DEC 2011
China
Swedish Creator of Chinese ‘Jympa’
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Stenhus Kostskole Stenhus Kostskole is an academic boarding school aiming to give the students elementary knowledge and skills which can contribute to develop every student’s capabilities and talent in the best possible way. Stenhus Kostskole offers among other things: • Chinese from 5th grade • German from 6th grade • Turbo classes from 9th grade • IT as an integral part of the different subjects by using the internet • An international 10th grade including two study tours • Single rooms with net connection • Ski tour, canoe tour, adventure tour, Stenhus-Games etc. • Admission of students to attend Stenhus Gymnasium Please visit our website: www.stenhus.dk www.stenhus-kostskole.dk www.stenhus-gym.dk
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Coming Events 10th Anniversary of Vasaloppet China Date: 2 January 2012 Location: Jingyuetan Park, Changchun
Your FREE ScandAsia Magazine in China ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish residents in China. We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in Thailand, Singapore and the rest of South East Asia.
Please sign up for your own FREE copy: www.scandasia.com Publisher : Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd. 4/41-2 Ramintra Soi 14, Bangkok 10230, Thailand Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8, Fax: +66 2 943 7169 E-mail: news@scandasia.com
Nordic Ways brought the tradition of Vasaloppet to China in 2003 and the city of Changchun will host the 10th Vasaloppet China on Jan 2, 2012. Vasaloppet China is a 50 km cross country ski race, open for everyone. There is no problem if you don’t have your own skis; equipment rental is included when you sign up for the Fun Ski! Skiers will enjoy the great scenery and atmosphere of China’s biggest skiing event. For more information, please visit www.nordicways.com.
Longqing Gorge Ice and Snow Festival Longqing Gorge, located about 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Beijing. Longqing Gorgebis known mainly as the venue for the annual Beijing Longqing Gorge Ice & Snow Festival where, among other things related to snow and ice, massive blocks of ice are sculpted into all manner of interesting, beautiful and sometimes spectacular shapes, including representations of animals, human figures and lanterns. The Beijing Longqing Gorge Ice & Snow Festival, which, at night, is illuminated by a flood of colorful lights, is held from the 16th of January through the 28th of February. Highly recommend that you wear clothing and footwear suitable for very low temperatures.
www.china.org.cn
Date: 16 January - 28 February 2012 Location: Longqing Gorge
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Hong Kong Arts Festival
Norwegian Pianist Sveinung Bjelland Tour
Date: 28 January - 8 March 2012
Date: 5 - 23 April 2012
Hong Kong’s premier performing arts event presents another feast for the senses featuring a galaxy of international star performances. This 40th Hong Kong Arts Festival has a wonderful selection of orchestra, concerts, ballet, opera and dance, along with modern drama and new twists to classical favorites. Details of the programs and advanced booking arrangements are available at www.hk.artsfestival.org. Be sure to book early as tickets for many of the performances go quickly.
Mr. Sveinung Bjelland has been in the forefront of classical pianists in Norway for several years. He is a gifted artist whose concerts are notable for a breadth of interpretation rare in quality. His latest recording, Scarlatti and Mendelssohn on Simax, has been received with enthusiasm both in Norway and internationally. It was nominated for the Norwegian Grammy Award, Spellemannprisen, in 2006. He will have the tour in China during 5 to 23 April. Tour schedule will be announced at www.wupromotion.com.
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DCCC Business Person of the Year 2011 Gala Party Photo by Semko Balcerski (www.semko.dk / s@semko.dk)
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anish Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai organized the Business Person of the Year 2011 Gala Party on October 29th 2011 at Langham Hotel. The party gathered DCCC members and guests for an unforgettable party. Congratulations to Mr. Simon Lichtenberg, the winner of Entrepreneur of the Year; and Mr. John F. Christensen, the winner of Business Person of the Year. Mr. Simon Lichtenberg was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year. He is the founder of Trayton Group - a multinational company and one of the largest furniture manufacturers and retailers in China. After 14 years development (since 1995), the group is globally headquartered in Shanghai and has set up offices and owns subsidiaries in the U.S., elsewhere in China and Hong Kong. Trayton Group has four factories in Shanghai and Zhejiang with 74,000 sq.m. production space and more than 2,500 employees. For more information about Trayton Group, please visit www.trayton.com. Mr. John F. Christensen was awarded the Business Person of the Year. John F. Christensen is in the logistics business and has lived in China for 16 years. He opened a café - Wagas - in 2000. His partner Jackie Yun joined the company as shop manager in 2001 at the first Wagas located in Citic Square, and then later became John Christensen’s business partner. Now the café is located in 22 locations in Shanghai employing 1,000 people. Wagas has 3 other brands - Baker & Spice, Bistrow and Cirka. Baker & Spice has 4 stores in Shanghai. For more information about Wages, please visit www.wagas.com.cn.
6 ScandAsia.China • December 2011
From left: Susanne Hyldelund, consul general of Denmark in Shanghai, Simon Lichtenberg, Entrepreneur of the Year, John F. Christensen, Business Person of the Year and Christian Overgaard, chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.
