Scan Magazine, Issue 114, July 2018

JULY 2018 ISSUE 114 PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA

MEIK WIKING ON THE SECRET TO HAPPINESS MADE IN SWEDEN: OUR FAVOURITE BRANDS A TASTE OF DENMARK THIS SUMMER’S DANISH CULTURE HIGHLIGHTS

Your Shortcut to Scandinavia Bergen

NORWAY

Oslo Stockholm Bromma

SWEDEN Aalborg

Gothenburg

Aarhus

UNITED KINGDOM

DENMARK Billund

Manchester

London City

GERMANY Brussels

Düsseldorf

BELGIUM

SWITZERLAND

Munich

Zürich

S n acks

Me al s

Drinks

ba.com

Pap ers

Lounges

Smiles

Scan Magazine | Contents

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Contents

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COVER FEATURE 26

Meik Wiking – The Happiest Man Alive?

He is the best-selling author of the much-loved books about the Danish concepts of ‘hygge’ and ‘lykke’, and founder and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute. Scan Magazine spoke to Meik Wiking about measuring emotions, writing about ‘hygge’, and being honest about happiness.

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far beyond. This special theme is a look at the best, most exciting brands coming out of Sweden right now.

56

A Taste of Denmark

DESIGN

Move over, Redzepi – foodies all over Scandinavia may have a lot to thank the New Nordic Cuisine movement for, but the Danish food scene is buzzing with passionate entrepreneurs and chefs who are not necessarily new or even always all that Nordic. From traditional quality cutlery and Michelin-starred eateries to African chufa and charming farm boutiques, here is what to look for

Kiddie Kits and Feminine Functionality

on your next trip to Denmark.

The sun is making us all giddy with excitement, so we decided to check in with our inner child to find the cutest, coolest Nordic products for children and family homes. Scan Magazine’s writer Jo Iivonen, meanwhile, spoke to the woman who runs her own architecture firm and is adamant that women are exceptionally good at designing spaces for others.

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Danish Culture Once done treating those taste buds, get yourself a culture fix. We list some of our current favourites when it comes to Danish culture, from maritime history hubs to contemporary art meccas.

BUSINESS SPECIAL FEATURES 16

A Feast by the Water Whether you are hoping to spend most of your time this holiday season eating or relaxing – or both – we suggest that you do so near the water. How about mussels straight from the southern coast of Denmark, fine dining in stunning architecture on an award-winning golf course, craft coffee or lunch at a fishmonger’s dream location?

To Manage or Not to Manage Keynote writer Steve Flinders ponders the problems with becoming an accidental manager, while we sent out some writers to speak to the brightest of the bright amongst Danish entrepreneurs. Think robot science, gardening tools and hardware – and add plenty of energy and determination.

CULTURE 102 Discover the World of Art on Paper

56 102

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SPECIAL THEMES 32

Made in Sweden Bamboo toothbrushes, award-winning skincare, nutty cheese and adaptable wool garments – all are proudly made in Sweden, but making waves

A very special exhibition is coming to a very special gallery in Norway this summer. We spoke to the owner of Kunstverket Galleri as well as one of the artists on display. For festival, concert and earworm tips, look no further than Scandipop’s regular column and the culture calendar.

REGULARS & COLUMNS 8 88 94

Fashion Diary | 12 We Love This | 82 Hotel of the Month | 84 Restaurants of the Month Attraction of the Month | 90 Experience of the Month | 92 Architect of the Month Artists of the Month | 98 Gallery of the Month | 100 Humour

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 3

Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note

Dear Reader, I have been nursing a theory for a few weeks now: that the summer of 2018 is a new and improved version of the summer of 1994. If you have been following the World Cup, you will know what I mean – and especially so if you have been watching it in one of the many beer gardens packed full of sun-loving football fans, with pretty much every weather record being broken almost to the point of us needing a new system for measuring heat and drought.

I remember the summer of 1994. I may have been very young and far from clear on the rules of football, but I sang along to the national football anthem, and I remember the squad. We went digging for gold in the US, and though we did not quite get it, in some way we won that summer. In our hearts, we did – and here we are. At the time of writing, all we know is that Sweden will face England in the quarter finals, but that is good enough for me – that, and the never-ending sunshine and blue skies, and what I know will be a summer to remember for my young boys.

and historical explorations near the sandy beaches of Denmark.

Nor do we seem to ever get enough of the gems from the sea, served fresh on a plate with stunning views. Who knew that a maritime culinary experience would be the secret to happiness?

Our cover star, best-selling author and happiness researcher Meik Wiking, might disagree – though more than anything, he seems adamant that happiness is quite simple, at least if you are lucky enough to live in a context of social security and equality.

Whether you want to flick through our guide to the most wonderful brands coming out of Sweden right now or read about Finnish architecture, then, might not really matter. Invest in your relationships, suggests Wiking, and you are halfway there. Winning might not be all that important, after all. Donning that Swedish jersey with family and friends, however – that is happiness.

Linnea Dunne, Editor

Do I sound like I am suffering from heat stroke? Well I think we all might be, here at Scan Magazine HQ, because we decided to continue yet again on our journey to the heart of the Danish culture scene. What can I say? We just cannot get enough of cultural

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Scan Magazine | Design | Street Style

Nordic Humans of London Scan Magazine’s brilliant Sanna Halmekoski has once again hit the streets of London to find out what the Scandinavian fashion fanatics are wearing. Cool, sleek, and full of statements, this is a little piece of Scandiland in the United Kingdom.

Text and photos by Sanna Halmekoski | www.nordichumans.com

Frida Wiberg Swedish barista

Frida Wiberg

“I like to wear basic, comfortable clothes.

My style is quite Nordic, except that I always like to wear a bit of colour. Since moving to London, my style has changed; I feel like I can be more myself here.

When I go to Sweden I like to shop at Gina Tricot. My top is from Monki, my jeans are from Topshop, my shoes are by Nike, and the jacket is second-hand.”

Rúni Broke Faroese software developer “I would call my style something like Nordic rock chic, and my hairstyle is inspired by Nordic mythology. AllSaints is my favourite brand. I also like Zara and Topman. My shirt is by AllSaints, my jeans are from Zara, my shoes are by River Island, and the necklace and bag are from Amazon.”

Mari Viitanen Senior sales associate and personal styling representative at Anthropologie

Mari Viitanen

6 | Issue 114 | July 2018

“My style is feminine cool with a minimalist twist. I am trend-aware; I love an edge but keep it classy and lady-like. I try to avoid black and always add a spot of colour here and there. My jacket is a secondhand authentic US army pilot coat, the shirt is by H&M, the skirt is by Faithful, the shoes are by Vagabond, the bag is vintage, and the scarf is by Lily and Lionel.”

Rúni Broke

Ugo Rondinone, vocabulary of solitude, 2014-2016.

Courtesy of the artist

UGO RONDINONE

arken.dk

Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary

Fashion Diary…

Nail the perfect Nordic summer look this season by sticking to minimal aesthetics and a neutral palette. The weather can be very changeable and a true Scandinavian always dresses with this fact in mind. Because the Scandinavian summer can be both hot and cold, we opt for loose-fitting, minimal clothes that will take us from day to night, combined with simple accessories to look stylish.

By Ingrid Opstad | Press photos

Combine these lightweight cotton slim chino shorts with a smart shirt this season for an effortless yet chic vibe. The shorts are comfortably cool in warm weather, and the blue striped shirt gives the outfit a casual look.

Arket, slim chino shorts, £35 Arket, 3 striped poplin shirt, £55 www.arket.com

Summer is the perfect time for hats. Not only do they keep your head protected from the sun, but they also make you look cool. Stay trendy in this handmade straw hat with decorative woven structure from Tiger of Sweden.

Tiger of Sweden, ‘Misma 2’ hat, £79 www.tigerofsweden.com

This casual take on the iconic Breton striped top comes as a long-sleeved T-shirt with a relaxed fit and dropped shoulders. It truly is a must-have for summer, and a great way to get a leisurely look, with loose-fitting jeans or shorts and trainers.

Filippa K striped long sleeve aquatic / bone T-shirt, £65 www.filippa-k.com

For a Scandinavian, it is all in the details. We love the fresh look of the 178 watch from Cate & Nelson Watches, with its nude-coloured organic strap – perfect on tanned summer skin. Inspired by the iconic clock in the Stockholm metro system, this unisex piece is for those who appreciate small details with a big impact.

Cate & Nelson Watches Nº 178 | 34 mm, approx £140 www.catenelsonwatches.com

8 | Issue 114 | July 2018

Magnificent Nature in a Land of Culture

The hiking trail leads you straight into the wilderness. Soon, the muscles in your legs begin to feel the uphill climb. As you pause and turn around, you are well rewarded for your effort.

You are gazing out over the forest of Värmland, and far below you catch a glimmer from one of the county’s thousand lakes and ponds.

One reason to visit Sunne is the great

hiking. Several of the local hiking trails have been improved in recent years, and there are now information signs in English.

Some of the trails are challenging and physically demanding, while others are shorter and easier to walk. Around Sunne, every hike is an opportunity for adventure and wonder. The riches of nature and culture will leave you feeling rested and energized.

In the surroundings of Sunne, you will find breathtaking nature with deep forests, clear lakes and rivers, hills with spectacular views, and valleys with traditional farming landscapes. Sunne is well known for its wealth of nature and culture. Creative souls have always felt a pull towards this region – authors and artists, musicians and composers, stage actors and directors. Together, they have contributed to the cultural riches and the tradition of storytelling that set Sunne apart.

The most famous of them all is author and Nobel Prize winner Selma Lagerlöf.

She is best known for her story about the Wonderful Adventures of Nils. The book was originally written as a geography school book, but it soon gained praise and admiration far beyond Swedish school children. Selma Lagerlöf was born and raised at Mårbacka mansion just outside of Sunne. Her home is now a museum that offers guided tours, and her beautiful garden is open for visitors.

Curious about hiking in a group with a guide? Visit our Swedish website

www.sagolikasunne.se

SAGOLIKASUNNE.SE/EN

Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary

A white shirt dress has become a summer essential. We love this minimal number from COS, made from crisp cotton poplin with concealed front buttons. Cut with short sleeves that sit at the elbows with a dropped shirt collar, it can be worn on its own as a dress, or layered on top of a pair of trousers, depending on mood.

COS T-shirt dress, £59 www.cosstores.com

Add a fun touch to your outfit with this handy and spacious shoulder bag from DAY Birger et Mikkelsen, with a delicate flower pattern. Perfect for everyday use, the bag is light and soft, which means it can also be used for weekend trips or shopping. It comes in a wide range of colours and patterns.

DAY Birger et Mikkelsen ‘Gweneth’ parrot tote bag, £54.99 www.zalando.co.uk

With their flowing silhouette and fabric, the Fabianna trousers are perfect for summertime. An elastic detail inside the waist makes them easy to adjust to wear either high or low. Team up with a loose, long-sleeved top for a relaxed vibe. The Dagmar leather strap bag is handmade in Stockholm and a great accessory to wear either with a strap or without, as a clutch or pouch.

House of Dagmar, ‘Fabianna’ trousers, £155 House of Dagmar, ‘Marnille’ sweater, £155 House of Dagmar, ‘Dagmar’ leather strap bag, £195 www.houseofdagmar.com

10 | Issue 114 | July 2018

Glam up this summer with these pretty silver Merci sandals. The Swedish Hasbeens sandals are based on original ‘70s models and are made of ecologically prepared natural grain leather of the highest quality. Every shoe is unique and a work of art, made by artisans in a traditional way, and they are also environmentally friendly.

Swedish Hasbeens ‘Merci’ sandal, £159 www.swedishhasbeens.com

Morris tables and other new classics to accompany the ones you already have designed and made by habitek in Finland since 2005. www.habitek.fi

Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This

We love this…

When it comes to design for kids, there is something special about the elegant simplicity of Scandinavian design. We have selected a few of our favourite pieces with which to inspire, all with a modern look combined with a nod to the past for a nostalgic feeling.

By Ingrid Opstad | Press photos

This irresistibly cute mouse family from Danish brand Maileg is the perfect gift for a young one. Each plush little toy mouse comes with a pillow and blanket and is nestled inside a retro style cigar box or matchbox.

With many additional accessories, items and clothes available, it is a great toy to play with and collect.

Maileg Mouse, Mum and Dad in cigar box, approximately £44 Maileg Big Sister / Brother Mouse in a box, approximately £21 Maileg Little Sister / Brother Mouse in a box, approximately £18.50 www.maileg.co.uk

One of the world’s best-known cot designs has been relaunched by the Danish brand Sebra. The Juno bed by Viggo Einfeldt was originally designed in the 1940s and is now available with a modern twist. Fully height-adjustable and extendable, this beautiful cot will see your little one through from newborn to six years of age.

Sebra Juno cot bed, £724.95 www.scandiborn.co.uk

Specially designed for kids, these colourful backpacks from the Norwegian brand Blafre are sure to become a classic favourite, adding a retro touch to fun outings all year round. With easily adjustable padded shoulder straps, they are comfortable to wear and are suitable for children from one year old. The backpacks are available in different colours and sizes.

Blafre, backpack 6 l (1-3 years), approximately £37 Blafre, backpack 8 l (3-5 years), approximately £45.80 www.babyshop.com

For those wanting to treasure each moment of childhood, the memory box from Ferm Living is a great start. It includes little boxes, envelopes, cotton bags and notecards to keep safe every memory of your child’s start in life, and gives you the tools you need to document everything from the first haircut to the first pair of shoes, the first tooth and funny quotes for the future.

Ferm Living, Kids Memory Box – The Beginning Of My Life, £74 www.fermliving.com

This cool and playful cooking class gift box by Design Letters is an ideal gift for a little chef!

With packaging designed as an old-fashioned stove where the kids can ‘cook’, it comes with a large pot with lid, saucepan, frying pan and dish.

Design Letters Cooking Class Gift Box, approximately £24 www.designletters.com

12 | Issue 114 | July 2018

Visualizing Your Ideas 3D-images & Animations 360 & Virtual Reality Graphic Design See more at oladesign.fi instagram: @oladesignfi

Scan Magazine | Architecture Profile | Arkkitehdit Casagrande

Caterina Casagrande and her team of architects

Residential development Vantaan Louhi.

Turku, restoration of suurtori makasiinit.

Feminine functionality Thanks to 20th century trailblazers Eero Saarinen and Alvar Aalto, Finnish architecture has an international reputation. Clean lines and functional design remain a hallmark of Finnish architectural style, but surprisingly few women have made their mark. Second generation architect Caterina Casagrande is building on the tradition of Finnish architecture – and doing it her way.

By Jo Iivonen | Photos: Arkkitehdit Casagrande

Arkkitehdit Casagrande, an architectural agency based in Turku in southwestern Finland, is an anomaly in its field.

Not only was the business founded by a woman, but it continues to operate as an all-female team. Although men have historically dominated the field, Caterina Casagrande, who founded her business in 2005, thinks that women have more to offer. “Women understand that an architect’s job is to design solutions that serve people,” Casagrande says. “It’s not about the ego.”

Creating functional living arrangements is at the heart of Casagrande’s work. In addition to a portfolio of large-scale residential complexes, the firm has designed a number of small housing units for people with disabilities. “Functionality is paramount,” says Casagrande. “Women are good at putting themselves in the other person’s shoes, envisaging what it’s like 14 | Issue 114 | July 2018

to live there and understanding how to make space functional.”

The firm’s large-scale residential projects have been well received and commercially validated too. All units in the Vantaan Louhi development in the Helsinki region, for example, were sold before completion. This was in part thanks to effective design solutions, which ensured that the 46-square-metre two-bedroom units met the buyers’ needs, while the compact square footage kept the prices affordable.

“Effective use of space is something we do very well,” Casagrande says. The firm has boosted efficiency at the design stage by adopting the Building Information Modelling (BIM) system. “Having a three-dimensional representation of the project has helped us find creative solutions in a cost-effective way,” Casagrande

explains. The system has also supported projects that rework historic structures with modern architectural solutions.

Walking in the footsteps of her father Benito Casagrande, an acclaimed architect who was known for his work in Turku’s historic centre, Casagrande has completed several restoration projects herself, including the building that houses the company’s offices. Casagrande renovated the entire space but kept the original angel ornaments that used to grace the entrance of the building’s previous occupant, Enkeliravintola (Angel Restaurant).

“The space now serves a new purpose, but the angels remain,” Casagrande adds, proving that functionality can take the lead without sacrificing a sense of place.

Historic angel artefact at the Turku offices of Arkkitehdit Casagrande.

Web: www.arkkitehditcasagrande.fi

THE VIGELAND MUSEUM Experience the life and work of Norway’s most famous sculptor, Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943).

Nobels gate 32, 0268 Oslo vigeland.museum.no

museet

Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Sue Ellen

Sue Ellen is located in one of Helsinki’s oldest buildings, and used to be the home of a colonial merchant.

Flavours from the south coast There is a new lady in town. Serving everything from shrimp and grits to suckling pig, Sue Ellen specialises in classic dishes from the southern coast of the United States.

Welcoming its guests with open arms, the restaurant takes them on a culinary trip to the deep south.

have all been influenced by the authentic flavours of the southern coastal cities of the United States.”

By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Sue Ellen

To find inspiration for their menu, the whole Sue Ellen team travelled to the southern coast of the United States.

“Our menu is heavily inspired by South Carolina, and other coastal cities, and our menu features many southern classics, such as brisket, shrimp and grits, oysters, as well as our Carolina crab cake, served with okra salad,” explains restaurant manager Saana Harjula.

“From that trip, we brought back with us an authentic charcoal grill and smoker, which our chefs use to create original and authentic flavours to our meats.”

Harjula adds: “We wanted to give diners the opportunity to delve into a world full of new flavours and we’re the first res-

Since opening its doors in November 2017, Sue Ellen has quickly found its way into guests’ hearts and established itself as the go-to venue for relaxed dinner and drinks in Helsinki. Located in the city centre, on Helsinki’s south harbour front, the restaurant is open from Tuesday to Saturday, serving meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes – all with the unique flavours of the southern United States.

The concept behind Sue Ellen is the brainchild of restaurateurs Henkka Alén, Samuil Angelov, Tommi Tuominen and Timo “Lintsi” Linnamäki, and the 16 | Issue 114 | July 2018

seed was sown years ago, when Alén was filming a food programme which entailed travelling across the United States and delving into the culinary culture of its various cities. “We felt there wasn’t anywhere in Helsinki where diners could sit and truly devote time for eating together in a welcoming and atmospheric restaurant,” says Linnamäki, chef and restaurant owner. “Right from the start, we knew we wanted to offer exceptional menu options, such as oysters, crab and suckling pig. Instead of the usual burger and fries, often associated with American food, our dishes

Straight out of the deep south

Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Sue Ellen

taurant in Helsinki that serves food from the southern coast of the United States.”

The restaurant’s menu is compact, with a handful of options that change with the seasons. “Our menu includes tried and tested recipes, and all our dishes are made from the very best quality ingredients,” Harjula says. In addition to the à la carte menu, there are specialities available for pre-order, such as the restaurant’s pride – a whole suckling pig. “The whole suckling pig is a perfect demonstration of what we’re about: sharing tasty food among friends,” Linnamäki explains.

the Finnish National Board of Antiquities,” Harjula points out. “The building’s historical feel is tangible, and it adds to Sue Ellen’s charm. The restaurant’s design oozes warmth and homeliness, helping to create an authentic southern feel.” The building’s historic features are further accentuated by vibrant décor, including colourful textiles and plants.

Armfuls of southern hospitality

“The key to Sue Ellen’s unique vibe is the relaxed feel. We don’t call our diners customers – they are guests, and we truly believe in making everyone feel like they are at home when they come here,” says Harjula. “It’s not uncommon for our chef to walk around, greeting guests at the door and welcoming diners in.”

Sue Ellen is housed in a former colonial merchant’s home, which retains many of its original features, including a stunning ceiling. “The building itself is one of the oldest in Helsinki, and is protected by

The restaurant also has a bar area that serves traditional cocktails and snacks, and has a large selection of bourbons and wines. In addition, Sue Ellen has a

wine cellar, which can be hired for private parties and which seats 30 guests.

The comprehensive wine list includes the best selection from America, Europe and elsewhere, which sommelier Samuil Angelov has carefully selected to complement the food.

“Sue Ellen takes its guests to the roots and relaxed rhythm of the southern states of America. Our menu invites diners on a culinary trip to the other side of the Atlantic,” Linnamäki concludes. “Sue Ellen is the complete package deal: full of southern hospitality and warmth, along with a relaxed atmosphere, great food and drink – and even better company.”

Web: www.sue-ellen.fi Facebook: ravintolasueellen Instagram: @sueellenhki

From brisket, shrimp and grits to oysters and Carolina crab cake, served with okra salad, Sue Ellen’s menu is heavily inspired by authentic flavours from the southern coastal cities of the United States.

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 17

Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | The Waters

Guests at The Waters can enjoy a winning combination of high-quality food, beautiful views, and stunning architecture by Henning Larsen Architects. Photo: Jacob Sjöman

Swing by The Waters No golf clubs are needed to enjoy a visit to The Waters restaurant and cafe at The Scandinavian golf club. Just 20 minutes from Copenhagen, its beautiful views, highquality food, and stylish architecture provide plenty of reasons to swing by.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: The Waters

They say that the 19th hole is the most important, so it is only fitting that The Waters should be of the same international standard as the rest of The Scandinavian golf club. “Many of our members are people who travel a lot and are used to visiting high-quality golf clubs and restaurants. They’re used to quality and that’s what we want to give them, but in a relaxed setting without any airs and graces,” explains Per Krarup, restaurateur and sommelier of The Waters. “The high quality is reflected everywhere at the club – in the courses, 18 | Issue 114 | July 2018

the club house, the food and the service.

It’s all interlinked.”

Guests can choose between a quick brasserie-style lunch and dinner in The Waters’ café or a more elaborate culinary treat in the restaurant. Both options offer a broad selection of exquisite wines and beautiful views of the club’s two golf courses.

