APRIL 2013 ISSUE 51 PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA
KRISTER HENRIKSSON: ON THE WEST END STAGE EXPERIENCE ÅLESUND & SUNNMØRE SWEDEN: FOR GARDEN AND NATURE LOVERS GOURMET EXPERIENCES IN OSLO & COPENHAGEN
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Scan Magazine | Contents
Contents COVER FEATURE 8
8
Krister Henriksson Krister Henriksson’s career is taking a new turn. The Wallander days are well and truly over as he prepares to take to the West End stage. With a move from modern crime fiction to a 19th-century period drama, Krister Henriksson’s Doktor Glas, his one-man stage adaptation of Hjalmar Söderberg’s novel, will show the British audience a new side to his talent.
venturing into both fashion and interior design – promising an eco-friendly lifestyle concept fuelled by passion.
FEATURE 21
Nordic Light International Festival of Photography For the last seven years, the picturesque Norwegian coastal town Kristiansund has been turned into a photographer's paradise, with the world's top photographers meeting up to share their work and their experiences at the Nordic Light International Festival of Photography.
22
Ålesund, Sunnmøre & Geirangerfjord The world-famous fjord landscape and the unique art nouveau town form an almost unbeatable combination of nature and culture.
27
Sweden: For Garden and Nature Lovers Among the many beautiful parks and botanical gardens in Sweden are the gardens of the famous botanist Linnaeus in Uppsala, and the parks in the town of Enköping, famous for their planting schemes by Dutch nurseryman and garden guru Piet Oudolf.
32
Gourmet Experiences in Oslo & Copenhagen A guide to Scan Magazine’s favourite gourmet experiences in two of Scandinavia’s best-loved gastronomic hubs.
24 DESIGN FEATURES 16
18
Sail Racing The Swedish brand Sail Racing has over three decades’ worth of experience creating sailing clothing and gear. Today, the brand is known for its innovative solutions and high-tech approach to design. House of Dagmar House of Dagmar’s effortlessly cool, sophisticated and wearable designs have had the fashion elite raving for years, most recently at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Stockholm. Now sisters Kristina Tjäder, Karin Söderlind and Sofia Wallenstam are ready to take on the world – and promise to do so in their own style.
SPECIAL THEMES
19
Edblad Noted for its sophisticated and elegant jewellery lines, Edblad has for long been a Swedish design favourite. Now the rapidly expanding brand is
12
We Love This | 14 Fashion Diary | 37 Hotels of the Month | 44 Attractions of the Month
50
Restaurants of the Month | 58 Humour | 78 Music & Culture | 82 Culture Calendar
REGULARS & COLUMNS
Scan Business THEME FEATURES 62
40 52
64
Duni Love entertaining but loathe thinking about the decorating details? Leave it to Duni, Europe’s leading supplier of practical and pretty tableware for any occasion. From business lunches to birthday parties or picnics, Duni know what they are talking about. The Nordic Word The Nordic Word is a translation service provider with a genuine passion for language. The team of highly educated translators behind it boasts a real insight into Nordic languages and culture, producing high-quality translations of both commercial and literary texts.
65
Technology & Business Innovation Norwegian Technology, a branch organization in NHO, maintains that modern technology makes Norway into a competitive and stimulating country to live in.
REGULARS & COLUMNS 60
Business Columns & News Key note, columns and news stories on Scandinavian businesses and business events.
72
Conferences of the Month The best conference venues of the month.
77
Scandinavian Business Calendar Highlights of Scandinavian business events.
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 3
Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note
Dear Reader, After the coldest March for more than 100 years here in the UK, we’re now looking at April to deliver us the spring we have yet to experience – and really do deserve after this freezing spell. And apparently this is all Scandinavia’s fault! Well, the fault of the strong easterly wind bringing cold air over from Scandinavia and eastern Europe. It is true that spring often starts a bit later in some of the Nordic countries; I’ve certainly experienced my fair share of snow around Easter time. But, believe me, spring in Scandinavia does exist, and when it really gets going, it’s a gorgeous time of the year. Don't just take my word for it either - why not visit Scandinavia in spring and see for yourself? We have chosen some excellent gourmet experiences, both Nordic and internationally inspired, for you to test on your next visit to one of the capitals.
Furthermore, Nordic cuisine is still very much a big favourite among foodies, and two great places to sample some of it are Oslo and Copenhagen. We have chosen some excellent gourmet experiences, both local favourites and hidden gems, for you to test on your next visit to one of the capitals. We are very excited about the man on our cover this month. Yes, it’s indeed another Wallander (we can’t get enough of them), but he’s actually in London at the moment with his one-man stage adaptation of Doktor Glas. It’s all in Swedish, with subtitles of course, and has received rave reviews over in Scandinavia. You should not miss out!
Nia Kajastie Editor
In this issue, we also introduce you to attractions in the vicinity of Geirangerfjord in Norway, a destination so unique it has been included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, as well as the art nouveau city of Ålesund.
SCAN M A G A Z I N E
Scan Magazine
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Issue 51 | April 2013
Mark Rogers
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Published 12.04.2013
Contributors
ISSN 1757-9589
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Sales & Key Account Managers
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Emma Fabritius Nørregaard
Julie Lindén
Mette Tonnessen
Magnus Nygren Syversen
Johan Enelycke
Next issue 11 May 2013
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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 fulltime writer and grammar stickler. 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. 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.
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. 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. Kjersti Westeng moved from Norway to London to study journalism. She now finds it impossible to leave, despite having finished university two years ago. From 9 to 5 she works in PR, but in the evenings she writes her blog and plans her next holiday.
6 | Issue 51 | April 2013
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Linnéa Mitchell is a freelance journalist who came to London in 2003 as a TV announcer for Swedish TV3. She now contributes to English and Swedish publications, parallel to doing voiceover jobs as well as blogging for a children’s/parents’ website. Norwegian Didrik Ottesen is back living in London after a carefree time travelling around the world. He is currently doing his MA Journalism degree while also working as a freelance journalist and trying to play as much football as possible. 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. Thomas Bech Hansen has moved between England and Denmark, with London, the North East, Aarhus and now Copenhagen among the places called home. As well as covering everything Scandinavian from architecture to aquavit, he is mad about English music and football, works full-time in PR and Communication, and studies journalism.
Elin Berta is a Swedish freelance journalist. After working as a news reporter for Swedish Radio, she decided to leave the motherland for a life in London in 2010. Now her focus is back on her first true love - writing - often combined with her love for music and writing reviews. Ingvild Vetrhus is a Norwegian freelance journalist and media researcher who moved to London in 2007 to study journalism and international relations. She is still based in the UK, where she has written for local newspapers, specialist magazines and African affairs publications. Lars Tharp is the BBC Antiques Roadshow’s only Dane. Lars was born in Copenhagen and educated in England. Emulating his Danish grandfather (Nordic Bronze Age Lur specialist H C Broholm), he studied the Old Stone Age at Cambridge University. But jobs for Palaeolithic archaeologists are scarce, so he joined Sotheby’s as a specialist in Chinese works of art, becoming a director and auctioneer with the firm and joining the Roadshow in 1986. Today, as well as broadcasting (and writing the occasional column for Scan Magazine), he runs his own art consultancy business (www.tharp.co.uk). Julie Lindén is half Swedish and half Norwegian, and came to London two years ago to pursue a degree in journalism and creative writing at Kingston University. When she’s not busy studying, she is travelling the globe, learning new languages and planning novels to be written.
W W W .S TO RY HO TE LS
STORY HOTEL – RIDDARGATAN 6, 114 25 STOCKHOLM SWEDEN – INFO@STORYHOTELS.COM
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8 | Issue 51 | April 2013
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Krister Henriksson
Wallander takes to the West End stage Krister Henriksson’s career is taking a new turn. The Wallander days are well and truly over as he prepares to take to the West End stage. With a move from modern crime fiction to a 19th century period drama, Krister Henriksson’s Doktor Glas, his acclaimed one-man stage adaptation of Hjalmar Söderberg’s haunting 1905 philosophical novel, will show the British audience a new side to his talent. By Emelie Krugly Hill | Photos: © Baldur Bragason
To British people, Swedish actor Krister Henriksson is best known as Wallander, the protagonist of the TV crime series based on Henning Mankell's novels about a forlorn Swedish detective. His and the show’s popularity in the UK have also put Ystad, a small medieval town in Sweden’s most southern county Skåne, on the international map. Unwittingly, he has become a key part of Britain’s “Scandimania” and new-found love for Nordic noir, and Krister is now used to heads turning with curious glances on the streets of England’s capital. Loved by the Swedes Ever since Wallander’s first airing on British television in 2008, the Brits have been captivated. When Kenneth Branagh appeared in the British adaption of the series, his tormented character adaption was not as popular, and the UK audience desired the original. Last year, Krister’s second series won the International TV
Dagger award at the 2010 Crime Thriller Awards in the UK. Loved by the Swedes, Krister Henriksson is so much more than Wallander. Ever since his first major performance in 1973 at the Stockholm City Theatre in the lead role in Peer Gynt, he has starred in popular works by the likes of Shakespeare, Beckett, Strindberg, Ibsen, Miller and Pinter. Krister grew up in Grisslehamn, an old fishing village by the Sea of Åland, around 110 kilometres from Stockholm and halfway to Finland. His career choice was not obvious; he began by studying medicine, but a stint at a theatre during military service changed everything.
consider a new stage adaptation of the classic Doktor Glas. “This was a way for me to spend less time in the hotel bar during my spare time in Ystad,” jokes Krister. He began by reading the Swedish classic novel Doktor Glas by Hjalmar Söderberg and ended up reading it more than 70 times. The story is an intense and tragic tale of a physician and his client, a beautiful young wife of a corrupt clergyman. When she confides her unhappiness in her marriage, Glas promises to help her perpetuate her extramarital affair with another man. First staged in 2006, the play received rave reviews in Sweden, Norway and Finland. It also received the Swedish Theatre Award Guldmasken for a one-man play.
West End calling After many years on the Swedish stage and television screens, during the filming of the Wallander series, Krister began to
“Each time I read it I was fascinated with this incredible story. So I decided to adapt it into a monologue, but I could have never
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 9
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Krister Henriksson
seem too great. I don’t really enjoy travelling much, but London is a city I always return to and I love coming here.” So, does he still get nervous before a premiere? “Yes, no matter how experienced an actor you are, nerves will always be there,” he explains. “You need to be physically and mentally strong when you enter any stage, including the West End, an experience I could have never imagined!” The play’s move from Sweden to the West End is very much thanks to the English actress Victoria Jeffrey, as it all started with a letter from her and to Krister. “It was beautifully written, from one actor colleague to another, something which is quite rare. I wasn’t planning to reply at first, but did, and told her that we should meet up if she was passing by Stockholm. She took up my offer, resulting in her attending a Doktor Glas performance at the National Theatre and becoming convinced that it would do well in London. She then contacted the producer Martin Witt, who had the courage to believe in the project.”
“In a way Sweden has always been in the shadow of Britain, and having grown up watching wonderful British actors, I think it’s time to pay back. You've done so much for us; now let us do something for you.” Does this mean we’ve seen the last of Krister as the troubled yet charming Wallander? “It’s been a great journey and I’ve loved living with this character, but now I think it’s time to move on to other things,” Krister says, and adds rather self-critically: “The first 13 episodes were not so great, the following 13 got better and the final 6 were fantastic. But after 32 episodes, I’d had enough. But it annoyed me when I found out that the British detective drama Inspector Morse had recorded just one more episode than us. “But British crime is sensational and something I’ve always admired; the Brits know how to appreciate this genre, and I've always been a huge fan.” Although Krister goes on to confess he has still not seen the British adaption of Wallander but is looking forward to having the time to catch up.
Krister Henriksson in Doktor Glas. Photo: Mats Bäcker
dreamt that it would become 150 shows with a tour around Scandinavia, and now due to show in the West End in Swedish with subtitles; it’s absolutely incredible,” he says. “It’s such a great honour to play the West End. But I’ve promised myself one thing, that it doesn’t matter how it goes, to be given this opportunity is a victory in itself for me. I was, after all, invited to live and work in London for a while, and I’m going to enjoy every moment of it.” Krister will be moving into a flat in Bloomsbury soon and is excited about a long stay in the British capital. “I’ve always felt comfortable amongst English people; I find them easy to get along with, and the cultural distance between us doesn’t
10 | Issue 51 | April 2013
At first Krister was surprised by the idea of delivering a Swedish-language play in Britain. “I think English is a beautiful language, but I'm so glad the British want to hear me speak Swedish. I hope they will be able to hear how beautiful it can also be. “I also feel very privileged to be working on the West End stage. I'm happy that the time has come for a play like Doktor Glas, and I'm grateful that the London theatre community believe in this project.” In the shadow of Britain Krister is also not worried about the critical response the project will receive in London. “I enjoy a challenge; I like taking risks in my career. I’m not scared to make a fool of myself, and to add to that, I only do things for myself, things that I truly enjoy. I believe that if you do things wholeheartedly, the experience will always turn out positively.
And what challenge will Krister take on when Doktor Glas finishes in London? “I will immediately start writing my biography,” says the 66-year-old actor. “I’ve already written a couple of drafts that I’ve showed my publisher. His comments were: ‘Krister, it all seems too perfect; your career is too flawless. You’ll have to dig deeper and find the embarrassing moments, the times that were difficult.’ So without saying too much, I’ll reveal some of my secrets, but all in good time.”
Doktor Glas runs at the Wyndham’s Theatre from 16 April to 11 May 2013.
For more information and tickets, please visit: www.drglas.com
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Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This
We love this... This month we are upgrading our homes for spring with splendidly colourful rugs, cool copper bits and pieces, raw industrial lamps and other unusual little treasures. We love the striking change even a single design piece can make – like these little gems. By Julie Guldbrandsen | Email: julie@scanmagazine.co.uk
Any type of space will get a style upgrade with one of these luxurious rugs in a geometric pattern from Hay. Made from felted wool and hand-stitched to create a beautiful and modern rug. Available in various colour
This whimsical and quirky little porcelain jar
combinations. From £283.
by Finnsdottir is the perfect hideaway for
www.madeindesign.co.uk
little treasures. £75. www.husandhem.co.uk
Metallics have had a big comeback within interior decoration. In particular, the darker Foutas were originally used as Hammam
metals, such as copper, are having a
towels in the traditional Turkish baths. This
renaissance, and we understand why – they
We love the clean and raw design of the
fouta was designed by Anna Backlund for
add an utterly cool twist to the home. The
Swing-arm wall light by House Doctor – a
House of Rym. Use it as a bath towel, shawl,
copper pencil holder by ferm LIVING will
great way to add industrial ambiance to the
throw, bedcover or even a tablecloth. £30.
look amazing in the study. £89.
home. £200.
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12 | Issue 51 | April 2013
Hello, my name is P책l Ross. In the last decade I have designed and planned more than 200 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,
P책l 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... Sweet spring sensations are in the air. We are swapping sweaters and jeans for loose breezy trousers and feminine silk blouses, and investing in gorgeous blazers and lastingly beautiful jewellery. By Julie Guldbrandsen | Email: julie@scanmagazine.co.uk
A blazer with a strong feminine
Great jewellery can make an outfit.
silhouette like this from By Malene
Splash out on this sterling silver
Birger adds instant confidence to an
statement necklace designed by Anton
outfit. The striped print makes it very
Michelsen c. 1960. £875.
versatile too. £325.
grasilver.com
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This pretty silk and lace shirt from By Malene Birger will add a luxurious
Cool colourful patterns are super
touch to jeans and
desirable this season. This dress by
skirts alike. We love
Loose fit, pleats in front and a feminine
Designers Remix comes in a shiny
the soft sunshine
print – these trousers by Selected
stretch material – a really lovely spring
colour. £199.
Femme are the perfect spring option.
dress. £255.
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£51. selected.com/femme
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14 | Issue 51 | April 2013
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Scan Magazine | Design | Sail Racing
Total commitment to sailing The Swedish brand Sail Racing has over three decades’ worth of experience creating sailing clothing and gear, with plenty of knowhow and passion poured into each product. Today, the brand is known for its innovative solutions and high-tech approach to design. Working together with world-class athletes and top designers, Sail Racing has been able to put all its efforts into making something that truly meets the needs of the demanding sailor – it’s what they call total commitment. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Sail Racing
Accordingly, Sail Racing does things a bit differently from other brands in the sailing business, which, as Bolin explains, can be quite traditional and conventional in the way they do things. Sail Racing, on the other hand, wants to offer something a bit more modern and special, which is reflected in the products themselves, as well as in the way they are presented.
Since the beginning, the brand has been helmed by people who simply love sailing and who want to create great products for sailors. The brand went through a resting period in the 80s, after which the ownership changed. In the 90s, the brand was re-launched with the founders’ original sense of purpose still firmly in place. “The vision has always been to make products for sailors and their specific needs. We set out to have the products authorised and approved by professional sailors before we launch them onto the market, and then refine them and in
16 | Issue 51 | April 2013
“From the beginning, we have always worked according to the words total commitment, which doesn’t meant that we have to be working day and night, but we do have to do our best for the brand and show the right passion for it. The people around us, including the sailors, designers, art directors and photographers, must share this feeling.”
High-tech materials for sailing athletes some cases make them more commercial,” explains marketing manager Lars Bolin.
“We don’t make clothes; we construct products,” emphasises Bolin. This is the philosophy behind Sail Racing’s designs. All products are constructed to meet
Scan Magazine | Design | Sail Racing
sailors’ needs, using high-tech fabrics, including Gore-Tex and Windstopper. “We work in close cooperation with GoreTex, making special products and creating special features with them. They see Sail Racing as an exciting brand. We’re quite small, with only 15-20 employees, but we act big. That’s why they really like working with us.” The people the products are constructed for are sailing athletes, who compete in America's Cup and the Extreme Sailing Series, including their own test team members. Nowadays, for such a highspeed sport, the sailing athletes have to be very focused and physically well trained, and they need the technical materials that Sail Racing can provide. However, in addition to the high technical side of the products, they are naturally also made to look good.
Sail Racing’s solar backpack
technology. Created together with the Italian producer O-range, these bags have integrated solar panels from which energy can be converted for storage in a battery unit customised for iPhones and iPads. The high-tech series includes a rucksack and shoulder bag with solar panels, as well as covers for iPhones and iPads.
Design collaborations Sail Racing also works with some exciting designers and companies to create specialised collections and products. A recent collaboration with highly respected Italian designer Marco Trapella culminated in the launch of the Race Line, a collection of jackets, hoods, polo shirts, T-shirts, shorts, bags and caps that combines the technical racing aspects with the sportswear appeal of the Sail Racing brand. Another successful collaboration gave birth to a series of technical bags using solar
Digital presence While Sail Racing products are sold in shops and through select retailers around Europe, the company’s online presence is becoming more and more important. “We are still quite a small company, but we are an attractive brand for sailors from all over the world. One strategy would be to enter the market physically by opening retail stores, but we believe our future lies online. Even in Sweden, where our products are available at 250 physical stores, we have reached solid online sales figures,” says Bolin.
