OCTOBER 2018 ISSUE 117 PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA
TOMINE HARKET: A-HA AND AUTHENTICITY OUR ANNUAL NORDIC ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN SPECIAL CULTURE IN NORWAY – OUR PICKS EXPLORING DANISH ROBOT TECHNOLOGY
jacobsli school norway www.nova5.dk
Scan Magazine | Contents
Contents COVER FEATURE 24
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Tomine Harket – Being Real and Breathing Better She may have grown up surrounded by fame, being the daughter of a-ha frontman Morten Harket, but Tomine Harket is not interested in a free ride. Scan Magazine spoke to the Norwegian songstress about authenticity, guest performing on Alan Walker’s Darkside, and that Norwegian sound.
Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden From socially conscious urban development to sustainable design and carbon-positive builds, Swedish architects certainly know a thing or two about forward-thinking innovation. Now the world is watching – and so are we.
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24 32
Nordic Architecture & Design – Finland How could we leave out the homeland of Alvar Aalto? We spoke to believers in both floating solutions and functional housing. Turns out Finland’s architecture game is still strong.
DESIGN 8
Retro Styles and Sports Legends We go all in for autumn with retro fashion and autumnal hues, in addition to exploring a Swedish sports legend and finding out about the Danish brand that is changing hotel stays forever.
SPECIAL FEATURES 21
Food, Sports and Architecture
Our special features this month look at ways to enjoy great food in relaxing, welcoming environments, an upper-secondary school for sports enthusiasts, and of course the Nordic nominees at this year’s World Architecture Festival.
SPECIAL THEMES 30
Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark Home to who is arguably Scandinavia’s currently best regarded architect, Bjarke Ingels, Denmark boasts a proud tradition of innovative architecture. We spoke to some of the firms that are making waves both at home and abroad.
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Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway With an architectonically renowned opera house and more than a few challenging briefs when it comes to the preservation of cultural heritage in natural settings, Norway is perhaps more powerful on the architecture scene than many are aware. Here are some of the firms to keep an eye on.
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Culture in Norway Start your trip in Vestfold, with the passionately curated and always well-executed Vestfold Literature Festival, and stay in Norway for a trip to the National Gallery, a lesson or two about the country’s musical history, and perhaps an art class in the peaceful countryside.
112 Danish Robot Technology Robots are only going to become a more important part of our world as the years go by, so you might as well pay attention now. We spoke to three of the Danish businesses that have a finger on the pulse in this exact regard.
BUSINESS 111 Think Small – Compete Big The always fascinating Nils Elmark looks to Danish dairy cooperatives and ponders how small businesses can take on Silicon Valley, while columnist Steve Flinders takes a more tongue-incheek approach to advising on how to manage nerds.
CULTURE 127 Mamma Mia, What an Autumn As always, we know where to go and what to see for the very best of Nordic culture in the UK and beyond. Karl Batterbee, meanwhile, is still lost in ABBA land…
REGULARS & COLUMNS 8 Fashion Diary | 10 We Love This | 116 Conference of the Month 119 Restaurants of the Month | 122 Artists of the Month | 126 Humour
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THERE IS NO PLANET B. The Humble Co. makes products that are good for you, the environment and children in need of oral care. Our family of products, all developed by dentists, consists of biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes and natural toothpaste. A small change can have a big impact and we’re here to take on plastic oral care products. MAKE THE SWITCH. GO HUMBLE. IT MATTERS.
Designed in Sweden
The Humble Co. info@thehumble.co www.thehumble.co thehumble.co
Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note
Dear Reader, The Scandinavian countries are renowned for keen environmentalism, a deeply rooted social democratic consciousness, and simple functionalist design. Merge the three qualities, and you get an architecture and design scene that is not just thriving, but contributing to positive social change, improved integration and a responsible approach to environmental awareness. It is not for nothing that our annual architecture special is typically one of the biggest Scan Magazine issues each year. This year, like every year, we present a cross-Nordic architecture and design special, with thoughts and input from some of the central figures currently making waves in the industry, as well as spotlights on some of the projects that are short-listed in this year’s World Architecture Festival awards competition. Expect ground-breaking material approaches, culturally sensitive designs and radical proposals for spaces that can transform our societies and lives. For me, few things are as surprisingly inspiring as conversations with architects. I hope, as you read on, you will understand what I mean.
I hope, moreover, that you will agree that this issue of Scan Magazine boasts plenty more to inspire: how about charming cultural highlights from Norway, fascinating robot technology from Denmark, and a chat with none other than Tomine Harket, Norwegian songstress extraordinaire as well as authenticity buff and daughter of a-ha’s Morten Harket? It has been a, in some ways, dark and uncertain start to this autumn in Scandinavia, but at the time of signing off this issue, I am feeling hopeful.
Linnea Dunne, Editor
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Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
Fashion Diary… This autumn, we suggest looking back at one of the most revisited decades in fashion history: the 1970s. Mix modern, minimal pieces with items inspired by this popular period for a glamorous vintage vibe. These large cat-eye sunglasses in pastel green are the perfect nod back to the ‘70s. Available in a range of different colours, these will keep you looking cool on sunny autumn days. Acne Studios, ‘Ingrid’ cat-eye sunglasses, £250 www.acnestudios.com
By Ingrid Opstad | Press photos
Do not be afraid to mix patterns and a retro colour palette for a funky look. This oversized, two-coloured mohairwool blend sweater and cute polka-dot mini skirt, both from Custommade, are the perfect match. Wear a pair of cool glitter boots to add some groove to your everyday outfit. Custommade, ‘Malu’ sweater, £189 Custommade, ‘Anne-Me’ mini skirt, £95 Custommade, ‘Addie’ glitter cowboy boots, £270 www.custommade.dk
Plaid is a big trend this season, and this short and oversized cocoon coat from Acne Studios is giving us all the nostalgic feels. Perfect to layer over a cute dress or paired with trendy trousers or jeans, and a great way to keep warm and cosy throughout the colder seasons. Acne Studios, short cocoon coat, £800 www.acnestudios.com
Another big trend, currently, is corduroy: so why not opt for flared corduroy trousers this autumn? With a high-waisted silhouette and front pockets, this dark wine pair has the right vintage look. & Other Stories, flared corduroy trousers, £69 www.stories.com
8 | Issue 117 | October 2018
Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
As time has passed, the denim shirt has evolved into a modern classic and a great staple in any wardrobe. Cut from a densely woven indigo dyed structure and stripped of unnecessary details, this version, from Asket, gives a minimal ‘70s-inspired touch. Whether you wear it on its own, layered or as an over-shirt, it is always a reliable option. Asket, denim shirt, £85 www.asket.com
The ultimate autumn-winter companions, regardless of personal style, are this generously sized scarf woven from the finest cashmere-merino wool blend and this smart sweater by Asket. With the luxurious warmth from the merino and an incomparable softness from the cashmere, you will stay both warm and fashionable. Asket, merino-cashmere scarf, £50 Asket, merino sweater £85 www.asket.com
This Filippa K version of the classic pilot jacket comes in a dry wax-coated twill fabric that provides water resistance, which is perfect for the wet season. It is designed with a detachable faux fur collar and the inside is fully lined and padded for optimal warmth and comfort. Filippa K, ‘Joe’ jacket beluga, £300 www.filippa-k.com
Berg&Berg creates products based on the foundations of classic style, but from a modern, Nordic point of view. Handmade in Italy, this tie, crafted from a woven silk fabric, features hand-rolled edges for a light and airy feel. The vintage colours bring nostalgia and add that little extra something to your outfit. Berg&Berg, hand-rolled repp tie, £81 www.bergbergstore.com
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 9
Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This
We love this… As the days are getting colder and autumn is moving in, what better way to embrace the change of season than to add a few cosy elements to your home? Here is a selection to get you in the ‘hygge’ mood. By Ingrid Opstad | Press photos
When autumn sets in, you inevitably need a blanket for those cosy evenings at home. This soft wool blanket from Langø will take your thoughts to a secluded skiing cabin by the mountains, with its beautiful Nordic knitted pattern. A timeless product you will cherish for years to come. Langø wool blanket, approx £151 www.lango-home.com
The Beetle lounge chair from Gubi is with its comfortable design and generously proportioned silhouette, the perfect lounge chair for relaxation. It bares resemblance to the six-legged insect, the beetle, through its shape, shells, sutures, rigid outside and soft inside. The chair is available in a wide range of upholstery options to suit your interior, but we think this version in Dedar Manifesto Futurista, with a brass base and its autumnal look, will be a great choice this season. Gubi, ‘Beetle’ lounge chair in Dedar Manifesto Futurista, £3,659 www.gubi.com
Is there anything better than snuggling up with a hot cup of coffee? We love the look of this cute Moomin medium-roast autumn coffee, and we reckon it will look great on your kitchen counter too. The smooth, aromatic medium-roast coffee blend is made from selected South American and Asian coffee beans and is a part of their coffee series of four flavours that take you through the different seasons. Paulig Moomin medium-roast autumn coffee, £7.12 www.moomin.com
Inspired by the Nordic light, bring that unique feeling indoors with this beautiful Anoli 3 pendant lamp. The Anoli collection by Nuura has a simple expression and consists of mouth-blown, droplet-shaped glass handprinted in a delicate, warm golden colour. This sophisticated pendant creates a lovely ‘hygge’ mood in your home. Nuura, ‘Anoli 3’ pendant lamp, £899 www.nuura.com
Kuppi is a well-proportioned cup by the Norwegian brand Odd Standard, perfect for any cosy moment. Suitable for black coffee or any other comforting beverages, this handmade cup comes in a variety of clays and glazes. As this is an item made to order, you will be contacted to discuss clay and glaze options. Production time is six to nine weeks. Odd Standard ‘Kuppi’ cup, approx £22 www.oddstandard.no
10 | Issue 117 | October 2018
C O P E N H AG E N
18 th OCT. EDtITION 24 h 2018 28 th
GRE AT URBAN, DELTA , SOUL & JAZZ BLUES BLUES FILM: “SIDEMEN – LONG WAY TO GLORY” · NELLIE “TIGER” TRAVIS & THE TOP DOGS [US/S] · WAYNE BAKER BROOKS [US] · NICK MOSS BAND [US] MS NICKKI & THE MEMPHIS SOUL CONNECTION [US/F] · KAI STRAUSS & THE ELECTRIC BLUES ALLSTARS [D] · BILLY CROSS · TROELS JENSEN · FRIED OKRA MIRIAM MANDIPIRA · KJELD LAURITSEN · THE BLUES OVERDRIVE · TRAINMAN BLUES · TROUBLE CATS · COPENHAGEN SLIM · RISAGER & BALSGAARD · ROBERT JOHNSON TRIBUTE · MANY MORE · PAUL BANKS · J.TEX & THE VOLUNTEERS SAHRA DA SILVA & ALAIN APALOO · NIELS HP and much more ... See full programme, venue and ticket information: www.copenhagenbluesfestival.dk
www.klippanyllefabrik.com
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Salming
Handball athlete and team captain of SG Flensburg Handewitt, Tobias Karlsson and the Salming Hawk.
Legendary performance Börje Salming’s name is already engraved in Swedish history as one of the country’s all-time greatest athletes, a man who achieved legendary success on a global level. The sports performance brand that he founded, and which bears his name, aims for no less. By Liz Longden | Photos: Superstudio
An unconventional trailblazer, born and raised in the rugged beauty of Lapland. A proud athlete of Sami descent, who went on to become one of the NHL’s greatest ever players. A man famed for his strength, his hardiness, and his unswerving desire to continually develop and improve. There are many things that can be said about Börje Salming, the Swedish ice-hockey legend who helped pave the way for future European players in North America. Some people would settle simply for the word ‘legend’. The same striving for excellence without compromise, which hallmarked 12 | Issue 117 | October 2018
ative director. “His attitude was to always give 100 per cent, whether it was a match or just training, and his willpower and fighting spirit is the core around which we build everything we do.”
State-of-the-art innovation Salming’s sporting career, also characterises the brand he founded in 1991. Since 2001, Salming Sports has gone on to establish itself as a leading producer of sports footwear, clothing and equipment in the disciplines of running, floorball, handball, squash, badminton and volleyball. Major markets are Sweden, Norway, France, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, with sister companies operating in Germany and in the US and Canada. “The values of the Salming brand are an extension of Börje Salming’s personality, both on and off the ice,” explains Thomas Nord, Salming’s head of design and cre-
Over 50 per cent of Salming’s turnover comes from footwear, where the company has earned the reputation as an innovator, picking up numerous design awards over the years. Most recently, the yet-to-bereleased Salming iSpike took the gold winner award for Best Product in the category ‘Health and Fitness — Trailrunning Shoes’ at the 2018 ISPO Awards. Developed in collaboration with the Italian rubber outsole specialists Vibram, the state-of-the-art winter running shoe distinguishes itself with its ultra-lightweight, high-performance gripping outsole with spikes, which makes safe and enjoyable running possible in icy conditions.
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Salming
Salming has also picked up two nominations for Svenska Designpriset (‘Swedish design prize’), including in the category ‘Product Design’, for the Salming Hawk shoe, which was launched in tandem with the handball Velux EHF Champions League finals last spring. The Hawk shoe employs technology inspired by hiking shoes to create a rollbar and smooth contoured edge, ensuring greater contact with the surface, along with Salmings ‘Recoil’ energy return foam, which improves athletes’ gait cycle. Other design features promote better shock absorption and greater stability, not to mention improved durability. For Nord, this relentless investment in design innovation is a natural and intrinsic part of the company’s philosophy. “Salming is a sports performance brand, so innovation and continuous development are central to our survival,” he says.
International player This reputation for excellence in innovation, coupled with the company’s growing global presence, made Salming an obvious choice as official partner for the European Handball Federation’s (EHF) Champions League, Women’s Champions League and both the men’s and women’s European Championships. Handball is already well-established as one of Europe’s most popular sports, and interest in pan-continental tournaments at both club and country level is increasing year-on-year, with an average of ten broadcasters covering each group phase match in last year’s Champions League and, for example, record viewing figures in France. This year’s competition will continue to develop and increase the sport’s profile, with the first ever UHD production and broadcast. Salming will be at the heart of this
sporting celebration, as official provider of shoes and clothing. In terms of its wider growth strategy, Nord explains that Salming is now preparing for ‘phase two’ of its development, to consolidate its market position within its specialist disciplines. Nevertheless, its ethos, he stresses, will continue to be built around the values instilled by Börje Salming. “Our unique background is rooted in Norrland heritage and a culture of iron willpower and perseverance, which permeates everything we do, from how we develop our products to how we bring them to market,” he says. “Our products are made for physically active people who appreciate transparency and honesty and for whom Salming is a conscious choice. It is as simple as that. Our slogan says it all: ‘no nonsense products for no nonsense people™’.” Web: www.salming.com
Salming head of design and creative director, Thomas Nord.
Photo: EHF / Heimken, Hocevar, Lämmerhirt, Stadler.
Salming clothing and footwear is designed to maximise athletic performance.
The IPSO Gold Winner Award - Salming iSpike.
Triathlon legend Mark Allen has been a Salming ambassador since 2015.
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 13
The secret to healthy skin, from the forest With the autumn and winter months approaching, give your skin some love with organic skincare brand BARR. Its award-winning products are made from natural ingredients, for healthy and beautiful skin. By Malin Norman | Photos: BARR
Based in Strömsund in the region of Jämtland, up-and-coming Swedish beauty brand BARR makes exclusive organic skincare products from natural ingredients. Inspired by nature and developed to carefully help improve skin health, the products are made from 14 | Issue 117 | October 2018
and his wife started their own organic beauty brand in 2015 and decided to name it BARR, which is Swedish and means coniferous.
Soul of Scandinavia the brand’s own recipes and only highquality organic ingredients are used. “Here in Strömsund, we live in the middle of the countryside,” says co-founder Rikard Andersson. With coniferous forest just around the corner, Andersson
“It all started with love and focus when we had our son,” continues Andersson. “As parents, we became more aware of the products we used and only wanted the best for our baby. A lot of products have strange ingredients, some of them are even harmful, and we wanted to find
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | BARR
an alternative. We decided to try and make toxin-free products ourselves.”
is rich and works really well on dry skin, without being sticky.”
All BARR’s products are 100 per cent natural and include a high degree of organic ingredients. “We want to provide products that everyone feels are safe to use and can trust quality-wise. And we want to give a sense of Sweden and Scandinavia, through our design and our products.”
In only a couple of years, Snow Oil has won a number of prominent awards. For instance, it was named Best New Natural Product in the Pure Beauty Awards 2017 in the UK. “This was almost a bit unreal,” admits Andersson. “We were really surprised to win this award as an up-and-coming brand, and of course we are incredibly proud of the achievement.” Snow Oil also won in the category Best Body Oil in the Swedish Organic Beauty Awards 2017, and was named Best Body Oil at Beauty Shortlist Mama&Baby 2018 in the UK.
In less than three years, BARR has won several prominent awards that demonstrate the brand’s high quality and excellent products. BARR’s very first product was baby oil, launched less than three years ago. As proof of its success, the baby oil was recently awarded bronze in the category Baby & Child at the Green Parents Natural Beauty Awards 2018 in the UK.
Award-winning Snow Oil The brand’s bestseller so far is Snow Oil, a body oil made especially for skin that needs extra nutrition and moisture. It also has a softening and calming effect, and is claimed to improve texture and tone. Andersson confirms: “The oil
The praise also carries through to magazines, where Snow Oil was named Best Swedish Skincare Product 2017 by Aftonbladet’s beauty editors, with the endorsement: “Swedish organic skincare at its best. Clean, fragrant and moisturising.”
Scents from the forest Also popular is the Secret Forest Face Oil, a luxurious oil with a high level of vi-
tamins and anti-oxidants claimed to prevent wrinkles and free radicals, and with a fragrance from the depths of the forest. This oil is ideal for all ages, for dry skin, and for unbalanced and stressed skin. Andersson confirms that BARR is broadening its range at a steady pace, most recently with multivitamin facial cream, which is already a favourite for many customers. This cream is a combined day and night cream, which improves elasticity for healthier skin. Another new product is the multivitamin face mask, a nourishing facial mask that is deep cleansing and smoothes and balances the skin. As expressed by one customer on Instagram, “It’s cleansing and refreshing with everything your skin needs”. BARR’s range of products is available at selected retailers, including Whole Foods Market UK, as well as in their web shop.
Web: www.barrsweden.com Facebook: barrsweden Instagram: @barrsweden
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 15
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | YouBed
A game changer for sleeping comfortably in hotels Swedish company YouBed is reinventing the sleeping experience. Its innovative hotel bed mattresses with adjustable firmness are causing quite a stir in the hotel world, and enabling more and more guests to get set for a good night’s sleep.
ented bed solves this problem and helps hotel chains to operate and compete more successfully by raising their service standard,” confirms Sörensen.
By Malin Norman | Photos: YouBed
Based around the idea that the perfect bed will improve quality of life, YouBed was launched in 2014. With the world’s first adaptable pocket spring bed, the company has quickly become an attractive partner in the hotel industry. “We have come up with a practical solution to the most central problem for hotels: the ability to provide a comfortable bed to guests with individual comfort preferences,” says CEO of YouBed, Mattias Sörensen, and continues: “Our inno16 | Issue 117 | October 2018
vation has the potential to completely change the hotel industry.”
Increased guest satisfaction According to a number of surveys on hotel experience and customer satisfaction, a good night’s sleep is highly valued by hotel guests and a comfortable bed is crucial. However, the challenge for hotels is that guests have different preferences, some want a firm bed whilst others want a soft one. “Our pat-
Whether guests prefer a soft or a firm bed, YouBed will always adapt to their personal preferences – regardless of height, weight, body shape or sleeping position. YouBed’s pocket spring bed is easily adjusted with a hand control and guests can fine tune the degree of firmness or softness, in both the shoulder and hip area, for ultimate comfort. For the hotels that have already introduced the bed, their ‘net promoter score’ in customer satisfaction has in-
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | YouBed
Mattias Sörensen, CEO of YouBed
creased by around 14 per cent. “This level of improvement is usually unheard of,” assures Sörensen. “It illustrates how important it is to have a comfortable bed and, according to a number of surveys, guests are actually prepared to change their preferred hotel for another with a room that offers the YouBed.”
Supported by Team Sweden The innovation has quickly become a success, with hotel chains such as Mövenpick now offering rooms with guaranteed bed comfort in their European hotels. YouBed has also been identified by Business Sweden (The Swedish Trade & Invest Council) as a prioritised trade interest. This means that the company gets support in finding the most suitable hotel brands to introduce the innovation in the global industry.
According to Sörensen, the industry needs local presence and infrastructure, and Business Sweden, with its wide network, provides necessary knowledge and understanding. He is proud of the support and elaborates on the successful global launch: “We have established the brand in Europe as well as Singapore, India and United Arab Emirates. Our product has received fantastic feedback so far and we are planning further expansion, with the support of Team Sweden.” YouBed headoffice and showroom: Barnhusgatan 22, Stockholm
Web: www.youbed.com Facebook: youbed.se Instagram: @youbed_hotelbeds
According to recent surveys on hotel guest satisfaction: “Nine out of ten hoteliers think guests will expect their stay to be personalised by 2020.” – Grant Thornton 2016 “A comfortable bed is the most requested item by hotel guests on all levels” and “one out of three guests would be willing to pay extra for a more comfortable bed”. – Gallup 2016 “Only 18 per cent find hotel beds as comfortable as their bed at home, and almost 50 per cent find the hotel bed either too firm (21 per cent) or too soft (27 per cent).” – WHR 2001
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 17
Soundwave Swell by Teppo Asikainen (acoustic wall panel). Lucy sofa by Lucy Kurrein (on the sofa). Photo: Jonas Anhede.
Furniture with a mission In a time where being environmentally conscious is more important than ever, it is impressive that Offecct has actually been thinking like this for almost 30 years. This thinking has become so important for the continually expanding company, that it has grown into its own philosophy, Offecct Lifecircle, where the driving force is to provide for the customer while at the same time creating sustainably through leading design. By Hanna Andersson
Offecct was founded in the early 1990s by Anders Englund and Kurt Tingdal and it is the company’s passion for sustainable design that has had the biggest impact on their focus ever since. “Our philosophy is clear. We develop and produce leading design, and our mission and motivation are for Offecct’s design to stimulate people to meet and communicate within a sustainable environment. The product’s quality, how it’s made, what material we will use, and its life beyond the initial use, is all discussed and decided in the early design 18 | Issue 117 | October 2018
process,” says communications manager Katarina Fellbrant. Offecct is still based in Tibro, where it was first founded. Tibro is a small Swedish town located between the country’s biggest lakes, Vänern and Vättern, and the Offecct original design collection is still developed and produced there. However, this will not stop them from expanding internationally. “We are working with an increasing amount of international clients and designers. This generation is more environmentally aware than pre-
vious ones, and Offecct’s concepts and offerings can help lead the way for this movement.” Fellbrant says. The firm’s headquarters have grown throughout 2018 and today have 20,000 square metres of production, guranteeing deliveries worldwide. The team behind Offecct is a group of creative minds that want to develop good, biological, long lasting, and environmentally friendly products. “All our designers are working towards the same goal − to help create a sustainable future − and it starts as soon as they put pen to paper. We only work with people who are equally passionate about this. Our staff is also trained to know about how we impact the environment and how we can make a difference in this respect,” says Fellbrant.
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Offecct
Jin chair by Jin Kuramoto in superstrong and light flaxfibre. Photo: Thomas Harrysson.
Offecct R&D – investments into a sustainable future. “We have a few projects where we work on how we can create a sustainable future. We have a special department called Offecct Lab, where we work with designers and creatives to plan options for the future: what material to use and technical solutions, for example. It is about the day after tomorrow: creativity in the long run.” Offecct want to use as little of the Earth’s resources as possible, and wish to leave behind products that do not affect future generations. “What will happen to the furniture in its ‘afterlife’? How can we develop products that are easy to recycle and reuse? We work really hard and make strategic investments,” says Fellbrant.
One Offecct design which started as a research project and then became reality is the Jin Chair, designed and created by Jin Kuramoto. The chair has gained a lot of attention, and won a few prizes, most recently the Editor’s Choice in Stockholm’s 2018 Furniture & Light Fair. The chair is made of thin layers of flax fibres on top of each other, which create a shell around a core of air. It is strong, super light, and 100 per cent biological. “It is beautiful and well thought through. We are proud to stand behind this product and the collaboration with Jin Kuramoto, who is an excellent designer.” Offecct’s view on the world, and its desire to ensure a sustainable future, is what keeps the company going. For
Soundwave Pix by Jean Marie Massaud (acoustic wall panel). Kali table by Jasper Morrison and Bop chair by Knudsen Berg Hindenes. Photo: Mathias Johansson.
Offecct, sustainability is not a trend, it is a full lifestyle. Fellbrant concludes: “Our owners have, and always have had, a clear vision: if we want to make a difference, we have to give it 100 per cent. This is our way to contribute.” Offecct is since 2017 a part of the Flokk Group, an international group focusing on sustainable design and development of soft seating and furniture for work places.
Web: www.offecct.com Facebook: offecct Twitter: @offecct Instagram: @offecctofficial
Soundwave Botanic acoustic panel by Mario Ruiz. Table and charis; Offecct conference setting. Photo: Mathias Johansson.
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 19
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Dundas Footwear
Traditional craft for modern lives In an era where most companies are all about thinking new, Liam Edward Rode-Hæhre and Helge Mamen started thinking old, and created high-quality shoes inspired by old design and handcraft.
a difference. The brand is our own rollercoaster ride and there is no higher praise than a happy customer,” Mamen says.
By Synne Johnsson | Photos: Dundas Footwear
“We put all our passions and dreams into Dundas. We embrace history, like the leather jacket my grandfather used when he helped Jews escape the Nazis in World War II. In the ‘70s, my father started wearing it, and in the ‘90s, it was my turn. Now it’s all worn out, and our recreation of it is supposed to last a few more generations. It’s about our interest in conveying history and making it relevant for the future. And to make it personal,” he smiles.
It started in a downtown garage in Oslo, surrounded by sports cars from the ‘60s, during a discussion on the topic of real versus perceived quality. “There is a special quality in, for example, an old Porsche or Alfa Romeo. A new car might be faster, safer, more comfortable and easier to maintain, but the older cars make you connect and fall in love. It gets personal. We wanted to create something personal too, a pair of boots that become like old friends,” Mamen says. This was the start of an incredible journey through history and handcraft. They found a tiny shoe factory in Northern England that makes shoes like they did 100 years ago, with only a handful of employees. Here, Mamen and Rode-Hæhre made their first shoes. They started designing a ‘go anywhere, do anything’ type of boot. The idea was to make footwear that looks better with age, improves comfort and keeps both feet dry regardless of 20 | Issue 117 | October 2018
weather. “Most people don’t realise how important a good last is for your posture, or that proper material breathes, making your feet cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold,” Mamen says. Taking inspiration from Norwegian and British shoemaking culture, they decided to use Rode-Hæhre’s Scottish family name, Dundas. The logo is the family’s coat of arms and the pattern on the shoes’ tartan heel strap is the Dundas’ kilt-pattern. Sustainability is highly valued by Dundas. They use high-quality leather, from animals that have had a good life and that has been vegetable-tanned, without harmful chemicals. This results in a high-quality and sustainable shoe that can be repaired almost indefinitely They put a lot of time and effort into the brand, but they both agree that it is all worth it since they love what they do. “Life is all about having fun and trying to make
Web: www.dundasfootwear.com Facebook: dundasfootwear Twitter: @dundasfootwear Instagram: @dundasfootwear
Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Restaurant Rugantino
Italian charm – the traditional way For more than 30 years, Restaurant Rugantino has been serving up classic Italian food in Søborg, north of Copenhagen. With a rustic Italian interior, genuine traditional recipes and fresh produce, the restaurant is a popular venue for celebrations as well as meetings. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Restaurant Rugantino
Stepping into Restaurant Rugantino, guests are met by a romantic, rustic Italian interior complete with wall paintings, wooden beams and a blackboard menu. The interior has been more or less the same since the restaurant’s opening in the ‘80s, and that is exactly how guests want it, according to chef and manager Antonio Martinelli. “This restaurant has been here for more than 30 years – it was opened by a great Italian chef, and, as the owner of the place, he has been making sure that the quality has stayed truly Italian, and the same goes for the interior. He wants to keep the traditional look – it’s this romantic kind of vintage Italian style, and if you ask our clientele, no one wants us to change a thing either!”