Herbs from the golf course The kitchen at The Waters is headed by Danish chef Morten Kirk. Kirk,

who has been head chef at The Waters since 2010, previously worked at two of London’s Michelin-star restaurants, Lombard Street and Le Gavroche, and shares Krarup’s focus on international quality and aspiration. “I had worked with Morten in the past and knew the quality he represented, his focus on good ingredients, and innovative ideas,” Krarup explains.

Restaurant guests have a choice of a three-course menu and a number of à la carte dishes, all originating from classic French cuisine, but with Nordic influence. For example, many of the dishes incorporate herbs collected from the golf courses and vegetables from the chef’s kitchen garden. “We use a lot of local Danish produce, so that’s a bit of a twist.

Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | The Waters

It’s a classic French cuisine, but reinterpreted with Danish ingredients,” says Krarup. “We also do a lot of foraging for mushrooms and have just made our own elderflower cordial.”

Both the restaurant and café menus change every month, and, with a broad selection of wines and a kitchen open to suggestions, even regular guests will continue to find new things to enjoy.

Open for everyone Throughout the golf season, The Waters is open 12-9pm every day, but guests can also enjoy the experience during winter

months. In November and December, the restaurant is open for Christmas lunch every day, and it is open for private events and parties all year round. And whatever the time of year, you do not have to be a golf lover to enjoy a visit. “We have lot of people coming from the local area, but also from Copenhagen, who just want to come enjoy the peace, picturesque landscape and the beautiful architecture by Henning Larsen Architects,” says Krarup.

“Of course, the majority of our guests are golf players, but you don’t even have to be into golf to enjoy the quality of our food, service, and the lovely view of the golf courses.”

The Waters The Waters is located about 20 minutes north of Copenhagen.

The Waters restaurant and café are both located in The Scandinavian’s award-winning clubhouse, designed by Henning Larsen Architects.

The restaurant and café have separate terraces overlooking the golf courses.

During the golf season (1 April – 1 November) The Waters’ kitchen is open every day for lunch and dinner 12–9pm. The bar is open from 8am for light snacks and drinks.

In November and December, The Waters is open for lunch and Christmas parties.

The restaurant can be booked for private events and parties for up to 100 people throughout the year.

Web: www.thewaters.dk and www.thescandinavian.dk

The Scandinavian golf club: The Scandinavian opened in 2010. In January 2018, the club’s Old Course was named Denmark’s best by Golf Digest.

The Scandinavian’s two courses are consistently ranked in the Top 70 of Top Courses in Continental Europe.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, they are laid out in 200 hectares of forest, separated by streams leading into natural ponds.

The club welcomes both members and guests (see website for more information).

The Waters’ kitchen is headed by Danish chef Morten Kirk, who has previously worked at Michelin-star restaurants in London.

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 19

Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Austrått Kaffebrenneri

Photo: Jan Inge Haga

Craft coffee specialist with a creative touch When software developer Tor Sigve Taksdal tasted a high-end coffee from Ethiopia but could not find a similar coffee elsewhere, he took matters into his own hands. “The disappointment led me to do some research on coffee beans, and it made me want to try roasting beans for myself,” says Taksdal. His passion for coffee and software development led to the creation of Austrått Kaffebrenneri, where the Norwegian today offers sustainable and delicious specialty coffee to fellow coffee lovers.

By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Austrått Kaffebrenneri

Since Taksdal established Austrått Kaffebrenneri in 2009, he has seen a rise in popularity of specialty coffee. Today, his growing business delivers quality coffee, made primarily from African and Latin-American beans, to over 30 cafés, hotels and businesses around Norway, while currently receiving requests from other parts of Europe too. “I have recently invested in a brand-new coffee roaster 20 | Issue 114 | July 2018

and moved into new premises in Sandnes to meet the increasing demand,” Taksdal says proudly.

“All my roasts are quite light and tailored to the country of origin and the processing method, so you can taste the origin of the beans. They’re also very fresh, because I roast on demand only,” he says.

All his coffee is cupped and quality-

controlled before it is shipped. Cupping is a technical tasting to discover flaws in the cup, either from the beans or from roasting defects.

Chilled ways to enjoy coffee New to his list of craft coffee is the trendy cold brew, available in cans and bottles.

Cold-brew coffee is not to be confused with iced coffee, which is brewed hot before chilling; instead, this new craft coffee is roasted, grounded and then steeped in cold water for quite a few hours. “I have been testing cold coffee for four years now to find the best method. My cold brew is made by extracting coffee with cold water over time, while some nitrogen is added to preserve the aromatics,” the coffee specialist explains. His current

Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Austrått Kaffebrenneri

batch is made with natural processed coffee from Yirgacheffe in Ethiopia.

“Cold-brewed coffee is great to drink all year long, but especially in the hotter months as it is a great base for refreshing summer drinks. You can either serve it chilled on the rocks or add a splash of your favourite sparkling lemonade, ginger beer or tonic water for a caffeinated and fresh drink,” he says, adding: “Cold coffee goes very well with rum or gin too, if you want to create an alcoholic drink.

It is a great alternative to coffee-based cocktails like Irish coffee.”

Taksdal makes it possible for all bars and restaurants already using taps to also dispense his cold brew. “After programming logistics for 20 years, I’ve developed a creative curiosity, so I just tried to come up with a method to get this as smooth as possible. I then talked to KeyKegs, who thought I was onto something exciting and new, which resulted in a great ongoing collaboration,” says Taksdal. With some other original coffee-related projects in the pipeline, it will certainly be interesting to see what the Norwegian coffee specialist will do next.

Nitro-coffee on kegs

Keywords for buying quality coffee:

With a passion to promote specialty coffee, Taksdal is delighted to see the popularity of his products rise thanks to word of mouth. “I am so happy when people discover the flavours themselves. When customers have tried one of my coffees at, for example, Ostehuset in Stavanger and contact me, it is very enjoyable and encouraging,” says Taksdal.

Washed: The coffee cherry is first pulped by a machine. The bean is then fermented for a while, before it is washed and dried.

Taksdal is also one of only four distributors in Europe delivering nitro-coffee on KeyKegs, an innovative way to use oneway beer kegs for coffee brewing. As the only Scandinavian to use this method,

Semi-washed: The coffee cherry is first pulped by machine. The bean is then stored for a while with some pulp intact, before it is washed and dried.

Where to taste Austrått Kaffebrenneri’s coffee: The latest additions are Ostehuset in Stavanger and Scandic Maritim Hotel in Haugesund. For a complete list, check out Austrått Kaffebrenneri’s website.

How to recognise different coffee roasts: Light roast: light body, high acidity, taste of origin.

Medium roast: caramelised, full body, some roast flavour, some taste of origin.

Dark roast: bittersweet, evident roast flavours, little to no taste of origin.

Tor Sigve Taksdal’s coffee lab equipment: - Loring Falcon s15 coffee roaster - La Marzocco GS3 Espresso Machine - Mazzer Kony Espresso Grinder - Mahlkönig Ek-43 Coffee Bag Grinder - Hario WDW-20 cold-brew tower - Multiple cold-brew vessels - Equipped to fill nitro-coffee on KeyKegs

Naturals: The coffee cherry and bean are separated using a dry-mill, then dried.

Micro-lot: A small lot of coffee produced separately from other batches, discretely picked or processed to have a special character.

Nanolot: A very small micro-lot.

Web: www.austraattkaffebrenneri.no Facebook: austraattkaffebrenneri Instagram: @austraattkaffebrenneri Email: torsigve@austraattkaffebrenneri.no

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 21

TASTE OF NORWEGIAN TRADITION

WEB: WWW.KULINARIS.NO

| FACEBOOK: KULINARISAS

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INSTAGRAM: @KULINARIS

Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Små Øyeblikk AS

Left: At Små Øyeblikk, they strive to be as local as possible. The coffee is roasted in Stavanger. Middle: Owner Monica Vagle ensures high quality in all the products they sell. Photo: Julie Vold.

Sharing the small moments in Randaberg While the whole of the United Kingdom watched Kate Middleton and Prince William say “I do”, another big, but not as widely publicised event was taking place across the North Sea. In ‘the green village’ of Randaberg, just ten minutes north of Stavanger, Norway, Monica Vagle opened her very own coffee shop.

By Synne Johnsson | Photos: Monica Vagle

In the centre of Randaberg, a village with around 11,000 citizens, Små Øyeblikk invites everyone to enjoy a coffee in a homely venue, surrounded by the smell of what Vagle describes as “the best carrot cake in the region”.

The café strives to be as local as possible when it comes to food and coffee.

The espresso they use is roasted at Stavanger Kaffebrenneri and their food is made in-house, with produce from local farms and stores.

Små Øyeblikk, which translates as ‘small moments’, is much more than just a coffee shop. As well as food and coffee, you can enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer and buy small gourmet products and interior design items.

“Shopping can be stressful sometimes, but if a guest is looking for a gift, for example, we can offer advice and then also gift wrap it,” Vagle says. “We do more or

less everything, from A to Z, while they enjoy their coffee.”

Homemade honey, spices and oils, interior design products from various Norwegian brands and homemade apple juice from local farms, such as Lyngnes Gård and Safteriet, are just a few of the high-quality products on sale.

gether while taking selfies for Instagram, someone having their coffee before taking the bus to work, singing Happy Birthday for friends or family who are celebrating, comforting people after funerals and cheering after weddings.”

“We don’t want to just sell a cup of coffee,” Vagle continues. “We want to make it a whole experience for our guests. They have given us a part of their precious time so it’s up to us to make it worth while.”

The coffee shop also arranges events such as a knitting café, Coffee & Chill with bingo, concerts, book talks, Champagne lunches, evening events such as concerts, and closed events such as birthday parties for their guests on a regular basis – something that has made Små Øyeblikk a focal point in the village’s cultural scene.

“I have a very romantic approach to the idea of a village café being a meeting point, where we know our customers and they know us and we share the small, everyday moments, happy or sad,” Vagle says. “Teenagers having a milkshake to-

Små Øyeblikk also has excellent relationships with Randaberg Muncipality and the other local shops, which helps to create a good selection of different services and events.

Web: www.smaoyeblikk.no

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 23

Scan Magazine | Holiday Feature | Fisketorget Stavanger AS

During summer, the restaurant opens it terrace and allows the guests to wine and dine whilst overlooking the beautiful Vågen bay.

From sea to plate with style In the heart of Stavanger, by Vågen bay, sits the fishmonger and restaurant Fisketorget. The restaurant has taken seafood to a new level, selling whatever the ocean provides. And with the North Sea almost pouring in through the door, they do not have to go far to make a catch.

By Lisa Maria Berg | Photos: Fredrik Ringe

It is not without some feeling of astonishment that you enter into the organised chaos of the restaurant. As you step in, a chef yells over your head “Guests at the door!” You have been spotted. Still confused as to whether you are finding yourself in an Italian port, South Asian fish market or a busy Mediterranean village, you are shown to a table – that is, if you have booked one – by a smiling sommelier. Where is the menu, you ask?

Your lovely guide points to a large blackboard, just as a chef wipes a dish out and writes something else in its place.

24 | Issue 114 | July 2018

That is right. The second supply of fish of the day has come in, and it is different to the first. Here, the menu has to adapt to the sea.

Local produce Fish has been sold at this site for over a hundred years and its central location highlights the importance of seafood in this seaside town. It was not until six years ago, however, that the sale of seafood moved to another level with the opening of the Fisketorget restaurant. Conceived as an on-the-side kind of thing, it has –

161,000 portions of creamy fish soup later – come to be the flagship of the whole operation. “We wanted to change things around a little. We wanted to know where locally sourced seafood and produce could take us and our menu,” says owner and chef Karl Erik Pallesen. He and his team are passionate about food and it has been a whirlwind six years. “Without getting ahead of ourselves, between you and me, it is going very well. Our menus are based on the day’s catch and we are always working with what is in front of us,” says Pallesen, explaining the reason for the restaurant’s success. “This keeps us experimenting and creative.”

The menu To some it might sound like something from a TV show, and it does all have a touch of Masterchef about it. But this is

Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Fisketorget Stavanger AS

not a TV studio, this is a kitchen, and a very busy one. With fresh fish coming in up to three times a day, and often without really knowing what kind it will be this time, the chefs have to think on their feet. “We always start the day by looking at what our local supplier and the sea have provided us with that day,” Pallesen explains. “Then we throw ideas out there – what do we want to create?” And so it is, with perhaps the best produce of the world, that the kitchen takes upon it this challenge. Thankfully, the local vegetables and seafood are in the best of hands. Pallesen – formerly a member of the Norwegian national cooking team – will, together with his right hand man Lars Erik Kristiansen and the rest of the team, guide the cod, salmon, king crab,

crayfish and shrimp on its culinary journey from the sea to your plate.

Breathe, relax and enjoy Let us return to the busy floor of the restaurant. You have sat down. You have ordered something from the ever-changing board. In front of you is a glass of chilled white wine. During your day you have visited museums, you have strolled through the streets of Stavanger, you have seen the town. Soon you will get on a boat, or in a car, or catch your flight. But for now, you can breathe. Perhaps you ordered the famous fish soup – whose recipe is a secret and has only been revealed once to a regular customer from Singapore, who at one time had to cancel her yearly trip and was, after being sworn to secre-

cy, given the recipe to make at home. Or maybe you went for a traditional platter of cured herring with potatoes and egg.

Or perhaps on this particular day the crayfish man (yes, the crayfish supplier is one man in a boat) caught a really good batch and you find yourself nibbling away at those. Or perhaps crab came in this morning and the team decided to make an Asian-inspired dish that just happens to go perfectly with that wine you ordered.

Or maybe you thought: ‘You know what?

Today I would like just the simplest of all’, and in front of you are shrimps, bread and some homemade aioli. Pure and simple and so tremendously delicious.

Web: www.fisketorget-stavanger.no

Less is more. Sometimes those simple flavours need nothing but a splash of lemon and some homemade aioli.

The famous seafood soup built on a very amazing (and very secret) recipe.

A traditional platter of cured herring - the ultimate lunch.

The chef team. From left to right: Lars Erik (general manager), Eddi (sous-chef), Karl Erik (owner, chef and fishmonger), Anita (assistant shop manager), Joachim (shop manager) and Martin (restaurant manager).

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 25

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Meik Wiking

26 | Issue 114 | July 2018

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Meik Wiking

Meik Wiking – On the secrets to happiness He is the author of two best-selling books translated into more than 35 languages, and the think tank he founded sees him travel the world to give talks on the metrics of happiness. Scan Magazine spoke to Meik Wiking about measuring emotions, writing about ‘hygge’, and being honest about happiness.

back to the time when he decided to take the plunge and set up the Happiness Research Institute. “I just couldn’t let go of these ideas, which I guess was a sign of where my passion really was.”

By Linnea Dunne | Press photos

“I just realised that I’ve forgotten to apply for a Russian visa, and now I’m under pressure to get that sorted in time for my trip – and obviously they’re under huge pressure now because of the World Cup, so that’s fun!” Meik Wiking laughs. And from the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, you would expect nothing less – who could possibly be happier than he who spends all day, every day studying the secrets to happiness? In fact, the conversation only gets more serious from here, and the CEO and author comes across more as an endlessly curious but often concerned citizen than a happiness guru. “I often say that I have to be happy or I’ll get fired, but I jest. We as happiness researchers have an obligation to say it’s not possible to be happy all the time,” he says. “We get grumpy and stretched and sad – we’re people too, and I think we have to be explicit about that and about the fact that these feelings are part of everybody’s experience.”

Wiking is just back from Vancouver, where he spoke at an event organised in honour of one of the three editors of the World Happiness Report, John Helliwell, who was turning 80. While this was an

exceptionally enjoyable trip – featuring a stay at the birthday boy’s holiday home on Hornby Island, free from Wi-Fi but surrounded instead by everything from eagles to whales – travelling the world for speaking engagements is nothing new for Wiking. You could say, perhaps, that there are two reasons for this: first, that policy makers are growing increasingly aware of the importance of measuring happiness to make decisions that benefit citizens’ quality of life; and, second, the fact that his books on the Danish concepts of ‘hygge’ and ‘lykke’ are global best-sellers that have been translated into more than 35 languages.

How to measure happiness This particular chapter of Wiking’s journey started when he was working as director for the think tank Monday Morning.

“I was noticing how much was happening with happiness research and politics: there was the UN Happiness Report, the UK started to use happiness as a new measure of progress… and I wanted to answer some of the questions around how we can measure happiness and why the Nordic countries are doing so well in this regard,” Wiking recalls, thinking

Those same questions are still what keeps him up at night and travelling extensively, working, among other things, with patient groups of different diseases to understand what impacts their quality of life. “We want to understand how we can measure the good life and how we can boost it, and we work with foundations to help them invest their resources the most efficiently,” says Wiking. “It’s about converting wealth to well-being, looking at numbers and correlations and causations, and having conversations with people around these questions.”

Occasionally, the think tank is met by scepticism from those who question the validity of measuring something as subjective as happiness. However, Wiking is adamant that it is not just possible, but very much worthwhile. “People view happiness as a flash in time, an extreme positive emotion, but it’s also about a more profound satisfaction in life. Interestingly, in talking to policy makers, we’re often more likely to use words like quality of life or well-being, but all those terms overlap. When we break it down into all these different dimensions and nuanced words, we can follow people over time to see how changes impact on the different Issue 114 | July 2018 | 27

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Meik Wiking

dimensions,” he explains. “People forget that, yes, happiness is subjective, but we study a lot of things that are highly subjective: stress, depression, how we experience the world. Why would it be more difficult to study a positive emotion than a negative one?”

Going global with ‘hygge’ and ‘lykke’ Scepticism aside, he sure has captured the attention of global audiences with his best-selling books. The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living, in particular, kickstarted a huge trend, seeing people across the globe stocking up on candles like the Danes and reading all about why this small country in northern Europe is consistently doing so well. The idea for the book, brought to him by Penguin after one of the big UK papers ran a piece on the Danish concept of ‘hygge’ (loosely referring to a feeling or moment of cosiness and comfort), initially struck him as “the craziest thing I’d ever heard”. However, as someone who spends the majority of his time looking at the impact of the Nordic model and the welfare state on happiness, he jumped 28 | Issue 114 | July 2018

at the opportunity. Suffice to say, the experience and result were life-changing – not just for the author himself.

He is cautious, however, when it comes to making promises. “The aim isn’t for people to expect to be extremely happy all the time. That’s an unfortunate illusion to carry around,” he says, suggesting that we should look at happiness in the same way we look at health, through three lenses: of the things we cannot change, the things we can only impact a little bit, and the things we can control. “One of the least happy countries in the world is Syria. That’s not a choice people there make – it’s the conditions and policies they live under. Add to that the fact that we are all born predisposed to certain health benefits and risks, which we can only really change in small ways.

Then there’s diet, exercise, whether you smoke or not. We have to remember these different lenses,” Wiking explains.

“But when it comes to our behaviour, one of the best predictors of happiness is whether we’re happy with our rela-

tionships. It’s frustrating as a researcher to draw conclusions that aren’t new to anyone, but that’s what the data says.

Oh, and doing something for other people in an active way – that’s the best universal advice I have.”

Mission: public policy It might be deflating to think of the things beyond our control, but with a mission “to inform decision makers of the causes and effects of human happiness, make subjective well-being part of the public policy debate, and improve quality of life for citizens across the world”, that is what the Happiness Research Institute is here for. And Wiking is hopeful. “We hear from more and more policy makers and politicians in Denmark and abroad,” he says.

“It’s also positive that both Harvard and Yale now have courses on happiness that are among the most popular courses in the history of the institutions. There’s a growing sentiment that we’ve become richer without getting happier, and that the current method of measuring progress might not be the best one. It’s slow progress, but it’s progress.”

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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Meik Wiking

human behaviour, understand the conditions that shape our actions. This desire to figure out how the way we design our cities impacts on how we behave, it’s always been an inherent curiosity of mine.”

There will be another book, he promises, but first Wiking is taking a break. “I’m going to a small rock island in the Baltic sea, south of Sweden, for two weeks, and I’m going to just read and eat and walk,” he says. A picture of happiness, many would agree.

About Meik Wiking Meik Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, a research associate for Denmark at the World Database of Happiness, and a founding member of the Latin American Network for Wellbeing and Quality of Life Policies.

He has a degree in business and political science and has previously worked for the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vilstrup Research, and as director for the think tank Monday Morning.

He is the author of a number of books, including the global best-sellers The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well and The Little Book of Lykke: The Danish Search for the World’s Happiest People, both published by Penguin Life and available in all good book shops. The former is a New York Times best-seller.

The idea of ‘mission completed’ is one he is reluctant to entertain, in part due to the fact that the world and our societies are ever-changing, presenting new challenges for us to adapt to all the time. Wiking mentions social media.

“We can see it’s had a negative impact on our lives, but I don’t think it’s realistic to think that we should give it up,” he ponders. “It’s interesting, though – there’s this Danish boarding school that only allows pupils to use electronic devices for one hour every day. When the kids got to vote on whether to keep the rule in place or open up for unlimited use, 80 per cent voted to keep it. When none of us have phones, we create rela30 | Issue 114 | July 2018

tionships – it’s getting that critical mass that’s difficult.”

Inherent curiosity It is a fascinating prospect, the idea that metrics for happiness should determine policy and public discourse. And it is a fascinating story, that of a young Dane so interested in studying people that he grew up to become the global mainstream voice for happiness. “I did all sorts of weird studies when I was younger,” he chuckles. “I’d imagine a bus where there were only free seats next to other people, and I’d create studies to try to understand why people chose to sit beside whom; I wanted to understand

About the Happiness Research Institute: The Happiness Research Institute is an independent think tank exploring why some societies are happier than others. Its mission is to inform decision makers of the causes and effects of human happiness, make subjective well-being part of the public policy debate, and improve quality of life for citizens across the world.

You can read more about the Happiness Research Institute on: www.happinessresearchinstitute.com

PHOTO: NINA HOLST

A SENSE OF

Scandinavian Nature ALV PORCELAIN & GLASS B Y W I K & WA L S Ø E www.wik-walsoe.com

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Ylva Berg, CEO of Business Sweden.