“By going online we can reach consumers outside of our market borders, and we can also offer them a different kind of experience of the brand. When they reach our online platform, they can learn more about our products through film, animations and other innovative digital content.” The current version of Sail Racing’s website has been up since September last year, and since then they have experienced a huge increase in visitors. Sail Racing’s online shop, which is currently available in Europe only, will be open to all international customers starting August 2013.
For more information and the online store, please visit: www.sailracing.com
A collaboration with Italian designer Marco Trapella (right) culminated in the launch of the Race Line.
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 17
Scan Magazine | Design | House of Dagmar
you would find watching a sunset. We found it interesting to mix prints, forms and materials – the high-tech architectural elements and nature,” Tjäder explains. And the world of fashion has nothing but praise for House of Dagmar. Six years after their launch in 2005, the brand was awarded Scandinavia’s most prestigious design award, Guldknappen. Their designs have been widely recognised by press and fashion industries throughout the world, and are now sold through several international online retailers. In March, a new shop-in-shop was opened in Stockholm department store Nordiska Kompaniet, the brand’s first step towards a store of its own. And the future is looking bright.
House of Dagmar – The wearable chic Sweden loves them. Their effortlessly cool, sophisticated and wearable designs have had the fashion elite raving for years, most recently at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Stockholm. Now sisters Kristina Tjäder, Karin Söderlind and Sofia Wallenstam are ready to take on the world – and promise to do so in their own style.
“The dream is to expand and open shops of our own in London and New York. We would like to start additional lines and offer a whole lifestyle within House of Dagmar, but at the same time we want to make sure we grow organically,” Tjäder says. So what would grandmother Dagmar say of her granddaughters’ success? “I know she would have been very proud,” Tjäder says. “She was the most wonderful energetic person. An entrepreneur at heart – and our biggest role model.”
By Julie Lindén | Photos: House of Dagmar
“We don’t want to be like everybody else,” says Kristina Tjäder, head designer of House of Dagmar, when asked what defines the brand’s success. “We always go by our own style, and we make a point of not looking at what everybody else is doing. Quality and sustainability are main pillars of the brand, so it’s important that the garments can be worn season after season without going frumpy. It’s a style for cool, relaxed women who are both smart and sexy.” Named after the sisters’ late grandmother and muse, Dagmar, the label is defined by its combination of delicate craftsmanship, trendiness and feminine sensuality. For this spring and summer, the brand found
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inspiration in bio architecture and sculptural elements to create a line of exciting contrasts. “We have mixed earthy tones with neon colours, just like the contrasting colours
Kristina Tjäder, Sofia Wallenstam and Karin Söderlind (left to right).
For more information, please visit: www.houseofdagmar.se
Scan Magazine | Design | Edblad
Effortless style with a green conscience Noted for its sophisticated and elegant jewellery lines, Edblad has for long been a Swedish design favourite. Now the rapidly expanding brand is venturing into both fashion and interior design – promising an eco-friendly lifestyle concept fuelled by passion. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Edblad
“People keep saying ‘you do jewellery design really well – why don’t you just do that?’ – but we are so much more than our jewellery. I say that if I want a nice cashmere cardigan, I will make a nice cashmere cardigan. We find interior design really fun and interesting, so we are expressing ourselves in that field as well. The bottom line is that we put our hearts into everything we do to create products we want ourselves,” says Cathrine Edblad, co-founder of Edblad. The brand was launched by Cathrine and her husband Hans in 2005 and has since grown to include several shops – one of which was recently opened at Norrmalmstorg in Stockholm. Still, the company’s identity is firmly rooted in serene Swedish nature. “We’ve lived and worked in the Stockholm archipelago for nearly 20 years, although we are both from the city,” Cathrine says. “We see the same in our
rant, café and outlet. “We want our customers to find everything they want here, and it will be a joy showing them what we are all about. It’s how we keep our passion alive while always making sure that we surprise our customers with something new,” Cathrine says. “We stand up for the products we make, both in terms of design and ethical manufacturing. We’re here to add something good to the world!”
customers: they are environmentally conscious people who care about the quality of the products they purchase – and they are constantly moving between the city and countryside.” Cathrine explains that Edblad’s brand new fashion line – made with eco-friendly materials such as bamboo and linen – is a reflection of this versatility. “It’s all about feeling comfortable while still being able to dress an outfit up and down as one pleases. Our customer is part of several worlds, so we want her to be able to pair one of our dresses with heels and a necklace for a business meeting, and then wear it with wellies in the greenhouse.” And fashion is merely one of Edblad’s new faces. In May, Cathrine and Hans will open the doors of an 1800-square-metre extension of their lifestyle concept in Gåsvik, Norrtälje, fully equipped with a restau-
For more information, please visit: www.edbladco.com
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 19
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Scan Magazine | Feature | Nordic Light International Festival of Photography
Left: Afghan Girl by American photojournalist Steve McCurry. Middle: French photographer Lucien Clergue visited the festival in 2011. Photo: Wigdis Wollan. Right: The Exhibition Parade 2012. Photo: Odd Inge Teige
A photography festival unlike any other Once every spring for the last seven years, the picturesque Norwegian coastal town Kristiansund has been turned into a photographer's paradise, with the world's top photographers meeting up to share their work, their experiences, or simply a glass of wine and a pleasant conversation at the Nordic Light International Festival of Photography. By Magnus Nygren Syversen
Built upon four islands surrounding a lively harbour, with majestic mountains on one side and the vast Atlantic Ocean on the other, the colourful and exotic community that is Kristiansund provides the perfect setting for the Nordic Light festival, an event certain to make a long-lasting impression on its guests. Going into only its eighth year, the festival can already pride itself on gathering the biggest names in photography, amongst them Albert Watson, Bruce Davidson, Anton Corbijn, James Nachwey, Don McCullin and Sarah Moon. The peaceful and friendly streets of Kristiansund offer a relaxed atmosphere and an opportunity for their guests of honour to get close to their fans. This also means
amateur photographers and students have the opportunity to get up close and personal with their idols. “Joining Nordic Light is a great way to recharge your brain. The festival is a delicacy for photography lovers, but we make sure to appeal to a broad audience, both young and old, looking for new impulses,” says Anne Lise Flavik, Managing Director at Nordic Light. “You can learn a lot by seeing the world through someone else’s lens, and previous guests have described the atmosphere as similar to a rock festival. Our festival might not be the biggest in the world, but it’s definitely the nicest!” Despite the intimate arena, the Nordic Light festival is by all means a grand occasion. The volunteers drape the town in
banners, and in the seven years since the festival was first introduced, the number of visits has skyrocketed, from around 12,000 individual visits in 2006 to an impressive 70,000 in 2012. The guest list this year is impressive, as always. Be sure not to miss Steve McCurry and Alex Webb!
The festival runs from 23 to 27 April 2013; Beyond Pixels – Un-Festival of Photography runs from 23 to 24 April. More than 40 exhibitions are on show from 23 April to 5 May.
Kristiansund. Photo: Terje Rakke, Nordic Life
For more information, please visit: www.nle.no
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 21
RD JO F E: NGER M E A TH GEIR L & IA EC ØRE P S NM UN ,S D N SU E L
Å
Photo: Sverre Hjørnevik/Fjord Norge AS/Fjord Norway
An unbeatable combination of nature and culture The world-famous fjord landscape and the unique art nouveau town form an almost unbeatable combination of nature and culture. By Destination Ålesund & Sunnmøre and Destination Geirangerfjord
Geirangerfjord The Geirangerfjord is so unique that it has been included on UNESCO's World Heritage List and has been an attraction ever since the middle of the 19th century. See “the Seven Sisters” waterfall as it cascades down towards the fjord, surrounded by the many mountain farms that cling to the steep mountainsides. The art nouveau town Ålesund has been voted Norway's most beautiful town, and it has many experiences to offer! Lift your gaze as you wander around the art nouveau town and you will discover a myriad of spires, towers and beautiful ornamentation adorning the façades of buildings. Walk up the 418 steps to the top of mount Aksla and you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the coast, fjords and mountains.
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Close to nature Experience teeming birdlife on the bird island of Runde and be captivated by the picturesque Alnes lighthouse. Sail up the magnificent Hjørundfjord, or experience the seasons first hand by hiking in the Tafjordfjellene mountains, the Sunnmøre Alps and the mountains in the Geirangerfjord area. In winter, even the biggest skiing enthusiasts will find a favourite spot here, maybe at Stranda Ski Resort, which has been voted Norway's best ski centre for powder snow skiing. Recharge your batteries on a cycling or kayaking trip, and try your luck fishing in waters that abound in fish. Get your adrenaline going on a white-water rafting trip or a sea safari, or explore the Geiranger to Trollstigen National Tourist Route, perhaps Norway's most breathtaking road.
Photo: Kristin Støylen/Destination Ålesund & Sunnmøre
For more information, please visit: www.visitalesund-geiranger.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Ålesund, Sunnmøre & Geirangerfjord
Geirangerfjorden is one of Norway's most popular sights.
Beauty between the mountains It is a warm, clear summer morning. You are surrounded by steep mountains and waterfalls, kayaking down Geirangerfjorden in Norway. It is peaceful and quiet between the snow-capped mountains, so you stop for a minute to let it all sink in. This is Norway at its very best. By Kjersti Westeng | Photos: Coastal Odyssey
National Geographic has chosen the Norwegian fjords as the number one tourist destination, and Geirangerfjorden is known as the most beautiful of them all, with its steep mountain walls and numerous waterfalls. Coastal Odyssey, Geiranger's only sea Visitors can choose between single or tandem kayaks. kayak centre, is there to Coastal Odyssey has become the biggest make sure visitors get to experience sea kayak outfitter in Norway, offering Geirangerfjorden in the best way possible: kayak adventures in Norway and on the by sea kayak. “We are the leading busicoast of Croatia. The centre offers guided ness when it comes to knowledge, expetours as well as kayak rentals for those rience and equipment within kayaking. We who want to venture out alone. The sea have kayaked Geirangerfjorden for 15 kayak specialists paddle down the fjords years and know the area inside out,” exevery day during the paddling season and plains Jonathan Bendiksen, the founder of will gladly share their experience and adCoastal Odyssey.
vice with new kayakers eager to explore the area. “Our guided day trips can be up to eight hours long, and we'll take you to the most beautiful and hidden places of Geiranger,” Bendiksen says. One of the guided trips offers a tour of the famous waterfalls, such as the Seven Sisters, which is famous for having seven separate streams of water. Visitors can stop for a bite to eat next to this waterfall and go for a swim in the refreshing water. For those who want to go on a longer trip, there is a six-day guided camping trip available, where you kayak from the city of Ålesund to Geiranger. Geirangerfjorden is a popular destination for people from all around the world. “There are no roads along the fjord so it's very quiet and peaceful. You feel like you're in the middle of nowhere when you are paddling around in between the mountains, and it is very beautiful,” says Bendiksen. For more information, please visit: www.coastalodyssey.com
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 23
Gallery Cylindra:
Experience the function, beauty and inspiration of Cylindra furniture With Norway’s beautiful mountains as the backdrop, the Cylindra furniture materializes in the picture almost as a part of the mythical landscape. And in a way it is: many of the pieces are inspired by the stunning wild nature in western Norway and the alps around Sykkylven in particular. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Gallery Cylindra
“The Mountain Peak chair, table and cupboard are inspired by the landscape in this area. They look like sharp, craggy mountain peaks. As with the other pieces in the series, the top of the cupboard represents a majestic range of mountain peaks, which in this case rises up to two metres in height,” says its renowned creator Peter Opsvik. Workshop and gallery At Gallery Cylindra in Tusvik, visitors can experience not only the furniture, but also the landscape it is inspired by. “Even if these objects are meant for indoor use, I
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like to bring them out into nature because it creates some very beautiful photos,” says Peter Opsvik. “Peter and I have been working together for almost 25 years now – the best period of my life. Not everybody gets the chance to work with the most famous designer in Scandinavia, so I feel very privileged,” says Kjellbjørn Tusvik, who owns the Cylindra workshop and gallery in Tusvik where the objects are produced. At the 100-year-old workshop inherited by Tusvik from his grandfather, cabins designed by Opsvik and made in solid wood are handcrafted
by skilled workers. And with the beautiful setting between the mountains and the fjord, Tusvik says “inspiration comes easily”. “In a few days’ time, Peter Opsvik and colleagues will join me and see how we can transform the workshop and gallery into something exciting.” The village Tusvik A very interesting history connects Liverpool to this small village. In 1876, 10 July, a small luxury steamship hit a rock outside Cylindra. The ship, Argo, was owned by Alfred Holt and the Ocean Steam Ship Company (The Blue Funnel Line) in Liverpool. Friends and family had been invited on this tour to see the fjords on the west coast of Norway. Among these people was John Swire, who established Swire Group and was a good friend of Alfred Holt. To make a long story
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Ålesund, Sunnmøre & Geirangerfjord
short, both passengers and ship were rescued. Alfred Holt came back to Tusvik many times, as well as his friend John Swire. The anchor from the ship can still be found at the bottom of the sea where they had to leave it. “One of my sons is a scuba diver and he has taken photos of the anchor,” says Kjellbjørn. From barrel to furniture Cylindra was founded to produce the wooden barrel-inspired furniture by Peter Opsvik in 1989. The idea for the unique design came into being when Opsvik was experimenting with the cylindrical shape at the beginning of the 1980s. ”When I worked in graphic art and paintings on paper or canvas with only two dimensions, I often wished to have a basic form which could be shaped freely and yet be functional,” says the artist. “The solid wood cylinder made my wish come true. If we roll up a sheet of paper or a canvas, we get a cylinder. The surface has no end horizontally, only vertically.” In 1984, Opsvik’s desire was fulfilled when a Norwegian barrel maker contacted him about a furniture venture. But instead of using the barrel shape, Opsvik crafted the straight cylinders that still shape the basis of his playful, slightly provoking yet functional furniture design. “Most of the things we surround ourselves with should
be designed for use. But in a hall, for instance, where you sit down and tie your shoelaces every day, you don’t need an ergonomic chair. It is more important that this chair bids you welcome home, like the Embracement chair,” stresses Opsvik. In 1989, Opsvik teamed up with Tusvik, and the development of 20 objects, such as chairs, tables, cupboards and wardrobes, started. Today, the cylindrical furniture’s combination of artistic expressions and practical function is renowned all over the world, with objects exhibited at museums and art shows in cities such as Chicago, New York and London.
To complement the stories of the furniture, Tusvik arranges many different happenings at the workshop and gallery. On the 19 April, the gallery has a retro dinner party with live music for 130 guests. “This is my 10th year anniversary for this music concept. More than 24 musicians/vocalists are taking part, and it is already sold out,” Tusvik explains. Later this year, on the 20 September, a jazz concert with Peter Opsvik, who is also a jazz musician, will take off. “Combining a tour around my workshop, with short mountain hikes, live music and dinner at the gallery has also been very popular,” says the gallery owner.
An extraordinary experience At the gallery in Tusvik, visitors can buy many of the pieces on show such as, for instance, the Two Servants – a wardrobe that consists of two vertical boards taking the form of the human body. But the galleries are not just about buying furniture, stresses Kjellbjørn Tusvik: “We have always had a dream about having our own galleries. A place where we could meet people with an interest in our furniture, listen to their opinions and test our theories on how to work with our pieces. You see, working with objects that are both art and furniture is something special. We are not offering just an object; we are also selling a story.”
So whether you are looking for a new piece of unique furniture, an inspirational art exhibition or a different evening out, Gallery Cylindra might be just the place.
Cylindra workshop and gallery in Tusvik is open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm; Saturdays and Sundays 12am-4pm; or by appointment.
For more information, please visit: www.cylindra.net/tour or www.cylindra.no
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 25
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Ålesund, Sunnmøre & Geirangerfjord
Celebrating a language icon This year, the Ivar Aasen Centre celebrates the Language Year 2013 by inviting visitors to their updated and extended exhibitions and a jubilee edition of the Festival of New Norwegian Literature in June. By Anette Berve | Photo: Courtesy of Ivar Aasen Tunet
The Ivar Aasen Centre, located in Hovdebygda near Volda, is a culture centre and museum dedicated to the legacy of Ivar Aasen, who laid the foundations for the New Norwegian language. The Language Year 2013 marks the 200th anniversary of his birth and celebrates the Norwegian language and its diversity.
During the last weekend of June, some 6,000 visitors visit the historical grounds to enjoy a large variety of entertainment. “The festival offers music, literature, debates and art, with some 40-50 different events taking place over four days both indoors and outdoors.” Walseth Lid reveals
Music and literature ”We arrange the Festival of New Norwegian Literature annually, but this year’s festivities will be more grand due to the jubilee,” promises spokesperson Laila Walseth Lid.
that popular Norwegian band Vamp is one of the headliners. Modernized exhibitions The museum lies on the farm where Aasen was born and grew up, which includes five buildings spanning four centuries and an outdoor amphitheatre. The old farmyard is the ideal starting point for easy walks along sign-posted footpaths that lead to viewpoints and even an outdoor library for children. Walseth Lid explains that the centre has updated and modernized their exhibitions to appeal to visitors of all ages, with the computerbased dialect game as a popular feature. “The centre is ideal for a day trip for the whole family, come rain, come shine.”
Full festival programme is available from 10th April.
For more information, please visit: www.aasentunet.no
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FO RG S AR PEC DE N A IAL T ND HE NA ME TU : RE LO VE RS
Trädgårdsföreningen Linköping. Photo: Gunnel Carlson / Riksförbundet Svensk Trädgård
Sweden: For Garden and Nature Lovers One Sunday in August 2010, one thousand gardens, mostly private, were opened by their owners to the Swedish public for the first time during the country’s largest garden event “Tusen Trädgårdar”. It rained in many parts of the country, and the website coordinating the event was temporarily blocked by curious visitors planning their visits. But rain never discourages garden lovers and the success of it was evident. By Stella Westerlund, Marketing Manager, The Swedish Horticultural Society
The event is now a biennale: in 2012 the number of gardens opened increased and so did the number of visitors, now over 100,000. There is no screening system or jury judging the gardens. It is all done according to the Swedish democratic tradition. If your garden means a lot to you, you can share it and meet others for inspiring talks on design and plants. Next year, the event takes place in June. The organizers are Trädgårdsriket, a garden website, run by television presenter and writer Gunnel Carlson, one of the country’s best-loved garden personalities, Riksförbundet Svensk Trädgård (The
Swedish Horticultural Society), and Studiefrämjandet, one of Sweden’s Associations for Adult Education. A lot of the gardens are also open by appointment at other times. Among the many beautiful parks and botanical gardens, which you should not miss, are the gardens of the famous botanist Linnaeus in Uppsala, and the parks in the town of Enköping, famous for their planting schemes by Dutch nurseryman and garden guru Piet Oudolf.