Elegant SwedCham Jubilee Gala Dinner Text by SwedCham in Hong Kong Photos by Kenneth Hui
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n Friday 4 November 2011 the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong celebrated its 25 year anniversary with a fully booked black tie gala dinner at the Aberdeen Marina Club. Thanks to SAS, the Swedish chef Norbert Lang had been flown in and prepared a delicious dinner including both classics like foie gras and truffled brie cheese as well as Swedish favorites like Kalix bleak roe and lingon berry parfait. Maxibit had generously sponsored the backdrop and Marie MacDowall from Tindra arranged for elegant and crisp decorations of the ball room and outside balcony. Dancers from Jean Wong´s School of Ballet opened the dinner followed by a traditional Chinese changing faces performance. After the dinner, a live performance by the Swedish artist Eric Gadd filled the dance floor before the band of the evening started to play. A memorable evening and a true celebration of a well deserved 25 year old.
December 2011 • ScandAsia.China 7
ScandAsia News Brief Nanjing all about Ibsen
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anjing was all about Norway in late October at the second International Ibsen Festival for University Students at Nanjing University. The six performances took plaxce over two days. In the evening on 21 October at University Students`Centre, Xianlin Campus, Nanjing Univeristy, the three plays were: • Peer Gynt by Taiwan University of Arts • Ghosts by Tongji University • Wonem Flowers by Nanjing Agricultural University In the evening on 22 October at Science and Technology Building, Gulou Campus, Nanjing University, the three plays were: Peer Gynt by People`s University of China The Lady from the Sea by Shangdong University The Destruction of Borkman by Xi`an International Studies University
The Norwegian embassy reports that the jury had a tough time sorting out one winning team from the six universities that entered, but the group from the People’s University of China convinced the jury and the audience on the second day of the festival with their interpretation of Peer Gynt. Other performances, in both contemporary and classic interpretations: Ghost by Tongji University, Peer Gynt by Taiwan University of Arts, The Lady from the Sea by Shandong University and The Destruction of Borkman by Xi’an International Studies University. The jury consisted of Wu Xiaojiang, director of China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts, Inger Buresund, Norwegian director and the founder of Ibsen International and He Chengzhou, professor and director of ChineseNordic Cultural Centre and also president of the International Ibsen Committee.
Five Danish Export Ambassadors Lost Their Job in 30 Minutes
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itt Bjerregaard, Uffe Elleman-Jensen, Anne Birgitte Lundholt, and two other elder statesmen appointed by the previous Danish government as Denmark’s “export ambassadors” to emerging markets all lost their job within 30 minutes. Ritt Bjerregaard managed to get five months to promote Danish exports in China, while Uffe Elleman-Jensen had only a few months of his assignment in India. Anne Birgitte Lundholt was in charge of export promotion between Vietnam and Denmark. Ritt Bjerregaard, a former minister, EU commissioner and mayor, was visibly disappointed with the decision and called it shortsighted. Apart from the thre ambassadors mentioned, Henning Dyremose was responsible for Brazil and Marian Fischer Boel was responsible for Russia
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8 ScandAsia.China • December 2011
8/29/11 1:57 PM
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Danish Showroom for Quality Food
enmark opened in November a showroom in Shanghai, where Danish food manufacturers can display their products, hold meetings with clients and participate in general events promoting high quality Danish products to Chinese importers, distributors and retailers. The participating companies include well-known international brands such as Arla, Danish Crown and Carlsberg, already present on the Chinese market, but also smaller Danish brands known in Denmark for their quality niche products are represented at the Showroom. Common for all of them is their wish to tap into the growing Chinese market. The value of Danish food exports to China reached 9 billion Danish kroner in 2010, which is 42 % of the total merchandise exports to China. It is expected, that the agriculture and food exports in 2011 could grow to 11 billion and almost 14 billion in 2012. Denmark’s ambassador to China, Mr Friis Arne Petersen, took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony at the opening of the ‘Danish Showroom’. The showroom has been developed together with the Trade Council China within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. More than 100 guests, including Danish and Chinese press, were given the opportunity to see and taste what Danish food industry can produce. 18 Danish companies are present at the showroom representing all kinds of food products, ranging from seafood and cherry wine to organic baby food. In addition to quality products, the Danish companies are well known for high standards of environmentally friendly products, food safety and user friendly-packaging.
Volvo Expects 40-50% China Growth in 2012
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olvo should see 40-50 percent sales growth in China next year said Richard Snijders, president and CEO of Volvo’s China distribution unit, during the Guangzhou auto show. Volvo’s sale in China this year would end between 48,000 and 50,000 cars Volvo is waiting for Chinese government approval to build two new car plants in the country, one in the city of Chengdu in the southwest and the other in Daqing in the northeast.
Swedish Networking in Shanghai
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n the evening of 5 November 2011, members of the Swedish Club and Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China and their guests gathered for the Networking Cocktail at Waterhouse where is located in The Cool Docks - one of Shanghais many “lifestyle hubs” - several food, nightlife, and cultural destinations sharing urban infrastructure. The event was yet another successful joint gettogether arranged by the two organizations. Special thanks to The Waterhouse for the wonderful finger foods and to the choir singing beautifully.