With a mix of simple, rustic Italian dishes, Rugantino’s menu has also remained true to the restaurant’s Italian heart. The combination of traditional charm and quality has made Rugantino popular with both locals looking for a quiet evening out and those celebrating life’s big events. “What we’re most popular for are parties, birthdays and reunions – we can accommodate up to 60 people in one room,” says Martinelli. “We also have several businesses coming here because we have a private room for 20 people and that’s very popular for small informal meetings followed by dinner.” Web: www.rugantino.dk
With a rustic Italian interior and traditional Italian recipes, Restaurant Rugantino offers a genuine Italian experience.
Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Restaurant La Cocotte/Glostrup Park Hotel
A gastronomic experience in a relaxing environment Glostrup Park Hotel is not only home to 210 rooms and a conference, event and party space suitable for 300 people, it also houses Restaurant La Cocotte: a restaurant with a focus on taste, quality and seasonal produce as well as one of Denmark’s most exciting selections of wine. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Glostrup Park Hotel
Situated just a ten-minute drive outside of Copenhagen centre, Glostrup Park Hotel is surrounded by green areas and wide spaces. The hotel, conference centre, wellness centre and restaurant have been beautifully renovated with a distinct sense of Scandinavian crispness, resulting in a cosy and relaxing environment. The hotel is frequented by business guests, conference goers and those simply looking for a break close to the city. Restaurant La Cocotte has also placed a focus on creating a relaxing environment for its diners. “We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality food and something that will also surprise and excite our diners. But most important to us, is that we’re also providing a space where people can come to relax and simply enjoy them22 | Issue 117 | October 2018
selves, without having to worry about a thing,” explains Rasmus Andersen, restaurant manager.
A whole wine cellar to explore Under the restaurant is Restaurant La Cocotte’s wine cellar, filled to the brim with over 1,000 wines from around the world for guests to enjoy. “If people are interested in it, they can get a tour of the wine cellar and we also do wine tastings. It’s important to us that our wines are also at the forefront of our menus. We don’t just pair our food with wine, we make food based on our wines,” explains Andersen. Restaurant La Cocotte has received the Best of Award of Excellence by the renowned wine magazine Wine Spectator, something only a handful of Danish restaurants have.
“Our ultimate goal is to give our guests an experience that they’ll remember for years to come.” The team behind Restaurant La Cocotte love what they do and it shines through in the food, the wine and the feel of the restaurant. Restaurant La Cocotte is open for dinner Monday to Saturday, but a meal there can also be combined with a stay at the hotel for a gastronomic night away, making it possible to really try out everything the wine cellar has to offer.
Web: www.parkhotel.dk
Scan Magazine | Education Profile | Lomborg Gymnastik- og Idrætsefterskole
Sport and team activities form a significant part of the daily schedule at Lomborg Gymnastik- og idrætsefterskole.
It is about more than sport At Lomborg Gymnastik- og idrætsefterskole, football, handball and gymnastics are part of the everyday class schedule. But that does not mean that it is all about sport: pupils are also given the skill set to become engaged, social and active citizens. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Lomborg Gymnastik- og idrætsefterskole
Located in the small town of Lomborg in west Jutland, Lomborg school is the home of approximately 130 ninth- and tenthgrade sports enthusiasts. Though all are bound together by a keen interest in sport, the levels at which they exercise their chosen sport vary a lot. “We have a strong focus on gymnastics and at a very high level, but we are going a bit against the current tendency, which is to focus a lot on results. We are a school of the old way and that means that forming our pupils into well-rounded human beings with strong social engagement is just as important as them getting better at their sport,” says principal Flemming Nees.
obligatory weekly gymnastics lessons. For those who choose one of the sports courses, that adds up to a whole lot of exercise. “For sure we have some pupils who are rather surprised, after the first week, at how sore 15 hours of sports can make you,” says Nees. “But we have a strong diet policy and make sure that all our pupils get what they need to maintain the high level of activity.” On top of the regular schedule, all pupils go on an annual skiing trip as well as a
trip to a European capital, all an essential part of their formative journey, according to Nees. “Yes, it’s important to me that our pupils learn something and improve their skills while they’re here, but it’s just as important that they feel engaged in the world they are entering when they leave us – I think that’s something which both they and the world need.”
Main subjects offered at Lomborg: gymnastics, football, handball, basketball, e-sport, mountain bike, design and media.
Web: www.lomborg-efterskole.dk
Lomborg’s pupils can choose between eight main courses − including football and handball − that add on to the regular Danish curriculum, which all pupils have to take. On top of that, everybody has five Issue 117 | October 2018 | 23
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Tomine Harket
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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Tomine Harket
Tomine Harket
Being real and breathing better The daughter of one-third of ‘80s synth-pop outfit a-ha and featured on Alan Walker’s recent hit single, Darkside, Tomine Harket could easily write her biography just by name dropping. But as someone who grew up exceptionally aware of people’s keenness to judge you through a lens of the fame of people close to you, the Norwegian singer does no such thing. She is her own woman, and all she wants is to be real.
It doesn’t matter if I’m Morten Harket’s daughter; people still won’t buy a song if it’s bad. I understand that when you have a name, you’ll get attention faster – but you’ll just lose it if you’re no good.”
By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Jonathan Vivaas Kiise
Success with Unge Ferrari
“I think I’m definitely more cautious than other people. I feel like I can see through others; I can always tell when I meet people and they don’t care and then two seconds later, they treat you differently. It’s just fake and I don’t like it – I would never treat someone differently because they’re famous, maybe simply because I grew up with it so it’s normal for me and no big deal. We’re all just human beings, we all have feelings,” Tomine Harket reflects. She insists that her childhood was quite normal, just like any Norwegian childhood – but then, she mentions going on tour and experiencing music video shoots in Cuba, and it is clear that growing up the daughter of music icon Morten Harket of synth-pop trio a-ha could never be entirely mundane. “It’s hard to say, because I don’t know what it would be like not to have a famous dad. I guess it was a little odd that everyone knew who he was, that people would stare and want to take pictures with my dad,” she admits. “You
realise quite early on who wants to be your friend and who just wants to meet your dad!” That Harket would follow in her dad’s footsteps is not something she seems to have had to think about particularly long or hard. “I always wanted it,” she says plainly. “When I was really young, I wanted to be like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, and then I started doing musical theatre and eventually realised that the music bit was my main thing.” Of course, that hyper-developed awareness of other people’s expectations of her showed its face also when she set out to navigate the world of music making and collaborations. “I get a lot of people who send me stuff and want to collaborate. And I get it, they message me because I’m my dad’s daughter and I have a name, and they feel like their song will be bigger and get more attention if I’m on it,” she explains. “But it can’t just be anything.
And yet, a direct message on Instagram was exactly how she met Unge Ferrari, the Norwegian hip hop and R’n’B artist with whom she made the hugely successful Hva Er Vi Nå // H.E.V.N // EP. “I didn’t think much of it at first when he sent me stuff, because I get it so much, but then I was like, ‘wait, this guy is actually really cool’,” she recalls, describing what sounds like a very organic, symbiotic partnership. “I came into the studio and it was this producer’s bedroom with a sock over the mic, but it just sounded so professional when it was done, and then we released it and the feedback was great. That’s when we decided to do something more.” What started as a commitment to doing something different and avoiding clichés about love ended up being about exactly that: love. “We made the four tracks really quickly, and it was all really natural. Sometimes you can’t decide beforehand what you’re going to make; when you’re Issue 117 | October 2018 | 25
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Tomine Harket
Harket is by no means an inexperienced newbie – and there is a grounded, mature streak to her music and demeanour that is less prevalent on the tracks of her peers. That integrity of hers and the insistence on being real are present in everything she talks about, including her appearance on the recent hit single Darkside with Alan Walker. “My stepdad was one of the writers on the track, and he asked if I wanted to try it out. I was a little conflicted at first – I really liked it, but it’s so extremely different from what I usually do. I wasn’t sure if doing this was allowed?” she explains. “But it’s his song, and I’m renting my voice to it. With every project I do, I’ve learnt something new, and it would’ve been stupid of me to say no to this.” Indeed, Darkside has had over 35 million streams on Spotify alone at the time of writing, and Harket describes the shock when watching the number rise rapidly by the second upon its release. “It was insane! Here in Norway, you’re kind of used to being happy when you see it going up by a bit every week…” she laughs.
in the studio you can’t stop it from being natural – so it became an EP about love, and it got huge,” says Harket. Together, she and Unge Ferrari went on tour, selling out wherever they went and adding extra dates to meet the demand, and the singer acknowledges that they were really lucky: “We had really loyal fans who showed up for everything we did.”
Deeper, more personal solo material Prior to working with Unge Ferrari, Harket had been busy with all sorts: acting on stage in musicals, doing voice-over work for Disney films and other animated cartoons (“it’s more dramatic and you have to over-act because people can’t see you; it’s so much fun,” she enthuses), taking part in television competitions, and releasing her own material. As such, going solo again was a natural thing to do. “I’ve always been writing away on my own stuff, but I don’t like releasing different material all at the same time; I need to be able to breathe,” she says. 26 | Issue 117 | October 2018
Judging by the title of her latest single, she has managed to do just that: Breathing Better is one in a series of new tracks the singer has been working on, and the line “I’m better off being on my own” suggests that she is finding her groove. “It’s really exciting that I’m finally here and can release these songs. They mean a lot to me, and they’re deeper and more personal – more me, I would say,” she says, adding that she loves being involved in every single aspect of bringing a new release into the world. “It can be a pain in the ass to work with me, because I always have an opinion and want to be in control of everything. For the cover of Breathing Better I was sitting there ripping up pictures of myself, creating the cover. I love that, love being a part of every single thing – it makes it more real.”
Integrity and authenticity Though she would fit the bill perfectly alongside other new, glowing Norwegian pop stars such as Astrid S and Sigrid,
It seems to be a love-hate thing, her relationship with her home country. She describes the sound of recent Norwegian pop stars as “really authentic – it doesn’t feel like it’s a thousand people trying to make something work, it feels like someone sat down and wrote down their feelings” but ascribes it to the weather and having to go through freezing cold winters. “It’s so freezing, I don’t even know how we survive. Your face freezes when you go outside, like if you tap your nose it’ll fall off! Maybe that’s what makes us real,” she jokes, but quickly admits that she could never fully leave. “I’m always tempted to, but any time I do I just miss Norway so much. There’s just something about our nature, our trees, everything, the air, the water… There’s something about Norway that’s so special.”
Facebook: tomineharket Instagram: @tomineharket
Breathing Better is out now and available on Spotify and other streaming and download services.
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Tomine Harket
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 27
Scan Magazine | Architecture Feature | World Architecture Festival
Photo: Tom Howard
Celebrating, sharing and inspiring outstanding architecture Last year, World Architecture Festival (WAF) celebrated its tenth anniversary in Berlin around the central theme of Performance. This year, the world’s biggest architecture festival is back with a bang, gathering the best and most fascinating speakers and thinkers in the world of spatial and landscape design for three days of inspiration, competition and excellence in Amsterdam. By Linnea Dunne
Founded on a dedication to celebrating, sharing and inspiring outstanding architecture, WAF every year presents an interesting programme of keynote talks from influential speakers within the industry – but at its heart is always a prestigious awards show, with live judging presentations and over 500 short-listed finalists representing firms from all over the globe. Looking at the dramatic transformation of its host city, this year’s festival will take place 28 to 30 November, and pres28 | Issue 117 | October 2018
ent speakers including Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam, Marieke van Doorninck; director of CRAB Studio, Professor Sir Peter Cook; Li Xiadong, Professor of architecture at Tsinghua University; and Rem Koolhaas, renowned Dutch architect and founder of Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), who will deliver the closing keynote. In conjunction with the main festival is also the INSIDE World Festival of Interiors, co-located and taking place simultaneously with WAF, also with a number
of notable keynote speakers, including India Mahdavi, principal of India Mahdavi architecture and design, and Maria Warner Wong, co-founder of WOW. Like every year, the Nordic architecture scene is well represented among the many brilliant short-listed projects, with global stars such as Bjarke Ingels Group unsurprisingly included alongside more up-and-coming firms. A total number of 32 projects located in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland have been nominated, representing everything from hospitals and airports to an urban action plan and a sand sanctuary that aims to counterbalance war history. Web: www.worldarchitecturefestival.com Facebook: Architecture Festival Instagram: @worldarchfest
Scan Magazine | Architecture Feature | World Architecture Festival
Short-listed Nordic projects to explore Project name: TIRPITZ in Blåvand, Denmark Firm: Bjarke Ingels Group Category: Completed Buildings: Culture
Tirpitz. Photo Rasmus Hjortshøj
The new TIRPITZ is a sanctuary in the sand, acting as a gentle counterbalance to the dramatic war history of the site in Blåvand on Denmark’s west coast. The 2,850-square-metre invisible museum transforms and expands a historic German World War II bunker into a groundbreaking cultural complex comprising four exhibitions in one single structure. The development appears subtly as the intersection between a series of precise cuts into the landscape, thereby acting as a juxtaposition to the hefty, intrusive construction of the original artillery fortress.
Project name: Uredd rest area, Gildeskål Municipality, Norway Firm: Haugen/Zohar Arkitekter and Landskapsfabrikken Category: Landscape Situated on the scenic route Helgelandskysten in Norway, the ‘Uredd’ site is well visited by tourists and locals alike. The most important qualities of the resting place are the view to the north – facing the mountain summits as well as the vast Norwegian ocean – and the midnight sun. This new project reveals a redesign of the World War II memorial monument for the
submarine Uredd, which gave the place its name, Ureddsplatsen, in Norwegian meaning ‘fearless place’. The Uredd submarine was lost in 1943, sunk by a German minefield and losing 40 men, and the memorial was initially unveiled upon the discovery of the wreckage of the submarine close to this site in 1986. The new resting site consists of a large, poured concrete terrace facing the sea, an amphitheatre rolling down to the shoreline. Benches in the characteristic marble from Fauske are available, alongside a toilet building with a concrete ceiling that waves up from the terrace’s surface.
Project name: Hammershus Visitor Center in Bornholm, Denmark Firm: Arkitema Architects & Prof. Christoffer Harlang Category: Completed Buildings: Display
Hammershus. Photo: Arkitema Architects/ Christoffer Harlang
It all started in 1969, when Danish architect Jørn Utzon was tasked to sketch his vision of a new visitor centre at northern Europe’s largest castle ruin, Hammershus, on the island of Bornholm. The plans, which were never realised, were never forgotten either, and in 2012, Arkitema Architects and Professor Chrstoffer Harlang won an EU competition to tackle the challenge.
Vestre Fjordpark. Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj
Located on top of the cliffs of the 588square-kilometre island, overlooking vast meadows, green forests and the Baltic Sea, the ruin is, along with the surrounding area, heavily regulated by a number of environmental and cultural regulations to uphold the historic and natural values, making building the centre a tough challenge. The solution was to blast a shelf into the rocks on the hillside, the roof of the centre designed to follow the topography of the hilly landscape. As such, the new building became a natural part of the area’s path system, with concrete walls and floors standing in beautiful contrast to the oak planks and specially designed furnishings. Issue 117 | October 2018 | 29
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e Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark Scan
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C E & RK I e RD TUR MA Sp O N EC EN IT D H C N– R A SIG DE lT
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Nyt Rosenhøj. Photo: EFFEKT
The Silo. Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj, COAST STUDIO
Architecture and renovation contribute to a better world What is good architecture? And how do we even know if architecture and renovation contribute to a better world or a better future? The Danish Association of Architectural Firms has collected some of the best examples of Danish architectural projects where sustainable renovation has been a top priority. By Lene Espersen, CEO of Danish Association of Architectural Firms
Architects all over the world face a challenge and a unique opportunity when it comes to making a fairer and more responsible imprint on our planet. As part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we must rethink the way we are building and controlling our urban spaces. Architecture plays a significant part in this challenge, which is why renovating buildings and reusing materials is the hot topic these days. The renovation of existing buildings and urban spaces is one of the largest focuses for Danish architectural firms – and that is why Realdania and the Houseowners Investment Fund (GI) has, since 2013, awarded the absolute best renovation projects in Denmark. The Silo, Nyt Rosenhøj and Nr. Vium Skole are all previous winners of the Renover Award and all three projects have inspired the Danish architecture 30 | Issue 117 | October 2018
great example of how renovation creates new functions and opportunities from an existing building. The successful renovation of the school was reflected in the reduced heating costs and the fact that the school is now a central spot for the community and social activities.
industry to push a large focus onto renovation. The Silo: Regarded as this year’s best renovation project, The Silo, by COBE Architects, is an old and unused harbour building which was transformed into luxury residences. Instead of demolishing the silo, its potential was seen and fulfilled. The original concrete wall and ceiling, both of which accounted for a large part of the building’s charm, remain untouched. Nyt Rosenhøj: A residential area where its former challenges and a once negative reputation now belong to the past. Thanks to a comprehensive renovation by EFFEKT and Arkitema, the area is now a place where community and neighbourhood are just two of the many positive keywords associated with the area. Nr. Vium Skole: This project by Erik Brandt Dam and Cornelius+Vöge is a
Nr. Vium Skole. Photo: Laura Stamer
The Danish Association of Architectural Firms is an organisation of private firms of consulting architects. Our objective is to represent the commercial interest of practicing architects and to strengthen their position and improve the level of quality and professionalism within Danish architecture firms.
Web: www.danskeark.dk
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
Top left: Sir Jørn Utzon. Photo: ©Utzon Archives / Utzon Center. Below left: Sir Ove Arup. Photo: Godfrey Argent, 1969. © National Portrait Gallery, London. Right: Sydney Opera House. Photo: ©Hamilton Lund
A season designed by Danes for everyone to explore This autumn, Copenhagen puts Danish icons firmly on display. Two exhibitions at Danish Architecture Center (DAC) showcase the world-famous Danes Ove Arup and Jørn Utzon. One, an engineer, the other, an architect, but both crossing traditional boundaries to create some of the most spectacular architecture the world has ever seen – with the iconic Sydney Opera House as one such glowing masterpiece. When visiting Copenhagen, make sure to visit these exhibitions and be inspired to explore more great architecture throughout the city. By: Danish Architecture Center (DAC)
Copenhagen is an architectural city. From the quiet canals and lively urban squares, the sheer masses of cyclists on the streets and swimmers in the water, this city has for years been praised for its liveability and high quality of life: not least because of its abundance of great architecture. But great quality in Danish architecture is not only the result of recent efforts, but something standing on the shoulders of icons. Among them, are Ove Arup and Jørn Utzon: each responsible for realising great buildings, and together, the masterminds behind the Sydney Opera House. The exhibition Ove Arup and the Philosophy of Total Design, opening on 12 October, is a tour de force through the wide spanning work of one of the most influential engineers of the 20th century.
But Arup was not only an engineer: he was a philosopher, artist and visionary leader who revolutionised architecture and engineering during his lifetime. In the exhibition, you will get a unique portrait of Arup and experience a rare mix of original drawings, models, film and virtual reality. They give you a peek behind the facade of iconic buildings like Sydney Opera House, Centre Pompidou in Paris and the penguin pool at London Zoo. The exhibition Utzon, Horisont, opening on 7 November, celebrates the worldfamous Danish architect Jørn Utzon. It gives a fascinating glimpse into Utzon’s untamable curiosity into foreign cultures, and how they inspired his wonderful architecture. From his journeys to the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, America,
Asia and his second home on Mallorca, Spain – and, of course, also to Australia, where he designed the iconic Sydney Opera House. Together, these exhibitions make an inspiring case for the great tradition of Danish architecture and design – a tradition continuing still today. When visiting Copenhagen, be sure to also explore the contemporary projects throughout the city. Every week, DAC organises guided tours by foot, by boat and by bicycle, to the city’s historic gems and modern masterpieces, designed by architects like Bjarke Ingels, Henning Larsen and Lundgaard & Tranberg. Copenhagen is an architecture destination like no other, and DAC is your perfect goto guide: from our home in the city’s new landmark, BLOX, and on guided tours. See you in Copenhagen and on dac.dk! Danish Architecture Center Bryghuspladsen 10, 1473 København K Web: www.dac.dk Opening hours: daily 10am to 6pm, Thursdays until 9pm
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 31
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj
32 | Issue 117 | October 2018
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
Photo: Mike Bink
Mission impossible made possible When they came up with the idea for the museum, Tirpitz gave the architects what they themselves described as an impossible task. Make world-class architecture, but make the building invisible! Not in their wildest dreams could they have imagined how incredible the museum would turn out to be, or how many prizes it would go on to win for its design. By Nicolai Lisberg
It is almost invisible. You can take a stroll along the coast and practically pass it before you even notice it. From a distance, it looks just like any other white sand dune on the beach, but once you get closer, you will see a magnificent glass building almost hidden in one of the dunes. And when you enter the
museum, a new world opens and leaves you stunned. It is not for nothing that the American television network CNN, back in the beginning of 2017, named Tirpitz in Blåvand as one of the 13 most anticipated buildings to open that year. The museum has liter-
ally been built in to the landscape, making it almost invisible from the outside. “The idea of the architects was that the museum had to be something in direct contrast to the unfriendly colossal bunker that’s located right next to it. The museum is an anti-bunker, as the architects call it. They have created an open and welcoming democratic space – not an obstacle but an enrichment of the landscape. You can look at the exhibitions from the outside, because we want to make the invisible visible and metaphorically show our guests that there are so many good stories to tell right below the sand,” says Claus Issue 117 | October 2018 | 33
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
Photo: Mike Bink
Kjeld Jensen, museum director at Varde Museerne, which Tirpitz is a part of. The museum is designed by the wellknown architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and has been a tremendous success since opening last year. More than 400,000 people have visited the museum that has won several prices for its architectural design. “What makes the design even more interesting is the contrast within the building itself. From the outside it’s in-
Photo: Mike Bink
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visible, but once you enter the museum, you enter different rooms that are raw and humble yet beautiful and impressive, just like the landscape outside. You can sense the eye for the detail and the playful way the architects have approached the task,” says Jensen.
An interactive design The museum has, in its first year, welcomed people from all over Denmark, but also many guests from Sweden, Norway, Germany, Holland, the UK and France have paid Tirpitz a visit. Accord-
ing to Jensen, the guests especially appreciate the feeling of involvement that the museum offers. You feel like entering a stage and being part of the history. No text is written on the walls, but instead, every guest gets handed an audio guide, which can be used in Danish, English or German. In the exhibition The Hidden West Coast, a 4D film is projected onto the surrounding walls and floor, while different scents and an artificial wind give the impression of being by the coast. The exhibition Amber – Gold of The Sea, is built as a mysterious forest with nine-metre-high trees. It shows how 40-million-year-old resins turned into amber and visitors get to see 400 of the most extraordinary findings of amber in Denmark “Tinker Imagineers, who are our exhibition designers, have managed to build very different exhibitions in what are actually very similar rooms. They have made each room and each exhibition its own little world, and they have made a virtue out of creating a design that supports the stories we as a museum wish to tell,” says Jensen, and elaborates: “The friendly and playful design is a contrast to the unfriendly war machine that the
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
bunker next to us is. And for two reasons: first of all, we want to be the most playful museum in Denmark, and secondly, we want to figuratively give our visitors a new set of eyes to see the landscape through. They may come for the beautiful beaches but we want to show them the thousands of great stories that are hidden just beneath the sand. So from an architectural point of view, the idea was to acknowledge the bunker by creating an anti-bunker and I really think the architects have succeeded in doing just that.” Web: www.tirpitz.dk Facebook: vardemuseerne Twitter: @vardemuseerne Instagram: @tirpitzmuseum
Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj
Photo: Mike Bink
Photo: Colin Seymour
Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj
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 onto the walls and floors, while light, smoke and smells bring to life the journey through time. Amber - The Gold of The Sea A mysterious forest, with nine-metrehigh trees, shows how 40-million-year-
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.
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 35
The Klimahuse headquarters.
Energy-efficient housing that is good for everyone “We have seen a massive shift in consciousness towards environmentally friendly houses among both the public and investors in the last few years,” says Claus Keld Hansen, chairman of the board of the Danish company Klimahuse. “But none of that matters if the houses available do not live up to the other high expectations, dreams and standards people have for their future homes.” By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Gunnar Merrild
With roots dating back to 1973, Klimahuse became the first construction company in Denmark to completely commit to environmentally friendly housing. “It became clear quite quickly that we wouldn’t just help the environment, we would actually help our clients save quite a bit of money too. It was literally a win-win situation for us, for the environment and for our customers. It wouldn’t make sense for us to cut corners or go for anything but high-quality products because our purpose is so closely tied up in making a house that 36 | Issue 117 | October 2018
will still be at the top of its game in years to come. We have to keep up with the newest developments in construction and environmental technology.”
Long-term savings Claus Keld Hansen believes Klimahuse is currently using techniques and materials that everyone will be using in five years or so. “It’s a hugely interesting industry to be part of – the innovations we’ve seen in the market in the past ten years have been astounding.” Klimahuse does not just future-proof
their houses in technical ways either. “We work closely with our private clients to make sure that the house they get will meet their needs now as well as in ten or twenty years – do we need to arrange for more children’s bedrooms down the line? Is it supposed to be the family’s first, next or last house?” Starting with a series of architect-drawn model houses, the company works with their client to choose the house that best meets their needs, then modifies it to fit them entirely, beginning with the layout of each room and ending with materials both inside and out. Private clients can approach Klimahuse with their own plot of land in mind, ask Klimahuse for help with finding the perfect spot, or buy into one of the large-scale projects Klimahuse is currently building with investors across Denmark, including Munksbakke in
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Horsens, Skibsager in Solrød and their third project in Ikast. Private clients who buy into the large-scale projects will naturally have a greater say if they come on board during the early stages of development. All of Klimahuse’s current and completed large-scale projects are available to view on the website, which also includes a step-by-step guide to their private developments. “Apart from the growing interest in sustainability, I think more and more people are coming around to the idea that investing a little more money for environmentally friendly materials initially, will pay itself off manifold in the long-term,” Claus Keld Hansen says. “A four-person family can live comfortably in our 115-squaremetre houses without their heating bill ever exceeding 40 euros per month, including all warm water needs. And longterm, our houses are easy to sell on as well, because they haven’t fallen behind in
building style or quality and don’t have any structural or ageing issues.”
Making houses into homes Klimahuse’s houses come equipped with discreet-looking solar panels and with their own sophisticated heating systems, taking the buildings off the grid in terms of heating and gas. “Yes, we put in a little more insulation, install some slightly more expensive doors and windows, and use higher-quality materials in the build than for a standard house, but by doing so, we save its future inhabitants a great wad of cash in repairs and energy bills further down the line.” “We’re fully aware that an energyefficient house needs to be much more than just that – it needs to look, feel and be attractive in order to sell, of course,” Claus Keld Hansen adds. “And that’s just as important for us. The greatest job of any of our houses is to be a home, and
that includes anything from the overall look of the house to the type of interior design, kitchen and bathroom our client wants and needs.” Top tips from Klimahuse: - Like good-quality clothing, better materials will last longer and look better in the long-term - Solar panels are not a silly investment, even on older houses – they can cut off a nice chunk from your energy bills. Use the energy from the solar panels during the day when the sun is out and they produce electricity - Switch off electronic devices entirely by turning them off at the source rather than leaving them on standby
Web: www.klimahuse.com Facebook: Klimahuse A/S Instagram: @klimahuse
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
Inspired by the unique atmosphere of DTU’s existing Skylab, Rørbæk og Møller Arkitekter has designed an extension which, with open and connected spaces, will further encourage entrepreneurship and collaboration.
Building innovation To be finished in 2020, Rørbæk og Møller Arkitekter’s 3,000-square-metre extension to DTU’s (Technical University of Denmark) Skylab is to be a melting pot of innovation and creation. Inspired by the unique vibe and buzz of the existing Skylab, the architecture firm’s inherently sustainable design will further encourage entrepreneurship and collaboration between students, researchers, and businesses from a broad range of fields and nationalities. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Rørbæk og Møller Arkitekter
Created through an elegant composition of stacked boxes, the new Skylab appears as a raw industrial space centred around a large open arena, the Innovation Room. As the boxes are staggered, all of the new Skylab’s functions will be visible to everyone, and the openness will, along with interconnected floors and meeting points, give room for interdisciplinary meetings and collaborations. 38 | Issue 117 | October 2018
In other words, the spirit and distinct vibe of the existing Skylab will be given a perfect space to expand and multiply. Anders Wesley Hansen, partner at Rørbæk og Møller Arkitekter, explains: “The core aim behind the Skylab design is to further the values behind the old building’s buzzing technological entrepreneurship. It’s about creating this huge house of innovation connected across
different floors and disciplines and with the special innovative vibe, which saturates the old Skylab.” The construction of the new Skylab extension will be initiated next year and is expected to be finished in 2020. Together with the old Skylab, it will constitute a 5,000-square-metre worldclass centre for innovation.
