JULY 2013 ISSUE 54 PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA
EMMELIE DE FOREST: NO MORE TEARDROPS MADE IN SWEDEN: FUNCTIONALITY & INNOVATION FOCUS ON NORWEGIAN & FINNISH DESIGN GET CULTURED IN FINLAND
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Scan Magazine | Contents
Contents COVER FEATURE 8
8 66
Emmelie de Forest This year, the Scandinavians showcased their prowess at pop music by winning the Eurovision Song Contest for the second year in a row. Scan Magazine caught up with Emmelie de Forest two weeks after her win to see what the experience has been like.
DESIGN FEATURE 15
Carl Hansen & Søn and Bulthaup On 30 May, Bulthaup and Carl Hansen & Søn hosted an exciting evening in order to present the newest collection of the Danish furniture manufacturer alongside Bulthaup’s state-ofthe-art b3 kitchen system in central London.
SPECIAL THEMES 20
Made in Sweden Sweden is a living example of how trade, entrepreneurship and open borders have made it possible for one of the poorest countries on the outskirts of Europe 100 years ago to become one of the most innovative and wealthiest countries today.
34
Design in Norway Design is a strategic tool to promote innovation in Norway; it boosts competitiveness and creates tomorrow’s winners. Many Norwegian companies use design in order to achieve ambitious international goals.
49
Design & Architecture in Finland Design has always been an integral part of daily life in Finland, reaching from dentists’ chairs and street furniture to innovative services. Modern architecture has also found a good home in the cold north, with Finnish architects showcasing a knack for creating solutions to complex design problems.
79
Cultural Experiences in Finland Dozens of festivals, museums and exhibitions galore, theatre and dance performances for all tastes, and, of course, the Moomins – there are plenty of Finnish cultural icons, attractions and events to explore, no matter the season.
84
Danish Culture Danes are among the happiest and most trusting, and trustworthy, people in the world. These factors might well be the reason behind Denmark’s prosperity and booming cultural scene.
FOOD FEATURE 16
Bistro Sinne Sitting pretty on the western riverfront of Porvoo, Bistro Sinne opened its doors a year ago and has quickly blossomed into a bona fide dining destination. True to its name, Sinne – meaning sense – provides a feast for all senses.
TRAVEL FEATURES 18
19
Hafnarfjörður Mountain peaks reach toward dizzying heights where the incandescent northern lights shoot through dark, gloomy skies like fireworks; volcanic craters form deep, dark pits in the soil, silently threatening to gobble you up. In Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, it is easy to believe in fairy tales.
REGULARS & COLUMNS
86 12
107
Reykjavik Surrounded by volcanoes, glaciers and geysers, the city of Reykjavik offers visitors the perfect mix of culture, nature and nightlife. And during summer, all this under the light of the midnight sun.
We Love This | 14 Fashion Diary | 89 Hotels of the Month | 94 Attractions of the Month
103 Restaurants of the Month | 109 Humour | 116 News | 118 Music & Culture | 122 Culture Calendar
Scan Business REGULARS & COLUMNS 110 Business Columns & News Key note, columns and news stories on Scandinavian businesses and business events.
113 Conferences of the Month The best conference venues of the month. 116 Scandinavian Business Calendar Highlights of Scandinavian business events.
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 3
Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note
Dear Reader, As I’m writing this, we are actually experiencing the longest day of the year; it’s summer solstice, midsummer – or whatever you wish to call it. This is the day we get the most hours of daylight, and it is an extremely important event in most Scandinavian countries. Each country definitely has its own traditions, and some might celebrate it on the eve, some on the day, and some even a day later. Bonfires, summer cottages, picnics, folk costumes and maypoles are all part of the different ways of celebrating this occasion. I hope you were able to experience some of the midsummer magic – no matter your location.
Our cover girl should be familiar to all – especially if you happened to catch a glimpse of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Malmö, Sweden. The Danes came, saw and conquered, and the lovely Emmelie de Forest asked us: “How many times can we win (and lose)?” A very good question – let’s just ignore the latter bit. Let’s hope the Scandinavian Eurovision reign continues next year when the event will be broadcasted from Denmark.
From midsummer we move onto culture, design, architecture and all kinds of ingenious products made in Scandinavia – this is what we have in store for you this time around. We introduce you to hardy, well-made products and other wonderful innovations thought up by the creative minds of Sweden; everything from industrial to digital design in Norway and Finland, as well as numerous forward-thinking architectural offices; and exciting cultural attractions and experiences in Denmark and Finland. The July issue is simply packed with information!
Nia Kajastie Editor
We wish you all a great summer!
Scan Magazine
Contributors
Maria Smedstad
Issue 54 | July 2013
Karl Batterbee
Sanna Halmekoski
Julie Guldbrandsen
Pierre de Villiers
Published 05.07.2013 ISSN 1757-9589
Tina Awtani
Adelina Ibishi
Inna Allen
Sara Schedin
Published by
Maria Malmros
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Design & Print Liquid Graphic Ltd
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4 | Issue 54 | July 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. 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.
Linnea Dunne has been writing professionally for over 10 years. Having started out on a local paper in Sweden, she is passionate about Scandinavian music and culture, and currently works in London as a full-time writer and translator. 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 54 | July 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. 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. 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. 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. Thomas Bech Hansen has moved between England and Denmark, with London 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 in PR and Communication. Helena Whitmore moved to the UK from Sweden in 1989. She joined SEB Private Banking in the UK as a wealth structuring specialist in January 2013 and has extensive experience in crossborder tax planning having previously worked at a law firm.
Magnus Nygren Syversen is a Norwegian freelance journalist, 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. 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. 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. Rikke Oberlin Flarup is a Danish freelance writer and publisher with a passion for thick novels and DIY zines. Still a newcomer to London, she spends her free time exploring the city's hidden gems 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.
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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Emmelie de Forest
8 | Issue 54 | July 2013
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Emmelie de Forest
Emmelie de Forest “How Many Times Can We Win…?” From Malmö to Denmark, it’s only a 20-minute train ride. This year, the Scandinavians showcased their prowess at pop music by winning the Eurovision Song Contest for the second year in a row. Scan Magazine caught up with Emmelie de Forest two weeks after her win to see what the experience has been like, to ask if Eurovision is ever really part of an artist’s plan, and to find out what it is that makes the Scandinavians so good at all of this. By Karl Batterbee | Photos: Michael Søndergaard
If you’re reading this magazine, then there's a good chance that you're privy to the cold hard fact that Scandinavians really do make some of the best pop music out there, whether racing up the global charts themselves, as Icona Pop are currently doing with I Love It, or sat in a studio as in-demand writers and producers, making hits for the latest One Direction or Nicki Minaj albums. This summer, the Scandinavians formed a tag team dominating a whole other area of pop music – the Eurovision Song Contest. After Sweden won last year with Loreen's Euphoria, they handed the baton over to Denmark in May, after Emmelie de Forest's Only Teardrops triumphed in the contest via a similar landslide of votes. Casting aside the obvious bias towards her own song, Emmelie herself felt that the Nordics really shone at Eurovision this year. “I think this year at Eurovision it was very much a Scandinavian year. I liked all of the Scandinavian acts. The ones from Iceland and Finland. And especially the Swedish song and Norwegian song, which was my favourite.” Critics can scoff – and the Brits certainly do – that an accolade at Eurovision is no
accolade at all. But those countries that don't take it so seriously are the ones who never do very well. Whereas those who use it as a showcase for some of the best pop music that their country has to offer will usually find themselves at the upper end of the results table. And over the last few years, in the age of digital pop music, a good showing at Eurovision has at worst resulted in a continental hit song, and at best launched the international career of an artist. Taking Sweden as an example, over the last two years, both Loreen and Eric Saade have gone on to achieve a lot of success outside of their domestic market, and it seems like Emmelie de Forest is very much aware of the possibilities. She actually went to great lengths to record and release her album the week before her expected Eurovision win. “We were favourites from the beginning, so it was a decision we all made together. I wanted the album to come out before Eurovision. We only had a short time to make the album. We had songs written before we started, but not in English. So it was exciting to work with new songwriters, co-writing in English. It was an amazing experience though to make the album in such a short time. We started writing in
February and recording in March, and it had to be finished at the beginning of April, to be ready for release at the beginning of May. I'm really satisfied with it though; you can't hear that it was made in such a short time.” “A lot of things happening” Listening to Emmelie's album, also titled Only Teardrops, it's quite refreshing to hear that her Eurovision-winning song wasn't a fluke, nor does it stick out like a sore thumb on an album of otherwise eclectic material. The Celtic feel, the dramatic melodies, and the drums and whistles that made Only Teardrops so charming are in fact all part of Emmelie's overall sound as an artist. And the rest of the tracks on the album are very much in tune with the song we all know from her. “I think the sound and the style are very much like Only Teardrops. And I think that people who like the song will also like the album.” With the album now released internationally, and with the song having charted all over Europe (including in the Top 15 in Britain), Emmelie finds herself in the work mode of a Eurovision winner who is in demand. “Yeah, there's a lot in my schedule,
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 9
have a day off. And luckily I’m off this weekend, so I can relax then.” Emmelie has been performing as an artist since she was just 14 years old, on the festival circuit around Scandinavia and also in Scotland. But it’s fair to say that her career has really only just taken off, since her win at the Danish Melodi Grand Prix back in February, the national final that leads to the country’s Eurovision entry being selected. Eurovision isn’t for everybody though, and a lot of artists are cautious about going down that path, for concern over forever being labelled a Eurovision act. In Sweden, many singers enter the big national final Melodifestivalen hoping not to win and thus having to go on to the actual contest, favouring finishing in a respectable runner-up position and still scoring a big hit single. So was Eurovision ever part of Emmelie's grand plan as an artist? “In a way it just happened, but I always loved Eurovision and always watched it with my family. There’s a big tradition in Scandinavia with the Eurovision Song Contest. So yes, it was a dream for me since I was a little girl. But I didn't know that it would happen so fast.” A Scandinavian sound
but it’s nice. The last two weeks have been very exciting: a lot of things happening and everything happening so fast too. I've been on Danish television singing my song with my band, and we're also rehearsing for the summer festivals and our tour in the fall. Last weekend, I performed at two festivals, and then yesterday I had a performance with the two drumming guys that I had on stage with me at Eurovision. And then tomorrow I'm heading off to Germany and Holland, and a few more places. Then Sweden and Norway after that.”
10 | Issue 54 | July 2013
“I can relax then” But she has just won the Eurovision Song Contest. Isn't she going to give herself time to stop, digest, and enjoy the experience? “The months before Eurovision were very stressful. I felt that I really needed to slow down in a way and to just focus on the contest. So it was quite stressful when the album needed to be finished. But I think that now I'm good at knowing when I need to relax. Of course there’s a lot in the pipeline, but I think it’s important to take care of yourself and
The Eurovision tradition in Scandinavia that Emmelie speaks of goes a long way towards explaining the Nordic region’s success in the contest. A more positive approach usually translates into a more positive result. And as we all know, this unashamed attitude that Scandinavians have towards pop music has resulted in writers and producers from the region going on to have global success on the biggest possible scale. Does Emmelie have her own theory as to how musicians from the region have such a disproportionately high export rate? “Sweden is obviously very good at it. I don't know what it is; I just think that there are a lot of great artists in Scandinavia. It's a mysterious Nordic thing. I think that in Scandinavia we appreciate a certain sound and tune.”
For more information, please visit: www.deforest.dk
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Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This
We love this... We are accentuating the sensations of sweet long summer days by embracing white, light and summer breezy bright interior ideas. By Julie Guldbrandsen
The J110 dining chair is designed by Poul M. Volther and is part of HAY’s re-launch of Danish furniture classics, originally made for FDB. Available in black, coral, grey, neutral and white. App. £185. hayshop.dk
Dashing selection of cushions from Oyoy. App £45. oyoy.dk or www.skandivis.co.uk
We absolutely adore the stunning ceramic
Hästens have recently launched a range of
Designed by Gunnar Biilmann-Petersen in
Ora wall clock by Kähler – it will add a
luxury accessories, including this travel
1961 for Le Klint, the brass lamp is a
gorgeous sprint of brightness to an
pillow – like their beds they are made from
beautiful contemporary classic.
otherwise neutral décor palette.
the finest natural materials. £70.
App. £795.
From app. £57. www.kahlerdesign.com
www.hastens.com
www.leklint.com
12 | Issue 54 | July 2013
Your Shortcut to Scandinavia Bergen
NORWAY
Oslo Stockholm Bromma
SWEDEN Aalborg
Gothenburg
Aarhus
DENMARK
UNITED KINGDOM
Billund
Manchester
London City
GERMANY Brussels
Düsseldorf
BELGIUM
Munich
WINNER OF DANISH TRAVEL AWARD 2012 “BEST EUROPEAN AIRLINE”
S n a cks
Me als
Drinks
ba.com
Pap ers
Lounges
Smiles
Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
Fashion Diary... Topping our summer wardrobe essentials list are versatile flat sandals, hot shorts, feminine dresses and a cool hat. These are the particular items we would really like to wear on holiday. By Julie Guldbrandsen
Don’t forget the mandatory summer straw hat! £7.99. www.hm.com
A sweet and effortless summer dress is a holiday wardrobe essential. Silk dress with lip print by Baum und Pferdgarten. £219.
The classic Breton, which screams warm
shop.baumundpferdgarten.com
weather and holiday ready, gets a cool edge with 5Preview’s orange print. £70. Call +44 (0) 0203 651 1371 for stockists.
These flat snakeskin sandals by Billi Bi go
Easy, breezy silk-mix dress from Filippa K,
with pretty much anything – perfect
perfect for some cocktails
Golden shorts will add a luxe feminine
summer footwear choice. £95.
in the early evening sun. £180.
sharpness to a basic tank top. £19.99.
billibi.com
www.atterleyroad.com
www.hm.com
14 | Issue 54 | July 2013
Scan Magazine | Design | Carl Hansen & Søn and Bulthaup
A Danish-German success story:
Carl Hansen & Søn and Bulthaup celebrate supreme design On 30 May, Bulthaup and Carl Hansen & Søn hosted an exciting evening in order to present the newest collection of the Danish furniture manufacturer alongside Bulthaup’s state-of-the-art b3 kitchen system in central London. By Tina Awtani | Photos: Press Photos
Carl Hansen & Søn CEO Knud Erik Hansen, who runs the family business in the third generation, welcomed the guests in the stunning surroundings of the Bulthaup showroom in Clerkenwell. “The cooperation between Bulthaup and Carl Hansen & Søn commenced during 2004. Following a visit by Mr. Geert Bulthaup to the Carl Hansen & Søn factory in Denmark, it was decided that a much closer liaison between the two quality household names should be developed. Since that day, a very friendly and mutually advancing relationship has flourished,” Knud Erik Hansen explains. For over a decade, Carl Hansen & Søn manufactured furniture designed by great artists such as Tadao Ando, Hans J. Wegner, Mogens Koch, Kaare Klint and Ole Wanscher. The manufacturer’s 165 passionate employees ensure that every piece leaving the Danish production site is a masterpiece of precision. “Carl Hansen
& Søn is known as the world’s largest producer of architect Hans J. Wegner furniture that is nearly all made from wood that has grown in sustainable Danish forests,” Knud Erik Hansen says. Architect Hans J. Wegener was a founding member of the modern Danish style. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of his most iconic designs, the Shell Chair has just been re-launched in an exclusive limited jubilee edition. Bulthaup embodies the epitome of contemporary kitchen design and perfection. Cool, functional, sleek and elegant – a Bulthaup kitchen is a bold statement of style. Still a family business, Bulthaup is run by the founder’s grandson Marc O. Eckert, who is taking the brand to new heights. The flexible b3 system is available in various shapes and sizes, exquisite materials, luxurious surface finishes and subtle colours. All elements can be combined in numerous ways. That is what
makes every single Bulthaup kitchen a unique bespoke masterpiece tailored to the individual requirements and lifestyle of its owner. The presentation in London showed a wonderful synergy of great classic and contemporary design. “Today, both Bulthaup and Carl Hansen & Søn have created a common image by matching their supreme designs, which is generally regarded as a natural complement,” Knud Erik Hansen says.
50th anniversary limited edition Hans J. Wegner’s most iconic design – the Shell Chair. Photo: Per Knudsen
Safari chair - a design classic since 1933.
For more information, please visit: www.carlhansen.com www.bulthaup.com
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 15
Scan Magazine | Food Feature | Bistro Sinne
For the love of food Sitting pretty on the western riverfront of Porvoo, Bistro Sinne opened its doors a year ago and has quickly blossomed into a bona fide dining destination. True to its name, Sinne – meaning sense – provides a feast for all senses.
in the restaurant, who is also in charge of the wines. “Our dishes may sound quite classic, but they are prepared in a modern way and look anything but boring – beautifully displayed food adds to the customers’ dining experience.” Respect the produce
By Inna Allen | Photos: Bistro Sinne
Porvoo, the medieval coastal town, some 50 kilometres east of Helsinki, is one of Finland’s most beautiful tourist attractions and the perfect backdrop for the authentic bistro-style restaurant Sinne. Established in 2012, the Sinne concept is based in an old art factory and consists of a restaurant, wine cabinet, café and shop, along with catering services. The picturesque riverfront, together with the art factory, forms a pulsating hub for the town’s cultural life and events. The building also houses Porvoo’s Tourist Office and the Bio Rex Cinema, and its parking area accommodates up to 60 cars. Bistro Sinne offers authentic food recoupled with warm and informal service. The
16 | Issue 54 | July 2013
menu is based on domestic and locally produced ingredients, and adapts to the Finnish gastronomic calendar. “We are a modern bistro: modernity comes from the food and ingredients, whilst the bistrostyle comes from the relaxedness of the service,” says Janne Aaltonen, a partner
It is a matter of honour for the restaurant to only use the best ingredients available. “We always endeavour to have personal contact with the producers, so that we can ensure the quality of the ingredients. For example, it is paramount for us that meat has been ethically produced and that the animal has lived a respectable and comfortable life,” Aaltonen explains. Another core principal is to serve local food. Some ingredients, such as lettuce, herbs, vegetables and root vegetables are grown in their own field in nearby Ruotsinpyhtää. There is a small herb garden on the restaurant’s wall, which provides tasty decorations for dishes and also makes for an atmospheric interior element. The Sinne crew harvest their own honey and even pick berries for desserts themselves. “Our rule of thumb is that 80% of ingredi-
ents must come from within 50 kilometres from our restaurant. We are also one of the only restaurants in Finland which receives its fish directly from the fisherman every morning. This does mean we can’t guarantee a certain fish will be on the menu at any given point, instead we work with the fisherman’s catch of the day.” The restaurant’s dedication to high-quality, honest and ethical food has not gone unnoticed. Along with high praise from food magazines and blogs around the country, Helsingin Sanomat, the largest subscription newspaper in the Nordic countries, awarded the restaurant with five stars last year – the first full marks ever given in the magazine’s history. Taste the difference Bistro Sinne’s cabinet, the Wine Paradise, is the home of fine wine. Customers can book the cabinet for private wine dinners and tastings, or participate in wine training – all guided by experts. The restaurant stocks over 200 different wines, beers and spirits, with particularly customer-friendly prices. “Some of our well-known champagnes cost four times less than in Helsinki. We have deliberately lowered our prices to allow for customers to experience something wonderful and unique. Enjoying our wines doesn’t need to be stiff and formal, so come as you are! We also serve wine in small tasting servings, to encourage everyone to sample new flavours,” Aaltonen enthuses. Bistro Sinne also boasts a carefully thoughtout beer selection, promising to have something for even the most demanding lager lover, and head chef Kai Kallio has boldly used different beers in his cooking. Café Sinne serves visitors expertly prepared café products in the art factory lobby, whilst the Bistro Sinne Shop stocks the best local delicacies, such as organic sweets, jams, juices and fresh-baked bread. The Sinne crew have also recently launched their own range of products, which means certain food items, such as condiments, that are made and served at the restaurant can now be purchased from the shop.
Läntinen Aleksanterinkatu 1 06100 Porvoo, Finland
For more information, please visit: www.bistrosinne.fi
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 17
Scan Magazine | Travel Feature | Reykjavik
from children to our senior citizens, comes out to celebrate,” Bardarson says. “In Reykjavik, we don’t just tolerate, we celebrate. Therefore we are high upon the radar with people in the LGBT community worldwide.” During the Culture Night, held on 24 August, Reykjavik transforms into a cultural street festival. With everything from food tasting to small theatre shows, troubadours and art exhibitions to both local and international music acts, the festival has become a popular event for both tourists and locals.
Above left: Harpa, the concert and conference venue, is a new landmark in Reykjavik; it played a big role in last year’s Cultural Night events.
Experience the world’s most northern capital Surrounded by volcanoes, glaciers and geysers, the city of Reykjavik offers visitors the perfect mix of culture, nature and nightlife. And during summer, all this under the light of the midnight sun. By Elin Berta | Photos: Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson/Arctic-Images.com
“Reykjavik is a small city with the qualities of a large city,” Einar Bardarson, director of Visit Reykjavik, says. “Our visitors during the winter season say that they come for the northern lights. But there is never a guarantee for the lights, and if you happen to be unlucky with Mother Nature there is still so much to do in Reykjavik that you can be sure to go home with many new experiences.”
18 | Issue 54 | July 2013
During the darkest time of the year, Reykjavik only has daylight four hours per day. But once summer arrives, so does the midnight sun, bringing the people (almost) never-ending days. In August the festival season kicks off, starting with the Reykjavik Gay Pride festivities that run from 6 until 11 August. “It is a lovely time when everyone in the city,
Being a small city, but offering what a big city does, has many advantages. Eighty per cent of Reykjavik's museums are located within a radius of one kilometre. “You would be able to visit almost all of them in a day, but there is so much to see so three days would be preferable,” Bardarson says. The city offers a special day pass for all its museums, the new music and conference hall Harpa, the thermal pools and the local bus system, for a discounted price. But what really makes Reykjavik special is the possibility of combining city life with a unique nature experience. The old harbour area has exploded with new restaurants and pubs the last few years, but it also offers visitors whale-watching tours. “If you fancy a break from the city, you can easily be by a volcano or on a glacier within an hour,” Bardarson says. For more information, please visit: www.visitreykjavik.is Below right: National broadcaster Radio 2 puts on an outdoor concert at the Reykjavik Cultural Night
Scan Magazine | Travel Feature | Hafnarfjörður
Photo: Hreinn Magnússon
Photo: Björn Pétursson
Photo: Hreinn Magnússon
Photo: Björn Pétursson
A walk with trolls and hidden folk Mountain peaks reach toward dizzying heights where the incandescent northern lights shoot through dark, gloomy skies like fireworks; volcanic craters form deep, dark pits in the soil, silently threatening to gobble you up. In Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, it is easy to believe in fairy tales.
Hafnarfjörður the ‘town in the lava’ because the 7,000-year-old lava fields are a part of the town itself, a physical characteristic you see everywhere, including in people’s backyards.”
By Maria Malmros
This small port town, 20 minutes from the capital, Reykjavik, provides an escape for those wanting to experience Iceland in its most authentic state, with plenty of opportunities to interact with its quirky inhabitants. Ásbjörg Una Björnsdóttir, project manager at the Office of Culture and Tourism in Hafnarfjörður, says: “In Hafnarfjörður, you meet locals, not other tourists; in fact, we do not have a single souvenir shop.” Rest assured that these northerners will extend a warm welcome; the small Icelandic population recently topped the World Economic Forum’s list of the friendliest countries in the world. Fables and folklore Those looking for adventure in Hafnarfjörður will not be disappointed. Elf en-
thusiasts looking for the “hidden folk” will find guided tours on the hiking trails, with folklore storytelling explaining how the obscure spirits still govern the island today. Horseback riding is a delightful way to explore the surrounding landscape. The Icelandic horses move to the beat of their own drum, much like the rest of Iceland. These small but sturdy horses have an additional gait, “tölt”, which is unique to this breed. Geothermal hotspots abound, with plenty of Jacuzzis, indoor/outdoor swimming pools, and family slides to choose from. You will find iron-clad, brightly coloured houses splashed across Hafnarfjörður like a rainbow. Björnsdóttir says: “We call
Iceland offers the ideal vantage point if you are looking to catch a glimpse of the northern lights. Björnsdóttir says: “The northern lights are best enjoyed at night, outside, cradled in a bed of snow.” In a world where resources are depleted, and beauty artificially manufactured, Iceland stands out like a sore thumb. This boisterous country will not pander to you, nor change its ways, but invite you to unveil a rare gem, promising to transport you back to ancient Viking times. With glaciers gleaming in the sun like diamond-encrusted rocks, and hot springs percolating with life, Hafnarfjörður is sure to leave no one lukewarm. For more information, please visit: www.visithafnarfjordur.is
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 19
E: M E TH DEN
L E CIA IN SW E SP DE MA
Left: Workwear by Fristads Kansas. Read more on page 26 (Photo: Kwintet Group). Right: Sewed in Sweden by Woolpower. Read more on page 33 (Photo: Woolpower).
Made in Sweden By Ewa Björling, Minister for Trade, Sweden What do you associate with the concept of Sweden? I travel a lot, and when someone from outside Sweden asks me what my home country is like, I often use words like open, diverse, equal and innovative. These words combine to describe a society that I appreciate and of which I feel proud. Sweden is a living example of how trade, entrepreneurship and open borders have made it possible for one of the poorest countries on the outskirts of Europe 100 years ago to become one of the most innovative and wealthiest countries today. Let me tell you about the cornerstones of our innovativeness, productive environment and robust economy. Sweden has an easy and open business climate backed by government policies. International investment is facilitated by simple business procedures, transparency and efficiency. Sweden is also one of the least corrupt societies in the world. Furthermore, we are ideally suited to develop, test and launch innovative programmes. We are eager to adopt new technologies and the
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government aims to empower innovation, especially in the field of green solutions and in other industries with potential for growth.
Though the global economy may be in some difficulty, everything is still possible, and the journey starts in Sweden. Welcome!
Cultural and creative industries are other sectors of business in Sweden which offer great potential for growth. This is one of the main reasons why I launched the promotion calendar, which focuses month by month throughout the year on creative industries where Swedish industries are at the forefront – such as music, communication, film, fashion, literature and gaming. Alongside these branches our traditional industries, and others, continuously deliver products of good quality. We constantly try to improve our innovative edge. My vision is for Sweden to be a world-leading country in research and innovation, an attractive place in which to invest and conduct business. This demands an open-minded attitude from citizens, companies, authorities and the government – in Sweden we can offer all that.
Ewa Björling, Minister for Trade, Sweden
Didriksons – A century-old company within functional fashion Swedish fashion company Didriksons is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a leading manufacturer of functional and fashionable outdoor clothing and rainwear for all ages. Their successful lifestyle brand and concept of combining trends and functionality have experienced a big upswing in the last 15 years. Today, they are one of Sweden’s most successful companies and their export is rapidly increasing.
established a strong position internationally by creating strong collections of outdoor but also every-day, modern clothing for the active family,” Bosse Hylander continues.
By Emelie Krugly Hill | Photos: Didriksons
“We’ve celebrated this special anniversary by creating two limited edition Heritage collections. Both collections are retro inspired and draw inspiration from the company's history and have so far been received very well.”