December 2011 • ScandAsia.China 9
Chinese ‘Jympa’
He is the winner of the 2008 Great Wall Marathon and one of the top marathon runners in Sweden, Linus Holmsäter is now in living in China and introducing Westerners and Chinese to Heyrobics, in Sweden known as Jympa. By Alexandra Leyton Espinoza
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ot many people in Beijing ride bikes anymore, Linus Holmsater notes. “Those that own cars just feed pollution into the air and completely bypass their own daily exercise, I believe that this combination of convenience and laziness will cause major health problems and end up being extremely expensive for the government in the long-term,” he said adds. Getting fit in Beijing the modern way is expensive, with the cost of gyms and pools constantly on the rise. Holmsäter believes Heyrobics could be an economical and longterm answer on how to get people in shape. “When I started Heyrobics sessions at Chaoyang park a year ago,
the idea was just to gather friends and do some exercise together. But soon it became a social event and people wanted to have more sessions and that’s basically how it started, he said.
What is heyrobics Heyrobics, which in Sweden is named “Jympa”, was originally conceived by Linus father, Johan Holmsäter during the late 70s. Later when the organization “ Friskis & Svettis” was established , the workout jympa became one of the most popular forms of training in Sweden and spread around Europe. Holmsater has become it’s pioneer in Beijing. “There are two categories of training methods in China, the first one is the traditional Tai Chi and Qi Gong used by the elderly, or the
gym. Which I found underdeveloped in China, not in the amount of gyms, but in their methods, he said. “Most people who visit gyms are also Chinese that worked or studied abroad or the rich since its quite expensive, with Heyrobics we want to introduce people to a new way of training that is affordable for everyone” Joahn graduated in Sweden in International economics. His first visit to the city was in 2008 during a business trip, his first impression was positive and nothing like the communist city he had pictured. “A business associate picked us up in a Porsche Cayenne and we drove past the CBD area. That was far from the picture many foreigners had pre-Olympics. A nuanced picture of China, from grey communist to shiny capitalism, he said. The following year Holmsäter started working as a business consult for the Swedish-Chinese company Brainheart. According to him, he soon noticed the need for daily exercise among young Chinese people.
Sports and brands According to Holmsater, most of the daily training programs that have existed for the Chinese include, biking on their way to work, or other more traditional kinds of exercise. How to dress or eat during training sessions is on the other hand quite new among the Chinese. “Sports brands like Linning, Nike and New Balance put a lot of energy 10 ScandAsia.China • December 2011
educating their target market. This knowledge is relatively low amongst Chinese, which I find on the other hand quite refreshing. In the west we have the knowledge, we buy the gym card, the right clothes, the whole kit but we end up not using it. Instead our gym cards often just tear at our conscience, he says with a smile. Whats unique for Heyrobics according to Holmsater is to get to young Chinese starting group training. Which is quite hard as sports isn’t a priority amongst youngsters. “It is hard to see fast, direct results in sports, compared to other school subjects. In China parents don’t specifically want their children to do sports, even though it will make them more alert in school and in the long run enhance their performance,. because it is hard to measure result.”
Went full time on sports When the Heyrobics sessions grew from mainly expats joining to a couple of hundred Chinese, the Chinese sports brand Linning offered to sponsor Heyrobics. That was all the motivation Holmsater needed to quit his job and work full time with his passion. “I had so much to do, this is a new form of training in China and I soon realized if I didn’t do this, somebody else would, he said. “We want to create a platform for people to exercise, meet and most important of all to have fun. A place were you are allowed to make mistakes, do your own movements and just have fun. Sharing some of the principles associated with aerobics, Heyrobics encompasses diverse movements, strength training, running and stretching. One important difference though is that the trainer stands in the center of a circle, allowing participants to look into the eyes of everyone involved. “It is a very effective form of workout, which exhaust every single muscle in your body. It actually comes second to cross country skiing in terms of burning calories.”
“But to do Heyrobics is not supposed to be about loosing weight, it’s about seeing exercise as a part of a lifestyle and again having fun, he said. According to Holmsater, one of the big challenges has been getting good locations for the sessions. Since Heyrobics is a sport that needs a space that can generate a large amount of people, to have it in a gym is impossible. “Right now we are having our sessions in schools, warehouses, rooftops and parks. Language has never been a barrier since we communicate with movements,” he said.
First on Tienanmen Square The next step for Holmsater is to expand and build their very own gyms around China. Thanks to sponsorship from Lining, people are already doing Heyrobics in 9 different cities in China. Another project the Heyrobics team has been working on since earlier this year is to visit Sun village, a home for over 100 children of incarcerated parents aged from one to 10. Once a month the team meet up with the children and give them an hour training. “Unfortunatley these children are not used to physical exercise or get that much attention. We have tried to arrange our session specifically so they feel that they can contribute and not feel pressured during training, said Josefin Bennet Fredriksson, another Heyrobic trainer. “In the future it will be of interest to work with children of migrant workers,” Next up, on the 18th of October the Heyrobics team are the official warm-up for the Beijing Marathon. “With around 30 000 people at the Tienanmen square, it would be the largest event were people are warming up led by a foreigner,” he said smiling. “I would like to cooperate more with schools and authorities to get people into shape. My dream is to make Heyrobics become the biggest sport in China,” he said.
