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JILL JOHNSON – EXTRA EVERYTHING NORWEGIAN FESTIVAL SPECIAL SWEDEN TOP 10: WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO SEE THE TOURISM HOT-SPOTS IN NORWAY
PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA
ISSUE 60 JANUARY 2014
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Enabling real
achievement Mannaz is an international frontrunner in customised executive and project leadership development. Adopting innovative and efficient learning methods, we empower people development and business success. With offices in Copenhagen, London and Hong Kong and an international network of over 375 associated facilitators we have global reach.
You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter M Knowledge and learn more at www.mannaz.com/intl
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Scan Magazine | Contents
Contents COVER FEATURE 8
8
58
Danish fashion and furniture From the well-known Chairik chairs and Click tables to the hyggelig character of Finn Juhl’s old classics, Danish furniture is perhaps more popular now than ever. But Danish design is pushing boundaries far beyond the furniture field, taking the world by storm with fashion for proudly curvaceous women, understated jewellery with integrity, and garments so lovable they are sure to take over your laundry basket. This month’s design section is a tribute to all things Danish.
72
BUSINESS
Olympics lust and legacy The Olympic Games are almost upon us, and Scan Magazine decided to catch up with one hopeful Swede, biathlete Ted Armgren, during the tough training and preparation. Far from preparing for the games, Lillehammer in Norway counts 20 years since its moment of glory, and we went to find out about the impact of the Olympic legacy. Add internationally hyped insect food and some tips for your Scandinavian holiday, and our special features section is complete.
Top destinations in Norway Between the high mountains and the deep valleys of Norway’s breathtakingly stunning nature, the country offers its tourists much more than the picture-perfect postcards reveal. Here are the national parks, historical strongholds and fun-packed towns and cities we think will make most tourists’ shortlists this year.
SPECIAL FEATURE 28
Top 10 places to visit in Sweden Forget the stereotypes and embrace the real deal. Pop by the ABBA museum, sure, but when you are done, do what the Swedes do and enjoy a world-class art exhibition, a swim in the sea of an untouched archipelago, a drink on a heated terrace in a charming town square, a stroll through a deep forest with a stop at a cultural heritage site – and some exceptional shopping. Scan Magazine listed ten Swedish destinations not to miss in 2014.
DESIGN 12
Best of Finland: 2014’s highlights Did you know that the most popular music festival in northern Scandinavia takes place in Oulu in Finland? How about the fact that one of Europe’s oldest festivals is Finnish, too, but happening in Turku? Then there is the four-race event with over 10,000 participants annually from all over the world. There is probably a lot you did not know about Finland, and we are here to tell you about this year’s highlights.
Jill Johnson: extra everything Having represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Concert in 1998, Jill Johnson is now, fifteen years later, one of the country’s most celebrated singers, with a back catalogue of 18 albums and a string of other prestigious assignments in her bag, including presenting the immensely popular radio show P1 Sommar and getting her very own talk show on SVT. But 2014 sees the country singer face all her fears and challenge herself on stage at Hamburger Börs in Stockholm, as she kicks off a sparkling solo show full of surprises, promising extra everything.
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What 2014 has in store for Scandinavian markets Denmark gains momentum and improved export markets mean that the future looks brighter than the present for Sweden. What else is in store for Scandinavian business this year? Nordea’s economic outlook makes the perfect keynote for a January issue. Also make sure to read Annika Åman Goodwille’s moving tribute to Nelson Mandela, with a call to action on spreading the benefits of education globally – for real.
SPECIAL THEMES 36
36 75
CULTURE
Festivals in Norway 2014 The number of festivals held in Norway each year amounts to around 1,000, which, in a country of around 5 million inhabitants, means that there is a festival for every 5,000 people. Eight in ten tourists in Norway want a holiday that combines culture with outdoor fun. Can you blame Anders Rykkja, managing director of Norway Festivals, for dubbing Norway the European festival country? Neither could we. Instead, we bring you 16 diverse, exciting and culturally rich festivals to choose from this year.
96
Muddy Mozart and opera for the masses London’s Nordic Film Festival ended last month, and Scan Magazine, naturally, went to the closing gala. We also spoke to Nikolaj Cederholm, the director behind Mozart Undone: A Theatre Concert, a Betty Nansen Teatret production that will be visiting the Barbican Centre from the end of February, while our Scandi music expert, Karl Batterbee, watched the Swedish Idol final and fell head over heels for a Swedish megaweight pop collaboration.
REGULARS & COLUMNS 12
We Love This | 13 Fashion Diary | 77 Hotels of the Month | 84 Attractions of the Month
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Restaurants of the Month | 95 Humour
Issue 60 | January 2014 | 3
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Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note
Dear Reader, It is a new year, and the well-intended resolutions are still hanging in the air like semi-discernible little bubbles waiting to burst. I always try to avoid making new year’s resolutions, but I wholly admire Jill Johnson, our cover star, all the same, for pulling out all the stops and promising extra everything. The Swedish country singer turned TV hostess is kickstarting 2014 with her very own solo show at Hamburger Börs in Stockholm, and it is short skirts, explosive laughs and glam styling all the way. Not a bad way to start the year, if you ask me. We are taking the regeneration a tad more slowly here at Scan Magazine, with brand new offices being one of our most exciting changes since last year. But even the magazine itself has put on a slightly polished suit, presenting a new contributors’ page, which allows you to get to know a selection of our regular contributors a tiny bit better, and a couple of new additions in the columns department. Bloggers’ Corner is one such boost, showcasing the very best of the Anglo-Scandinavian blogoshpere in a monthly column, while Lost for Words will appear once a quarter or so, poking fun at the peculiarities of the Scandinavian languages.
Still, this issue smoothes the adjustment to the new year, with a design section that is just as jam-packed and tempting as always and a couple of special themes listing our picks of the highlights for those of you who plan on travelling to Scandinavia this year. We focus in particular on festivals and other fun celebrations and happenings – anything to weather the January blues. With Swedes preparing to spend a week and a bit swearing in front of the TV, as the Norwegians grab all the medals and glory at the Winter Olympics, we speak to one of many hopefuls, biathlete Ted Armgren, and return to Lillehammer to see what the legacy of the games looks like 20 years on. I cannot say that it is extra everything – but it is everything Scan Magazine used to be, sprinkled with some leftover festive glitter and plenty of excitement for the year ahead. Now: who’s coming to the gym?
Linnea Dunne Editor
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4 | Issue 60 | January 2014
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Sweden • Norway • Denmark • Finland • Luxembourg • Switzerland • United Kingdom • Singapore • Estonia • Latvia • Lithuania
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Scan Magazine | Contributors
This month’s featured contributors Linnea Dunne started out as a freelance writer for the local newspaper in her native Sweden when she was only 15, and she has not stopped writing since. After years of freelance writing, a handful of web editor jobs, and plenty of blogging, she is now the editor of Scan Magazine. With a BA in Creative Writing and Digital Media and an MA in Political Communications, Linnea loves culture, politics and a really good cup of coffee, her focus always set on finding what makes people tick and telling a story that changes the reader, if only a little. Linnea moved to London in 2005 after a stint in Ireland and insists that her English is better than her Swedish, something that might be changing since she became a mother in 2012 and spends half her waking time singing old Swedish children’s songs.
Kjersti Westeng moved London to study journalism and creative writing in 2008. Originally from Trondheim in Norway, she loves the London lifestyle, mainly because you never feel like you have seen it all. Kjersti now works in PR, but in the evenings she writes for Scan Magazine, blogs and interviews bands for a music website. She runs her own blog as well as a site called skan:in london, which is about being Scandinavian in the beautiful city of London. Her main interests are travelling and food – preferably combined, which is why she is always broke three days before payday. For this month’s issue of Scan Magazine, Kjersti familiarises with some of Norway’s festival highlights and finds out more about the popular national parks of her home country.
Signe Hansen is a full-time freelance journalist and writer. From her base in London she writes on various subjects including architecture, design, travel, health and, of course, everything Scandinavian. Having studied Journalism and Philosophy at Copenhagen University, Signe moved to London, in 2007, where she gained a Master with Distinction in Journalism. A passionate writer, she has since contributed to a number of English magazines, newspapers and websites and, in 2009/10, she held the position of editor at Scan Magazine. Signe is furthermore the author of the Danish travel guide Min vej til London’s hjerte (My way to the heart of London), due to be published in the spring of 2014.