Woolpower. Photo: Gösta Fries

Photo: L:a Bruket

A partner when investing in Sweden The Swedish tradition of innovation and globalisation has been essential for economic growth and domestic development. At Business Sweden, we are experts at connecting global companies with business opportunities in Sweden.

By Ylva Berg, CEO of Business Sweden

I am proud to say that Sweden consistently ranks as one of the most competitive, productive and globalised countries in the world. Our country is an international leader in technology, innovation and R&D. Together with a highly skilled and multinational work force, sophisticated consumers, smooth business procedures and openness to international ownership, we boast an advanced and stable economy, attractive for international investments.

Business Sweden is the official Swedish trade and investment council. We help international companies to develop successful business in Sweden, providing 32 | Issue 114 | July 2018

strategic advice, information and handson support – from initial evaluation of growth opportunities to final establishment, strategic partnership and capital investment. Services are free of charge and provided in full confidentiality.

To build your business case and prove the value of an establishment or investment, we provide you with customised information and benchmarking services on the Swedish market, business climate, industry sectors, operating costs, legal framework and more. We also have the integrity to dissuade an establishment or investment if justified.

By combining in-depth knowledge of Sweden’s leading industries with the established network across the country, we are in a unique position in terms of introducing you to successful business opportunities in Sweden. Business Sweden is here to help you succeed in Sweden. We look forward to helping you invest and expand in Sweden.

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Made in Roslagen SWEDEN

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Alukinboats:

Marinteknik i Norrtälje AB - Tel: +46 (0) 176 22 44 40 - Gäddvägen 9-11 Norrtälje Issue 114 | July 2018 | 33

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

More humble smiles all around The Humble Co. develops reliable health and wellness products that are eco-friendly and socially responsible, with an innovative twist.

By Malin Norman | Photos: The Humble Co.

Swedish company The Humble Co. is leading a small revolution in oral-care products – from design and manufacture to humbleness. Established in 2013 by dentist Noel Abdayem, following a period of volunteer work in Jamaica, the concept has become a true success story, with its products available in stores and dental clinics in around 30 countries worldwide. All products have been designed and manufactured under the guidance and supervision of a team of dentists, and translate evidence-based 34 | Issue 114 | July 2018

innovations into eco-friendly consumer products that are beneficial for everyone to use, including underprivileged people living in remote communities.

Toothbrushes made from bamboo The world consumes more than 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes every year, and the Humble Brush was developed as an alternative in the fight against plastic consumption. It has a handle made from 100 per cent biodegradable bamboo, with Nylon-6 bristles from Dupont, which are

free from the toxin BPA (Bisphenol A).

To date, The Humble Co. has sold more than ten million brushes, making it the world’s bestselling bamboo toothbrush for adults.

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth and is also naturally antibacterial, which means that there is no need to use fertilisers or pesticides during its cultivation. “The bristles are made from nylon, which is the same as in conventional plastic toothbrushes, so the result when brushing your teeth will be the same,” explains sales director Oskar Holmblad.

“We’ve replaced the handle with bamboo, which consumes fewer resources.

So, functionally, our product is compara-

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

ble to other products in the market but, resource-wise, it’s much better.”

In addition to the popular bamboo toothbrush, the range also includes toothpaste in fresh mint and charcoal, as well as a newly developed kids’ toothpaste – and all toothpastes, of course, contain fluoride. The talented team has also developed an all-natural chewing gum made from natural gum base – yet another step towards eradicating plastics. Next up is cotton buds, in order to meet the forthcoming EU regulation that forbids swabs with plastic shafts.

A set of humble values The vision of The Humble Co. is to help prevent suffering caused by oral disease, and the company promotes effective oralhealth initiatives. According to Holmblad, all products made by The Humble Co. are

Oskar Holmblad, sales director.

characterised by a number of values, which set the company apart from the rest of the market. “Our business is based on three pillars, regardless of the product,” he says. “Firstly, our products are functional and developed by dentists. Secondly, they are environmentally friendly. And finally, they are socially responsible, so a part of the sales goes to a non-profit initiative. And of course, the products are affordable and are designed for the average consumer.”

Many children throughout the world have no means of caring for their oral health – dental clinics might be too far away, or even non-existent, and children may lack a toothbrush or toothpaste. An independent organisation called the Humble Smile Foundation therefore develops and delivers programmes to inform, educate and help prevent oral disease, and is current-

ly working on around 15 projects around the world, including an initiative to raise awareness around sugar consumption.

The Humble Co. donates products to the Humble Smile Foundation to help carry out its mission, delivering comprehensive, sustainable preventive oral care to the most vulnerable children around the world. The company also donates a sum of money annually, in proportion to sales in that year, meaning as more products are sold, more projects can be scaled up, thereby reaching more children and preventing more disease. And that means more Humble Smiles all around.

Web: www.thehumble.co Facebook: thehumbleco Twitter: @humblebrush Instagram: @thehumble.co

Noel Abdayem, founder.

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 35

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

We are for real When a ceramicist could not find a suitable soap for her handcrafted soap dishes, she started to experiment with making her own. And since she was creating the soap only for herself, she spared no expense and used only the finest ingredients. Today, the ambitious skincare concept is sold in more than 1,300 shops in 48 countries.

By Sara Wenkel | Photos: L:a Bruket

“It was back in 2008 and the selection of organic beauty and skincare products was very limited,” explains Mats Johansson, CEO of L:a Bruket, which he co-founded together with his wife Monica Kylén – the ceramist and visionary. Their idea was to create high-quality face and body care products, making no compromises on the ingredients. The couple is very much influenced and inspired by the spa traditions from the coastal town of Varberg, where they live, and by the harsh weather of the Swedish west coast. Using seaweed as a signature ingredient in the products is therefore no coincidence – the town’s residents have been taking saltwater and seaweed baths for generations. They vitalise and nurture your skin but also fuel your soul, giving you a renewed sense of energy and wellbeing.

Although old traditions may be an inspiration, however, the products are very much 36 | Issue 114 | July 2018

made for the modern city-dweller. “We normally have ten to 15 minutes of alone time every day, and that is in the bathroom. We want to make sure those minutes are well spent and that our customers, through our products, can experience a moment of reconnecting with nature,” says Johansson. “A favourite product is the sea salt scrub. Use it in the shower and it will give you an instant spa experience and the satisfaction of giving yourself the reward you deserve.”

a challenge – but one which L:a Bruket was ready to take on. “Call us naive, but we do not want to compromise on the quality,” says Johansson. “Even though our production is increasing, we still mix our skin products by hand. This is our way of caring for and utilising every ingredient’s unique quality.”

The challenge in using all-natural products The ingredients of L:a Bruket’s range are all natural – medicinal plants, essential oils and raw vegetable ingredients. Consequently, yearly variations in weather conditions, resulting in different types of harvests, combined with using only natural preservatives, such as vitamin E and rosemary, proved to be

Visit the beauty departments at Arlanda airport where the brand has been recently introduced.

For more information, you can visit: www.labruket.se

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

For the love of cheese It all started in September of 1872, when the dairy maid Ulrika Eleonora Lindström was stood curdling cheese and a young man surprised her to propose. The love story, which resulted in the fire repeatedly going out, became the accidental beginnings of the secret recipe that today makes the much-loved Västerbottensost®.

By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Fabian Björnstjerna; Stylist: Linda Lundgren

Little has changed in Burträsk in the north of Sweden, where the cheese is still today made according to the same recipe, still with great care and love.

Using carefully chosen ingredients and locally produced milk, the unique, nutty flavour can only be produced at the original Burträsk dairy – and only by giving it plenty of time, maturing for no less than 14 months.

Since 1990, Västerbottensost is a Royal Purveyor and has been on the menu of Royal weddings as well as Nobel Prize banquets. Perfect as part of a cheese platter and as an irreplaceable flavour addition in all types of cooking, it is now a timeless delicacy that is especially appreciated during all traditional Swedish festivities, including Midsummer and crayfish parties. The dairy recently launched its first new products in 144 years: Västerbottensost® Vindelnrökt® and Västerbottensost® Extra lagrad. The former was made in collaboration with Vindelns rökeri AB and its 100-year-old

smoking tradition, and the latter boasts an extended maturing time of no less than 24 months, making the flavour even richer and more intense.

Proudly Swedish, Västerbottensost was last year listed as the sixth most recommended brand in its home country. “It’s really honouring that the Swedish people have placed Västerbottensost on this list, alongside some of the biggest brands in the world,” says brand manager Maria Forsner. “We believe the secret lies in Västerbottensost’s intriguing history and unique taste.”

It seems that day in September of 1872 was the beginning not just of a love story Outside of Sweden, Västerbottensost is now available in Finland, Norway, Estonia, the UK and Germany. For more information about distribution and resellers throughout Europe, contact export@norrmejerier.se

between a dairy maid and her admirer, but of that between the Swedish people and a very special cheese.

Quiche with Västerbottensost Pastry: - 125 g/4.5 oz butter - 225g/8 oz plain flour - 1 tbsp water Filling: - 150 g/5 oz grated Västerbottensost® - 3 eggs - 200 ml/7 fl oz double cream - 1 pinch salt - 1 pinch pepper Preheat the oven to 225°C/425°F/Gas 7.

Mix the ingredients for the pastry. Chill the pastry for at least 1 hour. Use the pastry to line a pie dish, prick base with a fork and bake blind for approx. 10 min.

Whisk eggs and cream, add cheese.

Season with salt and pepper. Pour the cheese mixture into the pastry case and bake for approx. 20 min, until the pie filling is set. Allow to cool.

Västerbottensost goes perfectly with crayfish, and the Västerbottensost quiche is a popular regular at traditional, Swedish crayfish parties.

For more inspiring recipes, please see www.vasterbottensost.com

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 37

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

The Swedish secret to eco luxury Beauty brand Björk & Berries is promoting a balanced lifestyle with its organic products, inspired by Swedish nature, perfumery traditions and skin care. This is the essence of eco luxury, adapted to your lifestyle.

By Malin Norman | Photos: Björk & Berries

Botanical skincare and perfume house Björk & Berries is dedicated to capturing the beauty and benefits of nature in its purest form. It transforms raw, indigenous ingredients into specialist natural and organic body care, expertly crafted products for everyday use.

At the core of the brand’s ethos is the eco luxury philosophy. It aims to promote a sustainable environment by using handpicked, natural and organic ingredients.

The no-nonsense approach is to develop products with as few ingredients as possible, yet with maximum effect.

Björk & Berries started as a small project in the deep forests of northern Sweden, combining centuries-old natural beauty traditions based on local flora – wild herbs, plants and berries – and combined with advanced technology to create effective modern beauty products.

The Swedish secret

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“When Björk & Berries started creating eco luxury products many years ago, there was a gap in the market,” explains interim CEO and creative director Hanna Lundgren. “Now we are happy to see more and more brands with the same ethos and

pathos on the market. We have made a conscious decision not to brand our products with certificates as we often have a higher degree of organic and natural ingredients than required. Instead, we are completely transparent about the content of our products. We hope that clean beauty will be the norm in the future,” she says.

“Nature provides inspiration for our products, which are in turn adapted to our lifestyles,” Lundgren continues. “For us, this means living healthily and close to nature, but also indulging in the finer things in life. We believe that balance and remaining curious about life are the keys to happiness. This balanced lifestyle is part of something we call ‘the Swedish Secret’, and is something we think about in everything we do – there should never be any musts.”

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

Three pillars of beauty

Life-giving tree

The product range is based around three pillars: body, face, and perfumes. They are all inspired by Swedish nature and the seasons, with product lines where customers can pick and choose what they need. “Our products are adapted to real life. Sometimes you don’t have more than five minutes for your beauty regime, and sometimes you have all the time in the world – add on seasonal changes to this, and your personal skincare may need to change from day to day. Therefore, we have spent a lot of time developing our products so they can stand alone or in symbiosis according to your needs at that moment.”

Central to the brand’s name, but also in its products, is birch — or ‘björk’ in Swedish. Traditionally, birch has been used for both medical purposes and beauty, and is known as the life-giving tree. Historically, the leaves and the extract were used as cover for wounds and weeping eczema. People would also drink a concoction as a wellbeing treatment to beautify the skin during spring.

The perfume collection consists of five fantastic fragrances, plus reeddiffusers and scented candles. “Moonflower is our newest EDP and my absolute go-to favourite,” says Lundgren.

“Made for the creatives of the night, it was inspired by the fringed orchid, which has a particularly strong scent at night and therefore attracts night butterflies.”

Björk & Berries has been inspired by the tree’s cleansing and healing abilities and uses the birch leaf water and extract for a hydrating and nourishing effect. The birch plant is toning, softening, firming, purifying, elasticising and antiseptic. For instance, the birch bark has resulted in a soft, creamy body scrub with organic and natural exfoliates.

also a winner at the Swedish Beauty Awards 2018. The refining exfoliating toner, meanwhile, has been recommended by Meghan Markle’s facialist, Nichola Joss.

The Björk & Berries eco luxury criteria: - Natural ingredients, 95 to 100 per cent - Certified organic ingredients up to 75 per cent - Minimum number of ingredients with maximum effect - Cruelty-free for humans, animals and nature - Clinically safe ingredients - Always tested dermatologically and ophthalmologically where applicable - No parabens, mineral oils, PEG, SLS/ SLES or silicones - Made in Sweden

The customer favourite globally is the body serum, with 99.9 per cent natural origin and 75 per cent organic ingredients. Another bestseller is the White Forest exfoliating hand wash, which was

Web: www.bjorkandberries.com Instagram: @bjorkandberries

Hanna Lundgren, interim CEO Photo: Johanna Ljunggren @detoxlife

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 39

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

Keeping warm, from the inside out Woolpower is in the business of spreading warmth, with the help of nature’s very own functional fabric. The soft and durable material Ullfrotté Original, made of merino wool, ensures warm and dry clothes for outdoor activities.

By Malin Norman | Photos: Gösta Fries

Long-term business approach

Based in Östersund, Jämtland, since its beginnings in 1969, Woolpower was originally called Ullfrotté and developed the then new material Ullfrotté Original in collaboration with the Swedish Army.

believe that their products should be manufactured in Sweden and that the knowledge and craftsmanship of their employees should be respected and preserved.

Almost 50 years on, the manufacturing still takes place in the same location in Jämtland, now under the direction of brothers Daniel and Adam Brånby, who also own sister companies Gränsfors Bruk and Svedbro Smide. Their ideology permeates all three companies. They

Woolpower’s range of high-quality thermal wear includes base and mid-layers, socks, and accessories such as headbands, caps and gloves. Ullfrotté Original is made of a mix of fine merino wool and polyamide/polyester and is described as soft, warm, dry and durable – ideal for

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layers during outdoor activities. The wool of the fabric comes from merino sheep in Patagonia and is non-mulesed, guaranteeing ethical animal treatment.

“This is function over fashion,” says product manager Jenny Odqvist Kristensson.

“We don’t pay much attention to what’s currently trending. Our garments need to be practical and to last year after year and we strive to make them resistant to wear and tear. Our product development team here in Jämtland actually wear the clothes themselves, as we have the ideal test environment just around the corner.”

Woolpower has been widely recognised for its sustainability efforts and Odqvist

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

Kristensson explains the company’s longterm approach: “We grow at a steady pace and build the company one step at a time, while staying focused on our social and environmental responsibility.”

The company’s vision is to generate heat for 100 years and to continue to be the best in producing warm clothes, whilst also being a responsible company that cares for people, animals and nature.

Woolpower has a long-term perspective on sustainability.

Seamstresses in demand The demand for high-quality and sustainable outdoor clothing is increasing, meaning that Woolpower is set to continue its successful journey.

The company is proud of its skilled staff and transparent, responsible and ethical production. Each garment, for example, is sewn by one seamstress, who takes ownership and approves it with a personalised label. The company also recycles any leftover sewing fabrics into a felt material that is used to make insoles and sit pads.

Web: www.woolpower.se Facebook: woolpower Instagram: @woolpower_official

Photo: Ida Olsson

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

IDUN Minerals produces pure cosmetics and skincare products for all skin types, even the most sensitive. Photos: Nina Holma

Nordic purity, now available internationally Named after the Norse goddess of youth, IDUN Minerals takes inspiration from the simplicity of Nordic nature, but its ambitions reach further afield. Originally available only in Swedish pharmacies, the brand now offers pure cosmetic and skincare products, suitable for all skin types, across the globe.

By Liz Longden

You could say that, for IDUN Minerals, less is definitely more. Since 2011, the Swedish cosmetics and skincare brand has been making products without the optional extras that are found in many other mainstream brands, including nickel, chrome, perfume, parabens, silicon, talc, oils, bismuth oxychloride and microplastics. The company’s mission is, quite simply, to offer the purest products possible, suitable even for those with the most sensitive skin.

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It is something that export and product development manager Caroline Thunstedt admits is not always easy. “You have to be at the forefront, looking all the time to find better solutions, and we work a lot with researchers and chemists,” she explains.

“But a lot of the time, the key is taking out ingredients that actually aren’t necessary.

We don’t use any kind of material that’s there just to fill out the product. So our mineral foundation, for example, is 100 per cent pure minerals.”

It looks to be a winning formula. From a pharmacy-only brand, IDUN Minerals has gone on to become an international name, with significant interest not only in other Nordic countries but also in Asia, the Middle East and the USA. The company also has an online shop and there, too, international sales are strong. And as the brand has grown in market share, so its product range has increased, from a starting base of 20 to almost 200 today. “It has become clear that there is a growing demand for pure, high-quality cosmetics, and it’s great that we’re able to meet that demand,” says Thunstedt.

Working with consumers Thunstedt believes that a major factor in the company’s growth has been

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

an increased public awareness of how certain ingredients may affect the environment or human health. “Consumer awareness has definitely increased.

It’s a trend that we’ve also seen when it comes to food and clothes too. People want products made from good materials and ingredients,” she argues. “For us, one of the best things about developing a new product is that we get so much interest from our customers. A lot of them will get in touch and ask very specific questions, down to the smallest detail, about what our products contain and, for us, that’s great to hear.”

Open dialogue with its consumers is an important part of IDUN Minerals’ development strategy. Marketing manager Gabriella Sjödin explains that the company does not view itself as a trend-follower, but rather as a brand that produces timeless classics, proudly pointing out that their bestselling product is their powder foundation, which is also their first. When it comes to new products, therefore, she says that the company takes its lead not from the cosmetics industry, but from its customers.

“We have a lot of followers on social media, and they often tell us what they want to see in terms of new products,” says Sjödin. “So it’s not about having to be innovative because the industry demands it, but about having a close relationship with your followers, the end-users of your products, and enabling them to influence what we do.”

suitable for sensitive skin, but it’s something that’s very important for us and which we continue to work on.”

While IDUN Minerals has, until this point, focused solely on make-up and skincare, Sjödin says that future plans include a broadening of their range and a launch of products in other market categories: “We have worked extensively with researchers and have a lot of knowledge, so our goal is to further expand into international markets and make sure that more people have the opportunity to try high-quality, truly pure products.”

Web: www.idunminerals.se

IDUN Minerals’ range currently includes almost 200 different cosmetics and skincare products. Photo: Thomas Carlgren

Vegan revolution One area that has seen strong and increasing consumer interest is vegan products, and Thunstedt says that the company strives to keep its products free from animal products. At present, its entire skincare range is vegan, along with most of the make-up – including Magna mascara, which took the prize for best mascara at the 2018 Swedish Beauty Awards. “There is a very big and growing interest in vegan make-up, and we try wherever possible to remove all animal ingredients from our products,” Thunstedt explains. “The few examples that aren’t vegan are those cases where there is no alternative ingredient that is

Marketing manager Gabriella Sjödin (left) and export and product development manager Caroline Thunstedt (right) believe there is growing international demand for pure products. Photo: IDUN Minerals

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

Left: Victor Hasselblad established the company’s photographic division. Middle: Historic photo taken by the Hasselblad camera in space. Photo: NASA. Top right: The first camera with central leaf shutter and flash sync on all shutter speeds. Right: The mirrorless X1D-50c. Bottom: The revolutionary X1D-50c.

The first camera on the moon Hasselblad was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1941, and is the leading manufacturer of digital medium-format cameras and lenses. The brand lives by its desire to create in order to inspire, and produces cameras with studio quality in a handy format for consumers.

By Kristine Olofsson | Photos: Hasselblad

Hasselblad rose to fame with a Mercury rocket in 1962, when astronaut Walter Schirra brought his own Hasselblad camera to document his space journey.

The resulting photos had such amazing quality that NASA began a collaboration with the small Gothenburg-based camera manufacturer. The brand has since become a well-known name in photography circles, and the leading manufacturer of analogue cameras. ”Iconic photos with a high recognition factor from those days are most likely taken with a Hasselblad,” notes Bronius Rudnickas, marketing manager at Hasselblad. After the digital revolution, Hasselblad became less well-known in the consumer market and their digital cameras were largely used in the niche market of professional studios, thanks to their extremely advanced technology and the high price that comes with such quality. ”Digital Hasselblad cameras were only used in large studios and not recognised 44 | Issue 114 | July 2018

by consumer photographers, and this was something we wanted to change,” Rudnickas explains. With the goal of making Hasselblad famous again among consumer photographers, without compromising on quality, Hasselblad introduced their game-changing X System cameras in 2016. As the first mirrorless, portable and affordable cameras of their kind, their success was indisputable. ”The demand was so high, that we got more orders in ten days than we normally receive in a year. We even had to rebuild our factory,” Rudnickas says with a smile.

base of both hobby photographers and professionals,” Rudnickas says. Among the most advanced cameras are the X System prosumer cameras, such as the X1D-50c, and the H System camera H6D400c MS, a camera that takes the highest resolution medium-format images available. ”We want everyone to try what we like to call ‘the Hasselblad experience’,” Rudnickas says. ”That means discovering the outstanding and accessible quality that you only get with a Hasselblad.

No matter if you are photographing while travelling, professionally or simply during everyday moments.”