Welcome to visit thousands of Swedish gardens!
information ForAdditional more information, please visit In Sweden, gardening is very popular, second only to walking as an outdoor leisure activity. There are 2.6 million gardens available to 6.6 million people among a total population of 9 million. Growing your own food is a global trend; in Sweden 88% of gardeners do so in their gardens and allotments or on their balconies and windowsills.
For more information, please visit: www.tradgard.org and www.tradgardsriket.se.
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 27
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | For Garden and Nature Lovers
The Royal Hunt Museum – Elk Hill. Photo: Anette Rönning
Photo: Ola Selin
Photo: Roland Johansson
Experience nature in the footsteps of kings The mountain Halle is believed by some to be the home of the Norse god Odin and the original location of Valhalla, the hall of the fallen warriors.
up with white tablecloths and chandeliers, creating a stark contrast and a memorable experience.
By Malin Wiander
Halle and its twin mountain Hunne have been the hunting grounds for generations of Swedish kings, and in 2001, Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden inaugurated the Royal Hunt Museum – Elk Hill on the mountain Hunne. The elk – king of the forest and the main object of the royal hunts – gives its name to the museum located in Ecopark HalleHunneberg on the southern shores of Lake Vänern. One of 38 ecoparks in Sweden, its primary purpose is to preserve the environment of the mountains. Closeness to nature is a theme that runs through the museum and all its activities. “The museum brings forward the uniqueness of the area and is built in an ecological manner with material from the mountains,” says Monica Alfsdotter, CEO of the Royal Hunt Museum – Elk Hill.
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One thing that makes the area so special is its dramatic topography with the two mountains rising like islands in an otherwise flat region, giving a fantastic view from the top. Halle is also home to the largest ancient hill fort in Scandinavia, dating back to 400 AD. Royal Hunt Museum – Elk Hill is filled with treasures from the mountains. It caters for a wide range of visitors, with activities ranging from pine cone golf for children to business conferences. “We have exhibitions for people of all ages, but it is also an interactive museum where visitors can take part in outdoor activities such as guided hikes and elk safaris,” Alfsdotter says. The museum is available for private parties and can accommodate up to 150 people. Traditional tent-like cots are then set
With a growing interest in eco-tourism, Royal Hunt Museum – Elk Hill and the ecopark will stay busy. The museum recently opened a new exhibition and plans are in progress for the next one – all in the spirit of the nature around it. “That is the foundation for everything we do,” Alfsdotter affirms. The Royal Hunt Museum: Opening hours June-Aug Feb-May Sept-Dec January
Mon-Sun Tue-Sun Tue-Sun Tue-Fri
10.00-18.00 11.00-16.00 11.00-16.00 11.00-16.00
Guided Elk Safari Mondays & Thursdays 1 July - 22 August 2013
For more information, please visit: www.algensberg.com and www.visittv.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | For Garden and Nature Lovers
Photo: Ingrid Hellberg / Ájtte museum
Photo: Ingrid Hellberg / Ájtte museum
Axel Hamberg’s research cabin
Experience the Swedish mountains on a garden stroll By the shores of Talvatis Lake outside the village of Jokkmokk lies a garden very different from any other. Just north of the Arctic Circle, on an area of 10,000 square metres, you will see the whole scenery of a region central to the Sami people. By Elin Berta | Photos: Jan Gustavsson / Ájtte museum
“We want to give our visitors something more than just a beautiful garden,” manager Göran Sjöberg says. “We want them to see the whole picture of the nature in this part of Sweden, leaving them with the feeling that they have actually been on a trek in the Swedish mountains and taiga.“ In the early 90s, the idea of creating a garden in the footsteps of Swedish botanist Carl von Linné started to grow. As the discussions continued, a decision to create something extraordinary was made; instead of just putting focus on the actual plants, a whole scenery was going to be created. By taking advantage of the area’s natural topography, Jokkmokk’s Alpine Garden
has been divided into 11 parts. Plants have been added to make each part a miniature of the different environments found in the Swedish mountain landscape. On a stroll in the garden, you will experience scenery as varied as the landscape of alpine peaks and meadow birch forests, to mention a couple. And for those who hunger for knowledge, guided tours are offered and information tables are to be found throughout the whole garden. In 1895, the Swedish professor Axel Hamberg would be the first person to explore the Sarek mountains. His heritage is treasured and kept alive through one of his research cabins which has been rebuilt in the garden. Hamberg carefully calculated on a construction that would with-
stand the rough climate, and all five cabins he had made are still standing. The surroundings of Jokkmokk have been an important place for the Sami people, and the most central part of the garden is focusing on plants traditionally used by them. Next to the garden, you can visit Ájtte Museum, where several exhibitions, covering everything from mythology to clothing, add up to telling the story of the Sami people’s lives. Whether you are just about to start on a journey in the Swedish mountains, or are just returning and do not want to let go just yet – one thing is for sure: you will leave the garden an extraordinary experience richer.
For more information, please visit: www.ajtte.com
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 29
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | For Garden and Nature Lovers
Explore what Mother Nature has to offer together with a plethora of outdoor activities In the southernmost part of Sweden lies Skåne, a relatively small county, but abundantly rich in nature. The Stiftelsen Skånska Landskap (Scanian Landscape Foundation), formed in 2004, aims to protect, preserve and develop nature and culture in 20 recreation areas spread out across the county, each with its own special character. Some 10,000 acres of land come into its sphere, of which 20% is part of a nature reserve. An infrastructure with paths and rest stops has been created in the area. By Ulrika Osterlund | Photos: Stiftelsen Skånska Landskap/Johan Hammar and Jenny Brandt
Lena Arenbo, director of communication and marketing, says: ”We promote outdoor recreation with exciting natural habitats and trails, all within easy reach of bigger cities.” There is something for everyone, from the nature enthusiast to the novice. The Skåne countryside offers a wide spectrum, ranging from beaches and cliffs to deep woodlands and wilderness. You can do a spot of fishing or boating in one of the many placid lakes, or go mountainbiking or horseback riding along the plains. Geocaching is another exciting activity to try, searching for hidden treasures in the
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woods. For something quieter, engage in some birdwatching or tree spotting, or visit one of the historical sites, museums or art exhibitions.
traces we leave behind us. With 30,000 visitors a year, the popularity of the exhibition speaks for itself. For a charming and cosy place to stay, check out one of the recently renovated cottages, perfect for a weekend getaway from the city, or hostels. If you really want to get close to nature, you can stay at one of the many campsites in the area.
The well-known Skåneleden Trail passes through 10 of the 20 recreation areas along its 1,000 kilometre long meandering path through the countryside. With five trails and 80 different segments, hikers are sure to find their perfect trek. Fulltofta Nature and Visitor Centre, a fully interactive exhibition and café in the Fulltofta recreation area, is well worth a visit. The theme is man, nature and the
For more information, please visit: www.skanskalandskap.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | For Garden and Nature Lovers
Photo: Dan Pettersson
Photo: Anders Damberg
Photo: Marcus Österman
Photo: Botaniska trädgården
Left and top middle: The Linnaeus Museum and the Linnaeus Garden (Linnémuseet och Linnéträdgården). Bottom middle: The City Garden (Stadsträdgården). Right: The Botanical Garden (Botaniska trädgården).
Uppsala – a city of gardens In the middle of Sweden, you will find a city greener than most. With 80 square metres of parkland per resident, Uppsala treasures the botanical heritage of Carl Linnaeus. By Elin Berta
More than 200 years after his death, the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, who lived and worked in Uppsala, is still very present. In the park known as the Linnaeus Garden, you will step right into what was once the place where he conducted all his research. Today, it is the home to over 1,300 different species, all co-ordinated after his plant sexual reproduction system. “You will find traces of Linnaeus all around the city,” says Sofie Blomgren, project manager at Destination Uppsala. Together with Uppsala municipality, Uppsala University and the Swedish Linnaeus Society, Blomgren runs a project to constantly expand and improve the green parts of the city. And with 1,100 hectares of parkland in the central area, Uppsala is indeed a green city. In the Knowledge Park (Kunskapsparken), scientists, teachers and everyone who has
The City Garden (Stadsträdgården) Photo: Ana Vera Burin Barata
an interest in gardening can meet. Hosting unusual plants, such as tobacco and soy, and several medical herbs, the garden is designed to be educational. And in the spirit of Linnaeus, a lecture will be held every week to inspire visitors. But Uppsala is not only an oasis of historical and educational value as the botanical heritage also takes more modern shapes. “The largest park is the City Garden (Stadsträdgården),” says Blomgren. “It is a park full of life known as the green living
room of the residents in the city. During the summer, it is full of people having barbecues, and there is also a stage where concerts are arranged.” In the Botanical Garden’s tropical greenhouse, you can visit Uppsala’s only rainforest. In springtime, you will be able to hear the song of poison arrow frogs. After your visit you can enjoy a nice lunch in the garden café, with dishes very likely to be decorated with edible flowers and made with herbs straight from the garden. As a step to further treasure the heritage of Linneaus, Uppsala County Administrative Board is working on adding his work to the UNESCO World Heritage List as a part of a unique international project named “The Rise of Systematic Biology”. Combine your city break with nature and knowledge and pay Uppsala a visit. For more information, please visit: www.linnaeusuppsala.com
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 31
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Gourmet Experiences in Oslo
Gourmet Experiences in Oslo & Copenhagen A guide to Scan Magazine’s favourite gourmet experiences in two of Scandinavia’s best-loved gastronomic hubs. By Nia Kajastie
Nordic cuisine is still one of the hottest global food trends – and it is not going away any time soon. The Scandinavians love for fresh, local produce and the “New Nordic” kitchen have put them on the foodie map for good. However, more traditional dishes, classic cooking traditions and international flavours are still extremely popular among Scandinavian chefs and patrons as well. Two excellent places to have some real gourmet experiences, whether Nordic or internationally inspired, are the capital cities Oslo and Copenhagen. Whether you are looking for fine dining or a relaxed atmosphere, or a mix of both, Photo: Morten Jerichau, copenhagenmediacenter.com
Because it is good for you In the centre of busy Oslo lies Eger Spiseri & Vinbar, a stylish but intimate restaurant known for its relaxing atmosphere. People visit this restaurant not only because the food tastes good, but more importantly because the food makes them feel good. By Kjersti Westeng | Photo: Eger Spiseri & Vinbar
Eger Spiseri & Vinbar is a modern restaurant, with classy interiors in black and brown. With calm, relaxing music in the background, the restaurant welcomes those who want to take a break from the busy streets of Oslo. Owner Kenn Zebitz says: “We are very conscious of what kind of food we serve here. Our customers can see that, which makes them want to come back.” The restaurant is fully booked for lunch almost every day, serving traditional lunch dishes such as sandwiches and salads. All dressings, marinades and sauces are made from scratch, with the season’s freshest ingredients. But Eger Spiseri & Vinbar is also one of very few restaurants in Oslo that serves “raw food”, a new diet trend spreading across Europe. Raw food
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is not heated beyond 45 degrees in order to preserve its vitamins, enzymes and minerals. It is also sugar, milk, yeast and gluten free, making it your digestive system’s best friend. “When you eat raw food three days in a row, you notice the difference. You feel better,” Zebitz confirms. After 4pm, Eger Spiseri & Vinbar serves tapas, often enjoyed with a glass of wine from the restaurant’s extensive wine list. “We have a wide selection of red and white wines to make sure we have something that fits any taste – and any budget,” Zebitz says. For more information, please visit: www.egerspiseri.no
there are plenty of restaurants and cafés to choose from in both Oslo and Copenhagen, and you are sure to find something to suit your tastes in this small guide. What connects all of the chosen establishments is their focus on fresh, wonderful ingredients, as well as an abundance of flavour. There is a bit of health food, a bit of Asian flavour, some Italian inspiration, gourmet indulgence and Nordic dishes – so a bit of everything on offer.
Read on to find out more about some of our favourite gourmet experiences in Oslo and Copenhagen.
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Gourmet Experiences in Oslo
Eastern culinary quality conquers Oslo’s urban dining and nightlife scene With a qualified sushi chef, a meticulous focus on quality and a restaurant that transforms into one of the trendiest Oslo nightclubs, Lille Asia has wooed the Norwegian capital and subsequently become one of the city’s favourite restaurants. By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: Restaurant Lille Asia
It took Lille Asia approximately one year to establish itself as one of the leading and most popular eateries in Oslo. Offering both Japanese-style sushi, made by a highly educated sushi chef, and exciting Thai food, the culinary experience within urban interiors has swooped Oslo off its feet. “The most fundamental factor for us is quality,” says owner Vinh Lu.
“When we decided to start Lille Asia, we spent two years just working on the concept alone as we want the keyword ‘quality’ to be mirrored throughout the establishment and to offer an exclusive menu to the visitors. “We have also handpicked all of the 12 chefs; the head of them has seven years’ worth of education making sushi in Japan – an education required to call yourself a sushi chef,” Lu explains. When the restaurant, which also has one of Oslo’s best beer gardens and outside areas with all-day sunlight, is not serving as an exquisite dining facility, Lille Asia happily plays the part of a nightclub to the city’s urban population.
“Our concept is relatively new in Norway. It’s based on a more southern and central European theme where fine dining is combined with a pulsating nightlife and club atmosphere,” Lu says. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the restaurant is transformed into a vivacious nightclub, for which people start queuing up outside from 11pm onwards. “As the restaurant is open for several hours before the nightclub guests arrive, the atmosphere is already vibrant when they do. “The urban ambience, which is emphasised with long tables and food exclusively decorated before being served on nice glass plates, is very special in Oslo and makes the experience something extraordinary,” Lu adds.
For more information, please visit: www.lille-asia.no
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 33
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Gourmet Experiences in Copenhagen
Restaurant manager Clara Kowlessar (left) and owner Mette Sia Martinussen (right).
Secure an invitation to Copenhagen’s most homely gourmet restaurant When you step inside Copenhagen’s Restaurant 1.th, the feeling is that of entering a good friend’s dining room. Guests, who have to book in advance, receive an individual invitation, the eight-course menu is a surprise and, as dinner has to be paid in advance, there is no bill at the end of the night.
chance to act as the host in a very extraordinary place,” says Kowlessar. Special menus are created to cater for larger parties.
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Restaurant 1.th
No matter what the occasion is, guests are, guarantees the hostess, sure to have their taste buds just as spoiled as in any other gourmet restaurant.
In Denmark, having people over for dinner is one of the most common ways for friends and families to get together, and it was this tradition which inspired founder and owner Mette Sia Martinussen to open Restaurant 1.th in 2000.
favourite spot for first dates and intimate celebrations. “We have a lot of people who come in here on their first date – often the girl has no idea where they are going, and when we open the door, she is just completely blown away. It’s an amazing experience to be a part of something like that,” enthuses Kowlessar.
“The idea with our concept is to give you the feeling that you are welcomed into a private home to have a wonderful dinner – it’s a special evening in a special place,” explains restaurant manager Clara Kowlessar. “The place is created and built on a lot of love and integrity, and that’s something which both I and the guests feel.”
Recently, a small extension, raising the maximum number of guests to 35, has made bigger individual and corporate celebrations possible.
Tucked away behind the charming Nyhavn canal, Restaurant 1.th quickly became a
“You can book the entire restaurant for you and your guests, and this gives you the
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“At the moment, we have a lot of very recognized chefs in Denmark, and we have had a lot of them working here; but it’s not all about the food, people also go out just to have a nice evening. I think there is a tendency for some restaurants to think that it’s all about the chefs and their work, and the main difference is that we choose to focus 100 per cent on our guests – on spoiling them with good wine and good food.” For more information and to book a table, please visit: www.1th.dk
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Gourmet Experiences in Copenhagen
An authentic taste of Italy in Copenhagen Having won several user awards and being ranked among Copenhagen’s most popular restaurants on TripAdvisor, Ristorante Da Claudio’s classic Italian cuisine has hit a soft spot with Copenhageners. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Ristorante Da Claudio
Founded in 1982, Ristorante Da Claudio has been a part of the city for decades. Five years ago, when new owners took over the place, the love was renewed. Today, everything, including five different kinds of fresh pasta, is cooked from scratch and only the best ingredients are used. “What I wanted was simply to make really good food but in properly sized portions – I like a decent-sized steak myself,” explains restaurant owner Fabio Adami. Born in Italy, Fabio has lived and worked in Copenhagen for most of his life, but he has held on to his homeland’s proud food traditions. This is evident in Ristorante Da
Claudio’s menu, which includes a mouthwatering selection of Italian specialities such as veal medallion in truffle sauce, homemade ravioli with fresh asparagus and ricotta cheese, and tiramisu. The food, which is accompanied by a selection of very fairly priced Italian wines, is served in a warm, relaxed atmosphere characterised by rustic brick walls, candles and warm smiles. No wonder guests are most often thrilled, some even calling it the best Italian food they have ever tasted – in both Italy and Denmark. If Italian food is your thing, make sure to make a booking at Ristorante Da Claudio for your next visit to Copenhagen.
For more information, please visit: www.da-claudio.dk
Bite into an iconic Copenhagener brunch If there is one thing Copenhageners love, it is going out for brunch. Café Den Blå Hund’s characteristic buzzing atmosphere, laidback style and home-cooked brunch platters have made it one of the city’s best-known places to do so. By Signe Hansen | Photo: Café Den Blå Hund
The characteristic blue façade of Café Den Blå Hund (The Blue Dog) has been a landmark in Copenhagen’s central Frederiksberg area for decades. In recent years, after changing owners in 2002, the cafe’s popularity has led to several extensions, and it now boasts an inviting outdoor din-
ing area as well as a bigger, cosy brickwalled interior. “We have all kinds of different guests here; that’s what is so nice about it. It’s all ages and walks of life, you don’t have to be a special type or anything to feel welcome here,” explains Bettina Halkier, who owns
and runs the café with her husband. The diverse audience fills up the café throughout the day as people drop in for brunch, lunch, dinner or just a drink and a board game. The food is prepared by the café’s three trained chefs, and their focus on good quality ingredients and seasonally changing menus has, in recent years, not only earned the café a loyal following amongst locals but also a prize for Copenhagen’s best brunch.
Facts: Address: Godthåbsvej 28, 2000 Frederiksberg The café is open every day for brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks.
For opening times and more information, please visit: www.cafedenblaahund.dk
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 35
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Gourmet Experiences in Copenhagen
Nordic food and maritime romance Just around the corner from the busy Nyhavn, Restaurant Zeleste offers guests a quiet, romantic oasis and a tempting range of dishes inspired by the Nordic kitchen. By Signe Hansen | Photo: Restaurant Zeleste
Based in a 350-year-old smithy, Zeleste’s intimate, historic setting and personalised service provide the backdrop for a broad range of everyday outings, from chatty girl brunches to quick business lunches and romantic dinners. “In the evening, we have a very intimate atmosphere with candlelight, small tables and a big fireplace in our open cobblestone courtyard,” says restaurant manager Jannike Plym. “Many people say that they feel this is like their own secret place – guidebooks have called us one of Copenhagen’s best hidden gems.” Zeleste’s menu offers Nordic dishes prepared with added inspiration from French culinary traditions.