Christmas in Asia Going to Bali for Christmas Before a Busy Year 2012 Anders Sogaard just started his own business in Beijing, China this year and it has meant a lot of work and fun. Christmas for him means family time. He will visit Denmark but not celebrate the holidays there. “It’s nice to visit friends and family but Denmark is always too grey, cold and busy in December. I have been travelling regularly every month and am also going to Europe in December. I will meet up with friends and family and have some traditional Danish Christmas food (herrings on ray bread) when I am at home.” “As I need a break from the busy life and cold weather I am going back to Asia to celebrate Christmas and New Year on a warm sunny beach in the south. I am going to Bali with a friend of mine to relax and get ready for a busy and exiting 2012.”
Markussen’s Norwegian Christmas in Singapore Bjørn Tore Markussen, Managing Director, DNV Singapore, will celebrate a traditional Norwegian Christmas there. It is the fifth year in a row for Bjorn and his family. “The day starts with breakfast and then some time by the pool. After that, we’ll put on our Christmas clothes and go to Norwegian Seamen’s Church for Christmas Mess. Then back home to Tanglin for family dinner and gifts. And of course Skyping with family in Norway and France during the evening after we have opened the presents.”
Linus Holmsäter Age: 27 Hometown: Stockholm, Mariefred. Time spent in China: 2 år Plan to stay in China: Indefinitely Work: Heyrobics Passion: The joy of movement Heyrobics sessions: Almost every day on different rooftops and indoor venues, for more information visit www.heyrobics.com The name Heyrobics: Hey is like Hej but hej in Swedish is too hard for people to pronounce in English and Chinese, so its more naturally to just use Hey!!
“Christmas in 2009 was special with our one month old third child, Oskar, born in Singapore, together with us. We also have a tradition of renting a bum boat on New Years eve and view the fireworks at Marina Bay with friends and we are already looking forward to do that again this year.”
Show-Off At China Wind This year, there were 29 Danish companies at the Danish Pavilion at China Wind Power exhibition in Beijing. The exhibition has since its start in 2008 evolved to become the leading exhibition within wind energy in China. By Rikke Berg
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he Danish Pavilion at the China Wind Power exhibition in Beijing was opened with great splendor. Export Ambassador Ritt Bjerregaard showed a good example of the Danish engagement in the Chinese wind industry by her participation in the opening of both the conference and the Danish Pavilion. Already early in the day the many highly qualified visitors contributed to the good atmosphere among the 29 Danish companies. An atmosphere which was also accompanied by sweeping tones from the Danish Majorettes “Vedbæk Garden” which in a noble way supported the Danish involvement in connection with the opening of the joint Pavilion.
Opening day On the opening day, a reception was hosted by the Danish Embassy and Invest in Denmark and coorganised by China Wind Energy Association and China Renewable Energy Industry Association. Among the key note speakers at the reception was Mr.Klaus Raveon from GWEC, Mr Li Jun Feng, Secretary of CREIA, who gave a introduction of Chinese wind power 12 ScandAsia.China • December 2011
Power industry, Mr. Jens Carsten Hansen, head of wind turbine system RisoDTU and Professor Chen Zhe from Aalborg University. The objective of the reception was to help Chinese wind power companies understand the competences of the Danish wind power industry. The purpose was to facilitate collaboration between Chinese and Danish companies. The Danish Ambassador-at-large Ritt Bjerregaard spoke earlier today at the opening of China Wind Power were she stressed the long tradition Denmark has with renewable energy. “Denmark has a long history of producing clean and renewable power from wind. I am old enough to remember the car free Sundays back in the early 1970’ies, when the sudden increase on fossil fuels price let to a severe economic crisis and shortness of oil. Since then the development of clean, efficient and economic means of wind power production has been a cornerstone in the energy policy of all Danish governments. I am proud to say that the Danish wind industry is a world leader within this field,” says Ritt Bjerregarrd, Denmark’s Ambassador-at-Large and continued talking about future goals:
100% fossil free in 2050 “In 2035 the entire electricity and heat consumption must be covered by sustainable energy production and in 2050 Denmark will be a 100% fossil free society. In China the 12 five year plan continues the substantial focus on wind power development. I am certain that the Danish experience and the Danish wind power solutions will be useful to China in the effort to fulfil the high targets of both 2015 and 2020.” After the speak Ritt Bjerregaard visited many of the Danish stands among then Vestas, Aluwind, Danfoss and KR Wind A/S. There are more than 30 Danish firms represented at the wind exhibition, which is been held for the fourth time in China.
