Scan Magazine | Issue 42 | July 2012 by Scan Client Publishing

JULY 2012 ISSUE 42 PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA

LOREEN: HEIGHTENED EUPHORIA ARCHITECTURE IN FINLAND MADE IN SWEDEN & DENMARK SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES IN NORWAY

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Scan Magazine | Contents

Contents COVER FEATURE 8

Simon and Tomas Two decades after their first meeting, top Swedish design dynamos Simon Davies and Tomas Cederlund have gone from fledgling shopkeepers to international television stars.

Architecture in Finland

Swedish coastal life The Swedish coastline, with tens of thousands of islands, is a paradise for all who enjoy unspoiled archipelagos as well as all kinds of maritime activities.

SPECIAL THEMES 18

Sustainable businesses in Norway Corporate social responsibility is not a new idea but a new term for something businesses have been doing for a long time. Some businesses support local organisations or talented people in the arts, others do completely different things, but they are taking social responsibility.

Scandi Living Popular online boutique Scandi Living has recently opened its very own shop in Hindhead, Surrey. The beautiful and airy premises offer a great selection of Scandinavian design items, from rugs to kids’ bedroom accessories, and even a café.

Made in Denmark The World Bank doing business index ranks Denmark as the easiest place in Europe to do business in 2012. Denmark offers a safe and financially stable climate, market access to the entire EU market place, a perfect hub to Northern Europe and highly skilled employees.

DESIGN FEATURES

Made in Sweden Sweden is today among the world’s richest and most technologically advanced nations. The country has an impact on global business and industry far beyond its size, and companies with Swedish roots, such as IKEA, H&M and Volvo, are household names from Boston to Beijing.

Loreen At the end of May, a little-known and largely talented performer going by the name of Loreen did something to make her fellow Swedes extremely proud: she won the Eurovision Song Contest with her song Euphoria and took the trophy back home to Sweden from Baku in Azerbaijan.

Experiences in Norway Nature is where it all happens - to enjoy Norway to the fullest you have to go outdoors. You do not necessarily have to be into extreme sports either as there are plenty of diverse activities through which to experience Norway.

Practicality, functionality, application of contemporary technology and the pursuit of equality remain important values in Finnish architecture, while today there is a new emphasis on sustainable development and renewable materials.

REGULARS & COLUMNS 12 91

Scan Business FEATURE 96

Cooperation and knowledge sharing between Aalborg University and industries

100 Coaching in Norway Are you looking to develop the competences of your employees? Or perhaps you are aiming to create future leaders for your company? In this theme, we look into how this can be achieved through a selection of profiles on successful coaching and consultancy companies within Norway.

New business opportunities, product development and increased profits are some of the benefits Aalborg University is offering Danish and international industry; in return their students and researchers get the chance to stay on top of the demands and developments within the corporate world.

58 78

REGULARS & COLUMNS THEMES 98

Real Estate and Property Management Last year, real estate agents and lawyers sold 146,000 properties in Norway. This was an increase of eight per cent from the year before. At the same time the prices increased in a way you would not experience anywhere else in Europe.

Business Columns & News Key note, columns and news stories on Scandinavian businesses and business events.

110 Conferences of the Month The best conference venues, events and congresses of the month.

113 Scandinavian Business Calendar Highlights of Scandinavian business events.

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 3

Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note

Dear Reader, As a Scandinavian, no matter how many years I’ve spent abroad and away from “home”, I still inevitably feel proud of Finland and the rest of the Nordic countries’ achievements. Whether it’s something fun and a little less serious like a Eurovision win (not saying some people don’t take it very seriously!), the worldwide success of Angry Birds, people taking notice of the high quality of Scandi design, or our education systems being praised internationally – it’s all very exciting.

tials, which has a lot to do with improving people’s working conditions and methods as well. We haven’t forgotten to include some great holiday tips and destinations either as this time we look at Swedish coastal life, and activities and experiences in Norway. The “heightened euphoria” we felt after the Swedish Eurovision win in Baku, Azerbaijan, in May this year is captured in our cover feature on the one and only Loreen. I hope you’re enjoying your summer holidays!

Scan Magazine is, of course, a natural ambassador for all the great things that come out of Scandinavia, and it’s a role we greatly relish. This month, we have once again delved into the world of architecture but this time in Finland. We are also introducing great products and services “Made in Sweden” and “Made in Denmark”.

Nia Kajastie Editor

Scandinavia is also known as a frontrunner when it comes to the issues of sustainability and ethical ways of living and working; both nature and egalitarianism are close to our hearts. Please turn to our theme on “Sustainable businesses in Norway” to learn more about how important these matters are to Scandinavian people. In our business section, we also look into how Scandinavian coaching companies help businesses reach their poten-

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Scan Magazine | Contributors

Regular Contributors Nia Kajastie (Editor) was born and raised in Helsinki, Finland, and moved to London in 2005 to study writing. With a BA in Journalism & Creative Writing, she now describes herself as a full-time writer and grammar stickler. Emelie Krugly Hill has worked on a number of Swedish newspapers. After travelling extensively, she has been based in London since 2006. Her particular interests are news and current affairs within Sweden and the export of Scandinavian culture to the UK. 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 versions of “Have I Got News For You” and “Room 101”. Julie Guldbrandsen is Scan Magazine’s fashion and design expert; she has worked in the fashion industry for more than 10 years, and advised various Scandinavian design and fashion companies. Besides, Julie has a BA in business and philosophy and has lived in Copenhagen, Singapore and Beijing before settling down in London. Ingrid Marie Holmeide came to London from Norway to study creative writing. She is currently working as a freelance writer and translator, while publishing her first novel.

Swedish Sara Schedin is a freelance writer with a degree in journalism from City University London. She moved here in 2006 and is currently covering Scandinavian culture in the UK.

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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. She writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK. Karl Batterbee is devoted to Scandinavian music and knows exactly what is coming up in the UK. Apart from writing a monthly music update for Scan Magazine Karl has also started the Scandipop Club Night and its corresponding website: www.scandipop.co.uk. Norwegian Karin Modig has lived in London since 1998: she arrived with the intention of staying just four months. She currently works as a freelance journalist and PR consultant, and is a keen handball player. Linnea Dunne has been writing professionally for over 10 years. Having started out on a local paper in Sweden, she is passionate about Scandinavian music and culture, and currently works in London as a full-time writer and translator. Magnus Nygren Syversen is a Norwegian freelance journalist and feature writer, who graduated from Middlesex University with a BA in Journalism & Communication in 2010. Having left London and relocated to the other side of the world, he is currently doing his MA at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. Inna Allen is a freelance writer, translator and photographer whose passions lie in all things art and design. She moved to the UK from her native Finland in 2001 and has since developed a chronic yearning for sauna.

Having travelled much of the world, Signe Hansen, MA graduate in Journalism and previous editor at Scan Magazine, is now back freelancing in London, where she writes on everything Scandinavian and her main passions: culture, travel and health. Ulrika Osterlund spent most of her life in London, but recently returned to Stockholm, where she is working as a journalist. She studied international business in Paris and journalism in London. She is also a budding novelist. Danish Yane Christensen has lived in London half her life. She’s a designer, illustrator and mother of twin girls. She also has an on-line shop www.fleamarketfloozy.com and writes to exercise her brain. Sven Riis Houston has lived in Edinburgh for six years, having graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a BA in Journalism in 2009. He currently works as a freelance writer and media researcher, and has an unhealthy interest in football. Anette Berve is a Norwegian freelance journalist based in London. She has previously worked in Buenos Aires for a cultural newspaper and is currently finishing her degree in journalism and Spanish. Based in Copenhagen, Kirstine Trauelsen contributes to Scan Magazine as a freelance writer. She loves travelling and is especially devoted to music and theatre. Kirstine has a Master’s degree in history and rhetoric from the University of Copenhagen and works in communication and PR.

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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Loreen

8 | Issue 42 | July 2012

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Loreen

Heightened Euphoria At the end of May, a little-known and largely talented performer going by the name of Loreen (real name Lorén Talhaoui) did something to make her fellow Swedes extremely proud: she won the Eurovision Song Contest with her song Euphoria and took the trophy back home to Sweden from Baku in Azerbaijan. By Karl Batterbee | Cover photo: A. Aschberg

It is not a sense of pride that will necessarily be understood by the Brits, but then Sweden takes its pop music very seriously. A dedication to its art has made the country one of the world's biggest exporters of music per capita. However, it was not the Eurovision win that was most noteworthy here. After all, a song will win Eurovision every year. It is what Euphoria managed to achieve in the days after its Eurovision win that had so many people talking about Loreen. Euphoria went on to top the iTunes charts in twenty-two countries across Europe, including the notoriously Eurovision-phobic UK. An unprecedented flurry of sales followed, which meant that for the first time in decades, a Eurovision winning song actually went on to become something of a crossover hit. It even charted in Australia, the far away continent of cult Eurovision fans. The success meant that Loreen's planned time off was cancelled, and instead she was put straight back to work again, promoting the song across Europe. In the few days following her Eurovision win, she was treated to the obligatory homecoming ceremony in Sweden, before jetting off to Britain, France, Germany and beyond. And it is during those three days in the UK that Scan Magazine was granted the

super-rare and tightly scheduled chance to talk to her. “These are crazy fun times" First things first, I want to know if Loreen is finding the post Eurovision experience to be the whirlwind I imagine it to be. “These are crazy fun times. But I'm extremely happy about all of this. It's been perfect timing.” I'm also curious as to which side of the contest has been more hectic: the week leading up to the big night or the week she has been experiencing afterwards. “I would say the week before. Because of the performance, there was a lot of planning. There was a lot of focus on shutting everything out, rehearsing and practising. The week before the performance was very special, I would say.” And of course to us, the viewers, the performance we ended up getting was very special too. “It's a special energy when you stand there. It has to be because of everything in it. And if I'm not there mentally, you guys won't be able to see anything. I won't sing well because my energy is split, because my thoughts are split and because I'm thinking of everything else around me.” It's an admirable dedication to the execution of one very big performance. And something from which Loreen certainly deserves a holiday afterwards. However,

finding her song in the surprising position of being such a big hit around the continent in the days after the show, she now needs to decide what is more important to her: giving herself that well deserved holiday, or going into work mode again straight away to capitalise on all of the success she is having and the love she is receiving. “I love to be by myself. I love to meditate and not talk to anybody. I've been on silent retreats where I haven't spoken to anybody for 30 days. So time alone is very important for me; that's when I create. But right now I'll find my thoughts some days and some hours, here and there, just to balance it up. And I'll be very selective with what I do. Some artists will do everything, but I believe in having respect for your body. So when I think it's too much, I say no.” I tell her that I feel privileged that she selected our interview as one of the things to do; she giggles. “I don’t care about the programme” So many millions of people now know Loreen, the Eurovision winner. But she has been Loreen, the artist, for a long time before that. An artist that actually seemed to be as far away from Eurovision as one could get. I wonder if winning the Eurovision Song Contest was the kind of thing she had even aimed for before she found herself mixed up in all of it. “To be honest, I didn't. I don't really think; I just

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 9

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Loreen

Photo: A. Aschberg

full of sale ready Euphorias. But this is not the case with Loreen. “Every song that I've come out with always has an acoustic version to it. So the album is going to be very dynamic. It's going to be a fusion between those two worlds: the electronic world, and the acoustic, organic world where every instrument is played live. Some club elements, but also a lot of James Blake and Björk elements. Not 100% club, which I think a lot of people are expecting it to be, because all of my singles have had a club element there.” It’s so cold in Sweden - let’s write

follow the flow. To me, I don't care about status as long as there’s a stage and there are people listening to me; that's what's important. So I didn't ever imagine myself winning Eurovision. I just imagined myself being on a stage and doing my own thing for an audience, for a huge audience or for a small audience. I don't care about the programme. I don't care about the game; I don't care about all of these things around it. I care about the connection between me and my audience, and I care about me creating something on stage that you guys will hopefully like.” Now that we have all been enchanted by Euphoria, the natural progression in our

thoughts is to look forward to the album. So just how is that coming along? “It's actually coming along great. I'm working on it right now. Straight away, when I came back from Baku, I went into a meeting with my songwriters just to plan. The album was already done, and the songs were already written last year, but I decided that I didn't want the album to come out just yet. So there's not much left to do really. This summer I'm going to spend some more time working on the album, and then it's going to come out this autumn.” With Euphoria being the super hit it is, an artist, and especially a record label, might be tempted to go back to the drawing board to ensure that it is a record

Loreen's Eurovision win is a further reminder to people that they should be looking towards Sweden as a source for great pop music. With so many highly admired and hugely successful writers, producers and artists coming from Sweden, and indeed Scandinavia, does Loreen feel a sense of pride for her contemporaries’ achievements in the field of music? “I'm not a patriot, to be honest. I see us all as one. Of course it's always fun with music and that so much of it comes from Sweden. I don't know if it's because it's so damn cold in Sweden that people don't have anything else to do really but sit in the studio and write. We can't go to the beach - let's write. We can't do this - let's write. Everything is closed at six - let's write! But I'm happy that there are so many great writers and producers that still create so much nice music that is so global and that everyone can enjoy. But to be honest with you, because I'm Moroccan and born and raised in Sweden, my way of expressing myself involves many cultures. And I've heard so much beautiful music from around the world that has influenced me.” A song written by Swedes and delivered by a cross-culturally influenced performer: this year's Eurovision winner was a foregone conclusion all along.

For more information, please visit: www.loreen.se Sweden's Loreen wins the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. Photo: Andres Putting (EBU)

10 | Issue 42 | July 2012

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Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This

We love this... This month we have fallen for a selection of Scandinavian design goodies that will definitely come in handy as we enjoy al fresco summer living. By Julie Guldbrandsen. Email: julie@scanmagazine.co.uk

The classic ship’s lamp has been updated by Stelton – minimalist and in a cylinder design that keeps the wind out. £329. www.scandiliving.com

Portable wine cooler by Menu with a removable cooling inner coat to keep the wine temptingly chilled. £35. www.nordicdesignforum.co.uk

Outdoor cushion with kissing robins. £32. www.karlssondesign.co.uk

Luxe wool throw by Lycka Form with pattern inspired by the aprons of the Leksand folk costume. £200. www.northlighthomestore.com

12 | Issue 42 | July 2012

A deluxe sun bed made of bamboo by Tine K Home. £273 for a single, £545 for a double.

Hello, my name is Pål Ross. In the last decade I have designed and planned more than 190 unique, top-quality Scandinavian homes – each in harmony with their surroundings, and all environmentally sound. Because my aim is to exceed your expectations, I accept only ten commissions per year. It takes time, expertise, and dedication to create a personal and worthy home. My colleagues and I are involved in any or all of the stages of production, from choosing the perfect plot to designing your interiors, making sure that the end result is an excellent investment, and a home that will enhance your life. For more inspiration and information visit our website, www.ross.se All the best,

Pål Ross, architect SAR/MSA Tel: +46 8 84 84 82 | E-mail: ross@ross.se | www.ross.se

Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary

Fashion Diary... We are getting ready for some seriously sunny holiday time and planning what to toss in the suitcase. Here is the Scandi take on how to rock a cool summer and beach look. By Julie Guldbrandsen. Email: julie@scanmagazine.co.uk

A beautiful and über-luxe beach cover-up by Hanne Bloch. You can use it as an evening dress too. £285. www.thebeachtomatoshack.com

A super cute 50s fit bikini by Ganni with edgy paint-splat polka dots. £75 www. gannistore.dk

Classic parrot hat by Weekday - this is a summer essential. £16. www.weekday.com

Tribal print is the perfect accompaniment for beach-chic dressing. £25. www.vila.com

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This is the perfect pair of wedges by The Last Conspiracy. Super versatile, stylish and practical. £150. www.youheshe.com

A pair of sunny shorts by Dagmar, equally ideal for the beach and the city. £159. www. houseofdagmar.se

Scan Magazine | Design | Simon and Tomas

Swedish interior designers Simon and Tomas reach new heights Two decades after their first meeting, top Swedish design dynamos Simon Davies and Tomas Cederlund have gone from fledgling shopkeepers to international television stars. Judi Lembke finds out how they did it. Photos and text by Judi Lembke

“Unbelievable luck, being different and a lot of hard work,” say English-born Simon and his Swedish partner Tomas about their long and successful partnership, which began when the pair opened a small English design shop in Stockholm nearly twenty years ago. They were quickly enlisted to design a local eatery, and the success of that venture kicked off their design career. Reflecting on those years, the design duo says: “Swedish design hadn’t changed in fifty years. It was all white walls and pine furniture. We were different, using curvy lines, purples, velvet. And we were prepared to make our clients push the design boundaries. Each project was addressed individually, without cookie-cutter solutions.” Simon and Tomas swiftly became Sweden’s go-to designers, and from there

their television career kicked off when Simon auditioned for a new design show. “I entered an apartment and was asked my thoughts. I said it was appalling, lacking harmony, some might call the things hanging on the windows curtains but I would call them dishcloths. A young lady told me I had done great, except that it was her flat!” Simon starred in twenty Swedish episodes of Room Service, then another thirty for the Norwegian market, where half the country tuned in each week. Tomas was brought onboard for the next series, Design: Simon and Tomas, with three more series following. Their enormous success in Scandinavia led to offers from the United States, culminating in Home Takeover with Simon and Tomas for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network.

Home Takeover was the most successful show in its time slot, but while the couple loved the heightened production values offered by American television, Tomas was less than pleased with the final result. “We filmed over 100 hours for each show, but the end product was watered down. They took away what made us unique.” Recently they wrapped up production on the latest series of Sweden’s Ugliest Homes, but it may be the last. “We’ve more or less redesigned nearly every ugly home in Sweden at this point, so we’re working on new concepts for both the Swedish and the American market,” says Simon, “and we’re ready for new challenges.”

Design duo Simon Davies (left) and Tomas Cederlund (right)

Those new challenges include pitching a new concept to top American networks, one they are keen to keep quiet. “What we’ve developed hasn’t been done before. It’s more fun and promises to keep the viewer on the edge of his or her seat.”

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 15

Scan Magazine | Design | Scandi Living

Visit the new Scandi Living shop in Hindhead, Surrey, for some unique Scandinavian design items and a cup of coffee.

Scandinavian design in Surrey Popular online boutique Scandi Living has recently opened its very own shop in Hindhead, Surrey. The beautiful and airy premises offer a great selection of Scandinavian design items, from rugs to kids’ bedroom accessories, and even a café, where visitors can sit down for a cup of coffee and some Scandinavian cakes and biscuits. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Scandi Living

Scandi Living has been operational as an online business for six years now, and the demand for Scandinavian products and design only seems to be growing. Scandinavian design is known for its clean and simple lines combined with light colours and quality materials; it is something that people cherish in today’s throwaway society as the items are often classics that withstand the test of time both in terms of material and design features. From online to physical shop Scandi Living is the brainchild of founder and owner Linda Swarbrick, who always

16 | Issue 42 | July 2012

wanted to open a physical shop but started her business online instead. “At the time I was starting a family and running an online boutique from home was the easier and safer option,” she explains. “I have been looking around for premises for some time though, and I heard about this empty shop from my friend. When I saw it, I thought it was absolutely lovely, and it finally felt like the right time. The website was going so well, and I knew that the interest was there. I even had customers asking where they could come and see our products.”

Close to her own home, the new shop premises in Hindhead are located in an up-and-coming area that has seen more shops open recently as traffic has been diverted away from the village. It is also close to the Devil’s Punch Bowl, an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”, which is popular with hikers. Scandi design favourites The shop carries mostly the same things as the online boutique, including bestsellers and favourite products from Linum, who make high-quality Swedish textiles, and rugs by Pappelina, a Swedish company that makes interior design products. Additionally, the shop features restored, painted Scandinavian inspired furniture from a local company. If the shop is missing something, they can of course order it to be delivered to your home.

Scan Magazine | Design | Scandi Living

While the shop has only been open for a short while, it has already received a lot of attention from locals, and Swarbrick believes that people are happy to travel a bit further for good products and a selection that cannot be found everywhere. “We’ve gotten some good feedback already; locals love it as it’s something new. It’s a beautiful, bright shop with a little café. Hikers heading for the Devil’s Punch

Bowl, locals and anyone who is in the area can stop by for a coffee and have a look around; we’ve got some great gifts on top of things for your own home, as well as delicious Scandinavian cakes, biscuits and cinnamon buns,” Swarbrick says.

Find the new Scandi Living shop here: Hindhead Galleries, Tilford Road, Hindhead, Surrey, GU26 6SF Tel. 01428 608050

Opening times: Monday 09.00-15.00 Tuesday - Friday 09.00-17.00

For more information, please visit: www.scandiliving.com

Saturday 10.00-17.00 Sunday Closed

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 17

D : ME LAN E TH FIN L N A CI RE I E SP CTU ITE H C AR

Architecture in Finland Introduction by Jorma Mukala | Photo: Arno de la Chapelle

Some five million people have chosen the densely-forested "northern rim” of Europe and brisk climate of Finland as their home. Trees dominate the landscape here and, while there are no mountains to speak of, lakes abound in countless number. Cities in Finland are rather small, scattered randomly around the woodland countryside. The vast open territory of Lapland comprises the entire northern section of our elongated country, while our shores are a polymorphic gathering of ornamental islands and archipelagos. Along with its suburbs, the capital city of Helsinki on the southern coast forms the

18 | Issue 42 | July 2012

only urban area in Finland with over a million inhabitants. The imposing capital cities of our neighbours, Stockholm to the west and St. Petersburg to the east, bring into even sharper focus our specific geographic and cultural location. Modern architecture has found a strong foothold in our cold environs. Still in its infancy, modernism came to Finland in the late 1920s and was immediately enthusiastically embraced. Practicality, functionality, application of contemporary technology and the pursuit of equality have remained important values in the Finnish

architecture community throughout the decades. This continuation of the modernist ethos may well be regarded as one of the hallmarks of contemporary Finnish architecture. Finland’s best known architect Alvar Aalto created his own personal version of modernism as he saw it. He designed a great variety of objects: from glassware to light fixtures and even furniture - some of which are often better known today than his architecture. A defining factor of Aalto’s “free-form” design language was his use of undulating lines in his work, an

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Architecture in Finland

The Helsinki Music Centre opened its doors on 31 August, 2011 (Architecture and interior design: LPR-Arkkitehdit Oy).

idiom which has been tied to Finland’s lake-filled national landscape.

that the country’s many forests supply in abundance.

And what of Finnish architecture today? There are no Finnish names among the famous list of hip “starchitects”, and despite having received a lot of attention from the press, “wow-factor” architecture with its dramatic and surprising shapes has not caught on. In its stead, however, efforts to mitigate climate change are quickly changing the ways Finns construct their built environment. This new emphasis on sustainable development has also re-introduced wood to contemporary architecture in a fresh new way. Half a century ago, wood was largely confined to traditional “old-fashioned” construction, but as a renewable natural material, wood is definitely making a comeback. Architects are finding innovative ways to use this ecological material

Another phenomenon among architects that reveals something about Finland’s current situation and welfare society in general is that currently the new buildings that are proving to be the most architecturally interesting are day-care centres, schools and other public buildings. In terms of design, unobtrusiveness and stark simplicity are still esteemed, while at the same time the diversity of individual visions has increased. A 2010/2011 exhibition by the Museum of Finnish Architecture provides an informative window into the world of recent Finnish architecture (www.finnisharchitecture.fi and katsaus.finnisharchitecture.fi). It seems the people who use contemporary architecture and the architects who

design it are almost always at odds. But one thing unites us all here in Finland: a sense of nature’s value and proximity. Finns may live in cities, but they appreciate nature and make their best efforts to enjoy it frequently. For example, many Finns spend their summer weekends and holidays in a small cabin by the sea or lake. Spending time at a rustic cabin during the long days of summer, with the sounds and sights of nature all around, allows us to experience something authentic and undeniably real. Architecture is most needed in the dark, cold days of winter – providing a haven of warmth and safety inside.

Jorma Mukala has been Editor-in-Chief of Finland’s premiere architecture journal, The Finnish Architectural Review, since 2009.

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Architecture in Finland

Töölö Library. 3D visualisation and measurement services by TIETOA Ltd

On the Plus side of Design Helsinki-based PlusArchitects offers its customers comprehensive service packages that combine high-end architecture with computer expertise and innovative ways of operating. They challenge the traditional ways of building detached houses and leisure-time homes by offering unique, carefully designed and industrially produced solutions. By Inna Allen | Photos: PlusArchitects

An expert in multi-industrial services, PlusArchitects was established in 2005 when design director Jani Lahti and his colleagues came up with the idea of fusing their existing computer visualisation business into an architectural practice. All the partners in the company are architects by trade and everyone wanted to incorporate architectural design into the business but not in the

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most traditional way of tendering with prices or taking part in competitions. “We were looking for our own way of operating. Designing isn’t our sole purpose – we aim to wrap everything together in a productized format where customers can feel like they are purchasing a house as a solution, and not design hours from the architectural firm,” explains Lahti.

As part of TIETOA company, PlusArchitects can offer their customers larger service packages than normal – they provide expertise in Building Information Modelling (BIM), 3D laser scanning and measurement, as well as 3D visualisation and media services. “This is part of our original business, which we started in 2000. Beside the architectural practice, we provide construction companies, design studios and large developer organizations with different consultation services,” says Lahti. “At the moment, our most popular service is measuring existing, complex buildings, such as the Olympic Stadium or the Parliament House in Helsinki, and creating extremely precise 3D models out of them, which in turn can

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Architecture in Finland

who work tightly as a team where everyone’s brains are utilized in every project. One of the most sigModern architecture + wooden nificant and exciting plans for the houses firm is their upcoming collaboration with a Norwegian retailer. “We In 2006, PlusArchitects began their have designed a house collection collaboration with Honkatalot, the for Norway’s market which is out renowned producer of wooden around August/September this houses, by creating the PlusVilla colFrom the PlusVilla Homes Collection. Image: PlusArchitects year. We have representatives in lection. Offering five different models Oslo and Trondheim, and a collaband hundreds of different varieties, orator who sorts out the building side of Naantali. “We draw from the designs of the collection came in at a time when Finthings locally, so again, we don’t sell just Scandinavian and Finnish modernism and land’s market was clearly missing a moddesign services but readymade solutions bring them up to date. We work with wood, ern and ecological concept for villas and for customers to work with,” Lahti enparticularly Finnish wood, and with an holiday houses. “With a valuable addition thuses. In addition to Scandinavia, PlusArecological mindset. Many of our buildings of internet-based marketing and a tool chitects’ houses have been sold all over are totally free of plastic, because we use where customers could test and compare Europe. recycled paper as thermal insulation madifferent building options, it was a great terial,” Lahti explains. “We aim to combine start for us,” says Lahti. The collection “Our mission is to see the architect’s work design with ecological wood construction has received international attention and from a slightly wider aspect. We know that in a manner which generates added value earned PlusArchitects prestigious recogconstruction can be difficult, and, in parfor our collaborators and assists our end nitions such as the Fennia Design Prize ticular, it can be challenging for a single clients in reaching the goals of their house and the Good Design Award. Their innofamily house builder who plays the role of projects.” vative work in the detached and holiday a constructor just once in his lifetime. Our house field has also won them the Design Teamwork + future plans aim is to make things simpler and easier Management Europe Award. to manage.” With offices in the artistic Vallila district of Helsinki, PlusArchitects together with TIPlusArchitects have also implemented ETOA Ltd. employ a total of 20 professeveral regional planning projects, such For more information, please visit: sionals. The core group that forms as the Käringsund Resort villas in Åland www.plusarchitects.fi PlusArchitects consists of five architects and the Kultaranta Golf & Resort villas in

be used for renovation or refurbishing work.”