Thanks to a generous wedding gift of 5,000 crowns, Hanna and Julius Didrikson managed to realise their business idea and established the company in 1913 in Grundsund on the Swedish west coast. The Didriksons had seen a gap in the market for functional clothing for fishermen in the area. It didn’t take long before the interest in their quality oil garments grew and the company with it. As time passed, competition grew bigger, a financial crisis was on the horizon, and finally the company began to struggle in the 1990s. In 1998, it looked like the brand wouldn’t survive when it was then bought up by Sören Andreasson, who recognised its potential. Together with a new ownership group, he began working on a new strategy for the brand Didriksons. The beginning of the last decade saw a modest but constant increase in sales, enhancing
the brand’s development momentum around 2005, since when it has successfully entered one market after another. “The reason behind our turnaround was that we managed to quickly identify the customer and the customer analysis as a starting point. We have worked hard with concepts such as function, design and affordability. Our clothes are not exactly cheap but still give the customer great value for money,” says PR manager Bosse Hylander. Today, the company works with modern multi-functional materials, with many of the company's collections featuring waterproof, breathable materials. A strong on-going trend is the rain gear collection. “Interest in Didriksons is stronger than ever, and we are proud to say that we have
Since 1998, Didriksons’ head office has been based in Borås, known as Sweden's textile centre, but a big part of the production of clothing now takes place in China where Didriksons also has offices. Didriksons today has a very strong position in the Swedish market, but its exports are increasing rapidly. The largest export country is Norway, but strong growth is happening right now in the UK, and Didriksons is currently active in over 20 countries. For more information, please visit: www.didriksons.com
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Morakniv – A national treasure Mora, in Sweden’s Dalarna County, certainly is a place that takes most Swedes back to childhood days of woodwork, fishing and attempts at carpentry. Not because they all went there, of course, but because of the memory of the Morakniv (Mora knife). By Linnea Dunne (edited by Nia Kajastie) | Photos: Håkan Olsén
Mora has been famous for its fine knives since the 1600s, and probably even earlier. Firmly anchored in this long tradition of craftsmanship, Erik Frost founded his knife factory in Östnor just outside Mora in 1891. He created a knife that strongly calls to mind what is today known as the classic Mora knife with its red shaft, which has become almost a national symbol. Backed by skills honed for over a century, knife manufacturer Mora of Sweden continues to create knives for construction, crafts, food, adventure and hoof care, all with the much-loved original as inspiration and guiding star. First-class kitchens and top chefs The Mora knife is no stranger to firstclass kitchen environments either, as now-famous Swedish chef Mathias Dahlgren is known to use the knife and the Chef of the Year 2012, Klas Lindberg, included one on his winning plate.
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This summer, Mora of Sweden will also make an appearance in the lavish setting of the Hamptons, where guests like Alec Baldwin and Gwyneth Paltrow will be using a Mora steak knife, designed by Swedish chef Mathias Dahlgren and Mårten Cyrén, at Swedish Culinary Summer events. Mora knives will also be popping up on Swedish television shows Moreaus med mera and Mitt kök – Sverigresan, and the company is once again supporting the Swedish national culinary team. While gourmet cooking is perhaps not what the knife has traditionally been most widely known for, CEO Fredrik Skarp explains, the popular knife has many guises. “A lot of people buy the knife for fishing and outdoor activities, but we make a wide range of knives for a number of different tasks. For example, we sell a lot to professional butchers around the world, people who use these sharp and durable tools for six or seven hours a day.”
Swedish through and through As the manufacturer rightly likes to point out, if it does not have Made in Sweden written on it, it probably is not. But with production, marketing, research and management all under one roof in the same village that breathes of knife-making heritage, it is not just the name of its most famous knife and the name of the company that suggest that this product is Swedish through and through. Ask any Swede in the street about the Mora knife: this is tradition, national pride and a whole lot of memories all in one red, wooden knife handle.
For more information, please visit: moraofsweden.se
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Tailor-made toilet solutions Danfo has been working on providing quality and tailor-made toilet solutions to the public for more than 40 years. We have specialised in making toilets for public use and offer a wide selection of solutions, depending on the clients´ needs and requests. Our ability to provide a diverse range of products and different solutions has led to the establishment of our company as the premier toilet facility provider. We always deal professionally and remain engaged with our clients, also beyond the initial sales period. We notice a currently lack of public toilet facilities all over the world and see a growing market in many countries. We therefore look for possible representatives/agents for building a long-term relationship where ever our products would find a market. For more information about our public facility solutions, visit www.danfo.com
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 23
The two Scandinavian top workwear brands Fristads and Kansas came together as Fristads Kansas under the umbrella of Kwintet Group.
Come together: brands that unite, clothes that last To Swedish workers, the Fristads brand was always a stamp of approval, a symbol for a great tradition of manufacturing durable workwear. And Kansas was to Denmark what Fristads was to the Swedes: a promise of the same good quality and proud heritage. Together with numerous other well-known brands in every segment of the professional workwear market, the two Scandinavian top brands came together as Fristads Kansas under the umbrella of Kwintet with one clear mission: to dress people for work. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Kwintet Group
The journey began in the middle of the 19th century as Lafont, the most famous workwear brand in France, was founded. Only one decade later, another six of the brands that would eventually contribute to Kwintet’s all-round expertise had been born. Finally, in 2003, having accumulated a wide range of market-leading
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brands, Kwintet Group became the umbrella brand it is today. Adapted for growth and innovation One thing is obvious: this is not about buying up and closing down competition purely for the sake of market domination. Far from being threatened by the success
of individual workwear brands, Kwintet sees their potential, their expertise, and what they have to offer that the company does not already have. As Steen Koch, vice-president of global marketing and innovation, says: “We have teams of experts in every category, striving for innovative improvements in all of our products and services – something we can do better than anybody else on the market thanks to the expertise from our many different brands.” Indeed, innovation is at the heart of Kwintet. “We’ve optimised our internal processes, adapted our organisation – all to prepare for even closer cooperation with our customers,” says Koch. ”And
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden
we’re now ready to conquer new parts of the market.” Kwintet’s position within workwear is already unrivalled, but thanks to the prominent brand Hejco, the company is strong also within the service wear sector – an opportunity that certainly will not go to waste. Two new brands have just been added to Kwintet’s service wear portfolio in Sweden: Clinic Dress in the Health & Care segment, born out of a merger, and Bragard in the Horeca segment, bringing over 75 years of experience and offering everything from ready-to-wear ranges to bespoke solutions. Kwintet’s two new service wear brands Clinic Dress (left) and Bragard (right).
Physically and ethically durable If quality, expertise and innovation can be said to represent cornerstones in the business, the fourth keyword is sustainability. And in the language of Kwintet, sustainability relates not only to nature and the environment in an ecological sense, but also to working conditions and social concerns.
ment undoubtedly improves, leading to more innovative products; and, finally, with centralised operations, everything is easier and the supply chain less complicated. It is a win-win for everybody – and the workwear market has never seen anything like it. A promise of greatness
There is no such thing as a quick fix: dialogue, accountability, transparency and continuous improvement are non-negotiable prerequisites for all of Kwintet’s partners and stakeholders. These policies cover all parts of the organisation, so it is a promise from the manufacturer to the workers that their clothes are durable – physically as well as ethically.
It takes no genius to detect the unique selling point here: Kwintet Group is simply greater than the sum of its brands. Four times bigger than its closest competitor, the company knows it owes a lot to its customers. “And the same goes for Fristads Kansas,” Koch admits. “It’s almost twice the size of the next-in-line
competitor, and that simply wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for a large number of great, loyal customers.” Returning the favour, thankfully, is easy. Kwintet’s guiding principle consists of its legacy of providing for the needs of people at work, continuously delivering safe, comfortable, stylish and functional clothes. As long as that mission remains, there is no reason why their customers would ever go elsewhere. For more information, please visit: www.kwintet.com www.fristadskansas.com
A win-win fusion Koch speaks enthusiastically but in earnest of the merger that saw Fristads and Kansas become one: “It takes time to get used to a new name, no doubt. But it’s crystal clear that it’s been worth it; Fristads Kansas offers even better products for our customers, from the now by far greatest range of workwear in Europe.” The benefits for the customer are unquestionable: the joined-up clothing line is not only bigger, but it offers the best of both worlds; the fusion means that what used to be two catalogues have now become one, giving a better overview and making comparisons easier; as two R&D teams join forces, the product develop-
Fristads Kansas
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s u o i c i l e d e m Sa taste! ew n d n a r
- in a bing design. g packa
DAIM is a trademark owned and licensed by Mondelēz International.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden
Daniel Wellington – a journey of elegance and preppy cool The style is as timeless as it is impeccable and has quickly acquired a fan base spanning the world. So what is it about Daniel Wellington watches that has got style-savvy aficionados hooked? It would seem that it all began with a journey. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Daniel Wellington
When founder of the brand, Filip Tysander, met an English gentleman on his travels through Australia, he was immediately inspired. Daniel Wellington wore his chinos and button-down shirts with an unspoken, preppy elegance, and more strikingly, his beloved Rolex on a worn, grey Nato strap. Wellington represented a re-
laxed lifestyle that would never compromise on class. “He had a very inspirational style about him, always dressing nicely even while travelling,” says Tysander. “I told him of my idea to make a line of preppy watches inspired by him, and he approved.”
Tysander followed through with his plan. He designed his first line of minimalistic watches for men and women, turning the D of Daniel’s name around to create a logotype illustrating where the idea came to life – namely down under. The iconic Nato strap, historically used in the British navy, was kept and remade in a multitude of shades, while the timepiece itself was made thinner to comply with the sleek design. The strap can easily be changed for a different one, and you may also choose a more neutral leather strap for your piece. “It is an accessory that works well with the preppy lifestyle, for men and women alike. The challenge was to make a watch that would embody the timelessness of Daniel Wellington, while retaining an appeal to an ever-changing world of trends. I think we have succeeded as we have picked up on a unique design, which you can combine with a variety of personal looks,” says Tysander. Today, the still young brand has distributors in 20 countries, with Sweden and the United States as the main spheres of influence. Tysander can also reveal that a deal has just been signed with one of the largest distributors in the UK, promising exciting times ahead for the company which started out as a journey-bred idea “The watch industry is one very much fond of copying. We have filled a gap with a unique design that appeals to a wide range of people, without watering down our brand and the quality we stand for. That makes us stand out,” says Tysander.
Filip Tysander
For more information, please visit: www.danielwellington.com
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 27
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden
Designing multifunctional workplaces for mixed generations Kinnarps is one of the leading European designers of functional office environments. They have conducted extensive research during the last year on how our working habits will change in the near future, in order to anticipate forthcoming needs that will be evident in our offices and to be positioned at the cutting edge of innovation in workspace solutions.
lor-made office solutions adjusted to fit varied individual needs, no matter whether old or young, man or woman, tall or short. Kinnarps can create unique solutions for pleasant office spaces that will make your employees enjoy being at work.
By Cecilia Varricchio | Photos: Kinnarps
Flexibility and the new technique As we spend more than half of our “awake� time at work, it is very important that working places are designed in a functional way to allow people to feel comfortable and maximise their productivity. This goal can be achieved by creating different areas suitable for the diverse needs of different people. Kinnarps has always taken all these topics very seriously and has succeeded in shaping tai-
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Kinnarps has summarized the main changes for future offices in a Trend Report, which informs us about the greatest challenges for employers of today. The average age of population and, similarly, the age up to which people will continue working are increasing, implying that the needs of a 20-year-old employee will have to be taken care of together with the needs of a 65-year-old employee when
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden
designing an office environment. Also technology is changing at an incredible pace playing an important role when thinking of a new office environment: there will be an ever-increasing need to be reachable no matter where you are working from; offices will have to be flexible and wireles, with the possibility of working both from a desk, a sofa and a meeting room, depending on which task we need to perform or how the employee prefers to work best in order to maximise his productivity and the use of his time in the office. It has been observed that using common “landscape environments” in offices has not proved to be a successful enabler for productivity, as many employees get distracted and lose concentration. Soft values in focus A big change in today’s generation’s mindset is the importance which is given to money: money is becoming a less and less important factor when selecting a job. There are many other factors which are given priority when considering a potential employment opportunity. Such factors are connected with more “soft values” and include flexibility, business ethics, the possibility of working from home and free time to spend with the family. Also, new potential employees consider it very important to know the impact that their job might have. Also, as people become more aware of the human impact on nature and the environment, they tend to consider this aspect when they select their job, and try to choose a company based on how environmentally friendly it is. Usually we don’t want to work
for companies that don’t share our values and don’t take responsibility for the next generations: this is another important aspect that needs to be taken into consideration. Kinnarps considers environment as a crucial issue. They constantly work to improve sustainability, and they have obtained several different environment certifications for their products. Moreover, Kinnarps do not deliver their furniture in wooden or cardboard boxes, but instead the furniture comes already assembled under a cover which can be reused, therefore dramatically decreasing their environmental impact.
needs to be done according to this principle, but also every piece of furniture has to fulfil the same requirements. Therefore, all chairs and desks are easily adjustable to ease movement around the office during the day. Also, Kinnarps is conducting solid research to develop and produce the best furniture based on ergonomic science.
A better working place for everyone
Kinnarps is a market leader and an expert in creating happy employees and realising better working environments.
As already mentioned above, Kinnarps is extremely aware of the importance of having satisfied employees in order to help increase productivity and satisfaction levels in the office. Kinnarps believes that not only the design of the whole office space
In a changing world with shifting work dynamics, comfortable and relaxed office spaces fulfilling needs driven by soft values are crucial for any company determined to succeed in the long run.
For more information, please visit: www.kinnarps.com
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 29
Oslo
Frederikshavn
Gothenburg Varberg
Grenaa Belfast Dublin Dun Laoghaire
Karlskrona
Cairnryan
Holyhead
Kiel
Liverpool
Gdynia
Rosslare Fishguard
Harwich Hook of Holland
Drive to Sweden with Stena Line Let Stena Line help you take the strain out of driving to Sweden. With a choice of short routes with frequent crossings and longer routes with overnight journeys we can help to make your journey more relaxing and convenient Onboard our ships you will find a range of facilities all designed to make your crossing as comfortable as possible. Remember to book early for our best fares. Welcome onboard!
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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 | Special Theme | Made in Sweden
Freezing? In Ullfrotté Original garments from Woolpower you won’t be. Photos: Gösta Fries
Focus on function After the wool of the merino sheep in Argentina and Uruguay has been cut, it is shipped off to Germany. After the transformation into yarn is made, it finally ends up in Östersund, in the north of Sweden, where Woolpower creates thermal garments that will let you focus on your passion. By Elin Berta | Photos: Woolpower
About 40 years ago, a collaboration between the Swedish Military, scientists and Woolpower resulted in the material Ullfrotté Original. The fabric is a blend of merino wool and synthetic fibre still used by Woolpower today to make comfortable and warm clothes for people who have – whether they want to or not – to stay outside despite cold weather.
“We have a tradition of being outdoors, and because of the cold climate in this part of Sweden, we have a lot of knowledge about how to keep warm,” Torbjörn Ryman, marketing director at Woolpower AB, says. Having all the production, from yarn to finished garment, under the same roof
Left: Each garment is sewn by one seamstress who labels it with her own unique name tag. Right: Wool is the nature’s own functional material with exceptional properties perfect for base layers and thermal garments. Woolpower uses fine merino wool in all its garments.
gives the company complete control over the production. Being able to follow the manufacturing process step by step, they are given a unique possibility to constantly improve both products and their competence. Once the material is knitted and prepared through several machines, the different parts get much more personal attention. “Each garment is made by one seamstress,” Ryman continues. “We are very proud of our products, and the seamstress controls and is responsible for the garment she sews and will sew her name tag into the finished garment to confirm the product is approved.” The company offers a wide collection of clothes for both adults and children. Among the wide range of products, you will find base layers, thermal undergarments, socks and a range of accessories. One of the more unusual additions is a special belly warmer for pregnant women. “We want to make it easy for people to stay outside,” Ryman says. ”Whether you have to because of your profession, or you want to enjoy outdoor sports or trekking, we want to make it possible for you to do so without having to pay any thought to the freezing weather. Garments in Ullfrotté Original from Woolpower make sure you don’t freeze, and the fact that the clothes also look nice is of course a bonus.”
For more information, please visit: www.woolpower.com
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden
The perfect tools for a perfect cooking experience If you want to enjoy a perfect cooking experience and obtain the perfect result, you need to be aware that the tools you use are as important as the raw ingredients that you cook with. The best quality cast iron pans for healthier food, locally made in Sweden, won’t disappoint you. By Cecilia Varricchio | Photos: Skeppshult
Skeppshult is an old and venerable Swedish company that is committed to producing quality cast iron products proudly since 1906. Of course, a lot has changed since the early beginnings, but a lot has also remained the same. Simon Bolmgren and his father have been the new owners since buying the company two and a half years ago. When they took over, a lot of their workers became a little bit nervous, fearing that all or most of the production would disappear abroad. But one of Skepphult’s founding values was and still is to control every single piece that comes out of the factory, and therefore nothing has changed in this respect. The quality controls that Skeppshult has in place for its products are extremely
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thorough, especially if compared with most of the frying pans imported from abroad, which in many cases are not tested at all. If you care about what you eat, you should of course also care about the pans and pots you use to cook your food in, simply because not knowing how the pans’ iron is made means not knowing what’s in the food you are eating.
tures and is almost impossible to break. Bolmgren tells us that everything that could possibly be realised in cast iron should be actually done with it because of its strength and heat transmission characteristics. Another fundamental feature is that the quality of the material allows Skeppshult to provide every product with a 25-year guarantee. Buying a Skeppshult pan will have a great impact on the environment, on your wellbeing, as well as your wallet.
Expanding abroad Cast iron pans were very popular abroad as well until the 70s when they almost disappeared from the market. Skeppshult is now one of the few makers of these high-quality pans which are made of oiled cast iron. Cast iron is ideal as a material for making pans because it is strong, can be heated up to extremely high tempera-
For more information, please visit: www.skeppshult.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden
Renowned Swedish chef Erik Lallerstedt
Restaurant-made Swedish sauces on your dinner table Nothing matters more than the taste of that first bite. Therefore, the makers of Erik’s Sauces believe that everyone should be able to enjoy a high-quality savoury meal in the comfort of their own home.
close to their facilities, as well as minimizing transportation stretches. Von Essen explains that this consciousness has been a founding pillar of the brand.
By Julie Lindén | Photos: Eriks Såser
Named for and chiefly developed by Sweden’s most famous chef, Erik Lallerstedt, Erik’s Sauces is a line of cold sauces aimed at complementing everything from a Swedish smörgåsbord to a summer barbecue. “Our idea was to create products of handmade quality, which people can enjoy without having to dine out. It was a natural thing to work with Erik Lallerstedt in accomplishing this, as he is known as the king of sauces among Swedish chefs. We wanted the ‘sender’ to be someone of his unmistakable authenticity and skill,” says Fredrik von Essen, CEO and director of marketing at Erik’s Sauces. The line includes six sauces ranging from Swedish favourite remoulade to the clas-
sic French Béarnaise. They are available throughout Scandinavia, while English foodies can buy five of them exclusively from Ocado. Every pot of cold sauce is handmade by chefs in Stockholm, who do their outmost to perfect every taste experience. “We produce these sauces in our own facilities, and we only use ingredients of the highest quality. We are very proud to use only Swedish rapeseed oil as a base for the sauces, as we think the finished product will only be as good as the ingredients used. This makes us a gourmet choice,” says von Essen. Not only carefully selecting the ingredients used, Erik’s Sauces make a point out of sourcing the packaging from locations
“We are in the food industry, but our heritage is very much from the restaurant industry. Quality and environmental thinking come naturally to us, and that’s also why we are able to come up with these genuinely good flavours.” Von Essen says Erik’s Sauces will continue to provide customers around Europe with an alternative to powder sauces – and hopefully also venture into markets elsewhere in the world. “I believe we would do well in the US, as a feature in the all-American barbeque. We have our eyes on the world, while we will always remain thoroughly Swedish – marked by our premium quality.” For more information, please visit: www.erikssaser.se
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: ME AY E H L T RW
O CIA IN N E SP GN SI DE
HONOURS AWARD TO LOYDS PAXSTER: “On behalf of the county of Østfold, we have now shown that we can design and produce very good products,” says Bård Eker (right) from Eker Design, pictured here with Kristin Skogen Lund, president of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise and designer Ulf Tolfsen from Loyds Industri. Photo: Johnny Syversen / Norwegian Design Council
Norwegian design in export drive
Text and photos by Norwegian Design Council
“We are all from the county of Østfold south-east of Oslo, a county not renowned as a centre of innovation. In other words, we had some catching up to do. But I think now we have shown that we can design, we can make a contribution to industry and we can produce very good products,” said Bård Eker from Eker Design on receiving the Honours Award for Design Excellence. “It is important that trade and industry dare to think inventively,” adds Kristin Skogen Lund, president of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise and presenter of the Honours Award for Design Excellence during Design Day, the most
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prestigious event for showcasing Norwegian design and innovation. “Design is a strategic tool to promote innovation in Norway. It boosts competitiveness and creates tomorrow’s winners.” Thea Mehl, project manager with the Norwegian Design Council, reports that a number of Norwegian companies use strategic design as a tool for achieving ambitious international goals: “Loyds Paxster is a unique product that is 100% designed for the job it is required for, namely to deliver the post. It is an ergonomic, environmentally friendly, efficient and attractive working environment with tremendous international potential."
The Honours Award for Design Excellence showcases those who stand out in the field of design. The aim is to inspire trade and industry to invest in design methodology in order to increase competitive ability and value creation. Loyds Industri received the Honours Award for Design Excellence in strong competition with Blaaster Wind Technologies, Stay and Norwegian Sea Rescue.
Photo: Johnny Syversen
Oslo, Norway: They have designed Europe’s most efficient and environmentally friendly vehicle for postal deliveries, and now the vehicle is on the verge of an export drive. Loyds Industri, Eker Design and Norway Post have won the Honours Award for Design Excellence for the postal delivery vehicle Loyds Paxster.
For more information, please visit: www.norskdesign.no
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design in Norway
Berre Leik (Just Play): “This tapas service is inspired by our family dinners, where I was told: ‘Do not play with the food, child.’ All the porcelain parts can be put together as you prefer, so that it fits the party, the table, the food and your mood.”
Innovative, contemporary and environmentally friendly design from Nokoanna Nokoanna is a Norwegian industrial design company led by the award-winning designer Anna Øren. It focuses on innovative, contemporary and environmentally friendly concept development, inspired by Scandinavian culture. The company provides a full spectrum of design, from idea sketches and 3D modelling to manufacturing and launch. By Stian Sangvig | Photos: Nokoanna
tendre as it is Norwegian dialect meaning something else or something different; Øren also managed to include her first name Anna in the company name.
Øren formed Nokoanna in 2012 after 11 successful years as creative director with Hareide Design. Whilst there she won international and national awards for her designs, including red dot, best of the best, iF Gold and eight Norwegian Awards for Design Excellence. “I formed Nokoanna to focus on iconic product development with roots in Scandinavian history and culture,” she says. By this she also means it is a motivator to design products which are environmentally friendly and which can be produced efficiently using locally sourced raw materials. The name Nokoanna forms an interesting double en-
“Currently I am on my own in the company, but I am always seeking skilled complementary partners and producers to cooperate with. To be able to design good quality products for the client and for the consumer, it is important for Nokoanna to closely provide leadership and quality control of the product development process with all its critical phases and details, so that the launched product will be
Ferga (Ferry): This bench is inspired by the ships that ferry people and goods across fjords in Norway and the stereotypical cultural trait of Norwegians being a little bit shy, meaning it is best to be seated facing away from each other.
Urokråka (Troublemaker): The concept is inspired by the fairy tales of Norway that often include talking animals. This shelf system allows you to puzzle the animals together into a shelf or place them as individual creatures.
successful,” says Øren. “Generally my goal is to always think out of the box, in order to offer the client something unique.” Nokoanna wants to provide industry design from lifestyle products and tools to machines and transport – the whole spectrum. Øren has worked for clients from different industries, including Jøtul, Kongsberg Maritime, Figgio, Porsgrund Bad, Beha, Move About, Ekornes, Wenaas, Viking, Helle, Mester Grønn, Jordan, Fora Form and Hjellegjerde. “My goal for the future is to continue to develop iconic, lasting and environmentally friendly products which people will enjoy using and talk about for a long time,” concludes Anna Øren. For more information, please visit: www.nokoanna.no
Tida (Time): This watch is inspired by the ferry time schedules which show days as numbers between 1 and 7. The watch has no telephone, no Internet connection, no camera and no Twitter account - just like the old ferry time schedules.
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Above and opposite right: KIND is managing the brand of Coldwater Prawns, Norway's largest prawn company.
One of a KIND KIND design and advertising company was launched just four months ago but is already working with several well-known Norwegian companies. As well as getting local recognition, KIND has already started its international expansion with departments both in the UK and China. According to CEO Tom Emil Olsen, this is just the beginning. By Kjersti Westeng | Photos: KIND
Olsen and partner Robert Austnes cofounded KIND in February 2013. After working in the design and advertising industry for years, they both felt it was time to start their own company. Olsen is an award-winning creative director, art director and graphic designer, with extensive design experience. Before starting KIND, he spent eight years as the creative director of one of the leading design agencies in north-west Norway. Olsen has won numerous awards during his time in the industry, and in 2012, he was listed on Adweek Magazine’s Talent 100 list as one
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of the top 100 creative talents in the world. Austnes graduated from Westerdals School of Communication and has broad experience as a designer with a number of agencies. He now works as a senior designer for KIND. Four months on and KIND consists of a main office in Bergen, a department in China and a department in the UK, with projects lined up from around the world. Olsen explains: “Our team consists of creative people with more than 15 years of wide-raging experience within branding,
design and advertising. Together we have worked with several of Norway's biggest brands.” He is very happy with the development of his young but ambitious company. “We hand-picked the best designers in Norway, and we have come a long way just in a few months. I have high ambitions for KIND; we want to become the very best design and advertising company when it comes to conceptual branding,” he says. Emotional brands Conceptual branding can be described as extended brand building where the focus is on both the visual and emotional aspects of a brand. To KIND, brand development is not just about logos and colours; it is about creating an emotional attachment. Traditionally, a design company would handle the visual aspects whereas an advertising company would take care of
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design in Norway
building that emotional attachment. KIND does both, placing them in a formidable position. KIND’s positioning allows the designers to work closely with the client from the idea phase to implementation, ensuring the creation of a unified concept. The designers at KIND believe in continuity and thinking long-term, arranging regular evaluation meetings to ensure that the client is satisfied. According to KIND, the key to a successful brand lies in telling stories which appeal to the heart. They create brands which make the customers feel something – whether it is joy, sadness, anger or pride. “The worst thing that could happen is if people feel nothing. A successful brand always makes you feel something,” Olsen says. KIND is already working with some of the best-known brands in Norway, such as Cappelen Damm, NAF Insurance, Coldwater Prawns of Norway (the largest prawn company in Norway), Dimo (formerly part of Rolls-Royce Marine), and Jacu Coffee Roastery. The latter recently received the Norwegian Design Council’s Award for Design Excellence for their visual identity created by Olsen. He has worked with Jacu Coffee Roastery since 2011 and is now managing the team at KIND that is developing further brand strategies for the Norwegian coffee roastery. Another well-known client of KIND’s is Grøvik Verk, Norway’s leading manufacturer of complete gutter systems. Olsen has worked with Grøvik Verk for
Jacu Coffee Roastery received the Award for Design Excellence for its visual identity created by Tom Erik Olsen.
over 14 years, and KIND is now managing the rebranding of the over 60-year-old company. As well as building an impressive client portfolio locally, KIND has also established a name for itself internationally. Shortly after their launch, KIND started collaborating with a British agency, which soon led to the opening of a joint department in China. Both the UK and the Chinese department work under the KIND umbrella, building strong concepts and networks together. KIND has also received a lot of international recognition for their local projects, which in turn has led to companies from all over the world contacting them for their in-house expertise. “We’ve got projects in the pipeline in Aus-
tralia, Asia and Africa. This is a very exciting time for us, and we plan on continuing our expansion, both locally and internationally,” Olsen finishes.
For more information, please visit: www.kindnorway.com
Left: Robert Austnes, Senior Designer (left) and Tom Emil Olsen, CEO and Creative Director (right).