Julie Lindén is half Swedish and half Norwegian, and moved to London two years ago to pursue a degree in Journalism and Creative Writing at Kingston University. She has an undying passion for good stories, interesting personalities and great conversation, elements she does her outmost to combine in the process of bringing words to the page. Beyond the written word her interests are travelling the globe, learning new languages and indulging in slightly worrying amounts of cappuccino with good friends in London. Still, having been brought up with as much Norwegian brown cheese on the table as Swedish meatballs – she is certainly a true Scandinavian at heart.
This issue of Scan Magazine sees Signe put Danish design, and funiture design in particular, under the lens to find out what makes the people behind the clean lines and functionalism tick.
Join Julie in this issue of Scan Magazine on her journey to discover what Gallery Punkt Ø is all about, and to the heart of Norwegian culture at the Folk Music Week.
6 | Issue 60 | January 2014
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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 acks
Me als
Drinks
ba.com
Pap ers
Lounges
Smiles
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Photo: Peter Knudson
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8 | Issue 60 | January 2014
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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Jill Johnson
Jill Johnson Extra everything Tired of being a good girl and ready to really let loose, the country singer who broke through with her 1998 Eurovision Song Contest contribution, Kärleken Är, is back in a new disguise. With her own solo show at Stockholm’s Hamburger Börs, Jill Johnson wants to marry everything she has done in the past with facing her fears and pushing boundaries, and she promises extra everything. “I don’t know about fire, I might not be able to involve that,” laughs the singer. “But other than that, I’m going to do everything.” By Linnea Dunne | Cover Photo: Peter Knudsen
Back to Nashville The country may have been a constant in the Johnson portfolio, but no one can deny that the singer from the small town of Ängelholm in Skåne has been as brave as she has been adventurous in her day. The
Eurovision thing, for starters, was not exactly the easy option many might consider it to be. “I had just met my husband and moved to Borås for him, and I was working as a secretary at the time,” she recalls. “Then I became a star overnight and pretty much made all the rookie mistakes one can make. I did the most crazy things you can imagine, and it was all a lot of fun – but let’s just say I would choose a different strategy if I was to do it all over again today.” Johnson describes the following year as a bit of a hangover. The Swedish Eurovision representative, Charlotte Perrelli, won the entire competition, making Johnson’s feat seem less of an accomplishment, and though her album had found her an audience, it was far from ground-breaking or stylistically distinctive. In her own words, she had yet to find her own expression. But with hindsight, it seems the journey that followed was both sensible and mature – perhaps indicative of that ‘good girl’
Photo: Mats Oscarsson
The title of Jill Johnson’s 18th and most recent album, which was released in the UK earlier this year, perhaps offered a clue. But A woman can change her mind did not, contrary to what one might think, refer to the singer’s career path. “It’s a nice interpretation, but the lyric itself is actually about a relationship where I had that feeling of the other person not investing enough, and wanting to say that if you’re not bothered, I can change my mind and walk away,” she says. “But of course, as an album title it also points to that Eurovision label I got way back when, bearing in mind that I’ve done everything from rock country to pop rock, but always with a love of country at the heart of it. It’s like, Jesus, I’m allowed to change my mind, right?”
Issue 60 | January 2014 | 9
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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Jill Johnson
is open about her desire to try new things. If there are boxes to tick for a Swedish star to be rated as first-class, she certainly has ticked them all: she has presented the immensely popular radio show P1 Sommar and hosted Sweden’s regional Eurovision shows, and this month sees the birth of her very own TV show, Jills Veranda. Keen to challenge herself, and fed up with the common misconceptions of what country is, Johnson went to Swedish public service broadcaster SVT with an idea, which, thanks to Agnes-Lo Åkerlind, was developed into a Nashville-based chat show inviting musical guests to talk about their relationship to country and perform a tune of their choice. “The show brings up a lot of big existential questions, which turned into a real challenge for me,” says the singer-turned-TV host. “I’ve always been a bit ‘lagom’ in quite a Swedish way, and never put my foot down too much. Here it was unavoidable, so there I was in a public setting having to have opinions about everything.” No bling left to wish for
Jill Johnson is stepping out of her comfort zone, bringing back the mini skirt and the dance moves, and promising extra everything at her very own solo show at Hamburger Börs in Stockholm this spring. Photo: Peter Knudson
instinct the singer is now tiring of. “I had a lot of inner strength, somehow,” she says. “It was all baby steps: I went to Los Angeles, found some songs, changed my expression, thought about ways to get back to my country roots – and then I got an invitation to go and write songs in
10 | Issue 60 | January 2014
Nashville. That became my springboard; that’s when I grew aware of what I really should be doing.” The hard graft and thorough approach paid off. Years later, Jill Johnson’s stardom seems as confidently obvious as she
As the first episode airs, Johnson dusts off her mini skirts and brings out her very best dance moves and prepares to embark on the adventure that is the solo show Jill at Hamburger Börs – a first in many regards, as the venue has never produced a show like this before and the lighting and visual effects have only ever been used abroad in the past. Director of the show is Hans Marklund, one of Sweden’s most celebrated choreographers and directors, whose illustrious resume boasts sold-out shows by everyone from Lill-Babs and Lill Lindfors to Lena Philipson, Peter Jöback and Magnus Uggla. “Jill is one of our most exciting and talented artists, and I want to give the audience an experience that will surprise them – musically as well as visually,” Marklund says of the show that will run throughout the spring. For Johnson herself, the solo show provides yet another way of challenging herself with the unknown. “I’m so excited to be stepping out of my comfort zone and take on all these things I’ve never done before,” she says. This is where the past
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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Jill Johnson
meets the future and she gets to perform her old and most-loved showpieces alongside new, daring stunts, and her enthusiasm is unmistakable. “I want to really scare the living daylights out of myself and give it extra everything. I’ve always seen myself as an entertainer, but, you know, I’m not 18 anymore. I’m 40 and I’ve had kids, and here I am bringing back the mini skirt and dancing again. I’m going to be funny, and I’m going to give a lot of myself. Oh, and the clothes – let’s just say that when Lars Wallin gets his way, there’s no more bling in the world left to wish for.” Promising everything from rock to bluegrass, from blues to old Eurovision hits, the show is Las Vegas with depth, or, as the singer laughs, a way for her to explain to today’s teenagers that she is not, in fact, the singer behind Jolene, but much more still. Yet she is quick to deny that she is some sort of superwoman: “I’m not proud of how busy I’ve been,” she insists. “At the same time, this might open up the possibility to plan in a way I’ve never been able to before; to know that I’ll be doing the same thing in the same place for weeks – that doesn’t happen to me very often, and that, to me, is some sort of calm.”
Jill at Hamburger Börs – opens 23 January 2014, tickets from hamburgerbors.se Jills Veranda – with guests such as Marit Bergman, Kristian Gidlund and Karin ‘Kakan’ Hermansson, on SVT from January 2014 A woman can change her mind – solo album out now across Scandinavia and beyond
– collection of duets with Ronan Keating, Lionel Richie, Nina Persson and many more, out now in Sweden
For more information, please visit: www.jilljohnson.se
Photo: Thorleif Robertsson
Duetterna
Issue 60 | January 2014 | 11
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Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This
We love this... This winter we are seeing an ocean of gorgeous design news from Scandinavia: some reinterpreted classics as well as pieces that definitely have the potential to become new design icons. It has been hard to choose, but here are some of our favourites. By Julie Guldbrandsen
Holmegaard Glass Factory has reinterpreted the chamber candlestick and created a clean Fritz Hansen’s new lounge chair, Ro, which translates to tranquillity, is a modern yet classic piece of
and elegant light source in glass and full-
furniture – perfect for making a calm space in the living room. In textile from £1500.
grain leather. Available in two sizes. £34.
www.fritzhansen.com
www.holmegaard.com
The new organic brand NUTE has created a collection of delicious teas that combine flavours from the Scandinavian palette with
You can now get the Bøllinge tray separately
The Lean wall lamp designed by Jenny Bäck
traditional tastes from the Far East. The
from the iconic Danish tray table. Available in
for Örsjö Belysning has a cool retro feel to it.
result is modern and light. £11.
various colour and wood combinations. £110.