Above left: PlusVilla Collection. The outdoor fireplace brings added cosiness to a lakeside sauna (Photo: Hans Koistinen). Top middle: The first ever design for the PlusVilla Collection, 2006 (Photo: Hans Koistinen). Below: Villa Lumi, Lapland. The two-story flue, along with indoor and outdoor fireplaces, is the heart of the building (Photo: Laaksonen Productions). Right: PlusVilla Collection. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outdoors in (Photo: Sami Repo).

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 21

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Architecture in Finland

Tamok Mountain Resort, a sustainable ski resort in northern Norway, concept stage.

Innovative solutions for unique problems Finnish Helsinki-based firm Huttunen-Lipasti-Pakkanen Architects approach, work on and live through their projects absorbedly. Their goal is to solve the unique challenges and problems that arise with each individual architectural project in an innovative and coherent way.

details. They work according to Alvar Aalto’s ideal of an architect mastering all scales from the doorknob to the whole city. Respect for location and materials Their aim is to create projects that fulfil their clients’ needs in a unique, cost-efficient, coherent and aesthetically pleasing way. Among the main principles according to which they work are respect for the location of the project as well as the building materials used.

By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Huttunen-Lipasti-Pakkanen Architects

The architectural firm was established in 1998 by partners Risto Huttunen and Santeri Lipasti, with Pekka Pakkanen joining them in 2007. The three partners studied at the same course in Otaniemi, a science and technology hub in the greater Helsinki area which is also home to Aalto University, often taking part in architectural competitions together. Today, the firm consists of 15 employees, and it has made a name for itself by winning and

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ranking high in many competitions in recent years. Huttunen-Lipasti-Pakkanen Architects’ portfolio ranges from residential quarters to a medical centre, and for them it is important not to limit their working field. Their approach to the designs is also allencompassing in that they take into account everything from the building materials to the location as well as smaller

“We take on the unique challenges of each project and aim to solve these in an innovative and open-minded way,” explains Pakkanen. “We take into account the character of the location and choose the right materials, but we also create solutions that specifically fit the materials. In the end, we want to create a design with its own intrinsic expression while respecting the building materials.” One excellent example of how this is carried out is Villa Mecklin, a house located in

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Architecture in Finland

Naantali, which was built in 2008. With untreated wooden surfaces that will turn grey with time, the villa fits into the rocky terrain seamlessly. Use of uncontrived materials and a simple yet eye-catching design make Villa Mecklin a beautiful sight in the Finnish archipelago, with its long terrace creating a perfect spot for enjoying the surrounding nature. The Villa was also presented at the 0809 Exhibition of the Museum of Finnish Architecture. Success in invitational competitions Many of the projects that Huttunen-Lipasti-Pakkanen Architects work on come through invitational competitions, forming an important source of work for the firm. They have won multiple first prizes as well as other top prizes in general architectural, idea and design competitions. Currently, Huttunen-Lipasti-Pakkanen Architects are working on a project together with MX_SI architectural studio from Barcelona. The Spanish firm won the competition to build an extension for the Serlachius museums in the town of Mänttä-Vilppula in the Upper Tampere Region, and Huttunen-Lipasti-Pakkanen Architects is the Finnish design partner. The new museum premises should open their doors in 2014.

Block of flats, Arabianranta, Helsinki, winner of invitational competition, completed in 2011, Award for concrete façade of the year.

Another on-going project is the new medical centre that will open near the Kamppi Shopping Centre in central Helsinki. In addition, Huttunen-Lipasti-Pakkanen Architects also work on more traditional housing developments and projects within Finland. Even though they have yet to execute projects abroad, they do not set themselves boundaries. Huttunen-Lipasti-Architects is planning a snowflake village for the Tamok valley in Norway; it is designed to be a unique skiing resort set among untouched nature - something quite unprecedented. The idea behind it is to build everything compactly and with clear borders around the village, so that the nature outside is left undisturbed. For more information, please visit: www.h-l-p.fi

Top left: Villa Mecklin, a wooden summer cabin, completed in Naantali in 2008. Below: Information and exhibition pavilion in, Espoo, Suurpelto, completed in 2011. Right: Triadi housing, concrete terrace house for three families, Kulosaari, Helsinki, completed in 2006.

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 23

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Architecture in Finland

Extension of the Finnish Parliament Building. Left: The Atrium (Photo: Voitto Niemelä). Right: Exterior, Nightview (Photo: Michael Perlmutter).

Diverse geometry tied in with pure materials and straightforward thinking Having impacted many of Finland’s cityscapes, from the extension of the Finnish Parliament Building in Helsinki to the Nokia headquarters in Espoo, the multi-award winning Helin & Co Architects is one of Finland’s most respected architectural practices. From architecture and city planning to workplace consultation and interior and product design, the firm covers an extensive field of services.

have been stamped with a Helin & Co mark. Or take the Finnish Parliament Building Annexe – since its completion in 2004, it has been regarded as highly successful, both inside and out, and a very deserving addition to the capital’s cityscape.

By Inna Allen | Photos: Helin & Co Architects

A wide field of activity As with many architectural firms, projects are often competition based, meaning companies have to compete against hundreds of others for the contract. Established in 1999, Helin & Co Architects have won around 40 competitions both in Finland and abroad and gained some very significant contracts through them. The competition wins have led them to design the business premises of some of Finland’s most prominent firms. Nokia, Wärtsilä and Ilmarinen are just some of the large corporations whose headquarters

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Extension of the Finnish Parliament Building, Grand Committee Room. Photo: Michael Perlmutter

Large public complexes and urban multiuse sights, such as the Kamppi shopping centre in Helsinki, and Sello Music Hall and Alberga Regional Library in Espoo, are the company’s trademarks, but smaller and simpler projects are just as important. Having recently completed a house in Seoul in South Korea after another winning competition submission, the practice’s current projects include an upscale residential building in Chengdu in China and a small private holiday house in the Finnish archipelago. From large-scale

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Architecture in Finland

city planning to the product design of a door handle, the scope of services Helin & Co Architects provide is comprehensive. They have been hailed for their exceptionally diverse ability to manage and interpret situations in an impressive manner irrespective of place, scale or budget. True to materials Materials and their authenticity are extremely important to Helin & Co Architects. “The use of wood is very prominent in our projects, particularly the combination of wood with steel and glass,” says founder and managing director Pekka Helin. In 2005, the company designed the Finnforest Modular Office, the tallest wooden office building in Europe, where the utilization of wood was explored rigorously. This autumn will see the completion of an energy-efficient building for Metsätapiola, where wood is used innovatively, for example, in the restaurant interior.

Villa Krona, Gullkrona Archipelago. Photo: Pekka Helin

“The essential features of Finnish architecture derive from our old culture – having lived in scanty, bare conditions, we have developed an authentic understanding for materials. Finns have built wood and stone churches from scarce raw materials, so the Finnish construction culture stems from the world of pure materials and austerity,” Helin explains. From passion to recognition Boasting over a dozen different prizes, including the European Steel Design Award, Finnish Wood Award, Environmental Construction Project of the Year and the Façade of the Year, the firm’s list of architectural awards is impressive, to say the least. Pekka Helin, who is a member of the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA), has also received the State Award for Architecture twice – the most prestigious personal recognition in the industry. Describing his profession as a lifestyle choice, like an all-encompassing hobby, Helin realised at the tender age of five that he wanted to become an architect. “I was playing with small boards of wood in a grit pit and realised the mountain-like terrain was perfect for adding buildings

Metsätapiola, Dining Room. Photo: Antti Laiho

to and creating tracks in – like planning a city,” he laughs. Today, the practice employs 78 people, consisting mainly of architects and technicians, along with a small administration sector. The premises boast state-ofthe-art CAD tools, 3D and BIM systems. The main office is situated in downtown Helsinki with another, smaller one, in Turku. Architectural work is spread between different project teams, whilst the concept teams are in charge of concepts

and competitions, and the design unit manages interior projects, workplace consultations and product design. Helin & Co Architects’ work has been showcased in several touring exhibitions around Europe, Asia and USA, and published in many international publications. For more information, please visit: For more information, please visit: www.helinco.fi

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 25

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Architecture in Finland

A holistic approach to sustainability Karin Krokfors Architects, established in 1995, is a small and flexible architecture office. Working on a broad range of projects, from urban design to residential housing as well as development, design research and media projects, the office is known for emphasising sustainability in its various forms. One great example of this thinking is the Kellokas cohousing development in Helsinki, which was completed in 2011.

also designed to be easily transformable, from a living space to a workplace, and they can also be combined or separated from each other into different-sized dwellings without major changes.

By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Karin Krokfors Architects

“I aim to create inspiring spaces,” says Krokfors. “People should be able to do something inspiring with the spaces they inhabit and be able to realize their own ambitions and become themselves within them.”

Karin Krokfors Architects approaches each project as an individual assignment and works according to the terms and spirit of the location, making sure it is sustainable and will withstand the test of time from a design, durability and sociocultural perspective. The office has received prizes in both domestic and international architectural competitions, with several projects being competition based. Most recently, Karin Krokfors Architects received an honorary mention in an open international urban design competition, “South Harbour” in Helsinki. The recognized Kellokas housing development was a joint building venture for experimental housing in the birthplace of Helsinki. The original idea was based on the notion that while Finnish housing ar-

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chitecture is of high quality, it is often very homogenous. “I’m interested in the development of architecture, and the sustainability of the spaces,” explains architect Karin Krokfors. “In this project, we’ve looked at sustainability holistically, taking into account durability, flexibility, ecology and wellbeing.” The Kellokas buildings are also a great example of a development fitting into the historical context of its setting and the existing urban structure. The buildings make use of solar collectors and geothermal heating, which make sure that the heating expenses are minimal. The walls of the buildings are made with masonry that allows the structure to breathe, leaving both the structure and the indoor air healthier. The spaces in the buildings are

For more information, please visit: www.karinkrokfors.fi

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Architecture in Finland

Client-focused and costeffective architectural solutions BST-Arkkitehdit Oy (BST Architects) is an architectural design office based in Tampere known for its client-focused, flexible and cost-efficient architectural solutions. The company utilises Building Information Modelling (BIM), offering clients three-dimensional, easy-to-read models of projects. BST-Arkkitehdit Oy was established in 2010 through the merger of two existing and experienced architecture firms in Tampere. Today, the company consists of four partners, Sergej von Bagh, Erik Stenvall, Petri Tavilampi and Pekka Timola, as well as 14 designers with a wide range of competences. BST-Arkkitehdit Oy works on projects of different sizes for a variety of clients from the

whole gamut of architecture, including urban development, offices, industrial buildings, schools, healthcare buildings, shopping centres and renovation projects. Often projects arise from competition entries, including the large Marja-Vantaa project, for which BST-Arkkitehdit Oy’s entry was chosen earlier this year. Work on the apartment blocks in the Marja-Vantaa downtown area will start next year.

Reflecting their diverse portfolio, the partners and designers at BST-Arkkitehdit Oy are interested and find challenges in different types of projects, always trying to find sustainable, functional and aesthetically pleasing design solutions. “It is also important to listen to the clients’ wishes at the design stage and fulfil these,” explains Petri Tavilampi. “Since we started utilising Building Information Modelling, new doors have opened from many directions. It has clarified and simplified our processes for our clients.” “While we want to realize the wants of our client, we also want to exceed their expectations,” adds Sergej von Bagh. Nowadays, it is also important for architectural firms to be able to design multi-functional premises. It is not enough to be an accomplished apartment designer; you have to have know-how on a wide variety of building types and functions. BST-Arkkitehdit Oy has gained clients because of their experience in creating multiform buildings. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: BST-Arkkitehdit Oy

Left: Marja-Vantaa, winning competition entry – residential block with retail premises. Middle: Rasti block, winning competition entry – 20-storey retail, office and residential building in Tampere’s centre. Right: Tullintori – renovation and extension of an existing retail and office building.

For more information, please visit: www.bst-ark.fi

Elegance and ecology in every scale Tuomo Siitonen Architects is an award-winning architectural office consisting of 15 leading architects and designers. Working on a broad range of projects, from town planning to interior design, the company emphasises elegance and ecology in all its architectural solutions, no matter the scale of the project. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Tuomo Siitonen Architects

Tuomo Siitonen Architects have over 50 award-winning entries to Finnish and foreign architectural competitions, while Tuomo Siitonen himself has years of industry experience. He worked 15 years as a professor of architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology TKK and has, uniquely, been awarded the Finnish State Art Prize for Architecture twice already.

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While presenting the award, the jury noted: “Tuomo Siitonen's recent work shows uncompromising professionalism in challenging settings and an admirable ability to revitalise. The renovation of Alko's (the Finnish alcohol monopoly) plant and headquarters into the Helsinki Court House was a huge undertaking, where the old was transformed into the new, without losing the original spirit of

the building. Taking the place of the Salmisaari coal stockpiles, the insurance company Varma's red brick office buildings are now a cogent part of the cityscape. The plan for the Helsinki Leppäsuo block opens new perspectives into Finnish housing architecture.” With their impressive portfolio, Tuomo Siitonen Architects are often working on some of the biggest and most demanding projects in Finland. The renovation of Alko's plant into the Helsinki Court House won the award for Concrete Structure of the Year and was, like the Varma office buildings, the largest project of its kind in that year in Finland.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Architecture in Finland

Sustainable architecture A recurring theme in Tuomo Siitonen Architects’ work has been the importance of sustainability and the ecological requirements of different-sized projects. “We take into account the unique conditions and potential of each site,” explains Siitonen. “It is important to take into consideration the requirements set by sustainable development. The key elements in our design are the users, location, purpose of use, and the human factor, which is more important than ever.” The “Modern Wooden Town” plan for the west bank of Porvoo river, a winning entry for a competition, is a whole district representative of modern timber building; while the “Open Innovation House” at Aalto University is an example of an on-going project with a high LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Another project emphasising Tuomo Siitonen Architects’ commitment to sustainability is the studio building created for ceramicist Karin Widnäs. A real architectural pearl, emphasising Finnish closeness to nature, it was built using only local materials and making best use of local expertise, renewable natural resources and geothermal energy. The jury for the Finnish State Art Prize for Architecture describes Siitonen’s work as follows: “His architecture is characterized by a confident and clear allocation of masses supported by the choice of simple materials. The complex buildings have been fashioned in a functionally logical and rational way, and are sited in their environment with a perceptive sense of location. Including details and interiors, the carefully planned buildings stand for both reason and emotion.”

TUOMO SIITONEN ARCHITECTS Veneentekijäntie 12, FIN 00210 Helsinki Tel: +358 9 8569 5533 E-mail: info@tsi.fi

Top: Helsinki Court House - refurbishment of the old alcohol factory (Photo: Jussi Tiainen). Below left and right: Studio Widnäs (Photo: Rauno Träskelin)

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Architecture in Finland

Left: The kitchen and its appliances were integrated into the cabinet fixture that runs throughout the apartment. One worktop can be hidden behind sliding doors when necessary. Right: Bespoke carpentry was used for the cupboards. Glass was installed in the space between the fixture and the ceiling, so that light can travel through each room.

Honouring the soul of the space Established in 2010, Poiat Architecture and Design Office is a collaboration of three young designers, Antti Rouhunkoski, Timo Mikkonen and Marco Rodriguez. With offices in the leafy Töölö area of Helsinki, Poiat provide design services in the fields of private housing, interior architecture, product design, exhibition design and design consultancy. By Inna Allen | Photos: Poiat Architecture and Design Office

After first meeting at the University of Art and Design Helsinki, the trio now form a close-knit team in which all projects are planned and sketched together – utilizing everyone’s creativity and know-how in the best possible way. “The sketching stage is extremely important to us, and we probably spend more time on it than most practices,” says Antti Rouhunkoski. “Once the planning is carefully executed, the realization of the project is easier as well.” Specialising in interior projects, the firm focuses on the comprehensive design, such as room arrangement, materials and lighting. An essential design principle for them is to work on the existing site’s terms, to honour the foundations that have already been laid. “For example, if we

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Bathroom fittings are also bespoke. Walls were treated with waterproof interior plaster.

are designing the interior of a flat in an old 19th-century stone house, we aim to retain some of the external characteristics

in the interior as well and combine them with modern design,” Rouhunkoski explains. “We try to take the location’s spirit into account.” Another design characteristic for the company is to integrate fixtures as part of a room to utilize all the available space. In a recent apartment renovation, they turned a large two-room flat into a threeroom space by creating a long cabinet fixture that runs through the apartment like a snake. Instead of building a regular wall, the fixture encloses an area of the living room into a third room and can be used as storage at the same time. In everything, Poiat strive for quality. A careful planning process, use of quality materials and attention to detail form long-lasting and sustainable design, which in turn makes for an ecological and environmentally friendly practice. For more information, please visit: www.poiat.com

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Architecture in Finland

Left: Grocery store Prisma Linnainmaa, Tampere 2009 (Photo: Studio Jorma Rajamäki). Middle top: Lapland Hospital, atrium and Japanese stone garden, Rovaniemi 2007. Below: Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre, extension 2006, Tampere 1983-2013. Right: Hatanpää Hospital, renovation and extension, corridor between B and T sectors, Tampere 2011.

Long tradition on modern approach With a vast experience accumulated through hundreds of demanding and exciting projects over the past seven decades, Tähti-Set Ltd. is one of the longest continuously running architectural practices in Finland. By Inna Allen | Photos: Markus Aaltonen

Established in 1933 by architect Jaakko Tähtinen and continued by second generation architect Antti Tähtinen all the way until 1996, the foundations of architectural firm Tähti-Set Ltd. lie firmly in the industrial city of Tampere. With offices in an attic room of an old costume factory, today the practice consists of 14 professionals fronted by four partners, managing director Markus Aaltonen, Kari Solja, Toni Väisänen and Johanna Into. Traditional line rulers have been replaced with the latest technology and software tools, such as ArchiCAD, Revit and AutoCAD/ADT. The practice covers architectural work in its entirety, and projects can be found all over Finland, particularly in the Tampere region. Specialising in healthcare, sports and corporate sector construction, large-

scale public projects have included the Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre, the Department Store Stockmann Tampere and the Department of Logistics at Tampere College. “Our operation is based on long-standing know-how and confidence, with the objective of finding creative and innovative solutions in close collaboration with the client,” Markus Aaltonen says. Currently focusing on designing hospitals, the Tähti-Set team approaches each project with a basis on functional requirements and customers’ needs. “Particularly in the healthcare environment, it is highly essential that the premises respond to the demands of the subject’s operation. On top of the necessary technical aspects and health and safety requirements, we of course strive for sustainable and

high-quality architecture,” Aaltonen continues. The firm has worked on numerous hospital buildings, among others the extension of the Lapland Hospital in Rovaniemi, and the expansion of Vaasa Hospital, which is currently underway. Tähti-Set is a member of both the Association of Finnish Architects' Offices (ATL) and the Finnish Association of Consulting Firms (SKOL). The company’s website contains an online exhibition called TS75, which showcases their work and subsequent impact on Tampere’s cityscape during the past 75 years. Along with presenting the company’s development, it also provides viewers with an insight into Finnish architecture from the 1920s until now.

For more information, please visit: www.tahti-set.com

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: ME N E H E L T WED A I S EC SP DE IN MA

The Swedish business climate is known for flat organisational structures and managers who are not afraid to roll up their sleeves. Business in Sweden is constantly evolving, becoming more competitive — but always with people and the environment in mind.

The foundation for this rapid growth was northern Sweden's enormous wealth of forests, ore and hydroelectric power, combined with a long series of ingenious Swedish inventions such as the ball bearing, the gas-powered beacon and the adjustable wrench, to name only a few.

During the 20th century, what is often described as the "Swedish economic miracle" occurred. In the space of a few decades, a poor agrarian country was transformed into one of the world's most prosperous and sophisticated industrial nations.

This national knack for creative thinking has helped make Sweden one of Europe’s and the world’s most innovative nations, according to numerous surveys. Many Swedish (or half-Swedish) companies have grown wealthy off this innovativeness.

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The future of Swedish business is said to lie primarily in knowledge-intensive industries, where Sweden can take advantage of its advanced technological development, sophisticated infrastructure and high general educational level. Information and communication technologies (ICT) and biomedicine are two such knowledge-intensive sectors in which Sweden has been among the global leaders for years.

For more information, please visit: www.swedishtrade.se/english

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Scan Magazine | Design | Hästens

Hästens invites London to bed Hästens is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year; it started off as a saddlers and is today known as Sweden’s oldest manufacturer of beds. Creating handmade luxury beds, the Swedish brand is now inviting all of London to bed at its new flagship store in Fitzrovia.

over 10 years now but previously only as a manufacturer and supplier. This year, on the 17 May, they finally opened their very own flagship store in London.

By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Hästens Fitzrovia/www.hastens.com

A good bed promotes good quality of sleep

“We had a look at the business with the new management, and we wanted to have a closer relationship with the end clients, to understand their needs,” explains retail manager for Hastens Beds, UK, James Newall. “We will continue the work we’ve done with our partners, but through the new store we can help communicate Hästens and our exclusive philosophy.”

While Hästens has yet to enjoy the same level of awareness in the UK as it does in Scandinavia, the people who have discovered their beds absolutely adore them. Hästens has been operating in the UK for

“At the store, we focus more on the quality of people’s sleep rather than the beds. We will speak directly with our clients to understand their needs and expectations.

Back in the mid-19th century, when saddlers were also upholsterers, the foundations for the company were laid by current owner Jan Ryde’s great-great-greatgrandfather. A Swedish family business that has always emphasised quality without compromises, Hästens creates handmade beds from the best natural materials, including cotton, horsehair, flax, wool and pine. Each bed is made to ensure that the bed owners get the best night’s sleep possible. Sixty years ago, Hästens was

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also appointed as a purveyor to the Swedish Royal Court and remains the only bed manufacturer to have enjoyed this privilege.

Scan Magazine | Design | Hästens

On 17 May, Swedish luxury bed makers Hästens opened their very own flagship store in London.

The first thing we do is get the customers into bed; and even if they’re only popping in for five minutes, they might end up staying for 45 minutes instead when they realise how comfortable the beds are.” It can take people more than 45 minutes, even several visits, to find exactly what they are looking for at the store. The customers have to be confident in their decisions as they are making an investment, perhaps for life. “Buying the right kind of Hästens bed will bring both health and lifestyle benefits for the customers, so they will take their time when making their decisions,” says Newall. Go through zones to customise your bed The flagship store in Fitzrovia is divided into four different zones that will entertain and inform you, as well as help you choose the perfect bed for yourself. All customers will get a warm welcome as they step into the first zone that includes the Hästens Jubilea, an exclusive bed celebrating 160 years of providing great sleep. You can then continue onwards to the information zone, which will introduce you to the design, history, philosophy and natural materials that the beds are based on. In zone three, the sleeping zone, customers are very welcome to doze off on the different beds. It offers a calm and subdued atmosphere, which is perfect for testing and choosing your bed. You can experience first hand all the benefits of a Hästens bed. In the last section, you can finally get creative by looking at and choosing between the different styles and models of beds as well as the different colour schemes available and also select the perfect accessories to complement your bed. This is where all the different aspects are put together, and your handmade bed will start its journey.

Where to find them: Hästens Flagship Store London Fitzrovia 66-68 Margaret St, W1W 8SR Tel. 020 7436 0646

For more information, please visit: www.hastens.com/en www.facebook.com/hastensuk

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Photo: Håkan Olsén

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

A knife of tradition, quality and memories With a knife-making heritage that dates back to 1891, Mora certainly is a place that takes most Swedes back to childhood days of woodwork, fishing and attempts at carpentry. Not because they all went there, of course, but because of the memory of the Morakniv, the knife that has become somewhat of a national treasure. “Knives have been made here for over a century, and the local area has always had a lot of entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to work hard to improve things,” says Fredrik Skarp, CEO at Mora of Sweden. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Mora of Sweden

When Swedish minister of commerce, Eva Björling, had dinner in Cannes earlier this year, together with Ewan McGregor, JeanPaul Gaultier and the rest of the international jury of the renowned film festival, it was made and eaten with Mora knives. Presented with a Swedish theme, the meal was planned and executed by award-winning chef Tommy Myllymäki and food and wine expert Jens Dolk, and as the chef forgot to bring his professional

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knife kit, the entire meal was cooked using the knives that would eventually be served with it. The original from Mora – as sharp as genuine But the Mora knife is no stranger to firstclass kitchen environments as now-famous Swedish chef Mathias Dahlgren is known to use the knife and the Chef of the Year 2012, Klas Lindberg, included one on

his winning plate. Gourmet cooking is perhaps not what the knife has traditionally been most widely known for, but as Skarp explains, the popular knife has many guises. “A lot of people buy the knife for fishing and outdoor activities, but we make a wide range of knives for a number of different tasks. For example, we sell a lot to professional butchers around the world, people who use these sharp and durable tools for six or seven hours a day.” While the demands of the meat industry have made for the development of an ergonomically advanced, top-quality knife, and one that is as sharp as it is genuine, the ambition to pass such qualities on to the other knife ranges and to continuously improve is integral to Mora of Sweden, the maker of the knife. “We invest a lot in research and development, but it’s not

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

just us,” Skarp admits. “There’s always been an incredible entrepreneurial spirit in the region. It’s not for nothing that there are a number of successful businesses here: the ethos generally is that nothing is impossible.” From lumberjack to father of national treasure It all started in 1891 in the Östnor village just north of Mora, thanks to a coincidental combination of leftover bits of birch wood from the timber sledge factory in the neighbouring village of Öna and land of fine sand that turned out to be optimal for welding and casting of metals like brass. Frost-Erik Ersson returned home after four years as a lumberjack in America, and the knife-making business Frosts Knivfabrik was born. Backed by this tradition, and with skills honed for over a century, Mora of Sweden continues to manufacture knives for construction, crafts, food, adventure and hoof care, all with the much-loved, red-handled original as inspiration and guiding star. “What the Mora knife has always stood for is still true today: it’s the most used and useful knife. You get a lot of knife for your money,” says Skarp. And the same pride echoes at the headquarters and factory of Östnor, where staff carry with them the same desire to pass on a tradition that was once handed down to them by their ancestors. Global player with deep local roots While the tradition of utilising every last bit of material speaks of a time when financial

is tradition, national “This pride and a whole lot of memories all in one red, wooden knife handle.

”

resources were scarce, the same motto goes well with today’s commitment to sustainable development, in both environmental and social regards. Likewise, the Morakniv scholarship which is awarded to a local sports, culture or educational talent every year shows that Mora of Sweden is a global player with deep local roots. As the organisation rightly likes to point out, if it does not have ‘Made in Sweden’ written on it, it probably is not. But with production, marketing, research and management all under one roof in that

With skills honed for over a century, Mora of Sweden continues to manufacture knives for construction,

Top left: Swedish chefs Mårten Cyren and Mathias Dahlgren. Below: Tommy Myllymäki and Jens Dolk in Cannes.

same village that breathes of knife-making heritage, it is not just the name of its most famous knife and the name of the company that suggest that this product is Swedish through and through. Ask any Swede in the street about the Mora knife: this is tradition, national pride and a whole lot of memories all in one red, wooden knife handle.