Studio technique in the palm of your hand Hasselblad has finally made its way back into the hearts of consumer photographers with its handy formats and high quality. The famous technology is the same, but the size is much smaller and more convenient. ”It is great to see that we, once again, have a solid consumer

Web: www.hasselblad.com Facebook: hasselblad Instagram: @hasselblad Linkedin: company/hasselblad

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

A rough diamond to be discovered ‘Patchy’ and ‘imperfect perfection’ are recurring words when Kajsa Cramer talks about her handmade ceramics, which she produces under the label that carries her own name. “I want my customers to see and feel the handmade touch and thus appreciate the work that lies behind it,” Cramer says.

“I’m using my background as an interior designer and home decorator,” she explains. “Together with the many years of working in ceramics, I offer a complete and carefully prepared design.”

By Sara Wenkel | Photos: Bodil Bergqvist and Linnea Cramer

Kajsa Cramer’s beautiful products are made from the finest porcelain clay and are poetically and delicately designed, to create something both practical and convenient. “I definitely think people should indulge in more delicate objects in their everyday life. But, at the same time, I would never produce something that can’t actually be used from day to day,” the designer explains. “You can run my tableware in the dishwasher and you can have water and flowers in my vases.”

Glow and Bloom One of Kajsa Cramer’s biggest collections, and also her first, is called Glow and Bloom. It consists of vases and candle holders that are created in elegant and slightly transparent clay. The dry, unglazed exterior is reminiscent of dried clay, while the glazed, glossy interior reflects candlelight. The fragile edge has become a part of Kajsa Cramer’s signature design. “In many ways, my design is

inspired by Scandinavian simplicity and hues, as well as by the shapes and forms found in Scandinavian nature. With this collection, the fragile edges and delicate porcelain clay meet a more organic and raw design, which makes for a stunning contrast,” Cramer notes.

Production in Vietnam After initially making all her products herself, which meant working at the potter’s wheel until late, production is now operated through a CSR (corporate and social responsibility) labelled factory in Vietnam.

“The craftsmen are so skilled, but it took a long time before they understood the imperfect perfection I wanted. They were too good! But now the artist’s hands are visible in each creation,” says Cramer.

Kajsa Cramer.

Visit Kajsa Cramer’s showroom at Spinneriet in Lindome, close to Gothenburg. Open every Saturday and Sunday.

Limited editions Today, Cramer is, besides designing for her own label, also busy creating small limited editions for hotels and boutiques.

Web: www.kajsacramer.se Instagram: kajsacramer

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 45

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

Photo: Birka Cruises

Get that sunny feeling Several years of supplying solar simulators to the automotive industry made Suntech’s founder Ingemar Nilsson think that more people should have the opportunity to enjoy the unique experience they offer. And, after watching a Swedish game show give away trips to Mauritius, he decided to bring Mauritius to Sweden.

By Sara Wenkel | Photos: Suntech

Care homes, spas and adventure pools are just a few of Suntech’s current clients.

Today, their specially developed sunlight simulators and environments exist in over 250 facilities across 11 countries.

“We provide a safe solar experience with light and heat, which improves wellbeing and promotes relaxation and new energy,” says Suntech CEO Inge Lojander.

A technology from the automotive industry Suntech’s technology for sunlight simulation evolved from procedures for testing various systems and materials in the automotive industry in the late 1980s.

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Suntech’s founder had been asked to develop this expertise for the Swedish car brands SAAB and Volvo. “We have used the technology to test the tolerance of various materials to heat and sunlight in desert-like conditions,” explains Lojander.

Suntech continues to provide this technology for several automotive brands today.

A safe way to experience the benefits of sunlight Nilsson soon realised that this technology could be used in other contexts and began to investigate how he could bring it to a wider audience. “The vision was, and still is, to create a safe way to experience

all the amazing benefits from sunlight through our solar simulators. In cooperation with the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, a safe UV level was agreed and accepted and we were able to reduce the UV radiation to assure that the sunlight is at a controlled and harmless level,” Lojander says.

The very first facility to try out Suntech’s product was a care home in the company’s hometown of Vänersborg. Suntech’s sunlight proved to have a very positive effect on the mood of the elderly. Staff also became healthier and had more energy to devote to their care work, and sick leave was significantly reduced as a result.

Recreating the whole solar spectrum Experiencing the sun is not only a question of light but also of heat. “We provide both energising light and delightful nour-

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

ishing heat,” says Lojander, explaining that a control system recreates the daily time variations in sunlight and visitors can experience a full day in a shortened timeframe, from early dawn to sunset.

Suntech has therefore recreated the whole solar spectrum.

Over the years, Suntech has fine-tuned its concept and added further elements to the sunbathing experience, enabling vision, hearing, touch and climate to interact. Background sounds recreate an appropriate atmosphere for the environment, such as a tropical day, for example, for which breaking waves and palm leaves rustling in the wind are popular additions. Ventilation that feels like a soothing breeze can also be easily incorporated to provide an enjoyable and relaxing experience. Suntech has also created different scenography where panoramic pictures are a key element, helping to recreate the experience of an outdoor location. The company can even build pergolas and tavernas to help visitors reminisce about sunny places they have been to. “And sand!” exclaims

Lojander. “Very often we build sandy beaches. We are happy to help our clients create an all-inclusive experience for their visitors,” he says.

Distributing across the globe Suntech’s solar simulators are a globally unique invention created in Sweden, but the company is represented across the world through various distributors. “We are always happy to hear from new distributors who would like to join our busiPositive health benefits of solar simulation: - Experience has shown that absenteeism in companies and organisations can be substantially reduced by time regularly spent in a sunny environment.

- A period in Suntech’s sunlight provides the same positive effects as time spent outdoors under clear blue sky.

- The immune system is strengthened by sunlight, which also promotes blood circulation.

ness venture,” Lojander says. “At the moment, we are actively looking for a new distributor in Canada and we are getting help from Business Sweden.”

New opportunities for your business: - A sunny environment complements business by promoting relaxation, wellness and health.

- The warming and relaxing effect of Suntech’s sun is well suited to a spa or wellness facility and encourages subsequent treatments such as massage.

- Complement your pool area with Suntech’s solar system and provide your customer with an extraordinary, authentic sun experience.

- Nature centres, sauna facilities, yoga or relaxation rooms, winter gardens, cafés or cruise ships – the sun fits in everywhere and no area is too small or too large!

For more information, you can visit: www.suntechgroup.se

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

Christian von Koenigsegg has turned his childhood dream into ground-breaking reality. Photo: Oskar Bakke

From pipe dream to pole position In 1994, Christian von Koenigsegg decided to pursue his childhood dream of creating the fastest car in the world. Today, the Koenigsegg luxury sports-car brand is a world phenomenon, and fresh from breaking no less than five world records, the Skåne-based company is looking to expand with a major recruitment drive.

By Liz Longden

Last year, the Nevada desert saw something extraordinary. In a single bright November morning, one car broke an astonishing five world-speed records, including the highest top speed for a production vehicle (447.19 kilometres per hour) and the fastest time in 0-4000 kilometres per hour (33.29 seconds).

The feat was performed on a single set of tyres, on a closed-off section of a state highway, and completed in time for lunch. The car was the Agera RS, produced by Koenigsegg.

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Based in Ängleholm in Skåne, southern Sweden, and currently with a team of less than 200, Koenigsegg is dwarfed by the size of its competitors in the field of ultra high-performance sports cars. Yet, an approach based on ground-breaking technical innovation and an obsessive striving after excellence have, against all odds, pushed the company to the very top of its field.

“It’s a little bit like David and Goliath, in a way,” says Halldora von Koenigsegg,

chief operating officer, reflecting on the company’s quintuple record breaking success. “You’re there, without the same resources and backing as your competitors, and yet you manage to beat all the records, so of course it feels special.”

Incredible growth In fact, the Nevada triumph was merely the latest in a series of records that Koenigsegg has left broken in its wake, and its cars’ high performance and iconic styling have been receiving international acclaim for years. While this is, of course, welcome, it brings its own challenges.

Demand for Koenigsegg’s cars has never been higher, and with major markets established in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia, all production slots sold for the next three years,

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

and a new model due to be unveiled at next year’s Geneva International Motor Show, Koenigsegg has now embarked on a major recruitment drive.

“We’ve had incredible growth over the last few years, and that is going to continue, so we are looking for new team members right across our organisation,” von Koenigsegg explains, adding that the company is atypical in its practice of both designing and producing so many of its systems, components and technical innovations in-house. As a result, vacant positions include everything from CAD and software engineers to mechanics, saddlers, auto polishers, electricians and prototype technicians. Von Koenigsegg adds that the company is hoping to recruit as soon as possible and is looking for professionals who share an appetite for taking on challenges head-on.

“It’s a demanding job, which suits those who want to develop and push themselves further. And sometimes it’s really difficult, because it’s very complex and we’re breaking new ground all the time,” von Koenigsegg concedes. “At the same time, we actively work to provide the best possible working environment, and I think most of our team would agree that it’s also a lot of fun.” Above all, Koenigsegg is an employer who offers something that few others can: “I think that those working with us know that they are helping to write history.”

says. “We have a personal relationship with our customers and they enjoy being a part of the whole process, from start to finish. We see it very much as something we do together, so it isn’t just a car that we sell, but also the experience of being a part of a fantastic project.”

You could quite literally say it was the stuff of dreams; after all, the Koenigsegg car company is the realisation of a childhood

ambition, born when founder Christian von Koenigsegg saw an animated film about a race car inventor. 40 years after five-year-old Christian was entranced by The Pinchcliffe Grand Prix, and with the company on the brink of a major expansion, it feels very much like the adventure for Koenigsegg has only just begun.

Web: www.koenigsegg.com

Photo: Steven Wade

Photo: Lisa Johansson

A collaborative process History-making is not the only accomplishment that marks Koenigsegg out as different. Every car is customised down to the last detail and Koenigsegg considers its customers to be active partners in the creation process. Welcome at any time to Koenigsegg’s facilities to watch their car being constructed – and to perhaps discuss some of the technical details with the technicians and mechanics while they work – customers, as much as employees, are seen as “part of the family”.

Photo: Steven Wade

“We work to the highest standards with great care and structure, of course, but we also put a lot of heart into it. It’s not your typical corporate ethos,” von Koenigsegg Issue 114 | July 2018 | 49

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

Woven textiles using a unique method HildaHilda makes jacquard-woven textiles in charming patterns. Made from organic cotton and linen yarn, they make a perfect gift for yourself or a loved one.

By Malin Norman | Photos: HildaHilda

HildaHilda’s jacquard-woven cotton and linen textiles are made of organic yarn, woven in Sweden with their very own weaving method. The brand is run by sisters-in-law Lott and Gabriella Hildebrand, and started in 1995, when Lott founded the company in connection with finishing her degree as a textile engineer. As part of her thesis, she was looking into new methods for weaving images in colour.

“In contrast to traditional methods, we are using the same warp and don’t have to change during the process,” explains the founder and designer. “Also, we make sure everything is clearly marked in the textile — for instance, where to add the zip. This means that our products will look fairly similar, even though they are made by hand, and we also reduce waste. In fact, our waste often ends up as a completely new product, as was the case with our make-up bag.”

The range includes products such as cushions, bags and towels, and patterns 50 | Issue 114 | July 2018

with flowers and animals are proving to be particularly popular, as are those of windows and eggs. Japan is the brand’s biggest market outside of Sweden, with a taste for simple products and patterns.

Hildebrand talks about often finding inspiration in art and museums. “I try to stay away from trends,” she admits.

“Our products need to last a long time.

Our oldest patterns from 25 years ago are still selling as well as the new ones.”

A visit to the shop in Stockholm’s old town is highly recommended. Curious customers from all over the world can be found browsing through the products and also observing the craftsmanship, since some of the sewing is done here.

The neighbourhood’s crafts association also hosts seminars and walks in the old town, showcasing some of the companies still active here, such as HildaHilda.

Web: www.hildahilda.se Facebook: hildahilda.se Instagram: @hildahilda_made_in_ sweden

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

BARR mini was launched at the Stockholm Furniture Fair 2018.

BARR Lounge chairs are designed to last for a long time in both private and commercial environments.

Furniture for the future Made for the versatile Nordic climate and with sustainability at the top of the agenda, furniture from Fabrikant is produced in the woods of Småland in a fair and environmentally conscious way, with inspiration from the surrounding nature.

By Kristine Olofsson | Photos: Fabrikant

Fabrikant has made sustainable furniture since 2015, when Sofie and Johan Örnvinsson launched the brand, but the full story goes back further than that.

“The journey started more than 30 years ago, when the family company began to make dish-baskets in stainless steel for larger dishwashers used at schools, hospitals and restaurants,” Fabrikant’s creative designer Sofie Örnvinsson recalls.

The durability and sustainability of the stainless steel inspired the duo to bring their knowledge and experience into the field of furniture made specifically for the harsh Nordic climate. They introduced the collection BARR around two years ago, with its lounge chairs made of stainless steel wire, inspired by pine needles.

“The construction of pine needles is really amazing. They are strong but yet bendable,” Örnvinsson explains. The BARRcollection of sturdy and functional furniture continues to grow and includes creations such as smaller lounge chairs,

coffee tables, side tables and stools, all of them with a functional design. “The lounge chairs allow you to link them together to a sofa, and several of the stools can become a long bench,” Örnvinsson adds.

Sustainability is key at Fabrikant and visible on all levels. For example, the stainless steel is treated in several layers to ensure the product is as durable as possible. “As well as sustainable products, we also want sustainability for the environment, for the people creating the products and for the consumer,” says Örnvinsson. “Production takes place in our own factory, which allows full transparency, and there are Swedish collective agreements in place for the employees.

These factors are extremely important for us and we see them as a seal of quality.” Thanks to its sustainability, combined with flexibility, Fabrikant’s furniture has proven popular for both indoor and outdoor use, among both private consumers

and consumers in the commercial sector. Many of the clients are restaurants and hotels looking for something which is visually appealing, yet functional. “We see an increasing demand for products that are made under fair production conditions,” Örnvinsson continues. “We want our consumers to be able to buy our products with a clean conscience.”

The collection includes several side tables with the ability to combine different colours.

Contact: info@fabrikant.se Web: www.fabrikant.se Instagram: @fabrikant_aktiebolag

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

The fine-box maker of Sweden Charlotte Mrani is the social worker who decided to go all in on her passion for creating fine, handmade boxes. Today, she is a craftswoman who makes boxes on a full-time basis.

After 15 years as a social worker, Charlotte Mrani decided to put her passion for craftsmanship first. “I have always had many ideas and a love for craftsmanship,” Mrani explains. “My mother was an artist and my father came from a carpenter family.”

After completing an education in cabinet making and design, and working as an apprentice for a fine-box maker in Ireland, she found her niche. “I fell in love with the technique immediately. I would make boxes over and over again until I was satisfied with the result,” Mrani recalls. Her first boxes where humidors – well-sealed boxes for cigars. “I couldn’t see any Scandinavian alternatives for humidors so I started crafting them from Scandinavian wood,” Mrani says. She quickly moved on to making other kinds of fine boxes, all with beautiful wood and burr as a starting point.

Wooden inspiration The creation of the pattern, marquetry, cutting, gluing, fitting and puzzling are each carried out in designated parts of Mrani’s workshop. “Each step requires precision,” Mrani says, adding that her main inspiration comes from the wood itself: “I will choose the most beautiful part and take it from there.” As well as making boxes for different exhibitions, Mrani works with a diverse network of customers. Watchmakers, a client who arranges cigar championships and a Swiss diamond-ring vendor are a few examples. Her boxes can also be found at Harrods in London, thanks to her collaboration with the British brand Linley. Going forward, Mrani wants to bring attention to the art of fine-box making as much as she can.

“It is wonderful when people show interest.

I can talk about this for hours,” she laughs.

By Kristine Olofsson Photo: Susanne Kronholm

Isar humidor.

Photo: Charlotte Mrani

Find Charlotte Mrani’s handmade fine boxes online and in shops: Web: www.charlottemrani.com Cigarrummet, Birger Jarlsgatan 44, Stockholm Galleri Sebastian Schildt, Strandvägen 5 b, Stockholm

Vauni – Design with Swedish fire A Swedish concept from start to finish, Vauni creates beautifully designed fireplaces and stoves, for all lifestyles. “People have gathered around open fires for hundreds of thousands of years to socialise and exchange stories,” says Vauni CEO Robert Ban. “This creates a feeling of harmony and togetherness which we like to bring to people’s homes, regardless of how and where they live.”

By Kristine Olofsson | Photos: Vauni

The very soul of Vauni is Swedish, from initial idea through to design and manufacture.

The concept has its origins at the renowned Chalmers University in Gothenburg, where a professor found himself in need of a flexible fireplace for his apartment. His solution was an environmentally friendly stove, driven by renewable bioethanol, which emits no

52 | Issue 114 | July 2018

smells or pollution. The first design – Globe – created by Marcus Grip at Gothenburg’s Academy of Design and Crafts, is still the centrepiece in the Vauni collection. “This design is special since it’s the only completely spherical fireplace of its kind,” Ban explains.

“Our aesthetic expression can be described as organic and soft, rather than sharp and

angular, which tends to be the industry norm.” These aspects, combined with exclusive material, transform the fireplace into a beautiful and natural part of the home, a meeting place for friends and family, regardless of whether it be in an apartment or a house. “A Vauni fireplace is not only a treat for dark winter days,” Ban sums up. “It’s also a flexible and tailored way of creating ambiance in every room, every day.”

Find Vauni´s products online and in shops: www.vauni.com Instagram: @vauniab Facebook: vauniab

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

Top left: Prince Carl Philip and Oskar Kylberg inspect their creations at the Gustavsberg factory. Below left: The Gustavsberg factory attracts many visitors, thanks to its rich cultural heritage. Right: Gustavsberg’s ceramics combine classic design with hand-crafted quality. Bottom: Stig Lindberg’s Berså is one of many of Gustavsberg’s timeless classics.

Iconic ceramics, shaped by history The Gustavsberg porcelain factory has been in production for almost 200 years.

The only Nordic producer of bone-china ceramics, it is renowned both for its handcrafted quality and its iconic designs, which include the work of some of Sweden’s best-known artists.

retro designs – pieces by Stig Lindberg remain among the best-sellers, not least in Japan, where the designer has something approaching a cult following.

By Liz Longden | Photos: Gustavsbergs Porslinsfabrik

Nevertheless, for all its illustrious past, the factory is constantly looking to the future and to new collaborations, and, among the contemporary designers currently working with Gustavsberg are Bernadotte & Kylberg, of which one half is the Swedish Prince Carl Philip. “It’s about keeping a balance, preserving that cultural heritage whilst also keeping an eye on what people want,” Bohjort says. “It’s not always easy, but it comes with the territory of running such a historic company.”

Marie Bohjort, managing director of Gustavsberg porcelain factory, never dreads Monday morning. “There may be a lot of people who think it’s a pain going to work, but I have to say that I love every day,” she says. “It’s a job where you’re running not just a factory, but a piece of cultural heritage.”

The Gustavsberg factory was founded in 1825 and has been in continuous production ever since. Over the years, it has worked with some of Sweden’s foremost artists, including Stig Lindberg, Ingegerd Råman and Margareta Hennix, and several of its collections are award-winning.

A museum, featuring historic highlights from the factory’s production, stands as a testament to its extraordinary legacy, while the factory attracts visitors throughout the year.

Bohjort, who is the fourth generation of her family to work in the factory, says an awareness of this history strongly influences the company’s ethos today. “A lot of manufacturers have moved their production overseas, but we have chosen to continue making everything here in Gustavsberg, and by hand,” she says, adding that every plate is handled 50 or 60 times during the manufacturing process. “The only difference from 1825 is that production is on a slightly smaller scale. And we are very proud to have kept that history and tradition alive.”

Bohjort believes that the fact that the ceramics are handcrafted is one reason behind their popularity, with attention to detail and quality control inherent in the production process. She also points to an increased interest in classic and

Web: www.gustavsbergsporslinsfabrik.se

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 53

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

Pens that last a lifetime Pens from Ballograf are made in Sweden right from the beginning of the process and all the way until the end. With classic designs, recognised by most Swedes, Ballograf has offered high-quality pens for over 70 years.

By Kristine Olofsson | Photos: Ballograf

The founder of Ballograf, Eugen Spitzer, arrived in Sweden from Hungary after escaping the Second World War. What he started as a small project in a garage, back in 1945, has now grown to become the only pen manufacturer in the Nordic countries. “In the ‘70s, there were around 20 pen manufacturers in Sweden, and now we are the only ones left,” Peter Orrgren, managing director at Ballograf, tells us. “Production has always been in Sweden. We have factories in Västra Frölunda, just outside Gothenburg, and in Filipstad, with shipping to 49 countries all over the world.”

mately 400 double sided A4-pages. That is 4,000 metres more than a pen from the second best manufacturer in the test,” he says proudly.

Writing off the competition

The Ballograf bestseller is the Epoca ball-pen with a design that has remained unchanged since 1960. Other types of pens offered by the company are different ball-pens, pencils, markers, felt pens and whiteboard pens. “Around 70 per cent of our customers are businesses,

Ballograf delivers pens that will last you a lifetime, literally. “Our pens come with a lifetime guarantee. If the mechanism breaks, we give you a new pen,” Orrgren tells Scan Magazine. “A Ballograf pen can write for 8,000 metres, or, approxi54 | Issue 114 | July 2018

In a world where the usage of pens is declining rapidly, Ballograf is actually gaining market share. According to Orrgren, the secret behind this is the combination of an affordable price and outstanding performance. “Certified ink, quality design and a product that will last you a lifetime is not bad for a pen that will only cost you around 45 Swedish kronor (just under four GBP),” he says.

and many of them choose to tailor their pens with logotypes and prints,” Orrgren explains. “The remaining 30 per cent would be people like you and I, looking for a quality pen for a great price.”

Times may be changing and pen usage dropping, but Orrgren remains optimistic about the future of pens, especially their value in an educational context. “Even though people write less by hand, I see a bright future for Ballograf,” Orrgren says. “Nothing beats the genuine process of pen against paper when it comes to taking in information and learning.”