“As far as possible we aim to use Nordic produce; we have, for instance, a very popular seafood platter with five different kinds of Scandinavian specialties for lunch, and in the evening, we serve a lot of game but also seafood, including our very popular lobster,” says Plym. Besides the charming courtyard and the old building’s many nooks and corners, Zeleste’s first floor includes a small intimate room for get-togethers of four to six guests, as well as a larger room full of historic ambiance for parties of up to 50 guests. For more information, please visit: www.zeleste.dk
THØR: T H ØR: L LÖVES ÖVES CRISPBREAD C RISP PBREAD HE H E JUST J US T D DÖESN’T ÖESN LIKE L IKE TØ TØ SHØW SHØ W IT. Crispbread: o Crispbread: one ne o off o over ver 6 600 00 d delicious elicious Swedish, S wedish, Danish Danish and and Norwegian Norwegian foods foods our online aavailable vailable aacross cross the the UK UK from from o ur o nline sshop hop and and in in our our London London store. store. SCANDIKITCHEN.CO.UK S CANDIKITCHEN.CO.UK GOOD G OOD FOOD FOOD W WITH ITH L LOVE OVE F FROM ROM SCANDINAVIA SCANDINAVIA
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Finland
Hotel of the Month, Finland
Absolutely Fab – A favourite among visitors to Helsinki “Absolutely FAB Fabian Hotel” – you cannot escape the praise that travellers have lavished on Hotel Fabian on TripAdvisor and other such websites. The charming boutique hotel set in the heart of Helsinki is a real favourite among visitors to the capital, who recommend it for various reasons, ranging from its excellent location to its eyecatching décor and welcoming staff. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Hotel Fabian
With the Helsinki Central Station in walking distance and a tram stop close by, the hotel’s location on Fabianinkatu is extremely central yet still perfectly serene. At Hotel Fabian, you are in the immediate vicinity of Helsinki’s busy Market Square by the seaside, the lovely Esplanadi park and shopping street and the famous Museum of Finnish Architecture. The hotel’s staff is also eager to offer more information on nearby sights and possible activities. “I think our secret weapon is our staff; they’re just amazing. We have a small
team of people who are genuinely customer-oriented and enjoy their work. They’re interested in things like food and culture, and thus know a lot about the subjects and can offer some great tips to our guests,” says hotel manager Elli Suutarinen. Hotel Fabian comprises 58 rooms in three different categories, but no matter your choice, you will always enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep in a stylish setting. Their Lux rooms are especially designed for guests staying for a longer period of time; they in-
clude kitchenettes, and to increase privacy, some have their own entrance to the inner courtyard. The welcoming and homely atmosphere is further emphasised by the hotel’s open kitchen breakfast concept, which includes high-quality organic produce being prepared right in front of the guests. As a recent addition, the hotel is also offering bicycles as a great option for exploring the city. Ideal for both leisure and business travellers, Hotel Fabian is a real gem with a helpful and knowledgeable team behind its success – and if you are still sceptical, the online reviews certainly speak for themselves.
For more information, please visit: www.hotelfabian.fi
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 37
Hotel of the Month, Iceland
The wonders of northern Iceland on your doorstep The village of Reykjahlíð is located right by the fourth largest lake in Iceland, Mývatn, surrounded by volcanic landscape and teeming with various species of bird. The area is known for its uniquely beautiful nature formed of lava craters, unusual volcanic formations, wetland and other such wonders characteristic of northern Iceland. At the heart of it all, you can enjoy four-star accommodation at Hotel Reynihlíð, which has been serving visitors to the region since 1949. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Hotel Reynihlíð
Located in the municipality of Skútustaðahreppur, the village of Reykjahlíð has just over 200 inhabitants, but its history as a travel destination goes back a long way. The story of Hotel Reynihlíð began when farmer Pétur Jónsson and his wife Thuríður Gísladóttir erected a new homestead in 1942; it included five bedrooms that were let out to guests in the summertime. As traffic through the village increased and the demand for accommodation grew over the next few years, they began building Hotel Reynihlíð, which was finished in the summer of 1949. Today, the
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hotel is still in the possession of the same family and consists of 41 comfortable
rooms, a restaurant, a banquet room and conference facilities for up to 60 people.
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Iceland
As the only four-star hotel in the northern part of Iceland, Hotel Reynihlíð offers firstrate accommodation and service and is the perfect base for exploring the surrounding nature and attractions. And if you are looking for an even cosier alternative, Hotel Reykjahlíð, which is set only 300 metres from Hotel Reynihlíð and is owned by the same company, is a small guesthousestyle hotel with nine rooms just by the bank of the lake. Also under the same ownership is the close-by atmospheric country tavern Gamli Bistro (The Old Farm), which serves traditional Icelandic food. Hotel Reynihlíð also includes Restaurant Myllan (The Mill), which offers a mix of traditional Icelandic and international cuisine, with a strong emphasis on local ingredients, including vegetables, lamb, and Arctic charr. Nature experiences all year round The main attraction in the Lake Mývatn area is undeniably the nature – and all the wonderful possibilities that come with it. No matter the season, visitors will always have plenty of things to do and see, and every season offers its own special experiences. The staff at Hotel Reynihlíð naturally want their guests to be able to make the most out of the surroundings, as well as the seasonal variations, and are thus offering Mývatn Nature Breaks, special short weekend breaks that include a three-night stay in winter, spring or autumn together with a great variety of excursions in the area. “Come here in the winter and you can go cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing or just for a walk. We have some great activity programmes in cooperation with a company called Hike and Bike as well as other activity companies. And if you’re here between November and March, you will get to see the northern lights, which are of course a big attraction. We get a lot of them as the conditions are just right here in the northern parts,” enthuses Margrét Hólm Valsdóttir, the hotel’s sales and marketing manager. “Spring is also amazing; you get to experience the birdlife because the birds are
coming here to nest for summer. It’s really wonderful to see and hear the birds. The birdlife is really unique; you can find all the duck species in Iceland here, as well as rare species that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. “Autumn is a relaxing time when everything is still. It’s very calming to go out into the nature and just enjoy yourself. We cooperate with Hike and Bike who offer some great tours, including hiking, and there are a few companies in the area that offer super jeep tours all year round, picking guests up right from our lobby.” From Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss, to the Krafla volcano, Hverfjall crater and the geothermal area of the mountain Námafjall, there are plenty of spectacular sights to witness and experiences to be had in the area – no matter the season – not forgetting the Mývatn
Nature Baths, which you can enjoy as part of the break packages.
The village of Reykjahlíð and Hotel Reynihlíð can be easily reached from Húsavík Airport and Akureyri Airport, or you can choose to drive from Reykjavík.
For more information, please visit: www.myvatnhotel.is
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 39
The scenery in Helgeland is stunning, here with "De Syv Søstre" in the background. Photo: Terje Rakke
Hotel of the Month, Norway
Gateway to the midnight sun Just south of the Arctic Circle lies a place called Helgeland, a kingdom of 12,000 islands and spectacular mountains. People visit Helgeland to admire Northern Norway's stunning nature and to explore the area known as the gateway to the midnight sun. If you are one of those people, Rica Hotel Syv Søstre has a room for you. By Kjersti Westeng | Photos: Rica Hotel Syv Søstre
Rica Hotel Syv Søstre is situated in the town of Sandnessjøen on Alsten, an island on the coast of Helgeland. The hotel draws its name from the well-known mountain range on Alsten called "De Syv Søstre" (The Seven Sisters), a popular destination for hikers from all around the world. Alsten is also known as “the moose island” because of its high population of moose that are often seen wandering the island. Facility and service manager Trine M. Vassvik says: “We're situated in the centre of Sandnessjøen, just ten minutes from the airport. There are 12,000 islands, reefs and islets within close distance of our hotel.”
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“De Syv Søstre” consists of seven mountains between 800-1100 metres above sea level. A large number of experienced hik-
ers and climbers venture out to De Syv Søstre, but it is also a popular destination for families as the mountains are easily
Rica Hotel Syv Søstre will almost double in size by the end of 2014.
A standard double room at Rica Hotel Syv Søstre.
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway
accessible for children as well. “A lot of people come to Helgeland to go hiking in these mountains. Some of them are Norwegians, but we also get a lot of tourists from other European countries as well as America,” says Vassvik. Helgeland is famous for its coastline and is popular with people looking to go island-hopping. “A lot of people use us as a starting point for island-hopping as the islands are easily accessible from our hotel in Sandnessjøen,” says Vassvik. It is especially popular to go island-hopping by bike, and visitors often rent bicycles and cycle around to the different islands. This is a brilliant way to see Helgeland at your own pace. The terrain is flat, allowing you to relax and fully absorb the beautiful scenery. If you are looking for an easy route, you can follow the coast and get a boat or ferry between some of the islands, whereas the more challenging routes through the inland mountains and valleys might be tempting for the more experienced cyclists. Another way to experience Helgeland is via a boat cruise or by renting kayaks and paddling around to the small islands, bays and skerries.
Visitors often see moose wandering around Alsten.
Vassvik explains that many people use Rica Hotel Syv Søstre as a base while they explore the area. And there is certainly a lot more to explore in Helgeland than the beautiful scenery. Every year, the municipality of Træna hosts a festival called Trænafestivalen, held on the small islands Husøya and Sanna. With only 2,000 tickets for sale and the midnight sun shining above the stage, it becomes an exotic experience for those lucky enough to get a ticket. Trænafestivalen is held in July every year, and visitors can travel to the festival via a direct boat from Sandnessjøen. Sandnessjøen is not the largest of cities, but it still has a lot to offer, such as the Petter Dass museum. Petter Dass was a famous Norwegian poet who lived and worked in Helgeland for almost 20 years. The Petter Dass museum is designed by Snøhetta, a Norwegian architecture company known for designing unusual buildings. It is safe to say that this is no exception as the museum is cut into solid rock. For those interested in architecture, Helgeland Bridge is also a must-see. The cable-stayed bridge connects Alsten to the mainland and has become a famous land-
mark. When it was built in 1991, it was the biggest of its kind, and in 2010 it was voted Norway’s most beautiful bridge. Rica Hotel Syv Søstre has its own restaurant which serves a range of exciting dishes, such as reindeer and "boknafisk", a specialty from Northern Norway. Boknafisk is a type of stockfish, partially dried by sun and wind. “We have the biggest kitchen in Sandnessjøen. Most of our guests eat their meals here,” Vassvik adds. By the end of 2014, Rica Hotel Syv Søstre is going to double in size, with 150 new rooms, including family rooms and suites. At the same time, there is a brand new water park and a culture house being built next door, in cooperation with the hotel expansion. “We are very excited about this and look forward to being able to offer our guests the facilities of the water park and the culture house next door,” Vassvik concludes.
For more information, please visit: www.rica-hotels.com/hotels/ sandnessjoen/rica-hotel-sandnessjoen
Helgeland Bridge has been voted Norway's most beautiful bridge. Photo: Erlend Haarberg
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 41
Hotel of the Month, Spain
Authentic Spanish charm and Danish perfectionism in the heart of the Madrid region With a location right in the heart of authentic Spain, just 100 kilometres west of Madrid, El Hotelito offers guests a truly enchanting getaway amidst mountains, forests and lakes. The charming three-star hotel, owned by a Danish/Spanish couple, has received excellent reviews since opening in spring 2011. By Signe Hansen | Photos: El Hotelito
Situated just outside the village of Navaluenga, El Hotelito’s guests can enjoy a range of activities, such as riding, golfing and sailing, all year round. Besides, no less than five UNESCO heritage sites – Toledo, Salamanca, Avila, Segovia and El Escorial – are within a 90-minute drive from the hotel. Still, the greatest attraction is, says Danish co-owner Christina Aagesen, the chance to get away from everything. “One thing people have to do when they are here is simply to take their time, ab-
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sorb whatever is around them and not rush when they explore the many attrac-
tions. If you don’t feel like getting out of bed one morning because it’s just too
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Spain
comfortable, don’t do it; stay in for another hour and just have breakfast later [the breakfast buffet is available until 12].” With just 12 rooms, a fireplace lounge, restaurant and meeting room, the hotel is small enough to ensure that all guests receive a warm personal welcome by the host couple who live in, what Aagesen jokingly calls, the hotel’s director suite. Close to home When they decided to open their own place, Aagesen and her Spanish husband, Cándido Ruiz, had spent several years working within the travel industry in Spain. Their ambition was simple: they wanted to create a place that would embody their idea of the perfect hotel – relaxed, comfortable and unpretentious. Their aspiration has resulted in a winning combination of rustic interiors, comfortable beds, a relaxed atmosphere and home-cooked food. “Our breakfast buffet includes eggs from our own organic henhouse, and, for dinner, our restaurant serves a small selection of Spanish-Danish and home-invented specialties [cooked by the host couple] often with ingredients from our organic vegetable garden,” explains Aagesen. Most of the hotel’s Double Rooms include private terraces or gardens, and all have floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the mountains and the amazing starry sky that the area is known for. The Private Garden rooms also include a hydro massage bathtub, while the Junior Suite boasts a 50-square-metre private terrace with Jacuzzi, deck chairs, parasols and sun loungers. Unspoiled beauty Although charmingly rural and far from bursting with trendy cafés or expensive gourmet restaurants, the hotel’s immediate surroundings offer plenty of things to explore. In the experienced hands of Cándido, who, having run a local riding centre for years, knows every inch of the area, guests can explore the beautiful Alberche river valley on horseback. The riding centre, which now adjoins the hotel, also offers full moon excursions as well as lessons in an outdoor riding ring.
Other ways of getting out and about in the spectacular landscape include a simply stunningly located nine-hole golf course, various water sports activities on or in the Alberche River and Lake Burguillo, and hiking and mountain biking on wellmarked treks. “Though we are just 90 minutes away from Madrid, it’s a different world out here. It’s like stepping back in time; you’re instantly engulfed in the tranquillity and beauty of the surrounding nature. People from all over Spain come for that experience, but, at the same time, they use the hotel as a base for visiting the UNESCO heritage sites,” says Aagesen, and with a laugh adds: “And the Scandinavians, they come because of the sun. In summertime, it’s a guaranteed 30C, and because of the favourable microclimate, you can still sleep well without air conditioning.” A good night’s sleep Adding to the possibility of a good night’s sleep is the clean consciousness guests can go to bed with knowing that the hotel is doing what it can to minimise its environmental footprint. “We have taken environmental sustainability into account in both the hotel’s design and operation, but without compromising on comfort and wellbeing. This means that we have organic linen, energy-saving light bulbs and solar panels but also, for example, air conditioning, Wi-Fi and flat screens with integrated DVD players,” stresses Aagesen. Besides, with Aagesen and her husband around all the time, guests are ensured that, should a problem arise, someone will always be at hand to help, night or day. “The reason we chose to live at the hotel is that in that way we are, literally, always here for our guests,” Aagesen says, and rounding off admits: “I’m a bit of a perfectionist.”
For more information, please visit: www.el-hotelito.es
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 43
Artwork: Marcelo Lerer
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
Poster from the performance Med lov skal man vand tygge. Photo: Per Arnesen, artwork: Jonas Christian Hansen
Attraction of the Month, Denmark
The art of chatting up a new audience Innovation, music and artistic dialogue are three of the key components driving the people behind Københavns Musikteater (Copenhagen’s Music Theatre). Tucked away in a historic townhouse in the capital’s old centre, the theatre aims to attract audiences from all of the city’s social and cultural layers. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Københavns Musikteater
Founded four years ago, Københavns Musikteater is striving to reinvigorate and expand Copenhageners’ interest and involvement in music theatre. Administrative director Anne Rasmussen explains: “Our aim here is to create experimental music theatre and find a way to make this appeal to new groups in society. We do not compromise on the artistic value of our productions, that’s not what it’s about; it’s about finding new ways of proving that artistic performance is still relevant to people today.” One of the theatre’s remarkable initiatives to highlight the artistic value of music theatre to a new audience will involve a number of caravans parked around the city this autumn; inside the caravans, artists will invite local residents to share their sto-
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ries and finally stage a performance in the neighbourhood based on the encounters.
goers and non-theatre-goers; the people whose parents took them to the theatre as kids are also the ones who feel most at home here today, and a large part of Copenhagen’s young multiethnic community is not included in that group – that’s what we want to change,” stresses Rasmussen.
Light-hearted debate on serious subjects
Facts about Københavns Musikteater:
Med lov skal man vand tygge, a revue by Teater Fantast, will be performed on the main stage of København’s Musikteater from 8 April to 4 May 2013. The lighthearted show takes on serious subjects such as Denmark’s controversial 24-year rule (prohibiting non-resident spouses cohabiting with their counterpart in Denmark if either spouse is under 24). The subject is specifically controversial among the many young multiethnic residents of Copenhagen, whom the theatre strives to involve.
Address: Kronprinsensgade 7,
“Of course there is still some residue from the traditional division between theatre-
1114 København K The theatre hall seats 150 spectators; a smaller hall for around 40 people is used for smaller performances. Every year 12-15 music productions are presented at Københavns Musikteater. Some are produced by the theatre; others are set up by independent artists or theatre groups. Productions include everything from classic operas to musical circus performances.
For more information, please visit: www.kobenhavnsmusikteater.dk
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Finland
Left: Photo: Jaakko J Salo; Middle: Svedjehamn, Björköby. Photo: Korsholm kommun; Top middle: Views from Saltkaret observation tower. Photo: Tuomo Väänänen; Right: Saltkaret observation tower. Photo: Tuija Waren
Attraction of the Month, Finland
An archipelago unlike any other Located in the Gulf of Bothnia, the Kvarken Archipelago is the only Finnish natural heritage site on UNESCO's World Heritage List and is, together with the High Coast in Sweden, part of a global family of 46 Marine World Heritage sites.
These glacial depositional landforms are traces of the Ice Age and add to the variety of the landscape in the region.
By Inna Allen
With restaurants, cafés, museums and other destinations highlighting the region’s history and culture, visitors can truly immerse themselves in the archipelago lifestyle. For example, an overnight stay and sauna on the Rönnskär island or the former coastguard station on the Kummelskär island will truly add to the Kvarken experience.
Together with the High Coast in Sweden, the Kvarken Archipelago forms a transboundary World Natural Heritage Site, consisting of 7,000 skerries and islets in total. With a distance of 150 kilometres between them, the steep High Coast and the flat Kvarken Archipelago are topographical opposites, and together they serve as a unique example of ongoing geological and biological processes and ecosystem development. The Kvarken Archipelago received World Heritage status because it possesses a genuine geological value; together with the High Coast area, it is the best place in the world in which to witness land uplift caused by the melting of the ice sheet following the Ice Age. Creating approximately 1 km² of new land every year, the annual land rise in the region is 8-8.5 mm. With
this rate the land uplift will create a permanent gateway over the Kvarken in about 2,500 years. Explore the rareness With many exciting and interesting places to discover, the Kvarken Archipelago attracts around 300,000 visitors a year – all keen to learn about the geology, nature and culture of the World Heritage area. “The Kvarken Nature Centre, Terranova, is a great place to start your visit as it provides such a comprehensive amount of information on the region,” says nature educator Vesa Heinonen. “And for outdoor activity, the various nature trails and the Saltkaret observation tower at the Svedjehamn harbour area in Björköby provide exquisite views over this unique and exotic area.” In particular, the De Geer moraines are something you won’t see every day.
