakesh Sunset palette: five eyeshadows in an exquisite gold-coloured case with an arabesque design. The Rouge Pur Couture Golden Lustre lipstick series is joined by two new bronze shades. In addition, three new colours are introduced in the Terre Saharienne bronzing powders collection.

Welcome to the jungle

Summer styling

With Kate Moss as their new ambassador, Kérastase has launched a collection of hairstyling products.

The collection includes Spray à Porter, a texture spray to achieve surfer-chic beach hair, and Mousse Bouffante, a volumizing mousse for a glamorous look.

Get a shining finish with the Gloss Appeal spray.

Jimmy Choo Exotic is a limited edition, fuchsia-coloured eau de toilette with a fruity and sweet scent, all wrapped up in a flacon reminiscent of an exotic berry and a box inspired by Jimmy Choo’s python collection.

Blackcurrant sorbet notes play the lead role in this summery perfume, backed up by notes of pink grapefruit and floral middle notes on a sweet base of raspberry and patchouli. 60 ml EdT, 65 euros.

The butterfly effect

Chanel’s make-up collection “L’été Papillon de Chanel” is inspired by colourful butterflies.

Let the eyes do the talking with the new Stylo Eyeshadow pen and Inimitable Waterproof mascara in vibrant blue and turquoise, paired with a softer raspberry or peach colour for the lips.

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by Joséphine W Norgren & hannah broman

news grooming

fight the

PoweR

L’Oréal have launched the Men Expert Pure Power products, including the Active Moisturiser and the Scrub X2000 Beads. The scrub X2000 Beads is an exfoliating scrub that helps prevent the appearance of blackheads and spots, 10 euros.

Active Moisturiser hydrates the skin for 24 hours, for comfortable and healthier-looking skin. It also helps protect against spots, 10 euros.

Be your own master

Armani Men is the new range of skin care products from the luxury brand. It includes Master Lotion, a soothing essence-in-lotion with ultra-cooling technology, and Perfect Master, a hydrating anti-age fluid.

The rest of the range consists of the Age Master, Eye Master and Master Cleanser.

Close encounters

The woody and aromatic Encounter Fresh Calvin Klein is a lighter version of the original Encounter fragrance from last year.

Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård, who is one of the reasons why we love Scandinavia, is the face of Encounter Fresh. EdT 30 ml 45 euros, 50 ml 65 euros, 100 ml 80 euros.

Under the sea

Ocean Kelp is the latest product range from Art of Shaving’s Aroma collection. The combination of ocean kelp, which helps control sebum production in the skin, and light aromatic essential oils have resulted in a pre-shave gel, a shaving cream and an after-shave lotion.

Living legend

Mont Blanc Legend was launched in 2011, but is still winning prizes in 2013. It won Best Packaging of the Year at this year’s American FiFi Awards, as well as Best New Male Print Advertisement and Best New Male Fragrance Design & Packaging at last year’s FiFi UK Fragrance Awards. The top notes include bergamot, lavender and pineapple leaf with flowery heart notes of rose and geranium. EdT 30 ml 35 euros, 50 ml 50 euros, 100 ml 75 euros.

z lifestyle magazine | 43

News tech

by max Doherty

One For the Money

One smartphone to rule them all? Having fallen behind heavyweights Apple and Samsung for a couple of years, HTC might just have found their way back.

Their new HTC One features a 4.7 inch HD display, aluminium casing and all the bells and whistles you’d expect in the latest smartphones. In addition, it has studio-quality sound from Beats Audio and doubles as a television remote. 590 euros.

CROwdfunded bRilliance

The Pebble Smartwatch created a lot of buzz last year on crowdfunding site Kickstarter.

In less than six weeks Pebble Technology received nearly 8 million euros, becoming the most funded project in the website’s history. Fast-forward one year and the watch is finally available in the Nordic countries. The watch connects to your smartphone and gives you easy access to your text messages, incoming calls and music playlists. As an added bonus, the Pebble Smartwatch is also waterproof and has a great minimalist design. www.getpebble.se, 150 euros.

Bigger = better

Bigger is often better, especially when the world’s largest mobile phone producer is involved. The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 gives you 6.3 inches of high definition crispness.

It’s basically a fusion of a smartphone and a tablet, perfect for those who don’t want to carry around one of each. Also, it’s absolutely perfect for watching videos on a train or in the sky. 560 euros.

SummeR CompetitioN

Our readers are always craving the latest and best electronics, which is why Z Lifestyle and Samsung are giving away four kits consisting of a Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 and a Samsung DA-F60 Bluetooth Speaker! Each of these kits is worth around 870 euros. If you want to enter the competition, simply send an e-mail to contact@evoquemedia.se (subject line: Samsung) with your contact information, and explain in 20 words or less why you should be one of the winners.

win!

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 and a DA-F60 Bluetooth Speaker!

44 | z lifestyle magazine

Expensive taste Hailed as the Rolls-Royce of digital cameras, Sony’s recent addition to the Cybershot family is definitely one for the books. The Cybershot DSC-RX1 is the world’s first fixed lens 35mm digital camera, which means that it offers professional performance in a compact design.

In addition, the camera has 24 megapixel resolution and great low-light performance. It’s the best of both worlds, for professionals and (affluent) enthusiasts alike. 2,700 euros.

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The

To

NoRdics

102 ReAsoNs

Intro

LOVE

An issue dedicated to the Nordics, guiding you through Nordic design, fashion, travel, culture and gastronomy.

We have listed 102 reasons to love the Nordics. Keep an eye out for the listings throughout this magazine. We hope that it inspires you to find even more reasons for loving the nordics.

z lifestyle magazine | 47

Destination

001

“The lobster soup at The Sea Baron in the harbour has gained international recognition and been praised by the New York Times.�

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Destination

Warm northerly

wind

Iceland is, without a doubt, the most exotic of the Nordic countries. As prices have fallen and the volcano has calmed down, it’s a great time to visit this exclusive island up north.

By: Paulina BylĂŠn Photography: Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson

z lifestyle magazine | 49

Destination

“It is literally boiling under our feet. There are mud craters everywhere, all embedded in steam.”

Many of us dream of visiting Iceland. For many years it was a privilege for the lucky few, due to extremely high prices, but the financial crisis has brought prices down to a more reasonable level. Therefore, we will guide you through the exciting city life of Reykjavík and the surprisingly accessible northern parts of the island.

Our first stop is the city of Reykjavík. Along the streets of Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur you’ll find the best of Icelandic design. A wave of new Icelandic designers have entered the scene in recent years, so there’s lots of interesting designer shops around. Art is big here too. We recommend that you visit the city’s three art museums, located in Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstadir and Ásmundarsafn, as well as the National Museum of Iceland on Sudurgata 41. During the weekend you might want to check out the flea market Kolaportid on Tryggvagata 19 – and a visit to Iceland isn’t complete without a stopover at 66° North on the Laugavegur shopping street.

Geysers are, of course, an integral part of any visit to Iceland, and can be found all around the island. Geysir, located around 100 kilometres outside Reykjavík, is a great place for experiencing these phenomena. Here you’ll find thirty of Iceland’s bestknown geysers, many of which can be experienced from the comfort of the nearby restaurant. The most active of the geysers is called Strokkur, which produces a 23 metre cascade of water every five minutes. And while you’re there, you should definitely drive a couple of kilometres east to the Gullfoss waterfall

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– another obligatory destination. This place has some serious “The Lord of the Rings” vibes. The third classic sight is the Blue Lagoon; a warm, sulphuric, turquoise experience located between the airport and Reykjavík. Even though it’s a somewhat artificial place, almost like a huge outdoor swimming pool, it’s still a fun experience. In fact, almost everyone who lives on, or has visited, Iceland has been to the Blue Lagoon.

There are plenty of good restaurants in Reykjavík; fish and seafood being their speciality. The fishing industry is still the largest source of income on Iceland, but tourism is catching up.

In the centre of the city you’ll find Fish Company, which is probably one of the best restaurants in Reykjavík. Take the opportunity to try one of their set menus, Around Iceland or Around the World, the latter of which combines Icelandic ingredients with spices from around the world. The best thing about these menus is that they are extremely affordable. At around 50 euros, they’re basically a steal. We also recommend the lobster soup at Sægreifin (The Sea Baron), which is run by retired fisherman Kjartan Halldórsson. The soup has already gained international recognition, and has been praised by the New York Times. In addition, we recommend a stop at Saga Grillið at the Radisson Blu Saga Hotel which is one of Reykjavík's top restaurants.

However, there’s more to Iceland than just Reykjavík, the Blue Lagoon, Geysir and Gullfoss. The northern parts of Iceland aren’t as well known among visitors, but are great for an extended visit.

The highlights include the town of Akureyri, the lake Mývatn and the geothermal area Námafjall. There’s also the impressive Kaldbakur mountain, which is great for grandiose nature experiences and unique ski trips.

One of the reasons why the northern parts are great for visitors is the accessibility. The small domestic airline Air Iceland has created one of the simplest and fastest flight experiences we have ever tried. Instead of time-consuming and insufferable airport procedures, you book or buy your tickets on location – they actually look more like bus tickets – and proceed to the swift boarding.

Destination

basins and large

For a slightly different experience we recommend that you visit Iceland in the winter months, when the Kaldbakur mountain really shines.

z lifestyle magazine | 51

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destination As little as 20 minutes after arriving at the airport, we have already taken off. Fast and easy, without any hassle. The flight itself takes less than an hour.

A spectacular moon landscape called Hveraröndor Hverir occupies the area by the foot of the Námafjall mountain. Steam is simmering and fizzling from the ground. It is literally boiling under our feet, and there are mud basins and large craters everywhere – all embedded in steam. It’s a great place for taking pictures, and you don’t have to be a pro to get some astonishing visual effects. However, the steam has made the landscape more or less sterile, and is not exactly good for you in larger doses.

For a slightly different experience, we recommend that you visit Iceland in the winter months, when the north and the Kaldbakur mountain really shine. Everything is untouched.

There are no ski-lifts or après-ski, just nature and unbounded skiing. It’s a truly exclusive experience; so far, only the locals know about this place. A purpose-built snowmobile picks us up by the foot of the mountain and carries us to the peak. We sit on benches out in the open, all the way up to the top. The view and the experience is spectacular, not least since we have the entire mountain to ourselves. We are dropped off at the peak and ski our way down the tracks created by the snowmobile. The ride up takes around an hour, and skiing down takes about the same amount of time. The natural piste is at times steep, at times moderate – often covered in perfect powder snow. And if you don’t want to ski all the way down, there is always a snowmobile nearby.

A wave of new Icelandic designers have brought about some great designer shops in Reykjavík.

Reykjavík has a great selection of bars and restaurants.

A trip to the northern parts of Iceland comes highly recommended.

z lifestyle magazine | 53

where to stay

Grillið Restaurant is one of the top restaurants in Reykjavík, with a beautiful top-floor view and a menu created by award-winning chefs.

During our stay on Iceland, we checked in to three different, but equally impressive hotels.

Where to stay in

Reykjavík

Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel is located in a historical build-

ing at Posthusstraeti, right in the middle of Reykjavík. Guests will experience the natural beauty of Iceland and the bustling activity of the capital city. The hotel's 88 concept rooms and suites offer an ideal balance of Nordic design and comfort. The hotel's 1919 Restaurant and 1919 Lounge have a delicious array of menu items, prepared with local, seasonal ingredients, as well as exciting cocktails. The 1919 Restaurant is also said to have the best breakfast buffet in town. www.radissonblu.com/1919hotel-reykjavik

1919 is located in a historical building at Posthusstraeti, right in the middle of Reykjavík.

Radisson Blu Saga Hotel is great for both business and leisure. It’s located right across the street from the University of Iceland, and has good communications to the Keflavik and Reykjavík airports. The hotel has two quality restaurants. Grillið Restaurant is one of the top restaurants in Reykjavík, with a beautiful top-floor view and a menu created by award-winning chefs. In addition, the breakfast buffet at Restaurant Skrudur is something out of the ordinary. www.radissonblu.com/sagahotel-reykjavik Park Inn by Radisson Island is located in the financial

district – three kilometres from the city centre, but close to Laugardalur Park and the Botanical Garden. It’s a relaxed and friendly hotel, and is great value for money. www.parkinn.com/hotel-reykjavik

54 | z lifestyle magazine

Buy a house By the Beach

A

t the northern cape of Åland, where red granite meets the blue sea, you will find these amazing houses with first rate hotel service right next door. Several exclusive houses are being built on HavsVidden’s 55 hectares of land. Thomas Sandell, one of Sweden’s most established architects, has ensured that all houses will have an amazing view of the sea. Natural materials blend harmonically with the environment, adding to the houses’ comfort and luxury. Large glass surfaces open the rooms

towards the sea, and the large terrace is the perfect private patio for large gatherings.The popular restaurant and bar are just a short walk away, as are the swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzi. You can also sublet your house through HavsVidden when you are not using it.

International citizens are now able to own a house by the beach of Åland. Please contact HavsVidden’s Mikael Kraft at mikael@kraft.se for more information and viewings.

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102 Reasons

reasons to love the Nordic countries.

Prepare yourself for a journey through ice-cold ocean beds, volcanic sand and primary rocks. We invited five Nordic experts to discuss design, travel, fashion, culture and the Nordic cuisine. Participating in the discussion were Mads Arlien-Søborg, Josefin Strid, Kjartan Ólafsson, Paul Alarcón, Paulina Bylén (Z), and Christian von Essen.

By: paulina bylén photography: Daniel Lundkvist

A love 002

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102 Reasons

Story

z lifestyle magazine | 57

102 Reasons Oysters from the Nordic countries are among the world’s most expensive, for example.

P

aulina: What do the Nordics mean to you?

Kjartan: We have the cold in common – the physical cold. And then there’s the food. In my work with the Icelandic cuisine, which reflects a lot of the Nordic uniqueness, I’ve found that sustainability and time is everything.

Paulina: For many years, the Nordic countries have been represented on the S. Pellegrino list of the world’s best restaurants. Noma in Copenhagen was ranked first in 2012, 2011 and 2010, and came in second this year. There were also two Swedish restaurants among the top 50 in 2013: Fäviken and Franzén.

equality and trust are the first things that come to mind

Josefin: For me, the Nordic countries are about the relative simplicity and matter-of-course of creating balance in life, without having to deny yourself anything.

Paulina: What do you mean?

Josefin: You can get an education, find a profession, have a family and be engaged in an active social life. You don’t have to choose.

I realized the benefits of the Nordic model when I first moved to London. My friends in London lacked some of the privileges I was accustomed to. Young people in the Nordic countries can work, study or pursue an internship abroad, while having their base in their home countries.

Christian: Exactly! During my studies in Singapore I gained a new circle of contacts and new traditions, which have been invaluable to me back home. But regardless of Singapore’s rapid progress, I couldn’t see myself raising a family there.

Sweden’s system for parental leave is probably the best in the world.

Josefin: It also creates exciting dynamics as we, for example, are now able to mix entrepreneurship and artistry in a functioning symbiosis.

Paul: Besides equality, trust is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the Nordic countries. There is a strong element of trust throughout our entire culture. This high level of social and institutional trust have a number of advantages that make our countries competitive. For instance, trust lowers the need for written contracts and legal protections, and thus decreases the amount of bureaucratic paperwork that translates into financial costs. We also have the world’s least problematic social structures at the moment.

I’m referring to our social welfare system, gender equality and peace.

This is true for all the Nordic countries. But things might change, as the fastest growing cities in Europe are located up here. That growth will also affect trust. As the cities grow, trust is reduced.

“In my opinion, the Nordic societies are among the best ones created by humanity.”

Up north the food grows slowly, both in the sea and in the soil

Christian: In my opinion, the Nordic culinary heritage is all about the preservation techniques: drying, salting, souring, etc.

There are also some extreme examples, such as fermented herring, or “surströming”, in Sweden, “rakfisk” in Norway and the rotten shark on Iceland.

Kjartan: Exactly! The rotten shark is called “Kæstur hákarl”.

The preservation techniques are special, and are connected to what I said about sustainability and time. Sustainable fishing, for example. We started practising that as early as 1983. Fishing has always been the largest source of income on Iceland – although tourism is on the rise – and we realized early on that sustainability would be key to future successes.

Paulina: I’m curious about what role time plays.

Kjartan: Up north the food grows slowly, both in the sea and in the soil. Everything takes a bit longer, which in turn creates unique flavours. Seafood and fish from cold seas have different flavours and are widely regarded as the world’s best.

58 | z liefstyle magazine

Sweden's social model was not strong enough to handle the tensions and stress of the global society.

Paulina: Are we really number one, or do we just like to think we are?

Paul: In my opinion, the Nordic societies are among the best ones created by humanity. Take, for example, the ability for individuals to reach their goals in life – social mobility. Anyone can become anything.

Paulina: But that is changing?

Paul: Yes, there are some indications of that. This spring, Sweden experienced a number of riots in the suburbs, which indicated that its social model was not strong enough to handle the tensions and stress of the global society. In international media you can see how people have started to question the Nordic social model. After the financial meltdown of 2008 we were applauded internationally, as we were one of few regions in the West with strong public

102 Reasons

finances. But after the events in recent years our model has been questioned: does it really work?

Mads: In a larger perspective, the Nordic countries are about nature and light. The light inspires artists and designers. The shifting seasons are also connected to the significance of light. Light is not only about brightness, but also about darkness. There’s an interesting darkness here too; both a physical one during the dark winter, and mentally, as we have an interesting kind of melancholy up here. This can also be felt in our Nordic crime novels and TV-shows, which have gained international attention. Actually, that particular "poetry of silence" style can be found much further back, in paintings by Vilhelm Hammershøi and in some of Edvard Munch's works.

Denmark has the world’s happiest population

Christian: I’m thinking of safety. This might be because the Nordic countries have been able to withstand the crises, but it feels like stable societies. Thanks to the safety, stability and wealth, you’re able to pursue creative activities. Most people seek self-fulfilment, which have resulted in a lot of good things in the fields of culture and innovation.

Mads: We also have strong, traditional bearers of society, such as church and state, as well as individual freedom. Denmark has

continuously come out on top in surveys of the world’s happiest populations, followed by several Nordic countries. But it’s not all beer and skittles, of course. There are some problems up here as well. We no longer have an optimal welfare system; far from it, in fact. The state has become too powerful and is now starting to trespass on people's private sphere. It's beginning to look a bit like the scenario from the George Orwell novel "1984".

Josefin: I think our contentedness living in the “perfect” society will be challenged as increasingly more Nordic people are moving abroad, some of whom return with completely new experiences and traditions. We live in a good and safe society as you previously mentioned, where you have great opportunities for self-fulfilment. But the social model has to be continuously developed along with the rest of the world, as the Nordic countries are only a small piece of the puzzle.

Paulina: How have the Nordic countries influenced your fields of expertise?

Kjartan: As a food critic, the location is everything in my field of expertise. The chef who runs Noma, René Redzepi, travels to Greenland, Iceland, the Faeroe Islands and northern Norway to gather Nordic ingredients. There is also a manifest called “New Nordic Food” where key words such as clean, fresh, simple and ethical are featured.

z lifestyle magazine | 59

102 Reasons

C

hristian: It’s fantastic that there’s such a strong confidence in the Nordic cuisine these days. Previously there have mostly been anxious glances at other countries.

A couple of years ago I was going to show a friend from Singapore the Swedish cuisine. But I had no idea where to go, because I could only find sushi, pizza, kebab, German, Italian, Greek and French, but never any Swedish food. That’s changed now, however. Previously we’ve been somewhat embarrassed about our Swedish home cooking, thinking that it’s not good enough.