For more information, please visit: moraofsweden.se

Frosts Knivfabrik 1904

crafts, food, adventure and hoof care. Photos: Håkan Olsén

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 37

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden

Keeping it in the family The Leksands Knäckebröd bakery has been run by the founding family for over four generations, conserving a secret family recipe in age-old tradition. What started off as a village bakery in the 1920s has grown into Sweden’s second largest crispbread bakery, baking about 7,500 tons of crispbread every year.

The locally grown rye bears the Swedish Seal of Quality, meaning it adheres to stricter quality and environmental regulations than the European Food Safety Authority standards. The fresh water used in the dough comes from the bakery’s very own spring. The bakery itself is a feat in green thinking, using eco-labelled electricity and recycling the heat from the

ovens to heat the premises as well as the water. The Leksand crispbread is undeniably healthy with the natural rye, containing all of its pure goodness: vitamins, minerals and fibres. A pinch of salt and yeast together with the spring water create bread with no discernible fat or sugar. As well as the traditional and most popular round crispbreads, Leksands Knäckebröd also offers bread triangles, squares and a sourdough assortment, in various guises and flavours.

Warehouse manager Ola Larsson

For more information, please visit: www.leksands.se

Full-bodied cheese that takes its time Initially created in 1872 through a loving mistake, as dairy maid Ulrika Eleonora Lindström was wooed by the milkman and left the cheese at the Burträsk Dairy to get spoilt, Norrmejerier’s Västerbottensost is now an integral part of Swedish culinary tradition and making its way to the hearts of cheese lovers far beyond the borders of its native Sweden. By Linnea Dunne | Photo: Norrmejerier

The registered trademark of Västerbottensost celebrated 100 years in 2010, and a year later, the cheese hit the shelves in selected Waitrose shops in London. The well-aged, strongly aromatic cheese with a flavour often described as pungent became an instant success and is now available in over 90 shops across the UK, as well as in Finland’s prestigious Stockmann and supermarket chain Kesko. “The reception has been overwhelmingly positive,” says brand manager Agneta Andersson. “It’s really exciting to hear what consumers say in other countries and to see what chefs abroad make of it.” A Royal Warrant Holder in Sweden, this granular-holed cheese is already the

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pride and joy of northern Sweden’s Norrmejerier and sometimes referred to as the emperor of cheeses. Indeed, tradition and craftsmanship are paramount at Burträsk Dairy, where the secret recipe is passed down from master cheesemaker to master cheesemaker and treated with the utmost respect. Around 140,000 cheeses are maturing at the warehouse in Ånäset at any one time, each cheese given exactly the time it takes for it to reach the approved Västerbottensost flavour. As current master Thomas Rudin explains: “The pungent flavour comes to the fore when the balance between the bitter part and the milky sweetness is perfect.”

“It’s become a national treasure,” says Andersson. No wonder then that nothing is left to fate: the creation of an awardwinning, strong flavour with hints of sweet almonds and a long aftertaste may take the time it takes.

For more information, please visit: vasterbottensost.com

By Ulrika Osterlund | Photos: Leksands Knäckebröd

Marketing director Annika Sund says: “We are very proud of our unique combination of raw produce, skilled workmanship and caring for the environment.”

Business destination DENMARK 2012

S MA PECI D E AL IN TH DE EM NM E: AR K

By Pia Olsen Dyhr, Minister for Trade and Investment

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m pleased to introduce you to Danish business strongholds and to a commercial environment second to none. Feel tempted? Danes are generally modest people. Yet continuous surveys keep ranking us as the best place to do business. An example is the World Bank doing business index, ranking Denmark as the easiest place in Europe to do business in 2012. We offer a safe and financially stable climate, market access to the entire EU market place, a perfect hub to Northern Europe and highly skilled employees as part of a job market with some of the most flexible hiring and firing regulations in Europe. Danish competences continue to make international companies choose Denmark as the preferred location for their business. Why? Because of the Danish position as a world leader within energy and cleantech innovation, because Denmark is a global hub for life sciences, and because it is an industry leader within ICT. For years, Danish companies have provided logistics and transportation services around the world. And our architects and designers have left very clear fingerprints on buildings and other structures. And lately, we have secured solutions in the area of water technologies to the rapidly developing economies. Our portfolio of consumer products is wide-ranging. Whether talking about our famous food, dairy and meat products, the avantgarde jewelleries and accessories or state-of-the art entertainment products, you will be able to find quality solutions matching your individual taste. Danish services and products can be found in Denmark and around the globe. We are an open and globally oriented nation of people, eager to strengthen our commercial ties with companies and individuals coming to Denmark. Perhaps itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no coincidence that Danes have been ranked as the happiest people in the world a number of times! I look forward to welcoming you in Denmark. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re open for business.

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 39

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

DSV Air & Sea A/S ships all categories of goods all over the world - by air or sea - offering clients the choice of Priority, Classic or Budget shipment.

Creating new solutions At DSV, transport and logistics is not just about getting goods from A to B. No, actually the conglomerate, which is among the 20 most traded companies on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, counts its employees’ adaptability and skills among their greatest assets. Managing Director of DSV Solutions A/S, Henrik Mørch, tells Scan Magazine why.

positive synergies in the market, and that is basically the thought we have built on ever since,” explains Mørch. “Of course there are several factors in our continued success. One of them is that we have three divisions that do what they individually do best, but the way we work with our clients means that they can get the best from all three divisions, and that is definitely a great strength.”

By Signe Hansen | Photos: DSV A/S

Saving the trouble Founded in 1976 by a group of ten independent hauliers, DSV (in Danish short for the Danish Union of Hauliers) quickly gained international ambitions and, in the late 1980s and 1990s, began realising these by acquiring competing transport companies. Today the company’s three divisions, DSV Road, DSV Air & Sea and DSV Solutions, employ 22,000 staff in 60+ countries. The conglomerate’s mother company DSV A/S is still located in Denmark, where a new headquarters for 700 employees is set to open on the outskirts of Copenhagen in 2014. “It all started with

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Henrik Mørch, Managing Director of DSV Solutions A/S

the idea that maybe pooling together would be a good way of creating some

As part of DSV Denmark and in partnership with its two sister divisions, DSV Road A/S and DSV Air & Sea A/S, DSV Solutions A/S can offer clients individually designed logistic solutions for all categories of goods. Clients are assigned to one contact manager, who is responsible for all decisions regarding the client’s services. This means that you always know who to go to when new needs arise, explains Mørch. “Our contact managers have the remedies and authority to make all needed changes. This means that our clients will never waste time with us, and

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

even if we don’t have the solution, we will keep working until we find it. It is amazing that we can do it and for a great part it is thanks to our fantastic employees. Our contact managers know that they can always say yes or give an alternative, and they know their colleagues will always find a solution.” Among other things, this flexibility means that DSV’s transport and warehouse operatives can take over some of the jobs which would normally require extra resources, allowing clients to cut down their supply chains. “If the client wants us to repack their goods, we will just do that; if they want us to change the firmware/settings on the client’s products e.g. modem, routers, printer or game console before shipping them off, we will do that; and if they want us to install the products at the client’s home or office, we will do that. And that solution-orientated approach is why we keep developing the partnerships with our clients for years and years,” stresses Mørch. Acquiring new skills DSV’s flexible approach means that the company can handle almost all kinds of wares and when, for instance, it comes to electronic goods, can take over a greater part of the supply chain than any other transport firm. While some clients require quite straightforward services, such as air and sea import, warehouse management

and pick-up service, others leave all their transport and logistics, including customs clearance, repacking, reworks, distribution and handling of returned goods, to DSV. “Of course sometimes there comes a point when we have to say that we can’t do this, but it does not mean that we say no; it just means that we keep working to find a solution, and in the end, the new tasks become automatic, and, because of this, DSV’s and our employees’ competence levels increase all the time,” stresses Mørch. To ensure that the service provided by, for instance, DSV’s warehouse staff, is of the same standard as that which it replaces, DSV has enabled clients to follow the process with continuous key performance indicators online just as they can track everything else online. “The focus on

quality control and environmental awareness has increased considerably during the last years and that has meant that we have developed in that aspect as well. We can tell clients exactly how much waste we generate in the warehouse and show detailed KPIs on percentages for ready to ship on time, pick accuracy or on-time delivery,” explains Mørch. Handling high-cost electronics has also led DSV to invest in high levels of security at warehouses and offer a competitive insurance for goods.

For more information, please visit: www.dsv.com/dk or write to: info@dk.dsv.com

FACTS • DSV is a global supplier of transport and logistics solutions. • DSV in Denmark has approximately 2,000 employees and a turnover (2011) of DKK 6.6 billion. • DSV in Denmark has three divisions: DSV Road A/S and DSV Air & Sea, DSV Solutions A/S. • DSV Road A/S is a full-service provider of road transport services throughout Europe.

• DSV Air & Sea A/S ships all categories of goods all over the world - by air or sea offering clients the choice of Priority, Classic or Budget shipment. • DSV Solutions A/S has 90,000 m2 of warehouse in four locations in Denmark and offers supply chain management, advanced logistics and warehouse facilities, comprehensive distribution network and product customization, testing, assembly and configuration.

DSV Solutions A/S offers all warehousing services, including bonded warehouse, packing, repacking and changes to electronics/technical products, to mention a few examples.

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 41

The founders Gitte Dyrberg and Henning Kern are in total control of the design and manufacture of Dyrberg/Kern jewellery.

Making women sparkle

Two click-on bracelets in stainless steel from the A/W 2012 collection.

designers at the company’s Copenhagen headquarters. The collections, which mix dazzling glamour and minimalistic elegance in, for instance, sparkling droplet earrings, sleek gold-plated bracelets and minutely composed time telling jewellery, are inspired not just by international trends and Scandinavian aesthetics but also by the women who wear them. “We know that women today are living practical lives and want our products to correspond with that lifestyle. We like to say that our jewellery is not for ‘ladies who lunch’; it is for a modern, super-active lifestyle in which the earrings that you wear for work might also be the ones you wear in the evening. The jewellery has to be able to serve several purposes,” says Kern. “The whole idea of having a simple modern design with matching materials and colours is that it appeals to modern women.”

Scandinavian aesthetics and international glamour

Sustainable production and affordable materials

All Dyrberg/Kern collections are designed by Gitte Dyrberg and her small team of

Although the idea and vision behind Dyrberg/Kern’s collections have not changed,

Combining the timeless end renowned elegance of Scandinavian design with an international and up-to-date outlook has proved a successful recipe for Danish fashion jeweller Dyrberg/Kern. Coveted by modern women everywhere, from the Middle East to America, the jeweller’s collections are sold by 2,000 retailers in more than 30 countries. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Dyrberg/Kern

It is more than a quarter of a century since the Danish design duo Gitte Dyrberg and Henning Kern introduced their first collection of fashion jewellery. And even though the collections and methods of manufacture have changed, the vision behind their work has remained unaltered. “Quite rapidly after founding our business, we had the idea of merging jewellery with fashion to create an up-to-the-minute collection of creative, affordable and great looking jewellery,” co-founder and marketing and creative director Henning Kern explains. “The collections and products change every season, but the main idea is actually the same: we want to make women look even more beautiful than they already do - to make women sparkle.”

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

A selection of Swarovski crystallized cocktail rings from the A/W 2012 collection.

the content and number of collections have. In 2005, Dyrberg/Kern’s first timepiece collection was launched. Most recently the brand has been expanded by a new Sterling Silver collection that aims to reflect the longevity and quality of the design. But although the new collections have been very well received, fashion jewellery is still the main part of the firm’s business. The fashion jewellery collections are created from materials from all over the world, including brass, leather, stainless steel, crystals and precious stones, which undergo various processes, such as casting, polishing and plating the metals, hand braiding the leather and cutting and inserting the stones and crystals. “All our jewellery is handcrafted and is based on nickel and lead free brass and the finest quality of crystals, Swarovski crystals,” stresses Kern. Besides the focus on quality, all Dyrberg/Kern suppliers and manufacturers have to sign a code of conduct and are regularly inspected to make sure that they abide by the company’s social and environmental standards. “We don’t want to pollute our nature unnecessarily. Sustainable production is more important now than it has ever been, and our customers place increasing importance on their jewellery and fashion items being created in an ethically defendable way,” Kern says. An attitude to life Marketed in more than 30 countries and with their own concept stores in Denmark, Holland, Dubai, Stockholm, Greece, Canada, Russia and China, Dyrberg/Kern has not only been a hit with Scandinavian women and this is no coincidence. “We don’t have some kind of Danish supermodel in mind when we design our jewellery; it has to be glamorous, wearable and match different cultures,” says Kern. “I would say that the design is approxi-

mately half Danish and half international; we are always looking out for international trends.” The Dyrberg/Kern jewellery is not designed for a specific age group either, explains Kern; it is more about an attitude to life. “In our mind the woman who wears Dyrberg/Kern jewellery is a woman of no particular age; we believe she is urban,

open-minded and outgoing, but she could be anything from 18 to 60. Age and culture, that’s not the point; it is more about an approach to life.”

For more information, please visit: www.dyrbergkern.com

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 43

Harpa - Reykjavik Concert Hall, designed by Henning Larsen Architects, is nominated as one of the ten best concert halls in the world.

“Daylight is our most important tool” Among the most famous architects in the North, Henning Larsen and his namesake architect firm are the creative force behind a string of prominent projects. From the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik to Siemens’ new headquarters in Munich and the Children’s Interactive Museum in Riyadh, Henning Larsen Architects has become a manifest part of the global cityscape. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Henning Larsen Architects

When Harpa - Reykjavik Concert Hall was, this year, nominated by British Gramophone as one of the ten best concert halls in the world, it was just one of a string of awards and nominations raining down on the Danish Architect firm behind it. The widespread recognition and publicity has meant that the company is, more and more frequently, contacted by potential clients expressing their wish to have a “Henning Larsen building”. However, such a building does not exist, says principal and partner at Henning Larsen Architects, Louis Becker. “As soon as you start wanting to present a specific style, you start dying; you are freezing your innovation power if you feel that you have to live up to a name or style.

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But hopefully people can see that what we try to do is to keep insisting on poetic elements in our buildings, not crazy things, but small attempts at giving you that feeling of being able to rediscover the place again and again because of the richness and sweetness it offers in the details.” Asking the right questions Henning Larsen Architects, which now employs 165 people of 19 nationalities, was founded in 1959 by the, today, 86year-old majority owner Henning Larsen. From the beginning, much of the firm’s work was based on competition winning proposals, which meant that the company quickly gained prominent international commissions and, consequently, recognition.

The competitions still constitute a major part of the company’s work, which allows its architects to interpret and develop buildings from a mix of what Becker calls hard and soft facts. “Of course we look for inspiration in the culture, climate and base, and we combine this with deeper research meaning that we look at hard facts and soft facts at the same time. The way we do this is we try to understand the place we are in. We work in 20 different countries at the moment and that means we have to be open-minded and responsive to cultures. We dig into newspapers, political situations, earlier projects on the site and city plans,” explains Becker. “When we did our pitch for the new Siemens Headquarters in Munich, we were, of course, given a brief, but in reality it was the question, which the brief produced: why would they want to build such a big project in such a congested site? This led us to realize that what was really important for them was to be part of Munich and to present the company as a responsible transparent partner engaging with

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

the city. We won that competition because we designed the building as a part of the city and not as a commercial fortress; in the end, we were the only ones working on that basis. You have to ask questions.” Closer to home, Henning Larsen Architects has for the second time won the competition to design Nordea’s new headquarters. The first one, built 15 years ago, is located in the centre of Copenhagen, while the new headquarters will be located in the new Ørestad, north of the city.

Nordea’s new headquarters in the new Ørestad, north of Copenhagen.

The Scandinavian light Though Henning Larsen Architects has many impressive residential as well as commercial projects behind them, one of the company’s greatest passions has from the very beginning been cultural and educational institutions. With its bright and open spaces, the Umeå School of Architecture in Sweden very well captures the firm’s ambitions in this area. “We want to create inviting spaces for people to interact and enjoy themselves in, architecture for people not art pieces,” stresses Becker. One of the firm’s characteristic ways of infusing their spaces with welcoming warmth is through the light coming in and out of the building. “We always work with daylight in our buildings. Daylight informs your space, makes it nice or cool or warm, but you have to work very deliberately with it. It is also an important factor in sustainability. For us the sustainability factor means wellbeing for people as well as the technical aspects. If you create daylight, you have a good place to work and live, save energy and do something good. Daylight is our most important tool. Architecture is the right balance of space and light,” explains Becker.

The deliberate use of daylight in Nordea’s new headquarters is highly characteristic of Henning Larsen Architects.

The effect of letting light in and out is dramatically evident in Iceland’s new concert house Harpa, which, during the summer months, is lit up by sunlight all through the night and in the winter glows like a light beacon in the harbour. For more information, please visit: www.henninglarsen.com Umeå School of Architecture, Sweden

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 45

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

Nilfisk-Advance sustainable cleaning sweeper and scrubber

The Danish business giant powering up London Manoeuvring through changing times, technologies and industries, NKT Holding has, throughout more than a century, managed to continuously shift its markets, size and services. But at the core of the Danish conglomerate some components have remained unchanged. Scan Magazine had the chance to talk to CEO Thomas Hofman-Bang about NKT’s commitment to sustainable, long-term business and the “best owner” principle which has led to the company becoming a global market leader within industrial cleaning equipment and cable solutions. By Signe Hansen | Photos: NKT Holding

With almost ten thousand employees worldwide and a client list ranging from the Chinese Ministry of Railways to American contract cleaners and the National Grid in England, NKT’s global presence is impressive. Integrated in the three Group companies, NKT Cables, Nilfisk-Advance and Photonics Group, more than 100 companies represent the conglomerate’s activities in all parts of the world. “Over the decades our management team realised the need and importance of turning the company from being Danish to being international and in the third phase, of course, global. That has been our instru-

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ment to ensure we stayed competitive had we remained a Danish company we probably wouldn’t have survived,” explains Hofman-Bang. “Realising the potentials in the new markets and, as the second part of that strategy, moving parts of our manufacture to low-cost countries have led us to where we are today. In everything we do we have a global approach; that combined with courage and long-term planning is part of the formula of our international success.” The best owner

CEO Thomas Hofman-Bang

Founded in 1891 and listed on the Danish stock exchange in 1898, NKT (originally short for Nordiske Kabel- og Traadfabrikker) started out as a national provider of telephone wire and cables. Growing steadily, in the 1960s and 1970s, NKT expanded in several directions buying and establishing production units manufacturing everything from nuts and bolts to plastic tubes. During the late 1980s and 1990s many of these were sold off again while other new acquirements, such as

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

Fisker & Nielsen (later Nilfisk-Advance) acquired in 1989, became integrated into the group to transfer efforts to global and long-term potentials. “You do not create value on a half-yearly basis; value is created by having focus where you work for decades. We have owned Nilfisk-Advance for 23 years, and by keeping our focus there, we have created a world market leader within industrial cleaning,” Hofman-Bang points out. “Our focus is on only owning businesses when we believe that we are the best possible owners. We have many examples of companies where we felt we had brought the company as far as we could and therefore sold it off to better owners.”

NKT submarine cable Cork Harbour Crossing, Ireland

Submarine cable turntable NKT Cables plant in Cologne, Germany

Powering the UK In the UK, it is first and foremost within the energy market, and especially within renewable energy, that NKT has and will put their biggest, though carbon-light, footprint. Among other things, South Londoners can thank NKT for having secured the power supply to the area before the Olympics by installing 30 km of 400 kV power cable in a no less than ten kilometres long, three metre diameter wide tunnel between Beddington and Rowdown substations. “The UK is an important market in the EU, and it has become more so in recent years, particularly because of the major offshore wind farm projects and the continued expected growth in renewable energy,” stresses Hofman-Bang. NKT is one of the leading manufacturers and providers of submarine cables, which supply power from off-shore wind farms to the inshore power grid, and have (and will) provide the cables for two of the largest offshore projects in the UK, the West of Duddon Sands and Gwynt y Môr. Sustainable business For NKT, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is not just a reaction to market demands; it is, explains Hofman-Bang, a natural consequence of NKT’s dedication to sustainable business and has only become more relevant with changed production circumstances and environmental

developments. Having CSR high on the agenda has among other things led to NKT signing the UN Global Compact in 2009 and reducing the carbon footprint by an impressive 12 per cent relative to revenue over the last three years. “It is an inherent part of our strategy to be sustainable both in the way we operate and conduct ourselves and when designing and developing new products. We do it because, first of all, it makes sense and because there is a demand in the market for it,” says Hofman-Bang pragmatically. “Everything we do should create value for our 40,000 shareholders.”

FACTS • NKT Cables develops, manufactures and markets power cable solutions to the energy sector, hereunder the electrical infrastructure, the construction area and the railway and automotive industries. • Nilfisk-Advance produces and supplies professional cleaning equipment all over the world. • Photonics Group, consisting of three companies, NKT Photonics, Lios Technology and Vytran, manufactures products based on the unique lightconducting properties of optical fibres.

Photonics Group production; Optical fibers For more information, please visit: www.nkt.dk

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 47

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

Why Scandinavians love coffee and the MOCCAMASTER

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Moccamaster Nordic

For almost 50 years, Moccamaster has provided Danes with first-class, handmade coffee makers. Today, approximately 60,000 Moccamaster coffee makers are sold in Denmark every year, and an estimated two million machines are brewing in all of the Nordic countries. When the long Nordic summer days yield to snow and frosty nights, there is nothing we Scandinavians like better than snuggling up inside with a warm cup of coffee. Actually it does not even have to be winter or cold. Scandinavians just love their coffee and drink on average no less than four cups per day! But we do not just drink any coffee, no; increasingly we seek out specialty roasted beans, sourced from sustainable farmers and freshly ground in the shop or on our own coffee grinder. The quality of the beans and the effort put

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into the roasting process will, however, if the coffee is not brewed correctly, ultimately not have the desired effect on the taste of the final result. This is one of the reasons that the Dutch coffeemaker Moccamaster has achieved the great success it has in the Nordic countries. “Moccamaster is handmade in Holland with quality components to ensure that the heating elements always work perfectly. This means that it will always bring out the best possible qualities

in the coffee which is also why it is used for the World Cup Tasters Championship, in which participants compete to recognize and define different beans and roasts,” says country manager Denmark of Moccamaster Nordic, the Danish Moccamaster importer, Ole Andersen. “Besides it is noiseless and fast, brewing ten cups in six minutes, which is, of course, perfect when you love coffee.” Brewing the perfect cup Moccamaster was founded in 1964 by the Dutch coffee enthusiast Gerard C. Smit, whose vision was to create a coffee maker that always brewed the best possible coffee. To achieve this, there are a handful of rules which must be complied with; the

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

water must be between 92-96 degrees when it hits the beans, the contact time with the beans should be between four and six minutes, and finally, the finished coffee should be between 82-84 degrees. To guarantee that the machines work in accordance with these rules, all Moccamasters are tested and approved by the European Coffee Brewing Centre. “There are approximately 600 different flavours in coffee, and we really work with the nuances in the flavours. Actually coffee has some of the same taste characteristics as red wine; we just haven’t been as good at enhancing the different nuances yet. But just as it is possible to pick a wine which complements your main course, it should be possible to pick a coffee that compliments your dessert or rounds off the taste experience,” stresses Ole Andersen.

coffee makers. “Today coffee and health are more and more often connected. Of course we shouldn’t praise coffee too much, but there are definitely some good qualities in the antioxidants which it is full of. The special thing about filter coffee is that the cholesterol-like oil substances that are contained in coffee are removed by the filter, which is a clear health benefit,” explains Ole Andersen.

The dark mornings, our fondness of hanging out with friends or family, or just the taste: the reasons we Danes love coffee are many and varied as are the reasons the Moccamaster, in value, is the leading coffeemaker on the Danish market.

For more information, please visit: www.moccamaster.com

Why we love the Moccamaster While the Moccamaster has been around for decades, new products like a series of coffee makers in new colours and a collection of matching accessories, such as measuring spoons, coffee cups and coffee canisters, have been introduced. But in the essentials the coffee maker has not changed. “The Moccamaster has a classic design; some might call it old-fashioned or retro, but in reality a Moccamaster just looks the way a Moccamaster looks. The focus is on brewing the best possible cup of coffee from the beans you have chosen,” stresses Ole Andersen. One might think that the Moccamaster would struggle with competition from cafeterias as well as cheap takeaway coffee, but apparently the good old way of brewing coffee still has some benefits compared to its competitors. One of them is, of course, the taste. With the Moccamaster being used by both the European Coffee Brewing Centre for its tasting competitions and by several major coffee producers when adjusting and testing the taste of different lots of coffee, there is no doubt about its superiority in that area. But drinking coffee from filter brewers like Moccamaster might also bring some health benefits compared to other types of

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 49

Photo: Niclas Jessen

At VisitDenmark’s three-week showcase, Imagination, visitors can get a taste of the charm of a Danish cottage holiday.

Imagination – discover the Danish Spirit Vikings will fight, chefs will juggle their pans and the world’s biggest LEGO windmill will turn when VisitDenmark opens up for Imagination, an ambitious three-week Danish showcase in London’s St. Katharine Docks on 27 July – 12 August. The event is free for all. By Signe Hansen | Photos: VisitDenmark

With the world’s eyes on England’s capital during July and August, VisitDenmark and a string of partners have gotten together to give Londoners, visitors and expat

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Danes a taste of Danish culture, lifestyle, food, design and, of course, sports. With a big screen transmitting TV2 Denmark’s live coverage of the sport events, guests

will be able to follow the fate of Danish athletes while enjoying a free hotdog, browsing around design exhibitions or chatting to the friendly resident Vikings on their 17-metre-long Viking ship. “We have created an event called Imagination – discover the Danish Spirit, and this is exactly what we want people to do through the major six themes: Vikings,

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

brand, Carlsberg, will be on-site, making sure you can buy “probably the world’s best beer” in St Katharine Docks’ historic Dickens Inn.

food, tourism, design, sustainability and sports,” explains project manager Peter Krusborg. Director of VisitDenmark UK Henrik Kahn adds: “And then we just want people to have a different experience, a fun and relaxed day where they can be part of something and do something a bit different than the usual museum visits which most visitors will end up doing.”

The Viking spirit

Visitors will also have a good chance of bumping into Danish athletes and other prominent guests as the site, which has Tower Bridge and the Olympic Rings as backdrop, will house TV2 Denmark’s main studio as well as a floating studio. “TV2 will of course invite many of the Danish athletes into their studios and will use the site for interviews as well. This means that you will be able to watch live interviews and transmissions from the docks on our big outdoor screen while actually sitting here,” explains Kahn.