Moraine formations on Mickelsörarna. Photo: Vesa Heinonen
For more information, please visit: www.kvarken.fi
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 45
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
The Monolith Room at the Vigeland Museum
Attraction of the Month, Norway
More than a beautiful park The Vigeland Park is on many a visitor’s to-do list, but few walk the extra steps to the Vigeland Museum to see behind the scenes. Director Jarle Stømodden invites more people to get to know the making of the popular park and its creator. By Anette Berve | Photos: Vigeland Museum/BONO 2013
The park, locally known as the Frogner Park, is the world's largest sculpture park made by a single artist, and one of Norway´s most popular tourist attractions. Over one million visitors walk through the gates every single year. For the locals, the park serves as a green lounge in the middle of a bustling city centre, whereas for tourists it is also a chance to take a break from shopping and see the larger-thanlife-size sculptures made by famous Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Over 200 sculptures The sculpture park serves as a portfolio of Gustav Vigeland’s lifework and was fin-
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ished in the time period between 1939 and 1949. Over 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron fill the 45 hectares of parkland. “It was not given that the park would end up where it did. A lot of coincidences can be credited for that.” Director Jarle Strømodden explains that initially the museum and its surrounding green area would serve as park grounds, but the city council granted the artist the use of the nearby field, thus Vigeland had a lot more space to work with. “Vigeland was a man of many plans, maybe you can call him a man with a hint of megalomania. But he never gave up on his vision,” Stømodden describes.
Of his statues the most famous, and most imitated, is the Angry Boy, but most jawdropping are the Monolith plateau, the Fountain and the Wheel of Life. The Monolith took 13 years to complete and was carved in one piece. The original cast mould can today be found in the Vigeland Museum, located right on the outskirts of the park. The museum displays the variety of work done by Vigeland and portrays how the sculpture park came to be. Old studio The museum has been created in what served as his studio and apartment. It is where he worked alongside some of the best craftsmen, stone carvers and blacksmiths in Norway to create the sculptures. The museum houses the original moulds for all the famous sculptures, and seeing them up close and realizing the work behind them is truly fascinating. “He drew
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
inspiration especially from French sculptors, such as Auguste Rodin and Aristide Maillol. He created sculptures with emotions, and his ability to portray character is remarkable,” Stømodden says. The museum houses a large collection of work, spanning from his early twenties until his death. It gives an insight into how the sculptures developed from idea and sketch to prototypes and finished mould. The creation of the Angry Boy is displayed in detail down to the first sketch dated in London in 1901. “The Angry Boy, first named A Kid, was drawn in 1901, and the first prototype was made in 1911. The cast was made in 1938 and found its place on the bridge in 1940 as one of the first sculptures. He was no avant-garde artist; he worked slow and steadily. He rarely threw away any idea, he knew everything would eventually find its place.”
The Bridge, Fountain and Monolith in the Vigeland Park
The Angry Boy, sketch and sculpture (right)
Temporary exhibitions In addition to the permanent exhibition of Vigeland’s work, Strømodden explains that the museum aims to be a prominent venue for art within the three-dimensional field. Over the last decade, the museum has focused more on sculpture, installations and video-based art within the contemporary and modern fields. Until May, sculptures and site-specific installations by the Swedish artist Michael Johansson (b. 1975) are featured, while this summer Tone Vigeland and Jan Groth will be showcased.
FACTS - Gustav Vigeland was born in Mandal in Southern Norway 11 April 1869 and died in Oslo 12 March 1943.
More private The museum prides itself on showcasing and preserving the life and work of Vigeland, and their collection goes beyond the sculptures. Even his private apartment has been kept in perfect condition. A private tour can be booked where visitors will get an insight into the life of the famous sculptor. His apartment is as he left it, with a cluttered desk, his bespoke interior details and drawings. “He had a fascination with symmetry and patterns and his talent moved beyond sculpting. In his apartment, the bespoke pillows, carpet and tablecloth he designed are examples of his more ‘crafty’ side with simple yet intricate patterns. The symmetry is a con-
- In 1919, the City Council in Oslo decided to build a studio for Gustav Vigeland in Frogner. The final contract stated that Vigeland would bequeath all of his works to the City Council in return for the rights to use the studio until his death. - His contract stated that the studio and Michael Johansson: Familiar Abstractions, 2013. Installation view: Dawn in the foreground, Tetris - Vigelandmuseet in the background.
apartment would become a museum to house his works after his death. - The museum houses 16,000 sculptures, 420 woodcuts and 12,000 drawings, in addition to the artist’s notebooks, letters,
stant feature in his work as seen in the layout of the park. Nothing is there by chance.” Even his ashes rest in a dome on top of what was once his studio, designed by the artist himself. It is as if he knew he would leave a legacy.
library and collection of photos.
For more information, please visit: www.vigeland.museum.no/en
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 47
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Sweden
Get a taste of a real sea captain’s life in the high-tech navigation simulator. Photo: Transas
Attraction of the Month, Sweden
Wonders of the sea – Gothenburg Maritime Museum & Aquarium Few museums boast the abundance of Gothenburg Maritime Museum and Aquarium. Combining science and cultural history in an authentic environment, this museum offers an exciting day out for both young and old – coral reefs and navigation simulators included.
than visitors might be used to. Instead of covering solely a scientific or human perspective of marine life, the Maritime Museum & Aquarium has made it a goal to convey the enduring bond between the two.
By Julie Lindén | Photos: Gothenburg Maritime Museum and Aquarium
“It’s a much appreciated part of the museum,” Björn Källström, head of the aquarium, says of the high-tech simulator allowing anyone interested a taste of a real sea captain’s life. “You get to select the weather you want – for instance you can try to navigate through a tough storm. You’ll even get seasick, so it’s very realistic.” But then again, little is unrealistic at the Maritime Museum & Aquarium. On three
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floors, visitors can experience several aspects of the sea, live and up close. From 400 years of Swedish shipping history and exhibitions displaying harbour life to tanks guarding fascinating marine animals – it is all there to be absorbed from only a few inches away. Källström explains that the unique combination of maritime subject areas makes for a different kind of museum experience
“We want to inform and engage our visitors because we believe that by doing just that we will create a desire to participate in saving our seas. And that’s where it all starts,” Källström says. The wish to engage is one of the reasons why the near hundred-year-old museum prides itself on offering free tours for school children and tickets at very reasonable prices. A ticket to the museum for an adult costs SEK 40 and is valid for un-
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Sweden
The aquarium is situated on the bottom floor of the museum and consists of a number of medium- and smaller-sized saltwater tanks showcasing both Nordic and tropical sea life. Källström explains that the choice not to include larger tanks is a very conscious one as the aquarium puts extensive effort into making the environments as detailed and lifelike as possible.
Long associated with the Maritime Museum and Aquarium, these small sea creatures fascinate young and old visitors alike – enough to generate a newly opened section dedicated to seahorses alone. Here marine biologists nurture the animals in captivity, drawing attention to the fear of their extinction – but also their unique roles in reproducing. “That’s a great example of how we combine cultural history with science. With seahorses the males carry the eggs until they hatch – something we relate to our exhibitions about gender roles and norms in society,” Källström says.
“Around 15 of the aquariums show animals and plants you can find off the Swedish west coast, from shallow waters to the deep sea. You will find eels, crabs, lobsters – and you might see one or two sharks. The tropical section consists of about ten aquariums, where we have constructed coral reefs like those you might find snorkelling while on holiday,” he says.
There are more examples to illustrate the museum’s place at the forefront of marine research. One experiment currently in process is testing how coral reefs – the rainforests of the sea – cope with one of the biggest threats to sea life today, namely ocean acidification.
Some of the most popular features of the tropical section are the seahorse tanks.
“We cooperate with the University of Gothenburg that has a strong marine pro-
file. Scientists and researchers often perform experiments with the organisms we have in the aquarium, and they often come to give popular scientific talks during the weekends,” Källström says. And just when you thought you couldn’t experience more marine wildlife without getting into the ocean yourself – the Aquarium has got that bit covered as well. Sort of. “As a model of reality will never be real enough, we’ve enhanced that reality by building an underwater observatory equipped with webcams off the coast. We then broadcast the images live so visitors can enjoy the aquariums while also seeing live footage from the sea on TV screens. A live sea broadcast,” Källström says. What more could you ask for?
For more information, please visit: www.sjofartsmuseum.goteborg.se
Photos: Olle Andersson
“We are a very family-friendly museum, and we have strong bonds with our local community. We have classes of school children here every day of every week, and we have a lot of fun together. The most popular tour is called ‘Klappa Havet’ (‘Pet the Sea’), where children can meet and, in fact, pet sea urchins, starfish and crabs while the staff talk about these animals and all their cool qualities,” Källström says.
Photo: Kristian Sekulic
limited visits throughout the year. All those under 25 years enjoy free admission.
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 49
Restaurant of the Month, Iceland
A landmark and culinary delight:
The Pearl of Reykjavík In a glass dome set on top of hot water tanks on a hilltop overlooking Iceland’s capital, you will find the Pearl, or Perlan Restaurant, a landmark in Reykjavík as well as one of the best revolving restaurants in the world. Visit Perlan for a culinary treat and a one-of-a-kind setting that is sure to create a memorable dining experience. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Perlan Restaurant
Opened to the public in June 1991, the striking building located on the Öskjuhlíð hill in the centre of Reykjavík consists of an imposing glass dome and six aluminiumsided water tanks that are used for water storage for the city. The hill itself is known as a natural pearl with more than 176,000 trees planted on its sides, offering a lovely woodland setting in the midst of the city. While the building is only in its early twenties, the idea for the structure goes all the way back to 1930 when master artist Johannes Kjarval had dreams for the site, writing: “The sides of the temple should be covered with mirrors, so the northern lights can approach the feet of men – the roof should be decorated with crystal of every colour and floodlights should be in the eaves to illuminate the whole area.” An accurate description of the building that now stands on Öskjuhlíð noted down 60 years before it was built.
quality local ingredients, including fresh seafood and lamb. “Our menu changes and we have four seasons here at the restaurant. At the beginning of the year, we start by offering an affordable four-course menu, while in the middle of the year we add more things to it. In the autumn, we offer a wild game buffet, and for a whole month around Christmas, we offer our Christmas buffet. The buffets are very large with over 50 fresh items to choose from,” explains Stefán Sigurðsson, one of the restaurant’s owners and founders. With Chef Stefán Elí Stefánsson helming Perlan’s kitchen, it is no wonder that they receive praise for the high standard of their cooking, as he has previously worked as a sous-chef at Domain de Clairefontaine, a one-Michelin-starred restaurant in France.
Inside the dome On top of its allure as a landmark and a structure that offers some of the most spectacular views of the city, its reputation as a fine dining establishment with a great team behind it is well known. With a menu that mixes the Icelandic and the international, the restaurant emphasises high-
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The high-quality of food also extends to Perlan’s Cafeteria which offers light snacks, as well as a salad and soup bar with three types of soup on offer every day, including a traditional Icelandic meat soup with lamb that is served daily. You can also taste the cafeteria’s homemade Italian ice
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Iceland
cream, and after your lunch, step outside onto the viewing deck and experience the city through one of the panoramic telescopes. A drink with a view The superb food is naturally matched with an equally impressive wine list, with around 100 different varieties to choose from, and before or after dinner, guests can move a floor up to enjoy a drink at the intimate Perlan Bar. Located at the top of the Pearl, the bar offers the highest viewing point over Reykjavík in the whole city. Headed by experienced bartender Þorfinnur Guttormsson, who is among the best cocktail waiters in Iceland, it is a great place to unwind – with spectacular sights to boot. You will get a full panoramic view of Reykjavík and beyond, from both the bar and the restaurant, as every two hours the restaurant completes a full rotation. Perlan Restaurant was even chosen as one of the top revolving restaurants in the world by CNN. While in Iceland, you should not miss out on the capital city’s most striking building and one of its finest restaurants – a true gleaming pearl of Reykjavík.
For more information, please visit: perlan.is
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Restaurant of the Month, Denmark
Reaching for the stars – Kokkeriet’s Michelin status is renewed for the fifth year in a row With a spectacular change of interiors and design, Restaurant Kokkeriet, Denmark’s only Michelin-starred restaurant focusing solely on Danish cuisine, cements its continuous ambition to heighten the dining experience. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Restaurant Kokkeriet
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Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
for the stars. That’s also one of the reasons behind the ambitious refurbishment we started last summer and recently finished,” explains daily manager and partner Sammy Shafi. “We want to continue to improve and renew the luxury a dining experience with us is.” Besides being a Michelin favourite, Restaurant Kokkeriet, which lies tucked away in the old heart of Copenhagen, is also among the city’s ten highest rated restaurants on the popular traveller review site TripAdvisor. Rethinking classic Danish cuisine While many of Copenhagen’s other gourmet restaurants base their menus on modern Nordic cuisine, Kokkeriet has, as the only Michelin-star-awarded restaurant, chosen to focus solely on the classical Danish kitchen. Head chef David Johansen explains: “Danish food is for me a natural focus area as it is the Danish food that evokes memories in me and in most other Danes. My mission with my team in the kitchen is to explore and upgrade Danish classic dishes but with the greatest respect for the origin.”
The menus are, of course, matched with complementing wine menus selected by Danish sommelier of the Year 2012, Sammy Shafi. Tailor-made ambiance Tucked away in a beautiful old building in the charming old quarter of Nyboder (400year-old housing blocks built for the navy), Kokkeriet provides an intimate and undisturbed dining experience. “Business casual is our motto; the restaurant can enhance both business and family dinners – we don’t aim for a formal atmosphere but adapt to our different guests, and all our waiters are trained and really good at reading the different tables,” says Shafi. Enhancing the warm atmosphere is a seven-hour-and-42-minute-long soundtrack exclusively created and recorded for Kokkeriet by DJ and composer Jean Von Baden. “The track is intentionally designed to make you feel at home, and, because of the almost unnoticeable ele-
The restaurant’s focus on Danish cuisine has been developed gradually. As the focus on modern Nordic cuisine intensified, Kokkeriet experimented with different variations of its then French-based kitchen until, four years ago, Shafi decided it was time to return to the roots of the classical Danish kitchen.
When the prestigious Michelin guide was published last month, Copenhagen’s Restaurant Kokkeriet could celebrate their fifth consecutive Michelin star. But although the restaurant has, since opening in 2001, bolstered a reputation as one of Denmark’s best, its two founders, the brothers Mikkel and Sammy Shafi, have not ceased their endeavours to reach for the stars.
Today, Kokkeriet strives, as far as possible, to use only Danish and Nordic ingredients. “Danish and Nordic gastronomy is incredibly interesting, because we in the Nordic countries have four different seasons, which offer varying ingredients all year round. The art is to use what we have in the backyard, in the forest and in the surrounding waters. Consequently, the food is slightly heavy in the winter and appears more light and elegant in the summer,” says Johansen.
“We dreamt about a Michelin star from the very first day we opened, and today we are even more focused on continuing to go
Kokkeriet’s four- and six-course menus are changed once every second month to correspond with the changing seasons.
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 53
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
ments of Nordic vocals and accents, it is in harmony with the style of the kitchen and its sensory universe; all put together to connect the food and the music in an experience which pays tribute to the allencompassing dining experience,” the DJ explains. Just as the food menu, the soundtrack is renewed every second month to match the shifting seasons and their tastes. Danish food - Danish design It is not just with regard to music and food that exceptional attention to detail is paid at Kokkeriet. Everything, from the porcelain bread baskets to the tapestry, has been specifically designed or chosen to enhance and deepen the focus on the kitchen and its Danish roots. “As well as we reconstruct classic Danish food, we want to present a Danish restaurant with everything that Denmark can offer today within furniture, art and textiles,”
explains Shafi. “The entire refurbishment was done in accord with our modern Danish kitchen becoming so refined that we felt the design and interiors had to match.” Kokkeriet’s distinctive art collection, which is displayed on the walls and ceiling of the restaurant, consist of works by the recognized and controversial Danish/Chilean multi-artist Marco Evaristti. It was especially the artist’s focus on ladders that fascinated Shafi as, he reveals, it reminded him of his continued struggle to reach new heights. Evaristti has also decorated Kokkeriet’s new intimate private dining room, which seats up to 12 guests in a completely private setting. From funfair food to gourmet restaurant One of the prominent features guests will notice, when entering Kokkeriet, is a rustic harlequin-patterned tapestry, and this is no coincidence. The tapestry provides a subtle reference to the two Shafi brothers’
long and diverse background in the restaurant business. Both brothers took their first steps in the restaurant business in their father’s restaurant Harlekin (Harlequin) located at the popular Danish funfair Bakken. “All the years we worked in our father’s restaurant, we experienced the other side of what we do today; it was the traditional version of what Danish food was and still is for many. It is what has inspired us to turn that upside down and show Danes and travellers how Danish food can also look and taste,” explains Shafi. With Kokkeriet’s Michelin-star status secured for yet another year, it seems safe to say that reconstructing the Danish kitchen has proved a successful recipe for the Shafi brothers. But Shafi is, he assures us, not resting on his laurels. “The successes we’ve had so far have only convinced us to keep striving for the stars – it’s an eternal quest.”
FACTS: Restaurant Kokkeriet is located in Kronprinsessegade 64, 1306 København K. The restaurant was founded by the two brothers Mikkel and Sammy Shafi in 2001. The restaurant welcomes after-hours guests, meaning that you can stop by for a coffee, drink or petit four when the first dinner guests have left. Restaurant Kokkeriet provides catering for exclusive events as well as cooking classes for businesses and individuals.