Texture finish with arm in raw brass. £250.
www.plint.dk
www.tendensshop.dk
www.scandinaviandesigncenter.com
12 | Issue 60 | January 2014
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Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
Fashion Diary... Shake off the January blues and invest in an uplifting, mood-enhancing colour palette for your wardrobe. Bright blues, fuchsia and vibrant prints fit the bill and give our closets and attitude the boost we need to get through the last cool winter months. By Julie Guldbrandsen
Colours are key to adding a little punch to an outfit. This pretty fuchsia top by Soaked in Luxury is perfect for dressing up your denim. £59. www.soakedinluxury.com
This elegant yet cool, classically-cut wool coat by Won Hundred will see you through the winter months in style. £325. www.wonhundred.com
Silk trousers in a relaxed fit by Won This chunky knit by Filippa K, with its
Hundred. Wear with a chunky sweater
Keep your ears warm and your head cool in
tomboy style and cropped body, is the
during the day and simply dress up with a
this furry Moscow hat by Whyred. £152.
ultimate pullover this season. £268.
tank top and high heels for a cool evening
www.whyred.com
www.filippa-k.com
look. £185. www.wonhundred.com
Issue 60 | January 2014 | 13
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DEPECHE.’s profile expression is feminine with an edge; that this combination has proven successful is no coincidence. Owner and director Janni Hørdum has a long history within retail and uses this experience combined with a strong fashion sensibility when designing her collections. “Thanks to many years in retail, I have a good understanding of what you look for as a buyer as well as what makes things sell in the shops,” explains Janni Hørdum. Alongside her insight into the fashion industry, Janni Hørdum’s courage to follow her gut feeling, passionate belief in her vision, and strong business sense have been among the company’s key strengths. The inspiration for her collections is a potpourri of trips around the world, international and national fairs. “Using inspirational elements from my trips to Milan, Paris, London, Berlin and New York, combined with DEPECHE.’s DNA, more specifically studs, high quality, functionality and affordable prices, the collections take shape,” says Janni Hørdum. “We are very faithful to our concept and our design DNA; regardless of new designs, colours and qualities, it is very important to me that DEPECHE. is recognisable in its general expression.” Feminine with an edge DEPECHE. was founded in 1999 in Copenhagen; in 2008, Janni Hørdum took over
DEPECHE.’s collections of feminine but edgy bags and belts are made using high-quality leather exclusively.
It is all about leather When it comes to leather accessories, the people behind Danish design company DEPECHE. know what they are talking about. Specialising exclusively in leather materials, the fashion brand creates high-quality belts and bags with an eye for details at an affordable price. The Horsens-located company is owned by mother-of-two Janni Hørdum, whose ambitions and hard work have resulted in a steady company growth and an increased client base all over Europe. By Signe Hansen | Photos: DEPECHE
14 | Issue 60 | January 2014
Owner and director Janni Hørdum, who took over DEPECHE. in 2008, has a long history within retail, and her experience and strong sense of fashion have contributed to a successful expansion of the brand.
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Scan Magazine | Design | DEPECHE
the company and moved it to Jutland. At the time, she was pregnant with her second child, Caroline, and, having represented DEPECHE. through her agency for many years, saw a possibility to open up for a more challenging work life and career by redefining the concept to what DEPECHE. is today . From previously working with accessories for a wide range of products and in a range of different materials, her concept zoomed in on nothing but pure leather accessories: belts and bags. As such, DEPECHE. today specialises in the production of leather accessories alone, appealing to women who are style and quality conscious, and creating collections with a wide range of belt and bag products. Janni Hørdum describes DEPECHE. as feminine with an edge, in such a way that any fashionable woman will be
able to find that particular piece that defines her. “Depeche is like my third baby, and I have a clear vision of where I want to take my brand. I want to create an exclusive and cool brand for all women with focus on high quality and functionality,” she explains. Since 2008, Janni Hørdum has extended the brand’s reach from selling in Denmark alone to winning over another 11 European countries, and in Denmark the brand is represented in 350 shops. Her vision has resulted in collections made of 50 per cent ‘must-haves’, 40 per cent ‘high fashion’ and 10 per cent ‘profile’ items.
they have an indisputable sense for detail and colour, while bags are produced by highly skilled leather traders in India,” Janni Hørdum, explains. She regularly visits all production sites, and DEPCHE. is continuously working to uphold the brand’s high product standards and company values. One of the greatest priorities is to maintain a good relationship with all the collaborators, from agents and customers to vendors and other professional friends of the house. “My strategy is to keep expanding into new foreign markets, but in a responsible way where all matters are taken into account in order for the resources to be positioned. It isn’t success if you just sell according to demand and possibility while the personnel, collaborators and physical surroundings do not correspond,” highlights Janni Hørdum and continues: “Right from the start, it has been very important for me to create a positive environment. I believe having a flat organisation structure with an unpretentious spirit and a work space where my colleagues have interdisciplinary responsibilities plays a great part in DEPECHE.’s identity and success. I have a very strong team behind me, which I believe is a key factor to obtaining a sustainable business success.” As the sole owner and director of DEPECHE. and a mother of two, Janni Hørdum often works long hours and, in periods, travels a lot, but despite this she never once regretted the decision to take over DEPECHE.
Strong values Most of DEPECHE.’s products are made from cow or buff hides, displaying a wide range of textures, feels and colours. “The belts in the collection are made in Italy as
For more information, please visit: www.depeche.eu
Issue 60 | January 2014 | 15
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Above: Finn Juhl's 46 Sofa. Astonishingly, no one believed that Finn Juhl’s beautiful furniture, such as the Poet Sofa (on the right), would sell when Onecollection first re-launched it.
Opening the world’s eyes to the cosy charm of Nordic furniture When Onecollection A/S started reproducing the furniture of Finn Juhl, one of the leading creators of modern Danish design, no one believed it would sell. But, today, Juhl’s elegant, organic shapes are again among the most coveted of Danish designs. Onecollection is also behind a string of impressive bestsellers as well as equally impressive non-sellers by contemporary Danish designers. But the company’s owners continue to trust their intuition as to what is valuable furniture design. So far, their ardour has resulted in a game-changing adventure within Danish design. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Onecollection
When you talk to the owners, founders and managers of Onecollection, Ivan Hansen and Hans Henrik Sørensen, they use the Danish word ‘hyggelig’ a lot. They talk not only about hyggeligt (cozy) furniture but also hyggelige (good) times and hyggelige (pleasant) architects. The owners’ fondness for the word reveals a lot about what is at the core of their business philosophy; it is not just about the design or its saleability – it is about the story and the people behind, and it is about going with your gut feeling. “We base a lot on our intuition, and that’s both our strength and our weakness. We get completely carried away with things, sometimes the wrong
16 | Issue 60 | January 2014
things because, of course, we need to be able to sell the items too: it all needs to add up. Still we produce some items that we really love but don’t sell enough of to make them profitable; we keep them and hope that, at some point, people will open their eyes to
Directors and founders Ivan Hansen and Hans Henrik Sørensen of design furniture manufacturer Onecollection, a company with expertise in re-launching classic furniture as well as developing new designs.
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Scan Magazine | Design | Onecollection
their qualities,” explains Ivan Hansen. Together with Henrik Sørensen he founded Onecollection, then named Hansen & Sørensen ApS, in Sørensen’s mother’s laundry room in Odense, in 1990. Through their contacts from more than a decade within the furniture trade, they soon built up a furniture collection designed by contemporary Danish furniture designers. Reviving Finn Juhl In 1998, rather out of the blue, Ivan Hansen and Henrik Sørensen received a call from Hanne Wilhelm Hansen, the widow of Finn Juhl, asking them if they could help her remake a model of Finn Juhl’s Sofa 57 for an exhibition in honour of the architect. The phone call was the beginning of a spectacular event in Danish design, the revival of Finn Juhl’s furniture designs. Impressed by Onecollection’s work, Hanne Wilhem Hansen decided to give the company the rights to reproduce Finn Juhl’s furniture, some of which, by then, existed in only a couple of handmade units from the 1940s and 50s. The two self-confessed furniture nerds were beyond ecstatic, but not everyone shared their conviction. “When we first exhibited a Juhl sofa at a furniture show, there wasn’t one single Danish furniture trader who believed in it. We were told outright: you’re not going to
be able to sell that. But slowly we started building a network of dedicated, quirky design traders from London, Germany, Japan and the US,” says Sørensen. Eventually, the rest of the design world jumped on the bandwagon and the interest in Juhl’s designs seems to just keep growing. Refurbishing the UN's headquarters In April 2012, the newly refurbished Trusteeship Council Chamber, also known as the Finn Juhl Chamber, at the United Nations’ Headquarters in New York was inaugurated. The chamber’s two hundred and sixty reproductions of Finn Juhl’s original delegate chairs were manufactured by Onecollection. The company also developed, produced and delivered the Danish design duo Salto & Sigsgaard’s new chair, The Council Chair, as well as their custom-made tables for the chamber. The original Finn Juhl Chamber was designed by Juhl sixty years ago and represented his attempt to create Gesamtkunstwerk – an all-embracing art form where all design elements complement each other. “To understand Juhl’s thoughts, universe and artistic approach to furniture design it is important that you experience his furniture in unison,” explains Sørensen. The functional and aesthetic unity of Juhl’s work can be experienced at
The Council Chair has been designed by the young Danish design team Salto & Sigsgaard and manufactured by Onecollection.