Web: www.ballograf.se

www.klippanyllefabrik.com

New Exhibition! Follow the Work on Stage and Behind the Camera.

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Passing through the hands of generations For more than a century, Gense has been one of the leading providers of cutlery in Scandinavia. Combining design and functionality, the Swedish-founded company has been passed through the hands of generation after generation.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Gense

It is rare to find a company that is as focused on cutlery as Gense. Founded in Eskilstuna, Sweden, in 1856, the company began producing silver cutlery in 1915.

In 1930, the production of stainless steel cutlery began and, in 1975, Gense opened in Denmark. “Many people buy our cutlery because they’ve seen it at their parents’ or grandparents’ place – it’s full circle,” explains Jesper Hansen of Gense Denmark.

“Most of our bestsellers in Denmark are cutlery sets that have a long history; they have been made in Denmark for more than a century and became part of Gense following mergers in the 20th century.”

56 | Issue 114 | July 2018

While most companies producing cutlery today do so as part of a larger production of interior design and kitchenware items, Gense has retained a firm focus on cutlery production. In doing so, the company has gained not only a wide customer base across Scandinavia, but also the title of Purveyor to the Royal Court of Sweden.

Classic design Through the years, Gense has never aimed to reinvent the concept of knife and fork, but has rather maintained a steady focus on creating cutlery of exclusive design and quality. The majority of Gense’s

products are therefore designed either by one of the company’s own designers, or by designers with royalty deals. “We invest a lot of time and resources into creating a unique design – it’s not just a matter of finding a standard cut and stamping our logo on it. This is why our cutlery is typically bought by people who want to be a bit special, to have something that all their neighbours don’t necessarily have,” explains Hansen. “Cutlery is not a hugely complex product, but it’s also about providing products of a high quality and about providing a good service to both our traders and our end-users.”

Big knives and new colours One of Gense’s best-selling ranges in the Danish market is the Gense Old Farmer grill cutlery, which has recently been expanded with the Old Farmer XL grill knife.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Denmark

“We must admit that, traditionally, it’s women who make the decisions when it comes to cutlery, but with our new XL grill knife we have managed to catch the attention of the men – so it’s just a question of whether their wives will allow it,” Hansen jokes. “However, despite many people being a bit intimidated by the size, most have come back to us telling us how much better the grip and cut is. They really love it and use it for everything, from pizzas to burgers.”

Another newer addition to the market is coated cutlery, which allows buyers to choose a cutlery that stands out not just in design and quality, but in colour as

well. “We were some of the first ones out with a black coated cutlery in 2012, but back then, actually, people weren’t quite ready. So it took a couple of years before we started selling, and then the rest of the market quickly followed,” says Hansen.

Indeed, while cutlery has, admittedly, not gone through radical changes through the last century, small innovations, quality designs, and a constant presence have ensured that Gense has continued to be passed through the hands of generation after generation.

Web: www.gense.dk

Gense – the facts: Gense was founded in Eskilstuna in 1856, by Gustav Eriksson. The company initially produced oven doors and coffee burners.

In 1885, the company started the production of silver goods, including candleholders. The production of silver cutlery began in 1915.

In 1930, Gense began producing cutlery in stainless steel.

In 1975, A/S Gense in Denmark was established.

The Danish company was built through the acquisition of the Danish companies Lundtofte A/S, Frigast and Smedien i Lundtofte.

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 57

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Denmark

Delicious fresh produce from Restaurant Domestic's supplier Sommergrønt, a Hadsten-based organic producer of fruit and vegetables founded in 1990. Photo: Sommergrønt

Reaping the benefits of hard work and teamwork Just two years after opening their Restaurant Domestic, four of Aarhus’s bright young culinary sparks won a Michelin star for their laid-back, welcoming, yet luxurious take on local, Nordic cuisine. 2018 has seen them awarded a star once again and one of the head waiters, Christian Neve, has taken gold in the Nordic waiting championships. They put their success down to hard work, dedication and their close cooperation with passionate local farmers.

By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Jesper Rais

In 2015, Christian Neve teamed up with fellow waiter Ditte Susgaard and chefs Morten Frølich Rastad and Christoffer Norton, all of them friends and colleagues from the Aarhus culinary scene.

In their twenties, all four were already well established, but young enough to have been trained under the influence of the New Nordic movement, which sparked global interest in Danish and Nordic cooking and emphasised the use 58 | Issue 114 | July 2018

of local, in-season and sustainable ingredients.

Sustainable suppliers “The relationships with our suppliers are crucial,” Neve explains. “They’re fruitful partnerships for both sides and a lovely way of adding to the local community.”

The quartet’s commitment to staying local was apparent from the start, implied even in the naming of Restaurant Domestic.

“At a fundamental level, the people who grow the food, and who are out there on the fields with the crops or animals every day, have a much more intricate understanding of each year’s produce than anyone else. We’re able to go back and forth to them, learning directly from the source, to get the best out of these wonderful foods.” For Neve and his team, something like asparagus can be just as exciting and flavourful as caviar. “Ours have been nurtured by Kaj from Djursland, who has dedicated his life to growing asparagus. With his help and with the chefs’ talent in the kitchen, simple dishes can be spectacular,” Neve argues.

This summer, Restaurant Domestic became only the third Danish Michelin-star winner to be certified with the Organic

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Denmark

Cuisine Label (silver), meaning that between 60 and 90 per cent of their ingredients are organic. “Our close relationship with suppliers like the Dam Hansen family at Troldgaarden means that we can be sure that the pigs have led a good life and that they’ve been reared sustainably and organically,” Neve says. The relationship also has a direct impact on their customers’ experience. “Being able to learn the characteristics of a pig’s race and the exact components of its diet allows us to bring out the flavours of the animal to their fullest potential.”

Waiting on a fruitful harvest Restaurant Domestic changes its menu in accordance with the seasons in order to get the best out of their ingredients, creating new recipes and combinations to fit the season’s yield. This year, for example, has been hot and very dry, which means that vegetables have had a tough time. “Many vegetables become more soft and loose because it takes more time and more energy to grow in size and ripen,” Neve explains. “Being able to talk to our suppliers about things such as the effects of hard soil on the texture of pointed cabbage makes for a completely

different relationship with the ingredients than just popping down to the local supermarket for a generic white cabbage.”

One of the best things about the multifaceted and well-balanced Restaurant Domestic quartet is their enthusiasm for all sides of catering and cooking, including both experimentation with new ideas and utilising traditional methods, such as pickling, curing and fermentation. “The hot and dry weather this year has actually been really good for fruit and excellent for berries,” Neve explains. “In fact, we’ve just received 50 kilogrammes of cherries that we’ll need to preserve for winter, so that’s a fun little project to get going with.” Each member of the team also has a number of side interests which feed into the wider expertise of the restaurant: Susgaard is a sommelier, Norton bakes, Rastad brews beer, and Susgaard and Neve have added an expertly designed range of non-alcoholic juices to the menu. In the summer, they also run a secondary restaurant at Branbygegaard Farm.

And finally, of course, Neve is officially 2018’s best waiter from the Nordic coun-

tries, having also competed and won gold at the national championships last year. “I think the essence of hosting has been forgotten a little in recent years,” he muses. “We have to remember to be present at each table and understand the people in front of us; to see the experience from the guest’s perspective and explain things so that it makes sense to them and so that they enjoy the experience.” That attentiveness and attention to detail permeates Restaurant Domestic, from the ingredients in the kitchen to the waiting staff at the front, and might just be the key to a whole future galaxy of accolades and Michelin stars.

What to buy this season: According to Neve, Danish pointed cabbage is delicious this summer.

Summer berries such as strawberries, gooseberries and cherries have also had an exceptional year.

Web: www.restaurantdomestic.dk Facebook: restaurantdomestic Instagram: @restaurant_domestic

Photo: Sommergrønt

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 59

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Denmark

Lis Christiansen and Maria José Navarro.

Pizza made with chufa flour.

Peeled chufa with spice.

Nordic chufa.

Chufa: the new, old superfood Chufa, also known as a tiger nut, is a small tuber originating in Africa. Interest in chufa is steadily growing around the world, and the little tuber has already become popular in Japan, Germany and North America. The tuber is not commonly known in the North, however, which is why friends Maria José Navarro, a Spanish national, and Lis Christiansen, a Dane, decided to bring chufa to Denmark – and beyond.

to be one of the earliest food sources known to humanity. The vegetable was originally cultivated by ancient Egyptians, who also put tubers in their tombs as a present for the afterlife.

By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Nordic Chufa

Chufa is a great alternative for anybody looking to add a bit of flavour, fibre, nutrition and superfood to their life.

Known as the gold of the soil, the sweet and nutty-flavoured chufa is full of possibilities. It can be eaten as a snack, used as flour, or grounded into milk and used to make the Spanish drink horchata. The tuber is a recognised superfood due to its high content of dietary fibre, some of which are naturally absorbed, whilst others help to clear the digestive system. “Chufa is very good for your digestion as it acts almost like a broom sweeping through your intestines,” Christiansen explains.

Navarro and Christiansen have enjoyed the great taste and high nutritional value of chufa for many years and, in 2013, they decided to start the company Nordic Chufa, where they still to this day work hard to raise awareness about the vegetable by importing and selling or60 | Issue 114 | July 2018

ganic chufa to both private consumers and businesses.

Allergy-friendly

Horchata.

Not only is chufa good for the digestive system, but it is also allergy-friendly.

Flour made from chufa is gluten-free and can be used as an interesting and nutritious substitute for other glutenfree flours. Milk made from the tubers is lactose-free and suitable for vegans.

Chufa is also ideal for people with nut-allergies as its flavour resembles that of nuts without, however, containing any allergens, since it is a tuber.

Christiansen adds: “Chufa can basically be used as a nut replacement in recipes, and as a substitute for milk and flour.”

The story of chufa goes back to about 5,000 BC, and the tubers are considered

Web: www.chufa.dk Facebook: Nordicchufadk

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Denmark

Fish blood in its veins for a hundred years Fish production is imbedded in Priess DNA. The family behind the Danish company AquaPri has proud roots in the Danish seafood industry, and their story goes back to 1900 and the small fishing town of Glyngøre in Northern Jutland. There, a determined 14-year-old Anders Priess started Priess & Co, selling fresh fish from the local ports.

Priess notes. “We feel quite proud to have come this far, having struggled for more than ten years.”

By Heidi Kokborg | Photos: AquaPri

Priess adds: “Full traceability is a prerequisite for our food safety throughout the entire production cycle. We know exactly with what the fish are fed, and what our finished products contain. We want our customers to know exactly what they eat.”

Much has changed since then, but fish is still in the veins of the family. Today, the fourth generation continues to bring high-quality seafood such as farmed trout, trout caviar and, more recently, the luxurious freshwater fish zander to discerning European consumers.

optimise our methods of production; for example, by cleaning and reusing the water again and again.”

Zander – a new challenge

Protecting nature

In 2016, AquaPri opened a new indoor facility for zander, also known as pike perch, using the newest technologies for water treatment. As with its trout farms, AquaPri controls the entire chain from egg to adult fish. This guarantees the consumer a product which is free from GMO and additives. “We try to farm our fish in the most natural way. A strong and healthy fish in a healthy environment is better for us – and for the consumer,” Priess stresses.

Fish farming is the most sustainable form of animal protein for human consumption, but AquaPri takes sustainability even further. “We want to make room for coming generations, so we need to protect the environment and take care of the resources around us,” says Priess. “We constantly

Farming a new species like zander was a challenge, even with 100 years of farming experience. “However, tackling a tricky fish to farm has the advantage that we are still one of the few companies, and the largest, in the world to have succeeded,”

‘Farming fish is in our DNA’ “All we think about is fish, fish, fish – from the moment we wake up until we go to bed, 24/7,” says part-owner Henning Priess, with a smile. “That’s life for a Priess and I am afraid the same applies to our 90 employees.”

Food safety matters

Web: www.aquapri.dk

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 61

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Denmark

From the heart of South Jutland Despite its location deep in the heart of the South Jutland countryside, Rurup Gårdbutik (farm store) sells its products to quality-conscious food lovers all over Denmark. On the farm, owner Ove Baagø and his dog Sigurd are ready to help shoppers find the perfect cut of meat – and a wine to go with it.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Rurup Gårdbutik

In 1997, a traffic accident forced Ove Baagø to leave his job, but sitting in his armchair reading the newspaper all day was not an option for the hard-working Dane. Baagø, who had a small herd of beef cattle on his farm, therefore decided to begin selling home-grown strawberries and potatoes along with his meat. Two years later, he opened up a shop, selling a selection of high-quality hung meats, fresh vegetables, wine and pottery, and today, the store’s groceries are dispatched to the whole of Denmark. “We have a lot of visitors from Copenhagen and the rest of Zealand in the area. And often, once they’ve been here on holiday, they take a large hamper of food

home and then order the next one online,” the 65-year-old explains.

The shop’s produce range includes not only meat from local beef cattle, but also specialty meats from all over Europe including boar, quail, and horse. Most products are available to order online, where shoppers can also find suggestions for recipes. However, a trip around the premises itself is required to get the full farm store experience – complete with owners Baagø and Sigurd the labrador.

Web: www.rurup.dk Facebook: Rurup.dk Gårdbutik

Taking the time bread needs At Pistoria bakery in Odense, you can not only taste, but also see how much love is put into the bread. With the bakery built into the store, customers can ask questions and see the bread being kneaded and baked in traditional stone ovens, before picking up a loaf, cake or pastry to either enjoy on-site or take home.

Founded two years ago by baker Eddie Månsson, Pistoria is an independent bakery focused on producing high-quality products and on encouraging customer interaction.

“Today, you can buy bread everywhere, but no one has any idea where it is actually produced, so I thought: ‘If I want to survive as an independent baker, I need to go in the opposite direction; I need to bring people into the bakery, let them see how the bread is made and give them a chance to have a chat and satisfy their curiosity,” explains owner Månsson.

Located in the Skt. Klemens suburb of Odense, Pistoria has built up a loyal customer base amongst locals. Månsson also delivers bread to Carlslund, one of the city’s best-known restaurants, and his bread’s rising reputation has begun to attract discerning fans from further afield. “All our bread is 62 | Issue 114 | July 2018

made from high-quality ingredients and with a lot of local produce,” Månsson notes. “But, most importantly, my people are very skilled, and we devote the time it takes to make good

Visitors at Rurup Gårdbutik are greeted by owner Ove Baagø and his labrador Sigurd.

Located in Southern Jutland, Rurup Gårdbutik delivers high-quality food and wine to all of Denmark.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Pistoria

bread. Our breakfast rolls are left to rise for at least 15 hours and the bread for 19 hours.”

The bakery also delivers beautiful madeto-order cakes for special occasions.

Web: www.pistoria.dk Facebook: Pistoria

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From the city to the sea: Experience a summer of Danish history and culture That Denmark boasts a proud maritime heritage is no secret, and hardly surprising.

Add a rich, occasionally war-torn history and an art scene that is bursting at the seams, and you will begin to discover a cultural experience beyond the ordinary.

Photos: Visit Denmark

At Tirpitz Museum, you can discover everything from an incomplete World War II bunker to a beautiful amber collection and 360-degree films about the history of the west coast. At the Maritime Experience Centre Springeren, meanwhile, explore a submarine up close and enjoy some stunning nature, different uniforms and engaging stories about Danish shipping.

64 | Issue 114 | July 2018

Over on the island of Funen, there is plenty to see and do at Fjord&Bælt, a combined tourist attraction and research institute at the Kerteminde fjord. Here you can see porpoises, harbour seals and many other sea mammals and learn about the many facets of aquatic life. Slightly further south, at Naturama in Svendborg, you can enjoy a close encounter with moose, learn about the local fauna through nature pho-

tography and discover couture dresses inspired by Nordic animals.

Back on the Jutland peninsula, Viborg Kunsthal makes the perfect pit stop for exploring contemporary art by both established Danish and international artists, and not just for aficionados – this gallery is all about making art accessible. When you are done exploring the exhibitions, hit the town of Viborg, which boasts a wide range of attractions and activities for all ages.

So what are you waiting for? Read on to discover your next cultural adventure in Denmark.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Danish Culture

Photo: Viborg Kunsthal

Photo: Naturama and Fjord&Bælt

Tirpitz. Photo: Mike Bink

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 65

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Danish Culture

A hidden treasure for everyone From a distance, it looks just like another white sand dune. But a closer look reveals a magnificent building of glass and concrete. Tirpitz in Blåvand offers stunning architecture and interactive exhibitions that will change your view of the Danish west coast forever.

By Nicolai Lisberg Photos: Mike Bink

Not in their wildest dreams could the people behind Tirpitz have imagined how big a success the museum would turn out to be, even if, having received a lot of positive publicity, hopes were high.

The estimation was 100,000 visitors in its first year. Instead, Tirpitz is now closing in on 300,000.

museum director at Vardemuseerne, of which Tirpitz is a part. “And we are especially glad that we’ve had so many families visiting, since that was one of the things we hoped for. Our ambition was to bring in people who perhaps don’t really visit museums, and I think we have succeeded in doing just that.”

“This past year has been absolutely incredible and we are very happy that the guests have shown such huge interest in the museum,” says Claus Kjeld Jensen,

People from all over Denmark have visited the museum in the last year, but there have also been many guests from Sweden, Norway, Germany, Holland,

66 | Issue 114 | July 2018

the UK and France. That Tirpitz has had three times more guests than anticipated has, of course, been tremendous for the museum, but even more pleasing is

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Danish Culture

the way in which guests have engaged with the museum.

“We see three-year-old children running around and exploring the museum with their parents,” Jensen says. “We have different colours for our wrist bands depending on which day you enter, and last year I could see children running around with more than one wrist band on their arm. They had simply begged their parents to come back the following day, be-

cause they felt they weren’t done with the museum. Imagine that. They would rather come back here than go to an amusement park. You can’t really ask for much more.”

A social and interactive experience One reason for the museum’s success is the audio guides, which are handed out when guests enter the museum and which can be used in Danish, German and English. In place of long texts on the walls, everything can instead be listened to.

“There is plenty of information. Four and a half hours in total, if you listen to the entire audio guide. But everything is served in small stories of 45 seconds each, so you can choose which ones you would like to hear,” explains Jensen.

“This way, our guests actually want to finish the stories, instead of just ending them half way through.”

In addition to the audio guide, Tirpitz offers lots of interactive experiences. In

Photo: Colin Seymour

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 67

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Danish Culture

the exhibition The Hidden West Coast, a 4D movie is projected onto the surrounding walls and floor, while different scents and an artificial wind give the impression of being by the coast. At The Tirpitz Bunker, meanwhile, darkness combined with light shows and sound effects recreate the feeling of being inside a bunker during World War II.

68 | Issue 114 | July 2018

“We aim to pass on knowledge in an interesting way for everyone,” Jensen says. “Our ambition is to give our guests a social experience, where, no matter your age, you get a fun adventure that you will want to share with your friends and family.” And, for those who have already visited Tirpitz once, Jensen promises that there will be plenty still to see

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Danish Culture

second time around. “We have so many things to experience and so much information, so you owe it to yourself to come back for a second visit. From February 2019 onwards, we will also open new temporary exhibitions at the museum.”

The permanent exhibitions

The Hidden West Coast A story of the last 20,000 years in West Jutland, told through 12 surprising, dramatic, interesting and moving stories. Every half hour, the room is plunged into darkness and a 360-degree film is projected on the walls and floors, while light, smoke and smells bring to life the journey through time.

Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj

Amber - The Gold of The Sea A mysterious forest, with nine-metrehigh trees, shows how 40-millionyear-old resins are turned into amber.

Visitors can see 400 of Denmark’s most extraordinary amber finds and experience what it is like to search for amber at the beach on a cold and windy January day.

An Army of Concrete In a landscape of bunkers, visitors are told the story of how seven characters, both Danes and Germans, experienced World War II. The characters are all based on real people, portrayed by actors – from a ten-year-old Danish girl who kept a diary during the war, to the young and charming German lieutenant who was kind to the children in the neighbourhood, but whose job was to shoot down British planes.

The Tirpitz Bunker It was Hitler’s massive bunker project, but remained unfinished at the end of the war. Now the southern part of the bunker has become part of the museum.

What would it have looked like, had it been finished? Who would have controlled it? How would it have worked?

Visitors enter through an underground tunnel to discover the answers.

Web: www.tirpitz.dk Facebook: vardemuseerne Instagram: @tirpitzmuseum Twitter: @vardemuseerne

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 69

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Danish Culture

Dive deep into Danish maritime history Situated on northern Jutland’s Limfjord, the city of Aalborg has always relied upon the ocean for sustenance. In the Middle Ages, the city thrived thanks to trade from the harbour and a monopoly on delicious salted herring. Later, from the 1700s until the 1980s, the city’s shipyard became one of the most important in Denmark. Springeren – Maritime Experience Centre tells the story of both Aalborg’s and Denmark’s proud maritime past.

biggest asset is our staff and volunteers. The centre comes alive with their stories of life on the sea and at the dock.”

By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Springeren - Maritimt Oplevelsescenter

“We like to think we have something for all ages and interests here,” says director Mads Sølver Pedersen. It is hard to disagree. Taking up a 15,000-square-metre area of the old harbour, the maritime centre is a treasure trove of adventures both big and small. Three exhibitions tell the stories of the dockyard, Aalborg and the Danish Royal Navy, and the micro-nautically interested can lose themselves in a huge collection of model ships. The crown jewel, however, is Springeren – a retired submarine, which is preserved exactly as the Danish navy left it and which visitors are free to explore. The

same is true for its neighbour Søbjørnen, a decommissioned motor-torpedo boat going by the deceitfully cute name ‘The Sea Bear’.