A project with global dimensions Already widely known as a global hub for innovation, the existing Skylab attracts attention from researchers from all over the world as well as businesses eager to get a foot inside the innovation lab. The special status of the Skylab has allowed Rørbæk og Møller Arkitekter the freedom to create a design that, while building, or rather stacking, on top of
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
the existing Skylab, also has its own distinct identity. “Skylab is unique in the way that it is the most highly-profiled part of DTU, and the DNA of the project reflects that. It builds onto the united identity of DTU as a university, but at the same time, the design stands out a bit compared to the other buildings on the campus,” says Wesley Hansen. Partner Nicolai Overgaard, adds: “Thanks to a generous capital injection from the Maersk Foundation, DTU has been able to create a building that can facilitate even major companies – some of Denmark’s largest corporations are lining up to get a space − and that’s also something which is reflected in the architecture; it’s a bit more open and perhaps attracts a bit more attention than the other buildings at DTU.”
Creating encounters and dialogue When the new Skylab building is finished, it will comprise a large developer floor for project and prototype development, a 3D-print lab and workshops, as well as different work and office spaces, meeting spaces and cafes. At the heart of it
all will be the innovation room, which will act as a flexible space for events, talks, and presentations. Everything is designed with great attention to environmental, social and economic sustainability. This means that the building will have a low energy consumption, an inherent flexibility in the structure allowing for future changes and extensions, and a design that encourages people to meet across fields. “All the functions of the building are connected; it’s a maker
space, which is to be buzzing with innovation and people sharing and discussing new ideas, and that’s something we have tried to facilitate by merging the borders between different floors and disciplines. The way we see it, today, when a researcher walks from a to b, that’s not lost time – it’s where the innovation happens. You will inevitably meet other people and that’s at the heart of everything − creating encounters and dialogue across fields,” says Overgaard.
Skylab: the facts
RØRBÆK OG MØLLER
The new Skylab extension will add an extra 3,000 square metres to the existing 2,000-square-metre Skylab.
Rørbæk og Møller Arkitekter A/S, founded in 1950, is an architectural practice, working with new builds, as well as the restoration and transformation of existing and listed buildings.
The Skylab project is supported by a donation of 80 million DKK (around 9.5 million GBP) from Den A.P Møllerske Støttefond (the Maersk Foundation). The project lives up to the DGNB Gold certificate for sustainable and green building. The project is created in collaboration with EKJ Rådgivende Ingeniører, CITA, and Urgent Agency.
A dedicated team of around 60 employees work from the company’s office, which is located in a former steam laundry from 1918, in northern Copenhagen.
Web: www.r-m.dk
Partners at Rørbæk og Møller Arkitekter, left to right: Anders Wesley Hansen, Nicolai Overgaard, and Bente Rørbæk Jørgensen.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
Old corner building facade.
Pushing the limits of prefabricated luxury Transforming an iconic building in the heart of Copenhagen is a dream job for many architects, but it also involves nightmarish restrictions and challenges. When creating a new facade for the historical Illum department store, Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects needed a plan that could be realised within a restricted time and space frame, and without renewing the municipal district plan. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Rasmus Hjortshøj
“The Marching Band of the Royal Life Guards defined our work space,” says partner Simon Svensson with a smile, but he is actually quite serious. A challenging condition of the new Illum facade project was a set safety distance from the Band of the Royal Life Guards marching by Amagertorv every week. A strict time plan posed another challenge, as the owner of Illum needed to realise the new facade without renewing the municipal 40 | Issue 117 | October 2018
district plan. “There was simply no room for mistakes,” Svensson stresses. “Basically, we had to make a new facade with specific requirements at a building site that couldn’t exist.” Modern, yet respectfully integrated into the surroundings of the old city of Copenhagen, Illum’s exterior was radically transformed from what was previously an anonymous dark facade. The
result, however, shows little evidence of these challenges.
Pushing the limits of prefabrication So, how was it done? By pushing the physical limits of prefabricated facade elements. Placed on top of a light limestone cladding, large, prefabricated dark bronze boxes now add depth and texture to a previously smooth facade. “The most important thing was that the facade did not appear as an offsite prefab construction. So, we had to ask ourselves how to work with something of this scope and simultaneously challenge the perception of a prefabricated facade,” says Svensson. “We had to go bigger, heavier and wider than ever. When we talked to manufacturers, they were initially con-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
cerned about the size of the elements, but we found a solution. My approach is that everything can always be done in collaboration.” The prefabricated elements were installed on the corner of Illum and by adding a relief effect, the building was integrated with the elaborate facades of the surrounding blocks.
Respectfully uniting centuries of design While the restructured facade of Illum’s corner has radically altered the department store, it is not the only part of the transformation. Illum consists of a cluster of properties built from 1890 to 1970 and all were given a unifying base, middle, and roof structure. Originally, the corner of Illum was not part of the block, meaning it was taller than the adjacent buildings,” explains Svensson. “We pro-
posed to the client the advantage of actually removing an entire floor and they were up for it as they could see the benefits. We’re pretty proud of that. When a client agrees to reduce commercial square metres, your design works.” Reducing the height of the corner building unlocked the possibility of connecting the roofs of the adjoining houses, hence expanding Illum’s much loved rooftop terrace, a hot spot for tourists and locals alike. Combined with large open-window sections on all floors, this has opened up a previously rather closed building to the city around it, to the satisfaction of both wandering visitors and super brands, like Prada. “In Denmark, we’re known to work with and utilise daylight to create bright, open and inviting environments, whereas the Prada stores located in Illum’s corner building tend to be a bit more reserved and secretive. It was im-
portant for us to create and challenge the encounter between Italian fashion and Danish modernism, but they were very excited when we presented the concept. I think that’s when we knew we hit the spot – when people like Prada are happy, you know you’ve got it right.” Web: www.vla.dk Instagram: @vilhelmlauritzenarchitects LinkedIn: vilhelm-lauritzen-architects
Facts: Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects is one of Denmark’s largest and oldest architecture firms, employing 150 architects, construction engineers and specialists. The firm was founded in 1922 by leading modernist architect Vilhelm Theodor Lauritzen. He was born in 1894 and accepted at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1912. Lauritzen and his associates, among others the internationally renowned Finn Juhl, went on to create a string of the most recognised and famous works of Danish modernism, including DR’s Radiohuset, the equivalent of BBC’s broadcasting house, the concert hall VEGA and the original Copenhagen Airport, today known as the Vilhelm Lauritzen Terminal. Later in life, he came to receive the Order of Dannebrog – the Danish equivalent to the OBE.
Prada store. ‘When people like Prada are happy, you know you’ve got it right,’ says partner Simon Svensson.
Among the recent projects of Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects are the airports of Copenhagen and Oslo, the national broadcasting house of DR, metro- and train stations, university campus extensions, large headquarters, laboratories and Denmark’s new embassy in India. Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects’ headquarters are is located in Nordhavn, Copenhagen.
Left: Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects’ new facade for the iconic Illum department store has dramatically changed the previously anonymous, dark building. Right: Partner at Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, Simon Svensson. Photo: VLA
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
Karre 31 model.
Architectural highs In a country as flat as Denmark, where the highest natural point is barely 170 metres above the sea and most apartment buildings are long and flat, a tall, slender apartment block towering 17 floors above you is an unusual sight to see. As a small country with a growing population, however, Denmark is beginning to embrace higher buildings in attractive and densely populated areas. Next year, Holbæk Harbour will join the trend with the elegant new Karré 31, designed by JUUL | FROST Architects to provide everyone with a great view and a sense of belonging. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Uffe Weng
Karré 31 will take up the final plot of land by the harbour promenade, which has been transformed by the municipality over the past 15 years. Originally intended to be built in 2009, the finan42 | Issue 117 | October 2018
cial crash put a halt on developments until JUUL | FROST teamed up with AP Pension to see the project through. “Danish apartment blocks are traditionally a few floors high and take up quite
a lot of space,” explains Flemming Frost, one half of the founders of JUUL | FROST Architects. “But doing that here would actually be much more invasive to the area, so the plan has always been some kind of tower. By turning the traditional apartment block 90 degrees, we retain all the same space for the inhabitants, but we avoid blocking out the view for everyone else – and hopefully we provide a significant new landmark to boot.”
Adding value for everyone “We work from the principle that whenever we take something away, we have
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to give something back. Buildings are always part of the community and area and should never be viewed in isolation. They ought to make everyone happy – not just the residents and the municipality, but the people of Holbæk who will casually interact with the new building every day. Architecture is about much more than just the building itself.” “The world has changed since 2008, so we’ve updated the building – not just in terms of sustainability, materials and technical developments, but also in terms of how we live.” Originally intended as 45 flats, the tower will now consist of 60 flats. “I think that change reflects recent societal changes – we don’t mind living a little smaller, but we want and expect very flexible, well thought-out apartments that suit our much more varied lifestyles today, both across and within individual families.” Unusually, Karré 31 will house both owner-occupied and rental units, helping to bring in a diverse and dynamic population. Three of the flats per floor will have direct views of the sea from most of the flat, but the design ensures that each floor’s fourth flat, facing south towards the city, faces the sea from their balcony too. “They also get the most sun, so there are benefits for everyone.”
age everyone to actively use the space. A large communal room on the ground floor leads out to it. At the back, the car park has been disguised under a plaza-like garden and terrace where residents and visitors alike will be able to soak up the sun, play and chat. Karré 31 will be clad in light, elegant tones in order to blend in with the surrounding buildings from the late 2000s, but with its quirky angles, dark window frames and striking balconies, it will be anything but dull. “It’s really important for us that the space works for everyone from any distance,” Frost says. “So the best feedback we’ve had so far has been from ordinary residents of Holbæk, who have welcomed our plans and been open towards us from the get-go.” Web: www.juulfrost.dk Facebook: juulfrostarkitekter
JUUL | FROST Architects works with an international, challenging and vitalising approach. With its holistic approach to projects, the office has developed projects of all scales, from large-scale planning, new city and housing developments and urban spaces, to educational facilities, office spaces and housing. Other projects include Fasanrækkerne in Ørestad Syd and Strandhaverne on Amager in Copenhagen, as well as Örebro University and the future World Trade Center in Helsingborg, Sweden. JUUL | FROST Architects have just published the book Lifting the Gaze which takes a closer look at architectural theories and former projects in order to investigate what the past might teach us about the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Helle Juul and Flemming Frost.
With a career stretching back to 1981, Frost has witnessed important developments within his profession and society at large. “We have our own R&D branch at JUUL | FROST where we’ve had both anthropologists and philosophers employed in order to investigate the influence of space on everyday life and vice versa. One of the most important things we’ve found is the increased need for social sustainability. Loneliness is one of the most dangerous trends today. If we don’t create places where we meet each other and interact, then we have failed as architects,” he reflects. “A sense of community is more difficult to create in a high-rise building, which is why we’ve put a lot of thought and care into the building’s surroundings.” The 7,300-square-metre building faces the sea towards the north, where the building’s plinth has been drawn back to expand the promenade, in order to encourIssue 117 | October 2018 | 43
Left: Anne-Grethe Borch Lauridsen, department supervisor at Esbjerg Psychiatry, says that the changes implemented by Arkitema “make the patients feel safer and calmer”. Right: The percentage of people leaving the strained Rosenhøj housing estate fell after changes implemented by Arkitema.
Architecture inspired by people A study of the human benefits gained, in several projects by the Danish architectural firm Arkitema Architects, shows that architecture can make a significant difference. Architecture can improve the lives of the people it is inspired by. Among the remarkable results, is a 70 per cent reduction in the number of physical restrictions at a psychiatric department designed by the firm. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Arkitema
When architecture can change and improve people’s lives, it is not just because of the aesthetic value it adds. No, architecture is about much more than attractive facades, stresses partner Jørgen Bach. ”Our starting point is always ‘people in architecture’. Humans are at the centre of our work. It’s our company’s heritage and culture; it saturates everything we 44 | Issue 117 | October 2018
do; it’s the way we think, the way we are trained, and how all assignments begin.” Since its foundation in 1969, Arkitema has created a string of projects, including housing, commercial, educational and health institutions. Among its most famous projects, are Copenhagen’s prob-
ably most popular new neighbourhood, Sluseholmen, and Esbjerg psychiatric hospital in Denmark
Safer and happier With a 70 per cent reduction in the number of physical restrictions and a 61 per cent reduction in the use of tranquilisers, the numbers speak for themselves at Esbjerg Psychiatry. Furthermore, interviews show that, thanks to the new architectonical frames, both patients and carers feel safer and happier in their everyday life and work. Essentially, the new design has opened up the whole building using glass walls to separate units, creating transparency, increasing freedom and
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
lessening the feeling of isolation for patients in the closed wards. Anne-Grethe Borch Lauridsen, department supervisor, explains: “Now, the closed-ward patients can access the courtyard area on their own, 24 hours a day, as the staff can still keep an eye on them from the staff room. Our staff is much more visible as there is so much glass, and we also experience that that’s something which makes the patients feel safer and calmer.” Other new features include more green areas, more visibility to these areas and a new sports hall with increased activity offerings.
However, it is not just new, striking neighbourhood projects like Sluseholmen that can bring changes to people’s lives. On a much smaller scale, residents of the run-down housing estate Rosenhøj, gained a renewed feeling of trust and safety in their neighbourhood after some changes were implemented by Arkitema. Entrances to the block were moved to encourage meetings
between neighbours and new playgrounds and green areas were created, all of which resulted in the percentage of people leaving the area falling. “What we want to do is literally to bring architecture down to earth, and to create living and breathing spaces for living and breathing people. That’s why we always say: ‘people in architecture, that’s what it’s all about’,” Bach rounds off.
‘I feel that living here is a very unique thing. It’s become an integrated part of who I am,’ says Jørgen Koch, resident in Sluseholmen.
‘Part of my identity’ Those who have visited Sluseholmen in Copenhagen might be surprised to learn that the entire city section is just seven years old. A mix of children, young people, dog owners and new families, strolling, swimming and chatting outside, all add to the feel of a buzzing, well-established local community. “With more than 1,000 apartments, and canals, courtyards and bulwarks, this project is a prime example of how it is possible to create a new urban development that feels liveable and natural,” explains Bach, and adds: “With Sluseholmen, we took great measures to ensure the human scale of everything, to increase the possibilities for interaction, and to create experiences that ensure variation like, for example, the stairs leading down to the canals or the small wooden jetties.” Once again, the research done by Arkitema backs up these ideals, as statistics show that living close to nature and water enhances people’s quality of life. A living example of this is Jørgen Koch, a 36-year-old watersports enthusiast who has been living in Sluseholmen since 2011. Every morning, he goes for a swim in the canals, which he can enter directly from his flat. He has also designed his own extended terrace, a motorised jetty, where he can, among other things, enjoy his morning coffee in a sunny spot on the water. ”This area is amazing for someone like me, who’s sailed all of my life, I feel that living here is a very unique thing. It’s become an integrated part of who I am.” Issue 117 | October 2018 | 45
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
Wedged into the cliffs, the new visitor centre by Arkitema and Professor Christoffer Harlang melts into the landscape and appears almost invisible to those approaching Hammershus.
In the centre’s interior, Arkitema has combined raw concrete walls with local oak from Bornholm.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
The roof of the new visitor centre at Hammershus offers stunning views of the iconic castle ruin.
The invisible building Tucked into the cliffs facing northern Europe’s largest and arguably most beautifully located castle ruin, the new visitor centre for Hammershus is hardly noticeable. Yet, for architecture fans, the invisible building, which is shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival, is worth a visit in its own right. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Arkitema
whole scenery,” explains senior partner in Arkitema, Poul Schülein. ”It’s been important for us to create a dynamic landscape, which gives visitors multiple opportunities to experience the natural surroundings and the historical ruin, instead of just walking straight into the visitor centre.”
Located on the small Danish island of Bornholm, Hammershus is surrounded by a spectacular rocky and hilly landscape. The unique Danish scenery was the starting point for Arkitema’s design for the new visitor centre. In collaboration with Professor Christoffer Harlang, the architecture firm has designed an aesthetically elegant but unassuming building wedged into the cliffs. One of the building’s most distinctive, yet virtually invisible features, is the roof, which forms part of the hilly landscape and the path to the ruin. This means that when walking up to Hammershus, the centre stays invisible to visitors, who might even end up standing on top of the building without noticing.
A place to learn
“We’ve chosen a useable roof to highlight the visitors’ experience of the landscape and to play down the appearance of the building as they approach the centre. This way, the roof becomes a natural part of the surrounding path system, rather than a disturbing element in the landscape experience; when you stand there, you get that feeling of just melting into the
Designed with simple lines, inner and outer walls of raw concrete, and high-quality materials − including local oak from Bornholm − the new visitor centre forms a warm and inviting contrast to the medieval castle ruin. Inside the building, visitors will find modern spaces for storytelling, a café, and direct views of the ruin. “The focus has been on creating a warm and inviting space to communicate
When the centre opened last spring, it was met with glowing reviews in national papers, and received the Builders Guild Award 2018. Following this, it has also been shortlisted for the award for completed display buildings at the World Architecture Festival.
and share the story of this iconic ruin; that’s very much at the heart of what we do as an architecture firm. It’s the same focus we have when we design schools and other educational facilities – almost every Danish pupil will visit Hammershus at some point and in that way, our strong values and experience in regards to creating learning environments are reflected in this building too,” explains Schülein, and rounds off: “What’s different is that we’ve designed the building to attract as little attention to itself as possible – it’s all about enhancing the visitor’s experience of Hammershus.” Facts: Arkitema Architects was founded in Aarhus in 1969 (then named Arkitektgruppen Aarhus). Arkitema Architects employs more than 500 people in offices in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Stockholm and Oslo. Daylight, open spaces and clear lines play a significant role in Arkitema’s work, as does the focus on sustainability and nature. Arkitema is a full-service firm specialised within the areas of living, working, health, learning and urban.
Web: www.arkitema.com
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
The new Elsinore Stadium design job was won by NOVA5 in a competition with four other architecture firms.
Minimum footprint, maximum impact At NOVA5, an idea-driven architectural firm based in Copenhagen, innovation and buildability go hand in hand. They are specialists in homes and educational and cultural structures and are making their mark by pushing the limits, making something out of nothing and making spaces open to new interpretations. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: NOVA5
“We wanted to combine the old with the new, bringing in the existing sports ground with the new stadium in such a way that the whole community could use it,” explains Niels Lund Petersen, creative partner and architect at NOVA5, when talking about the new Elsinore FC stadium. Having recently been promoted to the top Danish league, Elsinore needed a new home on the existing sports ground, which is already being used by the local community.
as. We wanted to make the stadium for everyone and challenge the classic idea of who uses these kinds of venues,” says Jennifer Dahm Petersen, partner and head of communication. NOVA5 is focused on achieving as much as possible by using fewer materials and by creating solutions that are well-
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Fact box: - NOVA5 is an award-winning architectural firm based in Copenhagen. - They have projects throughout Denmark and in Scandinavia, northern Europe and Asia. - NOVA5 creates solutions for both private and public clients, with the projects being a combination of commissions and competition wins. - Elsinore FC’s new stadium is set to be completed by the middle of 2019.
Ready for the future The stadium will be dug into the ground to make it less imposing and to give a better view, whilst a state-of-the-art fence will create an openness to the surroundings. “Both inside and outside of the stadium, there’ll be playgrounds and family are-
thought out. “We future-proof in both the environmental and cultural way, ensuring that we don’t make a lasting impact on the environment, but also that our buildings can continue to be used for many years to come,” concludes Dahm Petersen.
NOVA5’s team of partners is made up of two couples: (from left to right) Thomas Dahl, Niels Lund Petersen, Hanne Vinkel Hansen and Jennifer Dahm Petersen
Web: www.nova5.dk Facebook: NOVA5 arkitekter Instagram: @nova5arkitekter
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
Based on prefabricated wood elements, Sangberg Architects has created 68 new sustainable homes for residents on the German island Helgoland.
The future is light With modular wood constructions and modern technology, Sangberg Architects are exploring new measures to lower the CO2 footprint of the building industry. Founder and partner, Jonas Sangberg, tells Scan Magazine how new technology and materials can make the future lighter. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Sangberg Architects
During the summer’s heat wave, CO2 was one of the hottest topics in Denmark. But while a lot of the media coverage and attention focused on the responsibility of the meat and transport industry, the construction industry went almost unmentioned; this despite the fact that it accounts for around 40 per cent of Europe's total energy consumption and use of resources. But lowering the CO2 footprint of construction is possible, and one of the ways to do so is by designing in wood, a carbon positive material, rather than concrete, explains Sangberg. “When building in heavy materials like concrete, much more of the material is needed just to carry its own weight, and often there is no way to reuse it, apart from bulldozing
or blowing the building into dust for road fill. What we’re looking at is a simpler, faster, and more precise construction process based on wood and steel. Both materials are light, easy to separate and reuse and leave a radically smaller CO2 footprint than concrete.” In a new project on Helgoland, a small German island, Sangberg Architects is doing just that with 68 new homes based on prefabricated wood elements. “The prefabricated wood elements were a necessity in this project but have many inherent advantages. As they are created in a factory environment, the risk of mistakes is much smaller than when built on site,” stresses Sangberg.
With this in mind, Sangberg Architects has been working on several urban projects including housing blocks based on prefabricated wood elements. “Sustainably produced wood is one of the only CO2 neutral and renewable building materials we have, and there is plenty of it – actually it just takes the Swedish forests about three minutes to produce the wood needed for a 10,000-squaremetre housing block, and, at the moment, they are replanting double the amount of what is used,” stresses Sangberg. “Of course, there are things we can’t do with wood, where other materials are better: but with a combination, we can get very far, and, with modern technology, building in wood is not difficult, it’s easy, sustainable, fun, and fast − just like riding your bike to work instead of taking the car!” Web: www.sangberg.com Instagram: @sangbergarchitects
Left: Lowering the CO2 footprint of the construction industry does not have to be difficult, says founder of Sangberg Architects, Jonas Sangberg. Middle and right: Housing blocks in wood have a radically lower CO2 footprint than similar buildings in concrete.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
VUC Glødelampen in Aabenraa.
Revitalising transformation ZENI Architects love transformation. ”There’s something really inspiring and interesting in taking a pre-existing building, getting to know it inside and out, and then carrying on its identity in a new and life-giving way,” says co-owner of ZENI Architects, Torben Sørensen. “This year, we’ve been really lucky to work on quite a few old and lonely buildings which had very exciting potential. Their identities were just waiting to be polished up and re-purposed so that people would care again.” By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Martin Schubert
”Each building deserves care, attention and understanding – recognising a building’s unique history and expression is certainly key to its successful transformation.” With several architectural prizes and nominations under their belt, the Aabenraa-based ten-person team keeps punching above its weight, rolling out both award-winning renovations of older buildings and highly praised new builds. Though they mostly stick to southern Jutland, they undertake all 50 | Issue 117 | October 2018
kinds of projects from private villas to cultural institutions, which this year included Sønderborg’s new multipurpose cultural centre.
Innovation on the waterfront ZENI Architects’ transformation of Sønderborg Multikulturhus became one of six projects nominated for Denmark’s RENOVER Award 2018. The national award honoured the best renovations of 2018, and it is not difficult to see
why the Multikulturhus was included. Before the transformation, the only large warehouse left on Sønderborg’s old industrial dock provided a natural transition between the wharf and the idyllic strip of fishing cottages behind it. Without a particular function, however, it too was in danger of demolition to make way for the new culture house. ”It completely made sense for the municipality to want to make better use of the dock,” Sørensen says. ”But a huge new stand-alone building would’ve looked out of place right in front of the wharf’s little fishing houses and altered the coherence and identity of the harbour. Together with our colleagues at AART, we found a way to connect the warehouse to the new building, for it to act as another type of bridge; this time, a way to merge
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
the dock’s charming old identity with its modern functions.” The next challenge came in tying in the transformation with veteran architect Frank Gehry’s masterplan for the harbour. ”Gehry’s plan was all about making use of the water and views and we were very on-board with that, pardon the pun. So we designed this writhing, angular modern building which challenged the polished-up warehouse without overpowering it,” Sørensen says. ”Inside, we actually constructed an entire new building inside the shell of the old warehouse, in order to get a functional, modern space that ties in with the new building without ruining the old one.” Instead, the new inner-structure flirts with the old in a criss-cross of ancient exposed oak beams and brick, and glass panes showing off glimpses of the old factory.
A lightbulb moment Similar use of modern materials to play with and highlight older characteristics is evident in another new and successful ZENI transformation, VUC Glødelampen in Aabenraa. VUC, Denmark’s adult education centre, decided to expand from its 1956 school facilities into the nextVUC Glødelampen in Aabenraa.
VUC Glødelampen in Aabenraa.
door building, an old incandescent light factory. ”This was such a fun project,” Sørensen exclaims. ”The expressions of the two buildings had to be tied together, then adjusted to the modern, democratic way of teaching that VUC is famous for,” he enthuses. ”The old factory had to be completely reinvented for a new purpose, so a lot had to be changed, but we kept part of the old facade, which is now displayed behind glass almost like a piece of art. We didn’t want to erase the building’s past completely, so we added huge glass facades and lots of warm, inviting yellow light as reminders of the light bulb factory.” Fun little reminders of the factory’s past are scattered throughout, from the glass bulbs used as wall dividers to the spiralling incandescent chandeliers. Most importantly, the charming details and quirks of the building do not interfere with, but add to, the functionality of the modern building. ”Nearly everything in the building is light, open and transparent,” Sørensen explains, ”which very much fits the ethos of VUC.” Sørensen should know – it is almost an understatement to say that he and his colleagues have a strong record with
VUC school design. They have been nominated for the School Building of the Year Award three times in four years and won it in 2017 for the highly praised FlowFactory building for VUC Haderslev. Glødelampen is nominated this year, and has also won Aabenraa Municipality’s 2018 architecture award. ”Architectural transformation is all about understanding and connection,” Sørensen says. ”Understanding the building and its past, as well as how its users will interact with it every day. Parts of VUC Glødelampen had to remain open throughout, so we got to see how students slowly connected to the new versions of these familiar buildings, which was really rewarding.” As for future projects, ZENI’s architects are busy transforming Aabenraa’s old steam-power plant into their new offices. ”It’s really exciting to get a taste of our own medicine! Being able to have this creative space with a fantastic history that’s truly accommodating to us will be fantastic,” Sørensen concludes.
Multikulturhus exterior Photo: Kontraframe
Web: www.zeni.dk Facebook: ZENIarkitekter
Multikulturhus interior. Photo: Kontraframe
VUC Glødelampen in Aabenraa.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
The 19,000-square-metre hi-tech zone school in Chengdu merges Nordic architecture, Danish pedagogy and Chinese culture. The design of the school incorporates many of RUM’s core values such as user involvement and social, economic and environmental sustainability.
Sharing spaces – saving resources A perforated school wall in China, tables on the ceiling, and a continuously changing mosaic wall − Scan Magazine talks to Horsens-located architecture practice RUM, about the firm’s exciting new projects at home and abroad.
by RUM: others include a new school in Sorø and a shared learning facility in Silkeborg.
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Jakob Lerche and Rune Fjord
Sharing and safekeeping
Having just finished a new primary school in Chengdu, China, RUM has had the firm’s well-established methods tested in the eyes of a new and different clientele. The design of the school incorporates many of RUM’s core values such as user involvement and social, economic and environmental sustainability. “At RUM, we have worked with user processes long before it became common. It’s an approach to architecture which is deeply anchored in our roots, and it’s an approach which might make us a bit different from other firms,” says Elbek. 52 | Issue 117 | October 2018
“It’s not that we don’t prioritise the aesthetic expression of a building, but we add depth to it by working with the users and ensuring that the functional value matches the aesthetic value.” In Chengdu, the result of this process is a distinct 19,000-square-metre starshaped school and a 2,400-squaremetre kindergarten merging Nordic architecture, Danish pedagogy and Chinese culture. The school, which is officially inaugurated on 25 October, is just one of many learning facilities designed
Traditionally, schools in Denmark act as culture and community centres hosting multiple organisations and events outside school hours. To enable that, RUM often works with a number of practical and creative design features to alleviate security concerns, something which became vital at the hi-tech zone school in Chengdu. “One of the points which proved to be the biggest, but also most interesting challenge, was defining the degree of openness we could design into the school. Often, a Chinese school has a school wall and a guarded gate which means you can’t enter unless you’re a
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
pupil,” explains Elbek. “We worked towards dividing the school into different zones with different levels of access and, for instance, making the canteen space more accessible and flexible. One of the results was that we had the school wall but it’s perforated so you can look in from the outside.” Another significant step in opening up the school was to design its library as an open learning environment rather than a closed-off room for books, something which required a combination of creativity and practicality. “We created an entirely different environment with a mountain of books and open and flexible reading pockets and then just safeguarded more precious books in a closed archive,” says Elbek. “But there were also a number of things which remained more traditional – it’s a perfect merger between the Scandinavian and Chinese learning culture.”