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design in Norway
CEO Simon Flack and Creative Director Vivian Llarena
Putting the pieces together What happens when seven young and ambitious entrepreneurs, each with their own field of expertise, join forces in order to make their mark on the Norwegian design market? The answer is quite simply: Whitefox. By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Frida Bringslimark
Long gone are the days when a strong visual profile meant having your company logo on business cards and stationary. In today's interactive digital landscape you need a marketing strategy, a communication strategy, a digital strategy, an adapting and functional design that works across all platforms and solid programming to support that design. And, of course, you still need your company logo on business cards and stationary. Working out of a bright and trendy office in the Norwegian city of Bodø, north of the Arctic Circle, Whitefox offers a complete package solution encompassing all of
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these elements, with specialists in each field all gathered under one roof. Their holistic approach to the design business is defined by their simple yet comprehensive slogan: “We put the pieces together.” “The design itself is just the tip of the iceberg. We offer a complete package, including all the things that hide beneath the surface – all the elements of a communication process that you do not necessarily see,” says creative director at Whitefox, Vivian Llarena. “The good thing about having everything under one roof is that if I, as a designer, need some technical input, I can just
walk across the hall to Øyvin, our CTO,” she adds. Dealing with customers that work in international markets, Whitefox benefits from having a young and diverse team, always keeping up to speed with the latest trends and searching for a fresh take on an ever-changing scene. “We have a pretty unique work environment. We make sure everyone is free to work exactly how they need to. We are young, dedicated people who work together as a team, and no one person is above anyone else,” says Llarena. Making a splash The story of Whitefox, in its current form, starts on January 1, 2012, when IT company Whitefox and design company Jubel Design merged in order to be able to pro-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design in Norway
steady growth after the merger, and even managed to turn a profit in its first operating year. Now hosting a range of large clients, including AVINOR Bodø (a statefunded airport operator), Statskog (a state-owned enterprise managing public lands) and the Nordland County Council, Flack hopes the company can keep growing at a steady pace, expanding in both territory and size. Whitefox also wishes to further expand its area of expertise, working as a consultant agency on both a national and international level.
vide customers with a complete package solution – from programming and integration to design, marketing and brand management. “We decided to keep the name Whitefox because it has more potential on an international market,” explains CEO Simon Flack. In just 18 months the company has established itself as a leading interaction design specialist on the northern Norwegian market, and the company prides itself on being the first business from the county of Nordland to be included in Innovation Norway's Global Entrepreneurship Trainee Program (GET). Now that
Working out of a bright office in the Norwegian city of Bodø, Whitefox offers a complete package solution.
they have a solid foothold in the Bodø region the ambitious team of entrepreneurs is looking across Norwegian borders. “We have made a lot of noise in order to make our presence in the market felt. We have big ambitions, and we want the world to see us as much more than just a small design company from Bodø. We have the expertise to provide professional products that will stand the test of time,” says Flack. Growing at the right pace Despite the challenges any new company faces, Whitefox managed to maintain a
“We want to become a major actor in the market, but at the same time we do not want to be a company with 200 employees. When our customers contact us, they will always be able to know exactly who they are talking to, and not have to go through a switchboard. An important part of our work is to listen to each customer to be able to give them the best advice,” says Llarena. “One thing is certain: our main priority will always be the quality of our services.” For more information, please visit: www.whitefox.no
From left to right: CTO Øyvin Thuv, Evgenia Marvold, Astrid Dahl, CEO Simon Flack, Silje Sætre, Vivian Llarena and Silje Willumsen Hansen
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design in Norway
The Remerk Project
Thinking outside the box from inside their bubble Operating out of idyllic Stryn, on the Norwegian west coast, the bright minds at Farmhouse are not afraid of incorporating non-traditional ideas into their designs, in order to fulfil their vision of being Norway's leading creative centre. By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Farmhouse
Farmhouse is the brainchild of the people behind successful Norwegian clothing brand Moods of Norway. Dating back to 2005, the idea became reality the following year, when this national creative centre was officially opened on 30 June 2006. “The concept was to create a hub for designers, creative students and the business sector. Our job at Farmhouse is to bring ideas to life, and make them a reality,” explains creative director Gro Caroline Flølo.
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Specialising in design-driven development projects, Farmhouse has worked with a plethora of small and medium-sized businesses, and in its first six years, the company has seen a steady growth in both scope and turnover. With seven in-house employees, and a broad network of collaborative partners, Farmhouse offers a broad area of expertise, including everything from communication strategy, concept development and marketing plans to visual communication, identity enhancement and branding.
“Our main strength is interdisciplinarity within design. We take on a range of different assignments, and we have the right people for each stage of the development process available in-house. We also have the methods and tools to make that process more efficient,” says Flølo. Serene surroundings Farmhouse draws a lot of inspiration from Moods of Norway, and like its “mother company”, the national creative centre has its headquarters in the idyllic coastal town Stryn, on the west coast of Norway. “Stryn is very important to us. It is the most wonderful place in the world to operate from. This is a place where in summer you can go skiing and go to the beach
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design in Norway
on the same day. Is it any wonder we feel inspired to be creative when we have nature so close to us?” asks Flølo. Stryn is much more than a pearl of nature, however. From a professional point of view, Stryn is known to be a highly creative community, hosting many excellent designers and a rich business environment. “We have been allowed to grow in our own little bubble, and we are able to work on a national level without seeing much of our competition, despite there being so many talented individuals in this business,” says Flølo.
Stryn on the west coast of Norway
She believes operating from a small town on the west coast rather than from the capital, Oslo, where they keep a district office for practical reasons, has shielded Farmhouse from its competitors in many ways, and allowed the designers to develop in their own direction.
“It is important for us to know that we are a bit different, and a bit untraditional, because that is what comes naturally to us,” says Flølo. “Our headquarters have always been in Stryn, and they always will be.”
From left to right: Peder Børresen, Moods of Norway; Elisabeth Stray Pedersen, Farmhouse; Gro Flølo, Farmhouse; Åshild Kjelsnes, Sogn og Fjordane County/Road Safety Authority; Simen Staalnacke, Moods of Norway.
house found that one of the main reasons why people do not wear reflectors is that they are not naturally integrated in clothing. To solve this, Farmhouse turned to Moods of Norway and Ricco Vero, two of Norway's largest clothing brands, to find out what role they could play in road safety, and whether or not they were willing to incorporate reflective materials in their designs. “We were able to develop an 'invisible reflector' for use in clothing, a design element which does not look like a reflective material until it needs to. We managed to show two of Norway's leading clothing brands that, when designing fashion, it is actually possible to integrate reflectors
and still keep your artistic freedom,” explains the creative director. Everything is possible “Remerk” is a great example of the kind of design-driven development projects Flølo wishes for Farmhouse to keep working on in the future. “Our slogan is 'Everything is possible'. We live for tackling new challenges, because if there were no new challenges, we would not have any work. That is what separates design from art.” For more information, please visit: www.farmhouse.no
Reflective fashion One of the larger projects Farmhouse has been working on lately is a development project named “Remerk”, issued by the road safety authority in Sogn og Fjordane County Council, in cooperation with the voluntary road safety organisation Trygg Trafikk. ”The Remerk Project challenged us to find ways to improve the use of reflectors by pedestrians and bicyclists on Norwegian roads,” says Flølo. In addition to a general opinion that reflectors are simply unattractive, Farm-
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design in Norway
Left: A booth wall as a part of the corporate design for the Norwegian telecommunications company Telio. Top right: A part of an awareness campaign made for Antidoping Norway – to inform young boys on the disadvantages of anabolic steroids. Below: A detail of the corporate profile of the consultant company alliance Overhuset.
Search Matters How do you create an engaging and inviting “internal Google” for a company with 25,000 employees spread across 30 countries? This is the type of challenge that drives the search solution experts at Comperio. By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Comperio
Founded in 2004 as a spin-off of information technology specialists FAST, Comperio started out as a purely technical search solutions company, specialising in internet and enterprise search. Today Comperio is a leading player within their field, recognised for their broad expertise and well respected on the international market. The company has seen steady growth over the years, and today houses 45 employees spread across offices in Oslo, Stockholm, London and Boston. “Three years ago we started noticing that the market wanted more than just the technical aspect. They wanted a complete
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user experience, including the design to go with it,” says design manager Johannes Hoff Holmedahl, who is now part of a team of six designers at the Oslo office. Living by the mantra “Search Matters” and driven by a passion for delivering the most innovative search solutions on the market, Comperio decided to expand their services and incorporate more design into their work. “Now we stand out amongst our competitors in the IT market because we offer design and advertising, and we stand out amongst our competitors in the design market because we can provide solid
technical expertise to back up our designs,” explains Holmedahl. Comperio uses this combination of creative and technical expertise to create complete user experiences which are inviting, engaging and easy to use. “We love taking on huge challenges. We are not what you might call 'light designers'. Our motivation is finding simple solutions to complex issues, or telling a complicated story in the simplest way possible, if you will,” says Holmedahl. Search solutions In its nine years on the market, the company has built up an impressive portfolio of clients, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, Aker Solutions, SINTEF and UNICEF. “Our typical customers are large companies and enterprises who work with com-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design in Norway
plex issues and need large amounts of data in order to do their job properly,” says Holmedahl. One such customer is Aker Solutions, an international enterprise in the oil industry with over 25,000 employees in more than 30 countries, for whom Comperio designed a search solution called Knowledge Arena. Knowledge Arena, which Comperio describes as “an internal LinkedIn and Google”, gives Aker's employees instant access to any person, project, product or document information they need with the click of a button, and also includes a social networking service. “When creating an enterprise search solution, and a social network, that spreads across 30 countries, you have to consider the cultural differences. We like to think that Norwegians and Swedes are fairly similar, but our sense of humour differs. As does the way we share things. We cannot assume that we will automatically use a system in the same way because that is not how things work,” says Holmedahl. Comperio seems to have found a way to design systems that appeal to everyone, and in February, one of their solutions was recognised as one of the top three “Best Search Solutions of 2013” at the European SharePoint Conference. Recently, the same solution landed Compe-
Comperio employees on a field trip to Monaco.
rio a nomination as a finalist at Microsoft’s 2013 Collaboration and Content Partner of the Year awards. Two years earlier they were recognised as 2011 Microsoft Search Partner of the Year for “demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology” for a similar solution made for Innovation Norway. Ever expanding Holmedahl points out that Comperio also offer more design-based services such as advertising campaigns and visual profiles. “We always look for different things to do in order to keep our minds fresh. When working with design projects as large as we do, it can be refreshing for both us and our customers to occasionally take on smaller projects, such as the corporate identity we created for the telecommunications company Telio and the interior de-
sign we did for Sherpa Consulting,” says Holmedahl. Ever expanding, Comperio now looks to build up their London office. “After years of success in Oslo, we are happy to see a number of great projects with a focus on user experience now starting up in London,” says Holmedahl. The only reason why the company is not expanding at an even faster pace, according to the design manager, is that it is getting increasingly harder to find the right people to fill their ranks. “Our challenge is finding innovative and creative minds who know how to think like a Briton, as well as a Norwegian and an American,” says Trond Renshusløkken, country manager for the UK. For more information, please visit: www.comperiosearch.com
Left: Trond Renshusløkken, Country Manager for the UK; Middle: Johannes Hoff Holmedahl, Design Manager; Right: A poster from the internal launch campaign of the award-nominated solution made for Aker Solutions.
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competence can be applied to a much broader spectrum of problems. In our field, shaping services and digital experiences is becoming more of the norm. Our expertise lies in tackling complex issues, to which no one knows the correct answer. We gather insights from end users and convert them into solutions,” says Brobakke.
Blapp! is an interactive experience for children aged 1-4 with respiratory illnesses.
Tackling challenges head on The three young entrepreneurs at Nice Industrial Design hit the ground running, barely taking a breather between submitting their Master's theses and establishing their own company. By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Nice Industrial Design
“We are off to a pretty good start. We are three designers working full-time and making a living from our business. We have projects in fields ranging from health care to educational technology,” says manager at Nice, Ida Eriksdatter Brobakke. Established in August 2012, and based in Norway’s technology capital Trondheim, her company has come a long way in a short period of time. This collaboration between three young and ambitious industrial designers, all graduates of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), is all about taking on big challenges.
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“I think a lot of people misunderstand what we do. They hear the term 'industrial design' and immediately think products, but the fact is that design
Nice has found a niche within the health sector, an area that, according to Brobakke, offers some of the most challenging user groups, and some of the most interesting projects on the market. One such project is “Blapp!”, an interactive experience for children aged 1-4 with respiratory illnesses. “These children have to endure a treatment that requires them to sit still for seven minutes and breathe calmly. Since children that age have no concept of time, most of them start squirming after about a minute and need to be held down by parents telling them that 'it's only a few more minutes', which they do not understand,” says Brobakke. “Blapp! is an interactive journey that helps the children visualise the time remaining while playing through scenarios relating to their treatment.” With experience from projects like “Blapp!” Nice are now looking to expand their scope, even looking across borders for new and exciting challenges to take on.
The designers Anders Kjøllesdal, Jonas Asheim and Ida Eriksdatter Brobakke
For more information, please visit: www.wearenice.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design in Norway
A one-man experimental creative design company Combining his knowledge as a designer with inspiration from his time working in New York, Nils Wogsted has singlehandedly established and developed the design studio Blackmarket, pushing it to exciting heights. By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: Blackmarket
Working with motion design, vfx and illustration, Wogsted’s vision when starting the company was to create an alternative approach to projects, in cases when clients needed untraditional solutions or different gear. “When I started Blackmarket, I wanted it to be a multidisciplinary creative production company whose main goal is to go beyond the clients’ expectations,” explains Wogsted. “To succeed I combine the experimental with the commercial, thus managing to produce and maintain a personal identity throughout my work, despite using various techniques of live action, design, editing, animation and cinematography.”
Having worked with several large international and domestic clients, such as MTV, Nokia, Telenor and DnB, Wogsted and his Blackmarket create engaging experiences for broadcast, web and film. “The jobs I like best are the ones where I am relatively free to explore and experiment with new ideas and expressions. “Exemplified by the work I did on a personally initiated project called ‘Carbonated Experiments’, a short animated and visual experiment where the clean aluminium coke can sculpture plays with the absence of the well-known colour identity of Coca Cola, and instead interacts with the red, white and grey carbonation bubbles as a substitute of the identity,” Wogsted says.
Aiming to build a business housing several creative freelance designers able to offer a wide range of services to projectbased assignments, Wogsted started his career in New York before moving to Oslo and learnt about the business before starting his own company. “The company name plays on the idea of standing somewhat on the side line of the traditional advertising and design business, and contributing on projects where the client wants something more untraditional. “The aim is for Blackmarket to become the place to go for clients to get the exact competency needed for the desired project, offering flexibility and ability to test out new ideas without necessarily involving an entire agency,” Wogsted says. For more information, please visit: www.blackmarket.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design in Norway
A creative outlook on innovation with Fantastiske Osberget For years Fantastiske Osberget design and communications bureau has been one of Norway’s leading actors in its field. Deeply rooted in the maritime milieu of the country’s west coast, they have found an area of specialty. Still, Fantastiske Osberget offers solutions for a multitude of companies. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Fantastiske Osberget
The bureau was formed as two separate design firms merged in 2009, and it has since offered services within film, graphic design, 3D design, print marketing and web design. Today, the bureau serves companies big and small, to help them reach their full potential in communicating with clients. “This is a tough business to be in,” says Ellen Skodjevåg Bø, sales and marketing manager at Fantastiske Osberget, adding: “But we make a point out of being assertive and creative in everything we do,
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always staying true to our vision: having the happiest clients in the industry.” Bø says the company’s focus is always customer-oriented in order to find the optimal solutions for each company on an individual basis. No two clients have the same needs, and therefore Fantastiske Osberget believes in a personal approach when overcoming challenges in communication. “Companies should choose us because of this very approach; we aim to facilitate solutions by sitting down with every client to do an evaluation of what they need from us. No matter the size of the company, we can reach the set goals together,” says the bureau’s manager Åge Arne Grimstad. And the bureau boasts the resources to support their word. Fantastiske Osberget
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design in Norway
One of Fantastiske Osberget’s main initiatives is the publication Go West. Aimed at profiling and serving the maritime milieu of western Norway, this magazine reaches businesses with a link to the maritime industry twice a year. It has also been distributed at major maritime exhibitions around the world and puts special emphasis on aesthetics and a natural variation of content. “More than profiling maritime businesses and providing a common platform for these companies to make themselves known, this is a beautiful magazine with a ‘coffee table’ feel to it. Amongst other things, we have collaborated with noted photographer Per Eide to create striking photographic content for the magazine, which I think is a different way of depicting the maritime environment,” says Bø.
is based in Ulsteinvik on the Norwegian west coast, while three additional national offices are situated in Ålesund, Måløy and Oslo. Furthermore, the bureau employs experienced designers and programmers in both Cuba and Latvia, who strive to meet clients’ wishes.
Bø says she believes Go West reflects the competence possessed by Fantastiske Osberget in both design and strategy. All maritime businesses that receive the magazine are also sent a number of copies to distribute to their clients – manifesting the publication as a new approach to communication.
“We know our design and that shows in the magazine, but we also know what we want to achieve with it. We always include a mix of advertorial and editorial content, and this has received an entirely positive response from our clients. It’s pretty, it’s different, and it shows who we are.” And Fantastiske Osberget’s creative and innovative identity sees no limits to its growth. Grimstad says that the ultimate goal for the company is to become the largest design and communications bureau in Norway, while staying true to its colours. Reaching further and expanding the clientele is a natural progression, as well as breaking new ground. Still, he says, the bureau will always respect its competition. “We want to venture into new scenes on the market, but we also want to remain humble towards our competitors. We have never seen competition as anything but positive – we call them all our colleagues. That’s the only way we can grow.” For more information, please visit: www.osberget.no
Potential clients are always welcome to one of the bureau’s offices to discuss what options might suit them best. Bø says this service, informally held over a cup of coffee, is a much-appreciated attribute of their bureau. “People always tell us how much they enjoy coming into our offices to chat over a coffee. Our wish is to make the client feel as welcome as possible, by providing a warm, inspiring and approachable atmosphere.” “The emphasis is on creativity, personality and innovation, and I think clients feel all three things when they first meet us. We are very much ourselves at this bureau; all of us different, and all of us bring something extra to the table,” says Grimstad.
Top: Ellen Skodjevåg Bø (left) and Åge Arne Grimstad (right). Below: Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway paid a visit to the joint stand of Fantastiske Osberget, Brude Safety and Hareid Group at the Nor-Shipping exhibition in June 2013.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design in Norway
When versatility becomes the greatest strength With extremely comprehensive expertise, Fridge offers optimum design and advertising solutions within a wide range of areas, as the two founders are tremendously passionate about creative work.
as Mediaeffect, a company specialising in online analysis, and we’re already appreciating the cooperation and enjoy helping each other improve.
By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: Fridge
Behind their unusual name, Fridge possesses extensive and strong competence in terms of delivering traditional design and modern media solutions, also somewhat symbolising the idea behind the name of the company started and managed by Gerry Lister and Tonje Haga. “We consider the fridge to be at the heart of businesses; this is where one can fuel up to continue throughout the day. It’s around the fridge people socialise, exchange ideas and relax, and it’s normally while eating that the best creative ideas emerge,” says Fridge co-founder Gerry Lister. Founded in 2010, Fridge has been involved in various areas of advertising and many media design projects in a relatively short
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amount of time. The founders have degrees in graphic design and strategic marketing, and consequently possess a wide range of competences. “It’s a relatively young company; however, we’ve been lucky and have enjoyed taking part in several different projects. “We’ve developed design profiles, worked with branding for various new businesses, been involved in 3D visualisation of houses and other building projects, as well as relishing a good cooperation with Edison Wolfram, who has a sublime ability within creative communication, design and branding. “We’ve just moved into new offices, shared with the abovementioned Wolfram, as well
“Considering the fact that we are only two employees, and cloning is yet to be perfected, it’s important to develop good contacts with skilful collaborators,” Lister says. Despite being involved in, and experiencing an increasing proficiency within several aspects of design and marketing, Fridge enjoys the ‘jack of all trades’ label. “Our service attitude and the desire for chasing the wow-effect are ever-present, and regardless of the project, we always strive for that extra smile from the client,” Lister concludes.
For more information, please visit: www.fridge.no
& A SPEC RC IAL HIT TH EC EM TU RE E: IN
FI N
Ceramics by Johanna Ojala and Sami Rinne
Glass vases by Pertti Metsälampi
DE SIG N
Left: Design Forum Shop is a place to get original Finnish design – brands and designers you won't find anywhere else. Photos: Liisa Valonen. Top right: Design District Helsinki has over 200 design studios, shops, galleries, bars and hotels within walking distance. Photo: Mustavalkoinen. Below right: Design Forum Showroom is a brand new venue for Finnish design. The Young Designer of the Year 2013 prize exhibition will close on 11 August. Photo: deko.
Focus on Finnish design In 2012, Helsinki was the World Design Capital, nominated by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design ICSID. The year was full of events, tourists and journalists alike thronged the city, and design was a general topic in local newspapers. But now it's 2013 – is there a life after? By Anne Veinola, Communications Manager, Editor-in-Chief, Design Forum Finland
Design has always been a major feature in Finnish culture. Well, at least since the 1950s, thanks to consistent promotion work. Notable is that it is such an integral part of the Finnish daily life, reaching from dentists’ chairs and street furniture to services, democratically and accessibly. Designers are continuously looking for new targets and expanding their work to areas such as game design or digital design.
like Iittala (glassware), Arabia (ceramics) or Marimekko (fabrics and T-shirts). Alvar Aalto's classic three-legged stools, celebrating their 80th anniversary by the way, are sold in flat boxes that are easy to carry. Fiskars gardening tools are among the best in the whole world. And if visiting Helsinki, take a tram ride and experience the design of vehicles, signs, tram stops and related services.
To an average visitor it is easy to find Finnish design. Just go to some biggish department store and look for cutlery or tableware. You can't miss the big brands
But there is much more than this. Original and interesting design is made everywhere. Fashion designers have their own, often ecological, labels outside big chains.
There are ceramic studios, furniture in small series, silversmiths selling their own handiwork, colourful printed fabrics, innovative everyday objects. Styles vary from austere Scandinavian simplicity to Byzantine opulence – or a combination of these. The reasons for the fame of Finnish design are really not hard to find. Feel free to explore! Design Forum Finland is the promotion organization of Finnish design. It is maintained by the Finnish Society of Crafts and Design, which was founded in 1875. The premises of Design Forum Finland are at Erottajankatu 7 in central Helsinki in the heart of Design District Helsinki. A small exhibition space and Design Forum Shop also operate in these premises.
For more information, please visit: www.designforum.fi www.designforumshop.fi www.designdistrict.fi
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LA ND
Saunalahti School designed by Verstas Architects. Photos: Andreas Meichsner
Modern Finnish architectue Finnish architecture has always reflected general European trends. On the other hand, when building for the unforgiving Finnish climate, certain aspects take priority, while also adding a unique essence to the architecture. The appreciation of nature and natural light, the pursuit of simple, clean lines and functionality, and practicality are key values for Finnish architects in their search for solutions to design problems. By Jorma Mukala, Editor-in-Chief, ARK The Finnish Architectural Review
and add to its comfort. In today’s public buildings there exists high-quality architecture particularly in day-care centres and schools. The spaces, materials and form all contribute towards functional and engaging learning environments. The key theme in today’s public debate and development is ecology. Since the cost
For more information, please visit: www.ark.fi www.safa.fi
Kamppi Chapel by K2S Architects. Photos: Tuomas Uusheimo
Modern architecture has found a good home in the cold Nordic climate. The continuum of modernism is, in fact, one of the constants of contemporary Finnish architecture. Architecture has served well the construction of the Nordic welfare state, with egalitarianism at its core. Through their designs architects have the power to humanise our everyday living environment
of heating – and thereby the carbon footprint – is inevitably significant in the north, new energy-efficient building methods are in constant demand. The emphasis on ecology has brought wood construction back into focus. Wood is a renewable resource and there is an abundance of it in Finland. This traditional Finnish building material has become an ecological “novelty” of the digital era, and wood construction has rapidly expanded in the 2000s. Many of the most exciting new architectural projects explore the potential of wood as a material from completely new perspectives. The tradition is being renewed.
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power available. Opening new creative possibilities, the Isobar chain will soon serve its customers on a Nordic level, across borders. “Our local clients will receive the resources of the entire Nordic Isobar network,” Ellilä enthuses. “Combining the know-how and creative flair of all of us will provide a much deeper understanding of what people want from brands, services, and ideas, and bring invaluable benefit to everybody concerned.”
Creating the hype An award-winning innovation-led creative agency, White Sheep Isobar focuses on providing its customers with superior experiences in the digital marketing field. A prominent member of the worldwide Isobar network and part of the Aegis Media Finland, White Sheep Isobar specialises in digital marketing, service design and social media strategy and implementation. By Inna Allen | Photos: White Sheep Isobar
Based in Helsinki, Finland, White Sheep Isobar consists of 20 digitally-minded creative people, all working together to generate engaging experiences in the digital ecosystem. A post-digital creative agency, White Sheep Isobar professionals prepare their clients to be ahead of the game once all marketing has gone digital. “When we create, we think about all the cornerstones of communication – earned, bought and owned media – not just one or two,” says managing director Outi Ellilä. “In everything we do, the aim is to generate emotion, attention and action. Whether it’s comprehensive marketing communication concepts, social media campaigns, websites or mobile solutions, we've got the people, processes and a proven ROI track record.”
plications, events and integrated campaigns. Their campaign for Finnish Joutsenmerkki – the official Nordic ecolabel – was recently selected the Best B2B campaign in Finland and praised for its creative use of media and for being the only work in the category to incorporate PR into the campaign concept.
White Sheep Isobar has designed and developed successful Facebook content since 2009, including engaging pages, ap-
Joining forces
A continuous collaboration with RAY (Finland’s Slot Machine Association) has produced the latest campaign, The Mystery of the Golden Pajatso. As part of the project, White Sheep Isobar has created a digital version of the classic Pajatso game, which can be played by simply waving your hands in the air. The game is stationed at the pop-up game hall (gate 27) at Helsinki airport during 27/6-2/9/2013.
Being part of the Isobar network provides access to the best digital tools and brain-
For more information, please visit: www.whitesheep.fi
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Kluuvi Shopping Centre, Arena seating area
Space innovators Hailed for their high-quality and timeless design, Helsinki-based Trium Architects cover a wide range of architectural fields, from city block planning to interior design. Specialising in renovation and designing business premises and workspace environments, the architectural practice bases its operation on open-mindedness, creativity, efficiency and customer orientation. By Inna Allen | Photos: Ari Kakkinen
The roots of Trium Architects have been growing for the past 30 years. Winning the competition to design Forum shopping centre in the early 80s, back then the largest shopping centre in Scandinavia, kick-started the company’s success story. Today, the founding members have been replaced with a new design generation, bringing along fresh vision and cuttingedge know-how.
varying sizes within Helsinki’s city centre. They include shopping centres, business premises, museums and upscale offices,
Adding value with quality Trium Architects have worked on approximately 50 different design projects of
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Trium Architects’ team
and range from plan alterations to interior design. “As with all of our projects, our architects and interior architects work closely together right from the beginning. That way the interior design doesn’t stay disconnected from the rest of the architecture, but in fact has a fundamental influence on the functionality of the premises,” says managing director Ilkka-Antti Hyvärinen. Finland has one of the strongest economies in Europe, and Helsinki is a safe and interesting location for property investors. Trium Architects act as a local partner for foreign investors, providing invaluable native knowledge in demanding projects. “We have managed to find solutions in situations where clients’ expectations have – at times quite considerably – conflicted with regulations associated with construction and conservation,” says Mikael Haasmaa, Trium’s leading project architect. “Ultimately, the end result is formed by the needs of the client, the features of the building and the expertise of the architect. We always aim to raise the
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design & Architecture in Finland
Creating an environment “A large part of our work is designing the workspace environment. Working in teams, meeting people and enjoying work are considered highly important. We are designing more and more informal spaces for businesses,” Hyvärinen explains. The starting point for any workspace planning is to combine the end users’ needs with transformability and sustainable development. “Our view is that sustainable development springs from flexible and adaptable design, which enables effortless changes also in the future. In addition to that, it also means beautiful and well-detailed solutions. Our core basis is to design spaces with the end user in mind; in other words, the space has to work for people, not just for the building.”
Trium Architects have collaborated with some of Finland’s leading property investment companies, such as Sponda Plc, ING Real Estate and CBRE Global Investors. One of the more complex and comprehensive projects in recent years has been the overall renovation design of the Kluuvi shopping centre in Helsinki. “The project took four years to finish and is a great example of our versatility. We carried out historical research and plan alterations, applied for more permitted building volume and ended up redesigning the entire shopping centre down to every detail,” Ilkka-Antti Hyvärinen explains. Within the retail section, the office has also collaborated with international fashion brands, such as G-Star, Superdry, H&M, Tiger of Sweden, Filippa K and Ginatricot, adapting their store concepts to various different premises.