Photo: Claes Beck-Poulsen

Bringing home the bacon Home to the world’s best restaurant for three years in a row, it is no wonder that Denmark and its Nordic cuisine have acquired more and more of a reputation around the world; appropriately Imagination will be kicked off with three foodthemed days. During these days the event’s big food pavilion and purpose-designed Svane Kitchen will set the scene for a string of workshops with some of Denmark’s best chefs. There will also be two daily shows by Gastronomisk Underground, a group of young and playful chefs experimenting with Danish food, who will present a playful cookery demonstration based on a “don’t waste” theme. Even after the food-themed days end, there will be plenty of opportunities to sink your teeth into some of the Danish kitchen’s treats. Danish food giant Danish Crown will celebrate the 125th anniversary of their first delivery of bacon to London by crossing the strait and sailing down the Thames in their impressive 43-metrelong schooner. With them they will bring lots of tasters and even a typical Danish hot dog van, which will be giving away free sausages every day (in set timeslots). To quench the thirst another Danish mega

Photo: Kan og co

Imagination will be kicked off with three foodthemed days with show chefs, workshops and tasters.

They might have been less popular in medieval times, but nowadays Vikings are a sure hit wherever and whenever they show up on English ground, and a score of them will therefore be paying Imagination a visit. From August 6-8, the Vikings will flock in from all parts of Denmark to enact battles, tell tales and teach some of their special skills like coin and rope making. The Viking activities will be based around the tale of the Viking Beowulf, who was known to have liberated Denmark from a hideous monster. His trials, which saw him swim, sail and wrestle to kill the beast, bear a strong resemblance to the Olympic disciplines, and guests will also get the chance to try out some of the sports which Beowulf and his contemporaries excelled at like wrestling and stone throwing.

During the three weeks of Imagination St. Katharine’s Dock will be visited by Vikings from all over Denmark. Photos: Cees Van Roeden

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

In another pavilion, kids will have the chance to get acquainted with probably the world’s most famous fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen through drawing competitions, films and of course storytelling.

Design: Kay Bojesen; Photo: Mads Armgaard

“Imagination will comprise a string of partners; some will be there to exhibit, some will sell their products, some give tasters and others again just interact with us. We don’t want an exhibition, we want interactivity. People should taste, feel and join in,” stresses Kahn.

Getting ready for more

Fairy tales, LEGO and windmills

While the event’s attractions will be worth a trip of their own, they are, of course, also meant as a taste of what is to come when visiting Denmark. From their pavilion, VisitDenmark will provide travel advice and brochure packs filled with holiday ideas. On the opposite side of the site, guests can even experience holidaying in a traditional Danish cottage constructed for the purpose and furnished with Danish design. “We really want people to understand and get a feeling for what it means to go on a vacation in Denmark; it is not just about Danish design and food, but also about the Danish way of living,” stresses Kahn.

Design: Kay Bojesen; Photo: Mads Armgaard

Though especially numerous during the Viking days, Vikings will be present throughout the event as two of them will arrive with Denmark’s second largest replica of a historic Viking ship, Helge Ask. The ship will, throughout the event, be moored in the harbour where it will be accompanied by a more contemporary example of Danish boat design, a stunning modern houseboat which, furbished with Danish design furniture, will provide not just an impressive view but also an exclusive setting for business-to-business meetings and VIP events.

Various things might pop up when nonDanes think about Denmark, but it is probably safe to say that LEGO, windmills and H.C. Andersen’s fairy tales are among some of the things which are most often associated with the Danish nation, and so, of course, they will be represented at Imagination.

Imagination will be filled with Danish design on show and for sale. For more information, please visit: www.visitdenmark.com/imagination (or search imagination)

Design: Arne Jacobsen

LEGO will not only provide the site with the biggest ever LEGO windmill but also with a unique miniature version of Stratford and all the new stadiums. Guests will also get the chance to get their own hands on the colourful bricks by helping out with the creation of a life-size LEGO mosaic of Danish painter P.S. Krøyer’s famous painting Hip Hip Hurra.

FACTS

Preliminary schedule

• Imagination will be open from 11am

27-29 July: Food days

to 10pm every day between July 27August 12. • St Katharine Docks is located a short

walk from Tower Hill station as well as Tower Gateway and London Bridge station.

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30 July – 3 August: Hans Christian Andersen and We love bike activities 4-5 August: Viking days 9-12 August: Hans Christian Andersen and We love bike activities plus design days

Partners Visit Denmark, TV2, Wonderful Copenhagen, Østdansk Turisme, Vikingeskibsmuseet Roskilde, LEGO, A.p. Møller Mærsk, Pandora Group, the Danish Embassy in London, DUCC, Carslberg, Corren Troen, Hr. Skov, Svane Køkken, Totalkredit, Visitkerteminde, Visitvejle, Rosendahl, Visitsydvestsjælland, Food Organisation of Denmark, Fødevare & Landbrug, Danish Crown, Bestseller, Søbogaard, Serenity Cupcakes, VisitFredrikssund, Sanitov, Republic of Fritz Hansen, Zelected Foods, Naturmælk, Visitsydvestjylland, VisitRoskilde, NOW:Pension, Lankilde & Søn.

Carlsberg Plot 8 Krøyer's Plads

Kastrup train station

Building an architectural legacy

Bohr Institute itself. The Science Park is part of a government plan to modernise the university laboratories.

When arriving at Copenhagen airport, you are guaranteed to be impressed. You will be gawping at the wing-shaped steel ceiling while you wheel your suitcase across the polished floor. Once you exit the airport, you will probably proceed to either the equally stunning train station or the metro station. By the time you are seated on your train, you are already taking excellent Danish design and architecture for granted.

CPH Airport Terminal

VLA is a full-service firm of architects that works with development and planning, and architecture and design. Its commit-

Carlsberg Plot 8** is a new building complex totalling 80,000 square metres of what used to be the Carlsberg Brewery. The complex will include spaces for teaching purposes, a residential tower, and ground floor facilities for retail, cafes and businesses.

ted staff of 50 transforms knowledge, empathy and stance into great solutions, achieving architecture that creates identity and meaning. VLA has some of the most extensive, best-documented experience in sustainable architecture in Denmark.

Krøyer's Plads*** is the location for a proposal for three new harbourside buildings, using the historic warehouses as inspiration. Two buildings will be designed as office facilities, and one will be residential and feature an open glass facade.

Spot-the-VLA-buildings A Copenhagen round trip is a veritable “spot-the-VLA-buildings”; let www.VLA.dk be your guide. The company is currently working on three major projects in and around Copenhagen:

The above projects have all been won in fierce competition and will further cement VLA’s status as one of Denmark's leading and most prolific architectural firms.

The Niels Bohr Science Park* will be part of the University of Copenhagen, house several disciplines and include the Niels The Niels Bohr Science Park

Copenhagen airport has repeatedly been voted the world's best airport by several industry authorities, as well as international style magazines. Coincidentally, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, the low-cost terminal CPH Go and both the metro station and the train station have been created by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects (VLA). VLA did in fact also create the original airport building in 1939, now considered one of the finest examples of Nordic functionalism.

By Yane Christensen Photos: VLA

* In partnership with CCO. ** In partnership with Cobe, CCO, Nord Architects and Effekt. *** In partnership with Cobe.

For more information, please visit: www.vla.dk

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

The new Panum complex has an open and outward-looking appearance, with a transparent ground floor that blurs the boundaries between the building and the city, and the public is also invited to visit the top of the tower, where there will be a café, lounge and viewing points.

Building the Scandinavian way Though C.F. Møller Architects is one of Denmark’s oldest architect firms, they do not specialise in “Scandinavian buildings”. They specialise in buildings created in a Scandinavian way. Democracy, sustainability and social responsibility are therefore key elements in the design processes, which have led to numerous impressive projects in, among other places, central London. By Signe Hansen | Photos: C.F. Møller Architects

With various high-profile Danish projects, such as the University of Aarhus and the National Gallery in Copenhagen, behind them, it might not be surprising if C.F. Møller Architects’ buildings are occasionally labelled “typically Scandinavian”. But while the firm’s Scandinavian roots might reveal themselves in some projects, the most important Scandinavian characteristics are intrinsic, says Julian Weyer, one of nine partners in the firm. “The important thing about our architecture is the way it is created. It is very central to our work that it is created in teamwork with the client and that we include the users in the development and make them a part of the democratic process. It might be that our architecture has a Scandinavian expression, of course; we like to create bright and spacious Nordic architecture, but it is not our only starting point.” Timeless architecture Founded in 1924 by the late Professor Christian Frederik Møller, C.F. Møller Ar-

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chitects today has 325 employees and six offices located in Aarhus, Copenhagen, Aalborg, Oslo, London and Stockholm. Weyer believes that the long history and success of the company have given the firm an advantageous calm and confident approach to new projects, such as the

Panum Institute extension and the Odense Music and Theatre Hall. “Our background does give us a degree of peace of mind based on concrete experiences, but it also means that we are accustomed to thinking in long-term perspectives. We do not focus on short-sighted fashions within architecture and design but rather on creating a timeless design without categorizing our work within a specific style.” The firm’s long-term presence also means that achieving quality, durability and sustainability are all considered main success criteria. Building in London

The N13 Plot sits in a prominent position at the northern end of Crescent Gardens and forms a gateway site from Leyton into the East Village, with a building massing that utilises the scale and corners of each building to generate identity and views for the housing units. Photo: Chris Gascoigne

From their office in London, C.F. Møller Architects have put notable marks on the UK cityscape with commissions including an extension to the Museum of Natural History in South Kensington, and 185 sustainable housing units in the new Olympic Village (East Village) in Stratford. In their own way the two projects exhibit the results of Scandinavian aesthetics and Scandinavian ethics. In the East Village in Stratford, the company’s project presents simple and high-

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

quality exteriors as well as open and bright flats. “Generally the Scandinavian tradition is more focused on open spaces and daylight, so in that way we have tried to implement some of it in this building,” says Weyer. “But the most important Scandinavian characteristic about this project, I think, is the balance between social, economic and environmental sustainability. The project is a mix of council and private homes, but they are created in a way that means you cannot see the difference. We have done that consciously to avoid division. That is a very important part of the values we bring with us from the Scandinavian welfare society. That is where our architecture stems from and what it is impacted by.” Top and left: The Natural History Museum is both one of the UK's top five visitor attractions and a world-leading science research centre, and the architecture of the Darwin Centre reflects this dual role by revealing to the public for the first time the incredible range and diversity of the museum's collections and the cuttingedge scientific research they support. Photos: Torben Eskerod

Building for people Working within all types of architecture, from landscape to residential, cultural and commercial, and with projects in all sizes and locations, an unpretentious and site-specific approach to projects is another key component in C.F. Møller’s philosophy. “We build buildings for people. That might sound like a rather trivial statement, but actually a lot of architecture refers back to itself and that is not the purpose. The entire purpose of a building is the way it is used,” stresses Weyer. Consequently, C.F. Møller’s architects always take into consideration the surroundings and prerequisites of an area before settling on the final design. Of course this is particularly important when creating extensions to already remarkable buildings like the Museum of Natural History in South Kensington and the National Maritime Museum in London, at Greenwich. “We very much see the site and surroundings as the foundation for our work, which means that we don’t arrive with a preconceived idea of how the building should look. We enter into a dialogue with the landscape, for instance in Greenwich, of course, integrating the building with the park was one of our main goals, but we also had to consider the baroque architectural surroundings and their importance and significance in the UK,” says Weyer.

The roof of the National Maritime Museum’s new Sammy Ofer Wing is a green, public landscaped terrace overlooking the park, accessed at all levels by gentle ramps, causing the building to blend with the park landscape. Photo: Benedict Luxmore

You can find a full list of C.F. Møller Architects’ projects on their website.

For more information, please visit: www.cfmoller.com

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 55

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

Bellahøj Swim Stadium. Photo: Lars Gundersen

It is all about the space Once a desolate industrial port zone, Sluseholmen is today widely considered one of the most successful urban renewal projects in Copenhagen. Behind the project is Arkitema Architects, an architect firm whose ambition is to create not just beautiful forms and functional interiors but also social spaces. By Signe Hansen

breathing people. That’s why we always say: people in architecture, that’s what it’s all about,” explains head of communication Holger Dahl. “Our focus is just as aesthetic as that of other architect firms, but it is a question of what comes first. It is like going to a restaurant; some restaurants focus on presentation before taste while others do it the other way round. We focus on the taste.” Bellahøj Swim Stadium, Interior. Photo: Kenneth Nguyen

Founded in Aarhus in 1969 by five architecture students, Arkitema’s (then named Arkitektgruppen Aarhus) mission was then as now to move away from the purely aesthetic focus in architecture. “What we wanted to do was literally to bring architecture down to earth and to create living and breathing spaces for living and

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Social, financial and environmental sustainability With offices in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Stockholm and Oslo, most of Arkitema’s projects are still based in Scandinavia, and the Scandinavian focus on daylight, open spaces and clear lines plays a significant role in their work. Another heritage from their Scandinavian roots, which goes hand in hand with the first, is the

firm’s focus on sustainability. Something which has, says Dahl, been at the core of the company’s values since its founding. “The simple Scandinavian architecture that we know today originates from an economic restraint necessary at that time and goes very well in hand with the sustainability movement. It’s about prudence in the use of materials and of course about the exploitation of daylight which we Scandinavians are so good at – it is inherent in the way we do things, we almost can’t resist it.” But economy and energy are just two of the factors in play when talking about sustainability at Arkitema, stresses Dahl. “We want to create value for the users, the owners and society; we call it the triple bottom line. It needs to be economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. For us it is hard to imagine doing a project that does not bring something to the urban space.” One of the buildings that exemplifies this last very Scandinavian notion of social sustainability is the Bellahøj Swim Stadium. With a big combined ramp and stairway that architecturally functions as

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Denmark

the dais the structure sits on but socially doubles as a place for sitting, meeting and skating, the stadium has transformed a busy and uneventful street corner to a focus point in the Copenhagen geography. “This was a real challenge because the swim stadium had to replace a very popular outdoor community pool, but what we created made everyone happy because they, on top of the Olympic stadium, also got a lovely outdoor area so people could still hang out the way they used to,” explains Dahl Liveable architecture Those who have visited Sluseholmen in Copenhagen might be surprised to realise that the entire city part is just three years old. Small jetties, large courtyard areas and changing facades all add to the feel of a 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. With Sluseholmen we took great pains to ensure the human scale of everything in the mix of interaction possibilities and to create the experiences that ensure variation like, for example, the stairs leading down to the canals or the small wooden jetties,” explains Dahl. During the creation of the area, Arkitema, who together with the Dutch architect Sjoerd Soeters was responsible for the general planning of the area, invited in a string of architect firms to create the alternating facades, which have given the area an appearance of a harmonious city growth rather than a new city part.

“Sluseholmen represents a synthesis of what we stand for. With the human scale of the project and the attention to space it is really a place for living,” says Dahl. Among those who agree is the internationally acclaimed architectural writer Jan Gehl, who though a sharp critic of many modern developments, has praised Sluseholmen for its focus on liveability. Many developers have also looked Sluseholmen’s way for inspiration, among them London’s leading property developer St George, who has brought some of Arkitema’s Danish living spaces to the fashionable Chelsea Creek.

For more information, please visit: www.arkitema.com

Photo: JW Luftfoto

Photo: Stig Nørhald

Above: Sluseholmen

Photo: Niels Nygaard

Above: House of Vestas. Photos: Jens Lindhe

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S : ME ESSE E H N L T USI A I EC E B AY SP ABL ORW AI N I N N ST

The Environmental Lighthouse - Norwegian certification is an effective way for businesses to take control of their own carbon footprint.

Taking responsibility CSR, GRI, TBL, GC, SRI… BZZZZ… any more fancy abbreviations? We call it caring... taking responsibility... standing for something.

doing many. Asking questions is a good starting point.

By Espen Heggedal, Green Living | Photo: Thomas Winje Øijord

• Does choosing products and suppliers that are eco-labelled matter? • Are there any trips in your business that are unnecessary? • Is working for an organisation that makes ethical decisions more fun?

Corporate social responsibility is not a new idea but a new term for something businesses have been doing for a long time. Some businesses support local organisations or foundations that back talented people in the arts, others do completely different things, but we recognise that they are taking social responsibility. Corporate social responsibility is increasingly beginning to shape operations. By ensuring good working conditions in the supply chain and that raw materials do not contain environmental toxins, businesses and organisations now exert their influence more directly in order to reward others who take responsibility.

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Why should businesses care? Are we responsible for other people's wellbeing? Tania Ellis, a Danish colleague, says that modern organisations are moving from "human doing to human being". We are human beings through and through, and we also want this to apply to our daily bread. To put things differently, work has greater value when the business participates actively in order to address issues of sustainable development and social justice. So what do I do? On my own? Find someone in your organisation on the same team. And do one thing. Doing one thing is infinitely better than thinking of

In many cases you will discover that asking good questions and inquisitiveness create new opportunities for your organisation. And we might all stand to gain from it. No one can do everything, but everybody can do something. Best of luck.

For more information, please visit: www.gronnhverdag.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sustainable Businesses in Norway

Ecological principles at the heart of skincare

By Sven Riis Houston | Photos: Optima Produkter AS

“Some of the ingredients we use simply can’t be found in alternative products, so we are the only ones providing such solutions. Many of today’s skincare treatments have high pH readings, which can be detrimental for those suffering from skin problems. High pH levels in soaps and shampoos strip the skin of important fat and can also aid the growth of harmful bacteria,” says Skjervheim.

Veterinarian Magne Skjervheim founded the Hardanger-based company in 1997, but his experiments began as far back as 1984 and led him to commence the development of alternative skin products which were initially aimed at animals.

Optima’s skin lotions are highly effective in terms of battling dry, cracked and irritated skin, whilst both domesticated and farm animals can benefit from low pH level soaps, shampoos, lotions and sprays.

“My product was a success from day one, and since then we’ve gone on to produce it for humans as well. Many of our customers tell us they have been plagued by skin problems their entire life and that our products are the only ones which have proved effective,” Skjervheim explains.

The customer feedback that Optima Produkter AS receives suggests that their products make a significant difference to people’s skin, which only serves to strengthen Skjervheim’s belief in his methods.

Optima Produkter AS provides unique skincare products for both people and animals, all in accordance with strict ecological principles designed to help the body combat harmful bacteria.

The majority of skincare products on the market have too high a pH reading, which Skjervheim believes has a negative effect on the skin. His philosophy is therefore based on reducing the level of pH to an optimal value, and thus focus on aiding the microbiological ecosystem to allow for the so-called ‘problem bacteria’ to be defeated by the ‘good bacteria’.

Unique skincare products for people

This makes Optima Produkter AS products unique in the skincare market, which is why it has become a firm favourite for both people and animals. They have established a strong customer base throughout Norway, with deodorant, soap, shampoo, skin lotions and mouth spray amongst a range of items available for purchase.

“The words of the Greek philosopher Hippocrates fit perfectly with our principles. He said that nature should only be helped in order to enable its own power to flourish. We simply help nature to do the work,” Skjervheim explains.

Above: Magne Skjervheim, Founder of Optima Produkter AS Left: Various skincare products aimed specifically at dogs.

For more information, please visit: www.optima-ph.no

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 59

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sustainable Businesses in Norway

The real taste “The question of whether or not our business should be organic isn’t one we ever had to ask ourselves. For us, good raw materials and quality are the main focus. So we never considered not being organic.” Words spoken by baker Kim Christoffersen, owner of Den Gode Baker/The Good Baker in Norway. Judging by their success rate, they are definitely on to something. By Ingrid Marie Holmeide | Photo: Lise-Marie Flått

Having started out small, in the backroom of a small store in Sandefjord, Norway, Den Gode Baker now has 11 employees, its own bakery and has become one of the largest distributors of organic bakery products in Norway. “It’s been a long journey to get here, but we have never lost our focus on the environment, and we work hard to maintain the good connections we have with our customers.” Den Gode Baker has kept their focus on the environment: that is why organic ingredients are the natural choice. The goal is to reach as many people as possible

with healthy and good-tasting food. “For us ‘organic’ is a quality sign. An organic product is real. It’s a guarantee that the food you eat is free of pesticides and assures you the quality is the best,” Christoffersen says. At Den Gode Baker, they do not use additives in the dough; they always choose the solutions most beneficial for the environment and keep the world and its people in mind while they work. Not because that is what sells, but because that is what they believe in. “At the end of the day, it’s not the grain we use, how we mill

Visit the pigs in paradise In 2005, Norwegian farmer Tore Wirgenes decided to change the generations-run conventional farm to an organic farm, on recommendation from his retiring father. “We opened the farm completely; people are welcome any time, and they can participate in the work we do, see our happy animals and shop in our own farm store,” Wirgenes says. By Ingrid Marie Holmeide | Photo: Jarle Torgersen

Virgenes Gård/Virgenes Farm grows organic potatoes, vegetables, and grain that is treated in the local mill, and it is the home of numerous hens and a rooster. But one of the farm’s main attractions is the pigs. Living freely on the farm, they bathe in grass and soil and make Tore Wirgenes a producer for Grøstad Gris - an esteemed title to be proud of. The famous Norwegian chef Eyvind Helstrøm insists on using Grøstad Gris only. “Helstrøm calls our

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pigs ‘pigs from paradise’. And they are!” A brief glimpse at Virgenes Gård’s Facebook page will confirm that; if ever there were

it daily in our own mill, or the local products we use that make Den Gode Baker a success. It’s the real taste that makes all the difference.” For more information, please visit: www.dengodebaker.no

smiling pigs and hens, this is where they live. The transition from conventional farming to organic has run smoothly. The main focus shifted from mass production of just one type to an investment in diversity. Like Økologisk.no, Wirgenes is interested in food, producing quality products without pesticides and from animals whose welfare has been a focus all the way. “You don’t often see pigs knee-deep in snow. Our pigs are free to go outside all year, and it turns out farrowing in -25° is the easiest way,” says Wirgenes. Virgenes Gård is an adventure farm. Harvest your own vegetables, try your luck with the salmon in the nearby river, or just enjoy yourself amongst happy animals and people. One thing is certain: if you wonder what organic farming is like, this is a place you should see! For more information, please visit: www.virgenes.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sustainable Businesses in Norway

Who, where and why organic In our world of entertainment, interest in a perhaps unlikely topic grows steadily, keeping up with the “it-crowd” of celebrities, reality shows and contests – namely food. By Ingrid Marie Holmeide | Photo: Jarle Torgersen

Food is everywhere: on TV, in books, in magazines and even in a few reality shows centred on it. And a word is being mentioned more and more often: organic. Editor of the Norwegian Økologisk.no, Morten Nymoen, is excited about the developments he sees. “Organic food is common sense – and it’s fun! We don’t point fingers and tell people what to eat but offer knowledge and inspiration should you choose the cleaner and more sustainable route to a full stomach.” Run by the Norwegian establishment Matmerk, which works to promote the preference for Norwegian-produced food, Økologisk.no applies that focus to organic food. Through their website they promote

knowledge about an organic lifestyle and a chance to learn how you can spoil your body with organic food while supporting the environment. Sound like a win-win? It is. “At Økologisk.no, you find every store, farm shop, restaurant, and even hairdressers and a bank that sell organic products in Norway. Knowledge about organic products and production is beneficial for everyone,” Nymoen says. So use Økologisk.no, learn about who makes it, where to get it and why you should. Offer your body clean food and peace at heart, knowing every little thing makes a difference to our environment.

Three good reasons to choose organic: 1. Organic food contains less artificial additives Organic food is produced without using artificial colours, tastes or sweeteners. Genetically modified organisms are prohibited in organic production. Organic cows eat more clover and grass, increasing the omega-3 level in the meat and the milk. Organic fruit and vegetables contain more antioxidants and vitamin C. 2. Organic food is friendlier towards the environment Because chemical/synthetic pesticide is forbidden in organic farming, this way of working the land keeps nature and groundwater free of these substances. A varied plant production contributes to a more varied and resistant eco-system with a diversity of species. 3. Animals in organic farming have better welfare Stricter regulations concerning the animals’ welfare in organic production ensure them more space and enables them to move freely, both outdoors and inside.

For more information, please visit: www.økologisk.no

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 61

Transnova has funded projects ranging from a “walk to school” campaign to the development of more environmentally friendly buses.

Helping the transport sector lower their CO2 emissions CO2 emissions are at the forefront of people’s minds more than ever before, and with more and more attention and concern surrounding the subject, governments, people and businesses are being called to action. In Norway, following the Norwegian Report on Climate in 2008, a new venture was set up to help businesses and local governments do their bit to combat the damaging effects of CO2 emissions. By Karin Modig | Photos: Knut Opeeide

The venture was Transnova, created by the Norwegian Government as a trial programme. Their brief was to manage funds given to them by the Norwegian Government and distribute them to projects that were aiming to cut CO2 emissions within the transport sector. The project proved very successful indeed, and when the three-year trial period was up, the project became permanent. Since then, they have been inundated with requests for funding. Transnova is managed by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration but has its own budget and mandates.

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“Our mandate is to manage the 75 million Norwegian kroner the Government grants us each year,” says managing director Eva Solvi. “This money is to be spent on projects that will lower CO2 emissions, and since we started in 2009, we have given funding to a vast range of various projects in many different sectors.” Applying for funding The funding for any given project ranges from relatively small amounts to more than 10 million Norwegian kroner, and during the first three years of Transnova, 195 million was distributed on projects

ranging from a “walk to school” campaign via educational films on the environment to the development of more environmentally friendly buses. “We announce programmes, and those who apply will have to adhere to the deadline and the terms and conditions in that programme,” says Solvi. “Some are very particular, for instance projects directed at a certain group like local governments only, or they can be thematic programmes for example to do with the charging of electrical cars. Other programmes are wide open to anyone to apply for.” All funding requests are thoroughly examined by Transnova and expert panels to ensure they meet the set criteria, that they give a realistic description of the project and that they fit Transnova’s mandate.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sustainable Businesses in Norway Transnova supports projects and initiatives that contribute to the transition to more environmentally friendly forms of transport and to reduce the total volume of transport.

“Overall, we have only turned down around a quarter of funding requests, and over the years, we have found that the quality of applications has improved greatly,” says Solvi. “It is very important to us to be clear and thorough, so that we can give feedback to applicants who get turned down, ensuring that they understand why we have not been able to approve their request.” “We, as a company, have also been through a learning process and have developed the application process accordingly, making it easier for people to understand what we are asking for.” The projects

ges to lower their CO2 emissions, but as this often comes at a rather substantial cost, few have the means to do it. Through our funding, we make it possible for people to make the changes they would like to make without a vast cost to their business.”

“What we often find is that people are very interested in making the necessary chan-

Examples of the types of projects that have received funding include implemen-

Eva Solvi, Managing Director, Transnova

Photos: Shutterstock

Common to all funding is that it is given to help someone start a project; then it is up to the business to finalise and maintain it. “This is very effective in that it attracts funding requests from people who actually really want to contribute to lowering their emissions,” says Solvi. “The projects we give support to are pilot projects that encourage a ripple effect.”

tation of infrastructure to make charging of electrical cars more accessible, and in Oslo, they have contributed to lowering CO2 emissions from public transport with funding to buy hydrogen-run buses. Not all projects are as visible though, explains Solvi. “At the moment we have funded many projects that are aiming to simply change people’s travel habits and encourage people to walk, cycle or use public transport as an alternative to travelling by car.” Norway has set a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 30% by 2020, and Transnova will no doubt be playing an important part in ensuring that the target is reached. “We feel that we have been very successful within the framework that we have,” says Solvi, “and we are excited to be helping more and more businesses do their bit to become more sustainable.”