Onecollection’s newly opened Finn Juhl Showroom in Copenhagen. Making way for new Danish architects Though Finn Juhl’s designs, today, constitute the majority of Onecollection’s sales, Hansen and Sørensen have not forgotten their original ambition to shift attention to the many talented contemporary Nordic furniture designers. In the company’s collection are names such as Søren Holst and Henrik Tengler, who have worked with Onecollection from the company’s start. “At the moment, we have a great opportunity in Denmark and the other Nordic countries to attract attention to the things we are good at, and one of those things is definitely design; we have both the classic designs and a new pool of talent,” Sørensen stresses. If you are interested in reading more about Finn Juhl and Onecollection’s re-launch of his design, the book Finn Juhl & Onecollection by Mike Rømer was released on 13 December 2013 and is available for purchase via www.forlagetvita.dk.
For more information, please visit: www.onecollection.com or visit House of Finn Juhl, Nordre Toldbod 25, DK 1259 København K
Finn Juhl's 45 Chair
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The light, elegant Stool ML42 is still manufactured in Denmark with a focus on quality and Danish craftsmanship.
Reviving the legacy of two of Denmark’s greatest architects The legacy of the Lassen brothers, two of Denmark’s most awarded architects, has been revived by the grandson and great-granddaughter of Mogens Lassen. Through the brand by Lassen, some of the architects’ timeless designs, such as the Kubus candlestick, as well as a selection of forgotten designs and sketches, are gracing the design world. By Signe Hansen | Photos: by Lassen
Mogens Lassen (1901-1987) and Flemming Lassen (1902-1984) seemed born to become architects. Since they were just kids, the boys would draw sketches of buildings and in school they even convinced one of their friends, Arne Jacobsen, the designer of the Egg Chair, to become an architect (the brothers later received a thank you note from Jacobsen’s father for this). Though Mogens was a dyslexic and money was tight, they achieved their goal. Their de-
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Director Nadia Lassen
signs within architecture and furniture became classics defined by their simple aesthetics and functionality. “The architects were natural experts when it came to combining organic materials with straight lines, and that art is what makes their designs so simple and beautiful – it has a timeless quality about it,” explains Nadia Lassen, Mogens Lassen’s great-granddaughter, now director of by Lassen. “To me that’s what is so unique about our company and
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Scan Magazine | Desing | by Lassen
mark. It’s an industrial production but there is a large degree of craft involved in the process,” says Nadia Lassen and adds: “To us it was important to keep the production in Denmark for several reasons: environmentally it makes more sense because the majority of our sales are in northern Europe, and we are very proud of the Danish handicraft traditions, which are still part of the process – everything is quality-controlled by hand and nothing leaves us without having passed through at least two sets of hands.” Beautiful designs for the living room
Above: With a sharp sense of contemporary Functionalist style, Mogens Lassen designed the iconic Kubus candleholder in 1962. The Kubus is still crafted in Denmark, and has, among architects and design connoisseurs, achieved the status of a modern international design icon.
Above: A Mogens Lassen sketch from 1943 forms the starting point for Frame, a flexible storage solution comprising square boxes in cubic frames. Frame modules can be hung directly on the wall, connected together, stacked, or stand on their own on the floor.
our product. It’s the timelessness and the fact that it can be used again and again. That, for me, is what qualifies good design: it was designed 50 years ago and it will still be in use 50 years from now.”
verse. “Our design DNA is firmly rooted in the architects’ work and the universe we want to build. This is a universe founded on the belief that less is more, and that’s also something that we have derived from the brothers’ approach to design: to the eye, their design looks very simple and stringent, but there are a lot of thoughts behind it – a lot of mathematics that led to the symmetry and balance of the designs,” explains Nadia Lassen.
An iconic candlestick The Lassen brothers’ legacy includes a string of characteristic buildings all over Denmark as well as a wealth of iconic designs. Most well-known is the Kubus candlestick, which was designed by Mogens Lassen in 1962. Until by Lassen’s establishment in 1993, the characteristic, square Kubus candlestick was only produced in small numbers by Mogens’s grandson, Søren Lassen. It was the idea of Nadia Lassen and Peter Østerberg, co-owners and directors of by Lassen, which brought about the reinvigoration of the Lassen uni-
This is eloquently demonstrated by the Kubus candlestick, which is made with immense exactitude, the relationship between the sides being calculated with great precision. The collection developed into the mathematical series of candlesticks produced by by Lassen in different materials. “Most of our products are produced in Den-
Through the wealth of sketches and designs, which by Lassen holds the rights to, the by Lassen universe is continuously expanding, and so is its popularity. The two architects’ designs are today sold all over northern Europe as well as parts of the US and Asia. But all kinds of expansions and additions are made with careful consideration and respect, explains Nadia: “The brothers created so many things, but we only select the designs that we feel complement the by Lassen universe. For instance, we primarily work with the living room, so even though we could, we are not planning on starting a production of the brothers’ cutlery designs or anything like that.” As a fittingly stylish tribute to the Lassen brothers’ architectural work, by Lassen has, however, created a beautiful collection of cushions printed with some of the brothers’ iconic buildings.
When Mogens Lassen designed the sculptural three-legged Stool ML42 for a furniture exhibition in 1942, he took inspiration from the stools used by the shoemakers of the past.
For more information please visit: www.bylassen.com or visit by Lassen’s shop and showroom in Holbergsgade 18, 1057 Copenhagen K, Denmark
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Scan Magazine | Design | Lolly’s Laundry
Everyday fashion with a raw edge Inspired by second-hand and street trends, the Danish brand Lolly's Laundry is everyday fashion with an edge. Style it down for a cosy day at home, or style it up for a girls’ night out. One thing is certain: your laundry basket will always be full of it. By Sanne Wass | Photos: Lolly's Laundry
If you are a woman, you probably recognise this: you buy a new amazing dress, and while waiting for the right occasion, it ends up hanging in the closet for ages. The Danish fashion designer Kamilla Byriel was tired of unworn clothes, when she launched the brand Lolly's Laundry in 2007. “I wanted to create something simple and casual that people would actually wear – and feel comfortable while looking good,” she says. The idea of Lolly's Laundry is ‘understated luxury’: affordable quality that you can wear every day. The design is timeless, feminine, and with a mix of raw patterns and lots of prints. And often with a quirky twist, reflecting Byriel’s outside-the-box ideas. “When I create my collection I always add a little detail that sets you apart from the crowd. It could be a neon detail or groovy print, which gives the garment a personal touch. I love putting together
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contrasting styles: feminine with raw, masculine with romantic, or dots with leopard.” Kamilla Byriel is indeed an energetic and passionate entrepreneur with fire in her belly. At the age of 28, she started her first company with 22 employees, before deciding to follow her dream and create Lolly's Laundy. Today, Lolly's Laundry is a big success. It is sold in more than 200 stores in Scandinavia, the UK and even Japan. With the up-coming summer collection, the brand has doubled its sales. To Byriel, fashion design is not a job, but a hobby, and there are no limits to when and where she finds her inspiration: “I am very inspired by second-hand shops, flea markets, and street trends. I’ll find cool wallpaper in India, or look at a puddle and think it could be a fun print. Sometimes I even get inspired by my kids’ drawings at
home,” says Byriel, who is a mother of three. All this inspiration is mixed together with Byriel’s personal style. Thus she creates widely popular designs that any girl or woman can style her own way – and for any occasion. “My 13-year-old daughter wears Lolly's, and so does my 65-year-old mother-in-law,” she ends.
Kamilla Byriel likes turning something old into new, a good example being her showroom, which she built using recycled windows.
For more information, please visit: www.lollyslaundry.com
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Scan Magazine | Design | Mind of Line
Timeless fashion design with colourful contrasts By Stine Gjevnoe | Photos: Mind of Line
Passionate about quality and contrast, Mind of Line is a Danish fashion brand created by designer and owner Line Pil. True to the tradition of Scandinavian design, the emphasis lies on simplicity and quality, but Mind of Line also plays with the power of contrast. The story began four years ago, shortly after the first signs of the financial crisis hit Denmark. Faced with the prospect of losing her job, Line Pil noticed the name of a clothing manufacturer on a cardboard box. A phone call to the manufacturer was
all it took to tip the scale for the Danish designer, and Mind of Line was up and running by February 2010. “I’ve been making my own clothes since I was about 12 years old, so I guess it’s always been on the cards for me,” Pil says. Focus is on simplicity and on the quality of the materials, a defining character of the increasingly popular Danish fashion industry, but Pil has added her own twist: contrast. “By slightly twisting and playing with colours or patterns, you create added energy,” the designer explains.