For more information, please visit: www.kokkeriet.dk
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Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Finland
Restaurant of the Month, Finland
All about authentic Asian flavours Serving modern Asian cuisine in the heart of Helsinki, Restaurant Farang is a unique concept of top-class dining in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Offering a harmony of flavours using the best ingredients and modern cooking techniques, Farang’s Southeast Asian way of eating is all about sharing, tasting and being social. By Inna Allen | Photos: Tuukka Koski Located in the premises of the prestigious Kunsthalle Helsinki, the restaurant’s interior follows old traditions with a modern approach. The simple and contemporary look manages to highlight the impressive historical setting whilst supporting the restaurant’s Asian identity. The versatile dining areas can also easily be arranged to accommodate various kinds of events and functions. For the love of Asia Farang was born out of founders Tomi Björck and Matti Wikberg’s sheer desire to introduce authentic Asian flavours to Finland’s culinary scene. After five years of planning and numerous research trips to Southeast Asia, the experienced chefs opened the restaurant to rave reviews in 2009. The techniques they learned, the food they ate and the experiences they gained on all those trips form the foundation for the restaurant, which has become one of Finland’s most popular and respected eateries. In 2011, Farang was
voted Finland’s Best Restaurant by industry professionals. The cornerstones of Farang’s operation are based on fresh ingredients, expert craftsmanship and honest hard work. Everything is lovingly and meticulously made in the restaurant’s own kitchen, steering clear of any shortcuts. Above all, Farang’s food is based on aromas – creating a harmony of hot, spicy, sweet and sour. “The freshest ingredients available come from local producers and are organic whenever possible,” says the
restaurant’s business manager Minka Björck. “The intense flavours are mainly produced with herbs and fresh vegetables, creating a strong base for vegetable dishes, and our menu also includes a lot of aromatic broths.” Sharing is caring In true Southeast Asian fashion, many of Farang’s dishes are made to share. The carefully designed Tasting Menu provides an overall selection of the region’s cuisines – perfect for trying out new flavours and aromas. This casual way of eating results in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, losing all signs of the stiffness often associated with fine dining. Their recipe for success is working – in January, Björck and Wikberg opened a brand new Farang in Stockholm, Sweden. For more information, please visit: www.farang.fi and www.farang.se
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 55
Restaurant of the Month, Sweden
Urban Deli – a flavoursome proof you can have it all Urban Deli has got it all. They are Swedish, a little French, a little Italian… and a whole lot of foodie-cool. The successful combination of restaurant, bakery, grocery store and market hall has made Urban Deli one of the trendiest hotspots in Stockholm – offering tasty experiences for any time of day, season or occasion. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Urban Orzolek
“We started Urban Deli because we love food, but we didn’t feel like the Swedish food industry had developed as much as the restaurant business, offering new concepts and a spirit of service,” says Jesper Konstantinov, part-owner of Urban Deli. “The trend was going big – you had big supermarkets and people buying in bulk to save money, with both quality and service suffering. We felt the main point was mak-
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ing sure the food tastes really good, and that’s where we wanted to make a difference,” he explains.
after-work bite or a brunch with friends, Urban Deli has made it their goal to greet their clientele with a social atmosphere.
Meeting the cheesemonger for coffee
“We want to offer service at a high level by meeting our customers and guests with skilled and committed staff. We keep both the restaurant and market hall open for long hours, something that has allowed us to become a natural meeting place in our area. Just like the experience of buying
Opened in 2009, this multifaceted foodie heaven has built a loyal clientele of quality-conscious guests. Everything from seafood plateaux to traditional Swedish dishes can be enjoyed in a lively and open environment. Whether the occasion is an
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Sweden
cheese from a cheesemonger in France or going to the local butcher in Italy, you can stay for a chat and a cup of coffee – that’s the atmosphere we want to create,” says Jesper. Eclectic mix of guests And the vibe is reflected in the mix of guests visiting Urban Deli. Jesper explains that there is a social importance in offering something for everyone. “A lot of places are good for specific occasions – you’ll find people go certain places to eat out on a weekday and other places to have a Saturday night drink. I think that our varied menu and eclectic clientele makes us a fixed alternative, making it okay to come here whether it’s to celebrate, have breakfast or just have lunch while running errands,” he says. “It’s definitely one of our strengths. We always have something to offer, and there are few places that act that way with the people who visit them. You can come in and have breakfast when we open at 8am, or maybe just a coffee. Or you can come in for a dinner, and we will serve you until 1am.” Making the best of what you have And naturally, there is thought behind every dish served at Urban Deli. By running the different parts of the business alongside each other, very little food goes to waste.
“In the restaurant business you’re always striving to waste as little as possible, and that’s also one of the big issues in the general food industry. By running a restaurant and grocery store together, we are able to bring a spirit of service into the store and the knowledge and passion of our chefs to the restaurant. In that way we can minimize the wastage because we can utilize all the produce from the store in our own kitchen,” Jesper says. He says Urban Deli has a goal of letting no food at all go to waste – something he sees as highly possible in a business where all items of food are given new lives. “Our lunch bread that is not served becomes croutons. A soft tomato goes into a soup or sauce, and to get a good circulation going in the store’s selection of fresh foods, we try to use as much of it as possible in the menu. It’s not just an economical way of thinking, but it’s also an environmental perspective – too much is being thrown away in this business,” he says. Food lab – restaurant food at home It’s a perspective that has taken on new life for Urban Deli. On 12 April, they will open a second Urban Deli in Sickla, Stockholm, which also includes a food lab offering customers a chance to buy an even wider range of restaurant-made food in the stores.
“We have already been doing this on a smaller scale for the past three years, but now we will have a whole kitchen dedicated to it,” says Jesper. “This is something we’re going to dedicate ourselves to in the future. We’ll offer everything from home-made sausages and a ready-made dish you can heat up in the microwave to a dish where we’ve made the potato gratin and a red wine sauce and you cook the meat. Everything will be made without additives and will have a short shelf life – food is meant to be eaten fresh,” he says. “Every dish will be as well made as in our restaurant; it’s just another way of offering something for each and every one of our customers.” This summer, Urban Deli is also setting up a grill/bar on the deck of Af Chapman, a full-rigged ship and Stockholm landmark. Moored with views of the old town and the castle, this stunning ship from 1888 is also operated as a hostel. For more information, please visit: www.urbandeli.org
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 57
Scan Magazine | Columns | Humour
IS IT JUST ME...
By Mette Lisby
Who suspects the Internet of making us more ill than we already were? Not for the obvious physical reasons: It is not the hours we sit, bent over keyboards, squinting our eyes in front of computer screens. No, it’s a mental thing. It is that the Internet gives us access to READING about illnesses that makes us more ill. 24/7 access to every single symptom ever detected in human history is neither good nor healthy. The illness caused by this virtual exposure to “symptoms” has a name: Cyberchondria. It’s a real thing! People are getting ill from just reading about their symptoms online. Before the Internet, hypochondria demanded a certain kind of commitment. You had to go to a library or a bookstore and get thick, heavy books on illnesses. You had to carry them home and place them on your bookshelf for everyone to
Little Witches
Last month, my Swedish aunt – who has lived in America since the 60s – sent me a parcel in the post. Inside was a colourful array of wooden objects in various shapes and sizes. A note attached informed me that this was the collection of Easter decorations that her mother – my grandmother – had sent her in the post in the 70s. No doubt my grandmother
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see. And when you felt under the weather, you would have to get up from your chair or bed, walk to the bookshelf, fetch the book and browse through it. Today, it requires no effort at all. From work, from a café, from your chair, even from your bed, you just reach out for your laptop, Google your symptoms and BAM! Within seconds you are overwhelmed with knowledge from thousands of wellmeaning doctors and non-doctors! The Internet is not stingy when it comes to titles – everyone can be an online doctor! This is becoming a problem for real-life doctors who are run over by patients who already know what’s wrong with them and demand to be taken seriously. Simple headaches translate into thousands of imaginary diseases. A sore muscle can be anything from a cancerous outbreak to SARS or Malaria.
And there’s no limit to the diseases. A disease can be non-existent in your particular part of the world for centuries, but doctors see patients who insist that someone came in on a plane from afar and brought it back. To them in particular! Just by hearing about it, I think I recognize a few symptoms. Do you think I have cyberchondria? Could someone please look it up? 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
thought that this box of delights would bring a bit of pagan Swedish homeliness to the outlandishly sunny shores of California. And now it’s ended up in a Victorian terrace in the south of England. Most of the objects are eggs, painted in the kind of patterns that could only ever have been concocted in the 70s.There’s also a merry array of witches. Small felt witches on toothpick-brooms and large wooden ones with blue eyes and blonde straw hair. These witches tie in with a peculiar tradition where young girls paint their cheeks red, dress up in rags and shawls (the customary “witch look”) and go around the neighbourhood asking for treats. It’s a bit like a mini-Halloween. That these little witches symbolize the rather more sombre and ancient tale of witches being on their way to the mystically named “Blue Hills” for a bit of how’s-your-father with Lucifer is quickly brushed over. We’re a bit like that in Scandinavia – as in many other parts of the world. Our traditions are often
so old and shrouded in strange mythology that it’s easy and perhaps best to forget about the morbid roots and just get on with the celebration. Similar to Guy Fawkes night here in the UK, I guess. Or cheese rolling. Or bog snorkelling. Some traditions shouldn’t be looked into too deeply. 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.
SEB Private Banking Scandinavia Open G O L F TO U R N A M E N T
SEB and Scan Events would like to invite you to a social day of golf and networking on 10 May 2013 at Malden Golf Club, London. Golfers at all levels will meet for a day of golf, fun and hospitality. The beautiful parkland course at Malden provides a stern test for golfers of all abilities.
SEB Private Banking Scandinavia Open is a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with your top clients and to network in an exclusive Scandinavia themed setting. For more information and tickets, please visit www.scanevents.co.uk Organised by
SEB Private Banking Scandinavia Open will have its own tent with entertainment featuring live music, Scandinavian barbecue, food and drinks.
SEB Tournament Partner SEB have been active in the Private Banking field since 1856 and have now reopened our local office in London with top wealth structuring competence among other bespoke services. If you wish to deal with an international private bank with Scandinavian heritage and values, SEB may be a bank for you. We have offices in London, Luxembourg, Geneva, Singapore, the Baltics and the Nordic area where we offer both understanding of your needs and boutique banking services with a global reach. Bloomberg rates SEB among the Top 20 Strongest banks in the World (Bloomberg Markets Magazine 5/2012). Standard & Poors A+ rating (upgraded 12/2011).
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Scan Business | Key Note | Mannaz
Scan Business Key Note 60 | Technology & Buiness Innovation Theme 65 | Conferences of the Month 72 | Business Calendar 77
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“Everyone lives by selling something” By Paul Blackhurst, Client Director, Mannaz
The title of this article is a quote from Robert Louis Stevenson, one of the bestknown British writers of the 19th century. In the business world, his words are undoubtedly true, though many senior managers prefer not to acknowledge it. There is sometimes a sense that selling is a questionable activity and that somehow it is beneath the dignity of middle and senior managers. In contrast, effective leaders are very well aware that good ideas do not sell themselves, and they put as much effort into gaining acceptance for their ideas as they do into refining their ideas on their own. General Electric created the Change Effectiveness Equation, E =Q x A, as a simple way to describe this phenomenon. Translated to English, the formula reads: the Effectiveness (E) of any initiative is equal to the product of the Quality (Q) of the initiative and the Acceptance (A) of that initiative. In other words, paying attention to the people side of the equation is as important to success as the technical side. It is interesting to note the multiplicative relationship: if there is a zero for the Acceptance factor, the total effectiveness of the initiative will be zero, regardless of the strength of the technical strat-
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egy. I’m sure you can think of examples from your own experience where you observed good ideas being rejected and bad ideas being implemented based on the quality of the “selling” involved. So, if you think of any initiative that you want to introduce or any change you want to implement, you need to give some serious thought to how you are going to “sell” your ideas. Here is where you have a choice of approaches. In some situations, you can use your position power or expert power to push your ideas and gain acceptance through a confident and forceful presentation. This can work well when you have high credibility and/or seniority. However, many of us are working in matrix organisations where position power is unclear or non-existent. In these cases, we need to gain acceptance through a pull approach which involves building relationships with the key stakeholders, understanding their interests and priorities and exploring together what solutions might create a win-win. So, whether you need to be an old-style pushy salesman or a modern-day consultative seller, you need to get on the road and start selling something.
Paul Blackhurst, Client Director, Mannaz
For more information, please visit: www.mannaz.com or email pbl@mannaz.com
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Nordfyns Museum The history of the town of Bogense and North Funen, in words, artifacts, paintings and pictures. Nordfyns Museum Vestergade 16, DK-5400 Bogense, Denmark Phone: +45 6481 1884 E-mail: nordmus@mail.tele.dk www.nordfynsmuseum.dk
Duni – always an excuse to entertain Love entertaining but loathe thinking about the decorating details? Regardless of the kind of parties you have been hosting through the years, Duni is very likely to have been part of them. As Europe’s leading supplier of practical and pretty tableware for any occasion, from business lunch to birthday party or picnic, they know what they are talking about. By Linnéa Mitchell | Photos: Duni
You have definitely seen the label. Spot the two dancing stars, and you know you are on the right track for a special occasion when you cannot be bothered washing up or soaking the linen cloth once the guests have gone. Duni is much more than just plain napkins and paper cups. Having expanded the brand and broadened their client base, with a little help from designers and innovative thinking, not to mention their strong environmental policy, Duni is now the leading supplier of tableware in central and northern Europe. From waxed paper cup to designer sets It started on a train in America almost a
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hundred years ago when Dr Crumbine, a Texas medical officer, witnessed a little girl about to drink water from the same glass as a man infected with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). He stopped her and handed over a cup he had folded himself from a piece of paper. This led to the invention of the disposable paper cup, helping to prevent TB from spreading. A couple of decades later, Marcus Rosendal, managing director of Billingfors Bruk (the embryo of Duni), spotted Dr Crumbine’s paper cup during a trip to America. He bought two manufacturing machines, and thereby brought the pro-
Scan Business | Feature | Duni – Always an Excuse to Entertain
duction to Sweden, starting in Dals Långed, western Sweden, in 1949. After the paper cup came the napkins and paper plates, then coloured products, and in the 60s, plastic was introduced. It was not until the late 1950s that Duni got its name (then Duni in Dalsland). It was a former editor-in-chief at the ladies’ magazine Damernas Värld who came up with the name. “Dun” means “down” in Swedish, and she thought the name was suitable for the soft tissues. Duni in Dalsland merged with Bilå in Halmstad and became Duni Bilå AB in 1970. In 1990, the name was changed to just Duni. The products then took on a more visually satisfying appearance, with the elegant wine glass introduced in 1971. Perhaps you even remember the TV commercial on the BBC… Moving into the future This proved a winning concept, and now well into the 21st century, the company is still growing nationally and internationally, which is an obvious sign that they are doing something right. Innovative thinking, practical products of good quality and a wide range of clever designs are some of the reasons the company has been such a steady success. “Most of all I think there is simply a huge demand for our convenient products, but Duni has also constantly been in the forefront with
new innovative ideas,” says Sophie Ekberg, communication & marketing manager, modestly. Given the growing interest in interior design, the products now have to be even better designed. Duni is working close with their in-house designers who continuously develop new style groups and complementary collections to suit every season and occasion. You will find everything you need, whether you are catering for a bunch of hungry kids or hosting a smart business lunch. Two years ago, Duni launched Evolin®, a revolutionary new table-covering material that looks and feels just like linen, which later won an award for the most innovative product. At the same time, Duni opened a web shop for consumers. This year, Duni starts cooperation with some of Europe’s leading designers and design houses, such as Finnish design house Vallila, and the Melli Mello collection from Dutch design house La Terzi, with the concept Designs for Duni™. Last but not least, like all other companies, Duni is taking its sustainability responsibility seriously, and you can now find eco-friendly products part of the assortment, called Duni Ecoecho™. The main customer groups are Home, Hotel & Restaurant and Catering & Take-
away. So whether you are looking for coordinated concepts for covers, napkins and candles or smart premium tableware customised to your company, you are very likely to stumble across Duni products. Who knew napkins and paper cups could be so much fun?
FACTS: - European market leader. - Employs 1,900 people in 17 countries - Products are sold in over 40 markets worldwide - Listed on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm since 2007
For more information, please visit: www.duni.com.
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 63
Scan Business | Feature | The Nordic Word
Passion for language The Nordic Word is a translation service provider with a genuine passion for language. The team of highly educated translators behind it boasts a real insight into Nordic languages and culture, producing high-quality translations of both commercial and literary texts. By Nia Kajastie | Photo: The Nordic Word
Richard Green founded The Nordic Word with the aim of offering a slightly different kind of language service. He had become aware of the fact that other providers did not necessarily share his passion for language, and thus went on to compose a team of like-minded colleagues with a real interest in translation as well as the languages they translate from and to. Currently The Nordic Word offers translations between Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German and English, yet there are no plans to expand this range of languages much further as Richard and his team do not want to lose their core Nordic focus and insight. “Local insight is at the core of what we do as it is essential for the production of an informed and well-written translation. The team has developed its insight through education – which we value greatly – with all our translators educated to at least undergraduate level in their
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source language and most continuing on to postgraduate studies. Similarly all have lived in the country of their source language for at least a year,” Richard explains. Translation is the primary language service offered, with specialist fields including business and finance, government and politics, as well as transport and aviation. “Our Danish expert Paul, for example, specialises in literature and theatre. He’s recently had published his translation of Benny Andersen’s play The Contract Killer and written a new literal translation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. So unlike many translation service providers, we don’t just cover the commercial side of translation.” The team has seen a significant increase in the volume of work it is handling, with the first three months of this year marking a record in the number of words handled. This success can be attributed to their unique team-working ethic.
The Nordic Word team
“We have a very close-knit team and this allows us to easily and successfully exchange ideas, knowledge, resources and expertise. Not only is this fundamental for the creation of high-quality translations, but our team-working approach means that we can deliver translations more quickly and with high levels of consistency in the terminology used. This makes us an ideal translation partner both for businesses as well as for other translation service providers which don’t necessarily have a Nordic focus.”
For more information, please visit: www.thenordicword.com
TE CH NO SPE LO C GY IA &B L T US HE IN ES ME : SI NN OV AT ION
Photo: CH - Visitnorway.com
Technology and Business Innovation Norwegian Technology is a branch organization in NHO and comprises the sector organizations NELFO (electrical and ICT companies), Integra (system integrators), VKE (ventilation, cooling and energy companies) and HLF (elevator companies). Our goal is to improve conditions and generate competitive and profitable member companies, thus creating the basis for a good living standard in a growth-oriented society.
fore, much of the development over the last few years has been about making complicated and far-reaching solutions accessible for an increasing number of users and levels.
By Norsk Teknologi
We work continuously with modernizing and implementing technological solutions in order to reduce energy consumption, lower emissions and increase the comfort and competitiveness of enterprises and the population. Our technological enterprises are continuously carrying out the task of modernizing Norway.
Modern technology makes Norway into a competitive and stimulating country to live in. We contribute to the changing and implementation of new, modern technology. The effect of our trade on the development of our society is undisputed. Technological solutions are becoming safer, faster and more integrated. This is true whether we talk about infrastructure for electricity, telephone and computer communications or traffic systems. Automation solutions in the industry keep
energy consumption at a minimum, and at the same time work routines are made simpler and better. By viewing all needs within a context and adapting the technology to varied and defined needs, potential for efficiency in all areas is created. A thriving technological development of tasks that may be carried out and controlled by modern technological solutions at the same time creates a greater need for increased user-friendliness. There-
For more information, please visit: www.norskteknologi.no
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 65
For CEO Øyvind Lundgreen, diversity in nationalities and gender is an important factor for a good work environment. In total there are 20 different nationalities represented at their offices at Lysaker.