For more information, please visit: www.transnova.no

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 63

Left: Josephsen believes in thinking holistically, so the interior in her shop in Arendal is made re-using wood, all tailor-made by her designer / carpenter partner. Above: Aiayu recently won the Danish Ethical Fashion Award. Using only the finest cashllama, their knitwear collections are made in small villages in Bolivia.

Be the change you want to see Aiming to be an inspiration for all, Nordvestpassasjen and owner Juliane Josephsen combine design, quality and fashion when offering ethical and fair trade products we all would love to wear! By Ingrid Marie Holmeide | Photos: Courtesy of Nordvestpassasjen

After ten years of living in England, Juliane Josephsen moved back to Norway with a degree in graphic design and a passion for ethical trade. With her dissertation “Fair Trade in the time of corporateled globalization” (2005) in her suitcase, Josephsen opened her online shop Nordvestpassasjen, selling handpicked organic and fair trade clothes for women and children. “I wanted to inspire people and show that it is possible to shop both ethically and get good quality stylish products.”

ing the stories behind the clothes and accessories she carries. “Many online shops sell organic children’s clothes, but very few concern themselves about the production of these clothes,” she says. “Fast fashion is the world´s dirtiest industry, ignoring both worker´s rights and the environment. As consumers we hold the power, but the knowledge of ethical products is limited. With Nordvestpassasjen I want to change that.”

Nordvestpassasjen has a wide range of ethical bags from Aura Que. From purses and clutches to handbags and weekend bags, all handmade by artisans in Nepal, they will stand the test of time with the great design and superb quality.

Nordvestpassasjen does just that: through her online shop and her concept store in Arendal, she shows us a range of fantastic, modern, ecological and fair trade products. One of very few distributors of ethical women’s clothing in Norway, Josephsen spends a lot of time research-

64 | Issue 42 | July 2012

Through intensive research, Josephsen has found ethical brands, several of them award winning, which fulfil her requirements. For some brands such as Studio Jux, Boys&Girls and Aura Que, Nordvestpassasjen is the sole trader in Norway. The last mentioned, Aura Que,

Josephsen wants to introduce to other shops in Norway as she is the agent for the Nepal-based brand, which makes a large range of fair trade handbags in supreme buffalo leather. Next to eco brands Norrback and Serendipity, Nordvestpassasjen also carries People Tree and Aiayu. “They focus on slow fashion, meaning handmade, and you can really see the quality and time that has gone into making the garments,” Josephsen says. The result is an exclusive collection with both modern, classic and unique clothes and accessories for women and children. “Firstly, I want people to fall in love with the gorgeous quality and the fabulous design and then be enlightened by the story behind them, which promotes sustainable development in the country where they are made.” Looking for quality and great design? For inspiration, fair trade and ethical products? Check out Nordvestpassasjen. It is well worth it! For more information, please visit: www.nordvestpassasjen.no

Gabriella Tranell (right)

The crucial role of science for the development of green businesses In the light of the current climate debate, green solutions are becoming increasingly popular among scientists, politicians and economists alike. The Centre of Renewable Energy plays a crucial role for the development in Norway and leads the way by educating students and influencing politicians on renewable energy.

point of view,” Tranell says and notes that only then will they be able to see the bigger picture. A political influencer and disseminator

By Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: SFFE

The Centre of Renewable Energy (SFFE) is a virtual centre joining scientists and students within the renewable energy sector at NTNU, SINTEF, IFE and UiO, and was established in 2004, at a time green solutions truly gained momentum. “Norway has the possibility to be a world leader within the green sector, but for that to happen you need educated people and largely people from a science background, be it within technology, politics or social sciences. They are necessary in order to create an innovative green business,” leader of SFFE, Gabriella Tranell says. A cross-educational perspective The centre’s strategy of influence is divided into three core areas, whereupon education is the most pressing as it facilitates recruitment into the area. “In order to encourage innovation, we need edu-

“Renewable energy

– for a better environment and increased value creation

”

cated people. Therefore, we work closely with educational institutions all over Norway and have initiated a programme that allows students from one institution to take additional courses within the renewable energy field at other institutions,” Tranell notes. Cross-educational perspectives are also emphasised, namely by encouraging interaction between students with an interest in renewable energy but from different academic backgrounds. “We need to understand each other and cooperate across perspectives, whether it is from an economic, political or science

The centre’s motto, Renewable energy – for a better environment and increased value creation, lies at its heart when fulfilling its second role as a political influencer and third role as a disseminator. “The potential for utilisation of renewable energy is huge in Norway, despite being an oil-producing nation. By using well known technology and knowledge from the oil business, we can become a leading nation within renewable energy. It is important to think alternatively, not only because of the environment but also since the oil dependency is unsustainable, and for this we need political support and knowledgeable people,” Tranell says.

For more information, please visit: www.sffe.no

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 65

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sustainable Businesses in Norway

Per Nitter Bondevik

Providing advice on how your company can be more socially responsible Companies are becoming increasingly socially aware, and Ethical Trading Initiative Norway provides the right tools and guidelines to make sure you are providing appropriate working rights throughout the supply chain.

Companies desire responsible products

By Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: IEH

Ethical Trading Initiative Norway (IEH) is a resource centre and an advocate for ethical trade practices, and it offers its members tools and advice on how to ensure workers’ rights throughout the whole supply chain, all the way to low-cost producing countries. “Our members are socially aware and wish to do something about the problems in their own supply chain,” managing director Per Nitter Bondevik says. An increasing trend The member organisation dates back to 2000, and Bondevik has noticed a steep increase in members in the past few years. “There is an increasing focus on how companies’ way of doing business impacts others, and any dirty business

66 | Issue 42 | July 2012

to actively go in and engage in amending the problems,” Bondevik elaborates.

can no longer be hidden just because it happens far away from its consumers. The booming growth of internet and social media allow people to spread news, good and bad, from one side of the world to another in seconds. Thus, any misconduct is easily revealed,” Bondevik notes. However, he points to a genuine desire to operate decently and contribute among companies. “The world is unfair, and many wish to contribute to a fairer world,” he says. IEH provides companies with advice and tools on how to measure their own risk profile, databases with information from producing countries, and networking events for the members to come together and discuss their experiences. “We challenge them and provide the tools

Companies ranging from IKEA, sports producers like Swix and Norrøna, to all the large Norwegian food retailers, as well as public service providers are found among IEH’s members. “Companies, private and public procurers, all face the same issues facing their supply chain. The thing shared by all IEH’s members is a desire to take responsibility for their own supply chain, and to secure better working conditions for everyone along the way,” Bondevik says. “They recognise that there might be challenges related to their product’s origin, and have the willingness to do something about it.’ For more information, please visit: www.etiskhandel.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sustainable Businesses in Norway

Ethical and aesthetic Ethical shopping is made accessible at Nordstrand in Oslo as Vel Bevare promotes clothes, toys and interiors made by ethical and sustainable producers. By Anette Berve | Photo: Christine Aulie

“As consumers we should become more aware of how and what we buy, but the first step is accessibility,” says general manager of Vel Bevare Christine Aulie. After years working in international trade and marketing for other companies, the entrepreneur opened her own shop last year, selling products that are ethical and eco-friendly. Members of IEH Vel Bevare promotes products that are produced under satisfying working conditions, leave little footprints and are made from fabrics that are not harmful to users.

The shop stocks brands from all over the world, including British People Tree, Kazuri from Kenya, Katvig from Denmark and Norwegian Lilleba. Common fabrics are organic cotton, bamboo and wool, but Vel Bevare also offers beautiful garments and bags made from recycled materials. As a member of IEH – Ethical Trading Initiative Norway, the shop commits to a yearly report on Ethical Trade within their chain of suppliers.

store and learn more about our products and how we work,” she continues. “Many people are, for example, surprised when we tell them about conventional cotton and its bad effects on people and the environment. Especially the clothing industry needs to be challenged with regards to child labour, low production costs and harmful chemicals.” Vel Bevare is aiming to grow to several stores and a web shop in a couple of years and is currently looking for business partners and investors that are interested in ethical trading. Aulie underlines the importance of working with producers and people with long experience in ethical commerce, but that good design is always in focus. “Our mission is to contribute to a more sustainable trade by raising awareness and selling products that are both aesthetic and ethical.”

Good design “Norwegian customers are always positively surprised when they visit the

For more information go to www.velbevare.no or visit Vel Bevare on Facebook

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: ME LIFE E TH TAL L A CI COAS E SP SH I ED W S

Swedish coastal life The Swedish coastline, with tens of thousands of islands, is a paradise for all who enjoy unspoiled archipelagos as well as all kinds of maritime activities.

Safer and cleaner seas are a prime concern for the Swedish Coast Guard. The work is not only done for the Swedish citizens, but also for and in cooperation with surrounding countries, and of course for everyone visiting the beautiful and unspoiled Swedish coastline.

Text and photos by The Swedish Coast Guard

The Swedish coastline includes gorgeous beaches, lively harbours, uninhabited islands, undisturbed wildlife and unique nature. In the summertime, many visitors explore the coastline by boat, canoe or kayak. They spot seals and sea eagles, discover unique cultural heritages, visit old fishing villages, enjoy fresh seafood and spend time on remote islands far away from modern conveniences. A fragile environment As well as being a treasure, the coastline and the surrounding sea form an exposed and fragile environment. Maritime transports and an intense traffic across the seas have increased along with the volumes of oil being transported. This puts high demands on preparedness for environmental protection, and the work towards achieving a sustainable maritime environment is one of the Swedish Coast Guard's primary duties.

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always prepared and ready to undertake search and rescue missions. In the summer season, the surveillance along the coastline increases. Efforts are primarily directed towards negligence at sea, speed violations and drunkenness.

A clean sea The Swedish Coast Guard work preventively in reducing oil spill and hazardous substances at sea and if an accident were to occur, the Coast Guard's responsibility is to take care of the spill at sea and to ensure that any damage caused by oil spill and other hazardous substances is minimized. The Coast Guard have the highest readiness for emergency response and are always prepared with specially equipped environmental protection vessels. A safe sea The Swedish Coast Guard operates along the entire coastline, all year around, and is

The Swedish Coast Guard in figures • The Swedish Coast Guard has 26 coast guard stations, including one flight division. • The stations come under the supervision of two regional headquarters, situated in Stockholm and Gothenburg. • The day-to-day running of the organisation is led from the regional command centres, where there are also commanding officers on duty 24 hours a day. • The Swedish Coast Guard headquarters is situated in Karlskrona. • The Swedish Coast Guard employs 800 staff.

For more information, please visit: www.kustbevakningen.se

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Coastal Life

A country club to come home to Bringing along the best of his travels from all over the world, as well as the culinary expertise that comes with cooking for world-class celebrities, Niclas Robertsson has managed to create a home away from home just outside his hometown of Halmstad. Pio Country Club is a conference hotel in a picturesque, peaceful setting: a place to escape to for a weekend or to put on the party of your life, all the while enjoying charming design and a dining experience beyond your expectations.

couch and put your feet up.” Surrounded by woods, only ten minutes from the beach, this boutique hotel really offers a break from the rat race, and yet it is only an hour’s drive away from both Gothenburg and Malmö.

By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Jesper Petersson

A boutique hotel with a family feel

Having travelled extensively and worked for Paavo Turtiainen in New York, serving food in the homes of celebrities like Victor Borge and Isabella Rosselini, Niclas Robertsson returned to Halmstad in 1995. His culinary passion paid off with a successful luxury restaurant venture in town, and two years later, the lovechild that would prove that Robertsson had really come home to stay was born. With a food and wine menu that boasts rich South

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American influences and a beautifully serene location right between the waters of the calm Toftasjön and the livelier Fylleån, Pio Country Club is a place where you can make yourself at home. “It’s like a living room,” says Robertsson. “Whether you come here on holidays just to relax or as part of a business trip with endless nights in hotels, you’ll appreciate that you can just sink into a comfortable

Describing his country club more as a lifestyle than a venue, Robertsson has opted for welcoming, comfortable interiors with a family feel: dark oak, old books and walls full of art are nicely complemented by white-washed exterior walls, reminiscent of the renowned art house that was once located here. The individually designed hotel rooms add to the homely theme, with N.Y.C. full of all the style and quirkiness of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Fun decorated with bright

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Coastal Life

colours and retro 1950s details, and Country complete with white bed linen, a terrace with a hammock and plenty of natural light. But just as the quiet neighbouring lake is juxtaposed by the energy of a sprightly river, there is another side to Pio Country Club. With top quality in everything from food and drink to service and facilities, the boutique hotel can also play host to an enriching conference or the party of your life. “A wedding at Pio Country Club is very different from one at some impersonal, cold party venue. This is like inviting your friends and family to your home, except it’s bigger and has more grandeur,” says Robertsson. Businesses can opt for a traditional conference set-up with service so efficient that you barely notice it, alternatively utilise the outdoor spaces for inspiration, or try out some team building by cooking together in the kitchen. Brides and grooms can get advice on everything from professional make-up and photography to red carpets and flower arrangements.

Photo: Åke E:son Lindman

Putting your taste buds first

puts your taste buds first. “We grow our own vegetables, naturally,” says Robertsson and continues to describe how locally sourced, organic produce is an integral part of the kitchen, while special delicacies like air-dried Parma ham and Argentinian Pampas beef are imported to add authenticity to the dishes.

Whatever the event, food and drink are of course at the heart of it all. Offering an Argentinian barbecue during the summer season alongside one of the best collections of South American wines outside of South America itself, Pio Country Club

“At the end of the day, it’s all about enjoying yourself,” he continues. “Whatever you’re here to do, we want you to eat good food and enjoy great drinks in a nice, relaxing environment.” Perhaps, to you, the

good life involves a nice morning swim or some fishing, or maybe you are a serious wine connoisseur with a love of golf. Well that is just the charm of Pio Country Club: no matter the time of year and no matter what the occasion, you can come here and feel like home. Maybe it takes a true globetrotter to know exactly how to create that.

For more information, please visit: www.piocountryclub.com For more information, please visit:

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 71

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Coastal Life

Rock, jazz and the sea breeze – the sound of Blekinge Blekinge is a one of Sweden’s smallest counties and perhaps also one of the best kept secrets of the south. Here you will find delightfully charming summer cities, picturesque fishing villages, enchanting forests, beautiful islands and lakes, and of course, the Baltic Sea. All combined, it provides an impressive mixture of wonderful experiences for the whole family. By Emelie Krugly Hill | Photos: Courtesy of Visit Blekinge

Blekinge is as picturesque as a Swedish postcard, laced with Danish history, spiced with a European buzz and decorated with exotic nature. Lena Israelsson, project administrator at Region Blekinge, explains: “Why do I enjoy living here so much? In Blekinge, everything is close and pretty much within walking distance or simply a bike ride away; I live about four minutes away from the golf course and another couple of minutes away from the beach. It’s an easy and a relaxed environment to live in, and of course, it’s a breathtakingly beautiful place to be. In fact, some journalists have even referred to us as the Maldives of Sweden.” An experience not to be missed when you are there is to take one of the many ferry

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boats that navigate the beautiful archipelago, which in fact is Sweden's most southern, consisting of charming bays and one thousand islands. It differs somewhat from others in the country through its often deciduous wooded rocky islands and the relatively short distance between the inner and outer open sea. The archipelago is well preserved and was recently appointed as the 580th biosphere reserve in the world. “Blekinge archipelago is full of exciting experiences and has both small and large marinas, with a lot of culture, history and tradition permeating its ports,” says Lena Israelsson. An example of a fine island within the archipelago is the magical island of Hanö where you can find its famous beach spur called “the bean sack”,

comprising of millions of water-polished stones that constantly move and change shape with the Baltic tides. “I can also warmly recommend a visit to the Eriksberg Game and Nature Park, a wonderful natural reserve in the Blekinge archipelago. It has a modern conference venue set up for prestigious meetings and a first-class hotel and restaurants within a courtyard, with buildings from five centuries offering a unique combination of privacy and close proximity to nature,” says Lena and adds that if you are a lover of golf, there are also three fantastic golf courses with seaside views. There are plenty of festivals to visit in the summertime: Sweden Rock Festival, Sweden’s largest music festival, the Baltic Festival, where music flows in all directions, and, last but not least, the Hällevik Jazz Festival that has become one of the largest of its kind in the country, attracting more than 10,000 visitors.

For more information, please visit: www.visitblekinge.se

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Coastal Life

Norrtälje – the capital of Roslagen

By Ulrika Osterlund Photos: Vaxholm Turistbyrå

The idyllic city of Norrtälje is located close to Stockholm, Arlanda and Uppsala, where the coastal countryside makes this the ideal place for all different tastes. A combination of cultural activities and a breathtaking coastline beckon the visitor who wants that little bit extra. About 100 years ago, Norrtälje was one of the most celebrated resorts on the Baltic Sea, famous for its health-beneficial mud. Today it remains a very popular place to visit, as much in the summer as during the rest of the year. It is a busy sea town community with the attraction of a fantastic archipelago with over 10,000 islands.

For a touch of culture, enjoy music shows, theatrical plays or Herräng Dance Camp. The Custom Bike Show and American Car Show are somewhat out of the ordinary but great crowd pleasers. There are plenty of activities for the little ones, including exploring the Storholmen Viking Village – a living Viking museum.

Take advantage of the great outdoor activities and go kayaking, island hopping or why not try your luck fishing. Other popular activities include hiking, cycling and horseback riding. For those looking for a greater challenge during their holiday, why not take part in the swimming and running race “Amfibiemannen” on 27 July?

As for where to stay, there is something to suit everyone, from a romantic country manor to a luxurious chateau or a seaside hotel. With plenty of restaurants, cafés and pubs to choose from, there are sure to be smiles all around. For more information, please visit:

The heart of the archipelago Vaxholm is known as Stockholm’s lock and archipelago city, linking Roslagen with the capital. This dates back to the days of Gustav Vasa when it was a key point of defence. Today it acts as a junction for local boating traffic and is a picturesque place to visit, full of history and culture.

For more information, please visit: www.roslagen.se/en

miss the Opera Light performances at the Hembygdsmuseum. For more information, please visit: www.vaxholm.se

By Ulrika Osterlund | Photo: Vaxholm Turistbyrå

It was actually inhabited 1,000 years ago, and remains from the Viking Age can be seen. Another place of historical value is the Vaxholms Kastell with its fortress museum, where visitors can learn how this structure was used to defend the capital for the past 500 years. Another exciting way of taking a historical tour is at the re-inauguration of Bogesunds Slott on 11 August. This 17th-century castle has interiors which are relatively untouched, and the effect of the sands of time can be seen as you pass through the various corridors and floors. The exterior has been repainted in classic colours, and the surrounding nature has stayed virtually unchanged for many hundreds of years.

Vaxholm’s success is that it is a centre of commerce in a coastal setting. Restaurants, cafés, boutiques and galleries line the streets in great abundance, and many events take place during the summer. Watch the rowing race at the turn of the month between August and September; it is a race with a 100-yearold tradition, ending with burning torches and fireworks. The third Saturday in August is the date for the archipelago market. And be sure not to

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 73

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Coastal Life

Haparanda Sandskär

Kluntarna Islands

Archipelago in solitude, all year round If Sweden is renowned for beautifully untouched landscapes and a unique light, the area known as The Islands of Swedish Lapland epitomises what a Swedish holiday is all about. The Bottenviken archipelago offers family-friendly, quiet beaches with brackish water, great kayaking conditions and close to 24-hour sunlight in the summer, and frozen waters, snowmobile adventures and a chance to see the northern lights in the winter. “Wherever you choose to go, you’re one with nature,” project manager Göran Wallin explains. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Per Pettersson

As one of the least well-known coastal areas of Sweden, the Bay of Bothnia is still relatively unexplored. Bjuröklubb in the south is a nature reserve at the easternmost tip of the coast, known for its long history as an overnight and emergency harbour. Visitors stop here for

Bjuröklubb

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smoked local seafood and great panoramic views from the lighthouse. Further north, Stenskär lagoon presents long, sandy beaches for heavenly early morning dips. Like most places along the coastline, the harbour offers everything

Stenskär. Photo: Erland Segerstedt

you need for a convenient and exciting visit: wind shelter, a hiking trail, and, naturally, a sauna and plenty of fishing opportunities. Dominated for over a century by The Queen of Lighthouses, the island of Pite-Rönnskär is steeped in history; or how about a fishing chapel from the 1770s with a bell that, according to myth, makes a quarter clockwise turn every time the island’s church bell rings? As you continue your journey northbound, do not miss the Kluntarna islands and the old fishing village of Brändöskär. These destinations offer a long fishing and seal hunting tradition, accessible cottages for hire, and regular art exhibitions by local artists. At the very north of the bay is a real treat: the national park Haparanda Sandskär with its more than 200 species of birds. “It’s not a national park for nothing,” says Wallin. “The scenery is breathtaking.” An all-year-round destination only 100 kilometres from the Arctic Circle, The Islands of Swedish Lapland is a place where time and space to contemplate are guaranteed, accessible both by land and by water. Sailing enthusiasts can get a certificate for rounding a buoy at Töre harbour, Sweden’s northernmost commercial port, and all the islands are easily accessible by tour boat in the summer and, well, ice in the winter. You can even leave your sailing boat during the winter months to return and continue your journey the following spring. “It’s quite rare to go somewhere where you can always find your own little bay if you want,” says Wallin. “It’s peace and quiet, at one with nature, all year round.” For more information, please visit: www.bottenvikensskargard.se

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Coastal Life

Ekerum Golf & Resort – your perfect base on Öland The Ekerum Golf & Resort makes a perfect base for your stay on the island of Öland. Whether you are a lover of golf, art or culinary experiences, or are simply looking for tranquillity, this stunning mansion house and its surroundings will cater for all your needs. By Emelie Krugly Hill | Photos: Ekerum Golf & Resort

The mansion’s history dates back to 1873 when it was built, and over the years, it has undergone several renovations, including the completion of the Ekerum Golf Resort in 1990. Marketing manager Magnus Bremefors explains: “Ekerum Golf & Resort has long been one of the finest golf facilities in Sweden, and now we are aiming to become one of Scandinavia's most renowned. The idea is to create a family-friendly golf resort offering activities for all age groups. We want to develop the site and believe in Öland as a travel destination. The idea is that if some of our future guests are not necessarily interested in golf, they will have access to many other activities the resort will offer. For instance, we have a relaxation department with spa facilities, we organize concerts and other cultural events, and there is also an amazing art gallery on-site.”

Ekerum has now five new suites with a classic contemporary decor with beautifully preserved details and stunning balcony views; alternatively you can stay in newly renovated and convenient four- to six-bed apartments. The restaurant has also changed its image and name to Restaurant Öland; with an ambitious chef and offering an exclusive menu, it has rapidly built an excellent reputation for itself. “People come from all over the country to dine with us,” says Bremefors. Whilst enjoying the excellent tasting menu composed of Öland delights, you will also enjoy an outstanding panoramic view of Kalmar from the veranda. In 1993, Ekerum became the home of the fine art gallery focusing on Swedish and

international contemporary art and sculptural glass. This year, visitors will get the chance to experience the exciting work of the Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, sculptural glass by Kjell Engman, and photographic art of the actor and photographer Johan Rheborg. Ekerum is also a great conference venue, welcoming up to 300 guests, and a popular venue for special occasions. The attentive staff will guarantee a memorable experience in an extraordinary setting. At Ekerum Golf Resort, you will be close to all the treasures Öland offers, with it being a perfect base for daily excursions to the north or south. Visit and enjoy all the wonderful and natural wonders Öland has to offer, such as the UNESCO site Alvaret (the Great Alvar). This treeless moorland is home to a special array of plant life, with many species unique to the area and only a stone’s throw away from Ekerum. Other attractions include the famous fun park and zoo, the royal residence at Solliden, Borgholm Castle, and the Böda beaches in the north, and do not forget to visit the historical and picturesque town of Kalmar across the bridge.

For more information, please visit: www.ekerum.com

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 75

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Coastal Life

Urban Cable Tour. Photo: Rebecca Roth

The surfer’s guide to the galaxy Take years of event management experience, a good measure of creative flair, a touch of philosophical awareness and plenty of surfer spirit: the result is the creative consultancy Nordic Surfers, a bunch of action sports lovers offering everything from concept development and workshops to event management and experience product design. With a passion for culture and creativity and the wind in their hair, Nordic Surfers offer an unusual, cutting-edge approach to destination and brand development. By Linnea Dunne

Having frequented the same surfing scene during the summers and skiing resorts in the winters for some time, Erik Ruth and Kristján Sigurdarson ended up working together at an events company, putting on big-budget sports events for clients like Apple, Telia and Samsung. But while the two got on like a house on fire and the possibility of realising epic visions thanks to the existence of large amounts of cash was quite thrilling, it was no secret that

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the passion was elsewhere. “So we quit and started our own business,” Sigurdarson recalls. “We didn’t really know what we were going to do, but we knew we were a strong team.” Mission statement: have fun Two years later, Nordic Surfers has another couple of employees as well as an impressive network of freelance consultants and creatives at hand, and the mis-

sion statement remains the same: to have a lot of fun and work with great people. In more concrete terms, having fun can mean anything from taking on destination development consultancy gigs to project managing events, but a common denominator is often the creation of a platform where unusual meetings can take place. “Our biggest project to date is Coastal Culture, which has been running for two years now,” says Ruth. A project with surfing, knowledge sharing and wind culture at its core, the summer kick-off event not only makes Varberg the go-to destination for water sports lovers and beach buffs alike, but also enables a behind-thescenes process that builds bridges and strengthens ties between local business, voluntary organisations and academia.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Coastal Life

Likewise, the projects Urban Cable Tour and Urban Skim Park showcase somewhat of an unusual side to the otherwise quite mysterious world of action sports, namely by bringing it into the heart of the city, or, as Sigurdarson likes to express it, by making it accessible to your regular Svensson. “You know, you can throw a ball at something for a chance to win an iPad, but why? What’s the point? That’s what inspires us: we want to create experiences that have value in themselves, stuff people want to be a part of without the carrot of an iPad.” The philosopher and the engineer But there is much more to Nordic Surfers than spectacular events. “People call us the philosopher and the engineer,” the pair admit, with reference to their respective academic backgrounds. And these backgrounds certainly have left their marks. While traditionalists keen to put the business in a box ask how to label it and which industry it belongs in, these creative spirits insist on keeping doors and minds wide open. “A lot of the time, we’re the ones asking the difficult questions, and I think that’s a strength,” says Sigurdarson and explains how businesses come to them with ideas that need picking apart, improving or developing. “We’re always keen to hear about people’s challenges and problems.” As creative consultants, the guys at Nordic

Above and middle pictures: Urban Skim Park event. Photos: Anna Wingolf

Coastal Culture. Photo: Karin Linde

Surfers bring all the freshness and outside-the-box thinking of the action sports world to the business and cultural domains. Focus on community benefit Deep down, it all revolves around the belief that as the world changes, so must businesses. “It’s like on-demand film watching extended to life as a whole,” says Ruth. “I don’t want to go surfing every Tuesday evening when my coach tells me to; I want to go when I feel like it, when the wind is just perfect.” Adding some of this chilled-out, flip-flop inspired attitude to a genuine commitment to community involvement, Ruth and Sigurdarson want to prove that when people start to have fun, the sky is the limit. With current projects involving cultural strategy work for Halland County as well as a research project focusing on the use

of events in affecting the behaviour of community groups, directing urban development and getting feedback on proposed regeneration plans, Nordic Surfers have come a long way since their days of promoting big brands through traditional sports events as employees. It’s all down to bags of determination and hard work, if you ask Sigurdarson: “We’re called Nordic Surfers because we’re from different Nordic countries and we like surfing, but really it’s more about the way we live our lives. We’ve worked incredibly hard on studying the destination development work in other successful Nordic areas like Voss, Åre and Sälen, and the creative freedom is the reward – and the reason we love what we do, of course.” For more information, please visit: nordicsurfers.com

Coastal Culture. Photo: Karin Linde

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 77

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Coastal Life

Picturesque archipelago with Astrid Lindgren feel Superlatives are often overused and under-effective in marketing, but the description of Tjust archipelago outside Västervik as the most beautiful in Sweden does not come from Stina Porsgaard herself, the area’s head of tourism, but from word-ofmouth praise as passed on by visitors. “Either we’re doing a bad job marketing the place or Västervik really is indescribably special because the beauty never fails to make visitors speechless.”

hire bicycles and take tractor tours or join a local fisherman to see what the trade is really like. Boasting the best sandy beach of the entire archipelago as well as a very different, genuine take on island life, this fishing- and kayaking-friendly island is a must-see for families.