Mind of Line’s designs are all made from natural materials, and the designer finds her inspiration in an array of places including nature, art, furniture – and films: while others might shed a tear when the water floods the Titanic, Pil revels in the different materials of the curtains, the dresses, and the furniture. And so far, it has proved very successful. Besides its own web shop, Mind of Line is sold in shops across all of Scandinavia, Germany and England, and 2014 will see the brand expand into new markets.
For more information, please visit: www.mindofline.com 2
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Scan Magazine | Design | Carmakoma
Carmakoma makes plus-size clothes that perfectly accentuate the beautiful curves of the female body, insisting that clothes should fit the body and not the other way around.
Changing the face of fashion Founded in 2008 by designers Angelica Weiss and Heidie Lykke, Carmakoma is a ground-breaking Danish fashion brand revolutionising the traditional fashion ideals with its catwalk-inspired designer clothes for curvy women of all ages. By Stine Gjevnoe | Photos: Lars Wahl
Both Angelica Weiss and Heidie Lykke had well-established careers within reputable design companies in Denmark when they decided to transform their longstanding ideas of revolutionising the image and quality of the curvy supply in the fashion industry into a business. And they have not looked back since. With their uncompromising focus on creating designer clothes that fit the beautiful female body, not vice versa, curvaceous women from all over the world have fallen in love with Carmakoma. Instead of following traditional fashion ideals of age and size, the Carmakoma designers’ inspiration comes exclusively from lifestyle, personality and interests. “Designer wear should not produce fash-
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ion victims, but support the important message of self-acceptance and provide any woman with the opportunity to independently express all aspects of her mood,” they explain. Changing an industry The two designers, who met and became instant friends in 1997, when they both attended the esteemed Danish design school TEKO, quickly spotted a gap in the market. While plus-sized clothes have been available for many years, it has always been in the form of shapeless, anonymous garments. For several years, the market has been over-looking the curvy customer group, and no brand has risen against the fashion industry’s general perception of curvy women’s attitude
towards appearance to the same extent as Carmakoma. “A new generation has sprung up among curvy women. They are curvy, proud and have the courage to speak up to accommodate their needs. We try to offer these women a chance to let their looks reflect their mood and personal identity in any given situation,” Lykke says, adding: “Everything indicates that the change in the self-image and self-confidence of curvy women is here to stay.” And by taking a look at some of the fashion industry’s latest changes, it would seem Carmakoma has a point. The growing demand from this market segment has forced both well-known designers
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Scan Magazine | Design | Carmakoma
and prestigious magazines to revise their conception of plus-sized women as inhibited and ashamed of their looks. What a difference a dress makes Carmakoma’s philosophy is that clothes should fit the body, not the other way around. The most vital element is the uncompromising focus on a phenomenal fit. All garments are designed with spectacular cuts, exquisite details, and slimming effects that make the clothes fall in perfect silhouette around a curvy body. The brand’s signature style is a mix of rock chick glam with feminine sweetness and sexy details. It is all about accentuating the beautiful curvy features of the female body, and as such, Carmakoma’s pioneering work has won many fans – among others the Brazilian plus-size top model, Fluvia Lacerda. Carmakoma’s success culminated in 2012, when it became the first ever fashion brand to showcase its clothes on plussized models side by side with standard models at Copenhagen Fashion Week. In January, they are back for the fourth time to once again underline the fact that fashion and beauty cannot be defined or stigmatised by a label with a number on it. Aiming for the stars Carmakoma’s flagship store is its website. But it is much more than just an online shop: it is a fashion portal and a fashion universe with styling tips, behind-the-scenes footage, competitions and much more, allowing the Carmakoma team to stay in close contact with its customers, something that has been vital to the brand’s success. Other than in the web shop, Carmakoma’s designs are sold in stores worldwide, and for Weiss and Lykke the sky is the limit. “We are very serious about our export market. The international demand for our products has been increasing quickly since we started, and globally there is still huge, untapped potential with many opportunities ahead,” the design duo says.
around the world, including the Curvy is Sexy exhibition in Berlin 14-16 January and Copenhagen International Fashion Fair 30 January to 2 February. The duo's courage and ability to paint outside the traditional lines of fashion has not gone unnoticed. In 2012, they were named female entrepreneurial role models by the Danish Ministry of Business and Trade, a huge accomplishment for the two women,
and something that does not comes easily. “It’s a combination of a strong concept, a water-tight business plan, and extremely hard work,” they conclude.
For more information, please visit: www.carmakoma.com Facebook.com/Carmakomasite Instagram.com/carmakoma
In 2014, the designers will be showcasing their brand and meeting potential buyers at various fashion festivals and exhibitions
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“I’ve always felt the urge to create” Refined Scandinavian simplicity inspired by fashion, architecture and nature defines the essence of Pernille Corydon Jewellery. The demand for the autodidactic Danish designer’s distinct, modern jewellery and its pure and feminine expression has spread from her small hometown on Funen across the entire world. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Pernille Corydon Jewellery
Ten years ago, frustrated by the lack of simple and elegant jewellery to her taste, nursery nurse Pernille Corydon started ordering home bits and pieces to create her own jewellery. What started out as a hobby has become a coveted jewellery brand, sold today all over the world from London to Berlin and Tokyo. “I’ve always felt the urge to create. In my spare time I’ve had a number of creative hobbies like painting and ceramics; I find inspiration everywhere,” Corydon explains and adds: “But I’ve never been a jewellery girl, because at that time, ten years ago, everything was very voluminous, detailed and heavily adorned, and that was not my style, so I stayed away from jewellery. Then I started making my own jewellery and immediately found that it struck a chord within me.”
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Soon after, Corydon opened a design and interiors store in her local town Haderslev, which became the first place she sold her jewellery. From there its reputation spread.
Autodidactic designer Pernille Corydon started creating her first jewellery collection ten years ago, and today her jewellery is sold all over the world.
Inspired by the world When looking at the rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets in Corydon’s two yearly collections, the recurrence of pure geometric shapes and natural objects is evident. Corydon finds the inspiration for these in everything around her, most markedly architecture and landscapes. Some sources of inspiration are clearly reflected in the finished items, such as the Brick collection, which with its square shapes clearly hints at the geometrical pattern of the Dutch farmland landscape that inspired it. Others are more abstract or represent just a small detail of something that caught the designer’s eye. “Constructions, houses, furniture, nature and architecture are all my sources of inspiration, but what I deduct from them is a very simplified expression. Often, when I sketch, I start out with a lot more and then I peel off several layers to get to the essence. That’s the expression that I love and have come to represent; people often tell me that they recognise my jewellery from afar because of that,” the designer explains. The consistently simple and pure
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Scan Magazine | Design | Pernille Corydon Jewellery
look of Corydon’s jewellery and her many sources of inspiration also mean that her collections are not dictated by the fashion industry, giving her items the longevity suitable for treasured jewellery. From hobby to global brand
collate the parts and check off the jewellery back home in Denmark. “I regularly visit our manufacturers myself, and everything is quality-checked here in Denmark before it is sent off. I feel good about doing it that way even though some might think of it as a superfluous step; it’s my philosophy that one should feel happy about going to work, and this is one of the things that I like to be in control of. I want to make sure that I can put my name to every item. Besides, I like the combination that enables us to keep some jobs here in Denmark,” explains the designer.
When Corydon received her first big order from Bahne, which had sixteen stores in Denmark, she was still making all her jewellery by hand. She would constantly be working on something, at home or behind the till in her store. Today, however, with 250 retailers to deliver to, the designer has had to move part of the production into other hands. Some jewellery and parts are made in Thailand and India, while Corydon and five trained assistants
This, however, does not mean that Corydon is indifferent to the price of her products; on the contrary, to counterbalance
Pernille Corydon’s Brick collection clearly mirrors a simplified version of the Dutch landscape that inspired it.
Above & right: New collection. January 2014
the rising silver prices she works hard to keep the weight of her jewellery down. “Because I have the background I have, my philosophy from the beginning has been to do my best to keep prices at an affordable level. I want prices that allow everyone, old and young, those with a lot of money and those with a little, to have nice jewellery,” she stresses. Pernille Corydon releases two yearly collections: her main collection in July/August and her additional collection in January.