There’s an interesting impact on clothes and fashion retailers when the winter is late

Paulina: We keep coming back to the Nordic cuisine. It’s like it is an extension of our societies. Food seems to be a pleasurable catalyst, perhaps of something larger?

Paul: It is! The new Nordic cuisine is making waves globally. We’re small, remote countries, and as such have to be open to the outside world.

Openness to the outside world has been our strength – we have been open enough to modernize without losing the essence of the Nordic philosophy, centred around typical Nordic ingredients and the seasons.

In addition, our cuisine has been developed "sustainably" in a geographical area where resources are sparse during long stretches of the year.

Josefin: Sustainability and Nordic fusion can also be found in the world of fashion. Our climate requires us to have new garments for each season, since they differ to such an extent. There’s an interesting impact on clothes and fashion retailers when the winter is late, or mild. Many shops depend on the winter to sell their jackets. I also

believe it’s important to have added value in a product. As a new brand you have to think of the garment’s function as well as its design and expression. I have also found that we work very efficiently in the Nordic countries; something I heard a lot during my internships in London. We’re entrepreneurial, structured and creative.

Mads: We’re also seeing a lot of interesting, up-and-coming designers who want to break with their Nordic heritage. It’s very refreshing. But it’s not all that easy. Our design heritage, especially in Denmark, is deeply rooted in our soul. Things are just supposed to look a certain way. Arne Jacobsen is a saint and a point of reference, for better or worse. He’s a great source of inspiration, but also a pair of shackles that make it hard for Danish designers to break with tradition. Therefore, it’s not surprising that many of the new, interesting designers are from Norway and Iceland.

Paulina: Tell us more!

Mads: They don’t have a heritage that holds them back. Their work becomes more relaxed and easy to process. During the past 5–10 years, new ideas have become streamlined at design schools.

Take, for example, design with super functions, aimed at improving society. That’s real function, not just an easy-to-use chair or table. You take it to the next level and create hardcore function, such as solutions for water distribution or logistics.

On Iceland we’re just as influenced by the European culture as we are by the American

Christian: It’s very fascinating to see how sustainability runs through the veins of every young designer these days.

“I think there are many new, young fashion brands that have developed in interesting ways.”

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102 Reasons

K

jartan: On Iceland we’re just as influenced by the European culture as we are by the American.

We’re equally close to both continents, and study at schools and universities in both directions.

Mads: There has been an explosive development in the last five to ten years in Norwegian and Icelandic design, when compared to the other Nordic countries. There’s a freshness and freedom in those countries that’s unheard of in Denmark.

Josefin: I think there are many new, young fashion brands that have developed in interesting ways. Many of them work in a more process-based way than their precursors; trying to find a balance between pushing fashion forward and questioning its past.

Also, we all strive to build our companies on a stable ground and be profitable.

Paulina: One thing that’s annoying with Nordic fashion – Swedish fashion in particular – is the anxiety. Everything has to look the same.

Josefin: I actually think that the up-and-coming fashion brands are less uniform than what Nordic fashion might have been in the past. I really hope many of these young talents manage to find a balance in their brand-building and profitability process, so that they survive and take root.

Paulina: How do you think the rest of the world views the Nordic countries?

Paul: The rest of the world views the Nordic countries as model societies, as unattainable ideals, making them difficult to relate to.

the Millennium trilogy, The Bridge and The Killing have been hugely successful abroad

Kjartan: But surely the way the rest of the world views us has changed in recent years?

Paul: Yes, thanks to the extremely successful wave of Nordic crime novels and TV-shows, that image is changing. In particular, the Millennium trilogy, The Bridge and The Killing have been hugely successful abroad. The interesting thing about these examples is that the success is strongly connected to the Nordic countries where they take place. What really fuels the interest is the discrepancy between the perception of our societies and the image depicted in the stories, at least according to the international media. They’re darker, more nuanced images of our societies. Behind that perfect front they hide dark secrets that are now being unearthed.

That alone should make the Nordic countries more interesting in the eyes of the outside world.

Mads: I think it’s really interesting that the rest of the world wants to learn about that darker side of our societies, as seen in Danish TV-shows like The Bridge and The Killing. Also, Borgen has been incredibly successful abroad.

“They're darker, more nuanced images of our societies.”

Sweden’s music industry is number three in the world

Josefin: There has been a very interesting shift in the music scene in recent years, with many cool girls entering the stage and making music that was previously reserved for the boys. I’m thinking of Elliphant, Beatrice Eli, Lykke Li, Robyn, Nicole Sabouné, Lilla Namo and Gnucci, to name a few.

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102 Reasons hristian: As a music blogger, I get the impression that Nordic music is extremely highly valued these days. Sweden’s music industry is number three in the world, and I think this is because we are excellent at packaging melodies, production, press photos, typography, cover design and music videos into something mysterious and almost sensual. I can’t explain it any other way. Also, we have a unique way of using melancholy in our music, even in up-tempo dance hits, which is connected to that darkness you mentioned.

Paulina: How do people view Nordic fashion abroad?

Josefin: It’s often considered clean and functional. Perhaps also somewhat boring, but I think that’s changing. Many people also associate Nordic products with quality. Nordic people are outdoor people, which is almost ridiculously trendy in the fashion industry right now. And it makes sense that we have a wide range of trendy outdoor clothes. It’s kind of going overboard now, with trends like identifying yourself with a specific sport. But it’s also interesting to see the extent to which a trend influences fashion in terms of its shape, function and material. I work a lot with sports influences in my own designs, and I like to mix them with traditional tailoring to create garments that suit the world we live in today.

Paulina: How has Nordic fashion been received in the rest of the fashion world.

Josefin: Some brands have been successful, and it feels like Nordic fashion is become increasingly more established. I’m currently most up-to-date with the Swedish and Danish brands.

Christian: Which brands have been the most successful?

Josefin: When I travel, most people I meet know of Acne, Cheap Monday, Moods of Norway, Gunhild Nygaard, Henrik Vibskov and H&M. There’s a lot of talk about the Swedish fashion wonder in Sweden, and I think we might have exaggerated our successes a bit.

Paulina: And what’s trending right now?

Josefin: I have several new favourites such as Astrid Andersen and Ann-Sofie Madsen from Denmark, and Swedish designers Common, Hernandez Cornet and ultra-hyped Altewai Saome.

There are new exciting brands representing a new generation of Scandinavian design

Paulina: What’s the status in the world of architecture and interior design?

Mads: There are new exciting brands representing a new generation of Scandinavian design, such as Muuto, TAF Arkitektkontor, Andreas Engesvik and Petter Skogstad. And let’s not forget all these designer students and talents that are sprouting up at all the Nordic design schools. It bodes well for the future of Nordic design.

Paulina: An important aspect of the Nordic project is that of gender equality, isn't it?

Josefin: This is something unique for the Nordic countries. We like to talk about paternity leave, since this is still viewed as something weird outside the Nordic countries.

Paulina: There’s a well-known anecdote about a foreign visitor asking a Swedish friend why there are so many gay nannies on the streets of Stockholm, as all the people with prams were guys.

Christian: I’ve heard that story from five different people. It has to be an urban legend.

Josefin: I’m certainly not suggesting that we have total gender equality, but many people here see it as a matter of course. I know that many visitors react to how men and women often dress alike here.

Paul: That anecdote you mentioned surfaced some years ago, and reappears every so often. Urban legend or not, it says something about

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the equality project we have here. And it’s also something that’s received a lot of attention in the rest of the world.

Many heads have turned towards the Nordic gender equality – people realize that it’s part of what makes our societies successful. In other parts of the world our take on gender equality is actually radical. Once when I was abroad, I went to change my child’s nappy. The people I was with thought that was kind of weird.

Josefin: There’s inequality for guys as well, and that’s not something we talk as much about. Men have to assume this masculine role they didn’t ask for.

Paul: There is something happening with the gender role of women as well. We have seen a strong wave of

102 Reasons Christian: There’s so much that needs to be done. We’re a developing country when it comes to incoming tourism, even though we earn more from international tourism than both Japan, Mexico and the Netherlands. Sweden’s goal is to double the income from international tourism by the year 2020. We are not likely to reach that goal, but there's no doubt that the potential for tourism in the Nordic countries is more or less untapped.

Paulina: So what should we do?

Christian: While I praise the packaging in our music industry, the tourism sector has fallen behind. We have to learn how to package the Nordic countries and make the booking of destinations and attractions just as easy as it is for us to book all-inclusive trips abroad. Maybe our conventional investors don’t have a tradition of hospitality business; we’re first and foremost industrial countries. However, everyone agrees that there’s a lot of potential and money to be made. Right now, all focus is on increasing the accessibility with new exciting airline routes. We will definitely see some big changes in our tourism in the future if we can open up to the world and allow tourists to find and book our attractions from the comfort of their homes.

That would be the perfect solution. But who’s going to do it?

female characters in Nordic literature, film and TV-shows with Lisbet Salander in the Millenium series perhaps being the most notable. And I believe we’re seeing a similar wave of tough, strong female artists in the music industry right now. Robyn is probably the best known of them, but there’s also Icona Pop, Ellipant, Rebecca & Fiona, Linda Pira and VAZ, who have really started to make waves. we earn more from international tourism than Japan, Mexico and the Netherlands

Paulina: People in the Nordic countries are experienced travellers, as we seek to get away from the cold and the darkness.

But we’re not as good at handling tourism at home.

Josefin: Perhaps the Nordic countries could co-operate, so that tourists can buy all-inclusive packages that include experiences in all the Nordic countries. I often meet tourists who have travelled a long way to get here, and who want to see all the Nordic countries during their stay.

Christian: That would be the perfect solution. But who’s going to do it? Another problem is language – both when it comes to booking websites and traditional tourism practicalities. There’s almost no information being produced in foreign languages, even though we always brag about how cosmopolitan and proficient in English we are up here in the North.

I would feel quite frustrated if I were a tourist here.

Paulina: What are your personal Nordic favourites?

Mads: Christiania – a social experiment like no other. There’s been a lot of turbulence in the past 10 years as the authorities have tried to get rid of Christiania, but it’s managed to survive. The people there have now bought “people’s shares” and purchased the area together for almost 12 million euros, meaning that Christiania is not going anywhere.

Paul: Furillen on Gotland. It’s a place with a distinctly Nordic aesthetic. There’s the bright limestone, the barren landscape, the silence and the melancholic atmosphere created by a lost industrial era. It’s a unique place that’s really Nordic.

Kjartan: If I were to answer what place I’d like to visit, then it’d be the Fäviken restaurant in Sweden. I also visit the Icelandic east coast every year, so that’s definitely a favourite of mine.

Josefin: It’s difficult to name a specific favourite, as I have different favourites for different seasons. I prefer Skåne, Öland and Gotland in the summer, and the ski resorts up north in the winter. And there are also many places I have yet to visit.

Christian: I was raised in the Uppsala countryside and have lived

by Lake Mälaren in Sigtuna, both of them stunning Swedish environments. Oslo was more charming and cool than beautiful. I’d have to say that Stockholm is my favourite. It’s a constant love/hate struggle with the incredible beauty and the at times cold weather and atmosphere.

Once again, perhaps that sort of paradox is exactly the answer we’re looking for when we are trying to pinpoint the dynamics that define the Nordic countries? A country is like a human being. There are many pieces to the puzzle.

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Foto: Visit Flåm / Morten Rakke

Enjoy the beautiful summer in Flåm

Come experience the fantastic contrasts between fjord and mountain, flowery lush landscapes and dancing goats.

Explore a treasure chest of spectacular experiences.

• The viewpoint Stegastein – a national tourist road • Boat trip in the World Heritage area - Nærøyfjorden (UNESCO) • Train ride on the Flåm Railway – a masterpiece of engineering work

Flåm is nestled deep in a tributay of the world’s longest and deepest fjord, the 204 kilometre long and up to 1308 metres deep Sognefjord. Flåm is easy accessible by bus, train, boat or car, just a few hours from Bergen and Oslo.

• Walking on your own in Fretheim Cultural Park – New 2013!

• Experience shoemakers at work at the Aurland Shoe Maker • Taste award-winning goat cheese from Undredal and beer from the local Ægir brewery

» Booking +47 57 63 14 00 » www.visitflam.com » post@visitflam.com

Welcome to Flåm

102 Reasons

The Nordics’ sharpest minds We gathered some of the Nordics’ sharpest minds in the fields of design, fashion, food, culture and travel to discuss how the Nordic countries have influenced their areas of expertise.

Christian von Essen Background: Editor-inchief at Swedish magazine Travel Report. Freelance writer and editor of the blogs Resekoll.se, Skivkoll. se and Glasskoll.se.

Age: 34 My wish for 2014: To keep meeting amazing people from all over the world.

Kjartan Ólafsson Background: Food critic and member of The Nordic Prize's award committee.

Age: 51 My wish for 2014: To travel in the Nordic countries and dine at some of the fantastic Nordic restaurants.

Josefin Strid Background: Fashion designer who pursues a Master's degree in fashion design and runs the brand JOSEFINSTRID since 2010.

Age: 26 My wish for 2014: That I find a good balance between my professional life and my personal life.

Paul Alarcón Alanes Background: Awardwinning trend analyst at insight and strategy firm United Minds.

Age: 32 My wish for 2014: I'm looking forward to eight months of paternity leave with my son Noél (a typically Nordic wish).

Mads Arlien-Søborg Background: Trend and design expert who can be seen in the TV-show “Nordiska Rum”, among others.

Age: 43 My wish for 2014: A bolder world that recognizes that people – not systems – make us prosper.

In order to add a visual dimension to our discussion, we also invited artist and graphic recorder Mille Carrasco, who recorded our thoughts and opinions in his own unique style.

Graphic recording Emilio Mille Carrasco Background: Graffiti artist, photographer, designer, music producer and graphic recorder. Works with companies such as Ericsson, Swedbank and the IHM Business School.

My wish for 2014: Creative, sustainable goals for a more equitable world.

What is graphic recording?

– Graphic recording is a knowledgedestabilizing technique that is used mainly to illustrate meetings and discussions, created in real time before an audience. A graphic recorder translates words, expressions and facts into colours, shapes and lines. You’re literally painting a picture of the main arguments, messages, experiences,

insights and breakthroughs that make up a discussion.

Did the discussion among Nordic experts inspire you?

– It did! It was interesting to learn how old values live on in new forms.

What was your point of reference when recording the discussion?

– I used common denominators and identities of the Nordic countries. The sea, for example, was a recurring element in my graphic recording.

What colours did you use?

– The blue water and green nature were my main descriptive colours, while I reserved the colour red for more symbolic contrasts. www.graphicrecorder.se

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Photo: Bengt H Malmqvist/Premium Rockshot

102 reasons by Hannah Broman & Max Doherty

Björk is the quirky Reykjavík girl who took the world by storm.

006

MUSIC

Emmelie de Forest from Denmark won the Eurovision song contest this year.

Photo: Dennis Stachel (EBU)

.

Röyksopp

Jonas Åkerlund has directed around 500 films, ranging from commercials to music videos and feature films.

102 reasons to love scandinavia

003. ABBA Agnetha Fältskog, Björn

Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, better known as ABBA, are one of the world’s most famous pop groups with more than 370 million albums and singles sold. This Swedish quartet was the first group from a non-English speaking country to frequently top the charts of England, Ireland, Canada, Australia and the United States. They had their big breakthrough in 1974, when they won the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton. One of the big milestones in the group’s career was the Australia tour in 1977, where they performed 11 concerts for a total of 160,000 people. Their hotel was almost overrun by fans – a level of excitement the group had not expected. Agnetha Fältskog was scared during most of the tour, since the gathered fans tried to approach the group whenever they left the hotel. Their final album, The Visitors, was released in 1981.

Nevertheless, the group is not officially dissolved. This year, Agnetha Fältskog released a self-titled solo album and the ABBA Museum opened in Stockholm.

004. Avicii Tim Bergling, known as Avicii, is one of the many Swedish DJ wonders. He began his career as a self-taught 18-year-old and has

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since had a number of hits (like Seek Bromance, Levels, Fade into Darkness and Silhouettes), created numerous remixes for artists such as David Guetta and Robyn, and headlined the Ultra Music Festival with Madonna.

He has also launched his own podcast, collaborated with Ralph Lauren and raised one million dollars for the charity Feeding America with his non-profit US tour “House for Hunger”.

This autumn, Avicii will release his first full-length album, “#True”.

Robyn's song “With Every Heartbeat” made it to the top of the UK singles chart in 2007. In addition, she has collaborated with both Snoop Dogg and Röyksopp.

009

005. Swedish House Mafia.

Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso, the members of DJ-group Swedish House Mafia, went their separate ways this year after becoming one of the biggest acts in house music. As part of their farewell tour, they became the first electronic music act to play at the Madison Square Garden – the show sold out in less than ten minutes.

006. Björk Iceland’s queen of

popular music, Björk, is the quirky Reykjavík girl who took the world

by storm with her unique voice and avant-garde approach.

In 2010, she received the prestigious Polar Music Prize. She has also won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000 for her role in the Lars von Trier film Dancer in the Dark, for which she also composed the soundtrack.

007. Röyksopp It’s been 15 years since the formation of Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp, consisting of Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland. Since they started

19

Photo: Roger Deckker

102 reasons

Nordic classics Records that took the world by storm.

A-Ha, Hunting High and Low

Ace of bace, The Sign

22 Pistepirkko, The Others

Icona Pop, Icona Lindstrøm, Six Pop Cups of Rebel

Roxette, Look Sharp

Sigur Rós, Inni

The Hives, Black and White Album

Turbonegro, Party Animals

Europe, The Final Countdown

Lykke Li.

003

“Todd Terje and Prins Thomas are part of the Norwegian neo-disco wave.” out in Tromsø in 1998, they have released four albums, been nominated for a Grammy Award, and remixed songs for Lady Gaga, Coldplay, and Depeche Mode.

008. Eurovision 2013 This year, the Eurovision Song Contest belonged to the Nordics. Emmelie de Forest from Denmark won the grand finale, held in the Swedish city of Malmö, with the song “Only Teardrops”.

This is the second time Denmark has won the contest, and incidentally Sweden has been the host both times. The last time was in 1999, when Olsen Brothers won with the song “Fly on the wings of love”.

009. Robyn's journey from teen-

age pop sensation with “Do You Really Want Me (Show Respect)” to the critically acclaimed electro pop

The Knife, Deep Cuts

dance music of her latest album, Body Talk, is an impressive feat.

Her song “With Every Heartbeat” made it to the top of the UK singles chart in 2007. In addition, she has collaborated with both Snoop Dogg and Röyksopp. Since 2004, Robyn’s music is released on her record label Konichiwa Records.

010. Jonas and Bea Åkerlund

He is one of the most successful music video directors in the world.

She is the celebrity stylist and costume designer responsible for some of Madonna’s and Lady Gaga’s lavish outfits (to name a few).

They both sport long, black hair and met on the set of his feature film Spun, where she was working as Mickey Rourke’s personal stylist.

Jonas Åkerlund has directed around 500 films, ranging from commercials to music videos and feature films. His international career really kicked off in 1998 when he directed the music video for Madonna’s “Ray of Light”. Since then, he’s gone on to direct The Rolling Stones’ “Doom and Gloom”, Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” featuring Beyoncé, and Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger”, and commercials for the likes of Dior, H&M, Lexus and Hugo Boss. He also directs feature films, his latest being Small Apartments.

In most of Jonas Åkerlund’s work you can find some connection to Sweden, whether it’s a Volvo car, pictures of Stockholm or a Swedish actor, like with Alexander Skarsgård in Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi video.