Museum and exhibition planning is another area of expertise at Trium Architects. One example is the Amos Andersson Art Museum in Helsinki, which the practise was commissioned to renovate by Konstsamfundet R.F. Housed in an early 20th century apartment building; the museum’s original features were respected whilst designing the restoration. Trium Architects also turned the existing loft and office areas into exhibition space and remodelled the entrance and shop front. “Creating exhibition space requires a certain sensitivity in order to highlight the actual artworks as main focal points. In fact, there are many similarities between exhibition and storefront planning – with both, the essential task is to showcase the pieces in the best possible way,” says Ilkka-Antti Hyvärinen. “Remodelling old premises may not sound as jazzy as designing new-builds, but they often require a lot of creativity, imagination and extensive know-how. It is almost like waking the building from a hundred years’ sleep.”
Kluuvi Shopping Centre
Galleria Hippolyte – once a cinema, now an exhibition space. Photo: Marja Helander
value of the property with high-class design and planning.” A new lease of life
For more information, please visit: www.trium.fi
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Infinity designed the Teleste Luminato device, as well as its HTML5-based user interface for remote management.
To Infinity and Back User-centric innovation creates endless possibilities Thinking of design as just an end result or the aesthetic quality of a product is a thing of the past; as Finnish design agency Infinity notes, the role of design expanded many years ago to involve everything from everyday products to user interfaces and experiences, services and brands. Companies with rigid, hierarchical structures have also reached their due date, as more innovative solutions are born in collective, human-centric environments. Infinity subscribes to the creative approach of design thinking, which brings people and clients to the fore, creates new solutions to problems rather than improving existing ones and, above all, forms an open-minded way of thinking. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Infinity
“At the beginning of our design process, to gain an understanding of the problems that need solving, we get out there to observe the operating conditions and the end user of the product. We don’t start from within the client company or with the technology; instead we want to see how the end user solves problems at
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home or in the office. Interviews with focus groups or benchmarking against competitors are not beneficial for us; it’s not our way of approaching things. “However, large companies are starting to learn from lean start-ups and thus understanding that within a few weeks you
need your first prototypes to be able to ask people what they think of them. We use synthesis instead of analysis, and part of that is iteration, meaning we don’t aim for the goal straightaway. Just as Thomas Edison developed 10,000 light bulbs before getting it right, without feeling discouraged or as if he had failed, we don’t
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get disheartened if some attempts don’t work: we continue to fix them,” explains Infinity’s CEO Mikko Kämäräinen. In order to find the right solution, Infinity’s diverse team of designers, engineers and even sociologists contributes to creating prototypes that are tested by the end user and modified without getting hung up on previous versions. The same work processes are repeated until the desired result has been reached. Design that exceeds expectations Earlier this year, to mark its 10-year anniversary, the design agency that Kämäräinen co-founded changed its name from Provoke to Infinity. Over the years, the company has created consumer products, from mobile phones to fireplaces, specialised devices, as well as user interfaces for touch displays and HTML5 mobile apps, resulting in 64 patents worldwide and several iF and red dot awards.
tional technology group specialising in broadband video and data communication systems and services. To add to Teleste’s headend platform for cable TV operators, also designed by Infinity, they created the device’s HMTL5-based user interface for remote management. The product is a great example of an innovative solution created through iteration. At record speed, Infinity was able to build functional HTML5 prototypes of the user interface, which was created together with the Teleste team after studying the needs of the end users. The prototypes were presented to customers at fairs, and with the help of their feedback, the project was able to quickly move on to the implementation phase. Design thinking in today’s economic climate Infinity currently works in North America, China and Europe. While a lot of companies previously moved their production to Asia, in today’s economic climate, Infinity is also helping European clients sell into
the growing Asian market. “It’s the next focus area for everyone. The economic growth in Europe has stagnated, so people are looking towards Asia instead,” adds Kämäräinen. These circumstances have also forced European companies to reflect on their business models and design strategies. “The time of centralised management and structured innovative thinking within companies is over; instead, through design thinking, we have to urge companies to involve people collectively. “For modern companies, there is no centralised management that tells everyone what to do, instead people work together; solutions are created collectively,” concludes Kämäräinen.
For more information, please visit: infinity.fi
For US-based Talon ID, a company providing solutions in the field of biometrics, Infinity recently created industrial design for the T1, a fully ruggedized handheld biometric peripheral. According to Talon ID’s CEO Jeff Schott, “Infinity was able to come up with a design that exceeded our expectations on all fronts; the design is iconic, intuitive, and unlike anything else in the industry.” As the industrial design partner for Finnish phone manufacturer Jolla’s new smartphone, Infinity was able to work with a company that shares their views. “Jolla is clearly a company that advocates a new collective way of thinking, working and even marketing. It’s a ‘join the movement’ type of thing, where the company doesn’t simply offer a product; it’s something a bit more meaningful than that. You can be part of a community. The aim for people to have a deeper connection to a brand than just being a customer is becoming a more prevalent business model,” says Kämäräinen. On the digital side of things, Infinity has been working with Teleste, an interna-
Infinity is the industrial design partner for Finnish phone manufacturer Jolla.
Talon ID’s T1 - a fully ruggedized handheld biometric peripheral
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Metsätapiola, restaurant interior. Photo: Mandi Halonen
Award-winning architecture rooted in context Having impacted many of Finland’s cityscapes, from the extension of the Finnish Parliament Building in Helsinki to Nokia’s headquarters in Espoo, the award-winning Helin & Co Architects is one of Finland’s most respected architectural practices. From architecture and city planning to workplace consultation and interior and product design, the firm covers an extensive field of services. By Inna Allen
As with many architectural firms, projects are often competition-based, meaning companies have to compete against hundreds of others for the contract. Established in 1999, Helin & Co Architects have won around 40 competitions both in Finland and abroad and gained some very significant contracts through them. The competition wins have led them to design the business premises of some of Finland’s most prominent firms. Nokia, Wärtsilä and Ilmarinen are just some of the large corporations whose headquarters have been stamped with a Helin & Co mark. Or take the Finnish Parliament Building Annexe – since its completion in 2004, it has been regarded as highly suc-
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cessful, both inside and out, and a very deserving addition to the capital’s cityscape.
Finnair headquarters. Photo: Marc Goodwin
Comprehensive scope of services Large public complexes and urban multiuse sights, such as the Kamppi shopping centre in Helsinki, and Sello Music Hall and Alberga Regional Library in Espoo, are the company’s trademarks, but smaller and simpler projects are just as important. The practice has recently completed a house in Seoul in South Korea after another winning competition submission, as well as finalising the headquarters of Finnair near HelsinkiVantaa Airport and UPM Group's new headquarters in the urban landscape of Töölönlahti Bay in Helsinki. One of the largest current projects is Kalasatama city centre, which is estimated to be com-
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pleted in 2021. From large-scale city planning to the product design of a door handle, the scope of services Helin & Co Architects provides is comprehensive. They have been hailed for their exceptionally diverse ability to manage and interpret situations in an impressive manner, irrespective of place, scale or budget. Authentic understanding of materials Materials and their authenticity are extremely important to Helin & Co Architects.“The use of wood is very prominent in our projects, particularly the combination of wood with steel and glass,” says founder and managing director Pekka Helin. In 2005, the company designed the Finnforest Modular Office, the tallest wooden office building in Europe, where the utilization of wood was explored rigorously. Completed at the end of 2012 was the energy-efficient building for Metsätapiola, where wood is used innovatively, for example, in the restaurant interior. And completed this year, the new Finnair headquarters were adapted to fit the users’ context. The building’s steel façade’s surface colour was achieved through nanotechnology: the colour is actually formed on the surface through light interference. “The essential features of Finnish architecture derive from our deep-rooted culture – having lived in scanty, bare conditions, we have developed an authentic understanding for materials. Finns have built wooden and stone churches from scarce raw materials, so the Finnish construction culture stems from the world of pure materials and austerity,” Helin explains. Architecture as a lifestyle Boasting over a dozen different prizes, including the European Steel Design Award, Finnish Wood Award, Environmental Construction Project of the Year and the Façade of the Year, the firm’s list of architectural awards is impressive, to say the least. Pekka Helin, who is a member of the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA), has also received the State Award for Architecture twice – the most prestigious personal recognition in the industry.
Finnair headquarters. Photos: Marc Goodwin
Describing his profession as a lifestyle choice, like an all-encompassing hobby, Helin realised at the tender age of five that he wanted to become an architect. “I was playing with small boards of wood in a grit pit and realised the mountain-like terrain was perfect for adding buildings to and creating tracks in – like planning a city,” he laughs. Today, the practice employs 78 people, consisting mainly of architects and technicians, along with a small administration sector. The premises boast state-ofthe-art CAD tools, 3D and BIM systems. The main office is situated in downtown
Helsinki with another, smaller one in Turku. Architectural work is spread between different project teams, whilst the concept teams are in charge of concepts and competitions, and the design unit manages interior projects, workplace consultations and product design. Helin & Co Architects’ work has been showcased in several touring exhibitions around Europe, Asia and the US, and published in many international publications. For more information, please visit: www.helinco.fi
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Elegance and ecology to every extent With an impressive and broad portfolio to their name, the award-winning Tuomo Siitonen Architects are known to work on some of the most challenging projects in Finland. Consisting of 15 leading architects and designers, the architectural office emphasises elegance and ecology in all its architectural solutions, no matter the scale or extent of the project. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Tuomo Siitonen Architects
Tuomo Siitonen Architects have over 50 award-winning entries to Finnish and foreign architectural competitions, while Tuomo Siitonen himself has years of practical experience. He worked 15 years as a professor of architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology TKK and has, uniquely, been awarded the Finnish State Art Prize for Architecture twice already. While presenting the award, the jury noted: “Tuomo Siitonen's recent work
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shows uncompromising professionalism in challenging settings and an admirable
ability to revitalise. The renovation and transformation of Alko's (the Finnish alcohol monopoly) plant and headquarters into the Helsinki Court House was a huge undertaking, where the old was transformed into the new, without losing the original spirit of the building. Taking the place of the Salmisaari coal stockpiles, the insurance company Varma's red brick office buildings are now a cogent part of the cityscape. The plan for the Helsinki Leppäsuo block opens new perspectives onto Finnish housing architecture.” Tuomo Siitonen Architects often work on some of the biggest and most demanding projects in Finland. The renovation of Alko's plant into the Helsinki Court House won the award for Concrete Structure of
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design & Architecture in Finland
the Year and was, like the Varma office buildings, the largest project of its kind in Finland in that year. Commitment to sustainability A recurring theme in Tuomo Siitonen Architects’ work has been the importance of sustainability and the ecological requirements of different-sized projects. “We take into account the unique conditions and potential of each site,” explains Siitonen. “It is important to take into consideration the requirements set by sustainable development. The key elements in our design are the users, location, purpose of use, and the human factor, which is more important than ever.” The “Modern Wooden Town” plan for the west bank of Porvoo river, a winning entry for a competition, is a whole district representative of modern timber building; while the “Open Innovation House” at Aalto University, finished as recently as last year, is an example of a project with a high LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The recently opened Aalto Inn guest dormitory at Aalto University is the first residential building in Europe to have achieved Gold LEED certification. Another project emphasising Tuomo Siitonen Architects’ commitment to sustainability is the studio building created for ceramicist Karin Widnäs. A real architectural pearl, emphasising Finnish closeness to nature, it was built using only local materials and making best use of local expertise, renewable natural resources and geothermal energy. The jury for the Finnish State Art Prize for Architecture describes Siitonen’s work as follows: “His architecture is characterized by a confident and clear allocation of masses supported by the choice of simple materials. The complex buildings have been fashioned in a functionally logical and rational way, and are sited in their environment with a perceptive sense of location. Including details and interiors, the carefully planned buildings stand for both reason and emotion.”
TUOMO SIITONEN ARCHITECTS Veneentekijäntie 12, FIN 00210 Helsinki Tel: +358 9 8569 5533 E-mail: info@tsi.fi www.tsi.fi
Top: Helsinki Court House - refurbishment of the old alcohol factory. Photo: Jussi Tiainen. Below left and right: Studio Widnäs. Photos: Rauno Träskelin. Bottom left: Aalto Inn. Photo: Jussi Tiainen
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Grandezza 39 CA. English Motor Boats Monthly magazine said the following about Grandezza 39: “Sleek, stylish, and with a new take on on-board layout, this Finnish hardtop is set to shake things up.” Client: Finn-Marin Ltd. Photo: Finn-Marin Ltd.
Creating Aha! experiences Turku-based industrial design studio IDIS Design puts the user and consumer in the front seat; ease of use is a key factor in all solutions, and the aim of the design is to create both small and big Aha! experiences. The studio is known for its strong focus on vehicle design, including automotive, maritime, heavy machinery and public transport, as well as for delivering graphics, interaction design and design strategies. By Nia Kajastie
IDIS Design was established in 2004 and has over the years consisted of a small group of four to five designers, all with their own specific design experience and skills. “I was personally driven to design through my studies in architecture, while Riku Salminen has an engineer’s degree and [managing director] Sami Holappa has more wide-ranging design experience; a few years into the business we were also joined by Juha Kankkunen, who has both a design and engineer’s degree. We’re a multi-disciplinary bunch who complement each other, meaning we can
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also take on larger projects, like the forthcoming Helsinki trams for Transtech Ltd,” explains industrial designer and partner Jussi Hurskainen. No matter the project or its size, the usability of the end product is always a key concern to IDIS Design. “It can be something that’s visibly evident in the end result, but there are also invisible solutions that might not become apparent unless they were suddenly no longer there – if we hadn’t designed it that way,” adds Hurskainen. Important criteria when it
comes to vehicle design are also the use of space and layout, and naturally also the specs provided by the client. Large projects and long-term clients One of IDIS Design’s latest big projects, as mentioned by Hurskainen, is the Helsinki City trams. The studio worked on the project as the design partner of manufacturer Transtech Ltd and in co-operation with Helsinki City Transport design management. “It has been a very important and multifaceted project, with strict demands from the city regarding usability and serviceability, as well as specifications for the exterior and interior appearance,” says Hurskainen. “Similarly, we’ve created tram visualisation concepts for the city of Turku and Tampere that are based on the same framework and technical solutions as the Helsinki trams; however, their ex-
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“One of the most important boat projects with Finn-Marin Ltd has been the renewal of the overall design of its second product range Grandezza. We started off with the 27 OC model, which garnered great interest at the Helsinki Boat Show in 2011 and has sold really well, even despite the economic downturn. It really broke the bank during a tough financial period,” says Hurskainen. “The subsequent Grandezza 39 CA model has been a great international success. The Motor Boat of the Year 2013 jury in the UK awarded it with a ‘Highly commended’ prize. And the very latest model, 33 OC, won the Best Boat of the Show award at the Helsinki Boat Show 2013 in February.” Multi-disciplinary design
Buster SuperMagnum. Buster aluminium boats form one of the strongest brands in Finland. Busters are sold every year in large quantities, both in Finland and Scandinavia. Client: Fiskars Boats. Photo: Fiskars Boats.
IDIS Design, which also delivers graphics and design strategies to its clients, believes these go hand in hand with the design process itself. The studio has offered its clients comprehensive range mapping and thus developed the brand and products with the future in mind.
“Every time we create a new model of boat, for example, we are always thinking about the future models at the same time and how we can develop the range and build on the brand,” says Hurskainen. “We’ve also created product graphics that support the design process, including marketing material, drafts, brochures and guidelines – almost moving into the realm of advertising agencies, without actually specifically offering these services. “But in this industry, designers have to be multi-disciplinary. We don’t view design as art, even though the visual and aesthetic side is always there, and we’re designing the exterior appearance of a product. But we design a lot more than just that, including adding to the product’s usability and manufacturability. In the end, to be successful, a product should benefit both manufacturer and user.” For more information, please visit: www.idisdesign.fi
terior expression is completely different. In both the Turku and Tampere projects we’ve had free rein to present our own vision.” The assignment for the Helsinki trams included design from sketches to 3D-modelling. The studio has been working on the project for two years now; the prototype rollout at the factory took place last month, while the first two prototypes should be out for public use at the end of summer. A great example of the design studio’s long-term client partnerships is its ongoing co-operation with Finnish boat manufacturer Finn-Marin Ltd, which has lasted for seven years. It also showcases how fruitful IDIS Design’s product development is in the long run and why the studio’s clients continue to return for their services.
Tampere tram concept placed in winter landscape. The Turku and Tampere trams are being planned as a joint procurement. Client: City of Tampere. Photo: IDIS Design Ltd.
The first prototype for Helsinki City Transport's upcoming tram rolls out of the Transtech factory on 13.06.2013. Client: Transtech Ltd. Photo: IDIS Design Ltd.
EVA electric car. Electric car concept presented for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011. Client: Valmet Automotive Inc. Photo: Valmet Automotive Inc.
Concept sketches of a new type of golf car for Valmet Automotive. Client: Valmet Automotive Inc. Photo: IDIS Design Ltd.
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Danske Bank (formerly Sampo Bank) Espoontori office interior
Playful, fun and solution-focused design Interior architect Jouni Leino, who established his own design studio back in 1992, is a problem-solver who seeks to create solutions that fit the needs and wishes of customers, but who is also aiming for a positive effect, one that brings joy and adds a feelgood factor for the end user. Leino’s Helsinki-based practice specialises in interior and furniture design and has garnered a significant portfolio of well-known client companies, ranging from Nokia to Danske Bank. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Jouni Leino Design Studio
“I’m a solution-focused designer,” confirms Jouni Leino. “I seek answers to a problem, but I also find it important to include some playfulness, in order make the user feel happy and content. Naturally, we have to take into account the demands of production, whether the design is practical to manufacture, but it’s not the first thing to consider. Details, cost-effectiveness and logistics – it’s all very important, but it does not lead the design process.” Design Studio Jouni Leino was founded during the recession of the early 90s, at a time when Leino was still working as a teacher. Leino graduated as an interior and furniture designer from the Helsinki
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University of Art and Design some 20 years ago, and has, over the years, worked
Jouni Leino
as a professor and lecturer at the WestFinland Design Center MUOVA, the Helsinki University of Art and Design and the Dublin Institute of Technology. After obtaining a big interior design assignment for the Business School in Helsinki in 1997, the design studio became Leino’s main focus, and he was able to hire his first employees. Over the years, Leino has taken on many notable projects, including designing the interiors for Nokia Research Centre and Pension Fennia’s headquarters, as well as working for Kela (Finnish social security institution) and Danske Bank (formerly Sampo Bank) on several different projects across the country.
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ABL Laatat office
Collaboration on design items “My main focus lies on public interior design projects, but I’ve also designed furniture on the side. I’ve had a long partnership with Avarte, stretching back to the 90s. A lot of the products have gone onto the Asian market [manufactured under licence by Shanghai Avarte Furniture Co Ltd], with the furniture being used at schools and universities in places like Hong Kong, Indonesia and big growing cities of China. Another long-term partner is Inno, for whom I created the InTensive table range, which was originally meant for the Nokia Research Centre.
Another enjoyable project for Leino was the Louhenlinna restaurant, which is lo-
For more information, please visit: www.jounileino.fi
Ecobol bowl
A project that showcases Design Studio Jouni Leino’s playful yet practical approach to interior design is the open space office for TeliaSonera Business Finland created last year. “The idea was, when people come into work in the morning, they can choose their work environment depending on what their work day will look like. There’s, for example, a quiet area for concentrated work alone, a space for working in small teams, as well as a more informal area where you can brainstorm freely, chat with your colleagues, laugh and play music,” says Leino.
As a designer, Leino does not necessarily subscribe to the thought of Finnish design as its own unique discipline. “I don’t think it’s that important to classify design like that. I feel that design is pretty international and good design comes from all over. I think everyone designs according to their own personal circumstances and perspective,” he concludes.
InTensive, a system of meeting and conference tables
Enjoyable interiors
cated in the middle of a forest in Laitila. “It was a really fun project for an ingenious guy, who already as a little kid knew he wanted to create something in this spot with large boulders. He ended up creating a restaurant around them, and I was called upon to help expand the space. It was a slightly nutty idea, but I really enjoyed working on it. We tailor-made the interiors for the client together with a lighting designer, in order to create the right atmosphere for, for example, couples celebrating their wedding at this unique venue.”
Modular coat rack Takit
A further remarkable design piece by Jouni Leino is the Ecobol bowl made out of recycled wood and coloured laminate. “It reflects my views on sustainability and how we can recycle old material that has already lived one life. I wanted to create a visual tribute to the material in the form of the bowls,” explains Leino.
TeliaSonera Business Finland office
“On a European scale the InTensive product family has sold really well. It’s a range of meeting and conference tables that is easily modifiable, with different leg constructions, shapes and sizes available. We’ve sold a lot of it to central Europe, including, for instance, the French judiciary facilities. It has been an excellent product family for me; it’s a chameleon-like product that can be tailor-made according to the customer’s specific needs.”
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Working for clients such as Iittala, Nokia, Microsoft and Norwegian Airlines, one of Fellowland’s largest projects has been the digital design – both online and onboard – of the Viking Line’s new flagship cruise ship Viking Grace. Among others, the project included designing a website that followed the construction of the ship, creating content for display screens in the ship’s public spaces and implementing an onboard mobile service. Currently involved in a couple of international projects where Fellowland’s highly finished design and content marketing know-how are playing a pivotal role, the company is looking forward to spreading its wings wider. “We also want to provide more jobs for promising designers and thus support our society,” Konttila enthuses.
The crossed flags stand for a newfound land. Photo: Ari-Pekka Sinikoski
Digital storytellers Working at the crossroads of technology and design, Fellowland is an award-winning multidisciplinary collective with a focus on three main areas – film, web and motion. By Inna Allen | Photos: Fellowland
Founded in 2010, Fellowland is part of Finland’s growing innovative digital design cluster. Located in the buzzing and cultural Punavuori district of Helsinki, Fellowland studio consists of creative professionals from different backgrounds in film, web and motion. Working in a close-knit community and sharing their know-how and creative flair provide invaluable benefits for creating integrated projects that are effective and seamless across the three mediums. Specialising on creatively integrating moving image and web design, Fellowland works with advertising agencies, digital agencies and both multinational and local companies. “Instead of collaborating with one large company, we aim to gather a
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cluster of smaller businesses to provide our clients with the best possible partners and expertise for each particular project,” explains managing director Teemu Konttila. “To keep things fresh, we also like to collaborate with artists, labels and other creative individuals.” Fellowland’s design process covers everything from planning and designing to technical execution. “Every brand has a story to tell. Our task is to find the means and tools to convey them,” Konttila says, and continues: “We are passionate about what we do, and are always eager to learn and develop. We keep a close eye on technical advancement and look for new platforms, ideas and possibilities to broaden our know-how in new services and media.”
For more information, please visit: www.fellowland.fi
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design & Architecture in Finland
Innovation through new perspectives Established in 1995, LEMMETTI architects operates from Turku, on the southwest coast of Finland, and works on a wide range of projects for local, domestic and international clients. Involved in conceptual, interior, product and architectural design, the office has garnered extensive experience and strong know-how on both new buildings and renovation projects. The design team are highly engaged in finding innovative perspectives and interdisciplinary solutions that question outdated norms. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: LEMMETTI architects
LEMMETTI architects consists of under 10 architects and interior designers, who are well versed in everything from housing and offices to restaurants and hotels. By questioning the old and the familiar or by rediscovering forgotten techniques, the office is able to create original and interesting projects for themselves and the client. “Housing architecture is currently in a transition phase, where current ways of construction cannot offer enough unique alternatives. People are looking for a more inclusive and collective building process,” explains founder and architect Mikko Lemmetti. In some cases, architecture has become more user-focused in the sense that the end user’s input is taken into account when creating housing. Accordingly, a building might include more communal areas, creating a readymade social network for people, which can be extremely beneficial for those who live alone, families with children, students, and pensioners, who are able to live independently for longer in this environment. LEMMETTI architects also stands behind creating a more comfortable urban environment, where the cityscape is enhanced by landscaping, and adding vegetation and water elements. The office has transferred this train of thought to several of its water-related urban space assignments, including a city centre outdoor pool project.
A recent project that has garnered LEMMETTI architects a lot of praise is the architecture and interior design for Finnair Via Lounge, which won the Priority Pass Lounge of the Year 2012, Highly Commended award and was chosen as the best lounge in the world in a 2011 vote. A leading factor in this project was binding the lounge to its Finnish locality, so that passengers could easily recognise their whereabouts, which was enhanced by the overall theme of northern light. The office aimed for a highly functional and versatile space, complemented by a harmonious light colour scheme, natural materials and atmospheric lighting.
Above: Finnair Via Lounge
LEMMETTI architects have an acute understanding of the current need for innovative, multidisciplinary architects who can take on projects of various sizes and types. “Our wide experience provides us with a solid knowledge base on both new buildings and renovations. We have worked with many well-known domestic and international companies, which has equipped us with a fast, high-quality, client-focused and flexible approach to design. We always emphasise quality and innovation above all,” concludes Lemmetti.
For more information, please visit: www.ark-tsto.net
Water is an important, refreshing and attractive element to humans, and in an urban environment, it adds to their comfort and wellbeing. Top: Swim stadium renovation project in the centre of Turku. Below: Unrealized spa project in Helsinki
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design & Architecture in Finland
Good people flow management was the key to the Finnish pavillion's success at Shanghai Expo 2010. Muotohiomo developed the whole exhibition concept and simulated usability through models and animations. The most important exhibition furniture and interactive media applications were made into prototypes and were tested with users. “Visitors in the six-month period totalled over 5.2 million. Under such a load every detail of the exhibition and solution needs to be extremely hard-wearing - and still convey Finland’s creative and original country image. Design was the key message!” Image: Muotohiomo
Muotohiomo designs brand Finland “We’re sculptors of the Finland brand aided by design,” muses Design Studio Muotohiomo’s managing director Pekka Toivanen. More specifically he is referring to their work on the Finnish pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo 2010, and more recently, designing the interiors for “Cortenbergh 80”, the shared premises of Finland’s Permanent Representation to the European Union and the Embassy of Finland in Brussels. At the opening ceremony, Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen praised the new facilities for “exuding an open atmosphere and Finnishness”. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Patrik Rastenberger
Founded in 1992 in Helsinki, Muotohiomo is a relatively small design studio of 10 people, which works in the fields of product, interior and graphic design, as well as creative direction. Combining communication with design from the very begin-
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ning, the studio strongly believes in the benefits of co-creation, together with the client, experts and end users. “It’s invaluable to us; we never work on a project alone. For a school lunch concept
in Vantaa we basically moved in for a week to spend time with the students and teachers. We don’t just sit in the office and design; instead we’ll go wherever the project takes us: field, forest, school or office – it doesn’t matter. We want to get
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design & Architecture in Finland
close to the user, which helps us come up with the right solutions; it shouldn’t ever be just about design for the sake of design,” says Toivanen.
The pavilion was designed by JKMM Architects.
“Another important factor for us, in addition to creating user-centric solutions, is to uphold a high artistic ambition. We want to challenge the client to think in new ways and inspire them with our previous cases. While it is said that design is not art, and I definitely understand the sentiment, the creative ambition still needs to be strong.” Flying the flag from China to Belgium
The official inauguration of the Cortenbergh 80 building took place in May to much praise and gratitude from the guests, including Finland’s prime minister, and Ambassador and Permanent Representative Jan Store. The whole project was a collaboration between Belgian architects Eric Vandenblock and Benoit Vanhay Atelier from A3 Architects, project manager Erkki Savolainen from ISS Proko, and interior designers from Muotohiomo, with Anni Hapuoja ja Pekka Toivanen as the main designers. Multicultural co-creation “We immediately had the thought that it shouldn’t just be a plain office building. As it is also on Finnish soil and a place that attracts high-ranking officials, we wanted the people working there and visitors to experience a part of Finland and Finnishness. This was partly
Photos: Derryck Menere
In 2010, Design Studio Muotohiomo had the opportunity to design an exhibition that represents an entire country to the rest of the world, at the Shanghai World Expo. According to the commission from Finpro, and working closely with JKMM Architects, who created the award-winning Kirnu pavilion for the expo, Muotohiomo had to showcase the Finland brand through the pavilion exhibition. Thus with solid experience of exporting the Finnish brand image to the rest of the world, the studio seemed like a natural shoo-in for the design of the new Finnish embassy and EU representative premises in Brussels.
achieved through new Finnish design and the creation of a relaxed and jovial atmosphere. In Shanghai, we’d understood how to create the Finland brand, but naturally this project came with its own new challenges and criteria,” explains Toivanen. ISS, a consulting firm for construction and property management as well as usage control, and its project manager Erkki Savolainen were strongly involved in the whole lifecycle of the project. In addition to the Finnish design perspective championed by Muotohiomo, as Savolainen explains, ISS was present to help ensure the functionality, openness, spaciousness, ergonomics, hygiene and safety – which are all important factors in modern Nordic offices – of the end result.