For more information, please visit: www.pernillecorydon.com
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Morten Engelbrecht founded Engelbrechts A/S in 1989 and has since strived to create sculptural and functional furniture completely without superfluous or imperfect parts. Photo: Ulfeldt Jauert
Inside out perfectionism Aesthetic, sculptural and functional furniture stripped of all excess is at the heart of the Danish furniture manufacturer Engelbrechts A/S. The Copenhagen-based company, which works with four award-winning Danish designers, is behind a versatile collection of adaptable tables and chairs observable in, among other places, Copenhagen’s Tivoli Congress Centre. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Lea Jessen
No matter what way you turn Engelbrechts A/S’s Chairik chairs, you will find no imperfect or superfluous components; the same goes for the rest of the company’s meticulously thought-through collection. The aspiration towards aesthetic and functional perfectionism stems back to the firm’s founder, design and development director Morten Engelbrecht, a selfprofessed perfectionist. Having worked for various high-end furniture traders for many years, Engelbrecht founded Engelbrechts A/S in 1989. “I’ve always been very critical when it comes to design; it has to be of a very high quality both design-wise and production-wise. So, my dream and
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ambition were to create a collection that had a common thread running through all pieces. I wanted to create a design that would command respect from architects and meet my own criteria,” explains Engelbrecht. Today, Engelbrechts A/S’s collection comprises eight series of chairs and tables, suitable for conference halls, receptions, canteens and meeting rooms all over the world.
functional purpose and this has resulted in an impressive versatility in items such as the Chairik chairs and the Click tables. Even without help from tools, a single person can easily disassemble and assemble the Click table in various sizes and shapes, and the Chairik chair can, in the production phase, be adjusted to the different demands of clients. But functionality is not enough: the design also has to bring something new to the table, stresses Engelbrecht: “Firstly, what I want to do is create something that is innovative, unique and different from anything else on the market, like the Chairik Chair by Erik Magnussen: it is beautiful, sculptural and super functional, and that’s a common denominator for the entire collection, the functionality. Our products are created to solve problems and needs, and many ideas have arisen from the actual requirements of our clients just as we also continue to develop our products to meet the needs of a special situation,” explains Engelbrecht.
Functional designs All of the designs for Engelbrechts A/S’s furniture are centred around the product’s
One of the major assignments that Engelbrechts A/S won thanks to the flexibil-
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Scan Magazine | Design | Engelbrechts A/S
ity of their design and mindset was the refurbishment of the Kim Utzon designed Tivoli Congress Centre. For this assignment the company created 2,600 purposely adjusted Chairik chairs.
in designs that grow over time. All designs have a minimum settling period of half a year from when the final prototype is created until the piece of furniture is put into production.
Taking the time it takes
The focus on quality shines through not only in the design process but also in the manufacturing. All of the components of an Engelbrechts A/S product are made by the company and all processes, such as welding, stitching and polishing, are done to the highest possible standard. “I think that what we have become known for is our extreme attention to detail and our extraordinary quality. It doesn’t matter what way you turn our products or if you take them apart – all you will see is good quality; it is not just a facade,” stresses Engelbrecht.
Designing, developing and producing new furniture is a process that takes time, stresses Engelbrecht, especially if you want to create proper furniture. “I like the approach of our two older architects, Jørgen Rasmussen and Erik Magnussen; they always say that if you’re going to do something, you’d better do it properly. I know it’s a bit of a boring saying, but still it entails a lot. It means that you wait until you have an idea that is worth pursuing and you give it the time it takes to develop it,” says Engelbrecht, the designer behind the APPETIT table series. Like Engelbrecht, the four other designers working for Engelbrechts A/S have a strong belief
Engelbrechts A/S is currently developing an innovative shelving system as well as
an ergonomic chair for educational use, which will, says Engelbrecht, be the first beautiful chair of its kind.
Engelbrechts A/S exclusively manufactures the furniture of the following designers: Erik Magnussen Kasper Salto Jørgen Rasmussen Anders Hermansen Morten Engelbrecht The company manufactures the JOINT chair series the APPETIT table series the Click table series the Plateau chair the Kevi chair the Foldit table the Chairik chair series the Kato chair
For more information, please visit: www.engelbrechts.com Below: JOINT table and JOINT chairs details
The Kim Utzon designed Tivoli Congress Centre is furnished with 2,600 of Engelbrechts A/S’s super functional and elegant Chairik chairs.
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Scan Magazine | Feature | Bergans Fritid AS
Photo: Asgeir Helgestad
Bergans – a piece of Norway For 105 years, Bergans has played a momentous part in creating grand outdoor experiences for generations of adventurers. Synonymous with quality and functionality, the brand has always been at the forefront of innovation. The story behind it? It all began with a rucksack. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Bergans Fritid AS
Founder of Bergans, Ole F. Bergan, was a man of many talents – the greatest of which was undoubtedly his inventiveness. The originator of a staggering line of inventions and a consequent list of 45 patents, Bergan was destined for remarkable success. Amongst his patents are items as diverse as the first stepin/step-out ski binding, a timber sleigh equipped with a braking device, and a vent-free diesel engine used in buses until the 1950s. Yet, it was a seemingly simple invention that was going to take his name around the world. The hike that changed history It is said that Bergan designed his worldrenowned first rucksack after a day of hunting. He arrived at his destination af-
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ter carrying equipment and game in a very uncomfortable manner, and decided to improve the experience of the traditional Norwegian hike. Using a sturdy wooden stick bent to support his back and give the rucksack a better fit, he created the first version of what was to become his brand’s staple product. Still today, the rucksack holds a significant position amongst Bergans’ main products. “Our company has a very proud history, as we have delivered quality equipment to our customers since 1908. The fact that so many generations have a relationship with our brand has undoubtedly done much for our identity and supported our core values of quality, innovation and functionality. Our history and our values make Bergans a
little piece of Norway,” says Øystein Bomo, director of marketing and sales. Staying true to core values There is little sign that these core values, instated by Bergan himself, have weakened even the slightest since 1908. Bergans strives to constantly be at the forefront of new development, manufacturing already existing products as well as new inventions. Bomo says that the company is inherently passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments capable of changing their customers’ lives. “We know what it takes to make a great product, but we also know what our customers need. We would never compromise on quality. A great example of how we have always adapted our products to the individual user is the range of women’s equipment, where Bergans was one of the first brands to move away from the unisex culture.” “We are constantly developing new concepts and patents. Our latest one is a
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Norwegian adventurer Cecilie Skog flying the Bergans colours. Photo: Bergans Fritid AS
Responsible manufacturing is key to Bergans, and that goes for workers’ rights and conditions as well as environmental responsibilities and animal care.
unique carrying system demonstrated by the rucksack Glittertind. This patent has received worldwide recognition, including the 2012 Outdoor Industry Award, Backpacker Magazine’s 2013 Editor’s Choice Award and Men’s Journal’s Gear of the Year Award,” says Bomo. Made by the best – accessible to all Bomo explains that the brand philosophy of Bergans always has been to “develop products in collaboration with the best and make them accessible to the masses.” It is a philosophy that has fostered a diverse customer base, ranging from professional athletes to everyday users. Well-known Norwegian Roald Amundsen, the first explorer to ever reach the South Pole, used Bergans equipment for his expeditions, famously proclaiming that he was “supremely satisfied” with his framebearing rucksack. Better stamps of approval are difficult to come by, and to this day Bergans remains a trusted supplier of expedition equipment. “Expeditions are not only about reaching a goal, but also making it back safely. That means min-
imising the risk of something unexpected happening along the route. We have a responsibility to ensure that our equipment rises to the occasion and takes good care of the person using it. The fact that our products have been preferred for expeditions and people who work in nature environments for more than 100 years goes to show that we truly and deeply care for quality,” says Bomo.
Bergans’ staple product was invented when founder Ole F. Bergan himself went hunting and decided to relieve a tired back by using a bent, wooden stick to give his rucksack a better fit. Photo: Fredrik Schenholm
alterable to us, and we will not compromise on safety,” says Bomo. “We have great focus on environmental and social responsibilities. Nature, especially, is our arena, and we have a special obligation to preserve it for coming generations.”