Bea Åkerlund is one of the most

sought-after costume designers and stylists in Hollywood, having styled Madonna, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, among others. Her biggest project yet was the Super Bowl Half Time Show 2012 for Madonna, which included 500 Roman-themed outfits.

She likes working with concept styling and often have garments custom-tailored for her clients in order to properly realize her ideas.

Bea and Jonas Åkerlund often work together, as was the case with the H&M commercial featuring Beyoncé – Jonas Åkerlund directed and Bea Åkerlund did the styling.

011. RedOne What do you think of when you hear “Just Dance”, “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance”?

Most of you will think of pop sensation Lady Gaga, but these songs were actually produced by songwriter RedOne. Although he’s originally from Morocco, RedOne decided to become a Nordic resident

Bea Åkerlund.

Avicii.

Photo: Jacob Schulman

20

ABBA is one of the world's most famous pop groups, with more than 370 million albums and singles sold.

Agnetha Fältskog released an album this year and the ABBA Museum opened in Stockholm.

The single “I love it” sold over 1.2 million copies in the US, surpassing ABBA, Robyn and Roxette.

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102 reasons

024

The Hives are famous for their extravagant stage shows.

Classical music

Edvard Grieg.

Aqua has sold 33 million albums and singles.

027. Edvard Grieg. Norwegian Edvard Grieg is considered one of the most influential composers of all time. His best-known work is probably “In the Hall of the Mountain King”, in which the lead character Peer Gynt enters a hall populated by trolls, gnomes and goblins. This piece has been featured in several films and commercials, although ironically, Grieg himself couldn’t stand listening to it.

028. JEAN Sibelius. On Christmas Eve 1990, John McClane successfully thwarts a group of mercenaries’ plan to take over an airport and rescue an imprisoned dictator. Die Hard 2 is perhaps not the most Nordic of things – although the director was Finnish – but the theme played over the credits most certainly is. The film famously features Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ masterpiece Finlandia, a symphonic poem that has helped shape the Finnish identity. On 8 December every year – the birthday of Jean Sibelius – it is customary in Finland to fly the Finnish flag in celebration of Finnish music.

due to his love for Swedish rock band Europe. He actually travelled to the Upplands-Väsby region in Sweden for the sole purpose of locating Joey Tempest, the lead singer in the aforementioned band, whom he eventually managed to track down. And he’s been devoted to music ever since.

012. 22 Pistepirkko is an iconic Finnish rock and roll band that started out in the 80’s.

013. Sigur Rós is a post-rock band from Reykjavík who created their own ethereal sound and gained international fame in the mid-90’s.

Darkthrone.

014. Lindstrøm, Todd Terje and Prins Thomas are par t of the Nor wegian neo-disco wave. Todd Terje co-produced one of Robbie Williams’ recent singles.

015. Aha is Norway’s most famous pop group. They started out in the 80’s and have remained in the international limelight all the way into the 2000s.

016. Turbonegro is a world-famous Norwegian punk rock band. They were originally active between 1979-1998, and later reformed in 2002. Their style is called “death punk” – a mix of glam rock, punk rock and hard rock.

017. Black Metal. A second wave of black metal bands originated in northern Norway in the early 90’s.

Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone, Immortal and Emperor spearheaded this style, which later spread throughout Europe and North America.

018. Lykke Li’s music is a mix of soul, electro and sugar pop. Her album Youth Novels was widely hailed as one of the best albums of 2008.

019. Icona Pop is a Swedish DJ duo formed in 2009, with influences of electro, house, punk and indie pop. The single “I love it” sold over 1.2 million copies in the US, surpassing ABBA, Robyn and Roxette.

020. Roxette, with members Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle, conquered the world in the late 80’s with hits like The Look and Dressed for Success. The duo has sold more than 60 million records worldwide.

021. Ace of Base is Sweden’s third largest music export after ABBA and Roxette. In 1993, their single “The Sign” topped the American Billboard chart for six weeks.

022. Pop sensation Aqua and their debut single Barbie Girl dominated music charts around the world in 1997. They have sold 33 million albums and singles, making them the

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027 most successful Danish-Norwegian group of all time.

023. Swedish siblings Karin and Olof Dreijer, better known as The Knife, raised a lot of eyebrows around the world with their excellent electro music album Deep Cuts in 2003.

024. The Hives is a Swedish garage rock band that took the international stage by storm in the early 00’s with their album Veni Vidi Vicious and the single Hate To Say I Told You So. They are famous for their extravagant stage shows.

025. Europe was one of the biggest rock bands of the 80’s, with 20 million records sold. They’re best known for the song and album The Final Countdown from 1986.

026. Fonal Records is a Finnish indie label from the 90’s – probably better known internationally than in Finland. The label has signed Finnish indie acts such as Islaja, Lau Nau, Shogun Kunitoki and TV-resistori.

102 reasons Greta Garbo as Mata Hari 1932.

that films must be shot on location and that all sounds must coincide with the shoot. The goal of the manifesto was to create a counter-force to the ever-growing budgets of films, and to help up-and-coming directors gain recognition. The first Dogme film – perhaps the most famous one – is Thomas Vinterberg’s Festen, depicting a birthday celebration that takes a turn for the worse. Ironically, Lars von Trier went on to direct a number of films featuring Hollywood stars, including Willem Dafoe, Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst. If you’re interested in Lars von Trier’s films, Z Lifestyle recommends the depressing musical Dancer in the Dark and the minimalist drama Dogville. and also:

FILM 029. Ingmar Bergman

Few Scandinavian film directors have reached the same level of international acclaim and influenced as many filmmakers as Ingmar Bergman. He often collaborated with esteemed cinematographer Sven Nykvist, who in turn worked with Woody Allen, Andrei Tarkovsky and Roman Polanski, to name a few.

Four of Ingmar Bergman’s films have received Academy Awards: The Virgin Spring (1960), Through a Glass Darkly (1961), and Fanny and Alexander (1983) for Best foreign film, and Cries and Whispers (1973) for best cinematography.

030. Aki Kaurismäki

Aki Kaurismäki, the master of melancholy, is probably the most important contemporary Finnish film director. With films like The Man Without a Past and The Match Factory Girl, he has defined his distinct style of dark humour, scarce dialogue and Finnish tango music.

Kaurismäki’s persona has also caught people’s attention, known for his heavy drinking, non-stop smoking and dislike for all films produced after the 70’s – including his own.

Aki Kaurismäki refused to attend the Oscars when The Man Without a Past was one of the final five nominees for Best Foreign-Language Picture in 2003, as a protest against the war in Iraq. In fact, he refused

to let any of his films be the Finnish nomination for the Academy Awards until 2012, when he allowed having his French-language film Le Havre go forth as the Finnish nominee.

Kaurismäki reasoned that with the armed forces withdrawn from Iraq, there was no longer any need for a boycott.

031. Mads Mikkelsen

Widely regarded as the best new television show this year, Hannibal has intrigued and frightened viewers around the world. In particular, Mads Mikkelsen’s amazing portrayal of psychiatrist and serial killer Hannibal Lecter has really made the show stand out. Lecter also happens to be an amazing chef, although unfortu-

nately, his main ingredient is usually human flesh. Mikkelsen seems to have a knack for playing the bad guy, as he has also assumed such roles in films like Casino Royal.

032. Lars von Trier

Are you in the mood for a mind-blowing cinematic experience, and possibly several subsequent days of depression? Then why not watch one of the many films by Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier? Most people first heard of this eccentric director in the early 90’s when he directed the mini-series “The Kingdom”, which was shot at the Copenhagen University Hospital “Rigshospitalet”. In 1995, he helped create the Dogme 95 manifesto, which states

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is a Danish actor who is mostly known for his role as Jaime Lannister in HBO’s TV-series Game of Thrones.

Carl Theodor Dreyer from Denmark directed The Passion of Joan of Arc, a masterpiece of the silent film era. Renny Harlin has a long repertoire of Hollywood action flicks, such as Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger. Pihla Viitala is Finland’s biggest actress right now.

Ingrid Bolsø Berdal is a famous Norwegian actress, often found on the theatre stage. Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg are the Norwegian directors of Kon-Tiki, which was nominated for Best Foreign-Language Film at this year’s Academy Awards. Ingrid Bergman is one of the biggest actresses of all time. She is best remembered for her performance as Ilsa Lund in Casablanca. Greta Garbo fascinated an entire world and became an icon of the silent film era. Noomi Rapace played Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish-Danish film adaptation of the Millennium books.

“Known for his heavy drinking, non-stop smoking and dislike for all films produced after the 70's –including his own.” z lifestyle magazine | 71

102 reasons

P an

ton ch

air b

y Ver

ner Panton.

034. Monica Förster is a dignitary in the world of contemporary Swedish design. She works with companies such as Cappellini, Poltrona Frau, and De Padova, and has been the recipient of several prestigious design awards.

035. Dögg Guðmundsdóttir

Dögg Guðmundsdóttir is an Icelandic designer, based in Copenhagen, who creates versatile objects with nature and recycling in mind.

Her collaborations with Fanney Antonsdóttir have been exhibited around the world. Their latest instalment explores Nordic identity and was originally part of the “New Nordic” exhibition.

036. IKEA Few things are as strongly associated with Sweden as Ikea.

The company has stores all over the world, from Los Angeles to Singapore, where they sell furniture for self-assembly at home. The “Billy” bookshelf and “Klippan” sofa are two of their best-sellers.

Ikea was founded by Ingvar Kamprad in the 40’s, who later became one of the wealthiest persons in Sweden – and the world.

037. Hjalti Karlsson Icelandic

graphic designer Hjalti Karlsson is this year’s winner of the prestigious Nordic design award “Torsten & Wanja Söderbergs pris”. His design studio Karlssonwilker is based in New York City and his clients include Adobe, Time Magazine, Lamborghini and Vitra. and also:

Louis Poulsen is the Danish manufacturer of the classic PH-lamps, designed by Poul Henningsen. Fritz Hansen manufactures furniture designed by Arne Jacobsen and Poul Kjaerholm, among others. Jacob Jensen worked with the Danish firm Finlandia Hall in Helsinki by Alvar Aalto, 1972.

Bang & Olufsen between 1965 and 1991, where he designed more than a hundred products. Kay Bojesen is best known for his wooden figures, including the famous monkey in teak and limba.

Bruno Mathsson, is known for his furniture and architecture, inspired by the functionalist movement. Verner Panton has created colourful and memorable pieces like the Flowerpot lamp and the Panton chair.

o Alto.

033

was inspired by ripples on water.

The series is still in production and can be found in a variety of styles and colours.

Ain

Photo: Alvar Aalto Museum

two legendary profiles in Finnish design and architecture. They were two of the founders of the furniture company Artek, and have designed unforgettable glassware classics for Iittala.

Alvar Aalto is one of the most important names in the Scandinavian modernist movement. His architectural work includes the Finlandia Hall and the House of Culture in Helsinki. Flowing lines and organic shapes are common features in Alvar Aalto’s designs, and can be found in everything from the Savoy vase to his chairs and buildings. He was an architecture graduate from the Helsinki University of Technology, and he opened his first architectural office in Jyväskylä about a year before he married Aino Marsio.

Aino Aalto, born Marsio, has designed buildings, furniture, and textiles, but is probably best known for the Iittala glassware series that carries her name. Designed 80 years ago, the series

alto's glass

033. Alvar and Aino Aalto are

te

A no Ai

DESIGN

pla

Arne Jacobsen's classic chairs Swan and Egg. Read more on page 122–126.

Photo: Philip Karlberg

102 reasons to love the nordic

042

Finnish Iittala has its roots in glass, but has expanded to other materials, such as ceramics and metal.

Swedish glassworks Orrefors and Kosta were founded in Småland.

Josef Frank was an architect and designer who worked intimately with design firm Svenskt Tenn. Marimekko’s printed textiles in vibrant colours, like Maija Isola’s large flower print, have become a symbol of Finnish design. Olavi Lindén is the man behind the Fiskars scissors, known for their characteristic orange handles. They’re a great example of looks and ergonomics intertwining. The Tripp Trapp chair was designed by Norwegian Peter Opsvik in the 70’s – just about every child in the Nordics have sat on one. Sigvard Bernadotte was the Swedish prince who became one of the country’s best-known designers.

Many prominent artists have contributed to Royal Copenhagen throughout the years. For example, in 2008 the esteemed contemporary Danish designer Louise Campbell created the Elements dinner service set.

The set was inspired by some of the designs from the company’s past, but deviates by incorporating other colours than blue. The factory’s three waves trademark can be found on every porcelain item from

“A chair is to have no backside. It should be beautiful from all sides and angles.”

Hans Wegner Royal Copenhagen and symbolises the three straits of Denmark: the Sound, the Great Belt, and the Little Belt.

1726. The purple lace pattern was one of the company’s most famous designs, manufactured between 1845-1936, while Ostindia is one of their better known recent designs.

040. Arabia This ceramics company

in Helsinki was founded in 1874, and was Europe’s largest during the 50’s.

It is now part of the Iittala group.

041. Rörstrand Famous manufacturer of Swedish porcelain since

Orrefors The Orrefors glassworks – part of the Kosta Boda group – was founded in Småland, the cradle of Swedish glass-blowing.

In 2010, the brand entered into a collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld.

042.

Glass & Porcelain 038. Iittala World famous Finnish glass company, founded in 1881.

One of their most famous series is the Tapio Wirkkalas Ultima Thule from the 60’s.

039. Royal Copenhagen The hand-made, hand-painted blue and white porcelain of Royal Copenhagen has been produced ever since pharmacist Frantz Heinrich Müller founded the company in 1775.

Back then it was called The Royal Danish Porcelain Factor y, and was run by the Royal Family until 1868.

041 Ostindia by Rörstrand.

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102 reasons Finland, "the land of a thousand lakes".

Nature045 043. Salmon in all shapes and

047. The lakes of Finland Finland

forms is dear to many in the Nordics. Raw spiced salmon, smoked salmon, and salted salmon are but some of the many delicacies associated with this fish.

is known as “the land of a thousand lakes”. The Lakeland district in the south-east is the largest lake district in Europe. Here you will find Saimaa, the largest lake in Finland.

044. The northern lights This

048. Geysers These natural hot

beautiful display of green light appears in the northern parts of the Nordics when charged particles accelerate into the Earth’s atmosphere.

springs on Iceland are among the most exotic elements of the island. Geysir is the most famous area for hot springs on Iceland, and the English word “geyser” is derived from its name.

045. Elks The Eurasian elk is the largest member of the deer family and can be found in the forests of Finland, Norway and Sweden.

046. Icelandic horses This is a tough breed, shaped by the nature and climate of Iceland. They are small and sturdy with thick fur and two additional gaits, the tölt and the flying pace. It is the only breed of horse on Iceland, as you’re not allowed to import horses to the island. In addition, Icelandic horses that have left Iceland are never allowed to return.

049. Polar bears It’s not exactly true

that polar bears roam the streets of the Nordic capitals – although some cartoons will try to convince you otherwise – but they do inhabit Greenland, which is part of Denmark, and the Norwegian Svalbard Islands in the Arctic Ocean.

050. Fjords The word “Fjord” is orig-

inally Icelandic, and refers to a narrow body of water surrounded by steep cliffs. Fjords are particularly common in Norway and on Iceland, and are considered a highlight of Nordic nature.

Photo: CH - Visitnorway

Norwegian fjord.

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052

Moods of Norway is the Nordic's most colourful fashion brand.

Photo: Staffan Widstrand/Visit Sweden

047

Elks can be found in Norway, Finland and Sweden.

fashion 051. Acne The edgy apparel of Acne Studios has taken the brand from Stockholm to the international fashion scene. They’re known both for their uncompromising artistic image and their unconventional management style.

However, Acne is not only a fashion brand. They also have a biannual magazine, Acne Paper, which has been lauded for its originality and high-quality content. In addition, Acne has been involved in several design collaborations, resulting in bikes and furniture pieces, among other things.

052. Moods of Norway While

Nordic fashion is often characterised by minimalism, Moods of Norway is

probably the most colourful fashion brand to come out of Scandinavia.

With a large amount of humour and the notion that overdressing is impossible, they have brought their happy clothes to cheerful people since 2003, including Gwen Stefani and Kellan Lutz.

053. H&M It’s one of the best

known fashion stores in the world, and the second largest in terms worldwide outlets. H&M is loved for its affordable and up-to-date fashion. The first store opened in 1947 in the Swedish town of Västerås, at which time it was simply called “Hennes” (Swedish for “hers”) and only sold women’s clothing.

Twenty years later the owner Erling Persson bought the company Mauritz Widforss, which sold men’s

102 reasons

“They are small and sturdy with thick fur and two additional gaits, the tölt and the flying pace.”

hunting gear, and thus the new name was Hennes & Mauritz. The role of CEO has been passed down the Persson family and is currently held

by Karl-Johan Persson, while his father Stefan Persson is Chairman of the Board and famously pays the highest income tax in Sweden.

Since 2004, H&M has used guest-designers in their collections. Their collaborators include Karl Lagerfeldt, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli and Jimmy Choo. and also:

Acne

The Nordic clogs (wooden-soled shoes with leather uppers) have lately evolved into a fashion statement. By Malene Birger is the brand of one of Denmark’s leading fashion designers, Malene Birger. The knitted Lusekofte, or setesdal cardigan, with its distinct pattern is strongly associated with Norway. You can find them at Dale of Norway, for example. Eton has designed men’s shirts and accessories since 1928. They are sold all over the world and have recently opened flagship stores in both New York and London. Cheap Monday quickly made a name for themselves in the 00’s, especially among Sweden’s indie youth. Their tight jeans can now be found all over Europe and the US.

Ole Lynggaard, established in 1963.

Lusekofte by Dale of Norway.

There are more than two million saunas in Finland.

059

Inventions

059. Sauna Heated rocks, wood-

jewellery Nordic jewellery design is elegant, bright and pure. Here are a few of our favourites.

054. Ole Lynggaard This worldrenowned Danish company has made jewellery for the Danish Royal Family for 40 years. The brand was established in 1963 by designer Ole Lynggaard, who has since been joined by his daughter Charlotte.

055. Georg Jensen Quality craftsmanship – jewellery, table silver, interior design and clocks – for a global market. The company was founded by silversmith Georg Jensen more than 100 years ago.

056. Efva Attling Swedish jewel-

lery designer that is sold around the world. The brand received a lot of attention in 1999, when Madonna wore their Homo Sapiens necklace.

057. Maria Nilsdotter Imagina-

tive, organic jewellery by the Swedish designer with the same name.

058. Lapponia Uncompromising Finnish jewellery design created by six internationally renowned artists.

en benches and a temperature exceeding 100 degrees Celsius.

There are more than two million saunas in Finland, a country of 5.4 million people. Some Finns are even born in (non-heated) saunas, as the regular heat makes them a sterile, bacteria-free environment.

060. Dynamite What do you get

if you soak sawdust in nitro-glycerine, pack it into a cylindrical shape and wrap it in protective coating?

The answer is dynamite, invented

by Swedish engineer and chemist Alfred Nobel in 1867. Originally sold as “Nobel’s blasting powder”, dynamite was both safer and more effective than black powder.

And also:

The Safety Match was invented by Swede Gustaf Erik Pasch, removing the dangerous white phosphorus by using a striking surface. Cn u spk txt? SMS messages were invented by Finnish engineer Matti Makkonen almost 30 years ago.

Although the adjustable spanner was invented by two British engineers, the tool is often attributed to Swedish inventor Johan Petter Johansson because of improvements he made to the design.