“Erkki and ISS were invaluable in coordinating the process from an impartial point of view. As the project took over a year a lot of people came and went, both Belgians and Finns. Thus it was important to have an excellent manager like Erkki navigating us through all the cultural and standard differences,” says Toivanen. “We had to really pull together with this project, but the end result has met our objectives. Now Finland can represent itself and work in the heart of Europe in a functional, comfortable, safe and sustainable office space,” adds Savolainen. Nature, nurture and culture Muotohiomo’s aim was to offer an authentic and truthful image of Finland through its design. “Finns are not really
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Cortenbergh 80 is an address in the heart of Brussels and the EU.
Muotohiomo designed unique furniture for the representation spaces and the ambassadors' offices.
Interior designer Anni Hapuoja feeling out the embassy. Vivero Soft chairs provide acoustic tranquillity – and, as the name suggests, softness.
Conference rooms with wooden-framed LED lighting by TUNTO ensure plenty of light for negotiations at night.
choices on each floor might seem like aesthetic factors, they also add to the functionality of the office, helping people navigate through the building.
Cortenbergh 80 is no exception. “How many embassies do you know that have a sauna, which is actually used on a daily basis?” Toivanen quips. “For the sauna, located in the former garage of the building, we’ve chosen authentic solid wood, and it even has direct access to a terrace, which should offer you a little glimpse of lake landscapes and the freshness of Finnish nature.”
good at faking anything,” laughs Toivanen. Accordingly, based on the themes of nature and animals, the interior design tells the story of a forest, starting on the ground floor with the roots and going all the way up to the treetops on the sixth floor. Each floor has its own specific colour scheme, materials and patterns that reflect a certain tree species, and these are added as eye-catching accents onto a more neutral background. The objective was to create high-quality, elegant spaces that reflect Finnishness, with an added pinch of informality and familiarity, and while the different colour
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“We’ve used high-quality, sustainable materials throughout; furniture by young Finnish designers, including pieces that have not necessarily been seen used in public spaces before; and art that adds to the story being told, a lot of which was also designed for the premises especially,” explains Toivanen. Of course, no Finnish building would be complete without a sauna, and the
For more information, please visit: www.muotohiomo.com www.fi.issworld.com
Old storehouse transformed into housing
Stockmann department store’s new atrium in Helsinki
Centre of medical companies in Oulu
Forty years of multidisciplinary architecture expertise Laatio Architects was established 40 year ago in Oulu, in the north of Finland, where it also completed a lot of its initial work. Since then the office has spread its influence to all corners of the country, as well as carefully reaching outside of the Finnish borders. Today, Laatio Architects consists of an accomplished team of architects and designers, who all bring their specific fields of expertise to the multidisciplinary mix, ranging from land-use planning to housing, and even product design. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Ilpo Okkonen
Founded by architects Marja and Pekka Laatio, who continue to be part of the firm, Laatio Architects started its journey in Oulu, where most of the office’s architects were educated. “Word eventually got out about the high quality of our work and how, from the very beginning, the office was determined to meet its clients’ needs and create added value through solid cooperation,” explains architect and partner Weikko Kotila. After 40 years in the industry, the office consists of around 20 full-time employees, many of whom have been part of the team for over 10 years, and a few who joined over 30 years ago, including Kotila. “The expertise and know-how we offer has increased over the years as more employees have come along; we now have experts in urban
planning, housing, renovation, public buildings and so forth. This wasn’t a strategic choice on our part, but as employees have stayed with us, we have become a distinctly multidisciplinary office,” says Kotila. However, no matter the design sector, the first step is to focus on the clients and to find out what their needs and requirements are, even if they are unsure of them themselves. “We either help the client refine
their own ideas or offer them ours, so we can find a shared wavelength and form a trusting relationship. Our duty is, of course, to always provide our expert knowledge,” adds Kotila Over the years, the office has worked on over 600 different projects all around the country, including one of the largest single architect assignments in Finland, namely the expansion and alteration project of Helsinki’s Stockmann department store in 2001-2010. Laatio Architects was also the long-term partner on Oulu’s Tenchnopolis project, which was one of the world’s earliest technology villages. In addition, the office has designed several unique nature centres for Finland’s beautiful national parks, as well as worked on numerous restoration projects, from churches to town houses. “Restoration work often opens our eyes to the wisdom of bygone generations; perhaps we can use their experience in building once again,” adds Kotila. For more information, please visit: www.laatioark.fi
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Seinäjoki City Library. Photos: Tuomas Uusheimo
Sustainable design with people in mind Taking their inspiration from nature and striving for innovative and sustainable design, JKMM Architects focus on simple solutions to complicated problems. By Malin Wiander
After studying architecture together at Tampere University of Technology, Asmo Jaaksi, Teemu Kurkela, Samuli Miettinen and Juha Mäki-Jyllilä founded JKMM Architects in 1998. The same year their entry was chosen in a competition to design the new city library in Turku, southwest Finland. “When we started, our objective was to grow the company and to deliver well-executed architectural solutions,” says Juha Mäki-Jyllilä. So far they have achieved their goals: 15 years later, the company has grown ten
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times in size and consists of 42 employees, including 24 architects and 3 interior architects. They have won several architectural competitions, including the Finnish State Award for Architecture in 2006. JKMM Architects have an extensive and diverse portfolio, ranging from domestic buildings to libraries, churches and schools. These are all designed with people in mind and with the philosophy that buildings should be at their best even after decades of use.
Individual and innovative solutions One of JKMM Architects more recent buildings is the Seinäjoki City Library. In 2008, a competition was launched for the design of the project, which JKMM Architects won with their entry “Clover”. Located in the civic centre designed by Alvar Aalto, the new building had big shoes to fill. In 2012, the project was completed, and JKMM Architects were awarded the Concrete Building of the Year award, with the jury noting that the new building was a “structurally successful, expressive and sculptural architectonic entirety” that completed the designs and values expressed by Aalto. Seinäjoki City Library reflects the approach JKMM Architects take with their
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design & Architecture in Finland
designs: striving for individual and innovative solutions while taking into account the surroundings and context of the building and the people who will use it. “Our starting point is always to look at the individual situation and find the best solutions for that particular project,” MäkiJyllilä explains. “We analyse the problems and targets and execute the project according to that.” The hands-on approach to the projects means that in most of them, JKMM Architects are involved in the process from the blueprints to the final touches. Their areas of expertise include building and interior design, urban planning and renovation and restoration. “Working and communicating as a team is very important to us, and both architects and interior architects are involved in the projects,” says Mäki-Jyllilä. “The process is very democratic.” Emphasizing nature In another project, the design and construction of Viikki church in Helsinki, JKMM Architects’ handprint can be seen throughout the building, all the way to the candelabra. The result is a modern wooden church where ecological ideas and sustainability are at the forefront. The design of Viikki church won JKMM Architects the Chicago Athenaeum International Award for the best new global design in 2006. “In the form of natural material, light and simplicity, we strive to emphasize nature in our designs,” Mäki-Jyllilä says. These values were on display when JKMM Architects represented Finland at the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. The theme of the Finnish pavilion, named the “Gi-
Viikki church in Helsinki. Top: Photo: Arno de la Chapelle; Below: Photo: Kimmo Räisänen
ant’s Kettle”, was how it is possible to build better cities – and ultimately better human life – according to the principles of sustainable development. In the shape of a miniature city emerging from the surrounding water, the pavilion was inspired by Finnish nature, its thousand islands and the possibility of simple living in harmony with the environment. Currently JKMM Architects are designing the new headquarters for OP-Pohjola Group, the largest financial group in Finland, in the suburb of Vallila, Helsinki. The
premises, due to be finished in the spring of 2015, will take up an entire city block and host 3500 employees. Again, environmental issues and sustainable development are important parts of the design process, and the goal is to achieve a LEED certification (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) for the project. Mäki-Jyllilä sees international potential in Finnish architecture. “At the moment, the main focus in Finnish wood architecture is on domestic buildings and villas; however, there is potential to develop it into an export product on a larger scale.” As for JKMM Architects, the company is looking to expand further while maintaining their design philosophy: creating sustainable, innovative and functional buildings designed with people in mind.
For more information, please visit: www.jkmm.fi Giant’s Kettle. Photo: Hanne Granberg
House of Children in Saunalahti. Photo: Mika Huisman
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Kuokkala church
Dedication to material For Lassila Hirvilammi Architects, wood has been at the heart of many a project over the years, and an appreciation for quality materials and craftsmanship shines through all their work. The office works on a wide range of projects, from churches to office buildings, and aims to combine material and environment in a harmonious way, creating a functional, ecologically sustainable and aesthetically pleasing whole that awakes an emotional reaction beyond the visible architecture.
amongst mountains. In this setting, the design has to fit the locality as well as meet a more artistic objective, thus creating something new and fascinating,” says Lassila. The exhibition hall is expected to form a collective space for the locals as well as entice travellers to the area, which means it should be easily recognisable as a public space that is open for everyone.
By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Lassila Hirvilammi Architects
Architect and founding partner Anssi Lassila was prompted to open his own office in 2001 after winning a few student architecture competitions, including for his design of the Kärsämäki shingle church, which introduced him more thoroughly to working with wood and the exceptional craftsmanship accompanying it. In 2004, Teemu Hirvilammi joined the principal shareholder Lassila as a partner, and thus award-winning Lassila Hirvilammi Architects was born. Tying each project firmly to its locality and aiming to create an emotional connection beyond the physical structure, Lassila Hirvilammi Architects knows how to create solutions that fit each project and its function to a T, naturally in close cooperation with the client and builders. In addition to the Kärsämäki church project, the more recent Kuokkala church design,
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which was also based on a win in a competition, showcases the office’s focus on using durable, high-quality and often locally produced materials. The end result is a compact, structural building that represents both modern architecture and historical references, and supports the different needs of its users.
Lassila Hirvilammi Architects is also stretching beyond the Scandinavian borders, with projects currently in their beginning stages in China as well as Australia.
“In Finland, churches are often multi-functional meeting places, so their use can be quite different from the rest of Europe. Accordingly, we need to create spaces for things like film clubs and other congregational activities,” explains Lassila. Another win in an invitational competition is the design for Konsthall Tornedalen (Torne Valley exhibition hall) in northern Sweden. “This is a project where the surrounding landscape is highly remarkable, as the hall is set by the Tornio River
Konsthall Tornedalen
For more information, please visit: www.lassilahirvilammi.fi
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design & Architecture in Finland
stead in the midst of it all, within hybrid buildings that combine housing, shops, offices and public transport. These kinds of areas are usual in places like London, but not in Finland; the closest thing we have is the Kamppi complex in central Helsinki,” says Cederqvist. The C&J architects also believe that the world we live in should be sustainable and are always looking for solutions that will stand the test of time. “We don’t want what’s easiest and best today; we have to think long term, which means looking at least 50 years into the future, which is still a relatively short time in a building’s life. The buildings need to be able to adapt to new uses and to have several lifecycles,” adds Jäntti.
Luhta Headquarters, Lahti, winning entry in competition, 2012
No two solutions alike Helsinki-based Cederqvist & Jäntti Architects always begins from scratch. While reinventing the design approach for every project might sound like arduous work, the 25-strong architect office has made it one of its distinct strengths, and is thus able to offer solutions firmly tied to locality and function rather than a particular design style.
Finnoo Centre, Espoo, winning entry in competition, 2013. Picture: C&J
By Nia Kajastie | Photo: Kari Palsila
Established in 2004 by partners Tom Cederqvist and Vesa Jäntti, the office has grown steadily over the years, gaining experience in commercial, residential, public and urban building, and working in Finland, Russia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine. The firm’s multidisciplinary architects have acquired many of their largest projects through architectural competitions, including the Konecranes and Luhta headquarters. Today, C&J Architects is committed to creating sustainable and complete solutions in close connection to function and context, as well as its clients’ needs.
“There are never two solutions that are alike, as each project brings with it its own challenges and requirements. Even if we’re working on ten different cases for the same client, they will still be different, and bound to their locality and function in a natural way,” explains Jäntti. The office is currently working on several commercial centre projects in the Finnish capital area as well as other growth centres. “These are exceedingly challenging and complex assignments, as the shopping areas are not created outside of residential centres along motorways, but in-
Shopping Gallery and Theatre, Lappeenranta, 2011. Picture: C&J
For more information, please visit: www.cej.fi
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 73
Kekkapää house. Photo: Hahl
Insightful architecture tied to locality For POOK Architects, the core values of architecture can be found in a great solution that ties together locality and a clear insightful notion – if these things are in place, as architect Pentti Raiski notes, then you are already well on your way. POOK Architects was established in 1997 by Raiski and Katariina Rautiala, and became their full-time focus and career in ’99. Combining their previous experience and know-how from residential and public building, and gathering a team of about five further specialists around them, the two founders have created an office with a wide range of competences. By Nia Kajastie
POOK Architects currently offers highquality architectural and lead design, working on both new projects and renovations within the private and public sectors. All projects and solutions are created in close cooperation with other design partners and the clients, who consist of cities, businesses, housing and construction associations, as well as private individuals.
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Pentti Raiski and Katariina Rautiala. Photo: Markku Alatalo
The architects are focused on buildings that fit their surroundings seamlessly, with modern, pragmatic and clear-cut design language – and an innovative edge. “It’s natural to create buildings in a minimalistic style, with neutral colouring and minimal material for somewhere like Tapiola garden city, while, correspondingly, a seaside area in Porvoo calls for wood and pitched roofs, creating a com-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design & Architecture in Finland
pletely different type of solution,” explains Raiski.
Haa-Rakas house. Photo: Kuvio Oy
Sustainability concerns and environmental thinking have been part of POOK Architects’ work from the very beginning, and have become an integral component of their design work. “In this day and age, it’s self-evident that it’s part of our architecture; it would actually be impossible to detach it from our work as its own separate factor. It’s inbuilt nowadays, zeroenergy and even plus-energy houses are possible in the Nordic climate,” Raiski says. POOK Architects’ sustainability goal is to create solutions with long lifecycles that are aesthetically, ecologically and structurally durable. From cultural history to affordable housing
POOK Architects’ Kekkapää house, on the other hand, won the public vote at the national Puupalkinto (wood awards) in 2007. Containing an office and home, the wooden building blends into the culturally and historically valuable rural landscape of northern Espoo. “In shaping the building, we wanted to honour the area’s generous scale by placing all activities under a single pitched roof,” explains Raiski. As a unique landmark, based on a win in an open architectural competition in 20012002, POOK Architects created the south Kerava water tower design that reflects the dynamics of flowing water. A more recent non-residential project is the alteration and canopy of the Taaborinvuori outdoor summer theatre in Nurmijärvi, set in
Kuutio house. Photo: Kuvio Oy
When it comes to residential building, POOK Architects design homes made of stone, wood, brick and steel, offering clients both their architecture and design expertise. An example of an adaptable and flexible housing project is the simple HaaRakas house, meant for a family of six, notched into a slope and with durable hand-hammered tiles forming an essential part of its façade. The window openings and shelter-like cut-outs emphasize usability and allow for ideal sun angles for obtaining solar energy.
the middle of a historically significant area, close to the birth home of Finnish writer Aleksis Kivi. A very current topic for POOK Architects is an economical residential project for a housing association. Through this type of building, the aim is to offer more costcompetitive housing options within Helsinki. “While there are strict rules when it comes to the design language and cost-effectiveness, it’s a promising way of creating more living space. In this way, we can create affordable single-family homes with their own small yards right in the city,” adds Raiski.
Kerava water tower. Photo: POOK
For more information, please visit: www.pook.fi Or contact: info@pook.fi
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 75
the Vuosaari harbour. “Here, we wanted to create a contrast to the surrounding steel warehouses and harbour milieu with a wooden building that exudes humane warmth and natural comfort through its organic design language and soft lines, alluding to the sea and wooden ships.” Next to the building, a preserved hillock with trees and rocks forms an essential part of the architecture, adding to the centre’s unique identity. ARK-house’s aim was for travellers to feel welcome and take home a positive memory from this cosy shelter on the harbour. Future projects currently on ARK-house’s desk include a school project in Sipoo, as well as a drafted case study of a possible concert venue assignment for the Finnish Live Music Association (ELMU), which is moving from Nosturi, close to downtown Helsinki, to the Hietalahti waterfront. Helsinki Seafarers´ Centre
Challenge by challenge with a splash of colour ARK-house Architects is the joint venture of three smaller architectural offices that had previously liaised together and wanted to combine their expertise into one multidisciplinary company, capable of taking on larger building projects. Originally established in 1995, the office now employs around 10-12 architects, working in all sectors of architecture, from public buildings to renovation. With their main focus on national projects, ARK-house Architects has worked on numerous assignments close to its base in Helsinki and around the country. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: ARK-house Architects
“Our approach to design is adapted according to each individual case, on a challenge by challenge basis. We take each project in turn and find the ideal solution that fits the context, as well as client and project requirements. Our use of colour is something that has been noticed before, but each project is distinct and we approach them as such,” explains architect and partner Pentti Kareoja ARK-house Architects is currently working on several housing projects and has
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recently finished a rental property in the Vuosaari neighbourhood of Helsinki. “The curved form of the building brought a lot of challenges with it due to its divergent geometry as well as the tight financial restrictions we were working under, but, even so, we aimed for a certain playfulness when it came to the use of colour on the balconies,” says Kareoja. A recent noteworthy public building project for ARK-house has been the Helsinki Seafarers’ Centre set by the main entrance to
Rental property in Vuosaari
For more information, please visit: www.ark-house.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design & Architecture in Finland
Jonathan Björkskog, Rasmus Östman and Sebastian Östman
A real success story about how hard work pays off Genero is the real proof of how, if you have a good idea and hard work mind-set, you can start a very successful company from scratch. Founded in 2009, Genero has grown at a rate of 100% per year and has not finished yet. By Cecilia Varricchio | Photos: Genero
Genero was established by Rasmus Östman, Sebastian Östman and Jonathan Björkskog when they were still studying in Helsinki. They came up with this idea because they wanted to help other companies by creating more effective advertising and communication through the use of digital media. At the beginning, it was not easy to start a complete new business with no clients and without any proven experience in this sector; their first client was a small cleaning company which they helped design a new logo, a new website and SEO. After this first successful engagement, the word spread out, and it got easier for the young entrepreneurs to find more clients. Quick results Less than a year since its inception, Genero obtained a project from an ideal client,
Musch. When they started to work together, not many people were talking about Musch, but Genero helped them grow 45% in the first year and an impressive 80% in the second year of trading activity. They worked on many aspects of the business, ranging from brand strategy, competition strategy, visual identity, campaigns, new website and logo, to new brand identity. Genero was also behind the social media launch of one of Finland’s biggest house manufacturers, Jukkatalo. The result was 100,000+ Facebook fans and 5000+ sales leads in a few weeks.
with focus on the digital side that is aiming for the Nordic market. They now have 18 employees and do all the jobs inhouse, in a very collaborative environment. A team with strategists, creatives, internet marketers and developers under the same roof makes it more effective to create integrated marketing. Genero is definitely the right agency to partner with for companies that want to grow fast and strong, and are looking to achieve clear results, increase their turnover and have a stronger brand recognition on the Nordic market.
Growing into a full-service agency The fact that Genero is not just a digital, advertising or design agency is the key to their success. Rasmus Östman tells us that they aim to be a full-service agency
The Genero "wheel"
For more information, please visit: genero.fi
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 77
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Design & Architecture in Finland
Push! your marketing boundaries What was cutting-edge marketing a few years ago is now obsolete. Social media is turning everything you thought you knew about marketing upside down, and competition for companies looking to snag a top spot on Google’s ranking system has become cut-throat. By Maria Malmros | Photos: Push! Marketing Management
Juhana Tikkanen, CEO and creative director at Push! Marketing Management says: “There is no magic trick; you need to produce interesting, relevant and shareable content to your digital platforms and channels weekly or even daily.” Small, startup companies with limited resources need to take control of their marketing, in order to make a splash when entering a competitive marketplace.
ing; you will only achieve a top rank if people are talking about you, and you are an engaging, active participant in social forums.” Tikkanen advises that clients manage their own, professionally engineered websites only if they have the marketing expertise, time and energy required. A dormant website does more damage than good; so, think about your future needs from day one.
Winner takes all
Nuts and bolts of digital marketing
Whenever a potential client looks for a product or service by entering a search word on Google, your company’s rank will largely determine whether you can win that customer’s business. Tikkanen says: “Nowadays Google acts like a human be-
Tikkanen’s clients often approach them when they need someone to come in and clean up a mess. A well-meaning amateur friend or freelancer may help set up a website, not considering the required SEO content, updates or expansion require-
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ments. One client, who relied solely on a friend’s home-based web server, came close to the brink when the owner suddenly unplugged everything, leaving the website offline. “Fortunately we were able to rescue the client, and provide them with a website and web hosting in a few weeks,” says Tikkanen. Nonetheless, the loss of revenue and credibility to a business in that predicament can be profound. Tikkanen says clients are impatient with urgent needs, oftentimes requesting printed or digital marketing material done in a few hours for an upcoming event. A mid-sized agency, Push! delivers solutions on a par with those of larger agencies, yet price themselves on the same level as freelancers. While having successfully launched global companies, no job is too small. Tikkanen says: “Even designing a simple flyer or PowerPoint template can lead to a rewarding, long-term relationship.” And a happy customer will come back for more. For more information or a free consultation, please visit: pusheurope.com pushmarketing.fi
Get cultured in Finland Dozens of festivals, covering everything from folk music to film, museums and exhibitions galore, theatre and dance performances for all tastes, and, of course, the Moomins – there are plenty of Finnish cultural icons, attractions and events to explore, no matter the season.
CU LT UR AL MIN EX I PE THE RIE M NC E: ES IN FIN LA ND
By Nia Kajastie | Photo: Jari Kuusenaho
Let’s start off with Finland’s favourite hippo-like cultural icons, the Moomins, a set of cute and quirky characters created by writer and artist Tove Jansson. The Finns love them; they are, after all, a part of everyone’s childhood – not only in Finland either. Naturally there are also plenty of attractions that will introduce you to these funny little things, including the Moomin World in Naanatali and the Moomin Museum in Tampere. But it’s not all cuddly creatures and Angry Birds in Finland either; arts and culture
form important pastimes for the locals, and visitors to the country shouldn’t miss out on the wealth of experiences that are on offer. From contemporary dance performances to classical music festivals, the events that are taking place this year, or return year after year, run the gamut of artistic expression. So whatever your artistic and cultural tastes, you are sure to find something to tickle your fancy, and popular entertainment is, of course, included as well. The Dried-out Sea diorama from the story Comet in Moomin-
Come and get cultured in Finland!
Piano stars flock to the capital area for the 12th time PianoEspoo, formerly known as the Espoo International Piano Week, is taking place in October this year for the 12th time. At the biennial piano festival, rising stars are presented alongside leading Finnish and international concert pianists at five different venues in the Finnish Capital Region. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Courtesy of PianoEspoo
When the Espoo Cultural Centre was completed in 1989, its then director Osmo Pylvänäinen had already started musing on the idea of an international piano festival and soon had pianist and current artistic director of the festival Marita Viitasalo, who worked together with pianist Erik T. Tawaststjerna on the first 10 events, enthused as well. The first festival
was organised in 1991, and over the years it has seen both international stars as well as Finland’s most distinguished pianists take to the stage. “While we don’t really have headline acts, most internationally renowned pianists have previously made an appearance at the festival. There aren’t that many festivals that focus solely on the piano, and
Johannes Piirto
Khatia Buniatishvili
land, 1976–1977, Tuulikki Pietilä. Read more on page 84.
here classic pianism is really in focus,” explains executive director Sanna Katajavuori. On the 15-20 October, the 12th PianoEspoo is taking over five venues in Espoo and Helsinki, which include the Espoo Cultural Centre, Sello Hall, Tapiola Church, the Finnish National Opera and the Helsinki Music Centre. This year, performing for the first time in Finland, the festival presents British Paul Lewis, one of the leading pianists of his generation. Other noteworthy artists will include young Finnish talent Johannes Piirto, who has made a name for himself in international competitions; Canadian soloist Marc-André Hamelin; 21-year-old Kit Armstrong, seen at the festival in 2011; young up-and-comer Khatia Buniatishvili; and Finnish jazz pianist Lenni-Kalle Taipale, who will be performing a new piece by Marzi Nyman with the Espoo Big Band. PianoEspoo (15.-20.10.2013) www.pianoespoo.fi
Paul Lewis. Photo: Joseph Molina
Tickets can be purchased from: www.lippu.fi
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Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Cultural Experiences in Finland
Performance Center in Suvilahti, Helsinki. Photo: Tuulia Nieminen
Physical and mental nest of wandering artists Artists both need and create synergy; to renew and innovate, artists have to discuss and exchange ideas with other professionals. Then again, when working and playing together, artists build an energy sphere, which is bigger than the sum of its components. Performance Center is the home of synergy of Finnish artists. By Karoliina Kantola
Performance Center is located in Helsinki, Suvilahti, in a rough but beautiful old electrical power plant area, but its artists work around Finland and around the world. Since 2009, Performance Center has been a unique organization, offering a place to meet, work, and practise for five art acts and dozens of artists. It contains four interdisciplinary groups and a society. Every group is different, but what they have in common is the synergy that they share and the pure will to explore and make something new.
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The collectives that belong to Performance Center need to be seen live – but let’s present them in a few words.
Oblivia is an international art group founded in 2000. It consists of three performers and four members behind the scenes. The background of the members is colourful: the different shades of the group come from classical music, scientific knowledge, dance, photography, as well as light and graphic design.
In spite of the colourful spectra of the group, Oblivia performs in a minimalistic way. The group gives the audience the freedom to make their own associations and definitions of what they see. This summer, Oblivia performs at the Full Moon Festival in Pyhäjärvi and at Lume Festival in Helsinki, for example.
The Other Spaces, founded in 2004, is also a performance group of a wide range of art professionals. The collective presents the world to its audience in various, new ways. The show moves away from the stage to where the viewers are. In its performances, the questions that the collective asks and encourages people to explore include: how does it feel to be a car, and what is it like to be a reindeer? The Other Spaces can be seen at Venice Biennale this year.
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Cultural Experiences in Finland
The Other Spaces: Parking House. Photo: Paula Tella
Performing Arts Society takes on art, more than the others, through a scientific approach. Founded in 2005, its members are actors, choreographers, dancers, directors, technical designers and scenographers, among others. An excellent example of how they perform is Inter Mezzo, for which the group members go and watch rehearsals of performances of other groups and make footnotes about them. Then, when the performance is ready, the society performs the result of the footnotes – a performance inside a performance. Inter Mezzo premieres in Helsinki in autumn. The Reality Research Center is the biggest group at Performance Center. Its performances do not necessarily take place only in one spot. It could be a show on the
Performing Arts Society: Inter Mezzo. Photo: Tomi Tulipääsky
small stage as well as a trip around the city. It could be a cooperation with comprehensive school students during the daytime or a city tour at night. It could even be a one-to-one moment, which means the viewers can be a part of the show and explore the piece of art on their own terms. The Reality Research Center has a new theme every year: this year it is Utopia. The group offers the frame, but the audience draws the picture. Founded in 2000, the creative and dynamic group performs all around the world and also publishes a magazine called Esitys. In July, it also organizes the Circle encounters in Suvilahti. In addition to these four innovative performance groups, which represent con-
temporary art rather than theatre, Performance Center contains the Presentation Society. The society offers information and channels to perform and promote the performances to its members. Performance Center supports every group and individual mentioned above on a mental level, while physically it supports the groups by giving them a place to meet and practise. Audiences can witness the result around the world. However, if you are interested in the home base itself, Performance Center arranges small events and open rehearsals in Suvilahti every now and then.
For more information, please visit: www.esitystaide.fi
Reality Research Center: The Circle. Photo: Jan Ahlstedt
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Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Cultural Experiences in Finland
artists and to promote modern Finnish visual art, it is one of the most celebrated awards in its field. The works of this year’s winner, Jarno Vesala, are showcased in the summer exhibition, open between 25/5-11/8/2013. Combining sculpture, moving image and audio in a narrative way that resembles film, Vesala’s installations appeal to all the senses – they remain lodged in the mind and invite viewers to take a new look at them.