Taking customers’ online safety seriously Malware, hacking and viruses have become an everyday threat for all computer users – whether you run a business or only use your PC at home. It is no longer enough to be careful while surfing, your best insurance now is to have up-to-date and efficient antivirus protection installed. By Anette Berve | Photos: Magnus Knutsen Bjørke
Founded in Norway, Norman Safeground AS is a part of the world-renowned company Norman, which develops proactive security software solutions. CEO Øyvind Lundgreen’s ambition is clear: to educate the public on how to stay secure online and give them peace of mind. “The general public tend not to know as much as they should about safe Internet usage, and understandably most people don’t want to spend time learning more about online security than they absolutely have to. With our premium software solutions we want to offer our customers peace of
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mind and a reassurance that their business and private data are safe.”
CEO Øyvind Lundgreen
Lundgreen is tired of tabloid propaganda that only scares consumers without helping them. “I do not believe it is in anyone’s favour to frighten people. However, it is alarming that statistics show that many computer owners have no protection whatsoever. This is the same as an open invitation to criminals. At Norman Safeground, we want to help people understand how computer criminals work and how they can protect themselves through a few simple steps.”
Scan Business | Special Theme | Technology & Business Innovation
On the users’ terms The goal of Norman Safeground is to provide premium security solutions to companies as well as to consumers. Lundgreen explains that Norman Safeground aims to be the best at not only software solutions but at the whole user experience. He is passionate about making complex security systems continuously up to date and very easy to use. “There are a lot of free antivirus programs available, and ten years ago, I could probably have downloaded one myself. But today, the threats are so complex that free software is not enough. Besides, there’s virtually no support available for free products. Keeping track of criminals is a challenge, and when your business data gets lost or your online banking is hacked, you will probably wish you had spent those 50 pounds.”
friendly and dedicated local support team and that our customers are not greeted by an automatic answering machine. We want our customers to speak to a real person when they need one – in their own language.” A constant evolution
When developing software, the company invites customers to take part in prototype trials from an early stage. “We know that individuals and business users have high expectations regarding functionality and purpose, and it is invaluable to get their input at an early stage. Our products are designed on our users’ terms.” Dedicated support team Lundgreen wants Norman Safeguard to be the security provider that gives the overall best user experience, from purchase, through installation and in daily use. “Our software is designed to run silently in the background, not take up your Internet speed or bother you with updates. It is designed to stay constantly updated on its own.” He explains that a smooth-running program is one goal, but that Norman also prides itself on its excellent customer service. “We strive to understand all aspects of the customers’ relationship with us, and customer service is probably where we are needed the most. We pride ourselves on having a
At Norman, they analyse between 80,000 and 100,000 types of virus every day, and new threats are discovered continuously. For Lundgreen the ambition lies in being one step ahead of the criminals. “We have seen an increase in threats, and not so much from hackers but from organized criminals. And they are becoming highly creative.” He points out phishing, malware and worms as some of the more used forms of attacks. “Phishing is a type of threat which is particularly harmful to the average consumer. This is when criminals disguise themselves as a trustworthy company in order to lure you to click on their infested link and use this to steal your information and credentials. Some of these can be hard to detect for users, but the right security software can protect them. When criminals are this creative, we become more determined to stay focused and work hard for our customers’ safety.” At Norman Safeground, a clear priority lies on analysing and understanding se-
curity threats, but Lundgreen admits that no software can ever be 100% secure. “Our tag line says – As secure as it gets – and I believe there is a lot of truth in that. We take our customers’ security seriously and stay focused on offering them the best protection possible at any given time so that they can be as secure as it gets.”
FACTS: Norman AS – Norwegian IT Security Company, established in 1984. -
Norman Safeground AS - wholly owned subsidiary of Norman AS
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Spun out as separate business January 2013, together with sister company Norman Shark AS
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Headquartered at Lysaker outside Oslo, Norway
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Subsidiaries in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the US
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Worldwide distribution network
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Offering: Easy-to-use premium protection against Internet threats
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Market segments: Home users and businesses
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Customers in 180 countries
For more information, please visit: norman.com
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 67
Scan Business | Special Theme | Technology & Business Innovation
Cotton Candy is now available to buy online.
A computer of the future Are you tired of having to carry around your heavy laptop? Why not carry something just as powerful but at a fraction of the size – in your pocket? Thanks to the Cotton Candy, the world's smallest computer, this is now possible. By Kjersti Westeng | Photos: FXI Technologies
Made by the Norwegian-based company FXI Technologies, Cotton Candy is the only any screen computer currently on the market. FXI first launched Cotton Candy publically in 2011 to great critical acclaim, interest and coverage from media outlets such as CNN and Fox Media. CEO of FXI Techonogies, Borgar Ljosland, states: “We wanted to develop a USB flash drive powerful enough to compete with a desktop, run games and utilise apps on any screen. The idea was conceived a long time ago, but it took years before we could start developing it.”
Ljosland used to work for ARM, a leading provider in microprocessor intellectual property. A vast array of products we have come to know and love use ARM processors; tablets, e-readers and smartphones, to name a few. But it was not until 2010 that the ARM processors became powerful enough to run the Cotton Candy device. Ljosland says: “In 2010, I started developing Cotton Candy with the rest of the team at FXI Technologies. The new and powerful ARM-based processors made it possible for us to get to work.”
Cotton Candy sports a Cortex A9 processor, 1GB RAM, Wi-Fi, the ability to run Android and Linux operating systems as well as the option to connect via USB or HDMI for a full HD experience. It is still the only microcomputer that can be used on all screens – laptops, PC screens, HDMI displays and TVs. “Cotton Candy is a mobile computer that can take control of any PC when plugged in; none of our competitors can do that,” says Ljosland. Cotton Candy caters to so many needs, the most obvious being for those who spend their lives on the move. With Cotton Candy you are free to roam and you can take your workspace with you, wherever you go. “This is the direction computer technology is taking now. Cotton Candy is a computer of the future,” Ljosland concludes.
For more information, please visit: www.fxitech.com Cotton Candy is the world’s smallest computer and features a USB connector at one end and an HDMI connector at the other.
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Scan Business | Special Theme | Technology & Business Innovation
NLI – Engineering company with revolutionary technology solution for the oil industry With 750 employees, NLI is an industrial company supplying engineering and fabrication services, technology products and process solutions to the offshore oil and gas industry. The company has had an exciting history after it was formed as a mechanical workshop in Mjøndalen (near Drammen outside Norway’s capital Oslo) in 1946. By Stian Sangvig | Photos: NLI
The Engineering and Technology Division, with 100 employees, is considered a leader in engineering services for FPSO and platform topside design, oil and gas processing plants, renewable energy and derrick systems for drill ships. NLI’s services include conceptual studies, FEEDs, detailed engineering and EPCI and engineering related to maintenance and modifications. They have experience in the design of FPSO topside, and their engineers are experienced in manufacturing processes and coordination between the engineering and fabrication environment. While executing 20 topside engineering projects for FPSOs, NLI built up a strong track record. Since 1974, NLI has delivered rigs and drilling equipment to many drilling rigs
and shipbuilders. Recently, following three years of research and engineering, NLI’s Engineering & Technology Division launched a new derrick and drilling solution, offering clients a combined greater capacity for increased loads at a lighter weight at the same time, according to marketing director Sigve Barvik. This will save money and time for drilling rigs and shipbuilders. Barvik explains that the derrick is the position from where the drill string and riser hang. Additionally, he says the basic drilling technology has not changed much since the 1850s when oil was first struck in Texas. The advantage of NLI Engineering’s new product is in the box structure which, according to Barvik, allows for the combined capacity of increased loads achieving lighter
weight. Despite analyses, NLI initially countered market scepticism, says Barvik. Thanks to increasingly successful test results, the market is beginning to see the benefits in savings in cost and time. He concludes by explaining that smaller and more flexible companies like NLI are better able to deliver more quickly, as clients typically went for larger companies during the crisis.
Marketing director Sigve Barvik
For more information, please visit: www.nli.no
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 69
Scan Business | Special Theme | Technology & Business Innovation
ests. At the moment our attention is on Norway and America, but Brazil is a market that is rapidly growing.” She explains that they also plan on expanding their business by opening incident report call centres in all three countries; the one in Stavanger is due to be ready later this year. “The call centre is made to offer help in case of an emergency. We provide safety and security on all levels, and we see the need for a helpline.”
Siv Hilde Houmb, founder and chief executive officer of Secure-NOK (left), and Liv Elin Houmb, CFO and co-founder (right).
Offshore cybersecurity
Secure-NOK are also in Houston attending the SURGE project where they are seeking investors for new projects. On the agenda is a new way of discovering cyberattacks that Houmb has been working on since 2007. “The oil industry is a conservative industry and new patent solutions take time. We are looking beyond our own borders to finalize our project that we believe will change cybersecurity.”
As one of Norway’s leading security providers within the oil and energy industry, Secure-NOK aims to be innovative and provide customers with a total defence system.
SECURE-NOK
By Anette Berve | Photos: Secure-NOK
- Office in Houston, US
Secure-NOK provides products and solutions that detect and remove security attacks and hazards such as espionage, sabotage, malware and other harmful security threats, both onshore and offshore. Their key objectives are spreading knowledge and awareness of security risks and their consequences, creating solutions and enabling decision-makers to take well-informed security measures. “We pay close attention to the developments in the industry and advice clients on what to expect, and most importantly how to act,” explains Siv Hilde Houmb, founder and chief executive officer of Secure-NOK.
security standards and information security. However, the oil and gas industry is years behind when it comes to cybersecurity, and there is a need for a leap to catch up.” Forty years of experience The company was established in January 2010 and is located at the innovation centre in Stavanger, the heart of the oil and gas region of Norway. The company is made up by computer security experts from all over the world, including Vietnam, Pakistan, England, Brazil and Germany. They have all been handpicked for their skills, while working around the world with Houmb, and have backgrounds as ethical hackers. “Among us we have between 10-40 years of experience, and we work hard on being innovative and constantly seek out and use new technology.”
The Stuxnet computer worm that targeted the Iranian nuclear facilities in 2010 placed fear in larger companies, including the Norwegian industry. Although the Norwegian cybersecurity focus still lies in the financial and banking industry, Houmb believes the focus is shifting.
Incident report centre
“The Norwegian and Scottish petroleum and energy industries are known to be innovative and one step ahead in terms of
Houmb reveals that Secure-NOK are currently setting up offices in Houston and that they aim to open in Brazil in the near future. “We follow the Norwegian inter-
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- Located in Innovation Park Stavanger (iPark) - Security experts with 10-40 years of experience between them - Security experts for ETSI, EC and other standards bodies - Areas of expertise include: Securing machine-to-machine communications, embedded security and securing Integrated Operations and Oil and Gas systems.
SURGE PROJECT - Based in Houston, "The Energy Capital of the World", SURGE assists companies seeking to innovate and exploit the massive shifts in technology - SURGE Accelerator is the leading mentordriven early stage accelerator - SURGE provides entrepreneurs with the seed capital, expert mentorship, leadership training and inside access to the energy industry - Secure–NOK is among 12 companies out of 500 who competed about a place in the SURGE programme
Scan Events specialises in the design, planning and management of corporate entertainments, exhibitions, conferences and meetings. Our services include: • • • • • • • • • • •
Creativity and content Locating venue and vendors Budget planning and development Negotiating rates Invitations Entertainment VIP assistance Arranging speakers Design and production of printed material AV and technical support On-line delegate registration
Our approach to successful conference planning is simple: we always put our clients in the front seat.
CONTACT US TODAY! Phone +44 (0)870 933 0423 Email info@scanevents.co.uk or visit www.scanevents.co.uk
Discover Germany seeks Freelance Journalists We are currently looking for qualified journalists on a freelance basis for Discover Germany. We are looking for journalists with a German background who are also confident in English. To apply, please email your CV to Discover Germany at info@discovergermany.org.uk
Conference of the Month, Iceland
Meet among mountains and glaciers The wonders of south-east Iceland are at your fingertips at Icelandair Hotel Klaustur, which is located in a tranquil setting among mountains, mid-way between Mýrdalsjökull glacier and the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. After a long day of meetings, enjoy the peace and quiet of the village of Kirkubæjarklaustur and retire to the comfortable rooms of the three-starred Hotel Klaustur. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Hotel Klaustur
The south of Iceland is a firm favourite among tourists coming to Iceland as it offers exciting activities and breathtaking sights all year round. The culture and history of the area are an endless source of wonder, and if you are after unique nature experiences, you will not be disappointed. Explore glaciers, mountains, waterfalls, geysers and highlands for an adventure out of the ordinary. All of this is naturally also available to business travellers who might be looking for something special to accompany their daily meetings or conference visit. A great
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base to explore the south-east of Iceland is the Skaftárhreppur district, or more specifically the village of Kirkubæjarklaustur. Just a three-hour drive from Reykjavík and you are transported to the peace and quiet of the Icelandic countryside, with no outside disturbances or city noise to disrupt your work. A successful meeting at Hotel Klaustur In Kirkubæjarklaustur, or simply Klaustur for those who struggle with the village’s name, you will find both historical and natural attractions, and Icelandair Hotel Klaustur offers accommodation with 57
bright and modern rooms, divided into standard and superior categories, plus one deluxe suite. The hotel also includes four spacious meeting rooms that form a first-rate venue for all kinds of business events. The four rooms, which include the dining room and a room in the community house of the village only 30 metres from the hotel, can accommodate between 12 to 140 participants. Room rental also includes all equipment, from projectors to flipcharts, and additional technical accessories can always be requested. The catering pack-
Scan Business | Conference of the Month | Iceland
ages are designed for both half-day and full-day events, with refreshments available for all guests. When dinner time arrives, guests can enjoy some local Icelandic cuisine at the hotel’s own restaurant. Accompanied by spectacular views, you can taste some lamb, Arctic char or other delicacies from their locally sourced menu. After, or even before, your meal, you can also enjoy a drink or two at the hotel bar. Experience south-east Iceland Once the conference or meetings of the day are done, why not simply embark on a hike from the village or take part in one of the tours that will introduce you to the area? Guided tours in the vicinity of Vatnajökull and Vatnajökull National Park are available in the summer, while all year round you can explore the surroundings on a snowmobile. You can also visit the Jökulsárlón lagoon, go on a jeep tour of the beach, swim in the heated pool near to the hotel or play a round of golf on a course only five kilometres away – and all this in a peaceful environment bursting with natural contrasts. The extra mile So on top of astounding nature, excellent accommodation and meeting facilities, and great food – what else makes Hotel Klaustur stand out? “First and foremost, our service,” answers general manager Sveinn Hreiðar Jensson proudly. “We really go the extra mile, and from the feedback we get, we can see that our guests really appreciate this. We go out of our way to make them happy.” If a pristine hotel with a great location, a short distance from all the wonders of southern Iceland, set in a picturesque village and offering attentive service sounds good to you, then Icelandair Hotel Klaustur is the right choice for your next meeting or holiday.
For more information, please visit: http://icelandairhotels.com/hotels/ klaustur
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 73
Conference of the Month, Norway
A brand new conference experience Just walking distance from influential commercial districts in the north of Oslo, you find the newly renovated conference hotel Thon Hotel Linne. Since the hotel opened its new conference centre in March last year, the facilities have already attracted hundreds of businesses and event organisers. By Ingvild Vetrhus | Photos: Thon Hotel Linne
Exquisite modern design and nine newly renovated conference rooms make Thon Hotel Linne a popular venue for business meetings and exhibitions. The hotel is a Thon Conference hotel, which means that it is particularly designed for hosting seminars and conferences. “The centre is a tranquil and small venue which makes it easy for our staff to assist and take care of all our conference guests,” says hotel manager Jon Arne Wirstad. He explains that the facilities are especially suitable for small groups that want to avoid drowning in large crowds, which is typical when using oversized venues. Nevertheless, the conference centre has a capacity of accommodating up to 400 conference guests every day.
are available in the biggest rooms, which can house up to 120 people. The facilities are also designed to accommodate special needs as the venues facilitate people using hearing aids. The centre’s large common areas are suitable for exhibi-
tions, providing a range of opportunities for conference organisers. Location Located in the northern part of Oslo, the hotel is only a short distance away from commercial districts such as Groruddalen, Økern and Helsfyr. Oslo’s buzzing city centre is also close, where attractions such as Oslo Opera House, the Castle and Akershus Fortress await the explorer. It is easy to travel into the centre of Oslo as the conference hub is connected to central transportation links and the subway is only a few minutes away. As the hotel is located between industry and Oslo’s finest tourist attractions, it is a convenient place to stay for both business travellers and city-breakers.
High technical standards The classroom-inspired conference rooms are equipped with sound systems and projectors in the ceiling. Microphones
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Family friendly The hotel, which attracted more than 20,000 guests in 2012, is also a family-
Scan Business | Conference of the Month | Norway
friendly place to stay. As it is located in a quiet and peaceful area, families and citybreakers can relax and enjoy a meal at the hotel’s à la carte restaurant after shopping and sightseeing in the vibrant capital. Although the hotel is best known for hosting business meetings, numerous weddings and other festive celebrations have taken place at Thon Hotel Linne. Everyone is welcome to use the hotel’s newly renovated facilities to celebrate their special occasion. Bigger and better In order to increase the facility’s capacity, the hotel has added four new floors to the building, going from 107 to 174 rooms altogether, including luxurious suites with lounges, separate bedrooms and large newly renovated bathrooms. But it is not only the hotel’s rooms and conference centre that are shiny and new: the hotel restaurant, lobby, gym and sauna have also undergone makeovers as a result of the renovation. Prosperity Last year, 400 conferences and business meetings were held at Thon Hotel Linne. “There has been a great increase in our turnover, and the number of guests per day is growing,” Wirstad explains. The hotel manager is expecting further growth and prosperity in the future. “We have received positive feedback on the events we have hosted since the opening of the new conference centre. We offer venues of high quality, where professional staff is working hard to provide assistance from start till finish,” he says. Thon Hotels Thon Hotel Linne, which has been up and running since 1969, is part of Thon Hotels, a chain that offers city-breakers, businessmen and backpackers a variety of hotels in Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands. In addition to conference venues, the chain specialises in other categories such as Budget and City hotels, making Thon Hotels one of Norway’s biggest hotel chains. Thon Hotel Linne is one of 15 hotels located in the Norwegian capital.