Saving space and resources Sometimes, the desire to share and save space is also a fundamental requirement from the client. This was the case with Campus Bindslev, a multiuse educational ‘marketplace’ commissioned by a collaboration of different educational institutions and organisations in
Silkeborg. “The focus on sharing and saving spaces has always been a core value for us, but as there’s an increasing focus on sustainability, it’s making more sense to more people,” explains Elbek. “Often, we measure a building’s sustainability through its materials and how many resources are used to produce them, but another aspect, which is important, is not to build more than necessary. That’s why as a starting point, we need to make the greatest possible use of everything that we build.” One of the special requests at Campus Bindslev was that no space should be wasted on storage. To meet this, RUM came up with the idea of a special system that stores extra tables and dividing walls under the ceiling, where they appear as a sculptural installation until lowered via a computer controlled hoisting system. The requirement for optimal use and minimal square metres was also at the heart of the new Frederiksberg School in Sorø. Faced with the task of building a smaller and more compact school to replace the existing 11,000-square-metre, one-plan building, RUM created a flexible and open building with extensive user
involvement in the process. Pupils were asked to leave their very own fingerprint on the new school through contributions to a large art wall. “While the building work took place, the children took part in an art project with artist Rune Fjord, where they created pieces for the art wall. This way, when they moved into the new school, they already felt part of its identity, and the artwork, which acts as a large visual signpost for the school, can be continuously altered,” explains Elbek. Facts: RUM is owned by Anders Johansen, Claus Jensen and Karin Elbek. The practice is located in Horsens. RUM specialises in architecture within the sectors of health, workplace, residential, and education and culture. The hi-tech zone school and kindergarten was created by Team Horsens Architects with RUM as the project manager. The practice has approximately 50 employees.
Web: www.rum.as
Top left: New Frederiksberg School in Sorø. Below left: New primary school in Chengdu. Right: Campus Bindslev in Silkeborg.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
Qal’at al-Bahrain Museum. Photo: Loredana Mantello
Re-presenting the past From Viking-age long halls to modern museums, WOHLERT Architects has a long and colourful history with, well, history. Founded by Vilhelm Wohlert, architect of the world-famous Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, WOHLERT has been carving out an interesting niche for itself since 1945, bringing old buildings back to their former glory and constructing new ones to curate cultural heritage for modern audiences. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: WOHLERT Arkitekter
Today, WOHLERT Architects is run by Wohlert’s protégés, Line Loftheim and Torben Schmidt, who, with their collective 45 years at WOHLERT, are fit to carry on its legacy: creating buildings that will last. ”I think what WOHLERT does is create seamless transitions between our world and the past,” Loftheim explains. ”One of the best examples of this is the mid-18thcentury Dehn’s Mansion in Copenhagen.” Tragically, a fire and subsequent water damage obliterated the house in 2010. It took WOHLERT six years to restore the 54 | Issue 117 | October 2018
building to its former glory, but they took advantage of the tragedy, turning the unused loft into a bright, functional space that beautifully reflects the mansion’s rococo and empire style but is unapologetically modern, ensuring the relevance of the building in the future. One of their modern buildings, the immersive Museum of Jelling, so impressed a visiting Bahrainian princess, that she asked WOHLERT to design her homeland’s Qal’at al-Bahrain Museum, to dis-
play Manama’s UNESCO-protected archaeological site. ”I think both our old and new structures share a reverence for their context,” Schmidt suggests. ”We have to understand the time, space and culture Dehns Mansion, staircase.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark
these buildings come from, but dare to acknowledge our own presence in them too. It was very exciting to encourage this meeting between two sometimes quite different modern cultures.”
In it for the long hall Though each new project requires a great deal of preparation and collaboration, WOHLERT’s current work for Sagnlandet Lejre, may just take the cake, in terms of the sheer scope of it. ”We’re building a 62-metre-long Viking long hall,” Schmidt says. ”That’s certainly something we’ve never tried before, and nor has anyone else for about a millenium. The hall will be constructed using old-fashioned methods, so we’ve gone through an incredible amount of background material with the archaeologists.”
Louisiana.
”It is uniquely challenging but great fun to build an eighth-century building for the 21st century,” Loftheim adds. ”This ancient-looking building has to adhere to modern regulations, have the necessary modern amenities and serve a modern purpose. It’s crucial that we’re respectful of and true to the past, but all our buildings must be functional, not just for the present, but for the future: That’s how we create long-term sustainability.” Web: www.wohlertarkitekter.com
High-seat post. Photo: Sagnlandet Lejre.
Dehns Mansion.
Viking long hall at Sagnlandet Lejre. Photo: Ole Malling.
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The inhabitants of Villa Moseng can wake up and admire the pine trees over an early morning coffee.
The importance of trees The green goes as far as the eye can see. It surrounds you. The southern part of Norway is basically one big forest. It almost makes for an organism – this living, breathing thing soaking in the sun, cleansing the air. In Norway, a tree is a whole lot more than just wood and leaves. It is our warmth, our surroundings and the roof above our heads. For an architect, a tree makes for more than just material, it makes for a way of life. By Lisa Maria Berg | Photos: Terje Solvang
Vindveggen Architects is situated in Lillestrøm, not far from where the river Glomma has its tributary in the Øyeren Lake. We will get talking about houses in a minute, but first, we have to talk a little bit about trees. The Glomma River has played an important part in the centuries-old timber tradition of the region. While today we transport timber by lorry and boat, for centuries, log driving was a vital way of getting timber from the 56 | Issue 117 | October 2018
forest to the mills and the ports. Working on the river was a hazardous life. If timber got stuck, the log drivers had to jump from log to log and manually loosen any timber that had got caught. It was a dangerous job, but for many towns along the rivers of Norway, a crucial part in the shaping of whole communities. Timber was used for all sorts of things: most importantly, for building houses. This remains true today. Timber is to Norway
what bricks and mortar are to many other countries: the very backbone of society. With that in mind, let us talk about architecture.
Sustainability The 17-person firm, located merely a ten-minute train ride from Oslo, is at the heart of the architecture industry in Lillestrøm. The firm works on a broad spectrum of projects. “We make everything from houses, schools, kindergartens and swimming pools. It is exciting to work with such a variety of forms, ideas and concepts,” says CEO Martin Glomnes. Whether the team is designing the classrooms for future generations or building a cabin in the mountains, however, there are always some similarities in the work. “In every job, sustainability is key. It is al-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
ways at the back of our minds. Working in a sustainable way means that every step of a process has been given thought. From the choosing of materials, to transport, to how we work on site,” explains Glomnes.
In tune with nature One of the firm’s latest projects took the relationship between a house and its surroundings to a new level. When a couple wanted that special house that could bring nature into their lives, Vindveggen got on board. “We let the land help decide what the house would look like. Normally, the land is shaped and altered, but this time, we asked ourselves how the house could benefit from untamed surroundings,” explains Glomnes. Every tree was taken into consideration. The surrounding land was always given top priority,
and the team made sure to preserve the precious heather and the blueberry bushes. Every piece of material and tool had its designated place, keeping the flora out of harm’s way. “When a house is built in nature in such a fashion, it makes for a whole new way of living. Instead of a grass lawn, you would have the forest floor as your garden,” continues Glomnes. It has made for a house where walking out of your living room door means you are walking straight out into nature. “There was, throughout the whole process, full awareness about what sort of material we would use for a house like this,” Glomnes adds. And rather suitably, they landed on trees, with untreated spruce as the main component: essentially bringing the surrounding forest into the house itself.
The name Let us return for a moment to the log driving. At Svelle, Øyeren’s neighbouring lake, timber was often pooled up before further transport. Heavy winds made for troublesome working conditions, however, and it was soon decided to build a wall across the lake to protect the timber from the elements. Between 1903 and 1909, a long wooden wall was wedged into the ground, straight across the lake. It was in the surrounding regions named ‘the storm wall’ or ‘the wind wall’ − Vindveggen. Today, Vindveggen is gone, but a small architecture firm in Lillestrøm has kept its history alive by keeping its name and its purpose − to build something that will shield from the often brutal winters of Norway. Web: www.vindveggen.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
Hytte Fie. Photo: Luis Bamond
An architectural conversation For 35 years, Arkitektkompaniet has, from its base in Drammen in the south of Norway, drawn pretty much everything and anything with walls and a roof. Armed with a down-to-earth attitude and a ‘nothing is impossible’ philosophy, the company has built everything from 1,000-square-metre shopping centres to cosy little cabins in the rural mountains of Norway. By Lisa Maria Berg | Photos: Arkitektkompaniet AS
The 12-person firm are based out of Drammen, but have made their architectural mark all over the country. It is keeping with the idea that no task is too big nor difficult, that has kept the firm afloat. “I think we first and foremost are problem solvers,” CEO Bjarte Ågedal sums up. “Over the years, we have come to not be afraid of the difficult tasks. Those big projects, with level upon level each requiring a different analysis. In fact, often we find those projects to be the most fun,” explains Ågeland. 58 | Issue 117 | October 2018
Fearless Ågeland speaks from experience. Since he started the firm 35 years ago, he has, together with his team, come to be well-known in both his field and region. Arkitektkompaniet has had its fingers in a lot of pies: churches, retirement homes, private housing, shopping centres and the odd cabin. There is somewhat a fierceness in the employees of the Drammen firm. “We are modernists seeking to build houses from and for our time. Some dwell in nostalgia, but
we want to build houses for the people of today,” Ågeland explains. And let us not forget, houses have changed. We live differently than we did 100, 50 or even ten years ago. “It has been exciting to experience such a change in clients’ knowledge and requirements when it comes to awareness in building sustainable houses,” Ågeland continues. The revolution in the consideration of energy and the use of space has not escaped the Drammen firm, though it is not just with solid architecture that it makes its mark on the industry.
Dialogue In today’s climate we can find ourselves working in a high gear. Things need to happen fast and there is an urgency to many aspects of our life, personally and professionally. At Arkitektkompaniet,
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
Vestfossen kirke.
the firm wants to sit down with a client and truly take the time to listen to them, and this has become one of its defining traits “We aim to go into new projects with a fresh outlook and an open mind. It is almost as if we press a reset button when venturing into something for the first time. It is not that we put aside our experience and the knowledge that comes with that, but we find the ability to truly listen, and that gives us an opportunity to tailor what we are making to everyone’s different visions, dreams and needs,” Ågeland explains. There is beauty to this: the idea that regardless of who you are or the size of the project, there is at the base of every conversation a curiosity and care. If we imagine this ethos going beyond an initial dis-
Hytte Fie. Photo: Bjarte Ågedal
Parkkvartale. Photo: Luis Bamond
cussion and travelling all the way into the very houses that those initial talks are about, is it not then we start making not only houses, but homes?
The ideas “We have a lot of ideas − too many, in fact. Half of the work is chucking the bad solutions out of the window and asking, if not this, then what? I think as a team, we are always looking for the best options and that always requires ‘killing your darlings’, as it were,” Ågeland says. The attitude of holding on tightly whilst letting go lightly is one first introduced in the initial meeting with clients. “When venturing into something new and big, we often sit down with a client and try to figure out, what is it actually that we
are going to build here?” Norway can be a tricky place for building. Challenging plots, unforgiving seasons and a whole lot of unpredictable weather make for a variety of obstacles when it comes to putting a house together. Ågeland knows this all very well, however, and concludes: “There is a whole spectrum of challenges to be met with when putting something together. Somehow though, we find that those challenges make for a more fun and interesting process. When the easiest option is not an option at all, it is all the more rewarding when you get to the finish line and see it all come together.” Web: www.arkitektkompaniet.as
Parkkvartalet.
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The tower building at Eidsvoll. Illustration: XR Brochmanns gate 9. Photos: Are Carlsen
Creating spaces and exploring the unknown The Norwegian firm Romfarer Architects takes a holistic approach to design in all their projects. By utilising their extensive expertise and experience within the field, their impressive portfolio contains everything from commercial buildings to public building projects and private houses and cabins.
of architecture. “We experience great joy in exploring, creating and working with spaces of all shapes and sizes.”
By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Romfarer Architects AS
Romfarer Architects is determined to create holistic solutions in all its projects. “There’s always a surrounding environment which one must take into account. It is important for us that the surroundings should not be overshadowed by new additions. We prefer to see new projects as a challenge, a possibility to add new ingredients that complement the existing qualities of an area. We simplify, clarify and reorganise spaces to ensure clear logistics and environments where it is comfortable to roam.”
It all started in the summer of 1986, when three young architects and friends created an architecture studio in a small back building in an Oslo courtyard. Today, the creative and diverse team of 14 retains a high level of knowledge and broad experience within the field. Having worked on numerous projects over the years, Romfarer has become an integral part of the Norwegian architecture industry. “We have always had a wide range of commissions in Norway, with both commercial and public buildings in our repertoire. A big focus for us in recent years has been on schools, car facilities and housing 60 | Issue 117 | October 2018
projects. In many projects, we work with the restoration and adaptation of existing buildings,” says general manager, partner and architect Einar Hjorth Høivik.
Romfarer – exploring spaces “The name Romfarer is in short terms about creating and building spaces, the word ‘rom’ is Norwegian for ‘space’. Being a ‘romfarer’ is also about exploring something that one does not know,” Høivik explains. This notion of being curious when working with new projects, new themes and new landscapes is something he sees as important in the world
Creating entirety
Urban expansion in Eidsvoll Sundet brygge in Eidsvoll is an urban expansion of the Sundet centre with the
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
Urban expansion of the Sundel centre in Eidsvoll. Illustration: XR
main emphasis on housing and recreation. It consists of seven buildings containing approximately 300 apartments and public amenities. The project includes a promenade extending from the current centre, with playgrounds and activity zones, a bathing area and a pier for boat rentals. The tower building will be a landmark defining the urban city centre, crowned with a gallery space which
doubles as a viewing platform. This is a substantial project for the Oslo-based company. “It is a very exciting and big project where we are working on both the master plan for the whole area and the design of the buildings,” says Høivik.
along with the clean and minimal detailing, makes it an important point of orientation in the area,” says Høivik. All the apartments have large glass surfaces and balconies to provide plenty of natural light and stunning views for the residents.
Residential block integrated into the surroundings
New workshop and sales hall for Audi
Another significant project is the three-sided corner building at the crossroads of Brochmannsgate and Treschows gate in Oslo, a residential block with 25 apartments, completed in 2017. Located in a compact urban structure bordering on large green areas, the building is designed to create a clear corner to the irregularly shaped urban block. “The building is integrated into the surroundings by using a material palette that respects and complements the surrounding buildings, with a green area on the roof terrace reflecting the scenery. The corner location,
Top left: A small timber pavilion for birdwatching, built on stilts on the wildlife preserve lake Østensjøvannet in Oslo. Top right: Expansion of the Ski Museum in Holmenkollen, Oslo, for the Association for the Promotion of Skiing. Bottom, left and right: Custom solutions for Erik Arnesen AS. Photos: Are Carlsen.
Since the 1980s, Romfarer Architects has been designing workshops and sales facilities for cars, buses and trucks. Since 1996, they have designed custom solutions for Erik Arnesen AS, who sell Mercedes, VW and Audi. “We are now planning their new workshop and sales hall for Audi, adapting the existing building to comply with the Audi design and organisational guidelines. Previously, we have designed similar facilities for VW utility vehicles, VW passenger cars, and Mercedes, for the same client,” Høivik explains. The construction is scheduled to be completed in 2019.
Web: www.romfarer.no Facebook: Romfarer Arkitekter Instagram: @romfarer.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
The complete architectural design of buildings 76 and 83 in Tjuvholmen (83 left and right; 76 middle and below). Both buildings were designed to emphasise the fjord with a modern and timeless expression. The project has an outstanding position situated right on the edge of the waterfront overlooking the Oslo Fjord. Photos: Jiri Havran.
Simple geometry enriched through the details Through more than 45 years in the business, Torstein Ramberg has acquired a broad expertise when it comes to architecture and urbanisation. Focusing on high architectural quality, with emphasis on entirety, functional solutions and details, he has completed a wide range of commissions both in Norway and abroad, including the Norwegian embassy in Saudi Arabia. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Torstein Ramberg
After Torstein Ramberg established his architectural office in 1973, he worked on a variety of projects over the years, from housing and office buildings to embassies as well as regulatory plans. All with a common theme: a minimalist concept and simple geometry enriched through the details, adapted by the use of materials and detail design. “I have always placed emphasis on the human scale, and especially the areas where people roam. The overall nature of a place is important, as well as the entirety and functional solutions,” Ramberg explains, while adding: “With simple geometry, the architecture will last forever.”
Modern architecture adapted to an existing building environment Ramberg believes in the importance of evaluating and developing each individ62 | Issue 117 | October 2018
ual task based on site-specific factors, through thorough functional analyses and environmental assessments. In this way, his projects develop by belonging to the location and its surroundings. His architectural design and solutions have a distinct international style and minimalist approach. He has carried out a wide range of assignments for both the private sector and public clients throughout the years. The projects range from larger commercial buildings and office spaces to residential projects, embassies, bathing facilities, cultural buildings and restoration work. “The projects are characterised by modern architecture adapted to an existing building environment, and through its detailing and materials, one can say those projects obtain a Nordic style,” says Ramberg.
The Norwegian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Completed in 1985, the Norwegian embassy in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia was an extensive project which comprised the planning and building of the chancellery, the ambassador’s residence and housing for employees. Ramberg acknowledges the embassy as a guest in another country, and it was
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
therefore important for him to be aware of its style and customs. “Saudi Arabia is more of a closed world, where walls are representative of the culture. We chose to make the walls a large part of the architecture of the embassy, but our aim was that the actual openings in the walls should be the prominent features to create a distinctive character,” he says. By emphasising these particular openings and the surrounding nature, Ramberg created a closed but equally open setting, where the view was in focus in a typical Scandinavian manner.
The Tjuvholmen project For the large housing project in the neighbourhood Tjuvholmen, on the seaside in the city centre of Oslo, Ramberg worked on the complete architectural design of buildings 76 and 83. Both buildings were finished in 2010, and the new development is today characterised by fascinating architecture and elaborate outdoor spaces, including a city beach.
Both these exclusive residential complexes have an outstanding position situated right on the edge of the waterfront overlooking the Oslo fjord. Here, in an idyllic setting, these two different individual buildings have played a big part in the transformation of this trendy area. “With the location as the perfect starting point, we designed both buildings to emphasise the fjord with a modern and timeless expression. House 76 was designed with a light and bright feel to complement its surroundings,” Ramberg states. The ground floor has a large hall of pillars, which creates an interesting space for pedestrians walking through on their daily commute. “While 76 is completely white, number 83 is black and white with a balcony design that enriches the shape of the building. Here, all living rooms are orientated towards the fjord with exposed balconies and, therefore, impressive views.” The main theme is the horizon and the connection with its surroundings. “The
buildings are distinctive with a simple architectural appearance which is very noticeable, as they extend from the water’s edge making the horizon a prominent feature,” Ramberg concludes. A selection of architecture awards: 2006 Oslo City Architecture Award: Villa Korsnes 2003 Oslo City Architecture Award: Christiania Square 1995 The Nordic Award for Architecture: R5, government quarter, Akersgaten in Oslo 1992 The Norwegian Award for Building Design: high-tech glass and steel car exhibition hall in Ensjø, Oslo 1991 Schistad Award: Meek housing project in Molde
Web: www.torsteinramberg.as
Top left: The Norwegian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was completed in 1985. Top middle: The openings in the surrounding walls of the embassy were designed to be the prominent features in the architecture to create a distinctive character and represent the Saudi Arabian culture. Top right: Business building Mustadsvei 1 in Oslo, 2014. Bottom left and right: The Tjuvholmen project (building 76 on the left, 83 on the right).
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
Private residence, Arnheim, Svolvær.
Arctic Living Following a passion for architecture and the desire to take part in developing northern coastal regions, Anette Fleischer founded TIND Arkitektur in 2014, a year after she had moved from Oslo to Lofoten, in the north of Norway.
is designed to allow the active family of four to enjoy all seasons and weather conditions both inside and outside.
By Synne Johnsson | Photos: TIND Arkitektur AS
Jakten på Lofoten, which translates as ‘In search of Lofoten’, is a place-led development focusing on reinforcing qualities and addressing needs within the local communities. The project is carried out in collaboration with SALT and SISU Design Lab. “By gathering local stories, we might bring to light a more authentic view, or rather a collection of views, of Lofoten as a home and a place of work,” Fleischer says. “The hope is that these voices can be used to help shape our future societies.”
Both Fleischer and her co-worker Synne Brustad moved to the north to live surrounded by nature instead of always having to travel to it. “These dramatic, yet delicate surroundings have such an impact on our everyday life. Environmental sustainability, therefore, plays a vital role in our approach to architecture,” Fleischer says. The members of TIND have broad experience in working with architecture as part of local identity in an Arctic cultural, climatic and historical context. They take on projects on a variety of scales, from design and concept, to user-led developments. Every project is unique and carried out in close dialogue with the client. Brustad says: “By working across fields and supporting an open discourse, we hope to contribute to a collective intelligence, both locally and regionally. We believe that sustainable architecture arrives through processes where place and people are allowed to attune.” 64 | Issue 117 | October 2018
Brustad has experience from the field of urban design and has had a clear focus on cultural geography through former practice. “Architecture does not only concern the built environment, but also our perception of the place we live in; the landscapes, villages, cities, and homes we encounter. It must accommodate, at the same time, the individual and the collective,” she says. Their most recent projects include public facilities for locals and visitors in Vågan: housing toilets, showers and shelters for outdoor recreation. The design is inspired by the ocean and peaks of the region: blue walls reflect the symbolic palette of Vågan municipality. Private residence Arnheim in Svolvær is remodelled on a ‘60s house. The ground floor holds bedrooms and a bathroom, while the social areas like the kitchen and living room are lifted to get an outstanding view of the sea. The house
Vågan: public facilities, Kallestranda.
Web: www.tindark.no Facebook: tind.arkitektur
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
Adaptiv Arkitektur aims to lower their environmental footprint by using sustainable local materials and limiting the use of concrete.
Sustainable architecture made to last Based in the mythical area of Selgjord in West Telemark in Norway, the inventive and creative architects of Adaptiv Arkitektur create modern, sustainable and ecofriendly buildings and products meant to last several generations. By Alyssa Nilsen | Photos: Adaptiv Arkitektur
Adaptiv Arkitektur was founded in 2010 and has since grown into a company with five employees: three architects, one intern and one interior designer. Working locally, as well as in the Oslo area, they take on a variety of projects, from extensions to already built houses to commercial buildings and institutions. Lead architect Pål Sylwester Witczak says the name of the company represents their vision of adaptive architecture, of structures and buildings that respond to the context they are set in. “Every project is unique and needs a unique solution,” he says. “Our goal is to find the right solution for each client, rather than having a set signature style or design across the board.” This is achieved through close dialogue with clients about their needs, the location and the history of the place.
using locally sourced materials and trying to limit the use of concrete for structures. Instead, they use renewable materials such as wood, creating durable buildings meant to last longer than just a couple of decades. Working with a lot of old buildings and structures in an age where few things are made to last more than 30 years, they enjoy restoring, improving and adding to houses that have been around for 250 years or longer.
And rather than outsourcing the building tasks, Adaptiv Arkitektur prefers using its network of local builders with history, traditions and knowledge of the local climate and environment. “We had one cabin with a challenging window placement,” Witczak says. “In the winter they would get two metres of snow on the ground, and roof avalanches on top of that. They couldn’t look out of their windows, so we basically raised the entire structure of the cabin above snow level.” Web: www.adaptivark.no Facebook: adaptivark
Adaptiv Arkitektur aims to keep their environmental footprint as low as possible, Issue 117 | October 2018 | 65
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
Bydelsfestivalen, edible city fair 2017. Arrangement developed as part of a larger reputation-building strategy by district Stavanger East.
Creative city-changers
– the people building bridges between the city planners and the public With offices in Oslo and Stavanger, innovative Norwegian design company LÉVA Urban Design helps make cities, neighbourhoods and living spaces a better fit for the public, using somewhat unorthodox methods connected to science. By Alyssa Nilsen | Photos: LÉVA Urban Design
LÉVA focuses on people and involving the general public in their work. “There’s a gap between the city planners and the people who live there,” CEO Aslaug Tveit says. “There are the committees who make plans to create a living city, and then there’s the guy opening up a coffee shop who actually creates that life. The two of them often have no connection or communication, and that’s where we come in.” LÉVA builds bridges and effectively translates between the parties involved. When they advise, they often have to explain to the municipality what 66 | Issue 117 | October 2018
is important to be able to cooperate with a private developer and vice versa. They always look for a mutual goal to make the collaboration work across interests and disciplines. With a Master’s degree in urban design from Aalborg University, Tveit’s strength is being strategic and cooperative. Focusing on city development with a people-orientated mindset, this differs from urban planning through a more holistic way of thinking and a focus on the needs of the people and the processes.
When cities and municipalities involve people, they often do so through big meetings, formal processes and political discussions, while the people living there might need the inspiration, most of all, to participate in the development process. Founded in Stavanger in 2009, LÉVA slowly expanded their business further out. In 2015, they started working nationwide and opened another office in Oslo. Along with Tveit’s own expertise, her interdisciplinary team now consists of urban designers, an environmental psychologist, an architect, a landscape architect and people with other types of special competencies. Among their clients are big names and projects, such as Oslo’s nine-kilometre-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
long harbour promenade. Tveit was also CEO for non-profit company Urban Sjøfront in Stavanger from 2012 to 2018, which is owned by 19 landowners and is a collaboration with Stavanger municipality on developing a 600-hectare area. Other customers are Selvaag Bolig, Veidekke Eiendom, Stor-Oslo Eiendom, Mustad Eiendom and several municipalities.
A playful approach to communication When LÉVA takes on a new project, the team always starts out with a thorough analysis of the current situation, and is one of the few companies in Norway who prepare a socio-cultural location analysis. Their environmental psychologist has a PhD in walkability and has written numerous research articles about the human needs of a city. When the time comes to involve the public into the city planning, they do so by using slightly unorthodox methods. “We’ve got a big toolbox with methods that we keep developing,” Tveit says. “When companies engage us, we use anything from anonymous digital surveys to better understand what peo-
ple want, to hands-on events. Instead of a standard meeting, we arrange summer parties, treasure hunts or competitions, or do creative workshops where people can build LEGO or draw pictures. Some approaches are common, whereas others we’ve developed ourselves, based on older scientific methods.” The hands-on approach is essential to LÉVA. City planning takes such a long time − each plan and development can take ten years or more − so Tveit feels that people need something to happen along the way. Inspired by the book and concept Tactical Urbanism: Short-term Action, Long-term Change, LÉVA likes to go out into the field, rather than just stay in the office and design from a distance. This way, they get to know the people they design for and learn how everything works in daily life. “The way we think and work makes it very understandable to the public,” Tveit says, and explains that instead of complicated plans, illustrations and documents, they like to use cartoons to communicate. The advantage of the
playful language and imagery is that it allows the general public to better understand what is happening to their living space by eliminating terminology that explains very little to very few. Through her experience and implementation capacity behind the scenes, Tveit has also become an active speaker in Norway and is in several resource groups for conferences and other advisory boards within city development in Norway. One of the committees she has recently been in was for Oslo Urban Arena, a big city development conference which was held in Oslo in September. Aslaug Tveit contact info: +47 926 71 040 aslaug@leva-urbandesign.no
Find LÉVA at their offices in Stavanger and Oslo, as well as: Web: www.leva-urbandesign.no Facebook: LÉVA-Urban-Design-AS
Top left: Kiosken: a temporary meeting spot established in 2016 while working on the harbour promenade in Oslo. Top middle: LÉVA has transformed an old caravan into a creative mobile meeting space. Top right: Event on the streets of Kristiansand in connection with developing a new street plan for Kristiansand city centre. Bottom left: Illustration for the project Elveparken in Sandnes city centre. Ongoing project.