Left: Jarno Vesala, Raining behind the Window, 2013. Sculpture installation. Top right: Jarno Vesala, Medusa, 2008. Video and audio installation. Below: Before breakfast, 2013. Interactive video installation. Filmed, edited and programmed by Jarno Vesala.
Art and fun for everyone Located in a former granary, Tampere Art Museum presents subjects in art history and phenomena in modern art – both on a domestic and international level. The museum is known for its bustling exhibition activities and broad publication selection, as well as the The Young Artist of the Year event. It also houses the ever-popular Moominvalley Museum. By Inna Allen | Photos: Tampere Art Museum
The museum, initially maintained by Tampere Art Society, was founded in 1898. “Today, Tampere Art Museum looks after the second largest art collection in Finland – over 14,000 artworks in total,” says museum director Taina Myllyharju. “Along with its own exhibitions, the museum is
also responsible for the exhibitions of the Regional Art Museum of Pirkanmaa, Moominvalley and TR1 Kunsthalle.” Tampere Art Museum is well known for arranging The Young Artist of the Year event. Set up in 1985 to introduce young
August sees the opening of an exhibition called “Bauhaus twenty-21: An Ongoing Legacy – Photographs by Gordon Watkinson”. Organized by Foto+Synthesis, the exhibition will contain photographs by American photographer Gordon Watkinson, and it is open from 24/8-20/10/2013. For the love of Moomins Based on Tampere Art Museum’s basement floor, Moominvalley is a museum devoted to original works by writer and artist Tove Jansson. Comprising around 2,000 works, the unique collection is based on the lovable Moomin books, which have so far been translated into over 40 languages. Fascinating children and adults alike worldwide, the museum brings thousands of tourists to the area every year. “Wisdom, humour and a healthy love of adventure have made the Moomin books speak across language barriers. That same atmosphere can also be felt at the museum,” Myllyharju says.
Tampere Art Museum is open Tue-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat-Sun 10am-6pm. There are both single and combination tickets available for purchase.
Photos: ©Moomin Characters
For more information, please visit: www.tampere.fi/english/artmuseum www.muumilaakso.tampere.fi/en
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Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Cultural Experiences in Finland
Physical elegies on femininity Choreographer and dancer of international renown, Sanna Kekäläinen is a performing artist on a mission to communicate and invite reflection on themes that touch upon femininity and human nature, universally, ranging from human trafficking to globalisation. In her newest piece, Queer Elegies, Kekäläinen explores identity – feminine, northern, weird, multiple or whatever identity. By Nia Kajastie | Photo: Robert Hoge
Since the 1980s, Sanna Kekäläinen has had a strong influence on the development of Finnish performing arts. After completing her studies at the London Contemporary Dance School and the Theatre School of Amsterdam, she returned to Finland and established ZODIAK, a centre for new dance, which today forms Finland’s largest contemporary dance centre. In 1996, following an urge to create an ensemble-type community within the dance scene, Kekäläinen established K&C Kekäläinen & Company, based at Cable Factory in Helsinki. Her mission, which has acted as a motivator for Kekäläinen long before forming
the company, is to bring forward and get more recognition for feminist art. K&C Kekäläinen & Company also stands for dance as an intellectual art form with strong emotional and political connections. Her new work Queer Elegies will be premiering on 18 September at Kiasma Theatre, in honour of the contemporary art museum’s 15th anniversary. “The piece continues along the same thematic lines of my previous works, pushing them a bit further. It’s distinctively a piece on identity and gender. It puts forward questions about the nature of gender, which is a bewildering and emotive subject in to-
Love & Anarchy in Helsinki Baz Luhrmann, Danny Boyle, John Woo and Tilda Swinton: the Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy has had its fair share of notable guests. The annual event, which initially focused heavily on Asian film, is today known for picking the cream of the cinematic crop from all continents. The very first HIFF took place in 1988 as part of the Finnish culture organisation Image’s roster of culture events. It turned out to be a great success, and a group of film experts and enthusiasts was put together to develop the festival further. “Once the festival became its own event, it has continued to grow and attract more visitors, even without huge marketing campaigns; it’s been a natural
development,” explains the festival’s artistic director Pekka Lanerva. The festival programme caters to film fanatics as well as people with a specific interest in different cultures, whether it is Japanese, Latin American, Indian or North American. The festival has naturally also attracted many famous names, from John Woo, who visited the festival with his first American movie, to Baz
day’s world. I also look at northern identity, which has its own stereotypes; it’s interesting to figure out how to express it,” explains Kekäläinen. For more information, please visit: www.kekalainencompany.net
Luhrmann in 2001 with Moulin Rouge. Finnish director Jalmari Helander, who showcased his short films at the event, is today one of the most talked about Finns on the scene, with the international hit Rare Exports under his belt. The 2013 festival programme promises to be yet again full of exciting films from around the world, from Cannes favourites, including winner La Vie d'Adele, to Wong Kar-Wai's long-awaited martial art epic The Grandmaster. Nowadays the festival also organises the country’s leading industry showcase Finnish Film Affair (24-26/9). The full programme, which will be announced at the beginning of September, will include around 160 full-length films and 140 short films in 450 screenings.
Photo: Pirita Särmä
By Nia Kajastie | Photos: HIFF
Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy (19.-29.9.2013) For more information, please visit: hiff.fi
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 83
Photo: Niclas Jessen
: ME RE E TH TU NI CUL I M SH NI DA
When we trust each other and society, there is less need for physical control. Employers can trust their employees. We do not accept ‘free-riding’, a tendency which in some countries makes it difficult to collect taxes. Former Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen once said that in Denmark nobody has a knife in his hand without having a fork in the other. I like that approach! According to international rankings by the World Bank and World Economic Forum, Denmark is among the world’s best locations for doing business. Some find Denmark attractive because of our welfare state with free education and healthcare, the great talent, skilled workers, life-long learning and a flexible labour market, while others mention our technology and know-how in areas like wind, acoustics, water, design and health. I am constantly telling the world that Denmark is open to business, and our government is focused on further improving framework conditions for the private sector. But the main reason for doing business in Denmark might very well be that you can basically trust us.
Trust us! World champions in trust! Might this be why Danes are among the happiest people in the world? The explanation behind our wealth? Or just another good reason for doing business in Denmark? By Pia Olsen Dyhr, Minister for Trade and Investment, Denmark
78 per cent of the Danish population believe that you can trust people you do not know. This figure makes Danes the most socially trusting people in the world and might be one important explanation for Denmark’s prosperity, according to professor Gert Tinggaard Svendsen from Aarhus University.
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What creates a nation’s wealth? Simply put, half comes from a nation’s workforce measured by educational level. And one quarter from physical capital such as resources, machines etc. But the last quarter remains to be explained. And according to economists’ research the issue of trust might just be the ‘missing link’.
Pia Olsen Dyhr
CBS EXECUTIVE MBA
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Next class start: September 2013 Contact us today to set up a meeting or telephone discussion Visit www.cbs.dk/emba Call +45 3815 6002 Email mba@cbs.dk
Combining the classical and the experimental Imagine yourself in a dark space, more specifically an old renovated hall by a harbour, where you are surrounded by, almost wrapped in, sound. Small groups of musicians are gathered in five small areas around you, and video projections are there to emphasize the musical universe that you have entered. Welcome into the world of Odense Symphony Orchestra’s newest experimental project, Liquid Rooms, premiering in September – a further testament to the orchestra’s determination to find fresh new ways of connecting with modern audiences. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Odense Symphony Orchestra
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feel they fit into. We did a similar project on a smaller scale already at a rock concert venue, and it was very successful.”
Finn Schumacker
“The harbour area in Odense is changing, and the 1800-square-metre hall is used for cultural activities, exhibitions and sales outlets; the city has found new ways of using the area, which now attracts young people and students. We chose this specific site for our event as we want to find new ways of engaging new audiences,” explains Finn Schumacker, CEO of Odense Symphony Orchestra. “We want to move the orchestra out of the concert building, which many young people don’t
The innovative project by Karsten Fundal aims to dissolve the relationship between the orchestra and the audience, with the audience placed in the middle of it all and able to freely move between the musicians and video screens, thus creating a more liquid space – or, in this case, Liquid Rooms. Moving with the times With roots reaching as far back as 1800 and formally established in 1946, the Odense
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Danish Culture
Symphony Orchestra, which is one of Denmark’s five regional orchestras, has already made a significant impact in Demark and abroad. Consisting of 73 permanent musicians hailing from 17 different nations, and with Russian maestro Alexander Vedernikov as chief conductor, the orchestra puts up around 100 productions every year, ranging from symphony concerts, light classical and opera to chamber music, children’s and youth concerts, as well as crossover projects. In addition, the orchestra continues to develop and move with the times by reaching out to new listeners through modern media, pedagogical partnerships and diverse events. With modern audiences and their cultural consumption in mind, the Odense Symphony Orchestra has taken upon itself to promote classical music and communicate with music lovers online. The Odense Symphony Orchestra’s Facebook page is a great example of activity reaching out to people all over the world, and through its YouTube channel, everyone has access to their concert recordings. This season, the orchestra is continuing its successful collaboration with the Odense Theatre, by offering a Stjernepakken ticket bundle that mixes two concerts with the Odense Symphony Orchestra with two performances at Odense Theatre. This way, instead of buying a season ticket for the orchestra or the theatre separately, audiences can enjoy a bit of both.
Alexander Vedernikov. Photo: Marco Borggreve
Classical and other highlights In addition to its more experimental projects, the Odense Symphony Orchestra can naturally also be experienced at the Carl Nielsen Hall, within Odense Concert Hall, and other more conventional venues. The 2013/2014 season also sees the orchestra take on some of the big classical works, including excerpts from Wagner's Götterdämmerung in September, Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra in October, as well as Bruckner's Eighth in April next year.
our plans. Without as much money to spend, we’re engaging schools, communities and organisations; everybody can contribute to the celebration. This will also lead to grassroots projects for the orchestra; it’s a new and exciting way of working with the community. We want to listen to the people around us and the audience,” concludes Schumacker.
This season the orchestra is proud to present pianist Marianna Shirinyan as Artist in Residence. “Marianna will be performing at four different occasions during the season. We’ve worked with her previously and formed a great relationship, and now we want to showcase different sides of her musicianship,” says Schumacker. In 2014, Shirinyan will be performing a Beethoven tribute concert with her friends, cellist Thorleif Thedéen and violinist Anthony Marwood, as well as taking on Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 and Toshio Hosokawa’s work Lotus in the Moonlight at a Marianna & Mozart concert. For her very first concert in October, she will be performing a brand new piano concerto especially written for her by jazz pianist and composer Carsten Dahl.
For more information, please visit: odensesymfoni.dk www.youtube.com/user/Odensesymfoni www.facebook.com/odensesymfoni
The Odense Symphony Orchestra is also starting to gear up for the celebrations surrounding Carl Nielsen’s 150th birthday in 2015. “Unlike in 2005, when we created a big project around H.C. Andersen, this time the financial crisis has affected
Marianna Shirinyan. Photo: Nikolaj Lund
A selection of upcoming concerts in 2013/2014: 5 September 2013 Liszt: Piano Concerto and excerpts from Wagner's Götterdämmerung 20 September 2013 Liquid Rooms, World premiere 10 October 2013 Also Sprach Zarathustra 31 October 2013 Spil Dansk, with Marianna Shirinyan 6-7 March 2014 Beethoven's Triple Concerto, with Marianna Shirinyan 25 April 2014 Bruckner's Eighth 1-2 May 2014 Marianna & Mozart
Evelyn Glennie. Photo: James Wilson/©Evelyn Glennie
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Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Danish Culture
Kolding – history and design at their best Kolding in the south of Jutland is a town with plenty of interesting things to offer – especially when it comes to art, design, nature and history. By Rikke Oberlin Flarup | Photos: Visit Kolding
In and around Kolding you will find a great variety of historical attractions. You can visit the nearby town of Christiansfeld, which was built 230 years ago by an independent German Christian congregation and displays a very harmonious style of architecture. The town is considered one of the best preserved of its kind, and guided tours are given throughout the summer. The old castle, Koldinghus, has been a central part of Denmark’s history for 800 years. The castle can be explored all year round, but this summer it offers a little something extra for all art and design lovers. From the 25 June, close to 50 new designers from Designskolen Kolding show the future way of Danish design at the graduation exhibition held at the castle. For nature lovers a visit to Skamlings-
banken is a must. The area offers a wonderful view of the Kolding area and Lillebælt, as well as beautiful beech forests. Koldinghus
Throughout the summer Kolding also offers a wide selection of events: 14 March – 8 September Nick Cave – The World is my Skin, exhibition at Trapholt 25 June – 28 July Graduation exhibition of Designskolen Kolding at Koldinghus 27 June – 1 August Summer at the lake, free outdoor concerts every Thursday 1 August – 3 August Wine Festival in Christiansfeld
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
Trapholt - Museum of Modern Art, Applied Art, Design and Architecture
For more information, please visit: www.visitkolding.dk
Hotel of the Month, Finland
Boutique hotel charm and first-class dining under one roof After 25 years of creating memorable experiences within an authentic milieu, Boutique Hotel Yöpuu and Restaurant Pöllöwaari continue to offer something special for the discerning traveller. Set in the heart of Jyväskylä in central Finland, the hotelrestaurant’s successful combination of uniquely decorated rooms, personalised service and beautiful culinary concoctions is hard to match. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Hotel Yöpuu
From business travellers looking for the perfect mix of hotel and restaurant to couples wanting to spend some well-deserved time together in a romantic setting, the privately owned Hotel Yöpuu and its restaurant cater to a varied group of customers. What the different types of visitors appreciate most, as is evident from online reviews, is the welcoming and homely atmosphere of the boutique hotel, which is enhanced by its service-minded, intuitive staff who are always happy to assist. The hotel currently comprises 26 rooms, with two suites, 13 double rooms and 11 single rooms, which all come inclusive with breakfast, a glass of house wine, wireless Internet as well as a private hour-long sauna session. As a recent addition, the hotel also offers four apartments situated
next door, ideal for longer stays. All rooms and apartments come with their individual themes in both romantic and modern styles, ranging from the (Alvar) Aalto room to the Suomi-Filmi room decorated in homage to the golden days of Finnish cinema. “Our excellent location in a historical, aesthetic milieu, distinctive rooms, attentive service – it’s all part of what we offer as a whole,” explains restaurant manager Ulla Häkkinen. “We put a lot of effort into detail, from the interior design to towels and small cosmetic touch-ups, as well as our breakfast, which we are always developing, put together from locally sourced, seasonal produce.” Restaurant Pöllöwaari follows along similar lines when it comes to its seasonal
and special menus and à la carte and lunch options. Finnish fish, meat and vegetables create the backbone of the menus, and while Finnish culinary traditions shine through in the cooking, dishes are also infused with international flavours. “Our choice of drinks is closely connected to the food and changes alongside the menus. We try to offer new and surprising wine options, along with the classics. We know our clientele consists of people who spend time enjoying their food and wine – real epicures. But we’re not elitist; we want to be welcoming while offering an excellent product.” In the summertime, guests can also retreat to the hotel’s verdant courtyard for some wining and dining. And wine tastings, from simple iPad wine guides to more in-depth events, are also on offer.
For more information, please visit: www.hotelliyopuu.fi
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Iceland
Hotel of the Month, Iceland
Enjoy a peaceful stay in downtown Reykjavik Only moments away from Reykjavik’s city centre, the four-starred Hotel Odinsve is nestled in a quiet residential area in the heart of the capital, offering a great night’s sleep as well as an easy base from which to explore the city and the rest of the country. The small and cosy hotel is an excellent option for both business and leisure travellers and boasts a 24/7 reception where the hotel’s award-winning and welcoming staff will go out of their way to assist with all requests. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Hotel Odinsve
What started off as a restaurant in the old part of Reykjavik is today a boutique hotel with a total of 50 rooms, including six deluxe rooms and four junior suites. The newly renovated Snaps restaurant is also available on the premises, serving Scandinavian cuisine and a great selec-
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tion of open sandwiches in a friendly environment. “The gentleman who, prior to 1985, ran a restaurant in this spot, recognised the need for a hotel in this quiet residential area, away from the discotheques and
bars of the dead centre of the city. He started off with around 10-15 rooms and gradually extended the hotel, adding extra floors and buying the next-door buildings,” explains hotel manager Bjarni Hákonarson. And the expansion is still on-going with the hotel being able to offer 50 rooms, instead of 43, from 1 August onwards. Only 200 metres from the hotel building, you will also find four luxurious Odinsve hotel apartments that are fully equipped but also come with the full hotel service. Suitable for up to six people, with a living room, two separate bedrooms and a sofa
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Iceland
bed, and a fully equipped kitchen, the apartments have proved popular with families and couples as well as corporate guests. Explore Reykjavik and the rest of Iceland Hotel Odinsve is located only a few steps away from the very centre of Reykjavik as well as close to a lot of attractions, including the National Theatre, the National Gallery of Iceland, the Icelandic Opera and the two main shopping streets of Reykjavik. Fine dining and the city’s night life can also be experienced just around the corner, but with the hotel still safely tucked away from the hubbub of the centre. “Our location is one of our biggest assets,” confirms Hákonarson. “Most visitors still would like to stay in the downtown area, rather than the outskirts of Reykjavik. However, most of our guests also want to see more of Iceland. They might rent a car, go on a tour or join an organised bus trip. They often want to go whale watching, on a helicopter ride or horse riding – all of which is on offer quite locally. We also assist the guests with finalising their trip details; our staff and 24/7 reception will assist you with anything,” he adds. Popular trips include the Golden Circle tour, which includes some of Iceland’s most stunning sights, from historic places to natural beauty, as well as a trip to the Blue Lagoon, the geothermal spa that can, for example, help people with skin problems.
tor, sound system and dimming lights. There is also a comfortable lounge where the participants can relax between meetings. Food and drink are catered by the hotel’s Snaps restaurant, and, as Hákonarson promises, the hotel’s staff is happy to sort out extra requirements. Newly renovated restaurant The hotel’s restaurant Snaps is a tablecloth bistro-style establishment that takes influences from Scandinavian cuisine as well as New York bistros. Its head chef, Stefan Melsted, is known to create exquisite dishes from the fresh catch of the
day, lamb, beef and duck. It also includes the oldest open sandwich facility in Iceland, which has been there for decades since the restaurant originally opened in this spot. The restaurant was renovated at the beginning of last year and has proved to be very popular with both guests and locals. “It’s cosy and not too fancy, offering good food at good value,” says Hákonarson. For more information, please visit: www.hotelodinsve.is
Taking pride in details Hotel Odinsve offers standard single, double and twin rooms, as well as double deluxe and junior suites, with all rooms decorated in a Nordic and relaxed style. “We pride ourselves in being able to offer nice beds, linen, towels and other details that contribute to the comfort of your stay,” says Hákonarson. The hotel also includes two fully equipped meeting rooms, one with a round table suitable for 8-10 people, a flat screen and speakers, and a basement room ideal for up to 30 people with an overhead projec-
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Hotel of the Month, Denmark
Celebrate 600 years of Denmark’s imaginative retreat The famous natural blue light still attracts bohemians and artists to Danish market town Skagen in its 600th year. Color Hotel provides the ideal platform for exploration. By Thomas Bech Hansen | Photos: Color Hotel Skagen
There is something truly special about Skagen: the location near Grenen (The Branch), where waters meet and merge at the northernmost tip of Denmark, the quaint old streets and the blueness of the sunlight. This particular quality of light, immortalised by 19th century painters and bohemians like P.S. Krøyer, shines on as Skagen celebrates 600 years of existence, still attracting imaginative minds and those eager to explore the calmness and beauty of the area.
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Color Hotel Skagen is a recently refurbished hotel which provides exactly the right platform to take in the history and scenery of this enigmatic place. It is the only four-star hotel in Skagen. “We are right on the heath between Skagen town and Old Skagen, and within walking or cycling distance to anything of interest,” explains Rikke Gandrup, hotel manager. In fact, the harbour, the sand-engulfed buried church and the Dune House, a for-
mer summer residence of the Danish royal family and – true to Skagen traditions – now a refuge for artists and scientists, are only a 15-minute walk away. Other must-sees, like The Branch, can be reached by a short ride on bikes available to rent from the hotel. Blue September Throughout 2013, Skagen celebrates its 600 years as a market town. The year is packed with activities marking the anniversary and celebrating the rich and varied history of a town, which, in spite of its small size, has lured kings, artists, merchants and visitors from across the globe for centuries.
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Denmark
THE MAGIC OF SKAGEN Skagen’s painters Painters, especially from the late 1870s to around 1900, have flocked to Skagen for its blue light created by reflections from the sea surrounding Skagen and from miles of long, white sandy beaches. To this day, the area is still a haven sought out by artists and scientists.
The Branch Grenen (in Danish) is a junction point shaped like a tree branch between the strait of Skagerrak (part of the North Sea) and the Kattegat sea.
The sand-engulfed buried church Migrating sands covered this old parish church after it was abandoned in the 18th century.
The main event promises to be September 2013, dubbed Blue September as a nod to the famous blue light. The month kicks off in style with the visit of HM The Queen and HRH Prince Henrik of Denmark. A spectacle to savour should be in store as the Royal Yacht docks at Skagen Harbour. Also on the list of events is the chance to meet local artists for a unique insight into the creative methods applied today by those following in the footsteps of likeminded eccentrics from epochs past. For nature enthusiasts, a guided coast-tocoast hike across the Skagen peninsula is
on offer, as is a geological trip to The Branch, which essentially forms the north end of mainland Europe. Home comforts For those happy to simply put their feet up, or take some time out from the many jubilee celebrations, Color Hotel has the perfect package right on its premises. “Actually, a lot of our guests spend most of their visit to Skagen at the hotel. We have a warm, welcoming atmosphere and something for everybody. If you feel like withdrawing a bit, you can. And if you want
a bit of liveliness around you, we have that too,” says Rikke Gandrup. With dining and bar facilities at the centre of the hotel, there is always a lively atmosphere close at hand. At the same time, a tranquil courtyard with deck chairs, a heated pool (until October) and sauna huts provide excellent opportunities to unwind. For those with an urge for exercise, the hotel’s location offers many possibilities. “Because we are on the heath, we are well located for good routes for both running and hiking,” says Rikke Gandrup.
Color Hotel and Blue September Throughout Skagen’s 600th celebration year, Color Hotel Skagen has a variety of special offers. For example, the hotel will be part of the jubilee’s Blue September event with the Blue Stay offer: • 2 nights in a double room • Large breakfast buffet & 2-course menu both days • Blue Tote Bag with coffee and cake Price per person in a double room: From 1295 Kroner.
For more information, please visit: www.skagenhotel.dk or call +45 98442233 or email skagen@skagenhotel.dk
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Permanent exhibition Swedish Nature
Attraction of the Month, Sweden
For the love of nature How do you inspire and encourage environmental consciousness and teach people about nature? Start by appealing to all our senses, add interactive games, three-dimensional films and world-class research, and make sure to tell a captivating story – then watch people come in their thousands. At least that is pretty much how it works at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Mikael Axelsson
“Each and every display tells a story,” says communications officer Catrin Rising about the permanent exhibition Swedish Nature. “You’ll see a sea eagle feasting on a dead animal, crows waiting for their turn, and a sign that a fox has already been at the scene.” Attracting visitors from near and far, this is the largest of the museum’s nine permanent exhibitions,
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showcasing a wide range of Swedish animals including arctic foxes, moose and seals. The awe-inspiring human body The most recent addition, the brand new exhibition The Human Animal, tells the story of the human body from an evolutionary perspective, explaining why our
skeleton has come to look the way it looks and what is so mind-blowingly amazing about our brain. “Not many people know that the bones in our neck are designed in a similar way to the giraffe’s, with the same amount of vertebrae,” says Rising. “And what about our skin? How come we don’t have fur? The exhibition answers these and many other fascinating questions.”
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Sweden
The museum addresses children above all, which is why the exhibition is very playful with interactive stations and computer games. Why not see if you can hang from a tree branch for as long as a monkey? Or have a go at the scent station, where you get to guess the source of a wide range of pleasant and not-sopleasant smells. But The Human Animal is not only fun: “It’s really beautiful,” says Rising. “Almost like an art exhibition.”
seum of Natural History also offers a very special digital experience by way of the high-technological IMAX cinema Cosmonova. A dome of 23 metres in diameter, 262 tiered and tilted seats, projectors reflecting up to 35 billion colours, a digital 3D system alongside 3D liquid crystal glasses, and an IMAX projector using a file format over ten times larger than that of a regular cinema make Cosmonova an extraordinary cinematic experience.
Mission: education
Most films run for over a year, so even though they are often hugely popular there is no need to panic. The most recent instalment, Flight of the Butterflies, depicts the annual migration of monarch butterflies through a journey following hundreds of millions of butterflies in their remote over-wintering sanctuaries. Also hugely popular is 3D film Flying Monsters. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, it has won numerous awards for its exploration of the pterosaurs of 220 million years ago.
An important but less visible part of the museum is its research function, where scientists at the top of their game dig out all the interesting facts that will eventually make up the exhibitions. The research team works across four key research themes: diversity of life, ecosystems and species history, man and the environment, and the changing earth. In addition, the institution prides itself on helping schools across the country with their science education: it takes a very proactive approach to fulfilling its mission of educating the public, and reaches out to schools with ready-made teaching plans and materials. On site, around 30 classes of lucky school children get to experience the collections first hand every day, and some even schedule to have a class taught by a museum guide. Super high-technological 3D cinema Since the early 1990s, the Swedish Mu-
Another gem not to be missed is 4½ billion years – the History of Life and Earth, which takes the visitor on a journey from the moment the earth was born and through millions of years of dinosaur dominion. The exhibition will be taken down this autumn, so if you want to see it, this is your last chance – until eventually it opens again, even bigger, of course. Funded by the government and reporting to the Ministry of Culture, the Swedish Museum of Natural History operates with the vision to enhance the public’s knowledge of nature and its diversity. Aptly, it is situated in the world’s first ever national city park, close to Stockholm University – appealing to all our senses indeed: surrounded by, steeped in and working for nature.
Hidden gems and a government mission Despite its reputation and popularity, the museum also offers the opportunity for a quieter visit, and one of its many charms is that visitors can quickly whiz through or take it slow and dig deep into subjects of interest. “The mineral collection Treasures from the earth’s exterior is really fascinating but quite unusual, and because it’s a little bit hidden away, the atmosphere is very relaxing,” says Rising. “It’s a hidden gem, perfect for the slightly older kids.”
The Human Animal exhibition. Photo: Catrin Rising/Naturhistoriska riksmuseet
IMAX cinema Cosmonova
For more information, please visit: nrm.se
4½ billion years – the History of Life and Earth exhibition
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Beautiful sculpture from 2012 when the theme of the festival was the Seven Wonders of the World.
Attraction of the Month, Denmark
The Wild West comes to Søndervig Outlaws in gun fights, cowboys spending half their lives in the saddle and Indians battling European settlers – all this was part of everyday life in America in the second half of the 19th century, in a region most of us know as the Wild West. This summer, you can experience the highly popular and action-packed era illustrated through various sand sculptures at the Sand Sculpture Festival in Søndervig. By Rikke Oberlin Flarup | Photos: Lars Wichmann
For the eleventh year in a row the Worldwide Sculpture Organisation is behind the Sand Sculpture Festival in the small and tourist-friendly Søndervig on the west coast of Jutland. With more than 140,000 visitors at the festival’s 10th anniversary last year, all records were broken. This year the aim is to attract even more visitors. To do so, 37 of the best sculptors in the world have been invited to do their magic in Søndervig under the theme The Wild West. In just ten days they will trans-
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form more than 8000 tons of sand into beautiful and lively masterpieces for all visitors to enjoy from 4 June to 27 October. The official opening of the festival was on 8 June, but already from 4 June the site was open for people to watch the artists put the finishing touches on their works. How to build a sand sculpture If you have ever tried building a sand castle at your local beach or when on holiday, you know that making it last for more than
a few hours is not as easy as it may seem. Sand is a fragile material, and it takes a very special kind of sand to make a longlasting sculpture. The sand must be made up of the right type of grains and contain a certain percentage of clay. To make a sculpture, the first thing you have to do is press and shape the sand into large square blocks. One by one, the blocks are stacked on top of each other, like building blocks. During this process,
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
which is called tamping, water is poured over the sand to make the grains bind together and prevent the sculpture from collapsing. Once the blocks have reached the desired height, the sand sculptor begins shaping his sculpture. Starting at the top, he gradually works his way down. The sculptor must always ensure that proportions are correct – there is no room for mistakes. It takes about 60 hours and 25 tons of sand to make a four-metre-tall sand sculpture. During the festival, a giant sand box will be made available for all visitors. Here adults and children alike can let loose their creativity and produce some sand sculptures of their own.