“We’ve just added a huge ship-style playground and a large basin where families and friends can compete at navigating various styles of remote-controlled ships,” Pedersen adds. “It’s quickly becoming one of our most popular attractions – for both us and the visitors!” And after a bit of basin-practice, visitors can take control of a large ship, guiding it through the perilous Limfjord, thanks to a simulator. “We’ve so much more to show as well,” Petersen assures. “However, our

Web: www.springeren-maritimt.dk Facebook: SpringerenMaritimt Oplevelsescenter Instagram: @Springeren9000

Holiday in Skagen like a local Whether you are visiting Skagen for its beautiful white beaches, buzzing town centre or unique art history, Skagen Ferie can help you find the best base for your holiday.

With 30 years of experience, the local couple behind the rental business know the area and accommodation like the back of their hand.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Skagen Ferie

Located at the northernmost tip of Denmark, Skagen is undisputedly one of Denmark’s most popular holiday destinations. This also means that finding the right place to stay, at the right price, is not always easy. However, with knowledge of the local area and a broad range of rental holiday homes, Skagen Ferie can help

most travellers with just that. Visitors are able to browse different properties online, and, when they are ready to book or if they need more information, owner Elna Larsen is ready at the other end of the phone.

“No matter what time of the year you’re planning on visiting Skagen, there are plenty of things to explore – the Skagens

Museum, the Grenen sandbar and the many well-known restaurants,” says Larsen, who runs the business with her husband Henning Larsen. “There are other and larger rental businesses than ours, but what we provide is the personal contact, local knowledge, and individual service.”

So, while standards, size and facilities vary from property to property, one thing is always the same – the Larsens’ dedication to finding visitors the best possible match.

Web: www.skagenferie.dk

With 30 different holiday homes in their portfolio, Skagen Ferie can help visitors find the base that is just right for their visit.

70 | Issue 114 | July 2018

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Danish Culture

Getting up close and personal with Nordic wildlife The island of Funen, in Denmark, boasts two attractions based on the diverse local fauna. Fjord&Bælt, situated on the waterfront in Kerteminde, is home to live porpoises, harbour seals and many other sea mammals, while the Naturama museum, in Svendborg, divides up Nordic wildlife into three categories; below sea level, on land and in the skies.

created by the famous Danish fashion designer, Jim Lyngvild. Naturama also houses a sophisticated soundscape room in which visitors are immersed in the unique sounds of a rainforest.

By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Naturama and Fjord&Bælt

In the autumn, both museums will focus on the huge negative impact of plastic waste on our planet, with special exhibitions on the subject.

Fjord&Bælt and Naturama, with their carefully recreated natural environments, provide a fun, exciting and educational day out for the whole family, giving everyone the opportunity to feel connected to Nordic wildlife.

The porpoise is the only whale to breed in Danish waters, and Fjord&Bælt is one of only two attractions in the world to feature live porpoises in a safe, enclosed environment. Fjord&Bælt aims to preserve and protect the porpoise in its natural habitat, and marine scientists, families and school parties from all over Denmark and the wider world use and visit the research centre to learn more about the many facets of aquatic life.

“Fjord&Bælt’s research is mainly focused on seals and porpoises, but we also show what the sea truly has to offer. Our porpoises and seals are actually in their natural environment, swimming within the harbour itself,” explains Mette Thybo, managing director of both Fjord&Bælt and Naturama.

“Children especially love the way we present the smaller water creatures – which live in the interactive pools, where the kids

can playfully touch some of them – and to experience the wonderful view that can be seen in the underwater tunnel, where they get to feel part of the sea itself,” Thybo says. “We also want to inspire people to explore nature in general and see the amazing variety of animals which exist right outside their front doors.”

Naturama “When you stand next to the giant moose in Naturama, it’s so realistic that you can almost feel its breath on you. It’s rather fantastic!” Thybo exclaims. “Naturama gives a comprehensive overview of what can be found in Northern Europe’s wilderness.”

Naturama currently has two special exhibitions. One is professional photographer Levon Biss’s amazingly detailed images of insects, enlarged by up to 1,000 times, and the other is a presentation of couture dresses, inspired by Nordic animals and

Web: www.fjordbaelt.dk Facebook: fjordogbaelt Web: www.naturama.dk Facebook: Naturama

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 71

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Danish Culture

Contemporary art that matters Viborg Kunsthal aims to make art relevant to everyone by reflecting today’s society from a new perspective.

By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Viborg Kunsthal

Since 1994, when it first opened its doors, the Viborg Kunsthal art gallery has had the vision of exhibiting contemporary art that resonates with our present-day society.

“We choose artists who, in some way, do projects on topics that matter, on something everyone can relate to. Our mission is to be the catalyst of living and dynamic art and to communicate it to everyone,” explains Bodil Johanne Monrad, head of exhibitions at Viborg Kunsthal.

That is one of the reasons why the gallery is continuously working to find new ways to communicate its exhibitions to the public. One new project, for example, asks pre-school children to talk about art and then transforms their thoughts and observations into a podcast, which is available to all visitors.

“It’s a great way of introducing art to people who do not normally visit art institu72 | Issue 114 | July 2018

tions. By letting children talk about art, it offers new perspectives and humorous narratives,” says Monrad.

to take a stand and debate whether our approach to this issue is the right one,“ says Monrad, adding that Zamora actually hired migrants to destroy the boat during a performance in Portugal.

The exhibition Ordem e Progresso runs from 8 June to 26 August.

A powerful story The beautiful and historic building which houses Viborg Kunsthal is often a venue for site-specific art works, made specially for the exhibition rooms. Artists typically stay in Viborg for a period of time before presenting their exhibition.

One exhibition currently on display is Ordem e Progresso by Héctor Zamora.

The masterpiece is a fishing boat which has been smashed to pieces in order to illustrate how industrial fishing is damaging the local fishing industry in Portugal, while also highlighting the European migrant crisis.

“It’s a really powerful piece that does exactly what we want to do. It tells a story about the world we live in, and it forces us to see things from a different perspective,

Web: www.viborgkunsthal.dk Facebook: viborgkunsthal.viborg Instagram: @viborg_kunsthal

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Scan Magazine | Business | Keynote

Scan Business Keynote 74 | Business Profiles 76 | Business Calendar 81

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To manage or not to manage, that is the question People usually become managers because they’re good at another job. They then find themselves with two jobs – the job they trained for, which they know a lot about; and the job of managing other people, about which they may know little or nothing. Some find managing others exhilarating from the start. Others feel inadequacy and panic, especially if put in charge of the team they were part of before.

So people should ask themselves this key question well before being offered a management job: “Do I want to be a manager?”

If you have not already thought about this, find a coach and a mentor to support your search for the answer. Mentors often provide their services for free, and there are kind-hearted coaches who will discount their normal fees for a young person with a big decision to make.

There are also good psychometric tests which help you understand what your 74 | Issue 114 | July 2018

By Steve Flinders

own work preferences are. Doing a job for which you are not psychologically suited will only make you – and possibly your colleagues – miserable.

Management is not for everyone. Some people prefer to concentrate on their own specialist jobs and look no further for satisfaction. It takes some courage to decide not to be a manager, but you should feel that it is okay to do this if it is the right thing for you.

Not wanting to be a manager should not be stigmatised. Circumstances may dictate that you cannot refuse and, in smaller organisations, jobs have to be shared out more, whether people like them or not. But, ultimately, the choice is about how you can best continue to flourish and grow.

It is an important decision, but not an irreversible one. The world of work would be a better place if more new managers took up their new responsibilities with a clearer idea of their reasons for this big step.

Steve Flinders is a freelance trainer, writer and coach, based in Malta, who helps people develop their communication and leadership skills for working internationally: steveflind@aol.com.

ELGTÅRNET The Moose Tower in Espedalen – unique accomodation in beautiful surroundings

Espedalen is a valley situated in inland Norway to the east of Jotunheimen national park about 80 km from Lillehammer. The valley is home to the largest moose migration route in Europe.

The 12 meter high tower is located close to lake Ramstjern. It offers accommodation of a basic standard, with simple wooden platforms for beds, and has no running water or electricity.

www.elgtarn.no post@elgtarn.no

Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Invest in Odense

Odense Robotics is one of the world’s ten largest robotic hubs.

From fairy tales to robot science Odense might be best known to many as the hometown of fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, but the city’s story in recent years has been shaped not by magic, but by science. Once a traditional industrial city, Odense is today one of the world’s leading hubs for robotics and drones.

from the municipality — in the form of, for example, the Odense Investor Summit in September, network events or access to the Odense Robotics StartUp Hub.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Invest in Odense

A modern fairy tale

With the global market leader for collaborative robots Universal Robots as its centre of gravity, Odense has become a magnet for ambitious technology startups. Boasting more than 120 companies and 3,200 employees working within different fields of robotics, health technology and drone production, the city’s hightech ecosystem presents a surprisingly open, collaborative and supportive environment for new companies to grow in.

Joost Nijhoff, director at Invest in Odense 76 | Issue 114 | July 2018

explains: “When we have visiting delegations, they’re often most impressed by the strength of the cluster – not just the number of companies working within the industry, but also the fact that everyone collaborates and shares knowledge.

That’s what attracts a lot of companies.

It’s like a ticket for the front row at a concert of your favourite band.”

In addition to the strength of the cluster, companies also benefit from assistance

Once upon a time, Odense’s economy was based mainly on industry and Odense Steel Shipyard was, with 6,000 employees, the main protagonist. However, in the 1980s, in order to compete with low-cost shipyards from Asia, visionaries within the company started to look at industrial robots. This eventually led to a large donation from the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller family and the foundation of the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute at the University of Southern Denmark.

Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Invest in Odense

Today, the institute is Denmark’s leading name within robot technology and has sowed the seeds for many of the companies at the core of the Odense Robotics cluster. “As a municipality, it’s great when something grows from the ground up, and that’s very much what has happened with the robotics cluster – it is driven by industry and research,” says Nijhoff. “The whole ecosystem, and the way in which the companies within it interconnect and collaborate, is organically created; we’ve just contributed by supporting and offering some of the services and facilities they need.”

One of the most important factors in the success of a quickly growing tech cluster is the ability to raise capital, and that is exactly what companies will get help with at the yearly Odense Investor Summit.

This year, 100 investors and 20 start-ups are expected to attend. “With the rapid expansion and global potential of many of our companies, outside capital often becomes necessary, and that’s why we’ve established Odense Investor Summit,” says Nijhoff. “The aim is to match companies with smart money from investors that have know-how about the market and product development.”

Swedish medtech Tendo is one of the many start-ups to have been included in Odense Robotics cluster and matched with an investor at the Odense Investor Summit.

Collaborations between humans and robots If collaborations within Odense Robotics cluster are more prevalent than within other industries, it is because its members do not typically compete for a small national market. “The unique thing about the robotics cluster is that most companies are born globals – they have the whole world as their market and each focus on their own product area. That’s also why we see a lot of crossover in ownerships and new companies developing new products to extend the application of an existing company’s technology,” explains Nijhoff.

It is not just the humans within Odense Robotics cluster who are skilled in teamwork; one of the cluster’s defining features is that many companies specialise in robots which are designed to assist and collaborate with humans in their work and life. ”Robot technology has for many years been associated with cuts and employee replacement, but our experience is that we have moved one step further than that,” says Nijhoff. “The focus now is how to get robots and humans to collaborate so as to create room for more creativity, more interesting jobs and better lives.”

Odense Robotics, the facts: Odense Robotics has achieved the EU-certified Gold Label for Cluster Management Excellence.

The cluster comprises more than 120 companies and 3,200 employees within robotics and automation.

Odense also holds a strong position in Health Technologies and is the home of the Danish drone centre, UAS Denmark – International Test Center and Cluster.

Facebook is building its new hyperscale data centre in Odense.

Two Canadian-Danish joint ventures are building production facilities for medical cannabis in Odense, aiming to cover 50 per cent of the European market.

Odense Investor summit This year’s Odense Investor Summit will take place on 12 September 2018.

This year’s summit is expected to include 100 investors, 20 start-ups and 200 million DKK (around 23.6 million GBP) of investment

To sign up and for more information, you can visit: Web: www.odenseseedandventure.dk

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 77

Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Stihl Danmark

Smaller, stronger and smarter – the gardening tools of the future For many Danes, wielding a powerful gardening tool is as good as therapy – and not just for men. Women are increasingly investing in modern gardening tools and, thanks to its investment in research and development, Stihl has become the first choice of many.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Stihl

You do not have to be a six-foot-tall man to enjoy the power of a Stihl tool. The company aims not only to make its tools noise-free, safer and more environmentally friendly, but also to ensure that they can be handled by people of all sizes.

“The first chainsaw made by Stihl, in 1926, weighed 50 kilogrammes and had to be handled by two people. Now, you can get a chainsaw powered by either battery or petrol that weighs as little as 2.8 kilogrammes,” explains Stihl’s Danish country manager, Michael Nielsen.

78 | Issue 114 | July 2018

Today, Stihl’s range of garden tools and machinery comprises much more than just chainsaws. Hedge cutters, lawn mowers, grass trimmers and leaf blowers are just some of the Stihl products that can power up any job, whether in a professional or domestic setting.

For beginners and pros For many years, Stihl tools were mainly bought by professionals and middle-aged men. In recent years, however, the company’s new price categories, sizes, and

functions have attracted a much broader customer base. “Traditionally many younger men have seen Stihl as an expensive, high-quality product and might have gone for cheaper solutions. But now, more are realising that with the shorter lifespan of cheaper products, a Stihl tool is actually better value in the long-term.

We’ve also seen women come onto the market. I think it’s because more women live and manage on their own and so they’re investing in a small hedge cutter, trimmer or chainsaw,” Nielsen explains.

“It’s something we’ve taken into consideration in our product development by, for instance, ensuring that our trimmers can be adjusted to people of different heights.”

For novice gardeners, buying Stihl tools also has the advantage that all traders

Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Stihl Danmark

are trained not only in guiding customers to make the best purchase, but also in demonstrating how to use the tool as safely and efficiently as possible. So even complete beginners can take home a Stihl tool with the confidence that it will not be living a secret life in the shed.

Turning it down a notch When it comes to chainsaws or hedge cutters, the first thing that often springs to mind is noise. However, with a growing focus on battery-driven tools, both noise and air pollution from Stihl’s private and professional tools have been remarkably reduced. “We think a lot about improving the motors of our tools to make them greener, and for that purpose we’ve developed our own environmental petrol, which both helps the motor to run better and produces less pollution,” says Nielsen.

“Noise is one of the reasons why, ten years ago, we began the development of battery-driven products for professionals too. Most other producers mainly targeted the private sector, but we have led the

way and today we’re probably the market leader within battery-driven products for not just professionals, but also private users as well.”

Take a break Battery-driven tools are not the only invention making gardening a more pleasant experience. Garden robots and digitalised tools are also increasingly improving — or even removing — troublesome elements of gardening work. “We see digitalisation as a very important part of our future, and we’re already well on our way to developing a range of tools that will, via the user’s phone, be able to give information on when they need repairs, the user’s technique, how much power they’ve used, and where the tool is. That’s something that will be hugely beneficial to our professional users,” Nielsen stresses.

One of the most popular new developments for the domestic market is the iMov lawn mover. “Right now it’s the robot lawn mower, but more products are

on their way, such as watering systems, for instance, that will test the need for water and distribute it where it’s needed,” says Nielsen. “In other words, in the future, we will be able to provide people with tools that will not just ease the physical side of the job, but also help to intelligently plan it.”

Facts: Stihl was founded in Germany in 1926.

Stihl’s turnover in 2017 was 3.8 billion euros.

The company employs 15,800 people.

Stihl is represented in more than 160 countries.

Stihl guarantees spare parts for products for ten years after they have gone out of production.

Web: www.stihl.dk

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 79

Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Epoka

Danish IT distributor Epoka services more than 1,000 companies in 120 countries with more than 200,000 items annually.

Simplify your hardware’s lifespan Specialising in the distribution of end-of-life data centre and networking hardware, Epoka provides more than 1,000 companies in 120 countries with more than 200,000 items annually. By giving its customers independence from IT product life cycles, the Danish IT distributor allows companies to carry out their hardware upgrades at the most advantageous and efficient time for their business.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Epoka

With a strong focus on reliable suppliers, quality testing, and a global network of warehouses, Epoka has become a major player within the distribution, sale and purchase of used and new hardware.

Founded in 1991, the Danish company today has over 10,000 items in stock, ready for same-day delivery, and is able to service and deliver solutions to companies of different sizes in all sectors.

“Many companies depend on new, but to a greater extent also older hardware to run their businesses and customer interaction. Furthermore, with the new EU data protection regulation (GDPR), they have to make sure that all data is securely handled and, when necessary, erased, and that is just one of the things we can do,” explains CCO Jess Bech. “We can 80 | Issue 114 | July 2018

help companies upgrade and get rid of their old equipment, in a secure and costefficient way. When dealing with banks, for instance, you have to have a compliant, responsible and secure approach like we do at Epoka, to handle hardware storing customer data.”

Epoka does not just buy and resell products, but also offers solutions for configuration services to help clients with a larger scale of IT projects like ERP, CRM, data centre capacity upgrades and maintenance. By doing so, the company provides customers with a safe, simple and time-efficient way of extending, maintaining, and optimising their hardware solutions with used or new equipment.

For larger data centres and field care

technicians, Epoka also offers the Epoka Care solution, through which clients get 24/7 access to spare parts at more than 4,500 warehouses distributed all over the world. “This means that our clients don’t have to keep any stock themselves, and can have their servers, storage and network solutions maintained within just a few hours. It makes sense for all parties – the client can focus on their business and we focus on obtaining the hardware safely, with cost and time efficiency,” says Bech.

Working with and for Epoka: Epoka is an international company with 80 employees talking more than 20 languages.

The company has a strong focus on professional skills, and through Epoka ACADEMY, ensures that all employees are skilled within Epoka’s products, solutions and processes.

Web: www.epoka.com

Scan Magazine | Business | Calendar

Business Calendar

By Sanne Wass | Photo: DUCC

Scandinavian business events you do not want to miss this month Ship Start-up Festival Described as “the start-up event for starting entrepreneurs”, Ship Festival is the biggest start-up conference in south-eastern Finland.

The two-day event will offer a mentoring programme, featuring influential leaders from the industry, networking opportunities, lectures about trends in the start-up world, and the opportunity to compete for the Pitch Captain title, with a main prize of 5,000 euros.

Date: 1-2 August 2018 Venue: Maritime Centre Vellamo, Tornatorintie 99, 48100 Kotka, Finland www.shipfestival.org

Game Scope Festival Over three days in August, Game Scope Festival aims to break the gamer stereotype and show the world what the games industry really has to offer. Denmark’s largest games festival, its centre is the Game Scope Expo – a place to try new games and chat with those

who make them. Games developers will have the opportunity to show their game to fans, receive feedback from other professionals and pitch their new projects to investors.

Date: 17-19 August 2018 Venue: AKKC, Europa Plads 4, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark www.gamescope.dk

Doing Business in the UK Hosted by the Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce, this evening will bring together Norwegian firms looking to expand or relocate to the UK, as well any companies which can provide the expertise and support in making this possible. The event will host a welcome reception, followed by presentations on different aspects of doing business in the UK, and finish with networking. Speakers include the Norwegian minister for trade Torbjørn Røe Isaksen and the British ambassador Richard Wood.

Date: 5 September 2018, 4-6.30pm Venue: Litteraturhuset, Amalie Skram, Wergelandsveien 29, 0167 Oslo, Norway www.nbccuk.com

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway

Hotel of the Month, Norway

Luxury boutique hotel with a view of the fjord On a hillside overlooking the picturesque Geirangerfjord, surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, you will find the luxury boutique development Grande Fjord Hotel.

Here, in the south-west of Norway, you can relax and unwind, while taking advantage of everything this cosy hotel has to offer.

By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Grande Fjord Hotel

Geirangerfjord is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Norway’s most visited tourist destinations. With peaceful surroundings near the famous fjord, and a view of the cruise ship fairway, Grande Fjord Hotel is the perfect setting for your holiday. “One of our main goals is to make our guests’ stay as pleasant and relaxing as possible, with a touch of luxury,” says hotel manager Aleksander Grande. The hotel has been 82 | Issue 114 | July 2018

in his family for four generations, and the young manager took over two years ago, when he was only 21.

“The site our hotel is located on used to be a farm in the mid-1800s. After the Second World War, Norway saw a rise in visitors and my great grandmother used the opportunity to start renting out rooms,” Grande explains. “In early 1960, my grandfather took over and added ex-

tra space, so as to focus 100 per cent on tourism, before my dad eventually made it into a fully functional hotel in 1996. So, you can say every generation has made its mark on how the hotel has evolved to what it is today.”

Cosy atmosphere Having undergone a total renovation in 2017, the hotel now consists of 46 rooms, and each is a fusion of traditional Nordic design and modern comfort. Fjord-view rooms offer spectacular views over the stunning fjord and surrounding mountains, while standard rooms are slightly cheaper, with either a limited view or no balcony. “We do pride ourselves on making sure all of our guests get to experi-

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway

ence what they come here to see – the view of the fjord,” Grande smiles.

While the interior has a more contemporary yet homely look, with darker wood features and fireplace, the exterior is typically Norwegian, with characteristic white wood. “We are very orientated towards the local area and wanted to create a cosy, ornate boutique hotel, which reflects the traditional local style, a bit like a modern cabin,” says Grande. In fact, most of the furniture is designed in-house and produced by a local furniture and interior manufacturer called Slettvoll.

A new fitness room, lounge and Jacuzzi have also recently been added to the establishment, while the bar and lounge area is open every evening and is beautifully situated on the sixth floor. Here, guests can enjoy the view from either inside or outside on the terrace, while sipping on a delicious drink. “We offer

different kinds of local beers and wines from all over the world, as well as craft cocktails and homemade liquors made by our master barman,” Grande adds.

Excellent local Nordic cuisine On the top floor, you can also taste excellent Nordic cuisine at the hotel’s own restaurant Hyskje – a brand-new kitchen, which offers modern Scandinavian-style gastronomy. Focusing on local, high quality ingredients, the restaurant has quickly become popular. “Almost everything here is made from scratch with passion, from local produce from the area around Geiranger. Meat from Ole Ringdal in Hellesylt, salmon from Slogen, cod from the coast around Ålesund, and potatoes and vegetables from local farms are just a few of the things we proudly offer,” says Grande.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an à la carte menu and impressive buffet, Hyskje is an idyllic place to dine while taking in the spectacular panoramic view.