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 67
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
Phenomen carries out complete refurbishments and transforms your home through a carefully constructed process and implementation plan.
Phenomenal designs with a heart for personal expression For Julie Furset of Oslo-based Phenomen Interiørdesign, the concept of an interior design business started as a distant dream. Encouraged by her passion for design, space and individual expression, she bravely followed her longing to create, and today, that dream of creating harmonious homes has become her lodestar.
She laughs and admits: “Although I do have clients who call me at 8pm on a Saturday when they’ve found an interesting looking flowerpot, and they want my opinion before buying it.”
By Julie Linden | Photos: Hilde Hugsand
“Phenomen was very much born out of my passion for aesthetics and beauty – and my interest in the milieus we surround ourselves in,” she reflects. “I wanted to cultivate and grow my creative side, and also have more of a dynamic everyday life.”
More than colours and flowerpots With a background in real estate, she was well versed in both administration and home sales, but always she knew she was meant for a creative craft – and after 68 | Issue 117 | October 2018
earning her interior design degree, there was no doubt where to head next. “I am an image-centred person, I think in pictures and images and always knew I could offer more to a creative industry,” she asserts. “However, it was first when I started working with a wide spectrum of clients that I realised interior design is so much more than the colours we paint our walls, or the flowerpots we choose for our window sills.”
Dedication, intention – and a lot of heart It is, without a shadow of a doubt, Furset’s pure, unreserved dedication to her clients and craft that sets her apart in her industry. Having founded Phenomen with heart, harmony and awareness of personal needs in mind, she has turned into somewhat of an expert on the process of finding the core of each client’s ‘musthaves’. And, more often than not, the actual outcome might differ entirely from the expected result.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
“Yes,” she laughs. “A lot of people think they know what they want, but I make a point of challenging their preconceived ideas about themselves. For instance, I get a lot of ‘my taste is very classic’, and then it turns out that’s not remotely close to the truth. Usually, it’s just that the person has never been challenged on their own tastes, wants and desires – and that’s where most of us tend to get stuck.” She speaks with clarity, emotion and an unmistakably humble approach. “An interior design process might seem easy, but it’s a long string of conscious decisions – all to make you feel at ease, and at home.”
Self-discovery through design Furset explains that Phenomen’s main clientele usually consists of individuals experiencing shifts in life – such as family growth or children moving out – and that there are therefore many common denominators, but little direction. “It helps to gain new perspectives, and that’s where we come in. I sit down with the clients and find out what their
actual needs are. What’s happening in their lives? What are they feeling about their current situation – what needs to change? It’s very much a process of self-discovery, and I’m very humbled by the trust I’m given during that process.” Phenomen carries out complete refurbishments after the constructional and architectural phase has been completed – and turns your house into your home through a carefully constructed process and implementation plan. Furset is guided by key principles in her process: a Nordic form of expression, a green, sustainable profile, and aiming towards a harmonious design that stands the test of time. “I can’t say that I’m an intentional follower of trends. What I do get inspired by is the increased awareness of a greener, slower living, that goes hand in hand with concepts like mindfulness and calmness. All in all, these are guiding principles that make for a space that you’ll want to come home to for many, many years.”
A sustainable profile and quality suppliers Beyond her commitment to a naturecentric, sustainable profile with staples like harmonious textures and palettes, Furset pays special attention to working with suppliers with interesting, independent portfolios. “I prefer including pieces that are created by people who are dedicated to their craft and have followed their dreams – whether that’s in pottery, art or textiles. It feels good to support these suppliers, and they add something extra to each and every home.” In the end, Furset’s love for her craft shows in everything she touches. With a growing capacity and hunger for new challenges in all sectors of her field, she looks positively to the future. “I love what I do, and I really do care about each and every project,” she says. “With me, what you see is what you get,” she concludes, with a smile. Web: www.phenomen.no Instagram: @juliefurset
With a creative and personal approach to design, Julie Furset transforms your house into a home.
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 69
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Norway
Left: Styleit increased the size of a local church by 50 per cent, turning one side into offices for rent. Top right: Instead of building a stage runway for Byporten shopping centre’s fashion shows, Styleit used tiles to highlight the runway area, making life easier for the people arranging it. Below right: Private kitchen created by Styleit with elements from British furniture maker Neptune.
Design the stress away From prisons to golf clubs − whatever the project is, Styleit, a Vinterbro-based interior design firm, aims to create a stress-free and enjoyable environment through an equally stress-free process. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Styleit
Often, an inviting and comfortable environment is the result of a long and uncomfortable design process, but not always. In 2004, British Mercy Gill made her love for design her career, and, five years later, she founded Styleit. Since then, the company has been behind a number of stress-free renovation and design projects. Working with public and private clients, Styleit provides comprehensive interior design solutions including layouts, furniture and lighting plans, sourcing and project planning. “Styleit offers an A to Z solution. We work with our own carpenter, electrician, plumber, bricklayer and more besides. So our customers can get everything through us. Many people have so much stress in their lives, so that’s something which they really appreciate.” The firm’s approach has proved successful in a broad range of projects, from the prison guards’ offices at the Ila prison 70 | Issue 117 | October 2018
to Gjersøen Golf Club. “What we had to do at the prison was to create a simple and functional space for the guards to do their administrative work. But, as working with often depressed or violent prisoners means that the guards might have had a rough day, we also wanted to make it a bit more playful, make it a space where they could come to talk, and relax a bit,” says Gill. In recent years, a strong collaboration with British furniture maker Neptune has led to an increase in private projects for Styleit, including a number of kitchen and bathroom projects. Whether it is a private villa, a prison office or golf club, the goal is always the same. “We wish to create an atmosphere, not just nice designs or nice pieces of furniture and colours, but an atmosphere in which people enjoy being,” says Gill. “We’re seeking a better version of better, not just in regards to products,
but also services and ideas − to make life easier for our clients. That’s also why we work so well with Neptune, because at the heart of what they do are products that improve people’s lives, make them happy and comfortable.” Styleit is the sole distributor of Neptune furniture in Norway.
Mercy Gill founded Styleit, an interior design firm providing comprehensive design solutions, in 2009.
Web: www.styleit.no
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Varg Arkitekter. Photos: Åke E:son Lindman
Young Swedish design moves Tokyo In October 2018, a year when Sweden and Japan celebrate 150 years of diplomatic relations, Sweden is invited as partner country in the festival DESIGNART TOKYO 2018. The participation takes place under the banner ‘Swedish Design Moves Tokyo’, in joint collaboration with Visit Sweden, the Embassy of Sweden, the Swedish Institute, and Svensk Form (The Swedish Society of Crafts and Design). By Mats Widbom, managing director at Svensk Form
Tokyo is the first international venue for Ung Svensk Form (Young Swedish Design) 2018 – an annual juried award and exhibition, which travels in Sweden and abroad to deepen knowledge about young and innovative Swedish design, architecture, fashion and craft. Ung Svensk Form is organised by Svensk Form, ArkDes, IKEA and the City of Malmö. This year’s edition of Ung Svensk Form puts craft into focus, where you can interpret the physical and tactile almost as a kind of counter force for digitisation’s dominance over people’s time and attention. Another trend under the spotlight is recycled materials, such as the use of old curtain fabrics or recycled bottles in
in all, the young Swedish designers show a wide diversity of expression and different sources of inspiration, and add new narratives to the classic link between form and function. I hope the festival audience will be inspired and moved by the new faces of Swedish design.
graffiti-inspired fashion design. It is within fashion that the exploration of sustainable materials is most obvious, even though the exhibition’s most unexpected reuse is the chair made of parchment, carefully processed from elk slaughter waste. The participants’ creative exploration of materials and techniques also creates unexpected meetings such as the expressive moldings of glass and tin that link to alchemy experiments to create precious metals. With increasingly blurring boundaries between art, design and craft, Ung Svensk Form presents playful, poetic and community-engaged projects, making the 2018 edition one of the very best. All
Mats Widbom. Photo: Julien Bourgeois
Web: www.svenskform.se
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 73
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
Nobis Copenhagen. Photo: André Phil, Wingårdhs
Natural grandeur and social inclusion When Nobis Hotels opened a new hotel in the centre of Copenhagen last year, its first hotel outside of Sweden, Wingårdhs carefully redesigned the interior whilst preserving the neoclassicism of the original building. By Malin Norman
The structure was built in 1903 by architect Martin Borch and is located next to Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Tivoli and the Central Station. Originally intended for an insurance company, it later became home to the Danish Academy of Music. “This is a fantastic building with high ceilings, plenty of space and beautiful details,” says Joakim Lyth, archi74 | Issue 117 | October 2018
tect and office manager at Wingårdhs in Malmö. The new hotel features 70 rooms, a spa and fitness centre, meeting rooms and a restaurant. Much of it has been custom-designed to realise the mission of providing a warm and relaxed hotel environment. “Danish classicism, which
the Nobis Hotel Copenhagen building is a fine example of, is something special,” says architect Gert Wingårdh. “In the main building, we’ve been delicate and respectful, emphasising every detail of the original architecture and decor, adding superior-quality natural materials such as various marbles, stone, wood and glass, with a subtle colour scale, accentuated with beautiful deep greens.”
Trio in southern Sweden Wingårdhs has recently won a number of high-profile competitions, with three of the projects based in southern Sweden.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
Together with AART Architects in Denmark, the firm will develop Lund’s new school Hedda Anderssongymnasiet. “With around 2,000 students, this will be one of Sweden’s largest schools,” explains Lyth. “The size brings certain challenges and we want the students to feel at home and safe in a peaceful and fun environment.” In Malmö, Wingårdhs is creating a new office for Lantmännen, northern Europe’s leader in agriculture, machinery, bioenergy and food products. According to Lyth, the proposal commits to the client’s green DNA and long-term goals. “This is an interesting assignment with plans for Lantmännen’s expansion in a sustainable building that will last for
a hundred years. And the area is exciting too, with one foot by the dock and one foot in the city.” Together with Midroc Property Development, Wingårdhs is also transforming the Hyllie neighbourhood in Malmö. Divided into seven blocks with different identities and functions, the area offers both private accommodation and public activities – even a microbrewery – joined by a green space. Lyth expands: “Malmö City has specific requirements on sustainability and social inclusion. With this project, we will create a green space that adds what Hyllie is missing today; clear public spaces embraced in greenery, a place where people feel welcome.”
Facts about Wingårdhs: Wingårdhs was founded in 1977 and is an architecture firm with 225 employees: 138 in Gothenburg, 55 in Stockholm and 32 in Malmö. The firm designs everything from small private homes to shopping centres, office blocks and public buildings. The teams work with new builds, renovation projects and add-ons. Sustainability is one of the firm’s areas of expertise and it believes in long-term societal development.
Web: www.wingardhs.se Facebook: wingardhs.se Instagram: @wingardhs
Office Lantmännen (top left), Embassy of Sharing (bottom left), and Hedda Anderssongymnasiet (right). Photos: Wingårdhs
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 75
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
TAKO. Photo: Felix Gerlach
Rare elegance and pioneering decadence With the competence of Sweden’s largest team of interior architects, Tengbom creates spectacular interiors – working with, rather than against, the features of buildings. By Malin Norman
“Ultimately, we create interiors for our client’s customers, using the available space to enhance the experience,” says Kjerstin Björk, architect and studio manager of interior design at Tengbom. “In order to do so, we have to think beyond our own understanding and experience. Nowadays, customised concepts are trendy and Instagram-friendly places are increasingly important, this is how people find out about new spots to visit.” 76 | Issue 117 | October 2018
At Tengbom, structures are seen as individuals with an identity. Environments are optimised so that visitors can find and understand the place, and so that the people working in the building enjoy being there. A hotel or restaurant can even lift a whole neighbourhood. In particular, two of Tengbom’s recent interior design assignments stand out and, not surprisingly, they have both been nominated for international awards.
Mystic elegance at TAKO First out is TAKO. Commissioned by Stockholm Krogbolag, this restaurant is a brand-new dining concept at the venue on Birger Jarlsgatan 29, which was once upon a time famous for its busy nightlife. This is the fifth restaurant that Tengbom has designed for the restaurateur, which in itself is proof of a long and successful business relationship. Here, Tengbom has weaved together Scandinavian, Japanese and Korean influences under the name TAKO, which translates into dragon or octopus, and has used the levels and narrow passages to recreate the atmosphere of the
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
mystic backstreets of Tokyo. Björk elaborates on some of the project’s challenges: “The venue is dark with plenty of hidden areas and varying floor levels. Instead of trying to change that, we have played with it, lifting and enhancing the features as part of the concept.” TAKO has been nominated for an award at the World Architecture Festival 2018 and also at the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2018.
Decadently welcoming Hilma Another of Tengbom’s outstanding interior design concepts is Hilma. The client is Generator Hostel, which opens design-driven hostels in trendy cities such as Stockholm. Hilma is its restaurant, a pioneeringly decadent space, yet warm and cosy.
Tengbom’s inspiration for the kitschy restaurant came from the world of art and fashion, especially the artist Hilma Af Klint. Once again, the team looked at the characteristics of the place and created a number of different areas within the building to balance edgy and comfy. There is also a tattoo studio, a vintage pinball machine and multi-coloured flooring. “It’s like a playground for grown-ups,” smiles Björk. “Even though this is a spectacular venue in many ways, everyone should feel welcome and comfortable. And if you look closer, there are a lot of quirky details to discover such as a sofa with stirrups.” Hilma has also been nominated for a number of awards, including the Frame Awards: Bar of the Year 2018, the Andrew Martin Designer of the Year Award 2018 and the German Design Awards 2018.
Hilma. Photo: Morgan Norman
TAKO. Photo: Felix Gerlach
Facts about Tengbom: Tengbom, founded in 1906, is one of the oldest architecture practices in the world. Svante Tengbom, grandson of the founder Ivar Tengbom, still works in the company, keeping the family line intact. In 2016, Johanna Frelin was appointed CEO. As a spokesperson and role model for digitalisation, she puts Tengbom at the forefront of the new era. With over 600 employees in some 12 static and mobile offices in Sweden and Finland, Tengbom applies an agile operation mode by emerging where needed.
Web: www.tengbom.se Facebook: Tengbom Twitter: @tengbom Instagram: @tengbom
Hilma. Photo: Morgan Norman
TAKO. Photo: Felix Gerlach
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 77
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
Kata Farm’s architecture blends in beautifully with the rural surroundings.
Past masters The importance of understanding history is at the heart of AIX’s architecture and, with two nominations in this year’s World Architecture Festival (WAF) awards, the Stockholm-based architects have shown that the past can, and should be, a beautiful and relevant part of our present. By Liz Longden | Photos: Antonius van Arkel
The rural ruins of Sweden’s oldest surviving church and a 100-year-old university campus may not, at first glace, appear to have much in common. But both have been developed by AIX to international acclaim, with a common philosophy: that historic sites should be preserved not as relics, but as living sources of inspiration which help us to move towards a better future. AIX take on projects from across a number of disciplines, including new constructions. However, with a studio dedicated to the renovation of historic buildings and the development of culturally important sites, a sensitivity to78 | Issue 117 | October 2018
wards the interplay of past and present permeates all their work. It was this awareness which made them the perfect partners for both Sustainability House, a major new building on a campus of Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), and Kata Farm, a protective shelter over the site of a 1,000-year-old Viking church. These two very different projects, united by the importance of historical continuity, have both been nominated on the 2018 WAF shortlist.
A living complement The brief for Sustainability House was to create a new building to house academic
offices, in a location which is surrounded by listed buildings and situated within the bounds of Stockholm’s National City Park. This meant that the building had to not only be functional and innovative, but also respect the heritage and restrictions of the site and complement the existing architecture. “If you’re building on a culturally or historically important site, there are a lot of things, like pieces of a puzzle, which have to fit together,” explains lead architect Sven Ahlénius. “You have to ensure a kind of continuity with the past, but at the same time, try to create something that has contemporary relevance, and which is also built as sustainably as possible. So those are the kind of questions that we work with a lot at AIX and which were also relevant here.” The result was a building which Ahlénius describes as a “contemporary
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
complement” to the existing buildings. Hand-laid red bricks and an intelligent play on perspective, which makes the building appear narrower, ensure that Sustainability House blends in harmoniously with its surroundings. Yet a bold window configuration gives an unashamedly contemporary aesthetic. The building’s functionality is also focused on the needs of the present, with the maximising of internal space, the opening up of the ground floor with large windows and clearly defined entrances, and, not least, a gold standard sustainable building certification (‘Miljöbyggnad Guld’) from the Sweden Green Building Council.
Telling a story For Magnus Silfverhielm, lead architect on Kata Farm, historical continuity also has a more philosophical sense. The site in Varnhem, Västra Götaland, contains the crypt and foundations of a church dating from 900 AD, constructed on the orders of a Viking woman, Kata, and which may be Sweden’s oldest surviving building. AIX were asked to design a protective shelter for the ruins, which could also serve as a visitor centre.
and building techniques from abroad, which made the building of the stone church possible. “It is very important, particularly in the times in which we’re living, to tell this story of how the development of our country has always been dependent upon influences from other cultures,” he says.
a glass floor. The choice of wood as a building material is not only sustainable and blends in harmoniously with the rural surroundings, but was also the material used on the first church on the site. Even the assembly of the wooden roofing boards is inspired by the construction techniques of Viking longboats.
Kata Farm pays homage to this peaceful co-existence of cultures in the symbolism of its triangular roof, which represents the religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, united by their common origin in the figure of Abraham. Strategically placed windows offer views onto the nearby medieval abbey, giving context of the development of Christianity, while Kata’s grave is visible through
“Architects have a very important role when it comes to cultural heritage,” Silfverhielm says. “We draw energy from a site and try to understand the significance of what has stood there, to then create something new that will link people to that past for generations to come.” Web: www.aix.se
Photo: Peder Lindbom
Silfverhielm explains that the project was an opportunity to make a statement about the importance of history to contemporary society, particularly regarding the often forgotten role of women in Swedish history and the positive impact of contact with other cultures. The arrival of Christianity, Silfverhielm points out, brought with it new technologies Photo: Peder Lindbom
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 79
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
Comfort Hotel, located by Copenhagen’s Kastrup airport, is one of Denmark’s highest profile hotel projects. Photo: Krook & Tjäder
Krook & Tjäder — built on great relationships As one of Sweden’s largest architecture firms, with a portfolio crammed with prestige projects and an international profile, you might expect the offices of Krook & Tjäder to be slightly intimidating. But you would be wrong. For here, the success of every project, large and small, is built upon a foundation of openness and approachability. By Liz Longden
Krook & Tjäder this year celebrates 30 years in business. Over that time, the company has operated in 19 different countries and consolidated itself as one of Scandinavia’s leading names in the fields of architecture, urban development and interior design. With eight offices giving extensive geographic coverage of Sweden and a ninth in Oslo, the firm has built up a team of around 250, offering a comprehensive range of expertise. Despite its size and achievements, however, CEO Johan von Wachenfeldt says that the ethos of the company, and the secret to its success, is based on a simple philosophy: that “good relationships lead to good architecture.” More specif80 | Issue 117 | October 2018
ically, that good communication, openness and old-fashioned friendliness, foster confidence in clients, enabling his team to gain a much better understanding of their needs. “Of course, we have an extremely high level of competence and always strive to remain professional, but we also believe it’s very important to really engage with people on a personal level,” von Wachenfeldt explains. “It’s a philosophy that we have grown up with, from the very beginning.”
Diversity and flexibility The strength of these personal relationships is one reason why Krook & Tjäder have been entrusted with some of Sweden’s biggest architectural projects.
Although the firm works within many different areas, hotel design is one niche in which it excels, and Krook & Tjäder are considered by many to be leaders in the field, with a portfolio of over 400 hotel projects worldwide. It is not surprising, therefore, that the company is currently working on two of the highest profile hotel projects in Denmark. The Comfort Hotel, located by Copenhagen’s Kastrup airport, is a new 600-room hotel and conference centre, with a striking, contemporary aesthetic inspired by aeronautical innovation. The Post Hotel, on the other hand, is a conversion of the historic former head office of the Royal Danish Post Office, due to open in the centre of Copenhagen in 2020. Alongside these large-scale flagship projects, however, there are many other smaller, but no less impressive examples. A 14-room hotel, converted from an old engine shed and situated in the wilderness, 200 miles north of the Arctic Cir-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
cle, might seem a world away from cosmopolitan Copenhagen, but the Niehku Mountain Villa boutique hotel and ski lodge has been lovingly crafted with the same skill and pride as its larger counterparts. “We enjoy being a part of the large prestige projects, of course, but we get just as much pleasure and satisfaction from the smaller ones too,” says von Wachenfeldt. “They have the same importance for us, and we have a place for them all.”
Autonomous entrepreneurs This diversity is made possible by the broad spectrum of skills which Krook & Tjäder’s extensive team offers. Thanks to close collaboration between its nine offices, the firm can put together the perfect team for any project, irrespective of size or nature. The company also prides itself on the faith it places in the members of its team, which enables individuals to develop their own strengths and to bring pride and passion to their work. “We have a faith in our colleagues that is, I think, quite unusual in this industry. We trust their competence and their desire to manage their own projects, so that many of those who
work for us have an almost entrepreneurial spirit,” says von Wachenfeldt. “They know that they have the opportunity to make a difference here.” This individual autonomy means that most of Krook & Tjäder’s team members are in direct contact with their clients, ensuring that they have the best possible understanding of those clients’ needs. And this, von Wachenfeldt argues, is essential to the architect’s role. “We feel that the role of an architect is to be a strategic partner – that it isn’t just about designing a building, but also really understanding our client’s business – what they need, what they want to achieve, understanding their finances and so on.” It is that knowledge, he explains, coupled with experience and expertise, which enables Krook & Tjäder to help their clients in a way in which no one else is as well placed to do. “With that influence we have, we can do good. And that means putting people at the centre,” von Wachenfeldt adds. “Everything we do is based around that belief.”
About Krook & Tjäder Founded: 1988, by B-O Krook and Stefan Tjäder CEO: Johan von Wachenfeldt Total employees: 250 Locations: Gothenburg, Malmö, Stockholm, Borås, Halmstad, Uppsala, Östersund, Kristianstad, Oslo
Do you want to work with Krook & Tjäder? The firm’s strength lies in personal meetings, warmth and openness, with knowledge that stretches across the building process, from local plans right through to final detailed drawings. Strong teams in nine locations in Sweden and Norway offer geographic coverage and creative diversity, and stand for solid competence that ensures the highest quality in projects of any size.
Web: www.krooktjader.se
Top left and above: Small but perfectly formed: Niehku Mountain Villa. Photos: Erik Nissen Johansen. Top middle: CEO Johan von Wachenfeldt. Photo: Marie Hidvi
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 81
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
The award-winning Källhall station.
Everyday heroes Award-winning architects, &Rundquist, create public spaces that increase the quality of everyday life, making the lives of thousands of people just that little bit better. By Liz Longden | Photos: Kasper Dudzik
Henrik Rundquist, founder of the architectural firm &Rundquist, does not mind too much if his company’s work is taken a little for granted. Their aim is not simply to create striking individual projects, but to contribute to society with architecture that improves public environments as a whole. &Rundquist are specialists in highquality design of infrastructure, public transport and city planning. Rundquist explains that they work with all aspects of the public space and recognise the 82 | Issue 117 | October 2018
interaction between infrastructure and city planning, combining interesting architecture with often complex technical requirements. Their work includes urban development projects, travel hubs such as stations and terminals, and they also have an extensive portfolio of bridges. It is no exaggeration to say that their work is seen and used by tens of thousands of people every day and forms a backdrop to everyday life. And its point, quite simply, is to make those people’s lives smoother, less stressful and more pleasant.
Organising space Public spaces constitute an area of architecture which brings with it very specific challenges, and which &Rundquist have 25 years of experience in tackling. In broad terms, Rundquist describes their work as balancing technological and functional requirements with striving towards a a harmonious aesthetic. More specifically, he explains, they are often called upon to create public spaces which can cater for an extremely high capacity of people, in constant flow, while also ensuring that the experience for those using that space is as stress-free as possible. “If we look at, for example, an underground train station from an architectural
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
perspective, it’s really about organising space so that travellers can orientate themselves and see where to go, to eliminate any cause of stress, as far as possible. It’s about understanding how people move in that context and creating clearly defined spaces to manage that flow,” Rundquist says. “Our spaces set people at ease, and enable them to experience architecture with an identity — the opposite of that kind of depressing underground environment that you can sometimes get, with small passageways and poor visibility, which can be a source of anxiety.” Central to &Rundquist’s philosophy is that public spaces should be aesthetically pleasing, and, to this end, they regularly work in partnership with artists. “Public environments should be attractive and calming, even if you’re in a banal everyday situation, such as a commute,” Rundquist adds.
Award-winners Two recent projects which illustrate &Rundquist’s philosophy in action are The Yellow Line, a proposal for a new metro line in Stockholm, and Kallhäll Station, a new commuter train station. The Yellow Line has been designed with the triple aim of being attractive, safe and efficient – providing smooth and easy interchanges, with a particular focus on ease of orientation. Every station is developed in collaboration with a different artist, giving each a unique artistic expres-
Left: Bicycle parking space at Älvsjö station. Right: The Arenastaden station, part of &Rundquist’s award-winning concept, The Yellow Line. Photo: &Rundquist and 3D House.
sion and identity, with contribution from light designers to create an environment that is both pleasant and functional. Kallhäll Station, on the other hand, is characterised by a warm aesthetic, thanks to its wooden facade and interior walls. High ceilings and broad, open spaces maximise visibility, while details in the architecture again aid orientation, subtly directing travellers towards their destination. Both projects have been acclaimed at this year’s Global Architecture & Design Awards, with The Yellow Line taking First Award in the category Transportation (Concept), and Kallhäll Station winning Second Award in the category Transportation (Built).
“One thing which marks us out is that we are a relatively small office, which handles large projects — large in terms of investment, size, the number of collaborative partners and also timescales, because our projects often have quite long planning periods,” he explains. “The fact that we aren’t so big makes it easier for us to cement and maintain strong personal relationships with our clients, collaborators and any other consultants who may be working on these projects. And that’s very important to ensure that, together, we produce a great result.” Web: www.rundquist.se
Despite the scale of the projects that &Rundquist works with, the firm is relatively small, with a team of around 30 — something that Henrik Rundquist sees as one of the company’s defining features, and central to its success.
Right: The design of &Rundquist’s bridge spanning Rinkebystråket, Stockholm, is based on ‘lightness’. Bottom left: &Rundquist also works with urban development, with proposals such as this for Norra Hagastaden in Solna, Stockholm. Photo: &Rundquist. Bottom right: &Rundquist’s ventilation towers, part of the Northern Link highway connection in Sweden, are made entirely of wood.
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 83
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
Illustration: Varg Arkitekter
Shaping the future of Stockholm With emphasis on a building’s relation to its surroundings and great care for the finer details, Stockholm-based Varg Arkitekter raises awareness of sustainable architecture and creative urban planning. Its designs are most certainly shaping the future of the city. By Malin Norman
“We always strive to balance new thinking and creative solutions with the breadth of our collective experience in the team,” says the company’s founder and architect Inga Varg, who has vast experience in the industry. Between 1993 and 2013, Varg managed Rosenbergs Arkitekter together with fellow architect Alessandro Ripellino, and she is also a member of 84 | Issue 117 | October 2018
the Stockholm Beauty Council and a frequent award jury representative. “All of our projects are characterised by sustainable, high-quality, timeless designs,” Varg says about the team’s approach, and continues: “Our ambition is to create interesting and long-lasting architecture. For every assignment, and
always in dialogue with our clients, we refine the core idea as we go along. Working in close partnership with clients without any sense of prestige gives continuity as we make progress on the journey together. Ultimately, we build our vision together.”
From the big picture to the finer details From early urban planning assignments to final details in housing, offices and educational institutions, Varg Arkitekter is part of shaping the future of Stockholm. The team looks at the bigger picture and makes use of its many possibilities and its relation to the surroundings, whilst also caring for the finer details.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
Of the bureau’s many successful projects, Sthlm New 02 stands out. It is planned in Mårtensdal, which is part of Stockholm’s diverse area Hammarby Sjöstad, with industries around the corner and a new underground station currently being built. Commissioned by Skanska Fastigheter, the office building is a monolithic structure, seemingly neutral to its busy surroundings. However, with an exterior of relief mesh, the structure itself is full of details.