Responsible manufacturing Responsibility is a multifaceted term within the Bergans philosophy. The company takes great care to ensure the welfare of producers, workers and live origins of production materials. This means that all Bergans producers have to comply with the same code of conduct, promising a good standard of workers’ rights and conditions, as well as a definite exclusion of all kinds of child labour. Similarly, attention to the welfare of animals is key. All Bergans products exclude the use of down plucked from live geese and wool from sheep subjected to mulesing (the stripping of wool-bearing skin from the sheep’s buttocks to prevent parasitic infestations). “The standard of quality is un-
Photo: Johnny Haglund
For more information, please visit: www.bergans.no
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More than 60,000 people visit the yearly Danish Travel Show in Herning.
Travel the world in one day
hands on the deal. Besides, you’ll get a lot of special offers and the possibility to tailor-make your holiday.”
Feeling the bite of winter? Why not oust the winter blues with a visit to Scandinavia’s biggest holiday fair, the Danish Travel Show in Herning. The holiday fair, which takes place 21-23 February 2014, not only gives you the chance to book your next vacation with great discounts but also the possibility of stumbling upon new and exciting destinations.
Among the fair’s more than a thousand exhibitors are a string of tour operators as well as tourist organisations, travel boards and embassies.
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Danish Travel Show
All about holidays
Spread over 62,000 square metres and 13 halls in MCH Messecenter Herning, the Danish Travel Show and its more than a thousand exhibitors present a broad mix of travel-related entertainment, activities and special offers. Encompassing five themes – International, Danish Golf Show, Denmark, Outdoor, and Camping – there is something for all tastes. Most importantly, the fair provides a chance to embark on the adventure of a new holiday with an inspiring and enjoyable experience instead of a tedious internet search. “Of course you could go online and get all the facts, find out where it’s warmest in March and so on, but what you get here is
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an experience for all the senses. You can see, touch, taste – be inspired on several levels,” says project manager Anders Ladefoged Mortensen. The experienced travel and fair organiser has been part of the show since its re-launch in 1997 and adds: “Back in 1997, when I went to the travel show as an exhibitor, our main goal was to hand out as many catalogues as possible. Today, that’s not enough at all because you can find the same information online. What you get, when you visit the show, is a personalised experience. You can talk to the people who have actually worked and been at the destination, look them straight in the eyes and shake
Since being re-launched in 1997, after a 30-year hiatus, the Danish Travel Show has grown to become Scandinavia’s biggest, and more than 60,000 visitors stopped by the fair last year. The guests are met by a wealth of activities and events such as travel presentations, competitions, a kayak and diving pool, and a play centre for kids. But the focus is still, stresses Mortensen, strictly on providing inspiration and helping guests find the holiday of their dreams. “There’s a serious part to the fair: a lot of people come here one hundred per cent focused on finding their dream holiday while other people visit us just as much for the experience.” Among the fair’s most visited areas are
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Scan Magazine | Feature | Danish Travel Show
the two major international halls, which in 2013 housed stands from a total of 113 countries and regions, 35 of which were hosted by official tourist offices or embassies. Whatever you want When the Danish Travel Show relaunched, a great part of the fair focused on Denmark and camping. These two themes are still popular and prominent, but, today, the international theme has become the fair’s most visited. Newer trends are reflected in additions such as outdoor activities and golfing. “We have become Denmark’s leading holiday fair and one of the reasons for this is definitely our broad combination of themes and the large number of exhibitors,” stresses Mortensen, adding: “When we ask people to review their visit, 95 per cent say that they would like to come back, and that is how our fair has grown – by
The holiday fair show takes place 21-23 February 2014 Address: MCH Messecenter Herning, Vardevej 1, 7400 Herning, Denmark. Fees: Adults: 100 DKK; children: 10 DKK (children under five go for free); seniors 50 DKK (Friday only). Opening hours: Friday and Saturday 10-18 Sunday 10-17 Directions: MCH Messecenter Herning is located approximately a 45-minute drive from Billund Airport. The centre is located right next to motorway connections to Vejle, Århus, Viborg and Holstebro, and parking is free.
word of mouth.” If you want to enjoy a warm-up for your next holiday, you can book tickets for the Danish Travel Show through the website.
At the Danish Travel Show, guests can find individual travel advice and tailor-made package tours.
With big displays, activities and travel presentations, visitors to the Danish Travel Show can get a taste of hundreds of destinations in just one day.
For more information and to buy tickets or book a stand, please visit: www.danishtravelshow.com
A variety of events take place throughout the weekend of the travel fair.
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Scan Magazine | Feature | Hotel Villa Gulle
Hotel Villa Gulle is located in the heart of Nyborg, the historical Funen town that was once considered Denmark’s capital.
At home in the historical heart of Nyborg Step inside the impressive Hotel Villa Gulle and you are immediately welcomed into a warm and friendly atmosphere, where the attentive staff go the extra mile to ensure your stay is both special and comfortable. By Sophia Stovall | Photos: Hotel Villa Gulle
Located in the heart of Nyborg on the island of Funen, Hotel Villa Gulle’s surroundings offer plenty of things to do and see. Nyborg Castle still stands as homage to the town’s military heritage, as it was one of the three major fortified towns in Denmark, together with Frederica and Copenhagen. From 1183 to 1413, the country's legislative and judicial assembly gathered here; Nyborg was considered Denmark’s capital during this period, supported by the fact that Christian II of Denmark was born at Nyborg Castle. If history is not for you, why not explore the market square, once the site of 16th century royal games, or enjoy a performance at the oldest open air theatre in Denmark, Voldspil Nyborg?
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Hotel Villa Gulle Take your pick from Hotel Villa Gulle’s 23 newly refurbished rooms, two apartments and a house by the sea, all offering stunning seafront views. With both beach and forest so close, there is no end to the activities and escapes on offer to suit all ages. Gulle Simonsen and her experienced team are second to none, and pride themselves on catering for individual needs and creating bespoke experiences. Whether it is an overnight stay, a long weekend or a holiday let, Hotel Villa Gulle is happy to help. Danish delights When staying at the hotel, guests enjoy authentic Danish cuisine, and where better to taste traditional herring and
schnapps than while enjoying views of the harbour in the pleasant surroundings of Hotel Villa Gulle? For culinary enthusiasts, the hotel also runs a number of courses, instructing in a range of menus. Over the years Hotel Villa Gulle has become the place to go for celebrations and local events, weddings, meetings, funerals and functions of all kinds, with customers returning to the warm welcome, discerning décor and personal touch. The hotel is located within walking distance from Nyborg Station, with train connections to both Jutland and Sealand, and regular bus departures for most of Funen. Close to the Great Belt Bridge and Odense, Hotel Villa Gulle offers its guests countless opportunities. For more information, please visit: www.villa-gulle.dk Hotel Villa Gulle, Østervoldgade 44 5800 Nyborg, +44 65 30 11 88 post@villa-gulle.dk
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Scan Magazine | Feature | Nordic Food Lab
Insect food lab Serving live ants at Claridge’s for £195 a head is no mean feat. The foodie trends of tomorrow are developed in a small houseboat lab opposite Noma. By Ian Morales | Photos: Nordic Food Lab
If you have never eaten insects, ants would be a good dish to start with. In 2012, Noma introduced insect fine dining to London by serving live ants with crème fraîche as the pièce de résistance in a £195-a-head, eight-course meal. The carpenter ant species served at the Noma pop-up at Claridge’s has a distinctive lemongrass flavour. But you could also try leaf-cutter ants, which taste like crispy bacon, or honey-pot ants eaten as a sweet delicacy by aboriginal people in the Australian Outback. Like many of Noma’s avant-garde dishes, the ants dish served at Claridge’s is a product of Nordic Food Lab, an experimental kitchen situated in an unassuming houseboat in Copenhagen harbour opposite the world-famous Michelin twostarred restaurant. Founded in 2008 by Noma chef patron René Redzepi and gastronomic entrepreneur Claus Meyer, Nordic Food Lab was established to explore the building blocks of Nordic cuisine by investigating old and new raw materials and techniques. Tasked with creating new, cool food, the lab, headed up by head of culinary re-
search and development, Ben Reade, focuses on the science of cooking. This delicious objective is pursued by a team of chemists, biologists, anthropologists and sensory scientists conducting weird and wonderful experiments in fermentation, curing and other food microbiology processes.
Whole Hive Ice Cream
More protein, less fat But the NFL team’s most promising area of research is ‘insect gastronomy’. Insects are the food of the future. Already part of the daily diet in many non-western countries, bugs, the scientists believe, will be eaten by more and more people as the world’s population grows and agricultural land becomes scarce. Redzepi himself has often said that meat will become too expensive. Furthermore, insects have a higher protein and lower fat content per kilogram compared to animal meat.