By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Courtesy of Västerviks turistbyrå

Located at the northeastern edge of Sweden’s Småland, Västervik is a coastal town where the sea is allowed to play a natural part. Close to the home of famous children’s book author Astrid Lindgren, and only a 45-minute drive from the theme park Astrid Lindgren’s World, it is charmingly Swedish and offers a taste of all the different landscapes depicted in the books: from the simple island life of

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Saltkråkan to picturesque countryside villages reminiscent of Bullerbyn. Experience the genuine island life With an archipelago that is very much alive and loved by locals, visitors are offered much more than just beautiful views and rocky beaches. The largest island, Hasselö, has 20 permanent residents and a couple of restaurants, and guests can

“It kind of makes you wonder why people fly off to Thailand when you’re enjoying some fresh by-the-minute seafood in a lovely restaurant on the sea,” says Porsgaard. The much smaller island of Idö is above all known for the splendid views from Idö Skärgårdskrog, the local tavern located at the top of the cliffs, and the pilot lookout from which you can see as far as Öland on a clear day. This is a place for foodies and nature lovers: either hop on

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Coastal Life

the boat and pop out for a nice lunch or an evening meal, go for a swim, or join local resident Lasse for some seal and eagle spotting. Classy spa in lush surroundings Three of the 5,000 islands of the Tjust archipelago are easily accessible by ferry, and they also have guest harbours, but the refreshing sea breeze is not just for sailing fans. “The town and the water are almost inseparable,” Porsgaard explains. “People go for a swim and some sunbathing in the archipelago and then take the boat right into the heart of the town to have an ice cream in the square or a drink in one of the many beer gardens. The archipelago spirit is palpable everywhere.” This is particularly evident on the Gränsö peninsula, which is a popular spot amongst locals for seaside walks and a peaceful break. The brand new Gränsö Castle Hotel & Spa, perfect for a conference or wedding in style, is in high demand for those in need of incognito down-

time, and known for its personal touch and surrounding lush nature reserve as well as tastefully designed interiors. “This is the kind of place people go to sit on the porch in the sunset with a nice glass of champagne,” says Porsgaard. “The feedback since it opened three years ago has been incredibly positive.” Town centre boutique shopping The pull of the sea and relatively untouched nature has provided a real lift for both local business and an already flourishing shopping hub. Västervik town centre with its small, traditional houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, complete with pretty rose gardens, is now complemented by an array of independent shops and well-liked boutiques like Ogräs, Blinca and Carl-Otto. A goldmine for interior design enthusiasts and fashion aficionados alike, Västervik gives the shopping experience a silver lining thanks to a great selection of high-quality diners and wine bars overlooking both the shopping crowds and the sea.

While Västervik has become a town people want to move to, it is still perfect for a weekend away or a longer summer holiday. The tourist office in the main square prides itself on friendly service that goes the extra mile, and both accommodation and ferry tickets can be booked through the website. Despite its rural feel, Västervik is only a three-hour drive away from Stockholm and well served by numerous airports. “It’s important for us to make sure that visitors get the experience they want. Whether an indulgent spa and shopping experience is the main draw, or people want to experience a typically Swedish holiday with minigolf, family-friendly beaches and countryside cycling, we can help make it happen,” says Porsgaard.

For more information, please visit: www.vastervik.com

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 79

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EX PE MIN RIE I T NC HE ES ME IN : NO RW AY

Enjoy, explore and experience all that Norway has to offer Nature is where it all happens - to enjoy Norway to the fullest you have to go outdoors. You do not necessarily have to be into extreme sports either as there are plenty of diverse activities through which to experience Norway. By Nia Kajastie | Photo: Kristin Folsland Olsen/visitnorway.com

the whole family. From river rafting and paintball to downhill biking and a highrope course, Geilolia Summer Park and Serious Fun are sure to create lasting holiday memories. In Telemark, you will find a lovely campsite close to the picturesque Telemark Canal. It is a great hub from which to explore Norwegian nature through cycling, canoeing, kayaking and hiking.

Ski, hike, fish, bike, ride, canoe, climb, or just find a place to sit down and take in the scenery, or hop on a relaxing ferry cruise through a fjord: it is up to you how you want to get acquainted with Norwegian nature, history and culture. However, the amount of exciting activities and experiences, for both young and old and all fitness levels, on offer all around Norway is sure to excite travellers, from adventure seekers to comfort lovers.

Please read on to find out more about these great destinations, perfect for fun activities and authentic experiences in Norway. Photo: CH/www.visitnorway.com

Why not raft down a river, paddle on a tranquil fjord, or cycle on Norway’s most popular cycling routes? And all of this accompanied by stunning picture-postcard views - you know the ones we are talking about!

Geilo, in the centre of Norway, for example, is sure to afford an active and “seriously fun” holiday as two companies in the area offer nature-based activities for

For more inspiration visit: www.visitnorway.com

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 81

Above: Downhill cycling in Geilolia Summer Park for the whole family. Left: Rafting with Serious Fun on one of the most exciting rivers in northern Europe. Photo: Serious Fun

An active holiday to remember for the whole family Enjoy an active holiday out of the ordinary when visiting Geilo in the centre of Norway. Both the younger and older generation will find something to their liking, whether it is rafting, downhill biking or a high-rope course at Serious Fun and Geilolia Summer Park. So try something different this summer, and exchange the days of reading books from cover to cover with experiences you will never forget.

Below: Climb the high-rope course in Geilolia Summer Park.

By Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: Terje Bjørnsen

When the summer sets in, Geilolia Summer Park and Serious Fun offer naturebased activities for the whole family. “We have plenty on offer for the active family, and it is the perfect holiday for those who like to get out and use their bodies,” Marianne Forselv Moen from Serious Fun says. “Both companies are flexible and adjust the activities to the visitors’ level of experience. That way, both the experienced rafter and the more cautious family father can enjoy the same fun.” Serious Fun lives up to its name Serious Fun is located in Dagali, just outside of Geilo, and has a variety of activities on offer, including a wilderness camp and paintball. Rafting, however, remains the main reason of attraction and takes place

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are plenty of activities on offer in Geilo, and we welcome you to enjoy an active holiday here with us this summer,” Forselv Moen says.

on what is said to be the best river for rafting in northern Europe, Numedalslågen. “It is a great technical river, which allows beginners a calm start while also challenging the daredevils with trickier parts,” Forselv Moen notes. Move between the trees like Tarzan at Geilolia Summer Park While Geilo is largely known for its skiing opportunities, Geilolia Summer Park attracts visitors from near and far due to its excellent summer activities, namely downhill biking and high-rope course. While the former allows for a bike ride full of speed down an exciting track, the latter lets you swing from tree to tree like the one and only Tarzan, while coming across several climbing elements. “There

For more information, please contact: Serious Fun post@seriousfun.no, Tel. +47 40005786 www.seriousfun.no Geilolia booking@geilolia.no, Tel. +47 32090000 www.geilolia.no

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Experiences in Norway

Camping, canoeing and cycling in the heart of Telemark Centrally located in Telemark, you will find Telemark Kanalcamping, a spacious campsite with room for tents, caravans and motor homes. Close to the idyllic Telemark Canal, the campsite is a fantastic starting point for excursions around the area. “We are situated at the heart of the canal, right by the Lunde Locks,” says general manager Erling Skoe. “We rent out canoes and kayaks, and the still waters of the canal are perfect both for short day trips and longer trips with overnight stops.” Bicycles are also available for hire, and cycling is another popular pastime for guests. From Telemark Kanalkamping you

Photo: Helge Høvik

can easily get onto National Cycle Route 2, one of ten such routes in the country. “There are also several roundtrips to choose from, many of them are marked and routes range from two to 100 kilometres,” says Skoe. The Telemark Canal runs from Skien to Dalen and was finished in 1892, and the three passenger boats that pass by the

campsite daily, using old hand-operated locks, are popular with visitors. Not a particularly mountainous part of Norway, the area still has a lot to offer for those who prefer seeing nature on foot, and there are marked routes for hiking trips as well. Telemark Kanalcamping is still in its infancy, having been set up a mere five years ago. The campsite has onsite toilets and showers and is currently starting extensive work to modernize the facilities, and there are also plans to build cabins. By Karin Modig | Photo: Telemark Kanalcamping

For more information, please visit: www.kanalcamping.no

Photo: Per Åge Eriksen

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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway

Hotel of the Month, Norway

When timing matters, stay at Comfort Hotel Grand Central in the heart of Oslo Be at the centre of the action and stay at Comfort Hotel Grand Central in Oslo. Within minutes, you can enjoy the renowned Opera House, shopping at Karl Johan Street or simply get on the train back to the airport. The hotel is perfect for those who care about time and money as it saves you both. By Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: Comfort Hotel Grand Central

Comfort Hotel Grand Central opened in April to great reviews from guests from near and far. With a long history and a perfect location in central Oslo, the hotel is an experience in itself, and it has the rest of what Oslo has to offer just on its doorstep. “By staying here, you are

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close to it all,” general manager Olav Langli says. “When timing is everything” It is impossible to talk about the hotel without mentioning its location. In the midst of Oslo, five minutes from the new

Opera House by the fjord, two minutes from the Oslo Airport Express Train and just a few steps from the shopping Mecca of Karl Johan Street, you find Comfort Hotel Grand Central. Its location is as good as it can possibly get, and one might even think that the hotel was at the centre of attention during the establishment of the whole city. However, the trendy hotel only opened in April, but it quickly worked its way to being one of the city’s most popular hotels. “You are close to everything, and people save money as well as time by staying here. Tourist attractions and pub-

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway

lic transport alike are within short walking distance,” Langli says. The central location makes the hotel a favourite among business travellers who can walk straight from the hotel to the airport express train, while facilities like free Wi-Fi and a fitness centre open 24/7 make the stay both efficient and enjoyable. However, the hotel has also proved popular among tourists who wish to be close to all that Oslo has to offer. “Our location makes the stay easier for all of our guests, regardless of the purpose of their stay,” Langli notes and refers to the appropriate slogan “when timing is everything”.

old. “One could say it is a super modern hotel from the 19th century,” Langli notes. With plenty of history in the walls, the management was careful with maintaining the original stairs, the brick walls and windows, while also focusing on new trends and needs. “As a listed building, we had to design the rooms according to the original shapes, which means that the rooms have character,” Langli says. With the help of interior architect Lars Helling, the hotel has retained its original identity but with added modern elements. A quick online search reveals comments like “trendy” and “it is obvious that the interior is important”.

kitchen to indulge in, the hotel has spent considerable time and resources on decorating the hotel lobby and rooms with interesting artwork from home and abroad. “We have already gained a reputation within the art and culture business, and we work closely with the Norwegian Opera as well as various festivals,” Langli says and reveals that even Justin Bieber has paid the hotel a visit. “The unique location and distinct appearance make us a popular choice for people looking for something special,” says Langli and happily welcomes new and returning guests to Oslo’s new hotel treasure.

An old train station coming to life The hotel is a continuation of the old Østbanehallen, the train station that served the first railway in Norway, namely the route between Oslo and Eidsvoll back in the 19th century. The building still retains many of its original characteristics, turning the hotel into a unique mix of new and

Food and art to impress Location and an impressive building aside, the hotel also offers excellent food. The on-site restaurant Bella Bambina is run by celebrity chef Ole Jonny Eikefjord, and it provides the guests with delicious meals from morning to evening. In addition to a

For more information, please visit: www.comfortgrandcentral.no www.comfortinn.com/hotel-oslonorway-NO123 www.facebook.com/ComfortGC

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 85

Hotel of the Month, Denmark

Second to none A cobblestone-paved courtyard, fountains, tall lime trees, and distinct personal service and attention from the hosts: the idyllic ambience from the south of France is alive and well in the centre of Aarhus, Jutland.

When Mrs. and Mr. Stenstrup bought the building eight years ago, they began an extensive renovation. It turned out to be an investment that paid off; today the hotel is recommended by the City Hall and Visit Aarhus, when they have official guests coming to Aarhus. The couple is at the hotel every day, making sure their guests are satisfied and adding a personal touch to Villa Provence.

By Kirstine Trauelsen | Photos: Villa Provence

Hidden from the streets in the centre of the city of Aarhus, you find a very special place: the hotel Villa Provence. The hotel has been here since 2003 when Annette and Steen Stenstrup bought the 160-yearold building and started realizing their dream of creating an exceptional place for guests wanting something out of the ordinary. Villa Provence is an intimate hotel with a homely feel to it, and the owners are proud of the high quality and relaxed atmosphere - something that is a long way from the standardised concepts of other hotels.

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posed to be like visiting any other hotel but more like coming to a private home.

Recommended by the City Hall There is no big sign at the door, and the staff at reception are not wearing uniforms; visiting Villa Provence is not sup-

The renovation of the building has resulted in a hotel with a consistent ProvenĂ§al style, where every single piece of furniture â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from the lampshades to the candle holders â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are uniquely picked out by Annette Stenstrup from small boutiques on her many trips to France and Italy.

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Denmark

Handmade cheese for breakfast Staying at Villa Provence is more than your usual hotel-stay. The hotel’s 39 rooms and three suits are all unique. “Our style and interior are expensive but not in a flashy way. Quite the contrary: our guests like the subtle luxury; they are people who have great expectations of the level of comfort here but who do not show off,” explains Annette Stenstrup. One thing that all the rooms have in common though is the Provençal style, which is the key inspiration for the whole hotel. ”We are working with a product that is second to none,” tells Annette Stenstrup. She is the daily manager of the hotel, and, according to her husband, she is the reason why Villa Provence has become such a huge success. And there is no doubt about the hotel’s success. Villa Provence is among the most well-known boutique hotels in Denmark, and “about 65% of our guests have stayed at the hotel more than one time”, tells Steen Stenstrup before adding that a lot of famous Danish and foreign artists also choose to stay at the hotel when they are performing in Jutland. ”We offer our guests a product that is very different from your normal hotel experience. Quality is a keyword for us and you feel that right away when visiting us,” says Mr. Stenstrup. “At our hotel you get handmade French cheese for breakfast. It is not the cheapest, but it is the best.”

Hotel Villa Provence Villa Provence is rated as the Best Hotel in Aarhus by www.booking.com and www.hotel.dk. Villa Provence is located right in the centre of Aarhus, very close to the main pedestrian shopping street (Strøget) and Åboulevarden with all its wonderful cafés and restaurants.

For more information, please visit: www.villaprovence.dk

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 87

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway

Museum director Axel Christophersen interviewed at the opening of the exhibition Afghanistan - Hidden treasures.

Attraction of the Month, Norway

Knowledge for a better world On 10 May 2012, one of the most spectacular travelling exhibitions in the world opened at the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, NTNU, in Trondheim, Norway. By Ingrid Marie Holmeide | Photos: Åge Hojem / NTNU Museum

It is an exhibition that offers us a glimpse at almost two thousand years’ worth of history; these objects and artefacts have both travelled far and been hidden, reflecting the mood of not only their own country but our world. Originating from a nation that many will connect with war and turmoil, this exhibition now travels the world to tell people a different tale. And that is why it is now at the Norwegian Museum of Natural History and Archaeology: to enlighten, to teach and to spread knowledge. “’Knowledge for a better world’ is our vision, and we have welcomed this ex-

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hibition to Trondheim with open arms,” museum director Axel Christophersen says. You should take a look. It is called Afghanistan – Hidden treasures. The Museum of Natural History and Archaeology is a university museum and a unit at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU. An important part of its work is to make scientific collections available to both the research community and the public, to secure and preserve knowledge. “That is why Afghanistan – Hidden treasures is such an important ex-

hibition,” Christophersen says, “because this is an opportunity to broaden people’s understanding of a country that has played such a significant part in the dealings between East and West throughout history.” And the local population seem to understand the importance of this exhibition. During its first three weeks in Trondheim, visiting numbers exceeded 6,000. When reading about the artefacts’ journey (http://www.ntnu.no/vitenskapsmuseet/af ghanistan-hidden-treasures), the enthusiasm is easy to understand. Objects include those uncovered in Aï Khanum when archaeologists discovered an entire Greek town, the thousands of coins found in Begram along with two rooms that had been sealed for more than two millennia, and

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway

the royal nomadic family graves discovered in Tillya Tepe. Many of these vanished from the national museum of Kabul in the 1980s. Rumours claim the objects were both stolen and melted. Fortunately, this was not so. Hidden from civil war and Taliban rule by a select group of people, the treasures did not resurface until 14 years later, made safe by the allied invasion. A total of 230 objects from the rich mosaic of Afghanistan and the world’s inheritance are now on display in Norway. And it is perhaps only fitting that the chosen museum to host them is the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, NTNU, in Trondheim: the medieval capital of Norway. The city has been a historically significant part of the country, and the museum is more than capable of doing this exhibition justice. “Bringing this fantastic exhibition to Trondheim is down to two things: our network and our motivation.

This is a huge initiative taken by NTNU, and it reflects the progress and participation we promote.” Travelling to Trondheim from Stockholm in the beginning of May, this exhibition has previously visited some of the big cities of the world: New York, Washington, Paris and London, to mention a few. The window of opportunity is now. On 2 September, Afghanistan – Hidden treasures leaves Trondheim, Norway, Scandinavia and Europe for Sydney, Australia, and is not scheduled to return. “It is so important for people to understand what a unique opportunity this is, what you can actually see and learn here. Now is the time to do so,” Christophersen insists. Being the main attraction this summer, Afghanistan – Hidden treasures is the icing on the cake that is the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology. Along

with several other exhibitions, historical and current, the museum offers two botanical gardens, the old country seat Ringve and Dovre Mountain’s Kongsvoll Alpine Garden, games to play, and a virtual Trondheim to visit. So should you ever visit Trondheim and the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, make sure it is this summer. Make sure you do not miss out on the once in a lifetime chance you have of seeing and learning about Afghanistan and its hidden treasures in the middle of Norway. Walk the bridge Axel Christophersen and his team at NTNU help build between East and West. They welcome you as they did the exhibition: with open arms.

For more information, please visit: www.ntnu.no/vitenskapsmuseet

Hermaïc pillar, Aï Khanum. 1st half of the 2nd century B.C. © Musee Guimet / Thierry Ollivier

Extracting a carved fantasy animal (leogriff) from Begram.

Ali Hosseini opens painting exhibition.

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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark

Attraction of the Month, Denmark

Explore Karen Blixen’s extraordinary life in her own home

By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Kurt Rodahl Hoppe

Karen Blixen showed great passion for the creative arts from a very young age onwards. She studied art in Denmark and France, but she abandoned thoughts of an artistic career when she moved to Africa with her fiancé, Bror Blixen-Finecke, in 1913.

While she had written letters in Africa, she was not yet a writer as such,” explains museum director Catherine Lefebvre. “She wrote her work in this house, including Out of Africa, which makes this a very interesting and special place to visit.”

After her bourgeois upbringing and the tragic suicide of her father, she began a new life with her husband on a coffee farm in British East Africa. However, her life abroad did not turn out to be easy as she became very ill and was diagnosed with syphilis, and by 1921, she had divorced her husband. After a love affair with English aristocrat Denys Finch Hatton, who died in a plane crash, the farm was sold at auction as it turned out to be a bad investment. In 1931, without a plantation, husband, lover or children, she returned home to live with her mother.

Karen Blixen helped establish the Danish Academy of Letters, which still holds its meetings at Rungstedlund, and the Rungstedlund Foundation, which has preserved the buildings and the grounds that include a bird sanctuary.

“At 46 years old she was back home, and the only thing left for her was to write.

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should spend as much time as you need here, from an hour to a whole day. Explore the museum, the beautiful garden and bird sanctuary, and take your time,” says Lefebvre. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Karen Blixen’s death, and the museum is celebrating her life and work through different events and seminars. A great project includes the poetry benches in the garden with QR codes that can be scanned with smartphones and will tell you stories in Karen’s own voice.

Karen Blixen and Marilyn Monroe

Danish author Karen Blixen (1885-1962), also known under her penname Isak Dinesen, is best known for her autobiographical account of the years she spent in Kenya, Out of Africa. Blixen was born and eventually passed away on her family’s property at Rungstedlund, 25 kilometres north of Copenhagen, and before her death she made sure that her home would be preserved and used for cultural purposes; it is today known as the Karen Blixen Museum.

In 1991, the museum was opened by the foundation, offering an extraordinary opportunity to explore Karen Blixen’s home with the original furniture, her manuscripts, letters and books, as well as her drawings and paintings. While at the museum, you should not miss out on the shop that sells different things relating to Blixen’s life or the café. “You

For more information, please visit: blixen.dk

Scan Magazine | Columns | Humour

IS IT JUST ME...

By Mette Lisby

Who sometimes uses summertime as a welcome change of identity? Like last summer I had a brief stint as “Queen of the Road”, a particularly enticing title for me who usually gets lost in an elevator. Last year’s vacation – a road trip through the USA – started with a rented car without GPS because my husband “knew the way” even in areas we had never been before. After many a U-turn within the first few days, my husband caved in and finally bought a GPS. We didn’t want to install the GPS in the rental car and “handy options” were scarce, so I ended up with the GPS strategically placed in my lap while my husband was driving. This changed things radically. Suddenly my husband listened when I uttered “You should go left”, and he followed orders without hesitation when I said “Go right”. For the first time in my life my traffic-reports were taken seriously. No more

Funny swearing Some people are able to be funny in a language that’s not their own. My boyfriend does a running commentary on the football when Sweden’s playing, using his very limited Swedish, which is hilarious. I, on the other hand, was not so hilarious when I first moved to England. For years I was very, very unfunny. I just didn’t have the confidence to even try to crack a joke. I also didn’t swear, having decided that it was bad for someone to swear in a language that they hadn’t fully mastered. This, for someone gifted with an incurable potty-mouth, together with the complete lack of humour, was pretty personalitydepleting and one of the hardest things about moving to a new country. I still remember the furore I created by mistakenly believing that the expression for ‘can’t be bothered’ is ‘can’t be asked’. A fellow student put his hand to his mouth in mock disbelief: ‘But you don’t swear!’ he cried. I protested, ‘I said asked! Asked!’ but to no avail. What I wanted to do was to tell him

scoffing when I said “I think we’ll be there in two hours”. Usually my observations on traffic are frowned upon. Not just by my husband – by everyone. Even strangers who – bear in mind – on their own initiative stop me on the street to ask directions end up looking at me with mistrust and then resolutely walk in the direction opposite to which I had advised them. But now suddenly I was the one who would condescendingly shake my head with an “OMG” when my husband took the wrong freeway exit. I admit I might have overplayed my hand. The sweet taste of power went to my head. I might even at one point have used the terribly righteous “I TOLD you to go left AFTER the crossroad”. Yes, I am ashamed. I should have known that this level of unbearable arrogance could not hold up. My days as Commander in Chief

came to an end, cruelly, the second the GPS was put in the suitcase. Now it is installed in our car at home at an angle where I, when sitting in the passenger seat, CAN’T see it. The road trip ended too soon and with it my newfound authority as Queen of the Road. PS. I got lost in the airport right after check-in. 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 versions of “Have I Got News For You” and “Room 101”.

By Maria Smedstad

to naff off. But it was to be another two years before I finally believed I had

language not their own. My years of being unfunny and polite had been unnecessary. This was clearly demonstrated when my English friend suddenly developed a penchant for using vivid, incorrect and profane Norwegian when talking to me. Her terrible grasp of the language didn’t make me question her character. It added to it.

reached the stage where I was eligible to swear in English. By now I was also in the right kind of company, surrounded by likeminded, foul-mouthed friends, many of whom were Norwegian and who had absolutely no qualms about swearing in a

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Restaurant of the Month, Denmark

Ambience, pot roast and lots of gravy At Den Lille Kro in Aarhus, you can forget all about modern Nordic fusion or French cuisine; instead prepare your palette for a delicious trip back to your grandmother’s time when gravy, roast and trifles were still cooked with love, patience and fresh ingredients. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Den Lille Kro

Once upon a time in Denmark, dishes such as freshly baked patty shells and home-pickled cucumbers were a part of any respectable housewife’s repertoire in the kitchen, but not so anymore. Lack of time and neglect of the old recipes have led many of the classical Danish dishes to disappear from Danish homes and kitchens, but luckily there are still places where you can go to be reminded of how a freshly made strawberry trifle, asparagus soup and traditional beef pot roast taste. One of these places is Den Lille Kro (The Small Inn) in Aarhus, which has, just six weeks after opening, made the proud

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“We have had a terrific start; yesterday we had a full house, and we haven’t even done anything to advertise yet,” enthuses Daniel Hansen, who ran and owned an inn on Funen for almost a decade before deciding to move back to his hometown Aarhus. Lots of gravy

owners, Daniel and Marianne Hansen, a very busy couple.