The dynamite was invented in 1867.

061. Lego David Beckham, Brad Pitt and Will.i.am. are but some of the world’s many Lego collectors.

The famous Danish miniature construction bricks in ABS polymer have captivated kids around the world for more than half a decade. In addition to the iconic Lego bricks – and their lesser-known siblings Duplo – the Lego company has expanded into fields such as theme parks and videogames. In the process they’ve become the third largest toy company in the world.

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102 reasons

066

Jo Nesbø, Norway's most successful crime writer ever.

LITERATURe 065. Suzanne Brøgger Her debut

062. Louisiana The

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark has one of the largest permanent collections of art in Scandinavia, with pieces by Picasso, Giacometti, and Warhol, among others. The museum was designed by Jørgen Bo and Vilhelm Wohlert, who have also designed the museum’s expansions together with Claus Wohlert.

scream of nature”. This year is the 150th anniversary of Munch’s birth, which will be celebrated with the Munch 150 Anniversary Exhibition in Oslo. This event will be held at the National Gallery and the Munch Museum until 13 October, and with 220 paintings it will be the largest exhibition of his main works ever to be held.

063. Edvard Munch An expres-

064. Carl Larsson was part of

sionist pioneer and a master of symbolism, Edvard Munch is Norway’s most famous and influential painter. He created the iconic The Scream based on his own experience of what he described as “a

the Arts and Crafts Movement. His beloved watercolour paintings have come to represent the image of Sweden. The paintings were often depicting his house, Lilla Hyttnäs, and his family life.

Carl Larsson represents the image of Sweden.

066. Jo Nesbø is the most suc-

cessful Norwegian crime writer ever, with more than 18 million books sold worldwide. He is best known for his ten novels about Inspector Harry Hole, the most recent being Politi (“Police”), which sold 270,000 copies in Norway in the first two days after release.

067. Stieg Larsson The Millenni-

um trilogy, starring unconventional heroine Lisbeth Salander, took the world by storm in the past decade.

The crime novels depict a Sweden far from picture-perfect stereotypes.

Stieg Larsson was the second best-selling author of 2008 and the books have sold more than 65 million copies worldwide. Stieg Larsson died prematurely at age 50, Photo: Kontrapunkt

ART

"Scream", iconic painting by Edvard Munch.

Fri os fra kærligheden ("Free us from love"), an essay collection published in 1973 criticizing gender roles and the nuclear family, made Danish author Suzanne Brøgger a feminist icon. Her breakthrough novel Crème Fraîche was published in 1978.

Søren Kirkegaard, one of the founders of existentialism.

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before the novels were published, and never got to experience their success.

The Millennium series have been adapted to the big screen in a Swedish-Danish version directed by Niels Arden Oplev and an American version of the first book “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” directed by David Fincher.

068. Erlend Loe is a beloved Norwegian author, known for his naïve and humorous style of writing. His breakthrough novel “Naïve.

Super” deals with serious subjects like the meaning of life in a remarkably simple way, which is typical of Erlend Loe. 069. Søren Kierkegaard is a

Danish icon. Regarded as one of the founders of existentialism (though he didn’t use the term himself), he was a very influential philosopher and writer. Kierkegaard died in 1855 at the age of 42, but was very productive; he wrote around 40 books and many newspaper articles.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of his birth, which is celebrated from 5 May to 11 November with events around the world. and also: Henrik Ibsen is the play-

write pride of Norway and arguably the most performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare. August Strindberg’s impact on Swedish literature cannot be overstated. His “The Red Room” is widely regarded as Sweden’s first modern novel.

Johan Ludvig Runeberg is the national poet of Finland. The epic poem “The Tales of Ensign Stål” is his most famous work. Halldór Laxness received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955 “for his vivid epic power, which has renewed the great narrative art of Iceland”.

102 reasons The Moomin family has been part of many children's upbringing.

070 CHILDREN’S FICTION

With authors such as H. C. Andersen, Astrid Lindgren, Tove Jansson, and Elsa Beskow, the Nordic countries have a proud history of quality children’s stories and books.

Hans Christian Andersen

Elsa Beskow

H. C. Andersen wrote some of the most prominent fairy-tales of 19th century Europe. Today, stories like The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Little Match Girl, The Princess and the Pea, Thumbelina and The Ugly Duckling are part of the West’s cultural consciousness.

That’s quite a legacy. Although he is mostly known for his fairy tales (he wrote as many as 152), H. C. Andersen also wrote novels, poetry, screenplays and an autobiography.

Elsa Beskow is the author and illustrator of several famous Swedish children’s books. Her best known works include the classics “The Tale of the Little Little Old Woman” and “Aunt Green, Aunt Brown and Aunt Lavender”.

She is the mother of Pippi Longstocking, Karlsson-on-the-Roof, the Six Bullerby Children and many more beloved characters. It is estimated that her books have sold more than 145 million copies worldwide.

CULTURE 071. Christiania In 1971, a group of people squatted a military area in Copenhagen and created the autonomous neighbourhood of Christiania.

It’s a community of people with alternative views on life, who have created a self-governing society within a society. Almost 1,000 people live in Christiania today, but as one of Denmark’s most popular tourist spots it

071

Christiania, Denmark's most popular tourist spot.

Since 1945, the gentle and philosophical Moomins have been part of many children’s upbringing, their popularity stretching all the way to Japan. Tove Jansson’s stories and her group of whimsical characters in Moominvalley capture the wonders of adventure and curiosity, balanced by a Nordic stroke of melancholy.

The Jansson family has kept control of the brand throughout the Moomin boom of the 90’s, and even turned down offers from Walt Disney. 2014 will mark the 100th anniversary of Tove Jansson’s birth.

attracts more than 500,000 visitors a year. The diverse architecture is a mixture of unique, self-built homes and designer houses.

072. Trolls On the internet, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory comments for the sole purpose of annoying or enraging other users. Many message boards have warnings signs saying “don’t feed the trolls”, meaning you’re best off ignoring those who are not engaging in a serious discussion. If

Photo: Moomin Characters

Astrid Lindgren

Tove Jansson

you ever find yourself in the presence of Nordic trolls, however, simply ignoring them might not be such a good idea; these beings would probably consider you a great afternoon snack. Nordic trolls live in the woods and feed on the fresh meat of humans. However, if you manage to get into direct sunlight you’ll be safe, as it makes them turn into stone and explode. If you’re interested in trolls, we recommend that you watch the Norwegian film Trollhunter.

073. The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group started out in the Nordic

countries. Their first hotel opened in 1960 in Copenhagen, designed by architect extraordinaire Arne Jacobsen (see our article on page 122). Since then, Rezidor has been associated with quality service and great accommodation. The name is said to be a fusion of the words “residence” and “or” (French for gold).

Photo:Ty Stange

074. Norwegian oil Unbeknownst

to many, Norway is actually a large exporter of oil. In fact, Norway is the fifth largest exporter of oil in the world, ahead of countries such as Iraq, Kuwait and Venezuela, and is

Den lille havfrue.

also the majority owner of the Statoil oil and gas company. However, fossil fuels are a limited resource, which is why Norway has set up a fund to conserve the incredibly high – albeit limited – revenue stream from their oil reserves.

Commonly called “The Oil Fund”, it is the largest wealth fund in the world – surpassing those of countries such as China and Saudi Arabia – with 565 billion euros in assets.

075. Den lille havfrue Gazing over

the city of Copenhagen, this bronze statue is one of the most famous landmarks of the Danish capital. Based on the fairy-tale by Danish writer H.C. Andersen – That’s right! Bet you didn’t know “The Little Mermaid” is Danish! – the statue has adorned Copenhagen since 1913.

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Photo: Andreas Mihatsch/Hurtigruten

102 reasons

076

Hurtigruten between Bergen and Kirkenes is one of the world's most beautiful experiences at sea.

Cruises 076. Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten is regarded as something of a Norwegian state treasure, far more than “just” a cruise line.

The first ship set off in 1893, and the voyage between Bergen and Kirkenes has since become known as one of the world’s most beautiful experiences at sea. www.hurtigruten.com 077. Baltic Sea Cruises

Ever yone in Finland, Sweden and Åland knows about Baltic Sea cruises, and most people have been on one at some point in their lives. In Finland they’re called “Sweden boats” and in Sweden they’re called “Finland boats”.

The traffic across the Baltic Sea is a tradition that dates back to the 18th centur y. These days, the ships are becoming increasingly bigger and more modern in order to attract the most passengers.

There’s ever ything from relaxed day-cruises to exclusive dinners and spas. The restaurant might be offering a seven-course meal with exclusive wines, while the bar next door has inexpensive cocktails and karaoke. In other words, there’s something for ever yone.

Cruises: www.tallinksilja.com vikingline.com | en.birka.se

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“Crisp bread certainly cannot be accused of being extravagant.

It is typically Nordic.”

Absolut Vodka, a well-known Swedish export product.

FOOD 078. Swedish meatballs Tradi-

tional Swedish meatballs are best ser ved with mashed potatoes, gravy, lingonberr y jam and pickled cucumbers – an irresistible par t of the Nordic cuisine.

079. Noma , the culinar y pride of

Copenhagen is one of the best restaurants in the world. The influential Restaurant Magazine named it the best restaurant in the world 2010, 2011, and 2012, though it slipped down to second place in 2013 when Spanish restaurant El Celler de Can Roca won.

Never theless, holding the top spot three years in a row is a feat only bested by another Spanish restaurant, El Bulli.

080. Fazer The Finnish company Fazer was established in the 1890s and has brought us chocolate and confectioner y

102 reasons

“Noma, the culinary pride of Copenhagen, is one of the best restaurants in the world.”

Sae vendaeriArum eaquid que omnitis mo berenim invent moloreptatis nonsect ionsecusae ma volu

classics such as Geisha, Fazer Blue, Tutti Frutti and Marianne.

Fazer recently launched a selection of sweets in collaboration with another Finnish success stor y, Rovio – the creators of Angr y Birds. The Angr y Birds product line includes wine gums, lollipops, chewing gum, donuts and cakes.

081. Crisp bread

It should come as no surprise that crisp bread originates from the Nordics. It is practical, healthy, and can cer tainly not be accused of being extravagant. In other words: typically Nordic.

082. Danish beer

Homer Simpson famously said that women are like beer. “They look good, they smell good, and you’d step over your own mother just to get one.” Homer would probably feel right at home in Denmark, as it is home to beers such as Carlsberg and Tuborg. You’d think this heritage would entail a substantial beer consumption in Denmark, but it’s actually fairly average – far behind countries like Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and Ireland. Nevertheless, Carlsberg is one of the best-known brands of lager in the world, and if you happen to be in Copenhagen you might

want to visit the Carlsberg brewery and museum. The tour gives you a great insight into the history of Danish beer production, and the souvenir shop has a lot of very affordable beer on offer. Also, each admission ticket comes with two complementary beers.

The Nobel Prize

The Nobel Prize award ceremony, held at Konsterhuset in Stockholm.

What do Albert Einstein, T.S. Eliot, Alexander Fleming and Marie Curie have in common? They are all Nobel Prize winners! A truly Nordic event (all prizes are awarded in Sweden and Norway), the Nobel Prize has become the highest form of praise in fields such as chemistry, physics, literature and economics, not to mention the famous – at times controversial – Nobel Peace Prize.

Artturi Virtanen from Fin-

land received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1945 for his agricultural and nutrition chemistry research.

083. Absolut Vodka is one Sweden’s most famous expor t products, known both for its iconic bottle and ar tistic adver ts. The vodka is distilled in the small Swedish town of Åhus, and is a crucial ingredient in many popular cocktails.

Medicine in 1984 for his theories about the development and control of the immune system and the discovery of the principle for production of monoclonal antibodies.

Finn E. Kydland from Nor-

Niels Bohr from Denmark re-

ceived the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922 for his research on atomic structure and quantum mechanics.

Niels Kaj Jerne from Den-

mark shared the Nobel Prize in

Selma Lagerlöf from Swe-

den received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909 for her “lofty idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterize her writings”.

Hammarskjöld from Sweden received the Nobel Peace Prize posthumously in 1961. He is one of only three laureates to receive a Nobel Prize after their death.

Dag

084

Photo: Frida Westholm/The Nobel Media 2011

way shared the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2004 for his contribution to dynamic macroeconomics.

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102 reasons Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Swedish Hasselblad multi-format camera was famously used during the first moon landing.

Tech 086. Spotify Stockholm-based Spo-

tify has become the world’s largest music streaming service, with more than 6 million paying subscribers and 24 million users. It appears that online streaming is the way of the future – in the UK, royalties from online music streaming have surpassed royalties from radio. Spotify launched in 2006 with an invite-only freemium model, which created a lot of buzz – and “invite begging” – on the net. There’s a freemium version for your laptop and a premium version for your smartphone. Also, they are currently offering a 1-month free trial.

ed out in completely unrelated industries, such as rubber boots and car tyre manufacturing, more than a century ago. The company’s name comes from the Finnish town of Nokia, close to where the company first started out. The telecommunications side of the business didn’t actually start until the late 60’s, and the first mobile phone wasn’t released until the 80’s. Since then, however, Nokia has gone on to become the world’s largest mobile phone maker (although they lost that title to Samsung in 2012). And with the new Lumia line-up, Nokia has shown that they’re not giving up the number one spot without a fight.

087. Nokia Famed mobile phone

manufacturer Nokia actually start-

088. Skype This nifty piece of soft-

Sport 085. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Having won the national league ten times, in four different countries, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is without a doubt one of the most successful football players in the world. He is not only a skilled football-player, however. He is also fluent in five different languages and his autobiography is Sweden’s best-selling non-fiction book of all time.

ware was released in 2003, developed by a Dane and a Swede. Since then, Skype has amassed more than half a billion users around the world, and was bought by Microsoft for approximately 6.4 billion euros in 2011. Skype allows you to voicechat with anyone in the world for free, and also lets you make long-distance phone calls at generous rates.

Z Lifestyle strongly recommends that you download the Skype app for your smartphone.

089. Angry birds Most people who

have owned a smartphone have probably heard of the game Angry Birds, made by Finnish sensation Rovio.

This simple, yet addictive game has been downloaded nearly 2 billion times, and is available on more or less every device in existence. The premise is simple: green pigs decide to steal the birds’ eggs, which makes the birds angry. Angry enough, in fact, to slingshot themselves into their newfound enemies – and into the hearts of people around the world.

090. Minecraft Swedish programmer Markus Persson combined his computing skills with his childhood love for Lego and created one of the most successful computer games of all time. Minecraft lets you and your friends explore a three-dimensional world made

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and also:

Winner of 11 Grand Slam tournaments and one of the best tennis players of all time, Björn Borg was truly the first “rock star” of tennis.

Mika Häkkinen is a Finnish race car driver who won two back-to-back F1 championships for the McLaren team.

Peter Schmeichel is a Danish football goalkeeper who played for Manchester United in the 90’s.

Petter Northug is a famous Nor-

wegian cross-country skier and Olympic gold medallist.

Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson

was Iceland’s first professional football player. He later entered the political stage, serving as Minister of Finance and Minister of Industry on Iceland. up of small, low-resolution cubes.

Using axes and shovels, players can alter the world around them as they see fit. Minecraft has sold over 20 million copies, making Markus Persson a multimillionaire.

In fact, at one point he was making so much money that Paypal shut down his account – they suspected he was involved in organized crime.

091. Linux The Windows operating system made Bill Gates the richest person on Earth, while Apple’s counterpart OSX has made a generation of regular people comfortable with using computers.

However, there’s also a Finnish operating system called Linux that has become a favourite among programmers and governments.

The open source nature of the operating system means that the source code is available to anyone, and also that it is free of charge.

Tux, mascot of operating system Linux.

Minecraft is one of the most successful computer games of all time.

Meet a genially simple, light and happy chair RBM Noor is a contemporary classic that marks a new beginning in vitalising spaces and relations.

A collection of canteen and conference chairs adding vitality to working spaces and sociable places.

Meet a wide range of colourful chairs easily combinable with every purpose, room or environment.

A collection with a Scandinavian identity and environmental thinking. A result of an innovative design collaboration between the designers: Form Us With Love, StokkeAustad, Susanne Grønlund/ Grønlund Design and Scandinavian Business Seating design team.

www.rbmfurniture.se

A royal

affair A Scandinavian film director is searching for an actress. Follow us behind the scenes for a sneak peak at the audition, held at the Radisson Blu Royal Park Hotel in the beautiful Haga Park in Stockholm.

Styling: Kawa H Pour Photographer: Jonas Jensen

092

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Josefine in a By Malene Birger skirt, 260 euros. Jumper by Bitte Kai Rand, 195 euros. Heels by Have 2 Have, 65 euros.

Sunglasses by Jimmy Choo, 420 euros.

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Mads in a checkered shirt by Ljung, 100 euros. Sunglasses by Yves Saint Laurent, 490 euros.

Josefine in wool coat

by Ralph Lauren, 1,100 euros. Ruffled silk and wool dress by Heidi Paula/Muuse, 800 euros.

Sweet Rose Berlock by S채gen, 85 euros.

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Mads wearing a Zadig & Voltaire suit jacket, 430 euros. Trousers by Filippa K, 150 euros.

Suede shoes by Hope, 350 euros. Gloves by Sauso, 105 euros.

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Josefine in leather trousers

by Diesel Black, 460 euros.

Blazer by Max Mara, 455 euros. Lace body by Modstrรถm, 55 euros. Leather shoes by United Nude, 165 euros. Brass brooch by Lotta, 110 euros.

Silver necklace by David Martin, 210 euros. Gold plated silver earrings by David Martin, 140 euros.

Josefine in dress by Max Mara, 640 euros. Wool hat by Noa Noa. Leather purse by Boss Black, 195 euros. Leather and fur gloves by Armani, 30 euros. Neck piece by Morris Lady, 215 euros.

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Mads in a leather jacket

by Boss Black, 3,000 euros. Shirt with braces

by Antony Morato.

Trousers by Antony Morato. Price on request.

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Josefine in sensual lace top By Malene Birger, 250 euros. Pencil skirt by Heidi Paula/Muuse, 260 euros.

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Mads in the director's chair, wearing a cashmere coat

by Boss Black, 650 euros.

Jumper by Antony Morato, 95 euros. Trousers by Boss Black, 260 euros.

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Josefine wearing a reptile print leather jacket by Ralph Lauren, 1,400 euros. Leather skirt by And Yellow Paper, 250 euros.

Bustier, 55 euros. Leather and suede boots by Patrizia Pepe, 240 euros. Gold plated necklace

by David Martin, 220 euros.

Mads wearing a leather jacket by d.brand, 195 euros. Jumper

by American Vintage, 165 euros.

Trousers by Boss Black.

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Josefine in a black dress by And Yellow Paper, 380 euros.

White coat in fake fur by Nina Jarebrink, 520 euros. Black suede heels by China Girl, 110 euros.

Leather Mulberry bag, 950 euros.

Sunglasses by Dior, 500 euros.

Mads wearing a wool suit by Stephen F, 1,300 euros. Vest

by Antony Morato, 80 euros.

Sunglasses by Alexander McQueen, 500 euros.

Styling: Kawa H Pour Photographer: Jonas Jensen Photo assistant: Frank Lohmann Stylist’s assistant: Suzanne Larsson Make-up: Martin Sundqvist Hair: Elin Eriksson Models: Josefine, Elite Models, Mads, Scoop.

Location The Radisson Blu Royal Park Hotel is located in Haga Park,

by Brunnsviken in Stockholm.

Each room is unique – cosy and classically furnished – and the lobby is decorated with golden mirrors and an open fireplace.