The sand in Søndervig is especially good for creating long-lasting sand sculptures.
From a single sculpture to a huge festival 85-year-old Erik Frederiksen, the man behind the Worldwide Sculpture Organisation, is the sole reason there is such a thing as a sand sculpture festival in Søndervig in the first place. It all started in the spring of 2002 in the small coastal town Blokhus, located in the north of Jutland. Erik was head of the local trade association when the opening of a new public square was to take place. To celebrate the opening, Erik decided to have a sand sculpture made in the middle of the square and hired a talented sand sculptor to do the work. The sand sculpture quickly became a popular attraction, and the following year, 16 artists were invited and a festival was born. The sand in Blokhus, however, turned out not to be of the best quality. In fact most of the sculptures made by the 16 artists were washed away by rain. Erik therefore soon decided to move the festivities to Søndervig instead, where some of the world’s best sand for sculpting is to be found. The sand here is very strong and lets the artists produce some extremely creative and daring pieces. This year, their artworks will include a more than 200-metrelong and 7-metre-tall sculpture wall displaying the history of the Wild West as well as nine individual artworks. The volume of the sculpture wall is unique and nothing like it has been seen elsewhere before.
The sculptors create all the sculptures for the festival in just ten days.
Every year the festival has a new theme. The group of people arranging the festival decides on a theme in close co-operation with the artists attending the festival. “We are proud to be able to attract so many talented artists every year and find it very important to work closely together with them on creating what we consider to be the world’s best sand sculpture festival,” says Erik Frederiksen. The artists are also asked for advice when it comes to inviting new artists to the festival. This way only the best people are chosen, giving everyone attending the best possible experience.
For more information, please visit: www.sandskulptur.dk
The sand sculpture festival is open every day from 4 June to 1 September, from 10am to 7pm. From 2 September to 27 October, the opening hours are 10am to 5pm. The entrance fee is 45 kr for adults and 20 kr for children aged five to 11. Children younger than five enter free.
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With over 45 years of combined a cappella experience, the two groups have been working, recording and touring hard over the years, easily putting them among the top five vocal ensembles in the world. The Real Group and its five members, Emma Nilsdotter, Katarina Henryson, Anders Edenroth, Morten Vinther and Anders Jalkéus, and the six-strong Rajaton, consisting of Essi Wuorela, Virpi Moskari, Soila Sariola, Hannu Lepola, Ahti Paunu and Jussi Chydenius, met each other over 10 years ago. The two groups realised that they shared the same energy and approach to making music, and over the years they have already sung together, featured at each other’s concerts and shared programme slots at festivals. “We met for the first time in 2001 in Canada at a festival and became great friends. Naturally, The Real Group had been an inspiration to us when we started our group, and we were fans even before we met,” says Jussi Chydenius, Rajaton’s bass singer. “We enjoyed spending time together from the start, and when meeting in Finland or Sweden, we’d often sing at each other’s gigs. That’s where the idea really came from; we thought it would be fun to collaborate in a more planned and thought-out way, with some new material prepared especially for the line-up as well.”
“Supergroup” LEVELELEVEN
Attraction of the Month, Finland
The next level of a cappella What happens when you bring together two of Scandinavia’s most popular vocal ensembles? We now have the answer: you reach a whole ’nother level of a cappella expression, combining bucketsful of talent, passion and, above all, joy – in the form of “supergroup” LEVELELEVEN. Equipped with fresh material and excited to present it to both familiar and new audiences, the 11 singers of Swedish The Real Group and Rajaton from Finland will embark on a joint Nordic tour this September. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Courtesy of LEVELELEVEN
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Last year, the groups began writing new material as well as creating new arrangements especially for the 11-person supergroup. Currently, LEVELELEVEN has a repertoire of 10 songs, ranging from an arrangement of a 1,000-year-old hymn to folk music. “Members from both groups have written new songs taking into account the 11 voices, instead of just 5 or 6. We know each other so well and the qualities of each other’s voices, so we know how to best use them. The songs have been adjusted to suit 11 singers exactly,” says The Real Group’s Anders Jalkéus. “While the groups are musically quite different, we are all bringing our own skills into the mix in order to find something that connects us. We want to create something new that doesn’t sound like Rajaton or The Real Group,” adds Chydenius.
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Finland
highlight was when we sang at the Fifa World Cup in Seoul in 2005 in front of a crowd of hundreds of thousands of people, with the performance broadcast live throughout the world,” says Jalkéus. Rajaton, on the other hand, was established in 1997 and has released 13 albums so far. The a cappella group has performed at concert halls, jazz festivals and churches around the world, singing everything from religious music to jazz and pop. “We’ve been really lucky to do something we love all over the world. We’ve been to around 25 different countries and have gone to places we necessarily wouldn’t have experienced otherwise, like Labrador in northern Canada, where we flew into a small village inhabited by around 100-200 people. While it was far from glamorous, as an experience it was exceptional. In general, we’re just happy and proud to be able to do a job that is rooted in our love for music and singing,” explains Chydenius. LEVELELEVEN’s debut Supergroup LEVELELEVEN’s first gig took place in February in Åland, followed by a performance at Aarhus Vocal Festival in May and recent concerts in Finland and Austria. “We were very excited and nervous before our performance in Åland, but in a way it’s the perfect way to begin things as it’s an island set between Finland and Sweden,” Jalkéus says laughing. “In Aarhus, there was a bit more pressure as the crowd at the festival is specifically into vocal music, but we had a fantastic audience reaction, showing nothing but love for the group.”
Top: Rajaton. Below: The Real Group. Photo: Mats Bäcker
Two stellar careers combined The Real Group and Rajaton (translating to Boundless) are both full-time professional vocal groups with solid careers behind them. The Real Group has been touring the world with its own brand of vocal music for over 28 years now. The group is known for its unique musical expression,
mixing elements of jazz, pop and Nordic choir music. With 17 records under their belt, the group has often been asked to perform at prestigious events. “Performing for the Swedish queen’s birthday with Abba’s Anni-Frid Lyngstad was quite a thrill, and another career
A tour of the Nordic countries, covering Reykjavik, Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki, has been planned for September, and while further future performances have yet to be planned, the band members are sure that there is still plenty more to come from LEVELELEVEN.
For more information, please visit: www.rajaton.net www.therealgroup.se
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Iceland
Attraction of the Month, Iceland
World-class art dominates Reykjavik’s centre Framing the centre of Icelandic capital Reykjavík, the Reykjavik Art Museum’s three locations form a journey through Icelandic and international top art, folktales, sagas and pyramids – all set in fascinating city surroundings.
Reykjavik Art Museum (RAM) is Iceland’s largest network of art museums with a total of three locations within short reach of each other across the heart of the city. In one visit, art lovers can conveniently take in Hafnarhús, Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum and Kjarvalsstaðir: three cultural must-sees showcasing traditional, modern and contemporary art, paintings, sculptures and works in different media by established local and international artists.
contemporary shows at Hafnarhús tend toward the progressive and experimental, emphasizing works from established contemporary artists,” explains Berghildur Erla Bernharðsdóttir, RAM’s press officer.
of three years’ work researching and collating the artist’s entire collection of graphic pieces, undertaken by Danielle Kvaran, the exhibition curator. She says: “These works of art reveal a variety of techniques, including stamp prints, lino and wood cuttings, etchings, lithographs and silk prints. It is in the latter that Erró has focused more on digital printing. Most of Erró’s graphic art is based on his older works, such as his paintings, collages and drawings.”
Built in the 1930s, this refurbished fishery office and warehouse now houses the permanent collection of the works of Erró, the Icelander who has become one of Europe’s most notable pop artists.
Erró has collaborated extensively in workshops with a variety of different graphic artists, as well as with printers and publishers of his works in France, Italy, Sweden and elsewhere in Europe.
Pop art by the old harbour
For the first time, the general public are able to view Erró’s graphic art spanning half a century. The exhibition is the result
Iceland’s first for visual arts
By Thomas Bech Hansen | Photos: Reykjavik Art Museum
Hafnarhús is the largest building in RAM, located downtown by the old harbour. “The
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Kjarvalsstaðir is the first building in Iceland intentionally designed to display
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Iceland
works of visual arts. It opened 1973 and is named after the painter Jóhannes S. Kjarvals, one of Iceland’s most influential and recognised artists, whose works are on permanent display. “The exhibitions focus primarily on paintings and sculptures of the established masters of modern art,” says Berghildur Erla Bernharðsdóttir and offers an explanation of why the building itself is a work of art. “The building is a fine example of Nordic modernism and features floor to ceiling windows that look onto the beautiful Klambratún Park.” This summer, the exhibition Icelandic art 1900-1950: From landscape to abstract art is on show at Kjarvalsstaðir. “An exhibition for all art lovers,” as Berghildur Erla Bernharðsdóttir puts it, the exhibition gives an overview of the treasures of Icelandic art from 1900-1950 and presents more than 200 paintings from 40 wellknown Icelandic artists from this period. Sagas, mythology and pyramids Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum is the former home and workshop of the sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson (18931982), who designed and mostly constructed this building himself. The museum serves to preserve his work and life, and is something of an epitome of all things quintessentially Icelandic with a sprinkle of the Middle East. “Ásmundur’s art greatly reflects his lifelong interest in the Icelandic sagas, folktales and classical mythology,” says Berghildur Erla Bernharðsdóttir. Again, the building itself is also worth the visit. “It
is a magnificent work of architecture, largely inspired by the Egyptian pyramids and the mosques of the Middle East. The impressive sculpture garden surrounding the building can be enjoyed for free by anyone at any time of the year.” All in all, a visit to RAM seems to accentuate its surroundings in the Land of Fire’s main city. Whether you are into internationally acclaimed pop art, Icelandic folklore, myth or poetry, or almost any other literary subject, a stroll across Reykjavik’s three main art museums lets you take it all in. For more information, please visit: www.artmuseum.is
Facts about RAM This summer there are six exhibitions in the three museums of Reykjavík Art Museum, so everyone should find something to their taste. The museum is open daily, and the entrance ticket is valid for all the three museums. With around 20 exhibitions on show every year and about 100 events, RAM is everchanging and offers something for all tastes and interests. The museum exhibits run the gamut from the historical to the disorienting and boundary-pushing, while its special events range from quiet, contemplative concerts to alternative rock events. All museums feature design-and-book stores. Hafnarhús and Kjarvalsstaðir have cafés as well.
Opposite side: Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum. Top and bottom right: Kjarvalsstaðir features Icelandic art from 1900-1950. Jón Stefánsson, Sumarnótt (Lómar við Þjórsá), 1929 and Jóhannes Kjarval, Fjallamjólk, 1941. Bottom left: RAM‘s Hafnarhús now houses the permanent collection of the works of Erró, the Icelander who has become one of Europe’s most notable pop artists.
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KODE Art Museums of Bergen have an extensive collection of works by Edvard Munch - an absolute "must-see" when visiting the area.
Attraction of the Month, Norway
Impressive art exhibitions and collections at KODE in Bergen KODE is the art museum of Bergen, Norway. This year’s main attraction is the new presentation celebrating the 150th anniversary of Munch’s birth. It consists of Norway’s second largest collection of Munch paintings after Oslo, in the newly reopened Rasmus Meyer collection. By Stian Sangvig | Photos: Dag Fosse
“A curious little highlight is a drawing on paper with pen and ink of Scream,” explains senior information advisor Hilde Joranger Mæland. “We have an extensive collection of Munch’s works, which includes artwork from his life as a painter, showing how he changed his style from realism to the expressionism which made him so famous.” Towards the end of his life, Munch used several colours on a lighter palette. The public can view this in the small and newly renovated gallery in the park by the lake Lille Lungegårdsvann. “In one of KODE’s additional four buildings, an exhibition displaying both ceramics and paintings is shown for the first time this summer under the name Wet, Wild and Beautiful. It displays paintings
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tional facilities include an art shop, restaurant and café. This summer, KODE is also proud to host an exhibition called KODE on Paper with works on paper from the museum’s own collection. Viewers can enjoy magnificent drawings by renowned artist, such as Cézanne, Rembrandt, Dürer, Hogarth, Goya, Gauguin and Picasso. This is quite an opportunity as the artworks are sensitive to light and can only be exhibited for short periods of time.
and ceramics in unexpected contexts, with works by Peder Balke, Sidsel Hanum, Bjørn-Sigurd Tufta and Thorvald Bindesbøll,” adds Mæland. KODE Bergen also houses impressive permanent collections, adding international flair with modernist works by Picasso, Miro and Klee. “Tourists are impressed by the collections by J. C. Dahl, Nicolai Astrup and Gerhard Munthe, where they can see what life was like in beautiful Jølster in Sogn County in the early 20th century,” explains Mæland. KODE also offers activities for the family. There is a museum for children, where they can learn about art forms and play their way through the history of art. Addi-
Nikolai Astrup is a champion in creating evocative paintings of his home village in Sogn County. This is Spring Night in the Garden from 1909.
For more information, please visit: www.kodebergen.no
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Sweden
Restaurant of the Month, Sweden
A hard-to-beat gourmet experience The Weather Islands are Sweden's most westerly islands and among the most exotic in the country. And also home to a wonderful retreat, Väderöarnas Värdshus & Konferens, where guests can indulge in fresh seafood at a restored pilot house located in raw, rugged and incredibly beautiful surroundings. It won’t take long before you realise why the islands’ ethos is wellbeing. By Emelie Krugly Hill | Photos: Väderöarnas Värdshus & Konferens
Situated 10 nautical miles from the mainland, Väderöarna (The Weather Islands) consist of around 365 islands and islets. A 25-minute boat ride from Fjällbacka will take you to the island of Storö where the inn and restaurant are located, widely known for its deliciously fresh seafood. “Our food is simple but well cooked. We have such fantastic seafood and local produce on our doorstep and naturally the main focus is on this. Our rich, cognaclaced mussel soup is one of our classics, but fresh caught crab, crayfish and lobster form a hard-to-beat gourmet experience. There is always a story around the food which we share with our guests,” says Pia. “We are also very proud to have our
own desalination plant so we can enjoy drinking our beautiful seawater.” In 2005, the owners Pia and husband Mikael were offered the chance to take over the guesthouse on the island, and they didn’t need to consider this for very long. “Suddenly I felt that we really had a diamond on our hands,” she says. “Here you can experience nature and freedom with fantastic sunsets, bringing peace to any stressed soul. “Our ethos is simple: relax! With facilities such as a hot tub and a wood-fired sauna, it is difficult not to. On arrival you’ll always experience a warm welcome. Food-wise we have offerings such as the all-year-
round langoustine fishing experience. You can then experience cooking your catch on the jetty along with one of our top chefs.” Also on offer is a seal safari, lobster fishing and guided tours of the island. At the inn, you will find 11 individually decorated and charming rooms. Most rooms offer stunning sea views, and there is a safe harbour if you arrive by boat. Several hiking trails are also to be found around the island. The island is obviously a real hit in the summer, but Christmas and New Year’s Eve are also popular times to visit, with the restaurant boasting full bookings on the last day of the year until 2020! But Pia can also recommend a visit in January or February when the island is much quieter and simply magical in the winter months. For more information, please visit: www.vaderoarna.com
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Restaurant of the Month, Denmark
A gastronomic experience to wake your primal senses Copenhagen’s Palæo restaurants have found success with healthy and delicious fast food based on the so-called Stone Age diet. By Thomas Bech Hansen | Photos: Palæo
Daniel Straub and Peter Emil Nielsen are in their Copenhagen office. It is time for lunch. Like many times before, the choice comes down to this: a quick and unhealthy meal from the corner shop or a long wait in a restaurant for something healthier. They decide someone should offer an easy, tasty and healthy alternative. Fast forward a couple of years and here they are, together in Palæo in Copenhagen’s Pilestræde. Opened in October 2012, it is
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the second restaurant under that name from the entrepreneurial pair. “We simply got fed up with the usual street food options,” says Peter Emil Nielsen. Fast food by cavemen Palæo’s menu is based on the Palæo diet, popularly known as caveman diet or Stone Age diet due to its stripped down emphasis on vegetables, meat, nuts and berries – the usual intake of foragers thousands
of years ago. This means strictly no starch, making the likes of pasta, bread, rice and potatoes non grata. Palæo have used these principles for healthier versions of fast food staples like hot dogs, wraps, pizzas, spaghetti bolognese and also salads. Danish Michelin chef and Palæo firstmover Thomas Rode provided the platform for the pair’s plans. “He inspired us to go in the Palæo direction as we searched for healthy foods. He turned us on to the idea that you can make quick, healthy food that is also delicious. Palæo makes this possible, so we teamed up
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
with him to create a concept of simple food, amazing taste without being at all complicated. It kind of exploded from there,” explains Peter Emil Nielsen, who now owns the Palæo restaurants together with Daniel Straub and fellow entrepreneur Christian Bowall. In private, Daniel Straub and Peter Emil Nielsen abide almost entirely by the rules of the Palæo diet. “I would say 80-20,” says Daniels Straub referring to the percentages allocated to Palæo and nonPalæo in his usual diet. “You should not be fanatic,” he emphasises and points to the fact that Palæo does offer milk for the coffee, although milk is not part of the programme. “When we do break the rules, we do it in the healthiest possible way. So for instance we use organic whole milk only as it is the least processed option.” New food pyramid Rule breaking, however, is rare at Palæo, and the writing is literally on the wall when you enter. Emblazoned on one of the walls is a floorto-ceiling image of the Palæo version of the food pyramid: hazelnuts, blackcurrants, pomegranates at the tip, avocadoes, cauliflowers and eggs in the middle, and beef, chicken and fish at the base. “As you can see, starch is nowhere to be
The Stone Age diet focuses on vegetables, meat, nuts and berries – the usual intake of foragers thousands of years ago. There is no starch to be found on Palæo’s version of the food pyramid (bottom left).
found,” says Peter Emil Nielsen, referring to the clear difference to the food pyramids familiar to generations of school children. “That old pyramid has actually brought a lot of bad stuff into the world,” he continues. “But more and more people are getting conscious about what they put into their mouths and how they treat their bodies. The choices on our menu make it easy to have a nice meal without feeling
guilty. This does good things for your body.” Aside from the huge food pyramid, the décor underlines the simplicity of the food and the association with the Stone Age. There are wooden tables, crafted iron lamps, animal skins on the walls, muskox-like stools and even kettlebells in the windows. “What we offer is an experi-
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The décor of the Palæo restaurants underlines the simplicity of the food and the association with the Stone Age.
ence as much as a way of life. This is our cave,” says Daniel Straub proudly.
rants. But the two founders are not quite ready to put what they call “their baby” into others’ hands.
GLIMPSE OF THE MENU
“We must be completely sure that everything will be handled the right way before we accept something like that. Once you start franchising, you give up control. So we are working on putting all processes in place to make sure the concept is followed by the book,” says Peter Emil Nielsen. He does, however, offer a glimpse of when office workers outside Denmark and outside Copenhagen might get a healthier lunch break: “My guess is we will be ready within the next year.”
The Bolo – spaghetti bolognese: Vegetable spaghetti with spiced meat sauce sprinkled with homemade parsley pesto.
For everyone Although Palæo, or Stone Age diet as it is commonly referred to in Denmark, is still a niche lifestyle, the Palæo restaurants are experiencing overwhelming interest from customers. The owners put this down to the fact that they have created an appealing, healthy all-round product, in addition to following the Palæo rules. “We have both the Palæo hard-core enthusiasts and those who only occasionally want something better than usual, a bit like going to the gym every other week to feel good. But they all basically come because we have products that everyone recognises and likes. We just make them in a different way,” says Daniel Straub.
Hotdog: Smoked organic sausage with mushrooms, cucumber, Karl Johan remoulade and caramelised shallots wrapped in an omelette made with organic eggs.
FIND PALÆO Copenhagen Market Halls Hall 1, Rømersgade 18 1362 Copenhagen and Pilestræde 32 1112 Copenhagen
Potential franchise The continuing success and rapid growth of Palæo has led to interest from franchise-takers in other Danish towns and from abroad to open more Palæo restau-
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For more information, please visit: www.palæo.dk
Restaurant of the Month | Finland
Left: Restaurant Pinella’s Head Chef Simo Hallikainen
An extensive wine list, cocktail and beverage selection has been carefully crafted to complement the menu. Lunchtime diners can choose from a daily lunch menu that allows them to enjoy fabulous food and speedy service when time is of the essence. Mouth-watering salads, hearty soups and the “fish of the day” are amongst the favourites.
Restaurant of the Month, Finland
Blending the contemporary with history Rooted deep in Turku’s history, Restaurant Pinella has stood on its beautiful riverside spot for the past 150 years and is today one of Turku’s best-loved treasures. The first ever licensed street restaurant in Finland, it is now a sophisticated yet casual eatery and bar, which has also been voted one of the Top 50 restaurants in Finland for the past two years. By Inna Allen | Photos: Restaurant Pinella
Set on a historic location, with old stone walls and vaulted ceilings, Restaurant Pinella guarantees its customers a stunning setting for atmospheric dining. During the summer months, diners can experience the beautiful riverside views while savouring the restaurant’s varied menus, or just lingering over a cup of coffee or a cooling cocktail.
head chef Simo Hallikainen. “We adapt to the seasons and change our menus about five times a year. Everything is prepared here in our kitchens from scratch by using fresh seasonal and local ingredients.”
In the evening, Pinella’s ever-changing à la carte dinner menu takes inspiration from around the world to offer honest food with a contemporary twist. Pinella’s chefs are constantly developing and refining menus, cooking methods and dishes to ensure that quality and even the smallest details are in order. Pinella was originally opened by the river bank as a cafe in 1848 by Nils Pinello. The original building was moved to its current location in 1863 to form part of what is now the main wooden building. After years of both high popularity and quiet times, Pinella re-emerged with a brand new design in 2011. Much of the building’s traditional architectural character has been preserved, blending seamlessly with modern aspects, such as lighting and furnishings, to create a successful union of classic and contemporary elements.
For more information, please visit: www.pinella.fi
Enjoying river and park aspects, the restaurant serves unpretentious, beautifully prepared dishes throughout the day. The restaurant’s menus change constantly to reflect seasonal specialities by using only the best and freshest ingredients. “We’ve created a menu that’s all about freshness and great flavours,” says
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 107
Photo: Idar Nicholaisen
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway
Photo: Idar Nicholaisen
Restaurant of the Month, Norway
The restaurant that summarises the Svalbard experience Decorated in a way that displays the inimitable Svalbard nature and history, the restaurant Steakers Svalbard embraces the exceptionality of being virtually on top of the world. By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: Mireille de la Lez
In Longarbyen’s most historical and relaxed restaurant, the staff is dedicated to providing the special Svalbard experience, which includes cooking home-made meals based on local and seasonal products. “What we are trying to do is to serve great local food based on products that are somewhat unique to Svalbard, and based, or caught, in this area,” says Jørn K Hansen, general manager at Steakers Svalbard. “The concept is most certainly something special as our menu is determined heavily by what commodities are accessible up here. On our menu we have whale, seal, Norwegian Arctic charr and cod, basically many opportunities on offer for visitors to try out some specially and delightfully prepared local dishes.”
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here at Svalbard – both now and back then. We wanted the restaurant to reflect the area and its history throughout, so in everything, from the décor to the menu, we try to emphasise this.” The restaurant itself was built partly of material that was previously part of a house located in the area and that looks like is has been out in the harsh Svalbard nature and weather. “On the walls and ceilings there are old pictures of settlers, trappers and miners as well as genuine models of the equipment they used,” Hansen says.
The restaurant is wonderfully decorated in rustic wood, helping to provide that authentic scenery and atmosphere, highlighted by borrowed equipment and artefacts used by settlers and the people who made their living this far north years ago. “There have been people here for many hundreds of years now, and what we try to do is mirror parts of this history in our interior to help paint a picture of the life
Steakers, or Kroa, as it is known locally, have mastered what they were aiming to do: to serve delicious locally prepared food in one-of-a-kind surroundings.
For more information, please visit: kroa-svalbard.no
Scan Magazine | Columns | Humour
IS IT JUST ME...
By Mette Lisby
Who finds it ludicrously pretentious when your hippy friends proclaim they have been “experimenting” with drugs? I find “experimenting” to be a rather pompous description of nine bungling pot-smoking sessions, two accidental cocaine blows and the odd intake of magic mushrooms. For one, it lacks the meticulous effort that characterises what one considers “real experiments”. Second, their “experiments” have never resulted in any attempts at reaching a “scientific conclusion”. Granted, if they had, I wouldn’t even know where to send it? Med. school? University? Snoop Dogg? Keith Richards? And who would gain from it? It’s hard to imagine anybody benefiting from “scientific conclusions” like: “In my efforts to contribute to science I smoked pot. At first I thought it weird that it had no effect on me, and then I noticed that my mate Kevin looks like a giant mushroom.
Then I wondered why someone would name an island “Kalymnos”, and that made me laugh for two hours. And finally, Kevin and I ate four packs of cornflakes and six Mars bars.” See? If this qualifies as “experimenting”, I would like recognition for my scientific endeavours: I experimented with alcohol. Yes. I selflessly made myself available for science. I gave up brain cells for you people. That’s just the person I am. And once obliged to serving science I stayed committed – I still volunteer occasionally. But my scientific efforts get no respect at all. “Experimenting” with alcohol never had the same status as “experimenting” with drugs. Drugs are thought to be mindexpanding, “enhancing” your understanding of your surroundings – well, so is alcohol. Consuming alcohol enhances your
Rustic Charm
As I'm writing this, my mother is fretting around in front of me, muttering frantically to herself. We have come away on a family holiday and have rented a beautiful cottage, where my mum is now trying to simultaneously run the ancient dish-
perception. For instance, it makes you realize how mind-blowingly boring sober people are. It also makes you understand the urgency of telling someone they are your best friend even though you only met them four minutes ago. Doesn’t that count for anything at all? Now, if you will excuse me, I have an experiment to tend to. Cheers! 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
washer and washing machine while hoovering the lounge. She lived for 16 years in England, yet a few years back in Sweden have made her forget all about the wonders of rustic charm. The hoover has been dragged out from a cupboard, a bit like a lynched criminal being hauled into a public square to be spat at, with the words 'LOOK AT THIS MONSTER'. I contemplate telling her that it's a very respectable brand and probably a very good machine, but mum has turned on the dishwasher, which makes such a racket that she wouldn't be able to hear me, even if she wasn't wailing in disgust at the sloshing and clonking. I was the same when I moved to England. A lot of things seemed different and slightly inferior to Sweden. Then I moved to the US for a year, where things seemed different and inferior to Britain. It's a natural reaction to moving abroad. Along with all the amazing new discoveries comes a certain frus-
tration at things that 'aren't the way they are at home'. Before – naturally – abroad becomes home. My mum has now settled down with a glass of wine on the patio, where she's having a monologue on the great friendliness of the British people compared to Swedes. I nod along, while glancing at the aged English fuse box on the wall, wondering how it will cope with having two household appliances run at the same time.