If you are looking for a traditional Danish dish you almost certainly will not be disappointed by the menu at Den Lille Kro. From the classic Danish minced meat patty with caramelized onions and gravy to pan-fried plaice with parsley sauce and pickled cucumbers, and homemade pancakes, it is all there, and it is all cooked just as your grandmother would have done it. Everything is homemade from the ice cream to the meatballs, marmalade and even patty shells. “We have already become renowned for that because a lot

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark

of people actually never tasted a homebaked patty shell before. It is basically back to the basics, and then we give it a little extra touch and serve it in well sized portions, of course with lots of gravy; the gravy is a very important component in our kitchen,” Daniel stresses. From this approach it also follows that only fresh ingredients are used in the kitchen, so you will find no canned preservatives or frozen vegetables on the menu, meaning, of course, that changes are made according to the seasons. For international visitors, the menu provides a perfect introduction to the traditional Danish kitchen while, for Danes, it is a welcome reminder of what used to be the core of Danish cuisine, and apparently that is something which appeals to all age groups. “Yesterday we had a full house with all ages, from 20 to 80 years old. The

young ones might know the food through their grandmother’s cooking, but they have grown up with busy parents cooking quick pasta dishes rather than peeling and preparing potatoes and pan frying food, but all of them love it.” Homely ambience With old photos of Daniel’s great-grandfather, comfortable chairs and antique chandeliers, the interiors of the restaurant in Nørre Alle are full of ambience and warmth. “We specifically went out looking for chairs that were comfortable enough for people to want to sit in them all evening. In other places, it is all about getting people out as fast as possible, but we want something else. We want people to want to stay all night, and we have taken great care to create an authentic, homely inn atmosphere; everything, from the old Danish hits we play on the old

record player to the granddad clock, is here to make our guests feel at home.” The restaurant is split into two bright spaces, one which seats parties of up to 40 guests; both have been in full use since the opening in late April. “My girlfriend never tried serving before and was a bit nervous, but I got her convinced and told her not to worry as she would have plenty of time to learn before we actually had any guests, but now she is working flat out every day,” Daniels laughs before hurrying to add: “And she is doing just superbly! She is just being herself and that is how it should be. We don’t want to put on some kind of charade, just the kind of welcoming smile that comes naturally.”

For more information, please visit: www.denlillekro.dk

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Scan Business | Key Note | Strange Days Indeed

Scan Business Business Column 95 | Business Features 96 | Business Themes 98 | Conferences of the Month 110 | Business Calendar 113

110

Strange Days Indeed By Louis Wheeler, Chairman, Danish UK Chamber of Commerce

“Is it me?” - I’m having another Terry Wogan moment. Close to home, I follow the MPs’ expenses row and the Leveson enquiry and wonder whether those involved actually thought they were doing anything wrong. Perhaps Michael Bloomberg is right: “If you look at people who haven’t had any moral compass, in the end they’re losers.” Nature confounds us too: summer in March, monsoons in June, and earthquakes brought on, apparently, by climate change. I can’t get my head round that one. And watching the frustrations of the new democracies, I recall a Latin American friend saying recently: “It takes some time - we’re still learning after 20 years.” The Greeks invented it, of course. Maybe Churchill was right: “Democracy is the worst form of government - except all the others that have been tried.” Then, there’s the economic crisis, in its 5th year, and still going “strong”. But commentators seem short on solutions. My experience, from 34 years in BP, is that even the most informed press can misunderstand some of the complexities.

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I imagine the financial sector feels that too. A world of economic and geo-political woes, and spinning moral compasses: as John Lennon sang: “Nobody told me there’d be days like these: strange days indeed.” It’s confusing for the individual, and it’s very hard for business. This context brings me to my role in the Danish UK Chamber of Commerce. I have been lucky to live in Denmark, and manage businesses in Denmark and Sweden, and have been on the Chamber’s Council for some years. In these uncertain times, I believe Scandinavian business is well equipped to cope. Internationally skilled, innovative, technically strong and open in culture, we exemplify quality and are quick to identify opportunities. All this gives us a competitive edge in this business environment. We also value relationships highly, and I hope, in these difficult days, our Chambers of Commerce can particularly help here. And I have learnt, too, that Scandinavians say what they mean, so I will endeavour to curb my use of the Anglo-Saxon idiom, honed through a classical education. I

shall try not to tell you you’re brave when I mean you’re mad, or say “you must come to dinner sometime”, because it may not be an invitation - I may just be being polite!

Louis Wheeler, Chairman, Danish UK Chamber of Commerce

Scan Business | Column | Welcome to London 2012

Welcome to London 2012 – the most sustainable games ever Is this the greeting that Scandinavian athletes and spectators will receive when they approach London this summer? It would be if they met Dr Dorte Rich Jørgensen, the Dane who has lived for multiple decades in the UK and works for Atkins – the official engineering services provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

this is their ‘Engineering Design Olympics’ with the opportunities to innovate and bring out their best,” says Dorte. In fact Atkins went into a competition to become the preferred engineering design services providers for the Games and won. So it is gold for team Atkins! See you in the UK?

Here we find out more about Dorte and her role as the sustainability manager of Atkins’ Olympic Games infrastructure team which has helped ensure that London 2012 is the greenest games ever. Environmental and sustainability masterpiece One of the projects Dorte is most proud of is the Wetland Bridges in the Olympic Park designed by Atkins. The bridges got the highest score to date of a civil engineering equivalent of a sustainability assessment of 98.3% out of 100%. This result reflected many crosscutting initiatives on the park like the use of reclaimed materials from site, specifying low carbon concrete and recycled materials, replacing toxic materials with more environmentally friendly alternatives, ensuring responsible sourcing e.g. of timber, aggregates, and minimizing waste whilst ensuring the design is people friendly. To secure biodiversity, special bird and bat boxes were made by using cuts from pipes from the site and integrating them into the bridges’ retaining walls. All of this woven with an artistic flair by Martin Jirman. Gabions have been filled with reused glass which will be illuminated with a rich coloured light and will glow as though the bridge is floating on radiant jewel-like rocks, complementing the colour of the box girder without creating glare or excessive light pollution. Other artistic features include the use of recycled glass beads to create a spiralled

pattern on the bridge surface. The pattern is evocative of water movement and the dynamic energy of human vitality expressed in athletics.

Having completed an engineering degree in Denmark, Dorte came to the UK in 1989 to do a PhD (D. Phil) at Oxford University. She has worked as a sustainability engineering specialist on leading-edge and high-profile projects in the UK for over 20 years.

“The seed of getting to the Olympics was sown when I played handball in the best league in Denmark. I also had the privilege of playing alongside an Atlanta 1996 Olympian in basketball at the University of Oxford where we won the English championship. As part of my role on the park, I Riverside walk at reviewed the sustainability bridge F03 abutment in criteria of the basketball stagames mode. Photo: LDA design dium, so I came full circle again in my profession,” Dorte explains. “I am a Visiting Professor of the Each waterway on the Olympic Park has Royal Academy of Engineering at Heriotbeen designated a different colour, conWatt, the institution for the UK’s most emtributing to way-finding which is recoginent engineers, and also act as diversity nisable from the towpaths on the soffit of champion in the industry.” the box girder. The four colours applied to the soffits of the bridges were selected from the London 2012 brand identity palette (orange, pink, blue and green) to retain a memory of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Legacy Parklands. The Wetland Bridges are assigned orange. Only part of the Wetland Bridges are permanent, while the temporary sections have been designed to cater for the crowd flows during London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and will be removed in Legacy Transformation.

Dr Dorte Rich Jørgensen

If you want to know more, please visit: www.atkinsglobal.com/twenty-twelve

How Was It? “Many agree that this project is special! It has a team spirit, atmosphere, exposure, diversity, standard and deadline like no other. And I think the engineers feel that

learninglegacy.london2012.com www.ukgbc.org/content/london-2012sustainability-lessons-learned-0

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Scan Business | Feature | Aalborg University

Studying at AAU involves a lot of problem-based learning which allows students to handle real life problems while companies get new input.

Cooperation and knowledge sharing between Aalborg University and industries New business opportunities, product development and, perhaps most compellingly, increased profits are some of the benefits Aalborg University is offering Danish and international industry; in return their students and researchers get the chance to stay on top of the demands and developments within the corporate world. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Aalborg University

At Aalborg University, regular research projects and student internships constitute only a small part of the matchmaking service which makes the university Denmark’s leading one when it comes to knowledge transfer between university and industry. “What we do is quite unique, and a lot of universities all over Denmark, or actually all over Scandinavia, are looking our way to get inspiration for corporate collaborations,” explains project manager and matchmaking consultant at Aalborg University Anne Bisgaard Pors. “The way we do things opens up an array of entirely new opportunities, which involve

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giving businesses access to a more varied selection of people from the university as well as engaging our students in the corporate community at an early stage.” Working with problem-based learning Founded in 1974, Aalborg University has maintained a modern and innovative approach to knowledge development and offers quite an untraditional range of educational programmes in the fields of humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and technical and health sciences. The projects, which Pors and her matchmaking colleagues help establish, involve not only students, teachers and re-

searchers across different levels of expertise but also across a wide range of the university’s 70 subject areas. “What we can do is bring different competences from different subject areas in to solve one problem; our extraordinary interdisciplinary and project-orientated focus is one of our university’s unique features, which, when it makes sense, we try to implement in the majority of what we do,” stresses Pors. Much of AAU’s matchmaking is based on PBL (Problem-Based Learning) meaning that students and researchers work with and learn from companies’ specific problems. Consequently, students obtain experience with realistic problem-solving while companies get possible solutions and directions. The many resources and opportunities at AAU have resulted in a wide range of successful collaboration projects between students and researchers and various industries.

Scan Business | Feature | Aalborg University

One successful example is the collaboration between Master of Engineering in Industrial Design Helle Mølgaard, who as part of her dissertation project designed a new prototype of a felt shoe, and regional shoe producer Glerups. The project not only provided the business with the new prototype but also resulted in a job offer and top grade for Mølgaard. One day or five years While the most common way for businesses to collaborate with universities is long-term research projects, many companies do not have the resources or the need for such extensive projects. “Our collaborations can last anything between one day and five years. The well-established businesses might need long and extensive research collaborations while smaller businesses might benefit from taking on an intern or collaborating with a group of students to focus on a specific problem,” explains Pors. A popular form of student collaborations is one-day “Solution Camps”, during which groups of students work together to present solutions for a company’s specific challenges or for new concepts. “Solution Camps don’t demand a lot from the company, but the outcome is often very concrete, and for a lot of companies this is how they get started on larger collaborations - when they realise the benefits it can bring,” Pors says.

are researchers within a specific department appointed to help businesses find the right researchers for a project, and our external matchmakers, who are located at business promotion offices around the region and can help provide information and contacts.” The university also has its own matchmaking secretariat, which, besides organising and coordinating networks and collaboration activities, keeps in touch with internal and external matchmakers and helps facilitate contact between companies and researchers or students. In

addition, the university has set up a number of AAU Matchpoints all over Denmark where businesses can find information about the possibilities of collaborating with Aalborg University.

If you would like to learn more about collaborating with Aalborg University, please contact the AAU Matchmaking Secretariat at tel. +45 99 40 73 76 or e-mail match@aau.dk.

For more information, please visit: www.en.match.aau.dk

Among the many other opportunities offered to local and international businesses are project consultancy, lab access and lab assistance, industrial PhDs, continued education of employees, industryspecific networks, and incubator programmes to further employees’ access to the latest knowledge and research within their field. How to get in there While the potential benefits for companies collaborating with universities are numerous, many, says Pors, do not know how to approach the university or just do not realise the potentials. “This is why we have established several matchmaking services: our internal matchmakers, who

Left: Collaborating with AAU can give access to laboratories as well as lab assistance. Top right: Solution Camps are an easy and convenient way for companies to get new input on specific problems or product developments. Below: Project manager and matchmaking consultant at Aalborg University, Anne Bisgaard Pors is one of AAU’s many matchmakers helping industries access the university’s knowledge bank.

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Scan Business | Mini Theme | Real Estate and Property Management

An atypical property market By Norwegian Association of Real Estate Agents (NEF)

Last year, real estate agents and lawyers sold 146,000 properties in Norway. This was an increase of eight per cent from the year before. At the same time the prices increased in a way you would not experience anywhere else in Europe. There has been a rise in the prices in 39 of the 41 months since the financial crisis culminated more than three years ago, in December 2008. In May 2012, house prices were on average 6.2 per cent over the average price for the whole of 2011. Reasons for this trend are low interest rates, insufficient supply and good salaries. Many people want to buy a new home, and they can afford it, but there are not enough properties on the market to satisfy the demand. Norwegian Association of Real Estate Agents (NEF) is a national organization

Aker Brygge, Oslo. Photo: Terje Borud/visitnorway.com

for real estate agents founded on 12 December 1932. Eighty per cent of all private real estate sold in Norway is done through a real estate agent who is a member of NEF. (MNEF) NEF has 2,450 members, all of whom are also automatically associated with one of the ten local associations. Real Estate Agents in Norway are obliged to follow strict laws and regulations to exercise their profession. Mem-

bers of NEF are real estate agents with a professional education and at least two years of practice, persons who have passed a real estate examination administered by the Finance Supervisory Authority (FSA), lawyers licensed to practice real estate, lawyers with two years’ experience and permission from FSA, and people who have received approval from the FSA to use the title real estate agents. Norwegian Association of Real Estate Agents facilitates continuing education for its members and the rest of the real estate industry. Norwegian Association of Real Estate Agents is also actively involved in housing policy issues. Each month NEF releases the "real estate industry, house price statistics" compiled in cooperation with Finn.no and Pöyry. The statistics are made available to the public for downloading on www.nef.no.

Norwegian Archipelago Architecture Imagine waking up to the gentle sound of breaking waves and bird song close to “the end of the world”, bringing coffee along out on the pier for a morning swim. This and more is possible in this extraordinary escape home situated in the Oslo fjord on the beautiful island of Tjøme. MORFEUS architects have successfully transformed one of Geir Grung´s summer houses, creating a renaissance for the old Sun-House after a long lifespan and wear and tear. Surrounded by rocks and dense vegetation, the escape home lies in the midst of nature. A new oak paneling and roof shape allows a small loft space and good affiliation to the site. Large glass sliding doors from bedrooms and livingrooms maintain a constant easy flow throughout the house in close contact to nature.

MORFEUS’ architectural point of reference is clearly Scandinavian; a contemporary take on tradition and a strong connection to the site. Working with light and flexible connections between outdoor and indoor space are key factors in a country with extreme contrasts between summer and winter.

The summer house on Tjøme is one of several recently realized projects by MORFEUS architects. Based in Oslo, the firm was established in 2007 by the three partners; Margrethe Rosenlund, Caroline Støvring and Cecilie Wille.

Through exhibitions, competitions and recent publications MORFEUS have in a short space of time attained recognition. A web-site full of examples shows you why. For more information, please visit: www.morfeus.no

Although quite young, their experience is solid and ranges wide; from multifunctional buildings to single family homes, road and landscape installations, kindergartens, refurbishment of industrial buildings and public exhibitions. Their varied expression is no coincidence. “For us, each project is unique. Every client, site and programme merits a tailor-made solution” the architects say.

Margrethe Rosenlund, Caroline Støvring Cecilie Wille. Photos: Espen Grønli

Scan Business | Mini Theme | Real Estate and Property Management

Covering all your real estate and property management needs Oslo-based Colliers Property Management (CPM) currently manages and develops approximately 270,000 square metres of commercial property. Set up in 2005, the company is part of commercial real estate firm Colliers International that has had a presence in Norway since 1993. By Karin Modig | Photos: Colliers Property Management (CPM)

“Even though we are part of a large international organisation, we are very much a local company,” says CEO Jørn Larsen. “We know the real estate market of the Oslo area extremely well and have a wealth of experience from property management and more in Bergen, Trondheim and many other places in the southern half of Norway.”

“With such a mix of competencies, we very rarely come across issues that cannot be dealt with in-house.”

to act as problem solvers whilst making sure we stick to deadlines and decisions that have been agreed upon.” CPM is thriving and with the dedication and expertise of the staff, they look set to keep being one of Norway’s key players in the real estate and property management

Furthermore, they are part owners of Entura, a facility management company that carries out everything from fire safety to carpentry work and HVAC. “Through this partnership we are able to offer maintenance services 24/7, meaning that any issues get dealt with quickly and efficiently,” says Larsen.

Colliers Property Management (CPM) has grown considerably since they first opened, and although their core market is Norway, they can also count several international investors and funds amongst their clients. In addition to property management, they also offer administrative services, such as financial and legal advice, and they have a team of auditors, accountants and technical personnel.

CPM works in a range of sectors and look after anything from property management of offices and shopping centres to large hospital extension projects. Clients range from listed funds to private investors, and each client has a dedicated and highly experienced team looking after them.

“We are 30 people in our offices, in a mixture of roles, from auditors and contractors to real estate brokers,” says Larsen.

“Managing other people’s assets means that there is a massive responsibility on our shoulders,” says Larsen. “Our role is

CEO Jørn Larsen For more information, please visit: www.colliers.no or www.colliers.com Issue 42 | July 2012 | 99

: ME AY E TH ORW L N CIA G IN E SP HIN AC CO

offer the right tools to bring out and make use of all of this potential.

Coaching in Norway Are you looking to boost the confidence and develop the competences of your employees? Or perhaps you are aiming to create proactive and motivational future leaders for your company? In this theme, we look into how this can be achieved through a selection of profiles on successful coaching and consultancy companies within Norway. By Nia Kajastie | Photo: CH/visitnorway.com

A competent leader and happy, productive employees are what all companies are looking for; however, while the potential

for both might be apparent, it is not always clear how to best utilise one’s resources. This is where business coaches step in to

Whether inspired by sports psychology or a more Zen approach, the Norwegian coaching companies aim to inspire employees at all levels, so that they can go on to deliver better performances and results in their work. The coaches work as catalysts that speed up employees’ development and uncover the hidden resources within them. The starting point is that all employees have these resources and competences in them but might not know what their strengths are and how to best develop them. There is an aspect of “finding oneself” and finding time for oneself, but coaching is also about practical solutions that will lead to actual financial gain. Our selection of professional and certified coaching companies includes different types of approaches and working philosophies, but ultimately they all want to motivate, inspire and challenge their clients.

Please read on to find out more.

Subscribe now: www.mannaz.com/newsletter

Scan Business | Special Theme | Coaching in Norway

Achieving your goals by recognizing your inner strength Inspired by Buddhist principles, Zen Coaching aims to help people find a balance between inner peace and a hectic life. By asking simple but fundamental questions, Zen coaches help clients gain a greater understanding of who they are and what they want to achieve. By Karin Modig | Photo: Zen Coaching

“Coaching to me is about helping people discover new possibilities, gain clarity and retrieve resources from within themselves,” says the founder of Zen Coaching, Kåre Landfald. “As a coach, I ask questions that help people get to know themselves better.” Landfald developed the Zen approach to coaching over a period of years when he was co-owner of Ängsbacka Centre for Personal Growth in Sweden, and set up Zen Coaching seven years ago. In this day and age a lot of professionals are challenged by the increasing pace and pressure of business life, and stress-related breakdowns are not uncommon. Landfald sees a lot of people that have literally hit the wall. “Suffering from stress and being burnt out is often a case of people trying to fit all these things into their lives, without asking why they are doing it,” he says. “A lot of the time the things we try to cram in are things that are not actually that important to us, and often we never question ourselves on why we try to fit all this into our lives before it is too late.” In Landfald’s approach to coaching there is room for quietness and concentration, and there is a form of meditative exploration at play when looking to find the answers to the important questions he raises. “We all have sides to ourselves that we try to avoid looking at very closely, but it is precisely these sides that cannot be ignored,” says Landfald. “By opening these ‘problematic doors’ within ourselves, we often find the key to who we are, and when

Founder of Zen Coaching, Kåre Landfald

you know who you are and what you are truly looking for, a whole range of new possibilities are made available to you.” Zen Coaching offers both individual and group coaching, as well as Certified Zen

Coaching training in Norway, Sweden and Poland. For more information, please visit: www.zen-coaching.com

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Mærsk Coaching helps your company turn good strategies into even better actions With inspiration from the world of sports, Mærsk Coaching has established a wellfunctioning approach that focuses on turning strategies into actions by encouraging and motivating employees at every level.

sirable to perform well, to learn and to develop.”

By Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: Mærsk Coaching

Transferring experiences from the world of sports into the world of business

Mærsk Coaching was established by Henrik Mærsk in 2009 in Harstad, northern Norway, and Mærsk has in a short time grown an impressive client base consisting of names like DNB NOR, ISS and Harstad Municipality. With the focus on turning strategy into action, the company has a simple yet ingenious approach that companies of all sizes and types have benefitted from. “My experience shows that companies and teams often have well-established strategies but lack the ability to carry them out in practice. This is where my expertise plays in, and I help turn strategy into action,” founder Henrik Mærsk says. “Coaching is for companies

As a previous professional handball manager, Mærsk actively uses his past experiences when working in a business environment. With years of experience from encouraging top athletes to both define and achieve their goals, he uses a similar approach in his coaching. Central to his approach is the development of the individual person and the recognition that the company is dependent on a happy and contented workforce that is motivated. “There are numerous disciplines and strategies within coaching. My approach is inspired by my years in sports, and my focus is to encourage each and every employee as well as leader to take action, both as an individual and as a team. A

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It’s all about finding the right pieces to the puzzle.

that desire a work environment characterised by engaged and positive employees who create good results. It involves creating an environment where it is de-

Scan Business | Special Theme | Coaching in Norway

company, just like a sports team, is completely dependent on the work of individuals, and success is created by working together as a team,” Mærsk notes. Turning strategy into action Mærsk works for a variety of companies, varying from banks to municipal institutions. However, despite initial differences, these are all companies and teams that wish to achieve more, and the coaching processes are the same. “I do not have a typical client, but the common characteristic is that they all aim to achieve more. Often companies have well developed strategies but fail to bring them to life. To do so they need to involve their employees, which is what I work with,” Mærsk explains. Mærsk’s own strategy is as simple as it is brilliant as it largely focuses on turning company strategy into action by developing the individual leader and employee. “It is necessary to identify goals, why you have these goals, what prevents you from achieving these goals, and how you overcome these obstacles. Only by involving the individual employee will the company strategy flourish,” Mærsk argues. Three key factors - motivation, differences and roles within the team The goal of any company hiring a coach like Mærsk is to improve performance. A crucial part of that is to identify and remove old patterns and to create new ones. Mærsk emphasises three vital factors that are important while restructuring a company pattern, namely motivation, recognition of differences and roles within the team. “Firstly, people need to be motivated. It is therefore crucial to identify what motivates the individual person, and how it’s done. Secondly, we need to work on differences. Differences can often be the main source of evil within a company, so it is therefore important to get a good understanding of how to use differences in a positive way and how to take advantage of differences within employees. Thirdly, it is important to look at people’s roles within a team. Why does a person have that specific role?” Mærsk recognises that it is not necessarily easy to change a company pattern and compares it to a learn-

Founder Henrik Mærsk

ing process. “Coaching is strictly speaking about asking people questions related to a goal. Answers from these questions are used in the following training process, which includes a mix of speaking and workshops. Just as for athletes, people achieve results by training,” Mærsk says.

Mærsk Coaching offers coaching and seminars all over Norway as well as in the other Scandinavian countries. For more information, please visit: www.maerskcoaching.no

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 103

Why settle for being satisfied when you have the potential to be happy and successful? This is the kind of question Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) addresses. Building on the uniqueness and potential of the human mind, NLP coaches work to provide people with the right tools to bring out the resources they have within themselves. MetaResource is one of the leading institutions for NLP and a long-standing role model for the industry standard within coaching in Norway. By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Anette Skogh

Founded in 2004, by Trine Åldstedt, MetaResource is one of only a handful of coaching institutions approved by the Norwegian Coaching Association (DNCF). In addition to offering a variety of services, such as one-to-one life coaching, lectures, courses, theme nights, business coaching and leadership development processes, MetaResource also runs a three-stage coaching school. This stateof-the-art education consists of three certifications that combined result in an internationally recognised title as a

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Licensed NLP Coach from the Society of NLP, signed and approved by the cofounder of Neuro Linguistic Programming, Dr Richard Bandler, himself. “We have very high requirements in regards to quality and have the top NLP certifications not only in Norway but in the world. This gives us a respected professional standing in the industry, and we have had certified highly skilled coaches for years,” says Åldstedt. As the only person in Norway, and one of only a few

worldwide, she has been given the honorary title of Master Trainer of NLP by Dr. Bandler, who says about her: “I highly recommend Trine Åldstedt. She is continually updating her training with the most up-to-date skills I have developed and one of those licensed internationally through the Society of NLP.” Self-development through doing Working in an unregulated industry with large financial potential, Åldstedt acknowledges that there are offers of differing quality on the market and recommends people to check the coach’s references and qualifications. “There are a lot of actors in this market, and some of them use big words without much content. In coaching, the moment comes that ideas are pitted up against feelings, and then true skills in change work are re-

Scan Business | Special Theme | Coaching in Norway

quired. In the moment of action feelings will win over sensibility,” she says. “At MetaResource we are doers. We manifest and create learning and growth. We work with our clients and stay with them through the entire process.” MetaResource focuses on individuals, their mindset and how to communicate. “Humans are very different; there is no one truth that covers all of us. In order to understand and master this, we need to approach our clients on an individual level.” All students at the institution, and any person participating in one of their offers, have to act as well as think. “In practice, theories are discarded,” says Åldstedt. She believes it is through actually doing that individuals achieve self-development and form the behaviours needed to succeed. “This is what MetaResource works for – to teach people how our body and mind work. Why would anyone want to live their life being adequately satisfied when we have the potential and resources to master, glow, smile and be happy?” Universal competence MetaResource has built up a large net-

work of coaches, and Åldstedt explains that they have a “trainer and coach pool” of 20 coaches spread across the country that they bring in for assignments and lectures, or refer clients to. Having spent most of its professional life in Oslo, the company recently relocated their main offices to Lillestrøm, about a 20-minute drive outside of the Norwegian capital. This autumn, MetaResource is also open-

ing up their first branch in the city of Trondheim. As a means of sharing their resources, MetaResource supports Kirkens Bymisjon (The Church City Mission), an organisation working for all sorts of disadvantaged

people in our society, by offering them a free admission to their studies each semester. In addition, all coaches educated at the institution have to do ten hours of volunteer work for the organisation. To broaden their network even further, MetaResource now cooperates with Inspirator Forum, another large network of coaches in Norway, and will be appearing at events both in Norway and across the borders. “We teach just as much in English as Norwegian, and our competence is universal. What we teach applies to any person in an important position, no matter if that person lives in Japan, South America, in the United States or in Europe,” says Åldstedt, who personally has a lot of experience travelling the world assisting in Dr. Bandler’s team. “The best thing about our approach is that the key tools are free – our senses, our language, our habits and the way we program ourselves. We are all born with it.” For more information, please visit: www.metaresource.no

Trine Åldstedt, Founder of MetaResource. Photo: Trond Heggelund

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 105

Scan Business | Special Theme | Coaching in Norway

The three partners at the office in Oslo: Vanja Konradsen, Bjørn I. Hansen and Olle Indseth.

Olle Indseth prefers coaching in the client’s office.

TotalConsult encourages a winner’s culture by finding the hidden resources Every employee has resources that can benefit their company, but sometimes help is needed to find and use them appropriately. By providing this help, TotalConsult has become a renowned coaching firm working with companies all over Norway to achieve a winner’s culture. By Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: TotalConsult

TotalConsult dates back to 1990 and was established by psychologist Jan Fjeldsæter and professional sports coach Elling Finnanger. Their backgrounds continue to influence TotalConsult as it is inspired by sports psychology. “What encourages a top athlete to make it to the top? We transfer these thoughts into the world of business to create a winner’s culture,” partner and certified Master Coach Olle Indseth says. Bringing out the hidden resources People and companies that turn to coaching aim to achieve better performances, and TotalConsult’s approach is as simple as it is clever by focusing on bringing out resources hidden in the existing workforce. “Everyone has resources that can benefit the company, but people are not always aware of what they have to offer. This is where we can help by asking the

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right questions and by initiating measures to make better use of these,” Indseth says. It always starts by setting goals for the process, both for the performances and the results.

level and individual level. “We spend as much time out with the client as possible as only then do we get a proper overview of the situation by observing and challenge both the team and the individuals,” Indseth notes. That is the reason you will find the coaches of TotalConsult in Trondheim, Lillehammer and Oslo. Shortly they will also have offices in Bergen and Stavanger.