Haga slott, home to the Swedish crown princess and her family, is just a short walk away. www.radissonblu.com/ royalparkhotel-stockholm.

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Walk the trails OF THE SILJAN DISTRICT Experience walking trails that take you through culture-historical environments and dramatic displays of nature. Stroll along beaches, forest roads and footpaths. Visit a traditional hut, climb a mountain and partake of a packed lunch while enjoying a view that extends for miles and miles.

The Siljan District in Dalarna consists of four municipalities around the Siljan lake. The characteristic look of the Siljan District came about 377 million years ago, when a meteor hit the Earth. In order for more people to experience this scenic place, Siljan Tourism has created nine new and unique walking trails.

Welcome to Sweden and the Siljan District!

sverige norge sundsvall

SILJAN osLo

orsa

Uppsala västerås sToCKHoLM

Mora

göteborg

rättvik

gesunda

siLJAn Malmö Tällberg

Leksand

For more information about our walking trails, food and accommodation, as well as other activities, please visit our website at www.siljan.se or our tourist offices in Leksand, Mora, Orsa and Rättvik.

SILJAN.SE

+46 (0)248-79 72 00

Business Class About businessclass.se

Businessclass.se was founded by a group of extremely experienced travellers, with 5,000 flights between them in the past five years. The founders want to share their experiences, and advice you on how to improve your travel experience – on the ground or in the air – and how to make the most of your hotel stays. The keyword at Businessclass.se is ‘conscious travelling’; making active choices and always comparing prices and services. These days, Businessclass.se is Sweden’s leading forum for premium travel, with visitors from all over the Nordics.

Myth or reality?

Few topics attract as much interest as free upgrades. But can you really talk your way into the premium section of an airplane?

Does checking in early or wearing a tie improve your chances? Or are you forever at the mercy of a computer system? Based on thousands of completed flights among the members of the BusinessClass editorial team, we’ve found out how it really works. By: Jacob Molin Free upgrades – Do they even exist?

They certainly do! Complimentary upgrades usually happen when a flight or a cabin is overbooked. Almost all airlines overbook, as they know that some passengers will not show up or cancel last minute. The number of tickets offered for

a particular flight is calculated based on statistical data, and will usually be very accurate. However, occasionally it is not. In the event that more passengers show up than there are seats available, the checkin staff will usually resort to moving or upgrading passengers. These upgrades are

“Sometimes the staff might simply choose to upgrade whoever happens to be at the right place at the right time.”

called “operational upgrades” (or simply “Op-Ups”) and are the single most common type of upgrade.

Holiday periods are a particularly good time for operational upgrades, especially on long-haul flights that have room dividers between different classes. While business travellers are staying home with their families, many premium seats remain empty.

Consequently, rather than flying with empty seats some airlines deliberately overbook economy class. They then upgrade passengers to empty seats in business class to fill the aircraft.

Who gets upgraded?

In most cases it’s all about the plastic cards in your wallet. Most airlines seek to reward loyalty and will start by upgrading passengers with silver, gold or platinum status.

A frequent-flyer card with a partner airline or an airline within the same alliance might also put you high on the list. When there are no more passengers with shiny cards, most airlines prefer to upgrade passengers who paid full price for their tickets.

To maximize your chances, do make sure your frequent flyer card is properly entered into the booking system and that your status level has been recognized.

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Business Class meal for your flight, then that meal has already been prepared upon your arrival at the airport. Upgrading a passenger with a special meal means throwing away the old meal and ordering a new one, appropriate for the new class of travel.

Needless to say, this is not something most airlines will do.

Avoid trying to talk your way into an upgrade. The check-in staff has heard it all before, and by the time you’re done talking you’ve probably lost any chance you had of an upgrade. However, it never hurts to be nice to the staff. Also, if you have a legitimate reason for seeking comDon’tseal. pensation, then you can always Do’s & ecial m rder a sp cific • Don’t o suggest an upgrade. rds a spe a w to l ya

Of course there are! On a busy day with delays and cancellations there might not be enough time to go through a list of frequent travellers, or to reorganize a cabin just to upgrade a gold card holder. Instead, the staff might opt for a faster solution and simply choose whoever happens to be at the right place at the right time. This is particularly common in the summer, when there are fewer business travellers around.

means that they are stay lo e. less likely to upgrade • Do airline/allianc to be ely lik ts h ose flig you if you’re travel• Do cho verbooked. o ts with ling with your spouse ose fligh • Do cho ure travellers. is and children. many le . vel alone • Do tra Dress nicely. During holiday seasons there might not be any suitable candidates for automatic upgrades. In these situations, airlines will want to maintain a certain ambiance in their premium cabins, meaning a good appearance might improve your chances for an upgrade.

How to improve your chances

What not to do

Travel alone. Usually, the airline only needs to upgrade a handful of passengers, at best. This

Avoid ordering a special meal. If you have pre-ordered a vegetarian or gluten-free

If the system does not recognize you, then neither will the staff.

Any exceptions?

New terminal experiences in stockholm and Gothenburg This spring, two major Scandinavian airport expansions saw the light of day. The new international transit hall at the Gothenburg Landvetter Airport was finally inaugurated this February. The project included a 1,000 square metre expansion, which has resulted in 2,832 square metres of shopping and dining for passengers, more than the airport has ever seen in the past. Two months later, in April, the new transit hall at the Stockholm Arlanda terminal 2 was opened to the public. It’s the first major revamp of the interior since the opening of the terminal in 1990.

Failed to get a free upgrade?

All hope is not lost. Although free upgrades exist, they are neither common nor easy to get. But there are other ways to secure an upgrade to a higher cabin class.

Many airlines allow you to use bonus points to purchase upgrades. This can be done at the airport upon departure or when you book your flight, usually at a slightly higher price. As a last resort, you can ask at the check-in desk if there are any upgrade deals for your flight. This is particularly common in

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Asia and the US, where airlines sell upgrades at a fixed price at the airport, some of which can be surprisingly affordable.

Silence please!

A good pair of noise cancelling headphones is regarded by most frequent flyers as a must-have

travel accessory. While their ability to filter out unwanted engine noise comes in handy when watching a movie or listening to music, they even work when no sound source is connected.

It’s a great way of eliminating all the noise and stress associated with air travel, and helps you cope with the harsh effects of jetlag.

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where to eat

093 radissonblu.com/royalhotel-copenhagen

New Alberto K

A new generation of Danish chefs have taken charge of gourmet restaurant Alberto K, located on the 20th floor of the Arne Jacobsen-designed Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Copenhagen.

By: Camilla julner & Paulina Bylén Head chef and Bocuse d’Or 2013 runner-up Jeppe Foldager has teamed up with sous-chef Daniel Ditman and restaurant manager Emil Gamrath at the classic Alberto K in Copenhagen. Together, they have created a menu that’s both fastidious and extravagant. There are two set menus – one five-course meal and one seven-course meal – both rooted in Nordic tradition. Asparagus, lobster, turbot, quail, strawberries and rhubarb are some of the main ingredients.

In addition, there are a number of specially selected wines to go with the meals.

Alberto K is a tribute to designer Arne Jacobsen (see our article on page 122-126) and the hotel’s first manager Alberto Kappenberger. You sit on Series 7 chairs, and the cutlery is, of course, also designed by Arne Jacobsen. Not to mention, the restaurant treats you to a breath-taking view of Copenhagen.

The hotel has been renovated in several stages and styles, the most recent of which was completed in 2001. All renovations have aimed for a typically Scandinavian style, with large window sections.

Details such as water taps from Vola and door knobs designed by Arne Jacobsen pay tribute to the perfectionism taught by the master himself: “It has been said for many years that when a thing is practical and functional, it is beautiful as well” – Arne Jacobsen.

Chef Jeppe Foldager and sous-chef Daniel Ditman are part of the new kitchen team that has created new five- and seven-course meals rooted in the Nordic tradition.

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interview

The Scandinavian

Connection

She’s a singer, an actress, a designer, a model – and as of recently, a mother. And she has a very special relationship with Nordic fashion and Nordic designers. Meet Beyoncé, one of the world’s most influential celebrities.

By: GUNNAR REHLIN PhotograpHy: Tom Munro management + artists

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094

Always in fashion Name: Beyoncé Knowles.

Profession: Singer, actress, model.

Family: Husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy. Resides in: New York.

Currently: On a world tour and voicing one of the characters in the animated film “Epic”.

She has also created the fashion brand House of Deréon and the perfume Pulse NYC.

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interview

“My mother always reminds me: “Girl, you’re not a queen”. It’s great to have that balance.”

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T

interview

here must be something special about Scandinavian fashion, at least in the eyes of world-famous superstars. Just ask Beyoncé. A Norwegian designer created her stage outfits for the on-going world tour – and she’s H&M’s summer model.

– I’ve always liked H&M’s brand of fun and affordable fashion. I loved our collaboration concept about exploring women’s feelings through the four elements – fire, water, earth and wind, she said when the collection launched this spring.

And what about that Norwegian guy? His name is Peter Dundas, and he’s the artistic director at Emilio Pucci This summer she’s in the animated film “Epic” – voicing a forest since 2008. He and Beyoncé get along really well, as can queen as well as the song played during the closing credits. be seen in her bold stage outfits. Dundas explains: – I felt so honoured when they asked me, she told ABC at the time.

– I like to make really short skirts. I love legs.

– And it was emotional. I started crying when I did my voiceover.

It was my first job since my daughter was born.

I really, really love them.

I’ve met Beyoncé a number of times, and she’s always struck me These creations can be witnessed at Beyoncé’s on-going as a talented young woman with a real sense for business – someone world tour, The Mrs Carter World Tour 2013 (that’s right, her who knows what she wants, both in her career and in her private life. husband Jay-Z’s surname is Carter), which started in Europe She used to keep a tight lid on her private life, but now bursts with in mid-April and has included stops in Denmark, Norway enthusiasm when I ask her about her daughter Blue Ivy. and Sweden – with a finale in New York on 3 August.

– My public life, when I’m on the stage, is only a couple of hours Cheers, applause and sold our venues have followed – the a day. The rest of the time I’m with my family. I change nappies and O2 Arena in London was sold out three nights in a row and spend time with my mother, who always reminds me: “Girl, you’re a total of six nights there were sold out. not a queen”. It’s great to have that balance.

I meet a more modestly dressed Beyoncé, as we sit – I’m a very protective person. I want to make sure that my in a New York hotel room and discuss films and her daughter has a healthy, safe, normal life... she’s my top priority. And career. Instead of daring stage outfits she’s wearing a life’s completely different now. I’m still incredibly happy to be able smart dress, and she’s just the right amount of candid to do what I love, but now everything has more meaning. Now, life’s and articulate – as professional celebrities often are. And about being a mother.

Beyoncé IS a mega-celebrity in every sense of the word.

Beyoncé was born in Texas in 1981. She was an active singer She is one of the world’s most successful entertainers; and dancer in school. In the late 90’s she was one of the members she’s a singer, actress and businesswoman. Everything of the successful girl group Destiny’s Child, whose manager was her she touches turns to gold. And she knows what she father Matthew. wants for her acting career. She tells me: The group decided to take a break in 2002, after which Beyoncé – I don’t necessarily want to make films about launched her solo career with the huge hit “Crazy in Love”, featuring singing and music. I want to have a go at more a certain Jay-Z. Destiny’s Child reunited in 2005, only to split up dramatic films as well. again the following year. Since then, Beyoncé has continued her As a film journalist I often meet singers who get very successful solo career, in the process becoming the fourth most involved in the film industry in one way or another – influential celebrity in the world (according to Forbes Magazine). such as making documentaries (Neil Young, Mick Jagger) And she’s received tons of awards, not least Grammy Awards. or directing (Madonna). But usually it’s about wanting – I’ve always gotten along with the Grammy jury, she tells to see if their talents extend to the field of acting – such as Rihanna, Tyrese Gibson, Katy Perry or Beyoncé. me, laughing.

Although sometimes less than stellar, surprisingly often – And sure, it’s nice to win awards and to feel appreciated. But these acting ventures turn out to be really successful. for me, it’s just as important to participate and perform at the Beyoncé’s big breakthrough as an actress came in show. It’s something special.

2006 with one of the leading roles in “Dreamgirls”, and She has said on many occasions that she has two different she has since been in “Cadillac Records” and “Obsessed”. personas. In her private life she’s Beyoncé, while on stage she’s her tough alter ego Sasha Fierce. She has said that: “Sasha is an artist, a singer, wild, more sexual, fearless and constantly preaching women’s rights”. And her alter ego gives her a good perspective of her own life.

She doesn’t have any new film plans at the moment (at least not officially), as she is currently focussing on the world tour. However, during the past year she also produced and directed a documentary about herself, “Beyoncé: Life is but a Dream”.

It was shown on American television in February, and will be distributed on DVD throughout the rest of the world.

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watches

Basel World 2013

architecture meets

horology

The world’s largest watch fair was not only about horology, but also about architecture.

Basel is a world of its own.

By: Kristian Haagen

“So how do you like our new booth?” Rolex brand manager Justin Hogbin asks me, disregarding the apparent lack of new models on display.

The question did not seem out of place, however, as Rolex offered a brand new three-story high booth with a 42-seat restaurant and more than 1,500 square metres of, well, hospitality.

Rolex was far from the only watch brand that wanted to talk about their new premises at the watch fair. Hublot, TAG Heuer, Zenith, Bvlgari and Hermès, as well as 993 other watch and jewellery companies boasted a brand new look in the rebuilt Hall 1, which took only a year to complete.

Some of these massive booths would have made the Louis Vuitton store on the Champs-Élysées in Paris look puny. Even the Ginza shopping district in Tokyo looks run down compared to the new surroundings of Basel World, all made possible by the talented people at architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, who also designed the famous “Bird’s Nest” for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Platinum.

Some of these massive booths make the Louis Vuitton store on the ChampsÉlysées in Paris look puny.

All brand new

Basel World is a huge event and undoubtedly a serious money-maker for the small Swiss city. Of course, there is also the impressive Art Basel, which uses the same premises, but it’s not even remotely as big and important as the annual watch and jewellery fair.

Restaurants are fully booked throughout the fair, hotels have been pre-booked years ahead and locals vacate the city for a week; renting out their homes to journalists and retailers from all over the world.

This is, of course, the reason as to why Hall 1 stands all glorious and new, all 142,000 square metres of it. z lifestyle magazine | 105

watches

Rolex offered a brand new threestory high booth with a 42-seat restaurant and more than 1,500 square metres of, well, hospitality.

The fair looked nothing like my twelve prior visits to Basel World, which can be a somewhat frightening experience for a journalist who writes about such reactionary subjects as wristwatches from (mainly) Switzerland.

A world of its own

Basel World indeed is just that. A world of its own. 122,000 guests pass through the airport-like turnstiles and ‘ohh’ and ‘ahh’ in front of display windows of 1,460 watch and jewellery brands from more than 40 different countries. You’re almost tempted to show your passport instead of your day pass when entering this horological world that seduces its visitors with elements such as double tourbillons, constant escapements and appearances by the odd A-lister who endorses this or that brand. Cameron Diaz, for instance, popped by the new and very impressive TAG Heuer booth – one of the first “horological embassies” greeting you when entering the new Hall 1.

Breguet 5171, classic Chronograph.

The watches this year were classical. Not much new was released, except from Hublot, which offers new models every week it seems.

Hublot presented a model with as much as 50 days of power reserve and a design that reminds me of a pre-historic turtle.

However, most of the watchmakers preferred to talk about improved movements, better precision and concept models that were finally ready for commercial production. Breguet, for example, finally presented their fast beating movement with 72,000 beats per hour, of which they “will sell thousands” according to their brand manager.

Short term lease

It is, of course, impressive that the new Hall 1 was finished in as little as one year. But the most impressive fact is that the huge new booths will all be disassembled after only eight days, put into storage for a year and rebuilt to greet guests, journalists and retailers again in the spring of 2014. Very much like a travelling circus, actually. Without the weekly showings though, or the elephants.

Oh, did I mention that Rolex presented a new Daytona in platinum? I’m fairly certain I tried it on while the brand manager was talking about their new booth.

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122,000 guests pass through the airport-like turnstiles and ‘ohh’ and ‘ahh’ in front of display windows of 1,460 watch and jewellery brands.

Trends

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What’s On

Z Lifestyle brings you the most exciting happenings and events from around the world.

EXPERIENCE MEETINGS MEETINGS DESIGNED WITH SPACE TO THINK, FAST FREE WIFI AND FOOD FOR THE MIND. ALL THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS.

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by hannah broman

up & coming

Garbo returns

The European première of the play “I was Greta Garbo” is held at the Radisson Blu Strand Hotel in Stockholm on 1 August, with additional performances on 2–4 August.

The story follows Greta Garbo, who is given the chance to return to life in order to complete some of her unfinished movie scenes. She returns to life right as her personal belongings are being auctioned off, bringing back a lot of memories. Greta Garbo is played by Ottiliana Rolandsson, who also wrote the screenplay. www.radissonblu.com/strandhotel-stockholm

For more information about Greta Garbo, contact the Garbo society in Högsby, Sweden. www.garbosallskapet.hogsby.se

Frozen delight

Street food

Yogurt Heaven is Oslo’s only self-serve frozen yogurt bar, located in the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel. They serve nine different flavours of natural, premium frozen yogurt with over 30 topping options; including fresh fruits, nuts and sweets – truly a taste of heaven. You become the architect of your own creations, making every ounce worth its weight in gold. www.radissonblu.com/ scandinaviahotel-oslo

Running Club

Wazaca is a newly opened Mexican restaurant at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Vaasa, Finland.

The restaurant specializes in Mesoamerican street food, such as tacos and quesadillas stuffed with marinated swordfish, grilled cactus and sweet corn. www.radissonblu.com/hotel-vaasa

Many people want to stay fit during their holiday or business trip. However, finding a suitable jogging path in a new city isn’t easy. That’s why the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel in Oslo and the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel in Stockholm arrange Running Club morning sessions twice a week.

Accompanied by two guides from the hotel, guests are taken on a 45-minute run on some of the best jogging paths. A morning run is a great way to experience a new city. www.radissonblu.com/plazahotel-oslo www.radissonblu.com/waterfronthotel-stockholm

Celebrations

in Uppsala

The Radisson Blu Hotel in Uppsala, Sweden, celebrated its one-year anniversary in May this year, with live music, a champagne brunch and possibly the biggest picnic ever.

Radisson Blu was the first global hotel chain to be established in Uppsala. www.radissonblu.com/ hotel-uppsala

z lifestyle magazine | 109

Fun activities for the entire family – all year round

Vellinge.se

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2013-06-24 16:12:29

airlines

095

moving up

Two airlines with widely different styles share a common interest in the Nordic countries. One of them is based in the West, the other in the East. In the second part in our series on airlines with a Nordic connection, we take a closer look at Icelandair and Turkish Airlines.

By: Paulina Bylén Photography: fredrick francke

Icelandair Despite the forecasts, Icelandair’s bookings in-

creased after the volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010.

Thanks to the volcano, Iceland appeared on headlines around the world and many realized that they wanted to experience this exotic island up north. And the positive trend hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.

– The 2012 fiscal year was the company’s best in its 76-yearlong history, says Karen Østerbye, PR Manager at Icelandair.

Instead of pulling the brakes on marketing expenses after the volcanic eruption and the financial crisis, Icelandair did the opposite; they invested more money into promoting the airline.

In retrospect this strategy may seem obvious, but during the financial chaos where all of Iceland more or less went bankrupt, it wasn’t as clear-cut. For example, all Icelanders basically stopped travelling overnight.