Maria Smedstad moved to the UK from Sweden in 1994. She received a degree in Illustration in 2001, before settling in the capital as a freelance cartoonist, creating the autobiographical cartoon Em. Maria writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 109
Scan Business | Key Note | The Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce
Scan Business Key Note 110 | Column 112 | Conferences of the Month 113 | Business Calendar 116
112
114
113
It is right in front of you By Gunnar P. Larsen, Managing Director, The Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce
Apparently it was 1,000 years ago when King Forkbeard and his son Knut landed on the shores of eastern England. That started a long relation of sorts between the Scandinavians and Great Britain, though initially probably not so friendly. The Danes are still arriving, many settling, and you will find us all over – though you may have to look closely. According to the last census, there were approximately 10,000 Danes – probably a lot more as it was optional to register nationality. We blend in, marry, have families and find our friends here. Often we arrive through studies and end up staying, finding jobs locally, and thus do not feel the need to seek out other Danes. The girl working for Yorkshire Waters and the chap working at ASDA are good examples of how you wouldn’t know they are Danish unless you know them. From my experience, Danes, contrary to other nationalities, haven’t got a habit of seeking a Danish network proactively in their professional life. It may be a mix of being scared of being pulled back into a Danish way of living or revealing that you are not a “local”. Or it may be because in
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Denmark you can call pretty much anyone you want to when doing business. If you get to the PA here, you are lucky – getting past is close to impossible unless you know them – or know someone who does. Thus I am pleased to see the change happening in front of us. Amongst the Danes living here permanently, there is a growing willingness to network, share knowledge and ideas on how to do business in Britain or in Denmark. They have learned from the locals, networked with locals, and they know that being open, considerate and respectful to your network gets you far.
SVPs to individual Joe Bloggs start-ups – creating a great symbiosis of contacts, ideas and development that reach far. We recently organised such an event in Birmingham and are planning a handful of similar events across the country, in close liaison with local networks in order to get the right connections. What started 1,000 years ago with hostile intentions, I believe today has turned into a strong friendship of mutual respect. I learn every day from the strong bonds with this country and admire its diversity. I am Danish – I am British.
It is right in front of you! As a Chamber of Commerce between Denmark and the UK, and recognising the fact that Great Britain is more than London, we constantly work on visualising and connecting this network and business resource. We spend a lot of time seeking out Danes and meeting members to understand what they do and who their networks are. With over 150 corporate members, we reach far into different industries, parts of the country and globally. Our monthly Nordic Thursday Drinks co-organised with our friends from the Norwegian and Finnish-British Chambers rarely attract less than 150 people, from multinational
Gunnar P. Larsen, Managing Director, The Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce. Photo: Magnus Skaarup Photography
For more information, please visit: www.ducc.co.uk
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achievement a Man Mannaz is an international frontrunner in leadership development. A do Adopting innovative and efficient learning methods and approaches, wee empower people development and business success. w
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Scan Business | Column | Helena Whitmore
GAAR! – Could your tax arrangements fail the double reasonableness test? By Helena Whitmore, Senior Wealth Structuring Adviser, SEB Private Banking UK
In the 1930s, in the case of IRC v. Duke of Westminster, a judge in the House of Lords famously said that “every man is entitled, if he can, to order his affairs so that the tax attaching under the appropriate Acts is less than it otherwise would be”. Over the years, this has given rise to a prolific tax avoidance industry, where loopholes and highly artificial arrangements are used, but the tide has turned and tax avoidance is increasingly under attack. Many tax schemes have been challenged by HM Revenue & Custom in the courts, and often the taxpayers did not obtain the tax advantages they were hoping for. Indeed, UK tax law contains a large number of provisions designed to stop tax avoidance, which can trap the unwary whether or not they were actually trying to avoid tax. Tax scheme promoters are required to notify HMRC of schemes they create, so that HMRC can target the users of the schemes and act early to bring in new legislation. To discourage taxpayers from entering into what HMRC perceive as abusive tax planning in the first place, HMRC will have another tool from this year, the General Anti-Abuse Rule (“GAAR”). A number of countries have similar rules, designed to tackle tax avoidance in general. The UK rule is intended to be narrower, targeting only artificial and abusive tax avoidance. However, the other existing anti-avoidance measures will also remain in place, so just because something may not be covered by the GAAR does not mean that HMRC could not attack it in some other way. Under the GAAR, tax planning will be treated as abusive (and can therefore be counteracted by HMRC), if obtaining a tax advantage was the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of an arrangement,
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and the arrangement “cannot reasonably be regarded as a reasonable course of action”. This “double reasonableness” test is key to the GAAR, but it remains to be seen if HMRC’s view of what is reasonable will in itself be as reasonable as the general public would hope! Some commentators worry that the fact that the taxpayer has taken tax advice on a transaction might of itself give HMRC the impression that obtaining a tax advantage was a main purpose of the chosen course of action,
and they would then be at the mercy of HMRC deciding if it was abusive or not. UK tax law is highly complex, so taking tax advice when necessary is vital, but expect to be doubly reasonable before acting on any advice. If it sounds like magic, it probably won’t work. For more information, email: privatebanking@seb.co.uk or call 020 7246 4307
Scan Business | Conference of the Month | Sweden
Conference of the Month, Sweden
More than business and pleasure Hotel J in Stockholm offers its visitors the whole package: food, activities and wonderful rooms. Whether you are looking for a conference facility, a dining experience or classic, trendy accommodation whilst visiting Sweden’s capital, Hotel J and its surroundings will charm you. By Therese Wallin | Photos: Hotel J
You can find Hotel J on the outskirts of central Stockholm. Indeed, one of its most attractive features is its prime location by the archipelago. “Nacka Strand, where Hotel J has its premises, is a calm haven. Here you find yourself away from the stress of the city, whilst within easy reach of central Stockholm. This gives visitors the opportunity to see the very best of Stockholm and its outskirts,” says Maurizio Barberis, the CEO and managing director. Conference villas “Besides the main hotel, we have two villas that are connected to Hotel J where we can cater to the needs of our clients who wish to come here for work,” says Barberis. Hotel J ensures that your conference experience is more than just business. “We serve lunch in the villa; a three-course buffet is arranged so that
the boats go by whilst enjoying a delicious meal and drink,” says Barberis. Whether you come to Stockholm for business or pleasure, make sure that you book into Hotel J in order to get the most out of your time in Sweden’s capital.
the groups can relax and enjoy time together outside of working,” says Barberis. The hotel has, since its start, been a member of Design Hotels, which speaks for its high standards. “There is more to a stay at Hotel J than sleeping and eating; here, you will have the opportunity to relax and let your senses enjoy all the hotel has to offer,” says Barberis. Enjoy classic food with a modern twist by the water If you are looking for a first introduction to Hotel J and its facilities, or you are after a dining experience that tickles more than your taste buds, then a visit to its restaurant right by the water, Restaurant J, is a must. “The restaurant serves a lot of seafood and has an American twist to its menu. It is right by the water, so you can hear the gurgling of the water and watch
For more information, please visit: www.hotelj.com
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 113
Conference of the Month, Finland
Feel energized and inspired close to nature The perfect place to unwind, a safe environment for the whole family, a resort-like setting, and the ideal place to focus and explore new ideas – Hotel Korpilampi, located in Espoo, less than half an hour’s drive from Helsinki city centre, is a versatile establishment that doubles as a flexible conference and events venue. In the midst of serene nature and right by a beautiful pond, the hotel is far enough from the flurry of the capital to give you room to relax and close enough to make travelling around extremely easy.
A large yet intimate auditorium
By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Hotel Korpilampi
Hotel Korpilampi is a great choice for a wide variety of guests, from travelling businessmen to families and tourists wanting to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet alongside fun activities, not forgetting companies looking for a flexible conference setting for small or large business events; private events are no problem either.
for all of them,” explains general manager Nina Peltola. “It’s quite an exceptional place because you have accommodation, conference rooms and restaurant facilities all under one roof, and all of it is so close to nature, but still not isolated as you can easily drive to Helsinki or hop on a bus from in front of the hotel.”
“This is a conference and events house. We do everything from weddings and family parties to large international congresses – we have the right kind of rooms
The hotel comprises 151 modern rooms designed in a welcoming Scandinavian style with light colours, wooden flooring and large windows offering views of the
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forest or pond. A stay in any of the rooms, including standard and superior rooms and the spacious suite, entitles guests to free parking and Wi-Fi, the hotel’s rich breakfast buffet, and free use of the sauna and swimming facilities, both the indoor pool and natural pond.
With 16 different types of conference rooms, ranging from spaces suitable for meetings of only a few participants to a 350-person auditorium, Hotel Korpilampi is well equipped to handle conferences of all sizes. The rooms are highly multifunctional, some even have transferable partition walls, and all come with up-to-date technical equipment. They are also currently being renewed just in time for the autumn conference season. “The auditorium has been recently renovated and is suitable for even the most
Scan Magazine | Xxx | Xxxx Scan Business | Conference of the Month | Finland
demanding client. While it’s our largest conference space, it still feels small and intimate; speakers are able to have good eye contact with participants and the acoustics are also excellent,” says Peltola. The hotel has hosted several large highlevel international conferences, with one company even hiring the whole building for its purposes last year. With moderate package prices, a convenient location, plenty of free parking space and a dedicated conference hostess at hand to help create the perfect event, Hotel Korpilampi forms a highly flexible and high-quality conference venue. “The fact that we’re not part of a hotel chain is one of our strengths; we can offer highly personalised service and tailormade solutions. We listen and ask questions, and we’ve received praise for our accommodating and friendly staff. If the client has any specific needs, we will make sure to fulfil them – being customer-focused is key.” Food also plays a central role when it comes to events and conferences, and the hotel’s restaurant is happy to cater to different types of groups and themes. Conference guests also do not have to leave the hotel for anything as food and evening entertainment are available under one roof. A place for contemplation “Our conference guests really appreciate the surroundings and the general atmosphere of the hotel,” says Peltola. “We’re in the midst of nature, away from large thoroughfares; it’s very quiet and our conference rooms offer great views of the lake. Here, people can calm down, draw strength from nature and feel energized again.” For a bit of relaxation, guests can enjoy a session in the sauna, a swim in the pond or indoor pool, a 1.5-kilometre walk around the pond, some golf at one of the six nearby golf clubs, or other activities in nature. Different group activities can be booked through the hotel’s partner oper-
ators, and you could even go foraging for mushrooms and berries in the forest, or for a spot of fishing. “We often take all this magnificent nature that surrounds us for granted, but for a lot of visitors from abroad it’s a very exotic experience,” Peltola concludes.
For more information, please visit: www.korpilampi.fi
Hotel Korpilampi is located in Espoo, less than half an hour’s drive from the centre of Helsinki and from the Helsinki–Vantaa Airport. It is set next to Serena Waterpark and forms an ideal family and conference hotel near Helsinki.
Issue 54 | July 2013 | 115
Scan Business | News | Scandinavian Business Calendar
Scandinavian Business Calendar – Highlights of Scandinavian business events
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 50 first guests to arrive.
Venue: Strand Palace Hotel, 372 Strand, London WC2R 0JJ Date: 29 August
NBCC stand at Offshore Europe in Aberdeen Come and talk to us at the NBCC stand at the Norwegian Pavillion at this year's Offshore Europe in Aberdeen. Venue: AECC, Aberdeen Date: 3-6 September
The Annual Crayfish Party The crayfish season is one of the most popular cultural celebrations in Sweden and promises comical paper hats, great food, a special Swedish raffle called “fiskdamm” and tradi-
Nordic Thursday Drinks
SME-Club Business Coaching If you are ambitious and want to grow your business, this is a presentation you cannot afford to miss! Jan Bowen-Nielsen will be telling us about the benefits of business coaching for ambitious business owners who are looking to grow their businesses, improve their teams' performance and enhance their own impact and effectiveness. Venue: The Pelham Hotel, 15 Cromwell Place, London SW7 2LA Date: 9 July
tional drinking songs (snapsvisor). This is the perfect opportunity to bring clients, colleagues and friends along to a typically Swedish event. Sign up at www.scc.org.uk Date: 6 September
Maria turned her life into a cartoon Fans of the cartoon titled Em can now celebrate because the creator of the popular comic strip series, Swede Maria Smedstad, has recently published her very first book. By Emelie Krugly Hill
Readers of Scan Magazine have gotten to know her as Maria, the witty columnist and illustrator who provides her take on the UK’s quirks, as well as the trials and triumphs of living as an expat Swede in Britain. But Maria is also the face behind the autobiographical cartoon character Em, who first saw light in The London Paper and was embraced and welcomed by many in 2006. Em gives a refreshing insight into everyday life, inviting the reader to sympathize and identify with what it’s like being young, broke and horny in the city. The first book was published in May and was launched at the Horse Bar at Waterloo on 26 June.
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“What makes Em stand out is her character and how she shares her personal life with others. Em is my story, and I’ve never been worried about divulging my personal life, but I have to be careful not to upset other people by divulging too much about them,” remarks Maria. “I’ve been recording my life in drawings since my early years and started by documenting the eccentricities of my family members at the dinner table.” Maria managed to fund her book via crowdfunding, a popular platform for funding different creative projects. Maria’s large fan base raised no
For more information, please visit: www.emcartoons.com less than £9,400, and there are already plans for a second volume. “Em has changed over the years and is growing up in a way; she’s moved in with her boyfriend and friends around her have started becoming parents. Who knows what’s around the corner for her?” says Maria.
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
Scan Magazine | Music & Culture | Camerata Nordica
Swedish talent at the BBC Proms The highly anticipated world premiere of English composer Benjamin Britten’s (19131976) Elegy for strings will be performed by Camerata Nordica, one of Sweden's leading chamber orchestras, at this year’s BBC Proms. By Nia Kajastie | Photo: Jan Nordström
“It’s an honour to be present at the Proms, and it’s no less of an honour to perform this particular music on the centenary of Britten’s birth,” enthuses Kjell Lindström, Camerata Nordica's General Manager, ahead of the ensemble’s debut performance at the world’s largest classical music festival. The ensemble will take to the stage at the Proms with 24 players, which is a slightly larger group of musicians than they usually perform with. Uniquely, the orchestra performs standing up in a compact, concentrated group, without a conductor, and instead directed from the concert-master position by distinguished Norwegian violinist Terje Tønnesen. Camerata Nordica was originally founded in 1974 in the Swedish county of Kalmar, and today forms Sweden’s leading international Camerata ensemble. “It’s a very vibrant, international group, and while we
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have been doing this for quite a while, the Proms is bringing it to another level. Even after 60 concerts in the US and plenty of touring, the orchestra still continues to develop,” says Lindström. The ensemble’s BBC Proms performance takes place on 31 August at Cadogan Hall, and, in addition to Elegy for strings, the programme also includes Britten’s Simple Symphony and Lachrymae, with viola soloist Catherine Bullock, as well as Little music for strings by Sir Michael Tippet and Sonata for strings by William Walton. The ensemble is also launching a collaboration with Swedish record label BIS Records and will be releasing recordings of Britten’s work, including the world premiere, some time later this year. “We are planning a lot more international work for the future; it’s really inspiring to be part of the ensemble’s development right now,” Lindström adds.
Scandinavian and Swedish classical musicians seem to be making a splash internationally, which has not gone unnoticed by Sofie Haag, a London-based producer, promoter and founder of From Sweden Productions, who is now working closely with Camerata Nordica to promote their concerts in the UK and abroad. "Sweden is the third largest country in the world, next to the US and UK, when it comes to music export. Our talent is in big demand internationally, and that also goes for the classical music field. It is a great triumph for Sweden to see many renowned Swedish artists at this year’s Proms, including Nina Stemme and Anna Larsson in the Wagner Ring Cycle, Norrbotten Big Band and Camerata Nordica,” Haag concludes.
Camerata Nordica at BBC Proms Saturday, 31 August 2013 @ 3pm Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Square, London SW1X 9DQ
For more information, please visit: www.camerata.se www.fromswedenproductions.com www.bbc.co.uk/proms
Scan Magazine | Music & Culture | Venice Biennale
talk to the trees. Only a few steps away in the Danish Pavilion, Jesper Just presents a multichannel film installation entitled Intercourses. The Norwegian and Icelandic Pavilions are not located in the Giardini, but are also worth visiting. During the opening, Venice was not only flooded by water, but also by performances by talented artists. One of the performance artists was Joakim Stampe, who represented Sweden in the absence of a pavilion this year.
The Venice Biennale runs until the 24 November 2013 and provides yet another reason to visit the magical city. The autumn is an especially nice time to attend, as the summer crowds and high season prices are gone, while enough of the sun remains to warm the hearts of those who reside in northern Europe.
Scan at the Venice Biennale 2013
For more information, please visit: www.labiennale.org
Every two years, the contemporary art world decamps to Venice for one of its premier events: the Venice Biennale. Rainy weather during the opening of this year’s 55th Biennale did not stop visitors from sipping Aperol Spritz and admiring work from the 88 participating countries. Text and photos by Sanna Halmekoski
The formal Biennale is located in a large park, the Giardini, which houses 30 permanent national pavilions. Countries without a pavilion in the Giardini exhibit in other venues across the city. This year’s event is aptly entitled The Encyclopedic Palace, and is inspired by the mid-century artist Mario Auriti, who dreamed of a museum which would house all the world’s knowledge. For many years, Norway, Finland and Sweden have cooperated and exhibited in the Nordic Pavilion (although Finland also has its own smaller pavilion, named after Alvar Aalto). Starting with 2011, the cooperation has been temporarily discontinued, and the Nordic Pavilion is used for a national representation by Sweden in 2011, Finland in 2013 and Norway in 2015.
This year, Finland successfully fills the Nordic Pavilion and the Finnish Aalto Pavilion (designed by Alvar Aalto) with an exhibition called Falling Trees. The name comes from an incident at the previous Biennale during which a tree fell on the Aalto Pavilion. This encounter between art and nature inspired the two Finnish artists behind the exhibition. Antti Laitinen uses Finnish birch logs for a performance and installation on the front lawn of the Aalto Pavilion. Echoes from Laitinen hitting nails into a tree could be heard all the way on the other side of the Giardini, attracting attention from attendees. Fellow Finn Terike Haapoja transformed the Nordic Pavilion into a magical space, where visitors can
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Comic Book Guy A childhood fascination with comics inspired Teddy Kristiansen to become one of the world’s greatest illustrators. As he celebrates an Eisner Award nomination this month, Scan catches up with the groundbreaking artist. By Pierre de Villiers | Photos: Courtesy of Teddy Kristiansen
Danish Superman comic Superman Og Fredsbomben
knew I wanted to do comic books,” he recalls.“The drawings I did evolved as I grew older and started reading other types of literature, something that was a bit more challenging. I started to think you must be able to do a comic book that achieves that feeling of being told a rich story that you get when reading a novel.” Decades down the line, Kristiansen is doing just that. Collaborating with celebrated writers like Steven T. Seagle and Neil Gaiman, the Danish illustrator consistently produces books that are both beautiful and thought-provoking. His latest offering Red Diary/Re(a)d Diary has been nominated for the Eisner Award, the Oscars of the comic book world that take place this month. If he wins, it will be his second Eisner, having picked up the award in 2005 for the ground-breaking Superman comic It’s A Bird. It was apt that Kristiansen landed his first big award for a book built around the iconic superhero. Superman, after all, gave the artist his big break.
Teddy Kristiansen’s award-winning Superman comic It’s A Bird
Teddy Kristiansen was just 10 years old when he realised he wanted to draw graphic novels for a living. Growing up in Copenhagen, the man who would become one of the most sought-after illustrators in the world would spend days in a small comic book shop called Fantask devouring everything he could get his hands on. “In Denmark we had a good collection of translated comics, and, reading those, I
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mark and Holland as he battles a killer robot. “DC only had one worry – that the S on his chest was spot on. So now I can draw it in my sleep,” Kristiansen says, chuckling. “In those days there were lots of ways you couldn’t draw Superman but those terms were not put on a Danish version.” The success of Superman Og Fredsbomben opened a lot of doors for comic book writers and artists who live outside of America, something Kristiansen is very proud of. “I think it is great that there is now a path for others to follow and that young Scandinavian artists won’t be afraid to pursue a career as an illustrator abroad,” he says. “When I was a kid, to work for American publishers was unheard of, like a strange dream that will never be realised. I’m delighted that things have changed.”
The Eisner Awards take place on 19 July.
“It was Superman’s 50-year anniversary in 1988, and for the first time, DC allowed overseas publishers to do their own interpretation of the character,” recalls Kristiansen. “A Swedish publisher took up the challenge and asked me if I wanted to be part of it. I panicked because I wondered how people would react to this. I was just this little amateur artist sitting in Copenhagen working with this famous character.” Published in 1990, Superman Og Fredsbomben, which is written by fellow Dane Niels Sondergaard, turned out to be a real collector’s item – a thoroughly Scandi Superman adventure that sees the hero travel to Sweden, Norway, Finland, Den-
Teddy Kristiansen
Kaizers Orchestra:
We wanted to become the best and we succeeded Norway’s musical pride Kaizers Orchestra discuss their journey so far and reveal their plans for the future, as an indefinite break awaits the band. By Adelina Ibishi | Photos: Paal Audestad
The boys admit that they will miss what they describe as “the best job in the world” and everything that comes with it – the teamwork, the shows, the travelling, and most importantly, the fuel of the engine: the faithful fans. However, they remain optimistic about the many opportunities that await them in the future.
Thirteen years, ten albums and countless sold-out shows and awards later, the band is moving on to something else: “We’ve reached the top of our career, and it feels natural to have a break as the next step,” says vocalist Janove Ottesen. “We are very happy with what we have accomplished up until now. It’s almost bound to
“It is not exactly typically Norwegian to dream big and aim high, but it is what we’ve always done and what has gotten us to where we are today, and we plan on doing the same in the future,” says the band, without revealing too much about their plans. “It’s not over; it’s just time for us to do something else.”
Photo: Mette Tonnessen
go down from here, so technically we’re doing it out of respect for our fans.”
The band that has represented Norwegian rock music on an international stage for over thirteen years left an entire nation in shock when they announced that they would be taking an indefinite break from September onwards. The success achieved by Kaizers Orchestra started out in a garage in a small town called Jæren in West Norway, when the six band members decided they wanted to be the biggest and best within the nation’s rock genre.
For more information, please visit: www.kaizers.no
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Scan Magazine | Music & Culture | Scandinavian Music
Scandinavian Music
Scandinavia, while famous for its pop music, isn't exactly known for exporting soul music. But that's all looking highly likely to change this summer thanks to one man: Kim Cesarion and his debut single Undressed. It's already been huge in his native Sweden, and last month he was brought to the UK for a series of gigs and television promos. Plus, he's been picking
By Karl Batterbee
with ridicule, or the player in question would have no choice but to go down the novelty route, in an effort to be ‘in’ on the inevitable joke. But not in Sweden. Christophe Lallet, a player for Hammarby, has just come out with a track that stands to critical acclaim. He’s not finishing with his football career; he’s just forging a side vocation in music. And Långt Bort Härifran is the first single from it. The song is in a similar style to that of the likes of Lilla Sällskapet or Ansiktet. And it's got a big chorus to it. Something which should help the song do quite well in Christophe's native Sweden. Finally, if you're searching for the latest and greatest Swedish dance tune, look no further than the Bassflow remix of Vinsten's Luckiest Girl. It sounds like a cross between Swedish House Mafia's Don't You Worry Child and Loreen's Euphoria. And is just as good as the description reads.
up a lot of exposure on influential US blogs. And it's all down to the fact that Undressed is a killer tune. In line with the recent chart trend of mixing soul music with a bit of updated funk (Robin Thicke, Daft Punk), Kim Cesarion injects the slightest hint of Swedish pop into the sound. And Undressed is expected to be Sweden's latest crossover smash. Which leads us to Sweden's previous crossover smash - I Love It by the Icona Pop girls. The duo have now released the international follow-up single to their global hit. It's Girlfriend. Another chanty, shouty, pop number that exudes their certain brand of youthful charm. This one samples 2Pac's Me & My Girlfriend (which was again sampled by Beyoncé & Jay-Z back in 2003). Icona Pop have flavoured it with a lot more pop though, and it's looking likely that Girlfriend is going to be another worldwide success for the Swedish girls. So then, a professional football player commences a singing career. If that happened in the UK, it would either be met
www.scandipop.co.uk scandipop@googlemail.com
Scandinavian Culture Calendar
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Elisabeth Toll: One more time and the elephant is going to be angry, Paris 2006, Silver Gelatin Print Julia Peirone: Lovisa. C-Print
Prom 1: First Night of the Proms (12 July) Finnish Sakari Oramo conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a sea-inspired concert with works by Britten and Vaughan Williams. The evening also features two sets of Paganini variations by Rachmaninov and Lutosławski. Royal Albert Hall, London, SE1. www.bbc.co.uk/proms
Different Distances in Berlin (Until 20 July) A group show featuring the works by a new generation of Swedish fashion photographers: Denise Grünstein, Julia Hetta, Martina Hoogland Iwanow, Julia Peirone and Elisabeth Toll. This collection of strong personalities masters the difference between the intimate and the distant. Their art is a game of balance between fashion and artistic photography, plunging its roots in art history and personal experiences. Wed-Sat 12noon-6pm. Swedish Photography, Karl-Marx-Allee 62, Berlin. www.swedishphotography.org
Denise Grünstein: Heahunter. C-Print
Copenhagen Jazz Festival (5-14 July) Every summer since 1979, Copenhagen Jazz Festival has filled the streets of Copenhagen with wonderful jazz music. For more info about the festival and its venues visit: www.jazz.dk
By Sara Schedin
Julia Hetta. Untittled. Pigment Print
– Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here!
Scan Magazine | Music & Culture | Scandinavian Culture Calendar
Maanantai Collective in Helsinki (Until 1 Sept) Maanantai Collective’s exhibition Nine Nameless Mountains is a playful reinterpretation of the road trip genre of photography. It is a poetic and absurd study that uses geographical observations to explore distance and scale, whilst being a celebration of friendship, photography and chance. Tue-Sun 11am-6pm, Wed 11am8pm. The Finnish Museum of Photography, Tallberginkatu 1, Helsinki. www.valokuvataiteenmuseo.fi
Claire Aho. From Cotton Rhapsody Catalogue, 1958. 16”x12”. © JB Courtesy of the artist and Photographers’ Gallery
Loppspel/Tiddlywinks 2004, Watercolour, graphite and collage on paper. ©Jockum Nordström
Claire Aho: Studio Works (Until 21 July) This is the first international solo showcase of Claire Aho’s photographs; she’s a pioneer of Finnish colour photography and a key cultural figure in her homeland. This exhibition focuses on Aho’s 1950-70 studio-based works, displaying images from the world of advertising, editorial and fashion, alongside original Finnish lifestyle magazines featuring her cover pictures. Brightly coloured, formally inventive and full of wit, Claire Aho’s photographs capture a distinctive era in Finland’s history while maintaining contemporary vitality and relevance. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Thu 10am-8pm, Sun 11.30am-6pm. T he Photographer’s Gallery, London, W1F. thephotographersgallery.org.uk
and Forgotten Again, brings together a selection of collages, graphite drawings and small-scale architectural sculptures. Tue-Sun 10am-6pm, Wed 10am-9pm. Camden Arts Centre, London, NW3. www.camdenartscentre.org
Jockum Nordström (26 July-29 Sept) In Swedish artist Jockum Nordström’s dream-like drawings, paintings and collages, people are always doing something. Whether riding horses, sailing boats, making love or playing music, they are constantly in action. His cast of characters seems to come from another era, situated in a world of muted tones and colours and depicted in backgrounds from the old world or brought forward into architecture of a more modern time. His first solo exhibition in London, All I Have Learned
Place is the Space in Copenhagen (Until 4 Aug) In its summer group exhibition, Den Frie puts its focus on the most current trends in contemporary art. Place is the Space examines how the relationship between science fiction and visual art fairs today. The science fiction genre is often used as a means to open up alternate spaces in which different social, political and personal circumstances can be explored. Tue-Fri 12noon-5pm, Thu 12noon-9pm, Sat & Sun 10am-5pm. Den Frie, Oslo Plads 1, Copenhagen. denfrie.dk
Ida Ekblad in Oslo (Until 15 Sept) As part of the museum’s on-going series of exhibitions bringing attention to emerging and mid-career Norwegian artists, the Museum of Contemporary Art is exhibiting the works of Ida Ekblad. Her paintings are courageous demonstrations of the relevance and feasibility of an expressive artistic gesture. She works in a variety of media – painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and poetry – simultaneously and without hierarchical distinction. TueFri 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-7pm, Sat & Sun 12noon-5pm. The Museum of Contemporary Art, Bankplassen 4, Oslo. nasjonalmuseet.no
Maanantai Kollektiivi: Nine Nameless Mountains, Canning the Mist
Håkan Elofsson in Stockholm (Until 11 Aug) The exhibition Bombay Boulevard shows photographs of the daily life of the people who live in this vibrant Indian city. SunWed 9am-9pm, Thu-Sat 9am-11pm. Fotografiska, Stadsgårdshamnen 22, Stockholm. fotografiska.eu
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