For more information, please visit: www.thonhotels.com
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 75
Scan Business | Conference of the Month | Finland
Conference of the Month, Finland
Endless possibilities for events Set on a beautiful waterfront location, right in the heart of Helsinki, Scandic Marina Congress Center makes for an excellent event venue. Boasting state-of-the-art technology, Marina Congress Center provides an outstanding setting for meetings, conferences, exhibitions and events of all kinds and sizes. By Inna Allen | Photos: Scandic Marina Congress Center
Marina Congress Center, together with Hotel Scandic Grand Marina, forms a unique conference venue with accommodation at the beautiful seaside district of Katajanokka, just a short walk away from Helsinki city centre. With 11 exceptionally flexible meeting rooms, Marina Congress Center’s facilities are ideal for hosting conferences for up to 2,500 people. All rooms boast state-of-the-art technical equipment, air conditioning and a free wireless internet connection. Most rooms also have natural daylight and a beautiful sea view. Invaluable particularly for international events, the Europaea and Fennia halls also contain fixed booths where simultaneous interpretation is possible in six languages. Accommodation can be easily and conveniently arranged across the street at
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Scandic Grand Marina. Converted from an old warehouse, the magnificent building is now a four-star hotel offering 462 modern and spacious hotel rooms. House of Events “However, Marina Congress Center is much more than just a meeting venue – we are a true House of Events,” says congress manager Nina Knoops. “Whether you wish to arrange a party, a dinner, a wedding or a ball, we can furnish the space according to your wishes, even build a dance floor and a stage.” All banquet rooms offer a magnificent view over the sea, and the upper-floor foyer has access to a balcony to let guests enjoy the scenery. “Our own in-house kitchen can prepare various culinary treats to suit your needs, and our experienced waiters make
sure everything runs smoothly in the dining room,” Knoops continues. The new 15-metre-wide screen in the Europea hall provides unique possibilities for combining image, presentation material and interactive elements with the high-quality sound system. Scandic Marina Congress Center is the first venue in Helsinki to have a large fixed screen that offers the possibility of presenting material from over 30 image sources simultaneously, project a large panorama image or, alternatively, divide the screen area into its own independent image sections. Its cinema-quality sound system combined with suitable lighting creates a perfect atmosphere also for glittery events, such as launch parties, gala dinners and award ceremonies.
Address: Scandic Marina Congress Center Katajanokanlaituri 6 00160 Helsinki, Finland
For more information, please visit: www.marinacongresscenter.com
Scan Business | News | Scandinavian Business Calendar
Scandinavian Business Calendar – Highlights of Scandinavian business events
AGM & Annual Dinner 2013 The Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce cordially invites Members and their guests and non-members to this year's annual dinner with guest speaker Allan Leighton, Chairman of Pandora and former Chairman of Royal Mail and former President and CEO of Wal-Mart Europe. More information: www.ducc.co.uk Venue: The Royal Automobile Club, 89-91 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HS Date: 18 April Afternoon tea at The May Fair Hotel London Join the Young Professionals of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK for a classic British afternoon tea session. Afternoon tea is served in the Quince Salon for an indulgent affair. Sign up at www.scc.org.uk . Date: 21 April
Nordic Thursday Drinks The 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. Venue: Hyatt Regency Hotel - The Churchill, 30 Portman Square, London, W1H 7BH Date: 25 April
Doktor Glas Krister Henriksson, who is best known as Wallander in Henning Mankell’s widely praised Swedish TV series, will make his West End debut in Doktor Glas. The SCC invites you to an exclusive viewing, including a complimentary glass of wine, programme, goodie bag from Gudrun Sjödén and a Q&A session with Krister himself. Sign up at www.scc.org.uk. Date: 25 April Spring festivities with the Walpurgis Ball The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK would like to invite its Members, spouses and
Nordic Thursday Drinks
20th Century Scandinavian Design in an International Context The Swedish Chamber of Commerce invites you for a tour of the V&A, followed by a drinks reception at Skandium. Sign up at www.scc.org.uk. Date: 18 April
friends to the black tie Walpurgis Ball, in celebration of Valborgsmässoafton. The evening promises a three-course meal, dancing, 12-man jazz band, as well as entertainment from the Lund Academic Choir. Sign up at www.scc.org.uk. Date: 2 May 107th Annual General Meeting and Networking event NBCC welcomes you to the 107th Annual General Meeting held at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Belgravia on Wednesday 8th May. More information: www.nbccuk.com Venue: Royal Norwegian Embassy Date: 8 May
Nordic Noir guide for “hungry” audiences British crime fiction expert Barry Forshaw has written a guide to Nordic Noir, the hugely popular genre he says is far from peaking. Henning Mankell’s Wallander, Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Danish cult TV hits The Killing, The Bridge and Borgen. They are all in Barry Forshaw’s new guide. Part study, part shopping list, the book is for everyone interested in the popular genre, which he says is still getting bigger. “People ask me why Nordic Noir is peaking now. But it is nowhere near peaking yet. More seasons of The Bridge and Borgen are coming to the BBC, writers like Sara Blædel are getting published, Henning Mankell is still hitting, and Jo Nesbø is huge. There is much more to come and a great hunger for Scandinavian crime fiction among readers.”
By Thomas Bech Hansen Photo: Pocket Essentials, Oldcastle Books Ltd.
With the book written by a Briton and aimed at British readers, the question beckons: Why has the UK caught Nordic fever? “The genre has so much terrific writing. And we typically see Scandinavia as a paradise with few problems and attractive, happy people. Nordic Noir paints a more realistic picture. It can be rainy and dark, and politicians are as liable to be compromised as ours. Scandinavians are like the British, and seem to share an unsentimental attitude to life. Scandinavian crime fiction and TV shows present this in an absolutely fascinating fashion.” ‘Nordic Noir: The Pocket Essential Guide to Scandinavian Crime Fiction, Film & TV’ is out now.
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 77
The massive sculptural group of St George, the Dragon and (left) Princess, Storakyrka (Stockholm Cathedral). Sculptor: Bernt Notke of Lübeck, completed 1489. An allegory of Sweden’s victory over Danish forces. (Elk antlers form the dragon’s wings.)
By George! One of my favourite sculptures is in Sweden. It’s in Storkyrkan, Stockholm’s “Big Church” – a larger-than-life-size group of George slaying the dragon. The chivalric duel is watched from the side by a moon-faced young maiden wondering what her prospects are: to be lunched – or to be lunch? By Lars Tharp
George the Dragon Slayer, saviour of damsels in distress, is popular throughout the world. His universal image represents the Triumph of Good over Evil, the Weak vanquishing the Strong and of the Girl saved by the Boy. In this heroic role, he is revered throughout the Christian and Muslim world: from Egypt to Ethiopia, Palestine, Iraq and India, to Spain and Portugal, to Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, and (of course) to Georgia.
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Being a distinguished outsider he was ideally suited to become patron saint of England at a time when 13th century clerics (and their monarch) wanted to avoid creating a cult for a martyred-at-home turbulent priest such as the likes of Thomas Beckett. George, or more correctly Georgios, had a suitably cosmopolitan background: born in present-day Israel/Palestine, his parents were Greek Christians in the service
of the Roman Empire. He followed his father into Roman military service becoming a high-ranking general. When he refused to renounce his Christian religion, he was martyred on the wheel. Meanwhile, all those stories concerning deliverance from a dragon surfaced from a deeper, pre-Christian past, settling on St George. In one such myth from Libya, for the dragon it read “rampaging crocodile”. To keep the crocodile satisfied the locals would toss it an occasional sheep. When a sheep was unobtainable, a substitute could be found in the form of a juicy damsel. (Less woolly.) Somehow these dragon legends stuck to our Graeco-Roman martyr. And over the subsequent centuries, George has embodied many great causes; he has served many masters, each with their own be-
Scan Magazine | Culture Column | By George!
spoke allegorical resonance. In the case of the great Storkyrkan sculpture, Saint George represents Sweden vanquishing the invading enemy, Denmark. In Denmark, meanwhile, the protagonists are reversed – the dragon is Sweden. My favourite Scandinavian frescoes are in a parish church just south of Odense, Denmark. Bellinge church is covered in vibrant medieval scenes, signed by Ebbe Olsen and Simon Petersen, and dated 1496, just ten years after the far more sophisticated sculpture in Stockholm. Changing from its original Greek (georgios meaning “farmer or earth worker”), George lives on in one form or another throughout and beyond Europe. In the Scandinavian and Germanic countries, its
variants include Jørgen, Jöran, Jürgen and Jørg; in Finland and Russia, it becomes Yrjänä and Yuri, in Poland Jerzy. In Celtic lands, it transforms into Seoirse (Ireland), Deòrsa (Scotland) and Siôr (Wales), while in England, George still holds ninth place in the league of popular boys’ names, no doubt topping the charts thanks to the House of Hanover. Of all six of Britain’s Hanoverian/Windsor kings, the name was particularly appropriate for “mad” King George III, whose interest in modern agricultural techniques brought him the tautological nickname “Farmer George”. And from farmer to “earth worker” and so to “George the Potter”. From Danish children’s nonsense rhymes from kindergarten days in Copenhagen, I recall this:
Jørgen, Jørgen Jyde Sejlede I en gryde Gryden sprang Jorgen sang ‘Mor, Mor’ nok en gang Georgie, George the Jute Went sailing in a Jute-pot The pot went ‘crack’ George cried ‘alack! And ‘Mummy, mummy’ one more time And as we approach Saint George’s Day (23 April), William Shakespeare’s traditional birthday, let’s celebrate all Georges and dragons everywhere as King Henry rides out to meet the enemy: “Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George!”
Another George. Fresco detail from Skt Jørgen’s Church, Bellinge, Fyn, Denmark; Ebbe Olsen and Simon Petersen, 1496. A far cry from the majestic Stockholm St George. The dragon gives a backward look of disbelief as it receives the fatal spear. (Note the skulls of the dragon’s previous meals.)
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 79
Scan Magazine | Culture Feature | Interview with Molly Blixt Egelind
Left to right: Pierce Brosnan, Paprika Steen, Trine Dyrholm and Molly Blixt Egelind in Love Is All You Need.
Oscar-winning Danish director’s new film hits UK cinemas Oscar-winning director Susanne Bier’s newest film, Love Is All You Need, is set to be released in UK cinemas April 19. Scan Magazine had a chat with one of the film’s young leads, Molly Blixt Egelind. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Doane Gregory
Set in beautiful southern Italy, Bier’s romantic comedy tells the tale of what looks to be an enchanting wedding between two young Danes, Astrid (Molly Egelind) and Patrick (Sebastian Jessen). The idyll is, however, rattled as Astrid’s mother, Ida (Trine Dyrholm), awaits the final all-clear after a course of chemotherapy, while the bride’s father, Leif (Kim Bodnia), brings his outrageously young fling to the party. “The development of my character, Astrid, was really interesting. She starts out so hopeful, full of excitement. Her fairy-tale wedding is about to come true; she is marrying this great guy in the most beautiful place on earth and everyone she loves is supposed to be there. To follow her from being this very fulfilled person, and watch how everything comes apart, with her in the middle trying to hold it all together, was a great and challenging journey to
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work with,” explains Egelind. “Apart from falling in love with my own part, it was just a wonderful script full of those great crazy and embarrassing moments that Susanne captures so well. Whether it’s drama or comedy or romance, she manages to make it relevant for everyone, and this movie has a seriousness but also a certain wonderful lightness to it.”
charisma. He was so calm and made it really easy for me and everyone else to relax around him,” says Egelind, who had only just been accepted into drama school when she was offered the part as Astrid. The 25-year-old, who speaks immaculate English, received great international reviews for her role and hopes to find more challenges abroad when she finishes her training in two years. “The dream has always been there; there is something very exciting about doing foreign projects and the attention from outside Denmark has fuelled it – made me realise that it might not just be a dream, it might be possible.”
Molly Blixt Egelind in Love Is All You Need
The film, which is Bier’s first after her Oscar-winning drama In a Better World, stars James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan as Astrid’s future father-in-law. “I was super honoured to get to work with Pierce and also some very talented Danish actors whom I’ve looked up to for a very long time. When I met Pierce, I was just really stunned by his
Scan Magazine | Music & Culture | Melodifestivalen From top down: Army of Lovers Janet Leon Ulrik Munther Photos: Niklas Torsell
How the Fest was Won The biggest annual entertainment show in Sweden has done what neither its fans nor its critics ever thought (or hoped, in the latter's case) it would do – it just got even bigger. By Karl Batterbee
Hot on the back of producing Loreen last year, and thus a Eurovision Song Contest winner with Euphoria, more Swedes tuned into this year's Melodifestivalen than ever before. A feat which is even more impressive when you consider that it had already been the highest rated TV show in Sweden every year leading up to this one. Some would cite the national excitement that exists the year after a Eurovision win as the reason for this new peak in interest. But actually, it's because the Swedish broadcaster SVT, now able to take some risks in the year after a win, have shaken the format up a little bit by introducing a wider range of artists, and music styles and genres. The fans have been quick to complain that the more commercial style of schlager music that Melodifestivalen is most well known for has been sidelined. But the music now in its place has succeeded in bringing in some brand new admirers, which is something that was starting to be necessary for the longevity of the show. As a result, this year's Melodifestivalen, as well as being the most watched, also turned out to be the most colourful and varied in recent years, in terms of the music. The big hitters this year, and the artists getting the Swedish public talking about them, have been YOHIO (a 16year-old boy f r o m
Sundsvall who models himself on the looks of a young Japanese girl, using the visual kei style), Army of Lovers (one of the biggest Swedish pop exports of the 90s, reunited for the first time in over a decade, returning to the stage in an ostentatious display of orgies and a lip-syncing scandal), Ulrik Munther (a 19-year-old chap whose music talents belie his young age and who is already beating YOHIO to the claim of "big in Japan") and Janet Leon (one part Beyoncé, one part fellow Swedish pop icon Agnes, Leon’s catsuitclad performance of Heartstrings was certainly one of the most memorable). In the end though, the eventual winner, and the artist who will follow Loreen to represent Sweden at this year's Eurovision Song Contest (now on home turf, thanks to Loreen's epic win last year) is the unassuming young Robin Stjernberg from Hässleholm in the south of Sweden. He won the hearts of the nation with a justso-pleased-to-be-here attitude and an adorable array of facial expressions captured live on camera when it was announced that he had made the grand finale of Melodifestivalen, which took place in mid-March. The song helped t re m e n d o u s ly too, of course. You is an uptempo, uplifting, anthemic and super-catchy guitar pop number with an explosive chorus. Robin Stjernberg will com-
pete at Eurovision for Sweden in May. And after the success of this year's Melodifestivalen, there's going to be an even higher percentage of Swedes (we're looking at well over 50% of the population here) watching and cheering him on. Just when you thought they couldn't get any more obsessed about these shows, they go and fall for it even deeper.
On the left: YOHIO. Photo: Kristofer Lönnå Robin Stjernberg. Photo: Rickard Frantzen
Issue 51 | April 2013 | 81
Scan Magazine | Music & Culture | Scandinavian Music
Scandinavian Music Let's start the month with the biggest of comebacks: Agnetha Fältskog is back.
know how used to brilliant melodies ABBA's Agnetha Fältskog is, so, naturally, she delivers it with perfect aplomb. We often forget how much we miss her, but it's great to have her back. We had a couple of glimpses of the brilliance of a Swedish artist called Beldina back in 2011, with her very own Here We Go and also her collaboration with Rasmus Faber, Good Times Come Back. But we’ve not heard anything from her since then. Dutifully though, she’s come back with something good enough to make up for that lost year and a half. It’s a soulful ballad that turns into a semi trip-hop triumph. Like with Here We Go before it, the star of the new single, What Can I Say, is the melody that Beldina sings over it, as well as the gorgeous songbird voice that she delivers it in. Epic. Out Of Yourself is the debut single from a new Norwegian artist called Truls. For the sake of comparison, let’s call the song a cross between Donkeyboy and Alphabeat. Cheeky, happy, bouncy, and, above all, tuneful pop music. From start to
The legendary lady herself has actually returned and is releasing a whole album’s worth of new material in May. The first single, When You Really Loved Someone, is already out there now. A mid-tempo dreamy ballad, which has been sonically blessed with a brilliant melody. And we all
By Karl Batterbee
finish it’s captivatingly good. One of those debuts that makes you ache for that impending first album to be released. Finally, you will all remember Swedish producer Kleerup from his breakthrough Robyn collaboration With Every Heartbeat. And you will remember Loreen who won Eurovision for Sweden last year with the immense Euphoria. Can you imagine how fantastic it would sound if the two of these teamed up? Imagine no more. Requiem Solution is the first single from Kleerup's new album, with Loreen on vocals. And as expected, it’s an absolute stunner. Electronic tenderness. A perfect combination of all that is great about both Kleerup and Loreen, hinting at the best of their past output individually. These two working on something together was always going to be at least a little bit amazing though. But the end result is even better than I imagined. www.scandipop.co.uk scandipop@googlemail.com
Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here!
Lordi on tour (May) Finnish hard rock band Lordi are bringing their monster masks and pyrotechnics to the UK this spring. For more info visit: www.lordi.fi
Efterklang. Photo: Rasmus Weng Karlsen
Johanna Juhola on tour (April) Finnish accordion player and composer Johanna Juhola will be touring the UK this month. For more info visit: www.johannajuhola.net
Photo: Sami Perttilä
Efterklang on tour (April/May) Danish indie rockers Efterklang are touring Europe this spring and are supported by Swedish singer Anna von Hausswolff. efterklang.net
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By Sara Schedin
Elements at ArtEco Gallery (Until 13 April) Mankind has long been mesmerised by the four elements of Earth, Water, Air and Fire. The concept of the four elements has come to symbolise everything from different facets of the cosmos to alchemical experiments, and even personalities and zodiac signs. The group exhibition Elements explores these four facets. Among the artists are Norwegians Sidsel Christensen and Lise Wulff. Tue-Sat 11am-
Scan Magazine | Music & Culture | Culture Calendar
6pm. ArtEco Gallery, London, SW18. www.artecogallery.com Photography into Art – The Hannula & Hinkka Collection (Until 21 April) The exhibition is based on a significant private collection that was donated to the Finnish Museum of Photography in 2012 by Erja Hannula and Jorma Hinkka. The exhibited pieces will tell a unique story of a period of more than 30 years, from the 1980s to the present day, during which Finnish photography established itself as a fully-fledged art form in its own right. Tue-Sun 11am-6pm, Wed 11am-8pm. The Finnish Museum of Photography, the Cable Factory, Tallberginkatu 1G, Helsinki. www.valokuvataiteenmuseo.fi Anna Clarén in Stockholm (Until 26 May) In her series Close to Home, Swedish photographer Anna Clarén depicts that which is closest to her: her family, children and friends. The photographs are an attempt to freeze and preserve happy moments; an affirmation of a life lived in fear of losing everything. Sun-Wed 9am-9pm.
Thu-Sat 9am-11pm. Fotografiska, Stadsgårdshamnen 22, Stockholm. fotografiska.eu
tween technological and art-historical developments of relevance to video art. Tue, Wed & Fri 11am-5pm, Thu 11am7pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-5pm. The Museum of Contemporary Art, Bankplassen 4, Oslo. www.nasjonalmuseet.no Nabiha (18 April) Award-winning Danish-African pop soul singer Nabiha will be playing at Vega in Copenhagen this month. vega.dk A Scream and an Outrage (10-12 May) The Barbican is arranging a marathon weekend of new music curated by Nico Muhly. The sixth session features Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto who, together with a group of other musicians, will present David Lang’s Death Speaks which is created from 32 extracts of Schubert songs, each of which details Death speaking to the living. The Barbican, London, EC2Y. www.barbican.org.uk
Photo: Anna Clarén
PARADOX. Positions in Norwegian video art 1980–2010 (Until 18 Aug) From the 1980s to the present, Norwegian video art has evolved from a marginal art form to one with a dominant position. In this exhibition, the video works are dealt with under various thematic headings, which refer to crucial intersections be-
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