– During this period we actually received a larger marketing budget, intended solely for international promotion, says Karen Østerbye.

In addition to spending money when times were bad, Icelandair was smart enough to put money aside when times were good. All in accordance with well-tried Nordic tradition.

The strategy has been very successful. In 2013, Icelandair is launching its most comprehensive network of scheduled flights yet. They recently introduced a new route to Anchorage, Alaska, bringing the number of American destinations to eleven.

z lifestyle magazine | 111

airlines This includes an additional New York route, meaning that Icelandair has flights to both JFK and Newark. But the largest and most ambitious investment in the future is the purchase of twelve new Boeing 737 MAX aircrafts, a new and improved version of the existing Boeing 737. The engines are more energy-efficient, saving 20 percent of fuel compared with the existing model. The new aircrafts will be delivered by 2018.

Furthermore, this year Icelandair will become the first transatlantic airline to offer Wi-Fi services on their flights between Iceland and the US. One of Icelandair’s greatest strengths is its Icelandic roots. The moment you enter an Icelandair aircraft you’ll notice an unmistakable Icelandic atmosphere around you. The aim is for Icelanders to feel at home, and for visitors to experience Iceland as soon as they board the plane. A lot of emphasis is put on personal service that creates a homely, relaxed and Nordic atmosphere.

The Nordic countries are Icelandair’s biggest customer base, but many travellers also pass Iceland on their way to the US. The airline’s new strategy involves convincing more people to make a stopover, wherein travellers stay on the island for a couple of days before continuing their journey.

– Of course we want more people to stay and experience Iceland. That’s why we try to make our passengers interested in making a stopover before reaching their final destination.

112 | z lifestyle magazine

They have increased their focus on stopover alternatives in their marketing, and it has shown results. More people have become aware of these offers, which let you visit both Iceland and the US at no extra cost.

– The idea is that you get two holidays for the price of one, giving you added value for your money, Østerbye explains.

If you travel with children, a stopover could make the long journey more bearable, and it also gives you the additional experience of visiting Iceland.

Turkish Airlines

This airline is a real heavyweight in the industry, with strong ties to the Nordics. With 100 flights a week between Turkey and seven Nordic destinations, as well as a new code-share collaboration with SAS, the Nordic countries are an important market for Turkish Airlines.

– In a short time we’ve amassed a large number of Nordic travellers, and there’s still room for further improvement. In addition, our collaboration with Star Alliance partner SAS gives us a flexible connection to many smaller cities in the Nordics, says Gisle Dueland, Regional Marketing Manager at Turkish Airlines.

Another reason for the company’s growth in the Nordic countries is the region’s growing export industries and the fact that people here are travelling increasingly more.

Turkish Airlines was recently named “Best Airline in Europe” at the Skytrax World Airline Awards in Paris. The company also won

zlifestylemagazine.com

Photo: turkish airlines

airlines

“We’re the only European airline to offer four-star service as part of all our offerings.”

“Best Airline in Southern Europe” and “Best Business Class Catering”.

Not surprising, considering an economy class passenger is served turkish delight before take-off, along with a three-course meal and free beverages on the three-hour flight between the Nordics and Istanbul. Turkish Airlines also have a generous baggage policy, allowing travellers 30 kilos of baggage as well as the option to bring along a golf bag at no extra cost.

– We’re the only European airline to offer four-star service as part of all our offerings, including both Economy and Business Class, and for short and long-haul flights, says Gisle Dueland.

The newly renovated lounge in Istanbul is considered one of the best in the world. It can accommodate 2,000 people and has facilities such as a library, pool tables, a movie theatre, a playroom with the latest videogames, as well as shower rooms and restrooms.

And lots of food, of course.

The company has grown from 39 million passengers in 2012 to 46 million in 2013, and is expected to grow even more as new destinations are introduced. New destinations that might be of interest for Nordic travellers include Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Colombo in Sri Lanka, as well as Kathmandu in Nepal, Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan, Asmara in Eritrea and Manila in the Philippines. At least 28 new destinations are set to be introduced this year.

Competition in the airline industry is incredibly tough, with very small margins. This means that airlines have to be creative and efficient in order to stay competitive. Turkish Airlines has decided to maintain a high frequency of flights to a large number of destinations. They prefer

having several flights per day and offering many connections, rather than using larger aircrafts with lower frequency.

– And yet, we’ve managed to stay profitable. This requires a strong organization and an efficient fleet, which is why we only use new, energy-efficient aircrafts with an average age of six years. In addition, we have ordered 200 new aircrafts, to be delivered over the coming seven years. We also use a number of different channels in our customer relations, and we have invested in quality interactions in many different languages, Dueland concludes.

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Interview

King is back Stephen King is one of the world’s most popular authors of all time. Despite being a dollar billionaire, he’s still writing bestseller upon bestseller – and now he’s won the critics’ hearts as well. Z's Gunnar Rehlin became the first Scandinavian journalist to interview this master of horror in more than two decades.

By: GUNNAR REHLIN Illustration: Florian Nicolle

z lifestyle magazine | 115

Interview

tephen King sighs audibly.

– Of course the attacks and criticism hurt. But there was no way for me to protest against it. The only thing I could do was to keep doing my best and hope that people sooner or later would see what I’m capable of.

He stays quiet for a moment, and then says, laughing: – I guess these days I’ve outlived some of my worst critics.

Those who review my books these days are people who grew up with my work.

And these critics like him very much indeed. His upcoming book “22/11/63” has been widely praised, not least in the US. Does the date 22 November, 1963 ring a bell? That’s right; it’s the date when US President John F. Kennedy was murdered. In the book, the main protagonist finds a way to travel back in time, thus giving him an opportunity to prevent the murder.

– The idea dates back to the 70’s. I based my writing on this

college, he tells me over the phone from his office in Bangor, Maine, on the American east coast.

The small town of Bangor has become world-famous as the home town of Stephen King, and he has a large house there.

Many of his books take place in Maine, often in the fictitious town of Castle Rock (which has also given name to a successful film company). I have yet to visit Bangor, but it appears that King’s office has a very large bookshelf, because when we discuss Scandinavian authors he says: – I have John Ajvide Lindqvist’s “Let the Right One In” here.

And wait a sec, I think I have another one of his books. Let me see… yes, that’s right, “Handling the Undead” is also here. In fact, I haven’t dared to read “Let the Right One In” yet. I liked the films so much, both the American and the Swedish one, that I’m afraid the book won’t live up to my expectations.

– I’ve read Henning Mankell too. He’s Swedish, isn’t he? And Stieg Larsson, of course. I also like Jo Nesbø’s books. The latest one I read was “The Snowman”. I read books I think look promising, although I can be a bit sceptic towards translated novels.

The nuances get lost so easily.

Many years have passed since a young, penniless and compulsively writing King got fed up with being refused by publishers and threw the first pages of what was to become “Carrie” in the rubbish bin. His wife Tabitha picked them back up, told him the story was good, and asked him to finish the book, after which it was sent to a publishing firm. A film company bought the rights to the story about a bullied young girl with telekinetic powers who exacts revenge on her tormentors. The film became a huge success and helped make King a household name.

Readers loved him from the very beginning, making him a multi-millionaire. In particular, readers appreciated how he

“I don’t really see myself as a horror writer, but I’m OK with people thinking of me as one.” idea, but when I began my research I realized that there were so many details about the historical situation that I had been unaware of. Also, I was a heavy drinker at the time, which is why I passed on the idea back then. But the idea came back to me, all these years later. I’ve worked hard on the book, harder than I’d like to admit. I’ve read a lot of books about the incident, and I’ve visited Dallas and studied its surroundings. It was a fun book to write, and I hope my readers like it – it’s 900 pages long.

King likes to write really long stories. It gives the reader room to breathe, and allows the author to have some fun with the characters. The entire process, the whole story, deserves a chance to become engrossed in itself, he explains. These days, the once mocked King is considered one of the greatest American authors of all time, not least as a depicter of the average American. His influence on the thriller and horror genres has been great.

– I don’t really see myself as a horror writer, but I’m OK with people thinking of me as one. It has taken my kids through

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brought the horror theme into our everyday lives. His stories did away with gothic horror, meandering corridors in old castles and flickering candles. Instead, King recreated the horror atmosphere in our everyday lives – in a high school, in a vintage car, in a clown.

He combined ordinary lives with vampires, werewolves and monsters, and did so in a way that removed any safety nets readers might have had. Because if that vampire in King’s book was residing in a neighbouring house rather than in a far away castle, who’s to say this couldn’t be the case in real life as well?

Stephen King has always had an inner fire that allows him to release new books at an astonishing pace. This hasn’t caused him to play it safe, however. Instead, his writing has become increasingly refined over the years, and he often explores genres outside of pure horror. During the last decade he has often, directly and indirectly, portrayed the atmosphere following the terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center. He is very sceptical of politics and of the military-industrial complex; most noticeably

Interview

“I was incredibly excited and curious about Kubrick’s film, just like I was when David Cronenberg was making Dead Zone.” so in the epic “The Stand”, the short story “The Mist” and recent best-seller “Under the Dome”.

– Success is what drives me; the knowledge that people want to read my books. The money means nothing. I have more than enough of it, and I don’t have any expensive habits. The only form of extravagance I allow myself is cars. I’m very interested in cars and I have three or four of them, including a GTO sports car.

But writing at such a fast pace requires ideas. And he admits that he has fewer of them nowadays.

– I’ve never lacked new ideas, but I don’t get as many of them these days. My son Joe, who is 39 years old, sometimes calls me to say “dad, I’ve got a fantastic idea”, which makes me kind of jealous. But for me, one idea at a time is enough. I can’t write if I’m thinking too much about a different idea at the same time. The fact that ideas are fewer and further between is part of becoming old. Everything is slowing down, including your sex drive.

– When I start writing a book, the characters are barely sketched out. But then they become real, as do the environments in which they live. That’s the real fun part, seeing everything grow and evolve. When I start writing I don’t know how it will all end.

You can’t have an interview with Stephen King without touching upon the subject of film. I don’t think King himself can keep track of how many films have been made based on his books and short stories. And he is the first to admit that some of them are less than stellar.

– Sure, there’s been a lot of stinkers. And I doubt anyone is eagerly awaiting “Children of the Corn VIII”. I get to decide whether a certain story will get to become a film or not; I have final say. But I’m curious, and I want to see how the films turn out. If a young film-maker reaches out to me, then I will happily give him or her that opportunity. You have to give them a chance to shine. Someone did that for me once, and now I’m in a position to pay that favour forward.

And even if there have been many “stinkers”, King still believes that he’s been fortunate, as there have also been films like “The Shawshank Redemption”, “Misery”, “Stand by Me”, “Dead Zone”, “The Green Mile” and “The Mist”. However, he hates the film that many believe is the best adaptation of one of his books, namely Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”.

– I was incredibly excited and curious about his film, just like I was when David Cronenberg was making “Dead Zone”.

But Kubrick took a book that I believe was full of warmth, and instead made it ice cold. Just the fact that the film ends with the guy being frozen to death...

This autumn, King will release a sequel to “The Shining”. It’s called “Doctor Sleep” and takes place twenty years after the first book. The young boy has grown up, and is haunted – not surprisingly – by the memories from that winter at The Overlook Hotel.

Stephen King AGE: 64.

RESIDES IN: Maine and Florida.

FAMILY: His wife Tabitha (who’s had seven novels published) and his three children: Naomi Rachel, Joseph Hillstrom and Owen Philip. The latter two are also authors. Under the pen name Joe Hill, Joseph has become a successful horror writer with “HeartShaped Box”, “21st Century Ghosts” and “Horns”.

PROFESSION: Best-selling author; one of the most successful of all time. He’s had 28 New York Times bestsellers.

BOOKS: More than 60 novels and collections of short fiction, including “Carrie”, “The Shining”, “The Stand”, “Pet Sematary”, “The Dark Tower”, “The Green Mile”, “Duma Key” and “Under the Dome”.

IS AFRAID OF: Spiders. He’s currently building up the courage to write the ultimate horror novel about spiders.

TASTE IN MUSIC: He likes hard rock, especially Metallica. He’s also a fan of Bruce Springsteen. In fact, “The Stand” was named after a line in Springsteen’s “Jungleland”.

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interview

High flying

plans When the Rezidor Hotel Group’s newly appointed CEO, Wolfgang M. Neumann, asked Hilton’s Vice President for North and Central Europe, Olivier Harnisch, if he would like to become Rezidor’s new COO, the answer was an unequivocal ‘yes’.

– The company has a really exciting history.

Rezidor has so much to offer and is a dynamic hotel group. In other words, it was an easy decision to make, says a noticeably happy Olivier Harnisch.

Olivier Harnisch was hand-picked by Wolfgang M. Neumann. In fact, the position of COO had previously been held by Neumann himself, before CEO Kurt Ritter made him his successor.

According to Harnisch, the most noticeable difference between his previous employer and his current one is the decentralization – a very appealing difference for a COO. Decisions are made where the work is done.

Pilot, linguistic talent and hoteliere – meet Olivier Harnisch, the Rezidor Hotel Group’s new Chief of Operations.

What is your vision for the coming year?

– We are going to strengthen our brand further. We will grow our emerging operations wisely, and we will make use of opportunities in our new markets, such as Africa and Russia.

What is the most pressing issue for you right now?

– We need to make sure that all the necessary components for our Route 2015 programme are in place, and that we get the results we want to achieve.

What is your vision for the Nordic market?

– Our successes are built upon Rezidor’s early success in the Nordic countries. The Nordic market is, of course, very important to us, since it was here it all started. But there are also challenges here, such as the strong currency. Nevertheless, we are constantly looking to improve and expand the hotel market in the Nordic countries.

You also have a pilot licence. How often do you fly?

– I go flying twice a year, one week at a time. I always do this in the United States, as my licence was issued there. I usually fly in Florida, Louisiana and Key West. They are great family destinations, the weather is nice, and it is easy to rent a plane.

Olivier Harnisch COO (Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer) for the Rezidor Hotel Group.

Age: 46 years old.

Resides in: Brussels (he has moved more than 30 times throughout his life – his parents were foreign aid workers).

Family: Wife and two children.

Motto: If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got.

You speak many languages: French, German, Spanish, English, Italian and Indonesian. How come you know so many?

– I learned Spanish in Guatemala in the 90’s. When you have French as your first language, the other Southern European languages are not that difficult to learn. Also, I spoke German with my mother growing up. When I lived in Indonesia, the language came to me rather naturally – it is actually fairly easy. Learning a new language gives you a new perspective on things. As you learn how to pronounce the words, you also get a deeper understanding of the culture.

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RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

Lumi On Tour

Saving energy is fun! Guests and employees at the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group are encouraged to enter our Think Planet energy-saving competition. In addition, this summer children in the Nordic countries will get to meet Lumi the firefly and help us save energy.

By: inge Huijbrechts, Vice President Responsible Business at the Rezidor Hotel Group

The firefly Lumi is the mascot and sym-

bol of the Rezidor Hotel Group’s sustainability programme Think Planet. We chose a firefly because this little marvel of nature produces its own light in a fully efficient manner.

All Rezidor hotels are currently competing to see which hotel can save the most energy – and be creative at it. There are two competitions going on. The hotel which saves the most energy in the whole year wins a folding bicycle for each employee.

In addition, there is a quarterly social media competition called ‘Lumi On Tour’. The prize here is a dinner or party for the staff at the winning hotel. Hotel guests are also invited to be part of the creative social media buzz.

They can participate by posting pictures on Facebook featuring Lumi, and other Facebook users can vote for their favourite picture.

Lumi spreads its wings and knowledge about energy savings. Coinciding with the Facebook competition, the Lumiquiz will ask employees about fun energy saving facts – in 9 different languages.

Everyday actions and habits are really important for saving energy. That’s how we reasoned when we decided to get our employees and guests engaged in Think Planet with Lumi. And it has already shown results. Over the past five years, campaigns such as this one have reduced our hotels’ energy consumption per square metre by an average of 12.5 percent.

Lumi really brings the message home.

With Lumi on Tour we create a wave of social media fans for Think Planet. Join in and vote for your favourite picture on www.responsiblebusiness.facebook.com.

The Think Planet website

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www.thinkplanet.rezidor.com gives more detailed insights and examples. It also creates an easy-going and lively forum for environmental issues. There are many Think Planet enthusiasts, and together with our guests we aim to make a real difference. Over the next five years our estimate is that all Rezidor hotels will save as much energy and carbon emissions as taking 245,000 cars off the roads.

Think Planet’s results have exceeded expectations. For example, last year in South Africa, employees at the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel in Cape Town reduced their energy consumption by 28 percent.

As a reward, each of the 230 employees at the hotel received their own foldable bicycle. This success is really the team’s accomplishment. As Peter Thomas, HR manager puts it: ‘Many ideas came from our staff. We created Lumi ambassador badges for the best ideas. Validated by our chief engineer Alen Petersen, also known as ‘Mr fixit’, they helped us achieve these great results.

And … we want to win again this year!’

Check out the happy faces on www.responsiblebusiness.rezidor.com Saving 28 percent in a year is really im-

ment, with an LED light installation and investments in energ y-saving technology.

Our younger hotel guests are also invited to join Lumi and be a Lumi Hero.

This summer, Lumi for Kids will come to the Nordic countries. For the little ones there’s the Lumi on the Beach colouring book, and if the kids act smart on energy and water – for example by turning off the water tap while brushing their teeth – they receive a Lumi Hero stamp.

“ Lumi really brings the message home. With Lumi on Tour we create a wave of social media fans for Think Planet.” pressive. It demonstrates that we can make our Think Planet target of saving 25 percent of energy in 5 years. The secret to success is combining smart habits among the employees, such as shutting windows when the air conditioning is on and turning off lights and equip-

In addition, grown-ups can check out the Think Planet movie on the Rezidor info channel or browse the Think Planet webpages to find out how you can make a difference during your stay. www.thinkplanet.rezidor.com www.responsiblebusiness.facebook.com

summer rates Stay 2 nights, save up to 20% parkinn.com

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The Nordic

Wave

Modernism, perfectionism and an uncompromising attitude were at the heart of Arne Jacobsen’s craftsmanship, be it architecture or industrial design. We take a closer look at a designer who personified the Nordic wave.

By: Camilla Julner

His austere and streamlined designs were close to his heart, The influence of contemporary and Arne Jacobsen never gave up on them. When he had his architecture and Bauhaus mind set on an idea, it was to be finalized no matter what. At the International Exposition of Modern InThe SAS Royal Hotel, these days known as the Radisson Blu dustrial and Decorative Arts in Paris, 1925, the Royal Hotel, in Copenhagen incorporated both the mod- talented architecture student was awarded an imernism and perfectionism of Arne Jacobsen. At the time, pressive silver medal for one of his very first pieces in 1960, it was the world’s first designer hotel and Co- of furniture. At the fair he was strongly influenced penhagen’s first skyscraper. Consequently, the building by Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe, who would received a lot of attention and a fair amount of criti- soon be in charge of the Bauhaus school. They were cism as newspapers wrote page after page about the highly critical of the 1920s ideals of class distinction, unusual construction in the heart of Copenhagen. which would become a springboard towards modernFrom a very young age, Arne Jacobsen dreamt of ism. They were “steel and glass architects” and created the being a painter and working creatively, but his father norms for the new architecture theory – and like a prophJohn Jacobsen, who was a tradesman, was against the et, Le Corbusier wrote a new architecture manifesto. idea. So his dreams of being an artist had to be set Arne Jacobsen already had a functional view of archiaside. Arne went to sea and worked as a mason tecture, and he took the ideas of collectivism and unity to apprentice in Germany, where he got a feel for heart and developed them into what would become the charworking with materials and construction. He acteristic Nordic style. studied architecture at the Royal Danish AcadA building’s appearance and its interior should be dictated emy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, under pro- by its structure and intended use. In practice, this meant fessors Kaare Klint and Kaj Fisker (architect that a building’s shape was to be decided by the materials and designer who combined tradition with and industrial processes used in manufacturing, rather than modernism, best known for the silver pieces unnecessary decorations. he made for A. Michelsen in the mid-20’s).