Since 2008 The China Wind Power exhibition has since its start in 2008 evolved to become the leading exhibition within wind energy in China. With its accompanying conference program it covers the entire wind market in China. More than 600 exhibitors took part in
this fourth holding of the event. The Danes have been strong represented at this show with a Danish Pavilion of exhibitors since the start. The Danish companies have kept up with the development within the wind energy, and the 29 participants - including many small and medium enterprises - will use this leading trade fair to present their products and services to both established and new customers and to develop a picture of the very latest development within the wind industry in China. The extensive experience of Denmark and the fact that it has been a Danish tradition to build turbines on proven technology and tested components has made Denmark ”the knowledge center” for wind energy. The Danish knowledge center is characterized by: 25% of the energy consumption coming from wind energy approx. 25,000 people are employed within the entire wind sector wind representing 8,5% of the total Danish exports suppliers being extremely solution oriented and open for close cooeration with the chinese counterparts holding a strong position on the world market The export drive and the Danish Pavilion were organized by the Danish Export Association in cooperation with the Danish Wind Industry Association. To get introduced to the 29 participants, please visit www.dk-export.dk/cwp2011
Contact: Further questions can be made to: The Danish Export Association Business Sector Manager Rikke Berg Mobile: +45 3119 8788 Mail: rikke.berg@dk-export.dk The Danish Export Association is a private, nationwide organization with approx. 500 member companies ranging from small newcomers to the larger industrial locomotives. The Danish Export Association organizes export drives around the world in the form of joint stands at exhibitions, fact-finding tours, seminars and networking meetings. Ground-breaking research from Aarhus University has recently shown that member companies have 49% more global sales compared to other Danish export companies. The Danish Export Association is located in Silkeborg with a local office in Shanghai, China.
Christmas in Asia Finally a Beach Christmas Alexandra Leyton Espinoza, ScandAsia’s busy journalist in Beijing, will be leaving the cold and smoggy capital for warm and sunny Thailand this Christmas. “ I used to envy people that went to Thailand for Christmas or any other hot country for that matter, because I can’t stand Christmas carols and all the Western shopping mania. It was quite OK when I moved to China since they don’t celebrate Christmas here,” Alexandra says. But she admits her fiancée has bought a Christmas tree and decorations to make her feel more at home previous Christmases. “Christmas is not where you are but who you spend it with, and this year we will spend it with my mother for the first time since I moved here in 2008. That means a lot to me.” What she misses around Christmas time in China is Pannetone, an Italian bread that is very popular in South America during the festivities, you can easily find it in Sweden but it’s trickier in China. “ If you find it here, it cost a fortune so my mum is bringing me as many as it fits in her language,” she says laughing.
Christmas on a Riverboat in Copenhagen Martin F. Olsen, Destination Beauty in Thailand, is the man behind thousands of Scandinavians coming back from a medical trip to Thailand with a new look. The Dane also runs two lamp factories that have been busy delivering Christmas presents to five continents. ”I usually celebrate Christmas with my Thai family. There are lots of children and it is usually a big hit,” Martin says. But this year, Martin, his wife and three year old son will celebrate Christmas in Denmark. “We are going for something completely different this year. We have booked a riverboat in Nyhavn in the center of Copenhagen as our base!” Working is usually forbidden during Christmas. But if you promise to keep it a secret, the Dane admits that he is planning a couple of appointments now that he is there.
December 2011 • ScandAsia.China 13
Space for Creative Talent The Chinese government has awarded some of its biggest projects to foreign architects. The Bird’s Nest stadium was designed by Swiss architects, a Dutchman designed the new headquarters for China’s state television network, CCTV and French architect Paul Andreu, the National Grand theater. So there is no doubt foreign architects are welcomed in China. One of them is Swedish-born Simon Hjalmar Persson. By Alexandra Leyton Espinoza Photos courtesy of standardarchitecture.
Karaoke egg house for Shenzhen biennale 2009
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imon Hjalmar Persson believes his first inspiration to become an architect was when he read The Fountainhead, a story about a young architect who chooses to struggle in obscurity rather than compromise his artistic and personal vision. A book his mother lent him at the age of fourteen. “All architects probably have their pseudo reasons to join the profession. My latest one is when George Costanza in Seinfeld says he is an architect and instantly gets women’s attention. When I saw that episode, I thought, that’s what I should be doing,” he says laughing. “Today, architecture is an opportunity to express myself and my creative curiosity in space. How naive it may sound, architecture for me is always to make space more aesthetic life-full and support life in different ways than the preconcepted and to added layers of meaning rather than just solve a problem.”
I wanted to be in Asia After a five-years of education at Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark, combined with studies in Japan, Norway and The Netherlands, Persson decided Asia was the place for him. “I wanted to go back to Japan, unfortunately the country was going through a financial crisis and they have the most architects in the 14 ScandAsia.China • December 2011
world. So I thought, China is almost Japan and started looking into the Chinese market.” “I noticed at once that there were a lot of small design offices. A new generation of Chinese architects that didn’t do Chinese traditional architecture or copied western architecture. Instead they elaborated their own contemporary architecture free from historical references.” He recognized that China wasn’t anything like Japan but at the same time was positively surprised by the countries modernity. “I presumed china was much more wild east rock n roll of ruckus, I don’t understand what people in Sweden are complaining about,” he says.