Activities Grande Fjord Hotel is currently only open during the summer months, but plans to expand its offering. The hotel also collaborates with a local cabinrental service, making it possible for guests to participate in kayaking, boat trips and various other activities. “We are also working on a new concept with guided kayaking tours on the fjord,” says Grande. “These trips will culminate with a hike up to a historic mountain farm called Skageflå on the steep mountainside for lunch, which we think tourists will really enjoy.”

Location: Ørnevegen 200, 6216 Geiranger, Norway Web: www.grandefjordhotel.com Facebook: grandefjordhotel Instagram: @grandefjordhotel For booking inquiries: booking@grandefjordhotel.com

Hotel manager Aleksander Grande.

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 83

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark

Left: Everything on Paps Vin og Tapas’s sharing platter is homemade including bread and condiments. Right: Having previously headed the dessert kitchen at Sepia (ranked as Australia’s best restaurant in 2015), Trine Rasmussen makes sure guests finish their meal in style. Bottom: After three years working at some of Australia’s best restaurants, Trine Rasmussen is back in her hometown Kolding running the popular Paps Vin og Tapas.

Restaurant of the Month, Denmark

Tapas, ‘hygge’ and wine Nothing goes hand-in-hand with ‘hygge’ like a tapas sharing platter and a wellselected glass of wine, and that is exactly what you get at Paps Vin og Tapas in Kolding.

Run by a local chef with international experience, the popular tapas restaurant offers a global twist on the tapas concept, in the heart of Kolding’s charming Latin Quarter.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Paps Vin og Tapas

After three years ‘down under’, Kolding native Trine Thybo Rasmussen is back in her hometown where, at just 29, she has realised her dream of running her own place, Paps Vin og Tapas. Having worked in some of Australia’s best restaurants, the chef has brought home a finely-tuned skillset with which she aims to give guests a new and fresh tapas experience.

“I spent my time in Australia developing myself and my skills, but I always knew that I wanted to go back to Denmark some day. So when my friend called and asked if I wanted to manage a restaurant he had just acquired, I was back within a few weeks,” she explains.

Founded by a local couple, Paps Vin og Tapas was already a popular venue 84 | Issue 114 | July 2018

when Rasmussen took over, 12 weeks ago. Since then, the talented young chef, who was previously head of the dessert kitchen at Sepia in Sydney (ranked as Australia’s best restaurant in 2015), has been further developing the already successful concept. Among her trademarks are a strong focus on homemade condiments and breads, and the use of fresh, local ingredients, combined with an international twist. “I’ve just started a Nordic tapas concept, and with each new platter I change the region so it’s not just the traditional Spanish and Italian tapas,” Rasmussen says.

While there is just one tapas platter on the menu (a sharing platter for two), there is a broad range of wine – which

is sold by measure, meaning that guests can taste as many bottles as they like and only pay for what they drink. “We want to make sure that our guests find a wine that they like, and that’s why we don’t just serve wine by the measure, but also help guests by offering them different wines to taste before they choose the bottle or bottles they would like for their table,” explains Rasmussen.

And, of course, guests can round off the evening with a mouth-watering tapas selection of desserts from Rasmussen’s expert hands.

Web: www.papsvinogtapas.dk

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Sweden

Restaurant of the Month, Sweden

A French bistro with Asian flavours “Our menu features high-quality French Pan-Asian food, but we like to pick the very best from several different countries,” explains Martin Deniz, manager of the popular restaurant Cloud Nine. Ideally located next to Stockholm Central Station and several hotels, Cloud Nine serves up eclectic food and a lively ambience to everyone who loves life.

For those who prefer some privacy or are organising a larger group gathering, there is also a third option – the Dim Sum Room.

“Our booths in this room are particularly popular and people call to reserve these specific tables,” Deniz explains.

By Sara Wenkel | Photos: Richard Ström

Cloud Nine’s main dining room is spacious and bright, and the interior is carefully selected to be reminiscent of a French bistro atmosphere. Here, locals, business people and tourists tuck in to an Asian lunch menu, where hand-crafted sushi, dumplings and pokébowls are the centrepieces, or a mouth-watering dinner menu, where the restaurant’s awardwinning dim sum dishes are served fresh, every day. The finest prime steaks, fresh seafood and other signature dishes also feature on the evening menu. “We have two different dim sum tasting menus as well – one with three dishes and one with four dishes,” Deniz explains. “And we will soon introduce wine pairing to go with these menus.” Deniz also highlights that

the restaurant has desserts “for everyone”, whether guests want to indulge or keep the calories down.

All summer long, Cloud Nine will also keep their outdoor space open, weather permitting.

A new room for beer lovers Cloud Nine has recently opened a new room next to the main dining room called ‘World Of Beer’. Here, guests can order from the same menu as in the dining room, but the ambience is more relaxed, reminiscent of a pub. “Our staff in here love beer and have great knowledge about beer from all over the world,” Deniz promises. “You get the ultimate experience from us if you start with a ‘beer date’ at World Of Beer and then finish off the evening with some excellent food in the Cloud Nine dining room.”

Web: www.restaurangcloudnine.se

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 85

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway

Restaurant of the Month, Norway

Arctic Circle cuisine In the town of Mo i Rana, just south of the Arctic Circle – where the summer sun never sets, but merely sweeps the horizon, before dipping back up for another day – sits No3 restaurant and cocktail bar.

By Lisa Maria Berg | Photos: Vegar Bergli and Robin Myren

The restaurant is situated in a wooden house dating from 1907, which has the tradition of good food as part of its very foundation – the very first lady of the house, Levie Trønsdal, was alleged to be such a good cook, that the neighbours regularly left their Sunday roasts to come over and taste hers. Nowadays, people pilgrimage from further afield to get a taste of the locally sourced, Nordic based, down-to-earth menu at No3.

Whether you are visiting Mo i Rana itself, are on your way to Lofoton or the coast of Helgeland – Lofoten’s less-heard-of pearl of a little brother – or perhaps on 86 | Issue 114 | July 2018

your way up to the North Cape, No3 is the ideal place to stop for a meal and a drink.

“Our focus is on quality, locally-sourced produce and a great atmosphere,” says manager Vegar Bergli, who wants just one thing for the guests – for them to have a good time. With a menu that offers the ultimate combination of tradition and innovation, beers from microbreweries from across the country and, if you book a weekend table, live entertainment, they do just that.

London lost Let us linger with the drinks for a moment. Yes, you did read correctly earlier –

it is a cocktail bar. Nestled just below the polar circle sits a little piece of New York and London, in a heavenly position beneath the midnight sun. Even better, you can sip away at the mixologists’ creations without the Shoreditch hipsters and the yummy Harlem mummies. Simply come as you are, with walking boots or without, and you will be served. And if the hike, the boat trip, the dog-sleigh trek or the grotto expedition have worn you out, worry not! Order an Aquavit-infused cocktail and recharge your batteries.

A seasonal menu The north of Norway is ever-changing, becoming two completely different countries in winter and summer. And, just as the season changes, so must the menu. Three times a year, something new happens in the kitchen, depending on whatever nature is providing at that time. Crayfish are

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway

at their best during the coldest months, and in autumn, the potatoes are fresh out of the ground. And if you are travelling in a group, why not try ‘the plank’ – a big piece of wood carrying a selection of different meats, sauces, potatoes and bread.

No3 has built its kitchen on a strong Nordic culinary tradition. “We want to make honest food at good value. There are no shortcuts here,” says Bergli’s business partner, manager Robin Myren. Together, they have created a place where it is not just about enjoying a meal, but about sitting back and enjoying life.

111 years later There is history in this place. Lots of history. The very first thing that meets your eye when you step into this 111-year-old house is Levie Trønsdal herself, the very first cook of the house. Someone has captured her in a photograph, sitting on the

stairs of her newly built home together with her husband. It is a baffling thought, that they made this place over a century ago, and it is still here. As you step further into the house, you embark on a journey through time. The house is full of photographs and old objects and, by the time you get to the last table, you will find yourself in Mo i Rana in the 1960s.

In short, it is not only a culinary journey this restaurant takes you on, but a historical one. And maybe even one from the heart – to the heart of someone with passion for food and for their guests. This house has held its doors open to travellers since 1907. So go on, invite yourself over for a Sunday roast.

Web: www.no3.no

‘The plank’ – a perfect sharing platter for when you are travelling as a group.

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 87

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark

A large investment has turned Aalborg’s old lido into a haven of water- and land-based activities.

Attraction of the Month, Denmark

Aalborg’s new outdoor wonderland

– making people jump with joy Open-air swimming, bouldering and beach volley – these are just some of the free activities on offer in Aalborg’s new, vast recreation area. Once the site of a run-down lido and spanning 165,000 square metres, Vestre Fjordpark has become a must-visit location in Denmark’s most northerly city.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Rafael Zajac

Located on the Limfjord, three kilometres from the centre of Aalborg city, Vestre Fjordpark is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts. Since opening last summer, the park has become the number one place to be on a warm summer day – or evening. “It’s been an overwhelming success,” says Aalborg municipality project manager Anders Toft Hougaard. “I went to visit on a warm evening in May and I think there must have been between five and eight thousand people out there, and that’s just a regular good night.”

88 | Issue 114 | July 2018

Aside from the 50-metre open-air pool, the park’s free facilities include beach volleyball courts, basketball, an outdoor gym and much more. It is also the home of a number of local clubs and organisations, such as Aalborg Sportsdykkerklub (sport diving club) and Aalborg Havkajakklub (sea kayaking club).

From run-down lido to award-winning park With its long history, the 70-year-old Aalborg lido had always been a pop-

ular recreational site in the city. When connection to the motorway – a project for which the surrounding parkland had originally been reserved – was cancelled, the municipality therefore took action to ensure that the popular area would not be lost. With three different funds (Det Obelske Familiefond, Lokaleog Anlægsfonden and Nordea-fonden) each donating 11.5 million DKK (around 1.37 million GBP), a total of nearly 73 million DKK (five million GBP) was invested into the development of the lido and surrounding area, and an ambitious plan was set into work. “We were more than a bit nervous when we first started, as both the lido and the green area that surrounded it had a very special place in the heart of the people of Aalborg,” explains Hougaard. “So we did several

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark

open workshops for people to come with their input and ideas, and we have had so much positive feedback as a result.”

Designed by Adept architects, Vestre Fjordpark was among three nominees for the Danish Landscape Award 2017 and was nominated as one of the four best new buildings in Aalborg Municipality in 2017. Furthermore, it has just been announced that the park is among the finalists in the Sport in Architecture category at the World Architecture Festival, taking place in Amsterdam in November.

Beach, woods and plain The design of Vestre Fjordpark divides the large green landscape into several smaller parts, each with their own identity and character. Each area blends elements of the natural landscape with a range of sports and outdoor activities. In the wood and wetland area, for example, guests can explore the greenery and its wildlife through a network of small paths and enjoy their lunch at covered picnic tables. Meanwhile, ‘the plain’ is characterised by large, open grass fields and courts for football, handball and beach

volleyball. Finally, there is the beach zone, where visitors can enjoy the large open-air pool, springboards and an over-water bouldering wall.

“The heart of the park is the large openair pool. It varies in depth from zero to five meters and adjoining it is a water and sand playground, with slides and activities for the smaller children,” explains Hougaard. “For the bigger children and teenagers, there’s an area for springboard diving, as well as a sevenand-a-half-metre-tall bouldering wall, with a free drop into the water.” He adds: “We’re not quite sure, but we think it’s the tallest of its kind in Denmark.”

The beach area also comprises a number of individual buildings, which are bound together by a connected roofscape, with built-in trampolines and sun decks. The buildings house a sauna, a small café, changing rooms and toilet facilities, as well as local organisations, which include the Aalborg winter bathers. No wonder that come sun, rain or snow, people are jumping with joy in Aalborg’s new outdoor wonderland.

Vestre Fjordpark, the facts: Vestre Fjordpark is open 24/7 and access to the park and its facilities is free.

The park is located three kilometres from the centre of Aalborg and is easily reachable by bus, foot or cycle.

Facilities include: beach volleyball courts, a 50-metre outdoor pool with springboards, sundeck and bouldering wall; street basketball, velodrome, paths for cycling, running and walking; a sky view tower; picnic tables, a forest obstacle course, zip line, café, changing rooms, fireplaces, water obstacle course, sauna, and more.

As with the rest of the park, the lido is open 24/7. Lifeguards are present during the day in high season.

The parks spans 165,000 square meters, the equivalent of approximately 23 football fields.

Activities available through organisations and clubs include: stand up paddle boarding; kayaking; diving; guided nature walks; and water polo.

Web: www.aalborg.dk/fjordpark Facebook: Vestre Fjordpark

Kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, beach handball and water polo are just some of the activities available in Vestre Fjordpark.

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 89

Scan Magazine | Experience of the Month | Denmark

West Side Story is a co-production between Aarhus and Aalborg Theatre.

Experience of the Month, Denmark

A meeting place for everyone Aalborg Theatre is a place to discover everything from epic dramas to artistic experiments, where the audience can escape reality and witness performances full of nerve, presence and community. It is a meeting place for everyone – even those who would not usually step foot in a theatre.

By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Allan Toft

Located in Denmark’s fourth largest city, Aalborg Theatre has become a cultural institution and a popular meeting place.

Established in 1878, the theatre is rich in history and tradition. Here, performances are reflections of society and of the time and culture in which we live. Aiming to both inspire and engage with the reality outside its walls, the theatre invites its audiences to reflect on literature, the visual arts, politics and many other topics throughout the year through talks, lectures and artistic performances.

Change and culture initiative “For me, Aalborg Theatre is big enough, but also not too big, with room to grow 90 | Issue 114 | July 2018

and change while staying true to its traditions,” argues theatre director Hans Henriksen. After taking over from Morten Kirkskov in 2015, Henriksen has focused on further enhancing the theatre artistically and making it more audienceoriented. An important part of this effort has been to change the way it produces its own shows. “We will soon be moving from the previous system, where you present a performance in blocks at a time, to what we call repertory theatre, which is more flexible and provides a more varied programme for the audience.”

Another of Henriksen’s initiatives is involvement in a significant cultural pro-

ject in Aalborg, with the working title AMPlify. Aalborg Theatre has teamed up with two other major players on the city’s culture scene, Kunsten Museum of Modern Art and the Musikkens Hus music venue, to create an event of international importance, where the three art forms collaborate to create exciting artistic and cultural experiences. “The project is planned for 2021 and is intended to be a recurring event, following the example of other cultural festivals in, for example, Bergen,” he says.

International repertoire Over three different stages, the audience is invited to experience traditional drama, comedies and musicals. All performances are currently in Danish, but the theatre has recently introduced an option for guests to read subtitles in English.

“Aalborg is a very international city, with people living here from all over the world.

To make sure we have something to offer

Scan Magazine | Experience of the Month | Denmark

for everyone, we have therefore added text to many of our performances,” Henriksen explains. “Our aim in the future is to invite guest performances from other countries to expand our international repertoire even more.”

Henriksen is also a firm believer in making sure that the audience can engage with performances and has therefore introduced three different concepts to the theatre café, designed to appeal to all ages. “With ‘Dialogue’, we discuss issues with celebrities, either in connection with performances or regarding other current affairs. Another, similar concept, ‘Format’, encourages conversations, music and artistic events for the younger generation. And finally, we have Larsens Teatersuppe, which is two hours of ‘hygge’ with music, stories, and exciting guests for pensioners,” says Henriksen.

New plans Aalborg Theatre is currently situated in its original building, but plans are in place to move to a new site in around 2020. “A brand new and spectacular district is in the making in an old industrial area on Aalborg’s waterfront. The theatre will hopefully move here and become part of this exciting urban renewal,” Henriksen reports with a smile. With larger, modern premises, the theatre will have more room to grow and can be adapted to future plans regarding flexibility and repertoire.

During the summer months, the theatre is closed, but when the doors open once again in August, the acclaimed musical West Side Story is on the programme.

“With director Rune David Grue and scenographer Karin Gille, we present an amazing musical show full of energy,” Henriksen concludes. “We have great expectations for this production.”

Upcoming shows: - West Side Story, musical, 30 August to 13 October 2018 - Alle Mulige Ting Til Salgs, Danish drama by Henrik Szklany, 8 September to 13 October 2018 - Et Juleeventyr, family Christmas show, 15 November to 22 December 2018 - Spotify og Radio Luxembourg, theatre concert with young and senior citizens, 2 February to 6 March 2019 - Fyrtøyet, fairy tale by H.C. Andersen, 2 February to 23 March 2019 - The Sound of Music, musical, 4 November to 23 November 23 2019

Web: www.aalborgteater.dk Facebook: aalborgteater Instagram: @aalborgteater Twitter: @aalborgteater

The Sound of Music. From left: Bolette Nørregaard Bang and Sebastian Henry Aagaard-Williams.

Larsens Teatersuppe for pensioners.

Theatre director Hans Henriksen.

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 91

Scan Magazine | Architect of the Month | Denmark

A private house by the sea. Photo: Arto Arvilahti

Architect of the Month, Finland

Creating beautiful living Finnish architectural design practice Haroma & Partners shares the renowned ethos of clean lines and light which characterises Scandinavian design style. Based in Turku, founding partner, architect and CEO Renni Haroma, explains how he makes a space special.

tional purpose and, of course, the client’s wishes. It is through synthesising these different considerations that stylish houses, villas and public places are born.

By Anne Koski-Wood | Photos: Vesa Aaltonen

One of the most interesting cases is the conversion of an old Wärtsilä factory in Turku into loft apartments. Some of the original architectural features were retained, helping to maintain the feel of the building. As a result, the apartments are light and spacious, with the 60-year-old red brick walls visible in places as a reminder of the factory’s past and adding warmth to the modern and stylish setting.

Haroma & Partners’ portfolio is impressive. Since its foundation in 2004, the practice has taken on a variety of projects, from designing hotels, blocks of flats, public buildings and private houses, to renovating old buildings. When describing their style, words like ‘modern’ and ‘minimalist’ come to mind and, in some cases, when it comes to the creation and use of space, even ‘dramatic’.

Renni Haroma says that he likes to follow 92 | Issue 114 | July 2018

minimalist design as far as possible, but only when appropriate. “There is a time and space for everything,” he notes.

Grounded ideas for holistic design At the beginning of a project, Haroma & Partners study the parameters and context of the client’s brief, before deciding what is essential in terms of design. They take into account the surrounding landscape, the layout of the building, its func-

Finnish nature is another important consideration, bringing with it its own

Scan Magazine | Architect of the Month | Finland

requirements in terms of choice of building materials for each project. The surrounding landscape can sometimes be challenging, but can also offer a source of inspiration. A good example of landscape and building working together in harmony is a house built on the edge of a ten-metre-high cliff, or a modern villa with stairs leading to a large, wooden terrace, which opens up to a beautiful view of a lake. Imagine waking up to that on a summer morning.

Creating an atmosphere Haroma argues that a space, when designed well, has to make us feel something. “An architect is also a psychologist and has to consider how people feel in different places,” he says. For example, people seek peace and harmony in a church, but something different when visiting a restaurant or some other place.

Detecting and creating atmospheres is a very important skill for an architect and, in his own work, inspired by Japanese,

Italian and Scandinavian modern design – for instance, by the work of architects like Tadao Ando and Richard Meier – Haroma wants to give his clients moments of wonder and amazement: “It’s that moment when you step into a space and go ‘wow’.”

Web: www.haromapartners.fi Facebook: Arkkitehtitoimisto Haroma & Partners Oy

Top left: Spectacular views welcome visitors to this modern villa. Top right: The old Wärtsilä loft factory. Photo: Jenny Paalijärvi. Bottom left: A house with an edge.

The house blends in with the dramatic landscape. Bottom right: Architecture working in unison with the elements of nature.

Issue 114 | July 2018 | 93

Scan Magazine | Artist of the Month | Norway

LandSkapt.

Artist of the Month, Norway

Nature through the lens With an impressive portfolio, and acknowledged as one of the most successful Nordic nature photographers, Pål Hermansen is a master at observing and capturing his love of nature through the lens. He is also a pioneer in building bridges between nature and art photography.

By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Pål Hermansen

You may have seen his stunning images published in National Geographic, The Guardian or in BBC Wildlife Magazine. The Norwegian photographer offers a spectacular gallery full of magical moments shot on his many excursions and travels.

Photographic documentation of wildlife has been an interest for Hermansen from a young age, and he has worked as a freelance photographer and writer since 1971. Focusing primarily on nature, documentary and art photography, his passion for landscape and animals has always been at the heart of his work.

Over the years, the photographer has released 35 books, had more than 45 exhibitions all over the world, and received numerous international awards. “While nature photography is concerned with documenting and showcasing how things look, the artistic perspective focuses on 94 | Issue 114 | July 2018

asking questions and stimulating reflection. These are both good qualities when you want to convey a deep-hearted message,” says Hermansen.

Images from the Arctic areas and Africa are an important part of his photography, focusing particularly on climate change and the interaction between man and nature. “I have always been involved in nature and preserving it. I see both here in Scandinavia, but also when I travel, that nature is the most important force we have. It is the basis for everything,” Hermansen explains. “The minimal, untouched landscape of Svalbard or the deep savannah in Africa inspires me, but sometimes the impression given by man in nature can make things more exciting.”

With one of Hermansen’s projects, LandSkapt, the goal was to create an in-

terdisciplinary environment, drawing on both art and nature. Hermansen placed large pictures out in nature, which contributed to the promotion of art in a beautiful forest area in Østfold, Norway. “It is stimulating to see the change between nature and the photos, as the surrounding nature has been constantly changing over the four years they have been there,” Hermansen explains.

In addition to his own projects, Hermansen is also a photographic travel leader in cooperation with Zoom Photographic Expeditions. His last trip with the Swedish tour operator offered both professionals and amateurs the opportunity to experience and photograph polar bears among Svalbard’s icebergs.