In 1957, Jacobsen found himself designing Young and successful architect cutlery in stainless steel for the same firm, A mere two years after his graduation from the architecture program A. Michelsen. This cutlery set is still manu- at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, the 27-year-old Arne factured as an Arne Jacobsen design for Jacobsen won an award for his ultra-modernistic concept “The House of the Future”, given to him by the Danish Architects Association.

Georg Jensen.

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he house was built for an exhibition, and established Arne Jacobsen as the most visionary and progressive Danish architect of his time. The house was the first example of modernistic architecture in Denmark. The award became the start of his own architecture firm as well as the Bellavista housing project. It would be the first project to be based on the ultra-modern concept, and many more would follow.

The world’s first designer hotel

Copenhagen’s first skyscraper, which at the time was also the largest hotel in Scandinavia with 275 rooms, had brought about a fierce debate. The construction of the SAS Royal Hotel began in the late 1950s, and was called “the landmark of the Jet Age”. It was frequently reported on by the media – generating excitement, fear and worry. Would the building be able to withstand the winter storms, or would it tipple over? Would a 22-story skyscraper, soon to be the tallest building in Scandinavia, ruin the Copenhagen silhouette? The first showing in 1960 received a lot of attention, domestic as well as international, which was unusual at the time.

The building had a fantastic interplay between exterior and interior,

“The fundamental factor is proportion, he concluded.

Proportion is precisely what makes the old Greek temples beautiful... And when we look at some of the most admired buildings of the Renaissance or the Baroque, we notice that they are all well-proportioned.

That is the essential thing.”

and was easily the most modern hotel in Scandinavia. The shimmering façade and the light’s reflections made the building blend in beautifully with its surroundings, and took most viewers by storm. The organic shapes of the furniture contrasted with the exact, restrained lines of the building. Arne Jacobsen was a very strong-willed architect, which made it possible for him to influence not only the shape of the building itself, but also the majority of its decorations. However, not everyone was positive about the project. A review in the New York Times at the time read: “The sparse use of materials reminds you of the inside of an airplane. Something more robust and visual would have been preferable. But simplicity is part of Arne Jacobsen’s style, and simple he is”.

Several of Arne Jacobsen’s interior designs made their début at the hotel, and have since become classic designer objects. The Arne Jacobsen candlestick, which can be bought at Georg Jensen, is made of three connected spheres. Its shape is inspired by Jacobsen’s classic chairs Egg and Swan, which were part of the interior design of the SAS Royal Hotel.

Every detail was of equal importance to Jacobsen; hotel rooms, check-in desk, bathrooms, conservatory, cutlery and lighting.

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Copenhagen's first skyscraper, which at the time was also the largest hotel in all of Scandinavia.

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Arne Jacobsen in numbers 1924 Graduates from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts as an architect.

1925 Silver medal at the Art Deco Fair in Paris.

1927 Visits Berlin and meets Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

1934 Begins his collaboration with furniture company Fritz Hansen.

1935 Completes the ground-breaking residential area Bellavista in Klampenborg, north of Copenhagen.

1951 The Ant Chair is born.

1957 Completes “The House of the Future”.

1960 The SAS Royal Hotel, these days known as the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, is inaugurated in Copenhagen.

1966 Is asked to design the National Bank of Denmark’s main office in Copenhagen.

1971 Arne Jacobsen passes away in Copenhagen.

The SAS Royal Hotel was constructed during the 1950s, and was called "the landmark of the Jet Age".

Several of Arne Jacobsen's designs made their début at the hotel, and have since become classic designer objects.

The cutlery set was a revolution for the industry, resem- didn’t sell. Inspired by Charles Eames, but with a personal style, The Ant bling nothing else at the time with its extremely simple chair was a milestone in technical performance for Fritz Hansen. and bold design. The cutlery took Georg Jensen’s early style as a point of reference, and had an enormous impact on the Living design treasure with new additions world of design. Jacobsen’s view of the functional qualities of New products made in the spirit of a designer is not necessarily piracy. cutlery came to dominate the industry for years to come, and Nevertheless, the market is full of inexpensive Chinese knockoffs and the timeless modernity of the cutlery resulted in an appear- so-called new arrivals. Some interior design firms try to squeeze out as much as possible from designers, as if they were Disney characters ance in Stanley Kubrick’s film “2001 A Space Odyssey”.

Jacobsen’s collaboration with Fritz Hansen was already in mo- for grown-ups. Piracy is a regretful phenomenon, and is sometimes tion in the early 1930s, but it wasn’t until after the second world presented as “licensing”. Serious design firms treat licensing with war that it became technically possible to use moulded plywood in the utmost respect, however, and provide guarantees of the products’ manufacturing. The collaboration took a successful commercial turn authenticity with lables and clever invisible markings. Vintage furwith the launch of the revolutionary stackable chair model 3100 – niture pieces are also sold at most auction houses, and have a cool later known as The Ant, with its three legs. The chair was the first of feel to them. Not everyone likes used furniture, so prices can often its kind, with a seat and backrest made of moulded plywood. It was be fairly reasonable. In order to really understand Arne Jacobsen’s originally made of veneer, and is currently available in nine different intentions, you should visit one of the buildings he designed and colours. Arne Jacobsen had to fight for his idea, however, as the people decorated, or a shop that sells his furniture. Try the Egg Chair at Fritz Hansen were not convinced of its potential. In the end, he was and experience the harmony found in its shape and quality – able to have it his way by guaranteeing that he would buy any chair that and you will know why it’s a true original.

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All renovations aimed for a typical Scandinavian style with large window sections.

The

Triumph of simplicity

He has reinvigorated our sense of luxury, from overwhelming and pretentious to a tacit elegance. Room 606 at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Copenhagen is a tribute to simplicity.

By: Camilla Julner

The Ant Chair.

An Arne Jacobsen icon, manufactured

by Fritz Hansen.

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The lobby is well worth a visit

The hotel’s welcoming lobby is almost identical to its original look, and has a very Nordic feel to it. The enormous spiral-shaped staircase, which was a technical challenge at the time of its construction, dominates the light grey marble floor and wall panels in dark Wenge wood.

Modern design history in room 606

www.radissonblu.com/royalhotel-copenhagen

Radisson Blu Royal, Copenhagen is world famous for its Scandinavian stylishness.

stone’s throw from the Copenhagen central station and the Tivoli fun fair stands the 22 stories tall Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. Previously called the SAS Royal Hotel, it is world-famous for its Scandinavian stylishness and elegance. The light grey and green shades of the tall façade reflects the clouds, while the lower, darker grey side building originally housed SAS’s first check-in terminal.

Room 606 is the only room at the Royal Hotel that still has the original décor from 1960. It’s a miniature museum and tribute to Arne Jacobsen and his untiring aesthetic feel. The palette consists of classic Arne Jacobsen colours in blue and green.

Many aspects of the hotel’s décor have become design icons, in particular the AJ lamps. The furniture has also become famous, such as the Swan Chair and the rare Drop Chair.

To mark the 50th celebration of the AJ Lamps, the original manufacturer Louis Poulsen will launch a range of lamps in five new colours. Arne Jacobsen’s own watercolour paintings served as inspiration for the palette.

The five subdued colours are named after the suites and double rooms at the Royal Hotel in which they are Room 606 is currently located. In rooms a miniature museum and 1805, 1806, 1808, 1809 and tribute to Arne 1810, design lovers can enjoy Jacobsen and his untiring Jacobsen’s iconic designs in a aesthetic feel. new light.

Motor

Beetle juice The first “new” Volkswagen Beetle wasn’t exactly “macho”.

A flower vase on the dashboard and a cute, round design was not something that most people associated with conventional masculinity. All of this has changed with the new “new” Beetle Cabriolet. text & photography BY: james holm

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Annons

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“The cabriolet version is guaranteed to evoke the summer spirit.”

fter a couple of hours on a south-bound flight

we find ourselves in Nice for the international test drive of the new Beetle Cabriolet. Few cars evoke such emotion as a Volkswagen Beetle, with its peculiar, bubbly shape.

The cabriolet version is guaranteed to evoke the summer spirit in anyone who sees it. As most people know, this model is a classic.

The first Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet, Type 14/15, was launched in 1949. As many as 81,595 cars were manufactured the first years by Karmann and Hebmüller. Production continued until the year 1980.

The company Karmann was founded in Osnabrück in 1901 and manufactured many VW models, such as Ghia, Golf Cab, Corrado and Scirocco. However, after its bankruptcy in 2009, Volkswagen took over production. The second generation of Beetle Cabriolets was launched in 2002. This one was also a big seller, amounting to 234,619 cars sold.

The new Beetle Cabriolet – the third generation – was first unveiled at the LA Auto Show in November, 2012. Volkswagen surprised the gathered journalists by handing out sunglasses, after which they unveiled a white Beetle Cab, illuminated in spotlights.

The first thing that hits you when you see the new Beetle Cabriolet in the flesh is that it’s grown quite a lot. In addition, its previously chubby shapes have been evened out somewhat.

The result is a more masculine design, one that indicates better stability on the road. But despite the new design, it still has those classic lines and iconic details that characterize a Beetle.

The fabric roof, manufactured in seven layers, only takes ten seconds to retract – and this can be done at speeds of up to 50 km/h. As the sun heats up the road ahead of us, the motorway from the airport has been replaced by beautiful, meandering roads along the coastal cliffs on our way to Monaco.

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Motor

The Beetle Cabriolet has a well-balanced chassis, making the driving comfortable without being indifferent. A really nice cover hides the retracted roof, giving you a good view of what’s behind you. However, the cover can be a bit tricky to apply correctly at first.

Just like in the original Beetle, parts of the interior panels have the same colour as the exterior, such as the glove compartment and most of the dashboard. The new Beetle has grown quite a lot, and can now fit four persons comfortably in the front and back seats. It also has 225 litres of trunk space, which should be enough for most types of luggage.

Z Lifestyle Magazine tested the 1.6 litre diesel engine with a 6-step manual transmission. This silky smooth vehicle with 105 horsepower feels really good to drive. The petrol models range from a 1.2 litre engine to a 2 litre engine with 200 horsepower.

All versions beside the 1.2 litre engine are available with the seamless DSG. In cars with a retracted roof it can often get really windy in the driver’s seat, but not so in the new Beetle Cabriolet. A wind repellent and side windows leave the cabin draught-free, and as if that wasn’t enough there was a Fender sound system installed in our car, to really make the most of the sound experience. Deep bass and clear spikes fill the cabin as smooth music is played from a local radio channel. The car itself is also notably quiet.

Life doesn’t get much better than in the driver’s seat of a Beetle Cabriolet, from where you see sunshine reflected in the smiles of the people you pass by.

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Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet Basic price: 24,035 euros Engine: 1.6 litre, 4-cylinder engine. 105 hp. Torque 250 nm.

Transmission of power: Front-engine, 5-step manual, front-wheel drive.

Acceleration: 0–100 km/h in 11.5 seconds.

Maximum speed: 180 km/h.

Mixed fuel consumption: 0.43 litres/10 km.

Weight: 1,760 kilos.

Guarantees: New car 2 years, damage to the vehicle 3 years, rust protection 12 years.

Website: www.volkswagen.com

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cities

Much ado is made about Zurich and Geneva when it comes to liveable Swiss cities. But if you scale it down just a bit, lesser-known cities such as Bern, Montreux and Lugano arguably offer visitors more genuine charm than their big brothers. Each showcase the best of the German, French and Italian parts of Switzerland.

PHOTO: swiss-image.cH/ROland geRTH

summer

special Advertising supplement

BerN the only swiss city center with world Heritage status, Bern can’t help but be charming. it inspired einstein 100 years ago, and is still one of switzer­ land’s best­kept summer secrets.

PHOTO: sT/swiss-image.cH, swiss-image.cH/gian maRcO casTelBeRg & maURice Haas

A

lbert Einstein never made much of a career at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property in Bern, being passed over for promotion because of his poor grasp of machine technology. However, on his way there from his home on Kramgasse, he made arguably the best use of commuting time in mankind’s history.

He imagined his tram reaching the speed of light and worked out what this did to the relation between time and space. The end result became his theory of special relativity, which helped set him on the path to international geek stardom.

Few residents or visitors to Bern since then have had similar universe-altering insights, but many have enjoyed the city’s beauty and charm—features that Einstein perhaps missed.

Bern isn’t exactly located in the Alps, but rather at their northern edge. As one of Europe’s smallest capitals, it is eminently walkable and easy to overview. Eight out of ten inhabitants list German as their prime language. Or to be precise Bernese German, the local dialect marked by shorter vowels and said to sound like Chinese.

The Mercer Quality of Living Survey for 2012 had Bern in 10th place. Admittedly, it placed after both Zurich (#2) and Geneva (#8), but if you’re just visiting you can discount parameters such as housing prices and the labor market.

Instead, Bern gathers survey points first and foremost by way of its beautifully preserved old town, the only Swiss city to earn the distinction of a Unesco Word Heritage site. Surrounded on three sides by the Aare river, the old town peninsula still looks basically the way it has since rebuilding after the fire of 1405.

It is home to Bern Minster cathedral, which at 100.6 meters is Switzerland’s tallest, the Zytglogge clock tower and the main

shopping street of Kramgasse, first laid out in 1191 when Bern was founded. Today, expect watches, antiques, jewelry, art, etc, all at very non-Ikea prices.

In fact, if you only have a day or less, the old town is where you want to spend all your time, not least at night when Bern comes alive with restaurants, bars and music venues.

Staying for a few days, on the other hand, opens up possibilities of visiting, for example, the rose garden to the east of the old town, or the Zentrum Paul Klee. This wavy building was designed by Renzo Piano and houses roughly 40 percent of the Swiss painter’s works.

The Einsteinhaus on Kramgasse 49 in the old town is where the scientist lived, but a larger permanent Einstein exhibition can be found at the Historical Museum of Bern (www.bhm.ch).

The same museum will also host “The Eternal Emperor and his Terracotta Warriors” between March 15 and November 17.

Wandering even farther outside the city limits brings you to the valley of the river Emme, home of the stereotypical Emmentaler Swiss cheese. Or to Naturpark Gantrisch in Schwarzenburg and the Alps for hiking, climbing and mountain biking.

Bern’s own airport is only served by a handful of airlines, but the airports of Geneva, Basel and Zurich are all within two hours’ driving distance.

And as usual, Swiss trains run like Swiss clocks all year round.

we Bet you didN’t kNow … that new Bern in north carolina, Usa (founded by swiss settlers), is the birthplace of Pepsi cola.

3 greAt PHrAses for BerN I had no idea Swiss cities could be this beautiful!

Ich wusste nicht, dass Schweizer Städte so schön sein können!

Thank you for inspiring Einstein.

Danke, dass Sie Einstein inspiriert haben.

Where can I find the best Emmentaler?

Wo kann ich den besten Emmentaler finden?

ANd A lousy oNe: Shouldn’t Zurich be the capital?

Sollte nicht Zürich die Hauptstadt sein?

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lugano is perhaps the most un­swiss city in switzerland. its inhabitants may excel at something so stereo­ typically swiss as banking, but they enjoy a lifestyle that is more medi­ terranean than central european.

t

he city of Lugano is nestled into one of the most remarkable corners of Switzerland. First of all, it truly is a corner, snugly surrounded on three sides by Italy, like an arm reaching for Milan. Second, it practically is Italy, in language, cuisine and atmosphere. Third, this relaxed rivierastyle city is also Switzerland’s largest finance hub after Zurich and Geneva.

And fourth, it looks like Rio de Janeiro.

In other words, Lugano is a beautiful paradox. With a population of 55,000, the city isn’t exactly tiny. In fact, Lugano is Switzerland’s ninth largest city and lays claim to being the largest Italian-speaking city outside of Italy. It’s Switzerland with a Mediterranean climate, palm trees and a closer kinship to Milan than to Zurich. Even the mountains surrounding the city aren’t real Swiss Alps, but “Prealps”.

And it might just be this un-Swissness that makes Lugano one of the country’s most popular vacation spots. The natural beauty of the crescent-shaped bay between the two imposing mountains of Brè and San Salvatore helps too, of course. But there is so much more.

Those who decide to take a dip in Lake Lugano, for instance, tend to be pleasantly surprised. Just as in Lake Geneva, swimming was banned here in the 60’s and 70’s due to pollution. Today, the water is clean and the temperature mostly hovers above 20°C in the summer, making it perfect for any type of water sport.

For those who prefer land activities, the hilly (as opposed to

As with any city that has been prosperous for over a thousand years, Lugano has its fair share of stately homes and imposing architecture. And if you feel like reaching farther out for culture, a day-trip to Bellinzona, the capital of Ticino, offers the tri-castle World Heritage site of Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro.

Most visitors develop some sort of love affair with Lugano, but few express it as energetically as the leaders of the Israeli city of Yehud. They were so taken by the quaintness of the piazza in Lugano’s old town that they set about building a replica of it back home in Israel.

If imitation is indeed the highest form of compliment, Lugano should be flattered. And probably is.

we Bet you didN’t kNow … that the first ever eurovision song contest was held in lugano in 1956. and won by switzerland.

3 greAt PHrAses for lugANo That’s really a magnificent espresso! È veramente un caffè espresso squisito!

This lake is much more beautiful than the one in Como.

Questo lago è molto più bello di quello di Como.

I never knew Switzerland could be so relaxing.

Non sapevo che la Svizzera potrebb’essere così rilassante.

ANd A lousy oNe: Why don’t you speak German like the rest of Switzerland?

Perché non parla il tedesco come il resto della Svizzera?

PHOTO: swiss-image.cH/cHRisTOPH sOndeReggeR

lugANo

insanely steep) nature of the Prealps makes the Lugano area a popular destination for mountain bikers. More than 300 kilometers of winding biking trails should keep your legs pumping for as many hours as you need. No place in Switzerland has a more extensive network of biking trails.

But much can also be said for spending a large chunk of time in the city itself, windowshopping along the narrow via Nassa, bargaining at the market and, of course, enjoying an espresso on a favorite piazza. The average high temperature in July is 26.9°C, compared to 24.3 for Bern and 24.9 for Montreux, so enjoying it outside shouldn’t be an problem.

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moNtreuX

PHOTO: liOnel FlUsin - mOnTReUx Jazz FesTival FOUndaTiOn, swiss-image.cH/lUcia degOnda

during the summer jazz festival, visitors outnumber montreux locals almost ten to one. what’s the attrac­ tion? How about the lake, the scenery, the wine and, of course, the music.

w

hen psychedelic winds were blowing across the rest of the music world in 1967, a small town on the north-eastern shore of Lake Geneva looked a completely different way. They put together a festival of something as decidedly old school as jazz. Today, 45 years later, the Montreux Jazz Festival is the second largest music festival in the world, drawing crowds in the hundreds of thousands each summer.

Granted, the festival has long since offered much more music than pure jazz, but the phenomenon still needs an explanation— how is this possible in a town of only 25,000 people?