Clear and creative architectural concepts Another interesting case is Brofästet in Norra Djurgårdsstaden, which actually consists of three separate building projects. The borough has high requirements for sustainability and the
structures are energy efficient with a well-insulated shell, solar panels and smart technical systems. And in Gladan, a housing project in Stadshagen, Varg Arkitekter has worked extensively with the outside space. Two buildings with brass and glass exteriors replace a number of old offices, and the plan includes communal green areas as well as a nursery school. Further afield is Torgkvarteret in Vallastaden, commissioned by Stångåstaden in Linköping and completed in time for the Housing Fair (Bomässan) 2017. Here, Varg Arkitekter joined forces with DinellJohannsson and the two firms created every other building in the block. The units include accommodation, student housing and offices. Varg concludes: Photo: Wilhelm Rejnus
“Even though these buildings may look quite different, they are like pieces in a puzzle with a clear and creative architectural concept that fit well together.” Web: www.vargarkitekter.se Facebook: Varg Arkitekter Instagram: @vargarkitekter
Facts about Varg Arkitekter: Set up in 2014, Varg Arkitekter is run by architect Inga Varg. Based in Stockholm, the team consists of around 25 people. Projects are mainly focused around the Stockholm region and range from city planning to accommodation, offices and educational environments.
Facts about Inga Varg: With a degree in architecture from the School of Architecture at KTH, the Royal Institute of Technology, in Stockholm, Inga Varg has worked with complex assignments in city planning, architecture and interior design since 1978. She is an elected member of Stockholm Beauty Council and a frequent jury member for various awards. Varg’s projects have themselves been awarded the Kasper Salin Prize, for example, and won the Swedish Concrete Federation’s (Svensk Betong) annual architecture award for the Flat Iron Building.
Photo: Wilhelm Rejnus
Photo: Åke E:son Lindman
Photo: Åke E:son Lindman
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 85
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
Sigfridshäll is a radical departure for contemporary architecture. Photo: Spridd
Innovation through diversity As its name suggests, the architectural firm Spridd – meaning ‘scattered’ in Swedish – was created to seek out diverse and sometimes unusual perspectives on architecture. Through fresh thinking and collaborations, Spridd aims to find innovative solutions to today’s myriad of architectural and social challenges. By Liz Longden
“There are many social and environmental challenges related to how we live,” explains Ola Broms Wessel. Together with Klas Ruin, he is the co-founder of Stockholm-based architecture firm Spridd. “What we work with is changing perceptions, involving more people and seeking out new perspectives to see how we can solve these questions.” One such major challenge is how to build sustainably. The demand for housing is increasing with the global population, yet the construction industry is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions. How to build affordable, high-quality homes with minimal environmental im86 | Issue 117 | October 2018
pact is one question with which Spridd has worked extensively. One approach is to look at new materials and building techniques, and last year, Spridd unveiled their Wooden Box House at the Vallastaden 2017 housing expo in Linköping. Six stories high, with generous balconies stretching all the way around, the residential building is built almost entirely of wood and is one of the most visually striking among the expo’s many innovations. Wood is generally accepted as one of the most sustainable building materials, yet it also poses plenty of challenges. “And that’s also why we wanted to do that project,” says Broms
Wessel, “to test out new technical solutions and show the architectural potential in large-scale wooden structures”. Spridd’s commitment to sustainability is not limited to its choice of building material. “We also try to think about how to involve future residents in the building process, because sustainability requires more people to engage with the efficiency of their home, and to better understand how their building works.” Collaboration with residents was a cornerstone of Spridd’s work in Fittja, Stockholm. Working with The Million Programme project, which is focused on the sustainable and affordable renovation of the extensive housing stock built in Sweden in the 1960s and 1970s, Spridd carried out a pilot renovation project, titled ‘The Fittja People’s Palace’, in 2013. Residents took an active consultative role throughout the renovation project,
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
with the aim of meeting the tight budget set up to keep the rent increase to below 20 per cent. This was fundamental, given the pressing need for quality housing for people on low incomes. The project was the winning Swedish proposal in the Nordic Built Challenge 2013, which praised the concept as ‘a radical departure’, in ‘daring to suggest small but strategic changes’.
Diversity and free-thinking Despite their low-key approach in Fittja, however, Spridd are far from lowprofile, and a number of projects – many the result of winning competitions — have gained significant attention. Spridd’s proposal for a Multicultural Centre in Rinkeby, Stockholm is one example. The centre would be a major new construction, to meet the social and cultural needs of the local community. Flexibility is incorporated into the design, allowing it to be used not only as a mosque, but also as a restaurant, fitness centre, library and shops. ‘Meeting’ and ‘flexibility’ are also central themes in
Spridd’s re-working of St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Stockholm, the result of a competition win, which will see the former church room opened up into an inclusive and multi-functional space for the City Mission’s community activities, with the creation of an interior ‘square’, to mirror the exterior square by the building’s entrance.
idea, almost taken for granted, that contemporary architecture should be minimalist and cost-effective, driven, above all, by profit margins. Instead, Sigfridshäll is an almost playful tribute to the ornate grandeur of 19th-century architecture, with a tower, balustrades and small decorative details to offer an alternative to the dominant aesthetic of today.
Spridd also achieved international plaudits for its ‘Weave’ design, which took the prestigious award for residential housing in the 2013 AR/MIPIM Future Project Awards. Designed for the former industrial town of Norrköping, the building references the architecture of the surrounding historical textile factories, such as the large and repetitively organised windows, while the facade, made of undulating concrete, is reminiscent of fabric.
If may seem a world away from the light touch renovation of Fittja’s tower blocks, but the projects are born from the same philosophy. “The work of many architectural offices is often characterised by strong trends, so that everyone is doing the same kind of thing,” Broms Wessel argues. “We have another way of seeing and thinking, and it begins with two questions: What do we actually want to achieve? And how can we drive forward these discussions that we need to have about society, building production and how we want to live?”
Yet while peer acclaim is welcome, Broms Wessel and his colleagues are not afraid to ruffle feathers. Sigfridshäll will be a new building for the town of Växjö, which Broms Wessel admits is “incredibly controversial”. The project challenges an
Web: www.spridd.se
Top left: Spridd’s proposal for a new Multicultural Centre in Rinkeby. Photo: Spridd. Top right: St Paul’s, Stockholm, will see the former church opened up into an inclusive and multi-functional space. Photo: Spridd. Left: Spridd’s renovation of ‘The Fittja People’s Palace’ entailed close collaboration with residents. Photo: Antonius van Arkel. Middle: The Wooden Box House offers an alternative template for sustainable housing. Photo: Mikael Olsson. Right: Spridd’s award-winning ‘Väv’ design pays homage to the industrial heritage of the city of Norrköping. Photo: Anders Fredriksen
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 87
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
Left: Arena. Top right: Moröbacke. Below right: Floraskolan.
Creating long-lasting impressions With a focus on quality and values that last over time, MAF Arkitektkontor has successfully delivered architectural solutions for almost 80 years. The firm is still going strong and maintains a modern approach to its structures, as most recently seen in three impressive wood designs. By Malin Norman | Photos: MAF
One of Sweden’s oldest architectural firms, but by no means an old-fashioned company, MAF Arkitektkontor works on a wide range of complex assignments such as hotels, offices, housing and sports arenas. The company has a flexible and creative approach to its designs with the greatest respect for technology, function and quality. MAF’s long-term success is due to the extensive experience of the firm’s talented construction engineers and architects, according to CEO Peter Häggmark. “We have a broad mix of competencies to handle everything from city planning all the way via architecture and technology to design,” he says. “Our goal is to create structures with lasting values and qualities, both in terms of 88 | Issue 117 | October 2018
design and technology, and buildings that fit with the surroundings.”
Impressive wood structures While MAF works regularly on the likes of sports arenas in Russia and hotels in Norway, for example, most of the assignments take place back home in Sweden. An example of how MAF successfully mixes technology, economy, environment, function and human requirements is Gällivare Ice & Event Arena and its surrounding park. In this project, the goal was to create one of Sweden’s most energy efficient and modern ice arenas, with a flexible wood structure to fit a number of different activities under one roof. Recently, MAF has also been commissioned to design two schools in Skellefteå,
again with wood as the chosen material. For Floraskolan, an industrial area is transformed into experimental workshops for around 1,000 students, shaped to support a new type of education based around entrepreneurial learning. Morö Backeskolan, meanwhile, is re-designed into a modern structure with the help of MAF. One of the firm’s many other current assignments is a new activity house in Gällivary, where MAF is working together with MGA Architects from Canada. Facts about MAF Arkitektkontor: Founded in 1939, MAF Arkitektkontor is one of Sweden’s oldest architectural firms. Originally set up by the three architects, Bertil Matsson, Lennart Alexis and Bertil Franklin, nowadays the staff-owned firm has around 50 employees in Luleå, Piteå, Umeå and Stockholm.
Web: www.maf-ark.se Facebook: MAFArkitektkontorAB
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden Photo: Marius Rua
Photo: Marius Rua
Photo: Ann Jonsson
A firm built on gratitude From Stockholm to Paris, Berlin, Tanzania, and all the way back to Stockholm: Asante’s founders, Frida Öster and Carolina Wikström, have travelled far and learnt where best to find inspiration. This inspiration is discovered in both places and people, which sums up what Asante Architecture & Design is all about. “We are inspired by the people in the places we work. We are connected to where we are,” says Öster. By Hanna Andersson
Asante Architecture & Design, based in Stockholm, is a company with a strong creative team that works towards one and the same vision: a focus on sustainability and the client, which is demonstrated clearly throughout their projects. “We focus on design created for the local, both the people and the environment. We focus on sustainability, wood, nature and people’s needs. Every project is developed around the place where we are, and the people that live there.” Asante architects want their projects to make a statement, to show that each project can make a difference to an area or a person. “It is amazing how architecture can attract and affect people. Our project Hadars Hus in Norway has gained attention internationally and won a few awards, including a Golden Design Award. The little island where the house is built has now
been visited by architecture enthusiasts from all around the world, which is very exciting. Our design objects are also developed to bring attention and admiration to a place. Like our cutlery sleeves: they are cases made out of vegetable-tanned leather, and perfect for a nice table setting,” says Öster. Their inspiration always comes from the surrounding area, no matter where their project may take place. Öster elaborates: “We want our clients to feel proud of where they are and where they live; the material found in the area, the nature surrounding them, and the culture. We want to create great things that contain little gestures.” Öster and Wikström both studied at the Royal Institute of Technology before moving to Paris and Berlin to study for a year. They then came back and started their fi-
nal university project: in Tanzania. “We designed and built a children’s centre, which opened this August. It has been eight years of hard work. We were in charge of the whole project and had to find funding, volunteers and everything else, but it was all worth it.” Asante means ‘thank you’ in Swahili, and that is the foundation of the business. “We named it Asante in gratitude for what Tanzania gave us.” Now Asante wants to share its passion with the world and is currently seeking out other projects that will make a difference − to a person, or a place.
Photo: Ann Jonsson
Web: www.asante.se Facebook: asantearkitekter Twitter: @Asante_AB Instagram: @asantearkitekter
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 89
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
Balzar Beskow creates stylish and durable furniture for public environments.
Dressing the rooms of Sweden’s public sector Starting off in 1957, Swedish furniture brand Balzar Beskow have come a long way since. By creating durable wooden furniture through collaborations with leading designers who value true craftsmanship, the brand has established itself as a family owned business that takes responsibility for the environment while also representing exceptional Swedish furniture design. By Emma Rödin | Photos: Tim Alpen
In a humble factory in the small town of Järvso, Balzar Beskow began its journey by creating furniture especially designed for school environments. In 1960, at a time when cities were growing rapidly, designer Axel Larsson’s today iconic chair S-312 was produced for Balzar Beskow in the hundreds of thousands to cater for the high demand from communal dining halls, classrooms and churches. Still being produced today, S-312 proved a hit to last and cemented Balzar Beskow as a competitor to be reckoned with. “S-312 is simple and durable and works in a wide num90 | Issue 117 | October 2018
ber of contexts. No wonder it remained the main pillar of our product range for such a long period of time,” says the brand’s CEO Raoul Olsson. Continuing down the route of the public sector, creating furniture such as chairs, sofas and tables for schools as well as hospitals, the brand has also made a name for itself in terms of creating furniture suitable for auditoriums. Chairs and tables signed Balzar Beskow can today be found in most Swedish universities where students face their strenuous exams, with the talented de-
signer Tim Alpen being the mastermind behind these.
Partnering with like-minded designers Balzar Beskow has, since the very beginning, only worked with a small selection of independent designers who have their roots in craftsmanship and tradition and who design with sustainability in mind. Alpen, as mentioned, is part of this chosen group and has designed a range of furniture for the company. He is known for his way of incorporating simplicity and clarity into his designs and finding the true essence within his projects. One product to demonstrate all of this is his 2017 Prima bench. “Prima is a new piece that has that apparent simplicity to it. All there is, is a slight angle that cleverly runs through the entire shape and yet this is what gives the construction its strength. It utterly transforms it,” says Olsson.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
Another designer who continuously creates for the brand is Sammi Kallio, responsible for popular items like the Balzar Beskow building chairs – a series of acoustic chairs made with upholstered elements that are stacked, cleverly allowing for different configurations from the same components. Kallio can also take pride in his GBG chair which is named after his hometown Gothenburg and is exciting to look at from any angle. Not to forget the Block chair, a smartlooking creation with a generously proportioned back and seat for optimal comfort. All created in line with Balzar Beskow’s stern views on endurance.
Sustainable thinking Being strong believers that sustainability and quality must go hand in hand, the choice of material is central in the Balzar Beskow product line. “Durability has always been a key word when we make furniture. If we can make the furniture last for the many years that our
The GBG chair.
The Prima bench.
customers wish to use it, then we will have used the materials and resources well,” says Olsson. This sets high standards for the designs, particularly for the materials and techniques that are used, so that the furniture can be renovated and finally recycled. This is the reason wood makes the ideal base, thanks to its strong composition and the many ways it is possible to work with it.
tified since the autumn of 2011,” says Olsson. Additionally, the company has recently started the process to brand parts of their line with ‘Möbelfakta’. This is a Scandinavian environmental certificate which is awarded to products that have been tested for safety and durability and have the least impact on the environment as well as being produced with social responsibility.
Other than focusing on materials, Balzar Beskow puts a lot of emphasis on working towards the guidelines of ISO 14001, the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system (EMS). Furthermore, it provides a framework that an organisation can follow rather than establishing environmental performance requirements. “I believe knowledge and curiosity are needed in the manufacturing process to enhance and decrease the use of resources, which makes us proud to be ISO 14001 cer-
Balzar Beskow is dedicated to continuing the spread of Swedish design and is helping doing so by annually showcasing at Stockholm’s Furniture Fair, which takes place in February each year. Whatever is next for Balzar Beskow, we can expect well designed and durable wooden furniture to continue to be synonymous with the brand. Web: www.balzar.se Facebook: balzarbeskow Instagram: @balzarbeskow1957
One in the Building series of chairs.
The S-312 chair.
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 91
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
The home of acoustic design Glimakra of Sweden is famous for its acoustic design. Its products are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the ear. By Malin Norman | Photos: Glimakra of Sweden
This year, Glimakra of Sweden celebrates its 70th anniversary. Set up in 1948, the company initially manufactured handlooms but eventually changed its direction towards interior products for public spaces, still with great care and craftsmanship. “Our business really took off when we started focusing on design and creating, in particular, partitions, screens and absorbents,” says marketing director Christian Dahlström. Over the years, Glimakra of Sweden has partnered with prominent designers such as Bertil Harström and Johan Kauppi, as well as leading researchers in acous92 | Issue 117 | October 2018
tics, including Professor Klas Hagberg. Together, they have developed products to improve room acoustics and set standards for the industry.
Conscious designs for public spaces Glimakra of Sweden’s mission is to provide stylish interiors for environments, to make people feel comfortable, especially in public spaces. “The conscious effort to increase our design status has led to a timeless, elegant style that is pleasing to the eye as well as the ear,” confirms Dahlström. “We strive to be innovative and create products that look great and that are also ground-breaking in acoustics.”
In particular, activity-based offices benefit from acoustic design, to create the right environment for the range of activities that take place there. “Open-planned offices can be challenging and there is a greater need to create separate areas for meetings and social interaction versus more quiet work spaces with less distractions,” explains Dahlström. In addition to its partitions and screens, Glimakra of Sweden also creates, for instance, storage and lighting solutions
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
with an acoustic touch. With a typical Scandinavian expression, sleek and sophisticated, the products are manufactured in Sweden. “It’s a priority for us and we are proud to support sustainability and Swedish manufacturing.”
Award-winning innovative designs One design hit in particular is LimbusGreenFrame by Johan Kauppi, which was launched at the Stockholm Furniture Fair earlier this year. The floor screen with lighting and place for potted plants and greenery provides a better indoor climate, a nicer workplace and happier plants. It has been nominated for the German Design Award, as has LimbusBarn & Fences, a family of room dividers and a muted pavilion that has also won the Muuuz
International Awards and been praised for dividing an open office landscape yet maintaining transparency.
Cooper Hewitt in New York from 13 April to 28 October as part of the exhibition #designbeyondvision.
Two of Kauppi’s earlier designs for Glimakra of Sweden have been named winners at the German Design Awards; the Wakufuru acoustic tables and benches, that combine sound absorption and solid wood in an innovative way, were awarded gold, and the LimbusFloor Subtle sound-absorbing screen was named the winner. Both products were designed with a desire to build on the long tradition of woodworking and high acoustics expertise. All winners will be shown at Orgatec in Cologne 23 to 27 October (hall 10.2 stand J016). Wakufuru is shown at Smithsonian Design Museum/
Wannabetree by Bertil Harström, a floor screen and wall absorbent in the shape of a tree that enhances acoustic properties in rooms whilst spreading joy with its playful design, was the start of the acoustic design success. “So far, we have had great response to our increased design focus, which is great,” confirms Dahlström. “Our customers seem to like what we create and we hope to continue this way.” Web: www.glimakra.com Facebook: glimakraofsweden Instagram: @glimakra.of.sweden
Photo: Johan Kauppi
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 93
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Limitless floating solutions Bluet is a Finnish company, specialising in floating construction solutions. From swimming pools to shopping centres and offices, building on water is becoming an increasingly attractive option as it is easily modifiable and environmentally sustainable – and Bluet believes the future is floating.
projects, Bluet continues to co-operate with Marinetek Group, as well as a number of other international suppliers and designers.
By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Bluet
A tailored all-encompassing service
Floating construction and waterfront development is gaining in popularity, and cities and companies are increasingly looking at waterfront areas, and how they can be developed into multifunctional spaces for people to enjoy. “Land area is a limited entity. As cities and companies are increasingly gravitating towards the waterfront areas favoured by consumers, the land areas that can be developed are decreasing. Our solution is to build on water, therefore increasing the space available, without having to touch the shoreline 94 | Issue 117 | October 2018
and beach area, for example,” says Tytti Sirola, Bluet’s managing director. Sirola founded the company in 2016, along with technical director Kimmo Saharinen and Petteri Huomo. Their shared expertise and years of experience in construction, real estate, project management, as well as sales and marketing, have allowed Bluet to grow from strength to strength, and thrive into a successful business recognised all over the world. Having previously worked for Marina Housing with floating solution
Referring to themselves as a one-stopshop, Bluet is able to cater to all clients’ needs. The firm’s multi-skilled team is able to partake in projects of any size and shape, and have as much or as little input in any aspect of the project as the client wishes. “From early vision stages and waterfront development to the final design; we are able to do it all. We work with local constructors, designers and suppliers alike, and are happy to oversee the whole project, or be the tiny piece of the puzzle that has been missing from the clients’ team all along,” Sirola explains.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Finland
At the core of Bluet’s values are sustainability and improving the usability of waterfront areas. “We want to give inhabitants and visitors new ways of enjoying the water, and frame new ways we see the waterfront. It can be a place for activities, experiences and living: from beach clubs, swimming pools, sports and leisure centres, offices, restaurants, nightclubs, shopping centres, private homes, hotel villas, parks, bike routes and even large housing areas – you name it. With floating technology, the solutions are widely scalable and modifiable,” Sirola says. The company’s main aim is to provide solutions with a long life-cycle, made from good-quality, sustainable, non-toxic materials. Building on water allows the structures to be easily modified in case operational needs change, require enlargement, or in the event of a structure needing to be moved to another site, further adding to the long-term life-cycle of the structure. Bluet also favours sustainable energy solutions
wherever possible. “We have gained recognition around the world because of our working methods, and the fact that we genuinely value good-quality construction, and fully tailor our solutions to suit each clients’ needs,” she adds. Bluet’s most notable project to date has been the Allas Sea Pool Helsinki marine spa, the first of its kind in the world, next to the Market Square in Helsinki. The floating deck has three heated swimming pools, and the surface’s space is over 2,600 square metres, with a capacity for 3,500 visitors per day. “Allas Sea Pool has rekindled the Finnish capital’s historic status as a spa town and opened more of the city’s precious and stunning shoreline to the public. The technically unique complex is designed for yearround use and has attracted interest in the other Nordic countries, and we are currently building Allas Sea Pool Oulu in Finland, which will open at the end of next year. Another example of an ongoing project is a hot thermal bath in Ice-
Bluet restaurant and pool concept.
Private home Villa W.
land – Vök Baths – opening in summer 2019,” says Sirola. With a number of projects currently underway in Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Australia, it is clear that Bluet’s constructions have piqued the interest of developers around the globe. “A lot of businesses are still cautious and wary of floating structures, and it is a common misconception that building on water will ruin the beaches and waterfront. This is not the case at all, as we are able to increase the space by building on water, without needing to change the beachfront itself at all. Our structures can be removed, and there will be no evidence there was ever something there. This is not only ecological, but also opens up opportunities for scalability and adaptability. We want to bring the waterfront as close to people as possible, and allow everyone to enjoy the water in new ways,” Sirola concludes. Web: www.bluet.fi
Olokoto concept in collaboration with Bluet.
Allas Sea Pool Helsinki.
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 95
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Finland Ruissalontie.
Lakkatie.
Novel ideas for functional housing Creating functional living arrangements is permanently at the heart of the work of Arkkitehdit Casagrande, a Finnish architectural firm that has carved out a niche as a developer of compact apartments with such well thought-out floorplans that the developments keep selling out off-plan. By Jo Iivonen | Photos: Arkkitehdit Casagrande
Highly functional floorplans and the philosophy of always putting userfriendliness first, drive the work of Caterina Casagrande. The Turku-based architect founded her namesake agency in 2005 to fill what she identified as a gap in the market: creating architectural solutions tailored for a changing society’s needs. “On one hand, we have rising construction costs and increasingly stiff regulations,” Casagrande says. “On the other hand, we have new types of families, single parents, children who alternate between two parents, older people who are looking for services. The existing housing stock doesn’t match the needs of these groups.” The firm’s large-scale residential projects have been highly successful. Casagrande puts this down to the agency’s expertise in creating compact but highly functional floorplans. “Typically, 96 | Issue 117 | October 2018
all units in our below-50-square-metreapartment developments are sold offplan,” Casagrande says. “There’s a lot of demand for housing where the costs are being kept down by smaller square footage, but where functionality doesn’t suffer as a result.” Finland’s position as the EU’s northernmost housing market throws in a raft of challenges. “We need to build constructions that can handle temperature variation of between 50 and 60 degrees,” Casagrande explains. “Doing that is not cheap, but you could also say that the additional pressure is what has helped Finnish architects develop innovative ways to boost efficiency.”
includes residential rental units and desirable add-ons such as a communal swimming pool and a children’s daycare centre. The twist is that the right to use the swimming pool will be leased out to the local town. Although the town is also a small co-investor in the development, the scheme effectively ensures an additional stream of income for the private investors. Casagrande sees it as a win-win and, if successful, the scheme could be repeated elsewhere. “Many of our towns are struggling financially so they can’t offer facilities such as these for everyone. In our model, the scheme is privately funded, but in the end, the community at large benefits.” Kårkulla.
Pilot scheme One of the firm’s recent projects includes a pilot scheme that blurs the line between the private and public sectors. The development, located in Parainen,
Web: www.arkkitehditcasagrande.fi
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Herborg Kråkevik. Photo: Mona Nordøy
Kjell Westö. Photo: Pax
Vestfold Literature Festival – enrich your life with books With the aim of making literature increasingly accessible by bringing it to the reader’s hometown, the Vestfold Literature Festival uses all of Vestfold as its stage, with events taking place across all municipalities every November. Established in 1997, the leading literary festival on the west side of the Oslo fjord is today seen as one of the top events in the Norwegian culture calendar. By Ingrid Opstad
What started in 1997 as a smaller festival has expanded rapidly throughout the years. After celebrating its 20th anniversary last year, 2018 is set to become another successful one in Vestfold. “Our opinion is that you are likely to have a richer life with books than without,” festival manager Steinar Engeland explains. By using the public libraries as an important arena, Engeland is determined to provide great writers to the people. “We want to bring the authors as close to home as we can, and therefore 98 | Issue 117 | October 2018
work closely with the public libraries in each of the municipalities in Vestfold to make this happen. The library is the home of the books, and we are proud to help build up the audience’s interest for libraries across the county.”
A diverse programme for all ages With this year’s programme having just been published, it is clear that the festival is yet again packed full of exciting events. With both famous authors and newcomers on the programme, and everything from performances, author
meetings, theatre, quizzes, and concerts, you will find something here for all ages to enjoy. “We want to cover the whole lifecycle, but our main focus is on children in primary school and the adult audience who loves to read.” By combining people’s interest for reading and writing with exciting events and happenings throughout the week, Engeland hopes to cater for all age groups and tastes. Quality and variety are key factors, and there is a wide selection of ticketed and free events occurring.
The best of the best During the first week of November, you will have the opportunity to attend events both day and night throughout the whole of Vestfold, which is, in fact, Norway’s smallest county. “Our goal is
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Culture in Norway
to be important for those who live here, so our primary audience is from the Vestfold area,” says Engeland, while adding: “The authors who come to visit us are the best of what Norway has to offer, along with noteworthy as well as up-and-coming Nordic writers.” The festival starts with a big opening concert, where the audience can experience famous Norwegian artists and authors such as Herbjørg Kråkevik, Gunnar Staalesen, and Lars Lillo-Stenberg live on stage. Every year during the festival, there are two literary prizes handed out: the Vestfold Literature Prize and the Ambjørnsen Prize. While the Vestfold Literature Prize is awarded to an author who personally or through their writings is affiliated with Vestfold County, the Ambjørnsen Prize is granted to a young person between the ages of 14 and 20. The winner is not only given a grant but also unique guidance
Gert Nygårdshaug. Photo: CappelenDamm
The Vestfold Literature Prize was awarded to Tone Stabell in 2015. Photo: Vestfold Fylkeskommune
and support from Ingvar Ambjørnsen himself. “It is a great initiative to help out promising teenagers with a love for literature and an extraordinary chance to receive direction from one of the best authors,” says Engeland.
Unmissable event For anyone with a passion for literature, the Vestfold Literature Festival is a truly unmissable event. “We want to offer low-threshold, high-quality, extraordinary experiences,” Engeland smiles. “This year, we can tempt you with three previous winners of the Nordic Council’s Literature Prize from three countries, and one of the nominees of this year.” It says a lot about the high level of quality the festival aims to provide. Web: www.vfk.no/litteraturuka Facebook: litt.uka Instagram: @litteraturuka
Ruth Lilliegraven. Photo: Tiden
The festival manager recommends: 5 November, 7pm in Tønsberg library: Opening concert with Herbjørg Kråkevik, Gunnar Staalesen, Lars Lillo-Stenberg, Kjell Westö and Roskva Koritzinsky 6 November, 7pm in Sandefjord library: Literary champion meeting with Einar Mar Gudmundsson (Iceland) and Kjell Westö (Finland). Both are recipients of the Nordic Council Literature Prize. 6 November, 7pm in Larvik library: Crime & Poetry with Ruth Lillegraven and Gert Nygårdshaug. 8 November, 10am in Tønsberg library: Children’s book reading with Lars Joachim Grimstad. 9 November, 1pm in Larvik library: Future on the Run. From the actor, author and slam poet Guro Sibeko.
Einar Már Guðmundsson. Photo: Reine Ord
Festival manager Steinar Engeland. Photo: Vestfold Fylkeskommune
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 99
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Culture in Norway
Harald Sohlberg, Winter Night in the Mountains, 1914.