Job at standardarchitecture A couple of months later he nailed a job at a one of China’s top ten architect companies, standardarchitecture, that according to him is one of very few architect companies with integrity in China. “The company is uncompromising and does not believe in selling themselves out. Instead of quantity they believe in quality. The management is also non-typical Chinese with a less hierarchically tone, everyone is involved in developing ideas and results. At standardarchitecture, they work with various kinds of typologies. From turrets, towers, museums, visitor centers, viewing points to bus stations.
“I would describe our design work as simple complex. Simplicity and clarity in its design with a clear view of the project, refined, too but complex in how to use buildings and enhanced areas of feature. Otherwise, designs tend to sprawl, too many ideas that merge into one complex mess,” he says. “A successful project is for me to see all projects I work with as part of a constant process of learning and improving my understanding to be more precise for the next project.”
The Egg House controversy Last year, one of Persson’s projects, The egg house, was questioned as if it was a politic statement in China. The original idea, to create an egg house, that was supposed to be a tsunami, earthquake and radiation resistant safe zone, was followed up by a mutant version built of bamboo, wood and grass seed and aimed for migrant workers to live and work. “They were supposed to be able to be business owners and decrease their living costs by working and living in these eggs. They could run their karaoke houses, massage houses and other services, “ he says. The egg gained so much attention from both the media and the public by touching concerns of the increasing rents and rocketing prices on property in the city that the company was questioned about their intentions by officials. “It is a sensitive topic and the police asked us to remove the egg,”
Resistance against change Not all Chinese are enamored by modern buildings and many are critical about how the government are demolishing old Hutong areas in Beijing, to make room for modern architecture, “Of course the Hutongs are beautiful traditional Chinese architecture, but some of the old Hutongs are not in their best conditions for people to live in. I don’t believe in keeping these areas just because Westerners find them ‘exotic’.”
Rush comes at a cost Even if there are sky scrapers being built on a daily basis, there are buildings in Beijing that according to Persson are just a shadow of what they could have been. Buildings where bad planning, developing and money issues has stymied the project. Mainly because there is an existing rush to finish projects quickly. “A project that would take several years in Europe will have a deadline of one in China. That means it’s very important to have a good developer and clients to work for.”
“Unfortunately quite often architects are engaged on projects that the client eventually say they will not proceed with. But in the end they go ahead with the architect’s drawings anyway,” he says. So according to Persson, it’s a risky business to be your own boss even if that is where there is the big money and greater opportunities for architects. On the other hand, in Europe the average age of decision makers are in their 50s, whilst in China they are in their 30s. Statistically speaking decision maker in China are in the beginning of their life and are empowering architects to use their skills and sense of adventure. “There are young western architects who believe they can just show up and earn big money. That’s not the case. That being said, talented architects are always welcomed, but to find a job with good standards is still very competitive.”
Your favorite architect? An architect Persson persoanlly admires is Japanese Junya Ishigami, for the way he challenges, investigates and reinvents architecture. “He is also not afraid of using the word cute in which I see great potential for the city,” he says. According to Persson it is inevitable that Sweden will eventually become influenced by Asian architecture. “China will be a leading player in the architecture scene, here is where the money is. It’s becoming a global workspace. The development does not occur in Europe. When the country continues developing, young Chinese architects will be given chances that no students in Sweden will ever get,” he says.
Back to Sweden After almost three years in China, Simon Persson’s next project is to make a series of drawings for an exhibition next year, “I wish there was a more intellectual climate in Sweden when it comes to urban planning. The climate debate in Sweden is too stringent and anxious and I wish there could be a greater understanding for architecture in itself, rather then just focusing on how a modern building will affect property value,” he says. “My future goal is to contribute to changing the Swedish architecture scene for the better. To utilize all the knowledge I obtained in China and apply it in Sweden.” “But for now I enjoy my life here. Living on the 27th floor of a tower block is quite inspiring. Where in Sweden can you do that?” he says laughing
Christmas in Asia The Christmas Grinch Jojje Olsson, photographer living in China, doesn’t like Christmas and can’t think about anything worse than ending up in a hot beach when finally the winter has arrived in Beijing. “Christmas doesn’t affect me, it’s a time to spend with your family and since they are not here it doesn’t really matter. I run my own company so it’s not convenient to take time off like everyone else during that time and I don’t like the heat.” Last year, he went for a Chinese dinner on Christmas Eve and went skiing on Christmas day. “It had nothing to do with Christmas but that’s what I remember I did those days,” he says. He admits even though he doesn’t like the commercial hysteria of shopping during Christmas time he will still get his girlfriend a Christmas present.