Maybe it has to do with the sheer beauty of the place, adding to the music and maintaining a good grove even if the band isn’t that great? Montreux lies at the pretty end of Lake Geneva and has used its magnificent setting—lake in front, Alps in the back—to attract visitors since the 1800’s.

The mountains are too distant to make Montreux a ski town, so any sporting will have to be waterbound. Lake Geneva, the largest lake in the Alps, is a heaven for water-sports entusiasts from sailors to windsurfers and wakeboarders.

In the 70’s and 80’s, pollution had killed practically all the fish in the lake and made swimming impossible. Today, however, swimming is safe again and sailors don’t have to fear swallowing lake water when they fall overboard.

If you are more comfortable with land beneath your feet, you can still enjoy the lake from the beautiful lakeside promenade. The 12th-century Chateau de Chillon is a great goal if the weather allows for the healthy three-kilometer walk from Montreux.

Finally, there is the wine. Facing south, the rolling hills to the west of Montreux are perfect for vineyards, which were first introduced back in the 12th century. The 30-kilometer stretch known as the Lavaux makes some of Switzerland’s finest wines, most of them based on the chasselas grape. In fact, the entire coastline between Lausanne and Vevey is a wine-tasting World Heritage site since 2007, protecting it from future development and ensuring a steady flow of fine wines.

If you visit during the jazz festival, you will of course be able to score all three components of what makes Montreux such a great place: the lake, the wine and the music. Music has become part and parcel of the town’s identity, lingering long after the festival is over thanks to recording studios and musicians who buy second homes in Montreux. One of these was Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, who became a semi-local before his death in 1991. Today, he is remembered by way of a memorial day in September, and a statue posing by the shoreline.

we Bet you didN’t kNow … that deep Purple’s classic Smoke on the Water was inspired by a fire that consumed the montreux casino in 1971 during a Frank zappa concert.

3 greAt PHrAses for moNtreuX No wonder so much great music was made here.

Pas étonnant qu’autant de bonne musique ait été produite ici !

This is the best wine I’ve had in years.

C’est le meilleur vin que j’ai goûté depuis des années.

My goodness, what a beautiful lake!

Mon Dieu, quel lac magnifique !

ANd A lousy oNe: I can’t stand jazz festivals.

Je ne supporte pas les festivals de jazz.

Världens smartaste nyckelskåp!

Varför behöver man ett nyckelhanterings system?

Nycklar skall förvaras på ett säkert ställe Nycklarna bör användas av rätt person Kontroll på nycklar och användare Spåra nyckelanvändningen Inventering av nycklar Alltid aktuell information om samtliga nycklar Säkerhet Varje nyckel är säkrad genom lås och RFIDtranspondrar.

Tillgången till nycklarna säkras genom personliga koder och kort.

Vad kan ett intelligent nyckel-hanteringssystem göra för dig?

Du vet var dina nycklar Du vet vem som använder den Håller reda på användningen Hanterar användarrättigheter Administrerar användare, kort och nycklar Användarna har åtkomst endast till de nycklar de får använda Visar rapporter Säker förvaring Kan hantera nycklar i byggnader och kontor.

Vem har behov av ett nyckelhanteringssystem?

Banker Statliga institutioner Kraftverk Hotell, vandrarhem, spa Konferens anläggningar Universitet och högskolor Spel industrier Företags anläggningar Fastighetsförvaltning Säkerhets företag Bil- och fordons försäljare Bil uthyrare och s.k. Fleet management användare Sjukhus och hälsoanläggningar Och många

Nyckelhantering ”Vem tog nyckeln och när?”

Problemet med nycklar

Nycklar används av fel person Nycklar lånas och lånas ut Dom tappas bort och hittas av fel personer Man glömmer att lämna tillbaka dom Objekt blir tillgängliga för fel personer personer har tillgång till samma Om nyckel – hur vet man vem som har den?

Lösningen

Ett bra och enkelt förvarningssystem för nycklar och värdesaker Lätt att hitta rätt nyckel genom information och positions lampor Användarvänlig tillgång genom koder och/ eller RFID baserade ID-kort Ett automatiskt återlämningssystem med registrering av nyckelplatser på displayer och loggar Bidrar till lägre kostnader – färre förlorade nycklar leder till mindre besvär och kostnader Förbättrar Nyckeltillgången är fullt kontrollerbar

Hantera värdesaker

Tillgång inte bara till nycklar utan också värdefulla objekt Kan förses med lådor för verktyg, mobiler, ID-kort, dokument m m Använd samma koder och ID-kort för att få tillgång till både nycklar och objekt

Säkerhet

Du vet alltid när en nyckel togs ut och lämnades tillbaka.

Individuella rättigheter kan för alla användare.

Kontroll över användningsfrekvensen för varje individuell nyckel.

Aktivering av alarm för uteblivna eller försenade nycklar.

Säker förvaring i skåp.

Fördelar

Transaktioner i Realtid.

Direktaccess till alla kabinett och till alla nycklar och lådor.

Praktisk tillgänglighet vid alla tider.

Utbyggbart – Välj det antal nyckelpositioner du önskar och bygg ut efter hand..

Nycklar och lådor kan kombineras i ett och samma system.

Nyckel kabinettets kapacitet kan expanderas efter ditt behov.

Systemet kan sammankopplas och samexistera med andra system.

Skyldigheter och möjligheter kan rapporteras per användare och/eller nyckel aktiviteter.

Programvaran i kabinettet kan visas direkt på bildskärmen var nyckeln är och vem som tagit ut den ur kabinettet. (gäller den som har rätt behörighet).

Id. 1051

Scandinavian Safe AB - Stockholm - Sweden T - el +46 (0)8 6898560

www.scandinaviansafe.se - www.loxtore.se

by Claire Woods

books

“Books and friends should be few and good.”

Samuel Peterson

Art Now! Vol 4

Hans Werner Holzwarth (Taschen)

West Åberg, Strandberg, Nilsson (Gibbs Smith) Well, this is fairly unusual.

Three Swedes have created an internationally acclaimed photo book about the American (Wild) West… in English… with an American publisher. The book is based on photographer Lars Strandberg and writer Lars Åberg’s many travels in the region, and has been graciously designed by Ronnie Nilsson. Before its release, many of the photographs were showcased at an exhibition at the Park Inn

by Radisson Hotel in the fashionable Västra Hamnen district in Malmö, Sweden – and parts of the exhibition are still on display. It should come as no surprise that West was awarded the Swedish Design Award 2012 in the books category. Its wide variety of intriguing people, beautiful landscapes and more or less hard-boiled cowgirls and cowboys makes this a fascinating journey through a forgotten part of North America.

The Final Testament of the Holy Bible James Frey (John Murray) Remember James Frey?

He’s the young author whose debut novel A Million Little Pieces was a global success thanks to (or despite) its graphically hideous and frank excursions into the mind and life of a severe drug addict. The problem was, however, that it was marketed as a “memoire” and not a “novel”.

This seemingly small distinction led to one of the greatest scandals in modern publishing histor y.

His four th and latest novel pokes around in the ashes of that debate by taking the most read, believed and – at the same time – questioned book of all time and applying it onto a backdrop of contemporar y America. Each chapter is a stor y about encounters with the Messiah-like Ben Zion, and the stories are simply astounding – just like in the book’s original source of inspiration.

This is something for all you anxious, artsy hipsters out there. But more than that, the Art Now! series from Taschen serves as a coherent investment guide for those with money to spend and walls to cover – contemporary art is, after all, one of the trendiest investments these days.

Berlin-based editor Hans Werner Holzwarth guides us through what he believes are the 100+ most interesting names on the scene today, including the likes of Chuck Close, David Hockney, Damien Hirst and Swedish shooting star Klara Lidén.

The book comes in a multilingual edition, with texts in English, French and German.

The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald As Leonardo DiCaprio once again conquers the world of cinema with the book’s latest adaptation to the big screen, it’s as good a time as any to re-read this classic from 1925. The Great Gatsby was Francis Scott Fitzgerald’s third novel, and has – since his death in 1940 – become one of the most classic and appreciated American novels of all time. The never-ending cinematic adaptations of the book only prove that its timeless blend of passion, decadence, rivalry, luxury and jazz still speaks to the masses.

Download it on your Kindle or read it for free online – for example at the Project Gutenberg Australia website, gutenberg.net.au.

z lifestyle magazine | 139

movies

by gunnar rehlin

“...and the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.”

Brad Pitt in Fight Club

Trance Thriller Summer will forever be the season of the blockbuster.

Moviegoers and film aficionados alike are bombarded with multi-million-dollar epics featuring deafening orchestras and earth-shattering effects. But before I take you through this summer’s blockbusters I would like to recommend Danny Boyle’s new film “Trance”. Boyle is the man behind such classics as “Trainspotting” and Academy Award-winning “Slumdog Millionaire”, and his latest film “Trance” is just as memorable. It’s a thriller about a man who participates in the robbery of an auction house, only to hit his head and forget where he hid the stolen painting. Will hypnosis help him remember? “Trance” is an intelligent and, at times, violent film. It’s packed with non-stop excitement and the type of twists and turns that make you want to head straight back into the theatre for a second viewing. Comes strongly recommended.

140 | z lifestyle magazine

After Earth

The Lone Ranger

White House Down

Western

Action, Drama

Ever y summer season wor thy of the name will feature a film starring Johnny Depp. This year’s iteration is called “The Lone Ranger” and is basically the reimagining of a popular American 40’s TV-show. Depp plays Tonto, a Native American who teams up with a sherif f known as The Lone Ranger, who in turn is out to avenge the murder of his brother.

Tonto appears to share many similarities with Captain Jack Sparrow from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, and it should come as no surprise that “The Lone Ranger” is directed by Gore Verbinski, the man behind the aforementioned film series.

“The Lone Ranger” is a treat for all you Western-lovers out there.

‘Spectacular’ is a word commonly used to describe Roland Emmerich’s films.

Following the success of “Independence Day”, “The Day after Tomorrow” and “2012”, Emmerich brings us “White House Down”.

Terrorists attack the White House, and it’s up to FBI agent John Cale, played by Channing Tatum, to save the President, played by Jamie Foxx.

This marks the third time Emmerich destroys the White House, so I asked him why.

– I do it because it’s one of the greatest symbols of the US. If you’re going to destroy a building on film, you might as well destroy one that the audience recognizes, he explains.

Let’s just say the word “spectacular” will probably be an appropriate description this time as well.

Science Fiction

First out among the summer blockbusters is “After Earth”, starring Will Smith and his son Jaden.

The Smith duo crashland on a future, uninhabited planet Earth – well, with the exception of lethal mutants, that is.

The father is stuck in the crashed ship wreck, and it’s up to the son to save the day.

“The Sixth Sense” director M Night Shyamalan has promised spectacular environments and a swarm of digitally rendered monsters.

by Claire Woods

music

“Groups are out; four-piece groups with guitars particularly are finished…The Beatles have no future in show business.”

Decca Records Executive, 1962.

099. Kvelertak – Meir

097. Last Lynx

098. Trentemøller

Ocean Reels EP (SoFo Records)

Lost (In My Room)

This is true lounge music for you. Stockholmbased Last Lynx’s slick and catchy electronic pop music is similar to that of their Nor wegian counterpar t Donkeyboy, with the exception that Last Lynx are just now finding their way through the myriad of hip music blogs and TV shows. As a really nice touch, the band’s press release included a vinyl version of Ocean Reels along with a beautiful vinyl cover-size illustration for each song.

That kind of stunt really makes you stand out in an increasingly digital world.

Danish DJ and producer Anders Trentemøller has gone from locally hyped house producer to one of the world’s most sought after remix artists. Accordingly, his own releases are quite rare these days, while the songs he lays his hands on have increased rapidly in number. If you explore his vast catalogue you’ll find a truly skilled musician, touching upon everything from ambient, electro-acoustic landscapes to his own brand of sweaty, fist-pumping techno anthems. The best way to scratch the surface of his musicianship is through Swedish music service Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/trentemusic.

When old people think of heavy metal music, this is what they hear. Norwegian bulldozer Kvelertak has taken the vibe of the 90’s black metal scene and fused it with the rock ‘n’ roll clichés of fellow export success Turbonegro. Together with a beautifully naturalistic and colourful graphic design and brutal live appearances, Kvelertak are just about the most interesting thing in rock music right now. They’re singing in Norwegian, but since you can’t make out a single word they’re saying it doesn’t really matter. Press play when you’re at the gym – or whenever you feel like punching somebody in the face.

100. Big Fox (Hybris) Swedish artist Charlotta Perers released her first album as her alter ego Big Fox in 2011, winning the hearts and minds of a small, but dedicated fanbase with her beautifully sad, quirky and heartfelt pop songs per formed with a fantastic voice. Perers herself claims to have been inspired by artists such as Cat Power, Feist, Regina Spektor, Frida Hyvönen and Jenny Wilson. Nevertheless, Big Fox is something entirely different, as she never seems to try too hard. She is currently in the process of releasing her second album, but in the meantime you should definitely check out her widely overlooked, self-titled debut album. It deserves to be discovered.

z lifestyle magazine | 143

games

by max doherty

“Video games are bad for you? That’s what they said about Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Super Mario Bros

the last of us Third-person adventure

101. Candy Crush Saga Puzzle/social Swedish game developer King’s hit title “Candy Crush Saga” recently became the most played game on both Facebook, Appstore and Google Play.

In less than a year, this game has managed to topple all-time favourites like Farmville and Angr y Birds.

What’s perhaps even more interesting, however, is that the majority of Candy Crush players are female.

Never theless, ever yone likes candy, and there’s something for ever yone in Candy Crush Saga. It’s a puzzle game that offers a sweet twist on the classic game “Bejeweled” – and like candy, it’s incredibly addictive. Moreover, the game is free-to-play, meaning you don’t have to pay for the core experience.

Available on iOS, Android and Facebook.

144 | z lifestyle magazine

Ever heard of cordyceps? It’s a parasitic fungus that infiltrates insects’ bodies and turn them into zombified mushrooms (look it up on Youtube if you’re in the mood for nightmares). Now imagine if these parasites were able to infect humans. That’s exactly what has happened in The Last of Us, set in a dystopian future where cordyceps fungi have made the world an incredibly hostile place. The few remaining cities are heavily quarantined and the threat of infection is always present. The story follows hardened smuggler Joel and the tough 14-yearold girl Ellie on a breath-taking journey through a zombie infested America. It’s a beautiful – at times brutal – love letter to the zombie genre. PEGI Rating: Ages 18 and over. Available on the Playstation 3. 50 euros.

Ridiculous Fishing

Plants vs. Zombies 2

Arcade fishing

Tower defence

Now you can get your fishing on wherever you are. Ridiculous Fishing is ridiculously fun! You tilt your smar tphone to guide the lure left or right – avoiding the fish on the way down, and catching them on the way up – and then use the touchscreen to shoot (!) the fish once they’ve been tossed into the air. It’s a different take on fishing to say the least. Ridiculous Fishing features several different environments and tons of fish species to collect.

There’s also a wide array of upgrades that can be bought with the money you get for the fish, giving you that “just one more round” feeling – the best kind of addiction. Available on iOS. 2.69 euros.

It’s about time! The original Plants vs. Zombies is hailed as one of the best smartphone games of all time, and the sequel is even better. The genre is called “tower defence”, and has you strategically positioning guards to protect a base. Or in this case; positioning various colourful plants that protect you from an oncoming horde of zombies. The sequel will introduce a wide range of new environments and modes, with the added bonus of being free-to-play.

Plants vs. Zombies 2 will be released later this summer. But if you can’t wait that long, the original can be played on pretty much any device in existence. Available on iOS and Android later this summer.

Swedish saga trilogy from the Viking age Estrid & Ragnvald – A saga from the Viking age

g age” about real people that Vikings.

e about the stories

Estrid wants to join the adventures with her father when he travels the world, but things don´t turn out the way she anticipated. The adventure is closer than expected. In the book, Estrid and her new friend Ragnvald, meet both friends and enemies, happiness and despair, longing and hope. Estrid´s dog Gnejs disappears without a trace and it seems as if the worst could have happened.

The book is the first in the series about Estrid Sidfastdotter and Ragnvald Ingvarsson, who were real people that lived towards the end of an era we often call the age of the Vikings.

Йенс Албо м 2013-02-25 15.29

2013-02-22

11.14

Ragnvalds Journey – A saga from the Viking age RAGNVALD’ S JOURNEY - A SAGA FROM THE VIKING AGE

already as a child.

astward journey.

Ragnvald gains coming saints, me. A surprise also ven dream about.

The first book in the series is avaliable e milie e liasson hovmölle r je ns ahlbom Эмили Элиа ссон Ховм in Enligsh ёллер and Russian. ВИКИНГОВ

9 789188 012159

ВРЕМЕНА

12-15-9

ЧЕНИЯ ВО

ISBN 978-9 1-880

РАГНВА ЛЬ Д

ПРИКЛЮЧЕ НИЯ ВО ВР ЕМЕНА ВИ КИНГОВ

Д. ПРИК ЛЮ

рмацию о книге и её создателях omeofvik можно ings. e about the stories se

ЭСviking a saga from the ageИ ТРИД РАГНВА ЛЬ

з серии «Эст рид Сигфастд ывающая оттер и Рагн жизнь реал вальд ьны называют эпохой вики х персонажей конц er and Ragnvald а того нгов в Шве ции. s the end of an era

ESTRI D & RAGNVALD ЭС ТРИД И

ESTRI D & RAGNVALD - A SAGA FROM THE VIKING AGE

ень хочется сопровож дать отца учается совс в его много ближ ем не так, как она ожи путешествиях по миру, е, чем она дает. Приклю думает. В гом чения оказ Рагнwhen father валь he этой чаяние, тоск дом встретят как друз книге Эстрид со свои ыthe way sheу и обретут ей, так и враг м жется, что надежду. ов, познают Бесследно pected. Inмож theет случиться исчезнет пёси только сам к ое худшее. meet both friends pe. Estrid’s dog e worst could

RAGNVALD’ S JOURNEY a saga from the viking age

The second e milie e liasson hovmölle r book in the series is avaliable in Enligsh.

Ragnvald wanted to join the adventures in far away lands already as a child. Now the dream would finally come true.

The book tells of all the hardships and adventures on the eastward journey. We meet friends and enemies, experience joy and despair. Ragnvald gains experience through meetings with powerful rulers and becoming saints, knowledge he shares with others when he comes back home. A surprise also awaits him when he comes home, something he couldn’t even dream of.

je ns ahlbom

2013-02-26 13.57

The book is the second in the series about Estrid Sidfastdotter and Ragnvald Ingvarsson, who were real people that lived towards the end of an era we often call the age of the Vikings.

Find out more about the series and place your order:

estridragnvald.se

souvenir

by Hannah Broman

102 Cut out and keep

the black gold of

scandinavia

An unmatched love for liquorice is a common denominator among the Nordic countries. It is estimated that people in the Nordics consume 1.5–2.5 kilos of liquorice per person and year. While sweet liquorice is eaten in many other countries, the appreciation for salty liquorice is mostly limited to the Nordics.

In addition to being delicious, the liquorice root has been used as a herbal remedy for centuries, and is still used against the common cold.

146 | z lifestyle magazine

MAKE CALLS FOR ZERO KRONER PER MINUTE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD TO ANYWHERE IN NORWAY

Our new service, MOBILE IP, makes it possible for you to call home to Norway with your mobile phone number for as little as zero kroner per minute, wherever you are in the world. All you need to do is download the Mobile IP app, call 09060 to receive an access code via SMS and make sure you are connected to a WiFi network.

zlifestylemagazine.com

z lifestyle magazine | 147

148 | z lifstyle magazine

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