Harald Sohlberg, Self Portrait, 1896.
Discover Harald Sohlberg at the Norwegian National Museum This autumn, you can experience the important exhibition Harald Sohlberg – Infinite Landscapes, at the National Museum in Oslo. Sohlberg is one of Norway’s most famous artists alongside Edvard Munch. Displaying some of his most renowned works, this will be a truly unmissable event and a great opportunity to visit the museum before it relocates and expands. The new joint building, planned for opening in 2020, is set to signal the museum’s role as one of Europe’s leading venues for art and culture. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: MIR / Statsbygg
The National Museum holds, preserves, exhibits, and promotes public knowledge about Norway’s most extensive collections of art, architecture and design. With its current exhibition venues in Oslo, the National Gallery and the National Museum – Architecture, the museum shows permanent exhibitions of works from its own collections as well as temporary exhibitions that incorporate works loaned from elsewhere. 100 | Issue 117 | October 2018
Infinite Landscapes The highly anticipated exhibition at the National Gallery, Harald Sohlberg – Infinite Landscapes, shows the range and ambiguity of Sohlberg’s art. The famous Norwegian painter always used the landscape as his principal theme and focused on parts of Norway that had attracted little interest among other artists of his time. With a mysterious and thoughtprovoking expression, his rich colours ap-
peal to our intuitions and emotions. His paintings show concrete places, but also the scenes of the mind, of thought and eternity. “We expect it to be well received by visitors, and a big success,” says marketing adviser Jøran Pecher.
Norway’s most beloved painting on display The extensive exhibition brings together works from throughout Sohlberg’s career, and it examines his working methods while showing how he developed and implemented his ideas. On display are 60 paintings, along with drawings, sketches, print works and photographs including the artist’s most famous works, such as the iconic Winter Night in the Mountains. The painting was chosen as Norway’s national painting through a vote conducted
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Culture in Norway
by the Norwegian national radio channel NRK in 1995. “When the Norwegian public was asked which painting was its most beloved one, most of them actually said Winter Night in the Mountains, and not Scream by Munch, as many of us would have thought,” Pecher recalls. At the beginning of 2019, the exhibition will travel to the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London and the Museum Wiesbaden in Germany. “This marks the 150th anniversary of Sohlberg’s birth, and will be the first time his art has been presented to such a broad European audience,” says Pecher.
A new venue in the cityscape 2020 will see the opening of a new National Museum building. The museum is currently being built at the site of the former Vestbanen railway station in central Oslo, right on the City Hall Square overlooking the Oslofjord. Pecher is expecting the new venue to have a big impact on the capital and its cultural
scene. “It will become the largest cultural centre in the Nordic region, with around 6,000 works of art on display in the permanent exhibition. A totally unique arena for art and the public, and we expect to double audience figures, mainly because of the location,” Pecher explains. Designed by architecture firm Kleihues + Schuwerk, the new venue in the cityscape will become a rewarding and inspiring place to be. Works from all of the museum’s current areas will meet and interact in new contexts. “We will have older and modern art, architecture, design, craft, and contemporary art in one large venue, giving the public the best of Norwegian, as well as international art, all under one roof,” says Pecher, and adds: “It will be like a historical journey from the Classical antiquity through to modern times.” The new building will feature a publicly accessible roof terrace with a spectacular view of Oslo City Hall, Akershus
The new venue.
Harald Sohlberg, Fisherman’s Cottage, 1906.
Fortress, the Aker Brygge neighbourhood, and the Oslofjord. It will also hold a beautiful art hall with a glass facade, the biggest in Norway, which will light up at night.
A meeting place for culture With a vision to create new generations of art enthusiasts, the National Museum aims to be a great art venue and an important place for people of all ages. “The new venue will entail even more opportunities to meet up with friends, family, and colleagues over a coffee, a bite to eat or through cultural events, festivals or concerts,” Pecher concludes. Harald Sohlberg – Infinite Landscapes: 28 September, 2018 – 13 January, 2019, at the National Gallery.
Web: www.nasjonalmuseet.no Facebook: nasjonalmuseet Instagram: @nasjonalmuseet
New venue interiors.
The new venue roof.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Culture in Norway
Opening day. Photo: Jan Ove Iversen
Contemporary music garden. Photo: Harald Øren
Opening day. Photo: Jan Ove Iversen
A modern museum keeping musical history alive On a beautiful country estate surrounded by a lush botanical garden, just outside the city centre of Trondheim in Norway, you will find Ringve Music Museum. Here, modern times and history go hand in hand.
seum, with a digital exhibition fitted with iPads to allow visitors see and listen to various instruments.
By Alyssa Nilsen | Photos: Ringe Musikkmuseum
With around 30,000 visitors each year, Ringve is one of the top-rated museums in Trondheim and is one of the shore excursions of the Norwegian coastal cruise Hurtigruten.
Spread out across four buildings from different centuries, the main house has recently been restored to mirror the period around the 1880s, the ‘golden era’ of Norwegian music history. On a guided visit at Ringve, you can walk through history while the guides play historical pieces on period instruments. With a collection of over 2,000 instruments from cultures all over the world, there are quite a few oddities and rari-
ties on display. Among the international tourists, the Norwegian instruments are most certainly one of the most popular sections. To get the most out of them, you can borrow audio-guides with sound samples and explore the try-it-yourself stations. Ringve Music Museum offers several exhibitions on a wide spectrum of musical themes. Contemporary music has its natural and designated place in the mu-
Current and upcoming exhibitions: - The Main House: A musical journey to Norway in the 1880s. Guided tours with live music. - Instrument Collection: Explore a multitude of instruments from all around the world. - Drumroll and Fanfare: 2002 Years of Norwegian Military Bands (until 2 December 2018). - Boxed Music: People, music and mechanical instruments (from 2 February 2019).
Main house. Photo: Erik Børseth
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Grieg exhibition at the main house. Photo: Erik Børseth
Web: www.ringve.no/en Facebook: ringvemusikkmuseum Instagram: @ringve
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Culture in Norway
An ideal course and conference venue, Munkeby Herberge is in the process of building an extension to be able to welcome more guests.
A scenic place for meetings and conferences Norwegian hostel Munkeby Herberge, located northeast of Trondheim in gorgeous surroundings near the small town Levanger, is currently building an extension to its facilities. The ambition is to accommodate local businesses as a place for meetings and conferences. By Line Elise Svanevik | Photos: Sissel Eldal
The hostel currently accommodates businesses, sports teams, students, schools and those taking a pilgrimage on St. Olav’s Way, leading through beautiful scenery to the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.
pathways for walks where visitors can enjoy the fresh air, and we also have outdoor cooking activities, allowing guests to barbecue and cook food themselves,” says Eldal.
“We get a lot of visits from companies who are working in the area, and tourists passing by,” says owner Håkon Fiskvik, who runs the hostel with his partner Sissel Eldal. “From October onwards, our new meeting room facilities will be available, where we’ll be able to welcome meetings and conferences for more than 100 people, and we’ll have overnight facilities for around 20.”
Plenty of activities
The national wooden house town of Levanger is also filled with activities, including the local art gallery Fenka, and you can embark on a guided two-hour trip to the pre-historic graveyard Munkrøstad, or visit the old ruins of the Cistercian Munkeby monastery from the 12th century. At Munkeby Maria monastery, visitors can buy the famous Munkeby cheese and participate in a prayer – as part of the St. Olav’s Way pilgrimage that many embark on.
Fiskvik and Eldal explain that the hostel is situated in an ideal location for companies who are in need of team-building activities, as there are plenty of things to do in the surrounding area. “There are
There is also a photo museum, a sports complex with a swimming pool, and tennis and football courts, in addition to the town’s own beach. “For those who pre-
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fer a walk, the paths along the river are really nice,” Eldal adds.
Grandma’s cooking The hostel also features a kiosk, which sells local crafts and a few drinks, and the café serves traditional dishes including the very popular ‘lovage’ soup. “We only use local ingredients and serve traditional food that can best be described as your grandma’s cooking,” Eldal continues. At the very heart of the hostel, and one of the reasons why visitors return, is the fact that the owners are incredibly generous with their time. “We set aside time to take care of each individual guest,” explains Fiskvik. “There’s a good atmosphere here, and we give our visitors the attention they want.” Opening times: Winter: Thursday 5pm to 7pm and Sunday 11am to 7pm. Summer: Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 7pm.
Web: www.munkeby-herberge.no
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Culture in Norway
A relaxing holiday in the countryside Ever felt the need to just disconnect and recharge in a peaceful environment? Well you are encouraged to do precisely that at Gabestad Økogård, where guests are routinely welcomed to a slow-paced holiday in the calm Norwegian countryside, surrounded by lush nature and farm life. Enjoy days filled with long walks in the woods, art and organic food.
it is located merely an hour’s drive from Norway’s vibrant capital, Oslo.
By Åsa H. Aaberge | Photos: Annikka Wiland Stendebakken
“We want to share this amazing place with others, and let people into our farm to enjoy the calm atmosphere,” says Annikka Wiland Stendebakken, who runs the farm with her family. The farmhouse can host up to seven people for overnight stays and a quiet atmosphere is always on offer. Horses, dogs, hens, geese, and ducks live at the farm, and any visiting children are welcome to enjoy horseback riding. The farm is completely organic and the hosts serve homebaked bread and fresh, organic eggs from the farm’s hens. Gabestad farm even features a small art gallery, where various visual art is ex-
hibited, amongst it Stendebakken’s own artwork. Painting courses are arranged at the farm too, at which the host teaches landscape painting. “What could possibly be better than painting in amongst all of the scenery we have here at the farm?” ponders Stendebakken. There is no television or other distractions here, just the breath-taking nature which surrounds guests everywhere they look. An opportunity to enjoy relaxing farm life, mixed with a dose of culture and interesting history, would best describe a stay at Gabestad. The farm prides itself on being at one with nature and the surrounding lakes, fields and woods, however,
Web: www.langsomferie.no
Scandinavian simplicity Designed and handcrafted in Norway
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A culinary journey If the thought of a dreary Christmas party in a function room makes you want to skip December altogether, keep reading. At Kulinarisk Akademi in the heart of Oslo, the chance of you enjoying an experience you have never had before is pretty high. And if you cannot wait for Christmas, luckily, you can experience a culinary journey there at any time of the year. By Lisa Maria Berg | Photos: Kulinarisk Akademi
If you want to treat the girls to a special outing, give someone a gift-card out of the ordinary, take your friends out for some after-work fun, or if your office is sorely in need of a day off and a communal reset, why not try a unique culinary experience? “We offer our guests all sorts of things. We let them join us in the kitchen, take part in the cooking, explore different cuisines and learn something together whilst having a lot of fun,” explains marketing director Céline Vannson, who is passionate about food. Together with most of her 16 colleagues 106 | Issue 117 | October 2018
at Kulinarisk Akademi, she trained as a chef and holds the love for a well-cooked meal in her very being. “We want our guests to come in and have a one-of-akind experience,” Vannson says. And they seem to be offering just that, and quite well too: this year, Kulinarisk Akademi celebrates ten years of bringing wine and food experiences to its many clients.
Made for you General manager Espen Vesterdal Larsen sums it up nicely: “We want to be the best in the country at what we do.”
With two fully equipped departments and, within them, five top-of-the-range kitchens, Kulinarisk Akademi is situated in the trendy east-end of Oslo, and always ready to treat its clients to more than just a whipped-up meal. What could be a better way to start a teambuilding experience than in the kitchen with a glass of something sparkling and a cuisine quiz to get the taste buds going? Maybe you have always wanted to recreate that
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Culinary Events and Party Venues in Norway
lush street food you picked up on holiday, learn (once and for all) how to cook a steak medium rare, or perhaps you just want to master the perfect hollandaise sauce to impress that special someone: at Kulinarisk Akademi, all of this and much more is on the menu. Larsen points out: “Everything we do is based on a passion and love for food. That is the foundation of it all.” Vannson adds: “We tailor our sessions to each group’s needs. We want our guests to have a great time whilst exploring something new and fun.” “Teambuilding is a big part of what we do too,” continues Vannson. “CookPhoto: Paul Paiewonsky
ing together, learning something new together and being in a place with your colleagues that is not the office, is something that people appreciate. There is also the reward of sitting down together at the end and having a meal you have cooked not just yourself, but together with someone.”
Following the seasons The ethos at the Akademi is that the menu changes with the season. “We are always adapting to what nature can provide. This is important to us,” explains Vannson. In the Norwegian roots there has always sat a deep understanding Photo: Paul Paiewonsky
of the need to be in collaboration with nature. With this comes a promise that whatever time of the year you choose to visit Oslo, there will always be fresh produce served to you. “We teach all sorts of cuisines but always keep in mind that Norwegian produce is at the centre of it all. I think that because most of us working here are chefs, we have kept the awareness of sustainability beyond just what we do in the kitchen. It seeps into everything we do,” Vannson concludes. Web: www.kulinariskakademi.no
Photo: Paul Paiewonsky
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 107
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Events, Banquets and Christmas Dinners in Norway
Combine flavour and finesse with Braastad Opplevelse.
Braastad Opplevelse – Cognac, chateaus and charm For a century, the Braastad name has been synonymous with bottled quality, flavour and finesse. Today, the Cognac brand’s home, Chateau de Triac, by Jarnac in western France, offers far more than exclusive golden drops. Here, you may delve into a world of experiences, activities and luxuries − all while guided by members of the Braastad family. By Julie Linden | Photos: Braastad Opplevelse
When the adventurous Norwegian Sverre Braastad married into the French Tiffon family in 1913, the union manifested two love stories – that with Edith Rousseau, his companion since the turn of the century, and that with Cognac, a life-long passion. The Tiffon Cognac House had been founded in 1875, and Edith was heiress to the enterprise that was to go on to establish itself as a world-class success story.
A world-leading family brand It would take until the end of the First World War before Sverre and Edith of108 | Issue 117 | October 2018
ficially took charge of the company. Today, succeeding generations manage the success and legacy of the Tiffon and Braastad names – all from Chateau de Triac, the original location of this world-leading Cognac House. “We’re lucky to have had such a prolific grandfather,” says Patrick Braastad, one of Sverre’s grandchildren. He recounts how his grandfather, a father of eight and grandparent of 25, lived to be 100 years old – maintaining his love for Cognac, the region and the chateau throughout his
life. “He was a successful man who knew his craft, and he developed a brand we are proud to have kept in the family for all this time.” The family is delighted to be able to offer Braastad Opplevelse (‘Braastad Experience’) as a complement to those wanting to learn more about Cognac in the district where it is produced. “Here, you can come close to the production – and there is something for everyone,” Braastad promises.
A personal experience It is much due to the brand’s combination of passion and familial feeling that the interest for Braastad remains undeniably strong. Furthermore, the family’s direct, hands-on approach to welcoming groups to Chateau de Triac, adds a personal touch to the experience.
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Culinary Events and Party Venues in Norway
“Everyone who visits the Chateau is greeted and guided by members of the Braastad family, and we are able to give an insider’s perspective on the production. There are lots of stories and anecdotes that are told, to great excitement,” Braastad laughs.
conference and event location. Here, you may choose to host your business event, wedding, confirmation or celebration of your choice, trusting that your event is in the best of hands. Perched 360 metres above sea level with panoramic views of lake Mjøsa, this second home of Braastad lives up to the name’s grandeur.
“We’re proud of the setting, history and framework we’re able to provide with both locations. Our story engages people – and we hope to welcome many more,” Braastad concludes. Web: www.braastadopplevelse.no
Whether you are a Cognac connoisseur, an aficionado in the making, or just an avid admirer of the quaint French countryside, Braastad Opplevelse has an experience just for you. Each and every group visiting the chateau benefits from the Braastad family’s extensive knowledge of the Cognac region, including nearby Cognac houses, vineyards, golf courses and activities.
Tailor-made – from Cognac to cake “We can tailor a visit to suit your group, and we take care of all the logistical aspects,” says Braastad, waiting for a new group to arrive at Bordeaux airport at the time of our interview. “We enjoy good, long-standing relations with nearby Cognac houses in the district, and impressive wine districts such as Bordeaux are just a drive away. We can also arrange for bike tours, car tours, boat trips on the river and golf days or tournaments,” he adds. Braastad himself is a certified golf instructor with more than 15 years of experience, and gladly offers his expertise to visiting golfers. Another popular choice is to make the most of the region’s famous cuisine, and either opt for an evening at one of the nearby Michelin-awarded restaurants – or why not enjoy a private dinner in the chateau’s dining room, with the family’s selection of own wines and Cognacs? Perhaps you want to take your stay one step further and book a course in the art of French pastry making? You may also incorporate a presentation on Cognac production, and end your stay by blending your own.
Chateau de Triac.
Learn what makes a world-class Cognac, guided by the Braastad family’s years of experience.
Eva and Patrick Braastad.
A taste of Braastad in Norway But it is not only in Cognac where the Braastad family has maintained its roots. Sverre Braastad’s old home in Gjøvik, Norway, designed by noted architect Arnstein Arneberg, serves as a stunning Issue 117 | October 2018 | 109
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Culinary Events and Party Venues in Norway
Sharing is caring
By Lisa Maria Berg | Photos: Jonas Haarr Friestad
In the urban, up-and-coming east side of Stavanger, the newly opened Garcia Restaurant Øst brings a dining experience where its guests can relax, enjoy and dive into flavours of a continental and Mediterranean feel. “We believe in an honest, home-cooked meal made out of excellent produce,” general manager Kristian Sevland says, on preferring to keep it simple. Armed with a pasta machine and recipes from Spain, Italy and France, he has done well at integrating just that. Stavanger Øst is the second Garcia restaurant to open in its region. The southwest of Norway cannot seem to get enough of the parma ham, the wine, the butter and the herbs on offer. “We want our guests to relax and enjoy a meal and some well-spent time together. Many of our dishes are sharing platters, and so dinner here is not just a meal, but an opportunity to share an experience,” Sevland continues. The new restaurant serves dinner only. Whilst their other venue has lunch service and welcomes family and firms to come and dine with them, Stavanger Øst seats you for
110 | Issue 117 | October 2018
an evening meal and gives you the chance to embrace the cosy autumn over a glass of wine. “Our produce is important to us. It has been such a treat finding how the Norwegian seasons can bring something of their own to the flavours of a French bistro or the simple sharing platter popular in Spain,” explains Sevland. Garcia Stavanger Øst has successfully brought the continent to Stavanger.
Web: www.garcia.no
Scan Business Keynote 111 | Danish Robot Technology 112 | Business Column / Calendar 115 | Conference of the Month 116
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Why small businesses can compete with Silicon Valley I believe in modern community economy and think it can be more powerful than the economy that grows out of Silicon Valley and Beijing. Inspired by an advert for Lurpak at Charing Cross, I researched the origin of the brand and this is what I found:
with the manors. In 1882, Andersen’s plan was realised and Denmark got its first dairy cooperative. Ten years later, the country had 679 dairy cooperatives and, in 1904, the number had grown to 1,168. During this time, the number of manor dairies dropped from 283 to 89.
In 1881, a 23-year-old dairyman, Michael Stilling Andersen, participated in a course for modern dairy production and, when he returned to his village, he suggested the local farmers founded their own dairy plant. At that time, there were two kinds of butter in Denmark, the butter produced by the small farmers and that produced at dairy plants at the manors. The latter was of a far better quality and sold at a price 50 per cent higher.
In just one decade, 100,000 poor farmers had completely outperformed 2,000 rich manor owners on the butter market thanks to new technology and a cooperative mind-set. Most of the cooperatives have since merged into what today is Arla Foods, the sixth largest dairy producer in the world, and it is still owned by 12,000 Danish and Swedish farmers. The lesson from the Danish cooperatives involves four elements:
What had inspired the young man was a new advanced centrifuge, the ‘Maglekilde Centrifuge,’ which separated milk into cream and skimmed milk more efficiently and produced better butter at a lower cost.
New Technology: it was the Maglekilde Centrifuge and other inventions of modern times that made change possible. Collaboration: the small farmers could not afford to buy the new technology by themselves. They had to chip in and were willing to do so for common good. Social Equality: all members of the cooperation had one vote regardless of their share in the new production facility.
None of the small farmers could afford to buy the centrifuge, but if they bought it together, they would be able to compete
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By Nils Elmark
Education: the cooperative mindset was founded on education: all people should be well informed in order to make sound decisions for the community. This wonderful story shows that if we cooperate, even small businesses can be as competitive as – if not more competitive than – both bigger and wealthier companies.
Nils Elmark is a consulting futurist and the founder of Incepcion, a London-based consultancy that helps organisations develop new and braver dreams.
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 111
OT B i RO OGY in M H IS NOL N DA ECH T e
m
e Th
Infrared landscape analysis.
Per Valentin Lund with drone.
The sky is not the limit Drones have come a very long way in just a few years, representing a new frontier in shaping the way that humans see the world. For entrepreneurs like Per Valentin Lund, owner of Scout Robotics, drones bring endless new possibilities in areas as distinct as landscape inspection, thermal monitoring and windmill inspection – we just have to grab them. “We’re at this exciting point where the sky is no longer the limit, even for non-tech people,” Lund enthuses. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Scout Robotics
For Lund, drones became the perfect way to blend his passion for flying with his technology expertise. “By now, quite a lot of people use drones for video and images,” he says, “but there are so many other unexplored uses for them, and the technology just keeps evolving.” The kite-flying enthusiast bought his first drone four years ago. “It was love at first sight! I just knew there was so much potential here, so I immediately got started on getting all the certificates required to pilot drones in Denmark – there are lots of rules and regulations: most importantly, we’re always lowest in the hierarchy of sky-bound flying things.”
Lund, who is able to shoot amazingly stable and accurate footage, working closely together with the client to get them exactly what they need and providing a high-quality product from pre- to post-production. “I’ve also equipped a drone with a thermal camera, which is highly useful for inspection of anything from sun cells to buildings’ insulation issues to mapping out wildlife in nature – particularly when coupled with my new night flying certifications.” Surprisingly, Lund is able to film both outside and inside buildings, providing shots that a few years back would have required cameras worth thousands of pounds.
Since then, Lund has acquired a pantheon of professional drones and expert knowledge about the practical uses of drone technology. Structural and building inspection also becomes much easier, cheaper and safer in the hands of
Lund’s drones can also sense and analyse the reflections of light and infrared light given off on the ground, allowing things such as plant photosynthesis to be mapped out. This has great potential for farming and environmental monitor-
112 | Issue 117 | October 2018
ing, as knowledge of increased or decreased levels of photosynthesis in specific areas can lead to more focused and thus less (and cheaper) pesticide use. The information obtained can inform machinery directly, optimising efficiency and reducing waste. “That’s just a little of what we can do,” Lund concludes. “My favourite types of projects are those where the client provides a challenge, so whatever you need, do get in touch!”
Two types of landscape analysis.
Fieldview capture.
Web: www.scoutrobotics.dk www.planteinspektion.dk
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Danish Robot Technology
Left: rbot.dk provides daily coverage of the robotisation currently affecting all areas of life. Right: The robots are coming and might knock you out, if you are not on top of developments.
Keeping an eye on the robots This year has seen the launch of rbot.dk, the first and only Danish news media focused exclusively on the developments within the world of robot technology. Published by Audio Media, the new online media sheds light on Denmark’s buzzing robot industry, as well as major global advances. By Signe Hansen | Photos: rbot.dk
As robot technology is rapidly changing our world, keeping up to date on new developments is key to making the most of the emerging technologies, at home and at work. Writing in a language that is informative and accessible for both individuals and professionals, rbot.dk does just that. Editor Aksel Brinck explains: “The development currently taking place within automation and digitalisation is changing our whole society, and that’s why we think it’s an incredibly interesting industry. It’s not that regular papers and magazines don’t write about it, but there is no one place where the entire industry is covered. That’s why we’ve created rbot.dk, a media which is focused primarily on the developments happening in Denmark, not just indus-
trial but in the home and transport industries as well.” As the stories on rbot.dk reflect the entire scope and impact of the robot industry, they are not just relevant to those involved in the industry, but also to regular people as well as politicians and public servants who need to stay on top of changes, in order to create new legislation or regulations, for example. “It’s not just about robots in the traditional sense but about the entire automation and digitalisation of our life and work. It’s a technological disruption which is taking place everywhere, though sometimes it’s invisible – there are a lot of things going on which we don’t necessarily notice, but which are changing almost all aspects of our lives,” says Brinck.
The news stories on rbot.dk focus primarily on developments in the Danish robot industry but also cover major global developments. And, while they cover everything from robot lawn mowers to robot skin and self-directed buses, there is one common denominator – they are always based on actual cases and developments, and never, stresses Brinck, “fluffy futuristic visions”.
Editor of rbot.dk Aksel Brinck.
Web: www.rbot.dk
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 113
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Danish Robot Technology
A revolution in robotics Certain industries have for a long time been benefitting from robots, who can often make the production process both quicker and cheaper. Since 2012, Blue Workforce, based in Aalborg, Denmark, has been working towards changing the world of robots, making them more accessible, affordable and applicable to more industries.
it one of Denmark’s most exciting companies to be following. As Hjørnet concludes, it is a company that wants to “do good and do well”.
By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Blue Workforce
“We want to empower our customers and help them to use robots. We’ve created a system which can be used almost like LEGO blocks: you can add, take away and change their function. At the same time, they’re affordable, which allows for many more companies and industries to use them,” explains Preben Hjørnet, CEO and founder of Blue Workforce.
cians, so that they can service our robots. That way, we’re not only ensuring a high-quality service from us, but also ensuring people’s futures, as robots are undoubtedly going to become an even bigger part of the world we’re living in.” Blue Workforce is also working closely with the Danish government to promote technical education.
Using the robots has been made as simple as possible. As Hjørnet says, “if you can play a video game, you can also control one of our robots”. Each robot is specifically programmed for its purpose, and it is clear from its design what its use is, making it easy to add into the production cycle.
For businesses who are starting out, Blue Workforce robots can be leased on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. “It’s an easy way to gain an efficient and cheap colleague and worker for the day. Ultimately, we believe that robots should be accessible for all, much more affordable than they are and applicable to the industries they’re going to be in,” says Hjørnet.
Long-term plans Blue Workforce has an impressive focus on the future. “We offer education and courses for people to become techni114 | Issue 117 | October 2018
Blue Workforce’s robots can currently be found in 30 countries, and it is growing by ten per cent every month, making
Web: www.blueworkforce.com Facebook: blueworkforce Instagram: @blueworkforce
Scan Magazine | Business | Column / Calendar
How do you manage your nerds? There are some HR managers I have met whom I will not easily forget, like the one whose key question was: “How can HR know what the company’s people needs are if it does not understand the needs of its clients?” As a result, he spent 50 per cent of his time with marketing colleagues or talking to external clients − an unusual approach for HR, to say the least. Another memorable encounter, more than 20 years ago, was with an attractive young Swedish woman working in HR for a Swedish company. Please do not take my description of her as sexist – it is part of the story. She told me she had been recruited to manage the nerds. The company’s IT department was inhabited exclusively by young, white, unmarried males who preferred computers to people. Like nerds everywhere, they spent hours in front of their screens, subsisting on junk food and paying insufficient attention to their personal hygiene. Sleeping in the office and ignoring overtime rules created problems with the unions. People complained that their help-
desk skills were stunningly unhelpful – the communication barometer usually varied between incomprehensible, indifferent and downright rude. The HR woman was feisty. She used her budget to take out subscriptions to men’s fashion and healthy living magazines, which she then left lying about the IT office. She had the office refurbished. She brightened the place with plants and flowers. She talked frankly about body odour. She took them to restaurants and taught them how and what to eat. She took them shopping for clothes and told them what they looked good in. She coached them on how to talk to people. She organised team building sessions.
By Steve Flinders
Of course, it all worked. The nerds became conscientious and appreciated servants of the enterprise. The HR manager was proud of what she achieved. And now, looking back, I wonder: is this a dated, sexist story? Could it and should it happen today? I really don’t know. What do you think?
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.