“The goal with these trips is to develop and inspire you as a photographer,” Hermansen says. “It is challenging and a fantastic way to observe fascinating wildlife while learning new skills.”

For more information, visit: www.ham-art.se www.palhermansen.com

A boutique hotel where you and your colleagues can sleep, eat, play and work in exciting architectonic buildings by our white sandy beach.

The seafood is harvested on our doorstep, the conference facilities are equipped to meet your wishes. Oh, and did you know there are direct flights from Oslo Airport to the Fosen peninsula twice a day? We promise to give you a stay to remember.

Stokkøya Sjøsenter Troningveien 7, 7178 Stokkøy tlf: 930 27 618/ 72 53 43 28 Org.nr: 988 982 180

Scan Magazine | Artist of the Month | Finland

Installation Among us, 2018.

The Korai are still smiling, 2017.

Artist of the Month, Finland

Empowering womanhood Maria Wolfram is an internationally renowned Finnish artist, in whose work, identity, equality and power are recurring topics. Materiality and an experimental approach, often spiced with humour, are important elements for her.

By Hanna Heiskanen | Photos: Courtesy of the artist

“I am excited by the adventure that begins in my studio and continues in the mind of the viewer,” Wolfram says. She gained her Masters in Fine Arts from Chelsea College of Arts, and has since exhibited installations and paintings around theworld. Today, her work is in collections in cities such as Zurich, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Tel Aviv, Hong Kong and Sydney.

“I get fired up by the fact that history has only partially covered the roles women have played in society since ancient times,” Wolfram says. “It’s common to assume women only took care of the household, because that’s the narrative in our history books. In fact, women have always been active in areas such as politics, trade and art. As long as so many fascinating stories of women remain untold, it’s much harder for girls and women of today to discover role models to help them reach their full potential,” she argues.

96 | Issue 114 | July 2018

Wolfram draws inspiration from folklore, patterns and symbols. Since visiting the Finnish Institute in Athens as artist-in-residence in 2017, she has developed a particular interest in Greek mythology and sculpture. “Meeting people from different cultures and getting to know new visual environments act as a great catalyst once I’m back in my studio in Helsinki,” she explains.

This year, Wolfram has exhibited her work in the United States – an exhibition in Atlanta led to an invitation to show her recent works at the Finnish Embassy in Washington, together with two other Finnish artists. This summer, you can also catch her paintings in an exceptional location: a chapel dedicated to art in Turku, Finland. “The architecture of this beautiful space is very engaging, and I hope my exhibition, Disconnected Connections, will raise interesting questions related to exclusion and inclusion.”

See Maria Wolfram’s art:

Disconnected Connections at the Saint Henry’s Ecumenical Art Chapel, Turku, 1-31 July The Finnish Illusion with Katja Tukiainen and Ilona Cutts at the Finnish Embassy in Washington, 13 June to 26 August Bela Biennale at the Cable Factory in Helsinki, 26 July to 12 August

Web: www.mariawolfram.com Instagram: @mariawolfram One of us is doubting, 2017.

KLANGEN AV NORDEN 03.09 – 09.09

KLANGEN AV NORDEN 03.09 – 09.09

Gloppen Musikkfest byr på konsertar i Trivselshagen, på Nordfjord Folkemuseum, i Heradsstyresalen, på Lauget kaffi & kultur, i Vereide kyrkje, i Sandane sentrum m.m Festivalmusikarar, Unge klassikarar, Distriktsmusikarane i Sogn og Fjordane

Gloppen Musikkfest byr på konsertar i Trivselshagen, på Nordfjord Folkemuseum, i Heradsstyresalen, Lauget kaffi & kultur, Billettar:påwww.trivselshagen.no i Vereide kyrkje, i Sandane sentrum m.m Festivalmusikarar, Unge klassikarar, Distriktsmusikarane i Sogn og Fjordane www.trivselshagen.no Gloppen Musikkfest byr på konsertar iBillettar: Trivselshagen, på Nordfjord Folkemuseum, i Heradsstyresalen, på Lauget kaffi & kultur, i Vereide kyrkje, i Sandane sentrum m.m Festivalmusikarar, Unge klassikarar, Distriktsmusikarane i Sogn og Fjordane GLOPPEN

KOMMUNE Billettar: www.trivselshagen.no G LOPPE N KOM M U N E

www.gloppenmusikkfest.no www.gloppenmusikkfest.no

www.facebook.com/gloppenmusikkfest/ www.facebook.com/gloppenmusikkfest/

Scan Magazine | Gallery of the Month | Norway

Left: Elisabeth Godøy visiting the studio of the artist Tor-Arne Moen in May to pick out art for the exhibition. Top right: Owner Elisabeth Godøy at the gallery opening summer 2018. Photo: Vetle Mikkelsen. Right: Elisabeth Godøy and artist Ingrid Haukelidsæter with paintings currently exhibited.

Gallery of the Month, Norway

A passion for Norwegian art Quality and variety are keywords for Galleri Elisabeth G, located in the charming village of Våge in Tysnes. During the summer months, this popular art gallery has works from many of Norway’s most important artists on display, including paintings, photography, graphics and sculptures.

By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Galleri Elisabeth G

For 36 years, art has been both work and hobby for owner Elisabeth Godøy. It is a passion that flourished while working for two art book publishers in Oslo and, Godøy has, over the years, built up an extensive network of Norwegian contemporary artists. Now she is a dedicated art dealer and showcases their work at her own gallery.

“Quality and variety are important to me when it comes to choosing art. Because of that, I have both old and new artwork from famous, but also lesser known artists on the walls,” says Godøy. She explains that visiting the artists’ studios and learning more about their work helps her to maintain a great relationship with them. The fruit of this dedication and knowledge can be seen not only in 98 | Issue 114 | July 2018

This summer marks the gallery’s 20th year, which was celebrated in June with the opening of a jubilee exhibition. “It was such a great night, we had over 300 guests attending,” Godøy smiles. The gallery will be open for visitors until 19 August.

her impressive art collection but also in the relationship she has with her clients.

Originally from Tysnes, Godøy took the opportunity to dedicate the family-run former grocery store to art when it closed. Gallery Elisabeth G had its first summer exhibition in 1999, which was a great success within the local community. “It all started with a bang. The art in the gallery on the opening night was so popular that I had to travel back to Oslo the next day to stock up the collection,” Godøy says proudly. For the first few years, only a small part of the building was used, but as the gallery’s popularity has grown, so too has the space. Today, the gallery is about 250 square metres and every summer is full of artistic treasures discovered by Godøy.

Opening hours in summer: Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm, Monday closed.

Artists on display at Galleri Elisabeth G include: Hanne Borchgrevink, Frank Brunner, Lars Elling, Alf Ertsland, Håkon Gullvåg, Tore Hansen, Per Kleiva, Tor-Arne Moen, Ørnulf Opdahl, Terje Resell, Frans Widerberg, Nico Widerberg and more.

Web: www.elisabethg.no Facebook: GalleriElisabethG Instagram: @gallerielisabethg

Farm hotel and culinary center creating local and real experiences for you.

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Scan Magazine | Humour |

Columns

IS IT JUST ME…

By Mette Lisby

Who has noticed a new and alarming trend?

I have recently watched a slew of trailers for TV shows, on everything from literature to travel destinations to history, where a host looks into the camera and, in a remarkably cheerful way, boasts that “I’m gonna look closer at this book/location/topic and I know absolutely nothing about it!”

How did this become a selling point? Something to take pride in? A quality in and of itself? Call me old-fashioned, but I’d much prefer to have someone who knows something about the topic telling me about it. If anyone should roam the world in complete and perpetual ignorance, I might as well do it myself, thank you very much. But knowledge and experience have apparently become ‘boring’ and ‘not fresh’. Today’s TV commissioners want someone with a ‘curious’ take. I remember when experts managed to be both experienced and curious – fabulous storytellers who’d invite us into their field of expertise with passion and enthusiasm.

Sir David Attenborough springs to mind. In today’s TV productions, Sir David would be replaced by a fresh-faced 20-somethingyear-old wandering around the Serengeti, at some point meeting a large mammal with the excited outburst: “This could very well be an animal! I have no idea which one! I know nothing about nature!”

Granted, there’s still enthusiasm, but that enthusiasm is reserved exclusively for the “I don’t know anything about it” part – not for the passion of dedicating oneself to actually learning about a topic. You can almost tell that they pitch the host to the TV station with that one quality: “He knows nothing about it!” “That’s clever,” you can see the TV executive squint, with a feeling of security, probably because he knows nothing about it either.

This is me guessing, of course, about the circumstances surrounding the commissions.

To be fair, I don’t know anything about that

Nature

100 | Issue 114 | July 2018

Mette Lisby is Denmark’s leading female comedian. She invites you to laugh along with her monthly humour columns. Since her stand-up debut in 1992, Mette has hosted the Danish version of Have I Got News For You and Room 101.

By Maria Smedstad

to conjure. Not only that, but the toiletbuilding itself was home to several adders.

We donned wellies and stamped through the grass, staring straight ahead so as not to accidentally eyeball a wolf or a moose.

One thing that I really like about Britain is the fact that nature here is not generally out to kill you. That’s not to say there are no dangers, however. But on the whole, the British countryside is mild and tended – sweetly rolling hills, dotted with lambs, lush valleys and well-trodden footpaths (usually with a pub at the end). To a foreigner, Britain really can feel like one big garden.

Nature in Sweden is slightly different.

Our family used to own a summer house in the woods, a rickety old cottage where we would spend our holidays. It was a fantastic place for a kid, although not without its challenges. For example, there was no electricity or running water. Instead, there was a pump in the garden, spewing forth rusty, frog-peppered water, and an outdoor toilet, attached to a small barn across the road. The nearest shop was… actually I have no idea where it was – the woods seemed endless.

specific situation. Which means I’m totally the right person to be talking about it! Hang on… actually that makes me qualified to have my own TV show!

Luckily all beasts remained in the shadows, which was just as well, because one thing that the experience taught me was that trying to tell a venomous adder from a harmless grass snake by torchlight is really not much fun at all.

It should be pointed out that my family was perhaps not the most natural of nature-dwellers. I remember hanging out of the car window, as we randomly cruised down dirt tracks, looking for mushrooms for dinner. Then there were the night-time visits to the loo. The surrounding woods were pitch black and teeming with all the monsters that a child under ten was able

Maria Smedstad moved to the UK from Sweden in 1994. She received a degree in Illustration in 2001, before settling in the capital as a freelance cartoonist, creating the autobiographical cartoon Em. Maria writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.

Sustainable Amethyst Mine rewarded The Mining Company Arctic Amethyst Ltd has been rewarded in the Skül International’s 2017 Sustainable Tourism Awards competition. The Arctic Amethyst Mine won the first prize in the category Major Tourist Attractions.

www.amethystmine.fi www.ametistikaivos.fi www.facebook.com/amethystmine www.facebook.com/ametistikaivos

Scan Magazine | Culture Feature | Kunstverket

Kunstverket Galleri façade.

Photo: Trond Isaksen

Sverre Malling, working with Norwegian Muskox on litographic stone, June 2018. Photo: Herman Dreyer Arne Bendik Sjur, Rembrandt’s father.

Drypoint 2017 8x7cm

Showcasing the voluminous poetry of printmaking In the historic area of Kvadraturen, right in the heart of Oslo’s art district, is a pioneering gallery with a contagious passion for preserving Norway’s printmaking heritage and promoting the craft in a modern art world.

By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Kunstverket

“Nordic printmaking as a tradition started when Edvard Munch (1863-1944) experimented with graphic art as a contemporary medium in the 1890s. Building on these traditions, Nordic artists have evolved the craft, common influences being melancholy and a strong connection to the characteristic nature of the Nordic regions,” says Petter U. Morken. He is the director of Kunstverket Galleri in Oslo, one of the leading privately owned galleries for prints and fine art on paper in the Nordic region, which showcases what they regard to be the foremost graphic artists from the region.

Opening later this summer, the exhibition Printing in the Infernal Method demonstrates artistic craftsmanship and the various processes involved in mak102 | Issue 114 | July 2018

ing high-quality graphic art, and will, for the first time, present prints by two of Norway’s foremost artistic drawers: Sverre Malling (born 1977) and his mentor Arne Bendik Sjur (born 1941). The exhibition is complemented by two legends in Nordic artistic drawing and printmaking: Swedish artist Roj Friberg (19342016) and the Norwegian-Danish artist Louis Moe (1857-1945).

“I try to add new content to established genres, creating a certain energy that arises between the polar opposites of the old and the new,” says Sverre Malling, who has recently been working with the traditional technique of lithography and describes a desire to get away from the modern, mechanical commodity production. “An original print is a

work of art created by hand and printed by hand. It’s all about attention to detail and process – each print pulled off the press is a remarkable and rewarding experience,” he says.

Morken agrees: “The alternatives to the older techniques can’t compete with the rich and tactile qualities that come from producing prints using techniques such as etchings, mezzotints, dry points, lithography and woodcuts. The sheer time aspect – how long it takes for an artist to make a high-quality print – combined with the high level of expertise required to master the techniques, all contributes to the final result.”

Exhibition: Printing in the Infernal Method Kunstverket Galleri, 30 Aug to 23 Sep Artists: Sverre Malling, Arne Bendik Sjur, Roj Friberg, Louis Moe Web: www.kunstverket.no

An overnight experience out of the ordinary With a restaurant, a brewery, a farm shop and hotel rooms, Klostergården Tautra is located on an island right by a Cistercian monastery in Trøndelag, Norway.

KLOSTERGÅRDEN TAUTRA 7633 Frostra post@klostergardentautra.no www.klostergardentautra.no

Scan Magazine | Culture | Music

Scandinavian music Proving that the a-happle never falls too far from the tree, Norway has got itself its next big international pop prospect in the form of Tomine Harket. Daughter of Norwegian pop legend Morten, Tomine is out with Breathing Better. Not a million miles away in sound or style from that of two other Norwegian girls who have been doing well around the rest of the world – Sigrid and Astrid S – Breathing Better is a self-love anthem that should resonate with many, thanks to its perfectly palatable pop melody.

Finland’s Jenni Vartiainen is back with a brand new single, Voulez Vous. It is neither in French nor English, as it happens, but do not let a lack of grasp on the Finnish language halt your enjoyment of this banging tune. With Voulez Vous, Jenni becomes to Finland sort of what Medina is to Denmark. Namely, the unofficial Queen of club land!

Thank You For The Rain, production still. Photo: Julie Lillesæter © Banyak Films & Differ Media 2017

104 | Issue 114 | July 2018

By Karl Batterbee

Without a doubt, my favourite song of the summer is Loafers from Sweden’s Peg Parnevik (whose family are famous for having their own reality TV show – though think more along the lines of the Osbournes than the Kardashians).

Loafers is all about Peg putting up with a problematic, socially ignorant guy because he happens to be, well, more talented in other areas, shall we say.

Finally, a catchy dance-pop track that on the surface feels novelty, but lyrically celebrates a modern, inclusive and welcoming Sweden, has been adopted by the nation as the soundtrack to their FIFA World Cup journey this summer. Put Your Hands Up För Sverige by Samir & Viktor (a Love Island contestant and a former fashion blogger) has spent much of the past couple of months at number one in Sweden, usually climbing back to the top-spot on the charts after a football win

or a midsommar weekend. Less ‘three lions on the shirt’ and more ‘two chancers on the lash’, a listen to this song will give you a fairly good insight into just how much alcohol has been consumed in Sweden during this year’s heatwave. www.scandipop.co.uk scandipop@gmail.com

Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar

Pstereo Festival. Photo: Kristoffer Øen

Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here!

Music We’d Like To Hear (13 July) Music We’d Like To Hear is a concert series, which presents music that is new, unknown, neglected or revived. Its July concert presents pieces by Laura Steenberge from Los Angeles, as well as the UK premiere of Music For Boxes,

by Norwegian composer Gyrid Nordal Kaldestad, described by the curators as “an arresting sonic environment”.

7.30pm, St Mary-At-Hill, Lovat Lane, London EC3R 8EE, UK. www.musicwedliketohear.com

Simona Abdallah (14 July) Arts Canteen and Liverpool Arab Arts Festival present an evening of classics

By Sanne Wass

and fusion, with renowned percussionist Simona Abdallah. Born to Palestinian parents, Abdallah grew up in Aarhus, Denmark, where she developed her musical style – a fusion of ancestral Arabic rhythms with house, electronica and world music. Abdallah plays Arabic percussion, primarily the darbuka. 8pm, The Courtyard, 40 Pitfield Street, London N1 6EU, UK. www.arabartsfestival.com

the exhibition forms part of the Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art, which, under the headline ‘Beautiful World, Where Are You?’, invites artists and audiences to reflect on a world in social, political and economic turmoil. Danish artist Heidi Maribut will be present at the exhibition with her installation IMPORT IN(CHOIR)Y. Liverpool John Moores University, 2 Duckinfield Street, Liverpool L3 5RD, UK. www.newcontemporaries.org.uk

Bloomberg New Contemporaries (14 July – 9 September)

Troubled Horse (22 July)

Since 1949, New Contemporaries has provided a platform for new and recent fine art graduates. Once again this year,

Straight out of Örebro, Sweden, Troubled Horse have, in their own words, “been banging heads and crushing bones since 2003”. The four-man heavy-rock Issue 114 | July 2018 | 105

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Denmark

promises lots of big stars and hot newcomers, film premieres, challenging conversations, great vegetarian food and a robust club programme. This year’s line-up includes Kendrick Lamar, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire and Grizzly Bear. Slottskogen, Slottskogspromenaden, Gothenburg, Sweden. www.wayoutwest.se

Pstereo festival (16 – 18 August)

Simona Abdallah.

Press photo

The Pstereo festival is a highlight of Trondheim’s summer. Norway’s third largest city, Trondheim has a large and active student population, which has helped make the city renowned for music, culture and community. Over three days in August, the festival will showcase up-and-coming bands, as well as classic headliners, including Scandinavian stars such as Sigrid, Cezinando, Gåte and Thåstrøm, and international names like Tom Odell, Mogwai and Kraftwerk.

Marinen, 7013 Trondheim, Norway. www.pstereo.no

Weekend Festival (17 – 19 August) Weekend Festival is an electronic and urban music festival in Helsinki, Finland, which offers an opportunity for all-out partying on Hietaniemi beach, with a line-up of the biggest names in dance music. Headliners this year include Axwell /\ Ingrosso, David Guetta, Hardwell and Macklemore. Hietaniemi Beach, Helsinki, Finland. www.wknd.fi

Animals & Us (until 30 September) This summer, Turner Contemporary in Kent is exhibiting artwork by a range of contemporary and 20th century artists who reflect on the relationship between humans and other animals. Featured in the exhibition is Museum of Nonhumanity by Finnish author Laura Gustafsson and visual artist Terike Haapoja, an artwork that was awarded a national media art prize in Finland in 2016. Rendezvous, Margate, Kent CT9 1HG, UK. www.turnercontemporary.org

band will come to London in July for an evening of garage-driven energy, inspired by the ‘60s and ‘70s rock era. 7pm, The Underworld, Camden, 174 Camden High Street, London NW1 0NE, UK. www.desertscene.co.uk

Thank You For The Rain film screening (2 August) A group of East Londoners present an evening screening and discussion of the award-winning Thank You For The Rain. Directed by Norwegian filmmaker Julia Dahr, the feature documentary tells the inspirational story of Kisilu Musya, a Kenyan farmer, and his fight at the frontline of climate change over the course of five years. 7.30pm, Poplar Union, 2 Cotall Street, London E14 6TL, UK. www.poplarunion.com

Way Out West Festival (9 – 11 August) Way Out West is a music and film festival in one. Taking place in Gothenburg, Sweden, the three-day programme 106 | Issue 114 | July 2018

Museum of Nonhumanity. Photo: Terike Haapoja

l i t n e m m o k Vel Grimstad & Apotekergaarden Sommeren i Grimstad er blant landets beste, og på Apotekergaarden får du oppleve unike mat-, drikke- og underholdningsopplevelser.

Vi kan by på lokal, digg mat, som blant annet Norges mest kortreiste burger, med kjøtt fra Østre Fjære Gård. Masse god drikke har vi også, vi serverer egetbrygget øl, og vi er en offisiell Grimstad Bruskompis. Vi har også nylig giftet oss med Nøgne Ø, og vi kunne ikke vært lykkeligere!

SOMMERSHOW Sommershowet i bakgården har vi hatt i mange år, og i sommer kan vi by på stor underholdning med Jon Niklas Rønning og showet "Jeg reiser alene", velkommen!

Schackenborg craft beer is an homage to Schackenborg Castle.

With its beautiful exterior, historical treasures and labyrinthine nooks and crannies, the castle is a living, breathing place shaped by international influences and proud traditions.

Schackenborg craft beer is brewed from carefully malted barley with added hops. The beers have in common a gorgeous golden colour and a rich, full-bodied taste. The Schackenborg craft beer series enables us to offer you an exclusive and varied assortment with something for every occasion – including fine dining. The two different types of bottles pave the way for both big and small experiences, and the 75cl bottles in particular can replace a good red wine as a dinner companion.

The beers are brewed according to recipes steeped in tradition from De 5 Gaarde and in particularly from Schackenborg, each with its own distinctive flavours. The series’ aesthetic expression is inspired by Schackenborg Castle: the stucco from the Winter Dining Room served as inspiration for the labels, while the slanted font is taken from the ceiling beams where owners, craftsmen and servants have carved their names into throughout the ages.

Schackenborg Classic Pilsner 5.5% 33cl | Schackenborg Red Lager 5.6% 33cl | Schackenborg Dark Lager 6.0% 33cl Schackenborg Double Bock 8,5% 75cl | Schackenborg Imperial Stout 10% 75cl

F I N D O U T A N D R E A D M O R E AT W W W. D E 5 G A A R D E . D K

De 5 Gaarde Havnen 1 8700 Horsens Danmark +45 4282 0999