While TotalConsult works to develop the whole company’s strategy and organisation, they have a strong focus on leadership. “It is difficult to change a company unless the leader has the right focus and ownership. It is therefore crucial to develop the leader first,” Indseth notes. Spending time within the company One of TotalConsult’s many advantages is that they spend a considerable amount of time in the client’s offices and working environment. That way they are able to observe and get to know the company from within and thus better evaluate what needs to be done at the administrative level, team

Mental and physical health go hand in hand.

For more information, please visit: www.totalconsult.no

Scan Business | Special Theme | Coaching in Norway

Motivate yourself! You are always motivated, but for what? Ready to help you find the answer to that is Kristoffer Omdal, manager of the consultant agency Scan Learn based in Stavanger, Norway. A background of more than 2,400 courses and seminars makes him one of the most experienced speakers and trainers in Scandinavia. Omdal is a Certified Trainer Business Coach educated in the USA and England, and might just be the right guy for the job. By Ingrid Marie Holmeide | Photo: Scan Learn

and personally motivating experiences for the participants. Living by their slogan “Increased motivation – better performance”, Scan Learn focuses on skills and attitudes as well as knowledge - because knowledge alone is not enough. “It’s your attitude that helps you succeed and approach your tasks with a feeling of willingness and a good mood!”

Scan Learn is one of the oldest unattached competence companies in Scandinavia and aims to be a source of inspiration and a learning field for gaining better results with lasting values. Omdal has been described as one of the “best kept secrets” in the seminar business and is particularly focused on taking a positive responsibility for one’s own motivation and attitude, seeing these as essential ingredients for each person or each organisation’s competence.

Are you a part of a team, management or an office and want to rediscover enthusiasm and confidence in yourself and your work? Are you part of a well-functioning team wanting to become even better, together? The possibilities are many, the

Scan Learn has taken on numerous tasks of different character, yet they have in common being very positive, stimulating

Kristoffer Omdal, Manager of the consultant agency Scan Learn

gain priceless. Get in touch with Kristoffer on +47 9017 7417 and treat yourself to a boost of motivation! For more information, please visit: www.scanlearn.no

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Scan Business | Special Theme | Coaching in Norway

Young Leader of the Year 2011, global future candidates, NHO

Assessit is challenging and developing the leaders of tomorrow It is hardly disputable that a good leader is crucial for a positive working environment as well as for positive financial results. Assessit is a leading consultancy in developing and finding these unique leaders, mainly by focusing on practical solutions and a willingness to change. Let Assessit bring out the best in your leader with simple steps that will transform your company.

ing and engagement. “Thus, a majority of our work focuses on developing the leader and his or her skills.”

By Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: Assessit

The company has gained momentum all over the Nordic market and has an employee base of 50 people located in offices in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. With backgrounds from various fields, such as economics, management, organisational psychology and technology, they fulfil each other and are able to see leadership issues from various perspectives. Thus, their leadership approach coincides well with the Scandinavian model and is based on repeatedly proven research as the most effective leadership model. “The companies that contact us all have different goals and different backgrounds. However, we believe that in order to achieve something one needs to be willing

Assessit is a leading consultancy operating in the Nordic market, with offices in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Since its establishment in 2002, it has become a market leader within recruitment and selection, executive search, and particularly organisational and leadership development and coaching, and is constantly working according to the slogan: To challenge and develop the leaders of tomorrow. “A good leader is crucial in order for employees to perform well and in consequence for the company to do well,” CEO Trond Myhrvold says and goes on to emphasise values such as quality, new think-

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CEO Trond Myhrvold

A Nordic actor with an ambition to create high value for its clients

Scan Business | Special Theme | Coaching in Norway

to change the way they behave, think and make choices. That is the common denominator for all our clients,” Myhrvold notes. Among their impressive client base are names such as the Norwegian banking group DNB and the telecommunications company Telenor. “We aim to identify superior performers wherever they are,” Myhrvold says. Developing the leader as the main point of focus Assessit works with leaders and employees alike, but the main focus remains on the development of the leader. “We offer leader support and coaching as we believe a good leader is the key to a successful business,” Myhrvold says. The approach emphasises practical exercises, where the leader is given specific cases he or she needs to solve. “If one wants to change, one needs to practice new ways of doing things, to approach things and to think. In our leadership development strategy, it is mainly about giving the leader the opportunity to practice on real-life situations. It is simply not enough to take some courses and read some books, people need the feeling of mastering a task,” Myhrvold elaborates. “Those leaders who achieve something are willing to change.”

“Our ambition is always to find the best leader in Norway, and it is an extensive process to find the right person; all candidates have to go through various tests, including personality tests and simulation tasks where they have to solve practical cases,” Myhrvold says. The same characteristics tend to define the winning candidate each year, namely his or her ability to be result driven as well as humble and encouraging towards their colleagues. “There are three factors that define these leaders, whereupon they first of all receive positive feedback from both superiors and colleagues. Secondly, actively involved with their employees’ wellbeing and performance, and thirdly, they are good at motivating and supporting their colleagues,” Myrhvold elaborates. The findings from the award coincide well with Assessit’s coaching approach, where the leader plays a crucial role for good results. “Research shows that a supportive and coaching leadership approach is most rewarding, both in terms of employee wellbeing and for company results,” Myhrvold says.

The Young Leader of the Year Award For the fourth year running, Assessit awards the Young Leader of the Year prize to a promising young leader in Norway.

For more information, please visit: www.assessit.no

Top: Young Leader of the Year 2011 top 10 Below: Young Leader of the Year 2011 - Tore Relling

“In our leadership development strategy, it is mainly about giving the leader the opportunity to practice on real-life situations,” explains Trond Myhrvold.

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 109

Scan Business | Conference of the Month | Denmark

Now completely restored, it is hard to imagine that Mogens Dahl Koncertsal was a worn-out auto garage prior to Mogens Dahl’s acquisition.

Conference of the Month, Denmark

Music and business hand in hand Music, aesthetics and ambition all come together in the unusual and unique conference venue Mogens Dahl Koncertsal, located just ten minutes from Copenhagen’s Town Hall Square. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Adam Mørk

When Mogens Dahl Koncertsal opened its doors in 2006, it was with a vision of mixing music, business, aesthetics and personal engagement to become Copenhagen’s leading exclusive concert and conference facility. Since then, ministers, business leaders and musicians have signed up to the project turning the vision into reality.

horse stables, originally built in 1901, almost disappeared into oblivion. Still, when conductor and university lecturer Mogens Dahl came across the stables, he saw potential. “When my wife’s design company VIPP relocated to the adjoining old Hertz Printing House, I found the stables in a quite grisly and ill-maintained state. It took a lot of work, but with the help of the amazing architects Frank Maali and Gemma Lalanda, they have been restored to their original appearance and lit up in every corner by the amazing Nordic daylight,” explains director, founder and namesake Mogens Dahl.

Preserving the history It is hard to believe but, ten years ago, the bright and architectonically close to perfect rooms, which today house some of Copenhagen’s most exclusive events, were part of a worn-out auto garage. Through years of tear and neglect the old

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The sunlight and focus on music and quality are some of the key characteristics, which according to Dahl, have made the hall popular with business leaders as well as artists. “Ulf Wiinberg (the director of the international pharmaceutical com-

Scan Business | Conference of the Month | Denmark

pany Lundbeck) always tells me that he loves our place because sunlight and music play such a major role here. But our clients also appreciate our personal approach; our extremely high service level is one of the reasons our guests come back again and again.” Art, sunlight and stunning architecture When entering Mogens Dahl Koncertsal, guests pass through the foyer, once used for parking carriages, which with its original paving restored representatively presents a fusion between a raw outdoors atmosphere and warm, intimate hospitality. Further in, the old horse stable has been converted into a beautiful high-ceilinged concert and conference hall with fully visible beams and rafters. The hall seats 240 people and is acoustically perfect for concerts as well as meetings. “The acoustics are often forgotten when speaking about conferences, but obviously, because this place is run by a music fanatic, it has been a great consideration,” explains Dahl. “Acoustics and aesthetics melt together here. There are no wires lying around; everything is hidden, and the walls beam with Jens Birkemose and Robert Jacobsen artworks.” In 2007, the former car workshop, now decorated in a New York loft style, was included in the establishment. With the design of its original wide, rustic garage door maintained, the hall is perfect for warm summer days offering a direct view of the lovely cobbled courtyard through the open doors. For all day events, the concert house’s smallest hall can be converted into dining facilities with in-house chef Peter Ingeberg providing high-quality Nordic gastro cuisine. The business of music Though conferences and business events might not seem an obvious road for an artistic mind like Mogens Dahl to go down, the project was, he explains, a chance for him to try something completely new. “When I started out, I had no idea about the business world, but I must say that

Grand pianos are prominently positioned in each of the conference centre’s three halls.

one of the greatest things about this is that I have met so many incredibly interesting people.” Besides, music is, of course, as it always was, Dahl’s intention, an integrated part of events and conferences at Mogens Dahl Koncertsal. “Music is at the heart of our project, and this is why, for instance, we have grand pianos located in all three halls. Everything else is removable and can be set up exactly as our clients want, but the pianos are always there,” stresses Dahl, who often plays a few compositions for guests during breaks. For those who want more than that, there is an array of possibilities: a jazz quartet at lunch, a flute player during breakfast, or an opera singer with dinner or drinks; when it comes to music almost nothing is impossible at Mogens Dahl Koncertsal.

The building’s original cobblestone floor has been beautifully restored in the foyer of the concert hall/conference centre.

For more information, please visit: www.mogensdahl.dk

FACTS Location Mogens Dahl Koncertsal is located just behind Islands Brygge’s waterfront, a five-minute bicycle ride from Rådhuspladsen and a short walk from Islands Brygge metro station (with connections to Copenhagen Airport).

Parking is available in Snorregade. Maximum capacity 300 standing guests. A free Mogens Dahl App with information and visually guided tours is available for iPhone, iPad and Android.

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 111

Scan Business | Conference of the Month | Norway

Conference of the Month, Norway

The Ekeberg Restaurant – a place to fall in love with With its breathtaking view over Oslo and the Oslo Fjord, the Ekeberg Restaurant provides its guests with a break from stress and daily chores. It is therefore the perfect location to host your next conference if you would like to treat your employees to a stunning location, quality food and proximity to central Oslo. By Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: Ekeberg Restaurant

The Ekeberg Restaurant is an institution in Oslo, a modern functionalist building at the rooftop of Oslo dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. Today, it appears a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, a glamorous venue for weddings and parties, and an unbeatable conference venue for people who would like to get away from the stress of the city while still being close to it. “It is a unique location that our guests enjoy, whether they are here for fine dining or a meeting,” managing director Konstantin Zimmermann says. Different day packages The restaurant is a popular venue for meetings and conferences, as it is only

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15 minutes by tram from central Oslo, while having all necessary equipment in an attractive location. “We have guests ranging from the government to large international companies with subsidiaries in

Oslo. We offer various daily packages and cater to groups of eight to 180 guests,” Zimmermann says. “It is a place people take their colleagues and employees when they want to impress them with something exceptional, as well as a fantastic place for a romantic tête-à-tête dinner or a relaxed lunch.” “A holiday in the city” Zimmermann notes that many get a holiday feeling on coming here, particularly on a sunny July day. “It is a special atmosphere up here, and people enjoy a feeling as though on holiday.” In addition to its stunning view, it is known for its excellent kitchen that caters to conferences and dinner guests alike. While the menu offers international and local cuisine, a majority of the produce is locally produced. “Our guests are becoming increasingly concerned with locally produced food and the environment. So are we, and we cooperate with local farms for the best produce,” Zimmermann says and welcomes guests to his little oasis.

For more information, please visit: www.ekebergrestauranten.com

Scan Business | News | Business Events

Scandinavian Business Calendar – Highlights of Scandinavian business events Please note that the events will be open predominantly to the members of the chambers of commerce.

Summer Cocktail Party The Summer Cocktail Party is an annual event hosted by the Ambassador of Denmark Her Excellency, Ms. Anne Hedensted Steffensen, and The Danish UK Chamber of Commerce. This event provides a great opportunity to meet the official Denmark, so members as well as non-members are highly encouraged to bring guests along. Venue: Ambassador’s Residence Date: 9 July

Nordic Thursday Drinks The Nordic Thursday Drinks is a perfect occasion to network with people from the Norwegian, Danish, Finnish and British business communities in an informal atmosphere. Canapés and welcome drinks are generously sponsored for the "early birds" with their names on the guest list.

Photo: NBCC

AUGUST Venue: Radisson Blu Portman Hotel Date: 30 August

OCTOBER Venue: Radisson Blu Portman Hotel Date: 25 October

SEPTEMBER Venue: Hilton Kensington Hotel Date: 27 September

Lord Owen to join this year’s Joint Nordic Chamber event at LSE When the doors are opened to this year’s Joint Nordic Chamber event at London Stock Exchange, 19 September, the Right Honourable Lord Owen will be among the guest speakers. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Courtesy of DUCC

Lord Owen was a Member of Parliament for 26 years (1966-92) and, under Labour Governments, served as Navy Minister, Health Minister and Foreign Secretary. In 1981, he co-founded the Social Democratic Party, which he led from 1983-90. The theme of the seminar is one set to be very much on the mind of the guest speaker as well as many participants: the fate of the Euro. During the evening possible outcomes of the current Euro-crisis and their political consequences will be investigated and the scene set for discussion. It will not be the first time the 73-year-old lord, who currently sits in the House of Lords as an independent Crossbencher, examines this subject. From 1999-2005, Lord Owen chaired New Europe, an or-

ganisation that successfully campaigned for the UK to stay outside the Eurozone while remaining a committed member of the EU. His thoughts on the subject have also been laid bare in his recently published book, Europe Restructured? The Eurozone Crisis and Its Aftermath. David Marsh, Co-Chairman, OMFIF, is also confirmed to present at the seminar, which will be moderated by John Hydeskov, Chief Analyst, Danske Markets London. More guest speakers are still to be announced. Venue: London Stock Exchange, 10 Paternoster Square, London, EC4M 7LS Date: 19 September, 5.40pm -9pm Price: Members £42, non-members: £84

For more information, please visit: www.ducc.co.uk

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 113

Scan Magazine | Culture | Jonas Jonasson

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared The attention-grabbing title of Swedish author Jonas Jonasson's debut novel already gives its readers a good idea of the quirky humour in store. The story of pensioner Allan Karlsson first grabbed the attention of Swedish readers and then the rest of the world, with over two million copies sold to date. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Hesperus Press

Jonas Jonasson is a former journalist, media consultant and television producer, who decided to start a new life as a writer. He sold everything he had and moved to a small town in Switzerland and eventually to an island in the Swedish countryside. “I always knew I was an author, and I had written a novel before, but I burned it up. I’m so happy I did as I wasn’t ready yet,”

says Jonasson. “After moving to Switzerland, I suddenly had no identity any more. I wasn’t a journalist or a managing director of a big company; and it’s one of the first things people ask when they meet you: ‘What do you do for a living?’ It’s one of the main things that forced me to finish this manuscript.”

With the novel, Jonasson set out to tell the tragic story of the 20th century, and he needed somebody to guide him through 100 years of history; this is how Allan Karlsson was born. “At the beginning, he was more a tool than anything else. But as I was writing, we got to know each other, and his personality developed. I had to actually go back and rewrite one third of the book to make sure that his personality was the same throughout.”

Once his novel was accepted by a Swedish publishing house, Jonasson had found an identity once more, and it did not matter to him whether it was going to sell 200 or 2 million copies. While Jonasson had many stories in mind, he fell in love with the title of Allan Karlsson’s one. “I thought that if I’d ever see a title like that myself, I would buy it,” he laughs. The story starts with Allan Karlsson climbing out of the bedroom window of an old people’s home, just before his one-hundredth birthday party is about to start. Karlsson embarks on an eventful journey, turning the whole country on its head, and as it turns out, he has previously done the same with the world.

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Jonas Jonasson

FACTS The book is being made into a film by Nordic company Nice Entertainment (with Swedish actor Robert Gustafsson as Allan Karlsson). Hesperus Press is publishing the English edition of The Hundred-YearOld Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared on 12 July.

For more information, please visit: www.jonasjonasson.com

Scan Magazine | Culture & Music | News

Hammershøi painting breaks Danish records at auction Selling for £1,721,250, more than double of its pre-sale estimate, Vilhelm Hammershøi’s Ida Reading a Letter has become the highest-priced Danish artwork to be sold at auction ever. The painting, which, painted in 1899, was among Hammershøi’s first works, was one of five paintings by the artist offered at auction at Sotheby’s last month. The collection sold for a combined total of £4,313,450. Ida Reading a Letter was fiercely pursued before finally selling to an international private collector; Claude Piening, Senior Director in Sotheby’s European Paintings Department comments: “Bidding was international, with interest from Asia, America, Scandinavia and Central Europe. Hammershøi appeals to the tastes of the 21st-century collector. Exhibitions in

London, Tokyo, Denmark and currently Munich continue to attract new admirers

Lot 30; Property from a private collection; Vilhelm Hammershøi; Danish 1864 - 1916; Ida Reading a Letter; Oil on canvas; 66 by 59cm, 26 by 23¼in. Estimate £500,000-700,000 Sold For £1,721,250 (DKR 15,747,499)

Danish chart sensation Lukas Graham plays London gig On 20 June, Danish artist Lukas Graham (also known as Luke the Duke) performed at the Borderline in London, and Scan Magazine was there to check out the next big thing on Denmark’s music scene. The 23-year-old singer and songwriter, who hails from Christiana, in central Copenhagen, made a big splash on the Danish charts this year, with three successful singles, Ordinary Things, Drunk In The Morning and Criminal Mind, and a self-titled album that went straight to No 1 in early April. “Our first-ever concert was May 4 last year, so you could say it was a rapid rise,” says Gra-

ham. “I guess I just had this idea that I’d rather have a lot of people knowing the music and not knowing my face, and I think that’s worked out rather well for us.” On 20 June, Lukas Graham and his band performed an hour-long set for a

By Signe Hansen Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s

of his work, which draws parallels with Vermeer and Whistler, artists with similar sensibilities to those of Hammershøi.” The painting’s subtle light, muted tones and subject suggest that Hammershøi perhaps owes his greatest debt to the Dutch seventeenth-century master Johannes Vermeer. Together with the other five works, it demonstrated well the singular aesthetic of the artist’s work. Nina Wedell-Wedellsborg, Head of Sotheby’s Denmark, said: “The five paintings worked well as a group, with each distinctive motif – the artist’s beloved wife, a candlelit interior and a cityscape – so representative of Hammershøi.” The previous record for a work by Hammershøi at auction was when Interieur med staffeli, Bredgade 25 (Interior with easel, Bredgade 25), painted circa 1910, sold for £590,400 in 2006.

By Nia Kajastie Press Photo

full house at the Borderline in London. The crowd was filled with plenty of expat Danes, singing along to all the songs. Lukas impressed with his pure vocals, as smooth as on the album, delivered in a sincere style and with great chemistry among the band, which includes Mark Falgren (Lovestick) on drums, Morten Ristorp (Fløde fingeren) on keyboards and Magnus Larsson (Magnúm) on bass. And the crowd truly came alive during Drunk In The Morning, the biggest single off the album. With their soulful sound, Lukas Graham and his band truly are a fresh pop wind blowing from Denmark - all the way to London.

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 115

Scan Magazine | Culture | King of Devil’s Island

King of Devil’s Island: Stellan Skarsgård reveals the truth behind the scenes At the age of 61, Stellan Skarsgård is undoubtedly Sweden’s biggest international movie star. His most recent work, the blood-chilling Norwegian drama King of Devil’s Island tells the true story of a 1915 rebellion among the inmates at a reformatory for “maladjusted” boys on a remote island, a story that has moved him. By Emelie Krugly | Press Photos

Set in 1915, King of Devil’s Island is about a group of misfit boys aged 11 to 18 at the infamous Bastøy Boys Home correctional facility in Norway on an island south of Oslo. At that time, it was a cruel place, and boys spent years there, sometimes for crimes as insignificant as stealing money out of a church donation basket. “Norway is a small country, but it has a very good film climate because they have municipal cinemas, so even in the smallest towns you have cinemas that show arthouse films from all over the world. Norwegian kids grow up well educated in film so naturally they have a lot of good directors there,” Skarsgård says when he meets his audience at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in central London, where he recently participated in a Q&A following the screening of King of Devil's Island. Skarsgård plays the warden and chief antagonist of a new inmate (Benjamin Helstad) and the leader of C-block (Trond Nilssen). The warden's harsh methods have the boys dreaming of escape.

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“I wanted to play the warden as this character thinks he is modern for that time. He felt he was giving the boys all he could for their future. But I also think that he was very much a product of the society he was living in and that made him an evil man in the sense that he whipped the boys and oppressed them.”

One of Skarsgård’s most famous roles is as Professor Gerald Lambeau in Good Will Hunting, and more recently he appeared opposite Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Although Skarsgård is a part of the Hollywood scene, he still has his heart

set on the foreign film industry and enjoys the creative freedom it affords him. However, he likes the variety of both worlds. Skarsgård also says that one of the main reasons why he wanted to do the film was that director Marius Holst cast non-actors from troubled backgrounds as the inmates, working with them for more than a year. Stellan Skarsgård assisted Holst and his crew in shepherding the boys through the difficult shoot. “When the film finished shooting, one of the boys said, ‘This is the first thing I have ever completed’, which was quite moving," Skarsgård says. “It was both exciting and challenging to work with them because their lives were difficult; it was incredibly time-consuming as everything took twice as long, but the final result was just magical.” “Nilssen is now a respected actor in Norway, and Helstad is studying at a theatre academy, so their lives have changed dramatically.” King of Devil’s Island was released in cinemas around the UK on 29th of June 2012. For more information, please visit: www.bastoy.no

Scan Magazine | Culture & Music | Scandinavian Music

Scandinavian Music the country. Odd, but hugely enjoyable. Take Trofast's Vi Hade Allt. Nineties piano house synths and an infectiously chanted chorus. It's quite clever because not only is it appealing to the club kids but to the indie kids too. And of course me - who is neither the former nor the latter. If you're looking for something a little more traditionally palatable though, check out In The End by Orion. Listening to it evokes that same kind of wow feeling I first had when I heard Robyn & Kleerup's seminal With Every Heartbeat. High praise, but totally deserved. It's a beautiful piece of electronica. There's a strange amalgamation of two sounds taking over Swedish radio this summer. Songs that have a 90s house production that's married to an indie hiphop topline are ruling the airwaves and soundtracking the BBQ parties all over

By Karl Batterbee

electro sensibilities that Cat5 produced so well and gives them a slight RnB makeover. It's a minimal production that still manages to sound complex. And that's something you'll enjoy attempting to get your head around. Finally, for the pop purists amongst you, I'll leave you with the recommendation of Outta My Head by Diandra. She's the young winner of the most recent series of Finnish Idol, and that track is a super catchy, super bubblegum, rave-pop anthem. This one isn't subtle in the slightest. It's a massive pop number that commands to be enjoyed. Good luck going against it.

Those of you who remember the Swedish pop duo Cat5 may be pleased to learn that one of the girls, Hanna, has just gone solo and released a (free to download) EP. It's called The Lioness and it borrows the

www.scandipop.co.uk scandipop@googlemail.com

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

By Sara Schedin

The Commander in Chief UK tour (20 June–10 Aug) Norwegian The Commander in Chief is the first female seven-string guitarist and singer-songwriter in heavy metal history. This summer she will be playing at various venues across the UK. www.thecommanderinchief.net 13 Young Danes in Scotland (Until 26 July) An exhibition by Danish students in Scotland featuring photography, animation, painting, sculpture, film and printmaking. Mon-Thu 10am-4pm. The Danish Cultural Institute, Edinburgh, EH3. www.dancult.co.uk A Doll’s House (Until 28 July) London’s Young Vic is showing a new version of Henrik Ibsen’s 19th century classic A Doll’s House, featuring Dominic Rowan

The Commander in Chief

Issue 42 | July 2012 | 117

Scan Magazine | Culture & Music | Culture Calendar

Helene Schjerfbeck in Helsinki

Schjerfbeck, Ateneum Art Museum presents the largest ever exhibition of her art. Over 300 works of art will be on display, covering all periods of Schjerfbeck’s artistic career, from her history paintings of the 1880s to her later examples of bold modernism. Tue & Fri 10am-6pm; Wed & Thu 10am-8pm; Sat & Sun 11am-5pm. Ateneum Art Museum, Kaivokatu 2, 00100 Helsinki. www.ateneum.fi Scandinavian music at the BBC Proms 2012 (13 July–8 Sept) The Proms 2012 is featuring Scandinavian talents such as conductor John Storgårds, composer Kaija Saariaho, soprano Malin Christensson, trumpet player Håkan Hardenberger and mezzo-soprano Katarina Karnéus, to mention a few. For more information about the festival visit: www.bbc.co.uk/proms Kimmo Pohjonen (22 July) Finnish accordion adventurist Kimmo Pohjonen will play at the BT River of Music, a free two-day festival put on to welcome the world to the London 2012 Olympic Games. Somerset House, London, WC2R. www.btriverofmusic.com

11am-5pm. Fotografisk Center, Pasteursvej 14, 1799 Copenhagen. www.photography.dk

After Munch (Until 28 July) Inspired by Tate Modern’s on-going exhibition, ArtEco Gallery is showing artwork influenced by Edvard Munch by Norwegian artists Unni Askeland, Markus Brendmoe and Crispin Gurholt. ArtEco Gallery, London, SW18. www.artecogallery.com

Edvard Munch: The Modern Eye (Until 14 Oct) Norwegian painter Munch is often presented as a 19th century painter, a Symbolist or a pre-Expressionist, but this exhibition focuses on him as a 20th century artist. It features around 60 of his paintings as well as some of his lesser-known photographic and filmic work. Sun-Thu 10am-6pm; Fri-Sat 10am-10pm. Tate Modern, London, SE1. www.tate.org.uk

Behind the Façade – Everyday Pictures from Denmark (Until 12 Aug) This group photography exhibit is an attempt to depict the social and mental changes in Denmark. It focuses on different aspects of Denmark as a multicultural society and on those groups of people living outside that society. Tue-Sun

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Helene Schjerfbeck in Helsinki (Until 14 Oct) To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Finno-Swedish artist Helene

Cecilia Nilsson at Edinburgh Fringe

as Torvald and Hattie Morahan as Nora. Young Vic, London, SE1. www.youngvic.org

Cecilia Nilsson at Edinburgh Fringe Festival (3-19 Aug) Swedish actress Cecilia Nilsson is Miss Rasch in this production of FX Kroetz’s silent suicide play Request Programme. www.edfringe.com

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