Pre-Christmas in Singapore But Finland Is the Real Deal Petteri Kostermaa, Finnair’s Sales Director in Singapore, enjoys taking part in the many Finnish community events in Singapore. “We have enjoyed the various Scandinavian Christmas Bazaars in Singapore. We also plan to attend a Finnish Christmas Carols singing event and really enjoy Singapore’s great Christmas decorations and festive mood,” Petteri Kostermaa says. “But as we also do love white Christmas and winter sports, we are heading back to Finland for a week’s vacation. We hope that there will be enough snow for either cross-country or alpine skiing. “Last December we were in the process of moving to Singapore. We were eagerly looking forward to a cosy Christmas in our new home in Singapore when the shipping company told us, our container would not make it on time. So what do? There were two vacant seats on Finnair Bangkok flight so we flew to Helsinki and then drove 400 kilometres to the Finnish West Coast (known as Österbotten to Swedes) to spend the Christmas with my wife’s father and siblings and with my sister’s family. There was plenty of snow and we feasted on traditional Nordic Christmas food. We then drove back to Helsinki on the night of the Boxing Day. The white scenery in the early morning hours was beautiful and it was really enjoyable listening to the Christmas carols on the radio while driving.
December 2011 • ScandAsia.China 15
Purple Haze Purple Haze, the Thai restaurant in Beijing, is the success of Swedish businessman, Tobi Demker. By Alexandra Leyton Espinoza
We are successful because we have created a personal atmosphere and a place that you would really want to visit.
16 ScandAsia.China • December 2011
B
eijing could arguably have more restaurants than any city in the world and most start-ups come crashing down within months of their opening their doors. So why would anyone dare risk so much time and money in such a precarious pursuit? Ask Tobi Demker from Sweden who has been there and done that. His five-year on a road award winning Thai restaurant Purple Haze, is a leading example of how he knows the best way to survive in the capital’s competitive culinary world. “We are successful because we have created a personal atmosphere and a place that you would really want to visit,” he said. “Above all, by spending time in the restaurant. In the beginning, I was “on the floor” most of the time and had a finger in everything. We have also introduced a lot of our own values in the businessculture and are not trying to be something we can’t stand for, I would say comfort and value is our mantra,” he says. According to Demker the competition is fierce so it’s really important to establish a unique culture, which reflects you and what you stand for. The music, lightning, quality, accomodity, everything has to go hand in hand. Demker said that some restaurateurs, both foreigners and Chinese, aim for a level they can’t handle. “They try to imitate opulent Chinese establishments and create an equally extravagant environment with crazy prices. “This doesn’t work,” he said. When he first visited Beijing in 1998, to open a restaurant wasn’t the first thing in his mind. The reason was years of curiosity in the eastern continent. He found China exciting, fascinating and incredibly fun. “When I came back to Sweden I started to study east asian studies in Lund University. Soon after I got a scholarship to study in Taiwan, but I wanted to come back to the mainland. I could find safety in the middle of the chaos. It wasn’t as scary and difficult as I thought it would be,” he said. He started working for Nordic
Ways, a Swedish company in Beijing, but in 2005 he was requested to join the restaurant business together with his wife and another business partner. “I wanted to do something on my own, but opening a Thai restaurant wasn’t something I planned. The opportunity to take over an old Thai restaurant came along, and it seemed like a good opportunity at that time,” he said. From the beginning I wasn’t very interested but promised to help the restaurant going, with time it has now become my baby,” he says. Demker said research was really important. This gave him time to understand Chinese food, culture and most importantly, the language. Five years have passed since he opened his first restaurant and his clientele is expanding. And it’s not just foreigners who are walking in the door to taste the food. More and more Chinese are coming to enjoy the Thai dining experience. “We have probably most foreign clients in our restaurants, but it is extremely important that local customers feel they are just as welcome as the foreign ones. We don’t distinguish between different groups of clients. We try to reach both foreign and Chinese customers,” he said. It is quite different types of marketing between Chinese and Western costumers, according to Demker. The most effective way to attract Chinese costumers is to use more events and web based marketing while the more traditional methods of advertising to foreign customers. Demker also said he and his partners have tried this tactics to attract more Chinese costumers and have seen a large change here in the Chinese customers in the last few years. “More and more Chinese come from Southeast Asia to encounter Thai cuisine,” he said. “They are getting more and more curious about local food and foreign cuisine.” Although Demker is Swede, the Thai menu in his restaurant doesn’t leave any room for Scandinavian cuisine. “It would have been great to have a restaurant serving Swedish
Christmas in Asia cuisine, but unfortunately Scandinavian restaurants have not proved very successful here. Previously, I believe it has been for the large gap. But its reduced now and the world keeps on becoming smaller. It is very coincidental, but it comes to having a good balance I think. It can’t be too Scandinavian, but still have a strong Scandinavian presence. Then, of course, service and quality are extremely important.” “Maybe IKEA is changing that,” he added with a laugh. Demker said it was tough to establish a business in China in the beginning with many different regulations, employment issues and various business permits. Rules on alcohol are stricter here than those in Europe. With the regulations being less consistent, it’s easy to make mistakes, he said. Finding the right staff is another issue. “We aim to find honest, hardworking staff who are willing to develop together with us in the long term. We have a pretty clear corporate culture where we take care of each other and where we allow staff to take greater responsibility and I believe it has worked pretty well” he says. “We try to teach our staff to listen to the customer and spend time getting to know individual client needs. That’s very important.” Location and knowledge of the local area is vital, according to Demker. And this is a lesson he has learned when he tried to open an-
other restaurant in the suburbs of Beijing. “Don’t fall for a cheap rent located in a part of the city you aren’t familiar with,” he said. “There are a lot of restaurants in the city, but if you take your time and slowly build up a loyal customer base, there is always room for more.” “You need to be hands-on in a restaurant and the face of the business. You can’t just be an investor and leave the hard work to someone else, just investing won’t create success” he says. His passion for music is reflected in the restaurant, with new jazz bands every Wednesday. Himself plays base in two bands, Mad Mamasan and Black Cat Bone. “I play a lot of music, but I am also engaged in sports, like football and golf. Right now I am studying leadership development to be able to develop my management skills. That’s what I appreciate so much about China, you can do so many things at the same time, and it ends up in the same direction,” he says. So, what is his vision for Purple Haze and life next? “We have discussed to expand and the franchise opportunities, but frankly I don’t know if it’s going to happen. Purple Haze is my “baby” and should always be in Beijing. If it becomes too big, the personal atmosphere might disappear. I don’t want that. And if I ever leave China, I know that in one way or another I will always come back.”