Business Calendar Scandinavian business events you do not want to miss this month Business Breakfast: Does CSR apply to countries? Should Swedish companies care about the image of Sweden? Yes, if you ask professor Simon Anholt, whose research shows that positive national image is a significant advantage to a company. For this roundtable, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce will bring together Swedish businesses in the UK to discuss the correlation between national image and company image, with Anholt as the guest speaker. Date: 18 October 2018, 8am-9.30am Venue: SEB, 1 Carter Lane, London, EC4V 5AN, UK. www.scc.org.uk
Financing Wind London Financing Wind is an annual event that gathers senior professionals working in wind power to discuss investment activity in the global wind market. On the agenda is the boom in Scandinavian PPAs and what it can teach the rest of Europe. The debates will also touch upon how companies can respond
to the growth in offshore, and technology trends. Date: 1 November 2018, 8.30am-4pm Venue: The Crystal, 1 Siemens Brothers Way, London E16 1GB, UK. www.awordaboutwind.com
UK energy opportunities This half-day trade conference in London will explore why now is a good time for Nordic energy businesses to pursue projects and partnerships in the UK, and also after Brexit. Moderated by Connie Hedegaard, the former EU commissioner of climate change, the discussion will focus on the most significant trends shaping the UK energy landscape over the next decade, defining the scope of business opportunities ahead. Speakers include Claire Perry, the UK’s energy minister, and her Danish counterpart Lars Christian Lilleholt. Date: 8 November 2018, 8.30am-1pm. Venue: Ince & Co. 2 Leman St, Whitechapel, London E1 8QN, UK. www.dkuk.org
By Sanne Wass
The Nordic Organic Food Fair Consumer demand and sales of organic products continue to increase in the Nordic countries. The Nordic Organic Food Fair seeks to help firms get in front of buyers in the region. The industry event will focus on innovation, trends and what the future for the organic food industry might look like. Co-located with Natural Products Scandinavia, a trade event for natural living, the combined shows will host more than 500 exhibiting companies. Date: 14-15 November 2018, 10am-5pm Venue: MalmöMässan, Sweden, Mässgatan 6, Malmö, Sweden. www.nordicorganicexpo.com
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 115
Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Norway
Oslo Science Park has offices and a conference centre located in Norway’s largest knowledge hub.
Conference of the Month, Norway
A unique science hub in Oslo With the aim of being the best place to start and grow a business, Oslo Science Park has become a leading centre for innovation, research and development in Norway. This modern and unique hub is the home of many vibrant communities and clusters, and its specially designed infrastructure makes it the perfect venue for everything from international conferences to smaller meetings. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Oslo Science Park
Centrally located between the university campus and the university hospitals, only ten minutes from Oslo city centre, Oslo Science Park is today a popular community and hub with a wide range of people, ideas and resources. Within the walls of the 57,000-square-metre-area, you will find offices, laboratories, incubators and conference spaces: a thriving environment for multiple fields, such as medtech, biotechnology, lifescience, ICT, media, materials research, electronics, social and environmental research.
300 companies, 3,000 people Here at one of the first science parks in Europe, start-up companies are equipped with the best opportunities to 116 | Issue 117 | October 2018
succeed. “Since our start in 1989, we now have close to 300 companies and over 3,000 people using the science park as their daily workplace. It has become an important meeting point between research, techies and business,” conference manager Eli Aasen explains. The hub is the home of many communities and clusters like Norway Health Tech, the health incubator Aleap, the lab-incubator for biotech start-ups ShareLab, and StartupLab, with more than 80 tech start-ups. “With a variety of new and exciting products created by up-and-coming companies, we are very proud of the vibrant environment created by all these innovative people,” says
Aasen, who acknowledges this as being a big factor towards Oslo Science Park’s popularity as a conferences and meeting place on an international scale. “All companies that are keen on innovation, digitisation and development should have their conference or event here, because it is exactly the place where all of this happens.”
A unique place to host your conference With 25 conference rooms of different sizes, this modern, professional and exciting venue is perfect for everything from conferences, board meetings, team briefings, lectures and seminars, investor presentations, launches, trainings and networking events. “When walking through the hallways to get to your conference, you can easily be inspired by all the creative work taking place around you. The community in Oslo Science Park creates an interesting and buzzing environment for everyone,”
Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Norway
Aasen says. In addition to the conference rooms, Oslo Science Park also has an auditorium with seating for 160 people, and a top floor with a rooftop terrace with views over the capital and the surrounding fjord. “This is a stunning and exclusive space, and can be closed off for private events.” To allow companies to focus on their core activities, Oslo Science Park also offers a range of services to their members, with everything from canteens and cafeterias, a daycare centre, fitness courses, parking and health care services. “Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for companies, by creating our own community to simplify their day. We make every effort possible to accommodate everything our members and guests might need, whether that is dry cleaning, somewhere to get their hair cut or local advice for international guests,” Aasen says.
At the intersection of science and industry As the host of a variety of events and initiatives in its large in-house conference centre, Oslo Science Park helps to bring together business, scientists, investors, entrepreneurs and students from different industries. The Cutting Edge Festival, which occurs every September, is part of Oslo Innovation Week: Europe’s largest innovation convention and one of its biggest events. With this year’s theme, the Toolbox, the latest breakthroughs in science, the most interesting innovations and the most exciting start-up companies to come out of the Norwegian research and tech communities were presented. Web: www.oslosciencepark.no Facebook: Forskningsparken Instagram: @OsloSciencePark Twitter: @OsloSciencePark
Some businesses associated with Oslo Science Park: - StartupLab – the largest tech incubator in the Nordics - Aleap – a health incubator with 44 start-up companies - Norway Health Tech – a successful network with global ambitions - Chipcon – developing computer chips, sold to Texas Instruments for 1.3 billion NOK in 2006 - Kahoot – a game-based learning platform with 50 million unique users - Remarkable – tablets for people who prefer paper - Huddly – a compact collaboration camera, sold to Cestron in 2018 - Attensi – gamified 3D simulations that make corporate training fun - Vaccibody - a life science start-up developing a tailored vaccine therapy for cancer
Top left: The actual business happens during the breaks – at the conference centre, the focus is on the guests and their needs for good food and renewed energy. Top right: A rooftop terrace with views over the capital and the surrounding fjord, perfect for events. Middle left: StartupLab in Oslo Science Park is the largest tech incubator in the Nordics, with 80 hard-working start-up companies. The incubators Aleap and ShareLab are others located in Oslo Science Park. Photo: Carsten Muller, Zovenfra. Bottom left: The green surroundings include a stream, a peaceful pond and popular moss art displaying famous scientists. Made by the artist network Påfuglen in Oslo. Bottom right: Activities, conferences, breakfast seminars, great people and networks give energy to the daily life of the park.
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 117
This is my house! Alfons Åbergs Kulturhus (Alfie Atkins’ Cultural Centre) is a creative cultural centre for children and their adults. This is a place where curious children can play, get up to mischief, climb and discover a world full os exciting things.
Slussgatan 1, Gothenburg, Sweden
alfonskulturhus.com
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Sweden
Restaurant of the Month, Sweden
Delicious meals at the grocery Around the back of Michelin-star restaurant Gastrologik, awaits another gastronomic discovery. Simpler and more accessible, yet the modern venue Speceriet is nothing short of a fabulous culinary experience. By Malin Norman | Photos: Speceriet
Some seven years ago, Jacob Holmström and Anton Bjuhr opened their first restaurant serving contemporary Scandinavian food. With impressive experience from top restaurants such as L’Astrance and Pierre Gagnaire, the young chefs brought heaps of knowledge and ambition to their brainchild and, soon after its opening, Gastrologik was awarded one star in the Michelin guide and is now ranked among the best restaurants in Scandinavia. Located next door was an empty venue, and the owners decided to open a small shop selling high-quality produce such as rare cuts of meat and fresh seafood. Due to its popularity, the shop was transformed into a small restaurant, at the back of Gastrologik. “The idea was to offer a simpler and more accessible experience,” explains Holmström about the concept of Speceriet, which means
‘the grocery’. “Our customers appreciate the use of small-scale and local produce and it has become a fantastic addition to Gastrologik.” Also, Speceriet has received plenty of attention in the press, praised in both the Washington Post and the New York Times, for instance, as well as being awarded the prestigious Gulddraken (the golden dragon) by Dagens Nyheter. Whilst Gastrologik offers an elaborate taster menu based around local and flavoursome ingredients, at Speceriet, there are no starters or main courses but instead customers can mix, share and socialise around the communal tables. According to Holmström, Speceriet works according to the seasons and its local produce, and offers a modern concept that attracts both locals from the neighbourhood and international visitors alike: “what we offer is simple, affordable and damn tasty!”
The ambitious owners are continuously developing both their venues. In September, Speceriet was visited by celebrated British chef Calum Franklin of Holborn Dining Room in London, who during the ‘PIEtacular Night’, was showcasing some of his favourite pies. And for the past few years, Holmström’s father, who is also a chef and has a passion for Swedish culinary traditions, regularly pays a visit and prepares a classic goose dinner, a typical southern Swedish tradition not to be missed.
Anton Bjuhr and Jacob Holmström.
Web: www.speceriet.se Instagram: @speceriet
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 119
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
Johnny and Gitte Obitsø Bach.
Restaurant of the Month, Denmark
New Nordic – the traditional way With autumn rapidly approaching, it is time for those fresh and windy Danish days to come sweeping in again. Though the summer has been more than lovely, now is the time for long walks along the water and enjoying the dramatic scenery and colourful flavours that autumn brings to Denmark. There is nowhere better from which to do that than Restaurant Sejlet, located on the very shore of Denmark’s largest fjord, Limfjorden, in the old northern Jutland fishing village of Nibe. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Betina Fleron
Johnny and Gitte Obitsø Bach had both built up extensive careers as restaurant managers when they decided that their experience – and their marriage – was strong enough to open their own restaurant. “We were both working crazy hours at two separate establishments,” says Johnny. “We decided it made much more sense to work crazy hours at our own restaurant instead.” The couple already lived in Nibe, where Gitte grew up, and had worked together at a previous restaurant, so they knew that they worked well together in a professional setting too. When a certain local restaurant by the harbour became available last year, they knew they had to strike. 120 | Issue 117 | October 2018
“We’d dined there quite a few times previously and talked about what a gem it was,” Gitte says. “It’s literally five metres from the water, so it’s fully emerged in the harbour atmosphere, and the views are just fantastic. We have plenty of outdoor space just by the water and, for the colder months, a lovely covered terrace with the same spectacular views of the fjord.” Once it was theirs, they had to make one rather large adjustment: “We changed the cuisine from Chinese to Nordic – it just fit the place and location perfectly.” The name, too, was given a makeover, and the proud new Restaurant Sejlet (‘The
Sail’) was ready for her maiden voyage in March 2018.
Plain sailing “The first few months have been spectacular,” says Johnny. “We can honestly say it’s been even better than we anticipated. We’ve picked up great and professional staff and our executive chef, Tobias Lorenzen, has been just as fantastic as we knew he’d be – I used to work with him,” he adds. “Tobias manages to put together these very interesting and unusual flavour combinations for the evening dishes,” Gitte explains, “while producing all the best traditional and popular dishes, such as stjerneskud, smørrebrød, and burgers, for the lunch menu.” The restaurant works with local producers and strives to use as many organic ingredients as possible, though their primary concern is the flavour of each piece of meat, fish or vegetable. The evening menu changes every six weeks in keeping with the seasons. That way,
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
the kitchen gets to be as creative as possible and guests can expect a new and distinct experience every time. To make the most of the flavours of the moment, Johnny recommends the set evening menu, which takes diners on a tour of up to five of the current dishes on offer. “Lorenzen and his team have put these tastes together to create a series of multifaceted but well-balanced flavour combinations that work both within each dish and across each other so that the diner is never bored.” Current offerings include beetroot lamb jerky, salmon with elderberries, and beef heart with pumpkin. Appropriately for the autumn, the forthcoming menus will play around with game flavours.
Grape expectations If the dishes are the hero of the restaurant, then wine plays the leading lady.
“We both have a love for wine,” the Bachs agree, “but not for the pretentiousness which often accompanies it. We want to be open to everyone in terms of both the food and the wine, and that’s why we have such an extensive and varied assortment of dishes.” The same principle is reflected in the wine selection, spread across not one, but two wine cards. “They’re all wines that we really like or we wouldn’t have put them on there. The standard card is full of good wines at reasonable prices, while the cellar card allows you to sample spectacular wines at reasonable prices too, for them.” On 29 November, Restaurant Sejlet hosts the next event in a fully-booked wine-tasting series; just one of the several extra-curricular projects on the go. The Bachs and their crew are able to accommodate up to 150 people for conferences and private events, and for those
not fancying going out for dinner, Sejlet offers take-away versions of their dishes too, including picnic options in summer. “Take-away is too often reduced to poor-quality pizzas and burgers. We thought we’d provide a wholesome alternative for those days when there’s just not enough time.” Their wideranging take on a restaurant is proving popular: although it has only been open for half a year, the Bachs are already beginning to recognise returning customers. ”There is no better feeling than when you begin to build relationships with customers,” Johnny adds. “It means we’re doing something right that we can keep developing.”
Web: www.restaurantsejlet.dk Facebook: Restaurant Sejlet
Johnny, Tobias and Gitte.
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Scan Magazine | Artist of the Month | Norway
5th symphony from the Nine Symphonies Homage to Beethoven.
Artist of the Month, Norway
Abstract interpretations “What you see in a painting is your own personal interpretation of it,” claims Norwegian artist Kjell Folkvord, who uses art to express emotions and life events. His inspiration sources vary from Beethoven to astronomy, and the complexity of his paintings is often reflected in the bold use of colours, a final result that sometimes surprises even the artist himself. By Marte Eide | Photos: Kjell Folkvord
Folkvord describes himself as a ‘young artist and a not so young person’, because his lifelong dream of being an artist finally became reality 15 years ago. Becoming a father at a young age meant that an unsure artistic path with unstable finances was not an option for him back then. Instead, he worked in education, first as a teacher and later on as headmaster, before taking an early retirement. “I seized 122 | Issue 117 | October 2018
the opportunity and started painting fulltime. It was a dream come true. I have a lot to express and communicate to others, and I believe art is the best way for me to do that,” he says.
Creative painting process The artist has called London his home for the past eight years and thrives on being a part of the creative hub Wimbledon Art
Studios, alongside over 200 other artists. “We have open studio days twice a year, which is always exciting. London has an incredible number of artists and I enjoy being a part of it,” Folkvord says. The 34th Open Studios Art Show will take place from 15 to 18 November, offering visitors a unique art fair to enjoy, as well as the option to purchase art from the artists in their work space. “I would also love to have a solo exhibition in Norway one day,” says Folkvord. An abstract expressionist, Folkvord chooses to express himself and his feelings through using water-based acrylic paint. “I love the artistic freedom and the variety it offers. My painting process often
Scan Magazine | Artist of the Month | Norway
starts with a sketch and a specific idea, but might turn out to be something entirely different.” Folkvord mostly works in the studio in the morning with his three assistants: time, water and gravity, who continue working when he goes home. “Sometimes I spread colours on the canvas only to return to my studio the next day to find it completely different to how I had left it. This is exciting and, at times, also challenging.” The element of strong colour is a recurring theme in the artist’s work. “Strong colours are part of my identity, reflecting my personality and becoming letters in my artistic language,” he says, referring to his on-going The Alphabet painting series. “Abstract art is my way of communicating. In the same way we cannot always explain our emotions, or how a musical piece can be both beautiful and melancholic at the same time, abstract paintings are open to interpretation and can have different meanings for different people,” the artist explains. Although audiences might rec-
Community.
6th symphony from the Nine Symphonies Homage to Beethoven.
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 123
Scan Magazine | Artist of the Month | Norway
ognise familiarities in the paintings, that is not an important factor for Folkvord. “I am interested in the individual approach. One can say that the spectator finishes the painting by starting their own interaction with the work. Whatever you see in a painting is valid, because we all look at art through our own experiences and point of view,” he explains, challenging his audience to be their own art expert: “Nobody else can tell you what you like or do not like about a piece of art.”
Beethoven and Hawking Folkvord is easily inspired by the world around him and his musical influences range from Bob Dylan to jazz and classical music. “Music is the most abstract form of art we have. It is often a source of inspiration to me,” the artist explains. This is evident in his nine-piece series, an homage to Beethoven’s nine symphonies. “I have a quote from him hung up on the wall, ‘Art demands of us that we shall never stand still’, and he is very important to me.” Folkvord spent 14 months repeatedly playing each of the symphonies while creating the paintings. “There is something about his music that speaks to me deeply, it is so powerful. It inspires me every time I listen to it.” Another source of inspiration is astronomy. The death of Steven Hawkins
Rhapsody in Blue.
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on 14 March this year impacted Folkvord to name his newly finished painting in his honour, Hawking Radiation, inspired by Hawkins’ theory on black holes. When asked what advice he would give to aspiring artists, Folkvord has no doubt: “Do not try to copy others, that seat is taken. Be yourself!”
Web: www.kjell-folkvord.net Facebook: Kjell Folkvord Artist Twitter: @kjellfolkvord Instagram: @kjellfolkvordart
So What! from the Kind of Blue series.
Kjell Folkvord. Photo: Aga King
See and purchase Kjell Folkvord’s artwork in his studio, nr. 265 at Wimbledon Art Studios, by appointment. Tel: +44 7540 111210
Hawking Radiation.
Scan Magazine | Artist of the Month | Finland
Left: You are my love. An installation of 3,000 hand-written cards. Right: Meditation with materials. Bones. Picture taken immediately after meditation. Below: Girls. Julia.
Artist of the Month, Finland
Harmonious art Driven by an endless curiosity in people and humanity, Paula Tella’s multidisciplinary work bravely covers a large variety of topics and deals with deep emotions, such as shame and spirituality, while breaking conventions and societal norms. By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Paula Tella
“I am acutely aware of the energy I bring into the world, and this comes across in my work,” Tella says. Also working as a yoga teacher, she values spirituality and harmony above all else. In her photographic series, Facial landscape – before, during, after, people have their picture taken before, during and after meditation. “It was a very intimate and personal experience, as people were letting me see them at their most vulnerable,” she says. Tella’s recent work, titled Holy water, is a series of photographs of naked women urinating in the midst of nature, in a standing position. “With this work, I wanted to explore a thing that has been typically classed as shameful, and to show that it is completely natural, and that it can be done shamelessly,” Tella states. The work will be on display at Art Cenre Mältinranta, in Tampere, Finland, from 30 March until 16 April 2019.
Another one of Tella’s recent works, Gender studies, is a video of a woman shaving her hair, with a twist in the end. “I aim to break conventions and, ultimately, I am constantly seeking selfimprovement through my work; on a personal as well as a professional level,” she says. The work will be on display at Huuto Galleria in Helsinki from 19 November until 16 December 2018. Also working with art installations, Tella’s work includes 3,000 handwritten cards with the words ‘You are my love’. “This too, was a form of meditation. I would write the cards for one hour every morning. The meaning of the words would change as I wrote them on the card. The words would then find a new meaning when someone else reads them, and my persona no longer exists at that point, as the words become someone else’s,” Tella explains.
“Nature features prominently in my works. As an artist, I am responsible for what I produce and bring into the world. Through art, we are able to tackle difficult topics, but the way we do it is very important. I do not want to bring negativity into the world, and even difficult issues can be addressed from a positive viewpoint,” she concludes.
Web: www.paulatella.com
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 125
Scan Magazine | Humour |
Columns
IS IT JUST ME…
By Mette Lisby
Who worries about anybody not knowing anything anymore? People have a lot of opinions and spend a lot of time voicing them, but nobody actually knows anything. You notice when you really need someone to know something, how hard they are to come by. Even if it is their job to know, they usually do not. Like when you call a customer help-line with an issue, be it with your iPhone, your streaming subscription or, like me − upon encountering a minor mishap while travelling − calling my insurance company to learn how I was covered in this particular circumstance. You can spend hours in search of someone who knows how to help you. I did! First there is the voice menu that it seems every company who has more than one employee uses. You have to trick it to get to talk to a real person. The trick is to do everything the voice-menu asks you to do, terribly wrong. Then, in despair, they usually let you talk to an actual human. Eager-
ly, you explain your problem and the actual human who started out so enthusiastically stating her name runs into trouble. She has met a real question that the management course in friendliness did not cover: actual knowledge about an actual issue that actual costumers could come across. This is apparently completely unexpected so you are met with a long “uhmmmm…”. For a second, you are hanging mid-air, until the follow-up: “I don’t really know about this. I’ll pass you on to another department.” You breathe a sigh of relief. Until the exact same thing happens. All in all, I was passed on six times between various departments (some of them I believe they made up just for the fun of it), and nobody knew anything. Like I was ‘it’ and the service employees were playing tag. It took about 55 minutes to find someone who knew the procedure. What do these people tell their spouses when they come
Halloween October is one of my favourite months. It is the month of getting back into the swing of things, of being reunited with your favourite jumper and snuggling up in front of the fire with gallons of tea. And, of course, it is the month of Halloween. As a foreigner, I find that adopted holidays like Halloween take on a strange life of their own. You may control them to begin with, through efforts to cook British food at Christmas, for example, but after a while, the repetition of this effort becomes a ritual, which means you now have a tradition – not always the bona fide version, but a unique amalgamation – like poorly cooked turkey served with lingonberry jam. But back to Halloween! The fact that we did not have this tradition in Sweden did not stop me from dressing as a vampire for large parts of the year regardless. I was quite morbid as a child, so naturally I have found myself drawn to this particular tra126 | Issue 117 | October 2018
home after work? “I did great work today! I passed along 108 people, without knowing how to help any of them”? Next time I will start out asking with a firm voice: “Could you pass me on to the people-who-actually- know -department, please.” 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
eccentric flash of light in the autumn dark and an opportunity to be slightly irregular, whether that means you are a ghost or just a plain foreigner. Added to this is the fact that once the glamour of Halloween settles, it is Christmas, which means there is barely any time to put the pumpkins down before you get to bring out the good old, tried and tested, passed-down-through-one-generation, burnt poultry and jam.
dition as an adult. What is not to love about LED pumpkins and skeleton tat? When I was in my 20s, we used to cover our house in Halloween props and throw elaborate parties, which is how I learnt just how difficult fake blood is to scrub out of rented carpets. Despite this, there was, and is, something incredibly exciting about Halloween. It is an
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.
Scan Magazine | Culture | Music
Scandinavian music You won’t have escaped the news this summer that Swedish pop legends ABBA are reforming to record and release two brand new tracks ahead of an avatar tour. The jury is still out on exactly what an avatar tour would entail and how good it could truly be, but the news about new music is incredibly exciting. Well now, the band’s Björn Ulvaeus has come out and said that, actually, we could all be getting as many as four new songs, and, in fact, do not rule out a whole album. A new ABBA album. Let those words sink in. Actually, let us revisit those words for a minute. A new ABBA album from another pop icon of our lifetime, Cher, has just been released. One might think her album of ABBA covers, Dancing Queen, is somewhat surplus to requirements, given that we all know the originals so well, but her respectful approach and camp (obviously) execution have deservedly been received
By Karl Batterbee
very well. The album hit number two on the UK album chart earlier in October and became her highest charting LP since 1991. It is also the fourth ABBA-related album to hit the UK top ten this year, following the Mamma Mia 2 soundtrack, the soundtrack to the original Mamma Mia film, and perennial top ten revisitor, ABBA: Gold. If we had not already been waiting 35 years for some new ABBA music, I would suggest they hold off on that next album for a year or so, to allow us some more time to get this revival of their old music out of the way first! One new album from a famous and fabulous Swedish pop export that is well within our reach, however, is Honey. That is the new LP from Robyn − her first in eight years − and it comes out on the last Friday of this month. If the singles, Missing U and Honey, are anything to go by, we are in for an incredible record of epic synth-pop that
manages to be both melancholic and euphoric at the same time. But this is Robyn − you already suspected as much. Web: www.scandipop.co.uk
Issue 117 | October 2018 | 127
Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar
Víkingur Ólafsson. Photo: Ari Magg
Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! The Incident (16-21 October) The Incident premiered at the Harare International Festival of the Arts in Zimbabwe in 2017 and is now coming to London. Written by Swedish playwright Joakim Daun, the award-winning theatrical performance addresses questions around belonging, migration, racism and power through an intimate love story spanning Sweden and Zimbabwe. Canada Water Theatre, 21 Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 7AR, UK. www.thealbany.org.uk 128 | Issue 117 | October 2018
Exhibition: Mothers (until 21 October) Mothers is an exhibition created in collaboration between mothers and their children. It presents work from 20 artists, including Swedish Agneta and Emanuel Almborg, and Danish Ulla Rask and Dyveke Bredsdorff, who explore the relationships with our mothers and the journey into motherhood itself. Turf Projects, 46-47 Lower Level Trinity Court, Croydon CR0 1UQ, UK. www.turf-projects.com
By Sanne Wass
An introduction to Scandinavian cuisine (23 October) In just one evening, Christian Orner, a Nordic chef, will teach you how to make the best of Scandinavian cuisine, including gravlax, Swedish meatballs, sea trout, ‘surkål’, pickled cucumber and salt baked whole beetroot. The night will be topped off with Norwegian ‘melkesjokolade’ mousse. 6pm. Purewell Showroom, 2 Wilverley Road, Dorset BH23 3RU, UK. www.purewell.co.uk/cookatpurewell
Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar
Copenhagen Blues Festival (25-28 October) For one week every autumn, Copenhagen becomes the true blues capital of Scandinavia. Now in its 18th year, the Copenhagen Blues Festival features a dynamic programme of 30 concerts with world-class international as well as Danish top acts across 12 stages, ranging from small, intimate clubs to concert halls. Expect a mix of traditional and new interpretations of the blues, performed by seasoned blues veterans and young promising talents alike. Multiple venues. www.copenhagenbluesfestival.dk
Night Under The Stars: Northern Lights (6 November) Themed ‘Northern Lights’, this evening will present a range of Nordic tunes, including Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto, Jean Sibelius’ Finlandia hymn and music from Peer Gynt. The concert is in support of The Passage, a charity that helps homeless people transform their lives. Performers include Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson and Norwegian opera singer Isa Katharina Gericke. 7.30pm. Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX, UK. www.southbankcentre.co.uk
The Incident. Press photo
Iceland Airwaves Festival (7-10 November) Iceland Airwaves Festival, the world’s most northerly music festival, is celebrating its 20th birthday this year. It brings together the country’s emerging musical talent, including the likes of Godchilla, Cyber, Hildur and Bára Gísladóttir, with established international acts. Over four days and nights, the festival will host almost 200 artists, who will perform across 20 venues in downtown Reykjavik. www.icelandairwaves.is
Ace Rosewall (14 November) If you are around the East London area, head to Apples and Pears Bar for an evening of live music with Ace Rosewall, an acoustic singer and songwriter from
amiina. Photo: Eva Vermandel
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Leicester Whisky Festival (17 November)
Hildur at Iceland Airwaves Festival. Photo: Alexander Matukhno
Denmark, who has recently released two new singles, Fooling Around and Extensions. He will be performing together with Karl Ficarotta, a folk artist from Bristol. 6.45pm. Apples and Pears Bar, 26 Osborn Street, E1 6TD London, UK. www.eventbrite.co.uk
Bára Gísladóttir at Iceland Airwaves Festival. Photo: Ásta Sif Árnadóttir
130 | Issue 117 | October 2018
The very first Leicester Whisky Festival will soon kick off, filling the city’s National Space Centre with the best whisky brands, experts and distillers. The festival will also present an array of masterclasses, led by whisky experts. One of them will be hosted by Mackmyra Whisky, a Swedish single malt whisky distillery that uses Sweden’s abundant natural resources to develop a special sweetness. 7pm. National Space Centre, Exploration Drive, Leicester LE4 5NS. www.eventbrite.co.uk
amiina: Fantômas (18 November) In this performance of their latest project, the Icelandic neo-classical string group amiina combines contemporary classical, electronic and pop in a melancholic soundtrack, performed live to a
screening of Juve Contre Fantômas, one of the 1913 Fantômas silent thrillers. 7.30pm. LSO St Luke’s. 161 Old Street, London EC1V 9NG, UK. www.barbican.org.uk
Amos Rex’s opening exhibition (until 6 January 2019) A new art museum has arrived in Helsinki. The Amos Rex, which opened on 30 August, exhibits the latest, often experimental contemporary art, 20th century modernism and ancient cultures. Its opening exhibition showcases Tokyo-based teamLab, a 500-strong interdisciplinary art collective consisting of artists, programmers, CG animators, mathematicians, architects, graphic designers and writers, whose aim is to ‘reconfigure reality’. Amos Rex, Yrjönkatu 27, Helsinki, Finland. www.amosrex.fi
CHIEFTAIN CHAIR BY FINN JUHL
1949
www.finnjuhl.com / info@finnjuhl.com / +45 70 27 71 01
1 September 2018 – 20 January 2019 Extended opening hours / arken.dk
Vincent van Gogh, Self-portrait, 1887. Coll. Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo
Van Gogh