Christmas in Singapore with other Swedish Families Claudia Olsson, Managing Director of ACCESS Health in Singapore will stay there this Christmas “I will celebrate Christmas in the lovely climate of Singapore with my family from Sweden,” Claudia says. “We will probably also visit Singaporean friends, exchange Christmas gifts and also organise a Christmas celebration for our Swedish friends who are here in Singapore – especially for other young professionals with families far away. ” “Last year, my Christmas here was magical. I had both the Swedish tradition with a pine-tree and Donald Duck on tv as well as an exotic pool-party with a large and very welcoming Chinese family. The evening ended with a very atmospheric midnight mass with my Philippine friends. It was a warm and very international Christmas.”
Christmas Means Pizza and the Beach in Sihanoukville Edwin Engeland, founder and owner of Velkommen Inn restaurant and guesthouse in Phnom Phen, Cambodia has not celebrated Christmas the traditional way since 1998. But that does not mean Christmas is not important to the Norwegian father of Karen, now 23 years old. ”December and January is so black and cold, so when I still lived and worked in Norway, I started going to Sihanoukville together with my daugther Karen and celebrate it there. She would celebrate Christmas with her mother before we left. She got her present and I send flowers to my parents,” Edwin says. In Sihanoukville the traditional Christmas dinner could be BBQ, Pizza or Asian food. ”Karen never complaint about the lack of a Norwegian Christmas with me. She has grown up with this kind of Christmas on the beach in Sihanoukville. This year she comes visiting me again and we will be at Otres beach in Sihanouksville again. I have no problem with other people celebrating Christmas,but when I’m in Asia it’s not natural for me to celebrate”, says Edvin.
December 2011 • ScandAsia.China 17
Medium
Pepparkakor
cookies with black pepper
P
epparkakor in Swedish, piparkakut in Finnish and pepperkaker in Norwegian are not to be confused with Danish Pebbernoedder. Pepparkakor - ginger cookies - are rolled quite thin (often under 3 mm, and cut into shapes. This is where the fantasy of the children come in! Whereas Danish Pebbernoedder are more like little lumps of ginger cookies. But the basic taste is the same. Cloves, cinnamon and cardamom are important ingredients of these, and the actual ginger taste is not prominent. Allspice was used formerly to season ginger biscuits, but cloves replaced it later. 1 cup (2 dl) water 1/2 cup (1 dl) syrup (molasses) 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon of ground cloves 1 tablespoon of ground ginger 1 teaspoon of ground cardamom 1 teaspoon black pepper (opt) 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate (baking soda) 10,5 oz (300 gr) butter 2,5 cups (5 dl) sugar 7,5 cups or about 1 lb. (1.5 liters) flour
Evil
• Mix butter, sugar and syrup. Add spices and bicarbonate, then water and finally part of the flour. Mix in the rest of the flour. Let the dough sit over night, wrapped in foil in the fridge. Roll the dough as thin as possible using flour. Cut out figures - preferable Christmas figures, hearts, stars etc. • Bake in oven for about 5 minutes at 200-225 degrees C. Watch them! They burn fast once they start. • You can get about 300 cookies, depending on how big you make them. It´s nice to make some quite big hearts, decorated with frosting and maybe hang them up in the window.
Are you done?
ENJOY!!!!
W
hen you have completed the above puzzles, please send your solution by fax to +66 2 943 7169 or scan and email to puzzles@ scandasia.com. We will make a lucky draw among the correct answers. Five lucky winners will receive a ScandAsia polo shirt. Name:
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Deadline for submitting your solution is 15 January 2012 18 ScandAsia.China • December 2011
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