Locust Crepe
Nordic Food Lab’s experimental insect dishes include roasted grasshoppers, cricket broth, and ants on a chimp stick. For breakfast you can savour bee larvae granola or fried cockroach. The lab recently received a grant of 3.6 million DKK (approximately £400,000) from The Velux Foundation to make creepy-crawlies more delicious. The scientists have also teamed up with Carlsberg’s upscale brand Jacobson to create three custom beers from ingredients such as bee larvae. Insect fine dining is the next big foodie trend. The next time you go to a gourmet restaurant, do not complain if you find a fly in your soup. Otherwise you may find yourself being charged more – a lot more.
Chimp Stick
Delicious bugs
Carpenter ants – lemongrass flavour Roasted desert locust – nutty with vegetable note Fermented grasshopper garum – soy sauce flavour Bee larvae ceviche – creamy flavour Bee bread – flowery top notes with light bitterness
For more information, please visit: www.nordicfoodlab.org Head of culinary research and development Ben Reade
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Scan Magazine | Feature | Biathlete Ted Armgren
“The key for me and the rest of the team is to qualify for the Olympics. We all ski for the National Team but have to make the final selection for the squad that will be sent to Sochi,” he explains. “This means that over the Christmas period we have been building up to make sure that we have the best form possible. This means lots of competitions. It is in these competitions that we will get the results needed to gain selection. Sochi is going to be my first Olympics so I am really motivated to make the selection, and once I know about that I will focus on a target for the actual event.”
Biathlete Ted Armgren from Vilhelmina in northern Sweden skis for the National Team but has yet to qualify as part of the final selection for the 2014 Winter Olympics squad.
Olympics in his sights Biathlon is arguably one of the toughest sports at the Winter Olympics, combining the physical challenge of cross-country skiing with the finesse of shooting. We catch up with the Swedish biathlete Ted Armgren, who is looking toward the up-coming Winter Olympics. By Phil Gale | Press Photos
With the well-wishing and celebration of New Year’s over, many of us have taken it upon ourselves to set resolutions to improve our lives. For others, this focus has been in place for years. The athletes aim-
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ing for the up-coming Winter Olympics will be set in their ways, working hard to achieve their best. Swedish biathlete Ted Armgren from Vilhelmina is one such athlete, focused on this key event.
Naturally, being proficient at biathlon takes years of practice and hours of training. Armgren continues: “During the offseason, May to November, we train anything up to 30 hours a week. This includes a lot of fitness work, but we cannot forget the need to be able to shoot well. The key to success in biathlon is the ability to switch mentally between the all-out push when skiing, and the calm of shooting. It is this that keeps me hooked to the sport. It is easy to shoot well, but when you are exhausted from the skiing and breathing hard, it is a huge challenge.” “The honour of representing my country at the Olympics has been a dream of mine,” says Armgren. “It has helped me to focus and make all the sacrifices over the festive period.” For more information, please visit: tedarmgren.se
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Scan Magazine | Feature | Lillehammer’s Olympic Legacy
Above: The Lysgårdsbakken ski jump that towers over Lillehammer as a constant reminder of the 1994 Winter Olympics when the whole world was watching. Top right: View across snowy Lillehammer. Photo: Esben Haakenstad. Bottom right: Lillehammer '94 street logo. Photo: Esben Haakenstad.
An Olympic legacy: Lillehammer 20 years on In just a handful of days, the world’s attention falls on Sochi for the 22nd Olympic Winter Games. It will mark 20 years since Scandinavia last hosted the event. The 1994 Lillehammer Games were memorable for so many reasons, but perhaps most of all for turning the world's attention to such a tiny town: the population of Lillehammer is just 26,000. By David Nikel
Nowhere as small has come close to hosting the world’s biggest sporting event since then, so it is understandable that the memories of 1994 loom large. From the logo-emblazoned manhole covers to the Lysgårdsbakken ski jump towering over the town, everywhere you look there is a constant reminder of the two weeks when the whole world knew about Lillehammer. These days, many visitors see Lillehammer as a quiet town. The centre is often deserted, even on weekends, but only because the locals spend their precious leisure time in the mountains, taking advantage of the facilities very few towns of its size are blessed with. Local children zoom around the Olympic arena on sledges and skis, perhaps dreaming of their own Olympic glory.
Local professor Thor Andre Skrefsrund lived in Lillehammer during the Games, assisting the French Olympic Committee. “The whole region has profited from the Olympics in the long-term. The arenas are used a lot, the roads were upgraded, and Oslo Gardermoen airport was built. In Lillehammer now, I experience an interest in sports that is not the same elsewhere in Norway. People of all ages go skiing and cycling in the mountains on a regular basis,” he says. The investment in facilities continues to pay off. In 2016, Lillehammer will host the Winter Youth Olympics, while the annual Birkebeinerrittet, a 92-kilometre cycling race ending in the town, attracts 17,000 participants every year. Keeping active is also a theme of the region’s familyfriendly attractions: the Maihaugen open-
air museum and Hunderfossen family park. The latter offers children the chance to explore a 37-metre tall fairy tale castle and meet characters from old Norwegian folk tales. International broadcasters have given the town a welcome boost in recent years. The BBC’s Top Gear filmed a Winter Olympics special in the town, sending a rocket-powered Mini down the ski jump. More recently, the first series of Steven Van Zandt’s Lilyhammer showed the town in a new light, the dramatic final episode set in and around the playgrounds of Hunderfossen. Whether the shady underworld portrayed in Lilyhammer is accurate is moot. Van Zandt’s character Frank chose Lillehammer because of his Olympic memories. He is not the only one.
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E: 2014 M E Y TH RWA L O IA EC IN N P S LS A TIV S FE I am not the only one saying that. Innovation Norway conducted a tourism survey in 2012, where 8 in 10 respondents stated that they wanted a Norwegian holiday combining outdoor activities with cultural events. And I cannot blame them. Our first major festival, the Aurora Borealis – or, in Norwegian, Nordlysfestivalen – starts in late January. Who would not want to be in Tromsø then, skiing, watching the lights and spending the evening at a performance by the Bolshoi ballet? In my book, there is no better mixture of outdoor activity and cultural tourism. Trondheim Jazzfestival. Photo: Arne Hauge
Welcome to Norway – the European festival country and destination par excellence There is no complete register of festivals in Norway, but a 2009 study commissioned by the Norwegian Arts Council estimated the number to be approximately 1,000 festivals, based on a very broad definition and including historical plays and local fairs. Since there are only just over 5 million of us, this effectively means that there is one festival for every 5,000 inhabitants. Those numbers considered, there should be something for everyone, regardless of age and area of interest. Art and music lovers, foodies, performing arts aficionados, traditionalists, heritage lovers, literature lovers… Norway is the place to go for a cultural experience in 2014. By Anders Rykkja, managing director of Norway Festivals
Spring is the time for Norsk Litteraturfestival – Sigrid Undset-dagene in the picturesque Olympic town of Lillehammer. This is the largest literary festival in Scandinavia, suitable for lovely walks in the mountains combined with readings and performances by Nobel Prize winners in the evening – John Maxwell Coetzee was there last year. If time permits, extend the visit with a few days in Bergen, the gateway to our fjords and host city of Norway’s oldest festival, Festspillene i Bergen. Norway in a nutshell beckons. In the summer, there are plenty of festivals to choose from. From the Risør Chamber Music Festival in the south to the 50th anniversary of Festspillene i Nord-Norge up north. That is just what I would propose off the top of my head – but happy hunting, or planning: I am certain that you will find a festival to your liking taking place in one of our 18 counties almost every week of the year. Did I mention that a vast number of free events is organised by most festivals? Velkommen!
For more information, please visit: www.norwayfestivals.com Festspillene i Nord-Norge. Photo: Roger Hennum
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ICMF Stavanger. Photo: Nikolaj Lund/ICMF
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Festivals in Norway 2014
View down Storfjorden. Photo: Sveinung Myrlid / visitnorway.com
Welcome to festival fun in Norway The magical northern lights. The dazzling midnight sun. The world’s most beautiful fjords. Norway is special in so many ways, and never fails to fascinate. Add an array of exciting activities to this stunning backdrop of beautiful nature and you are up for a real treat. By Per-Arne Tuftin, director of tourism at Innovation Norway
Norway has a lot to offer throughout the year, with its ever-changing scenery and landscape. Whether you love winter and snow or summer fun, Norway’s diversity makes most dreams come true. But did you know that there is also a multitude of festivals and events taking place in Norway? Why not try something different this year and join a northernmost snowball fight during Yukigassen in Vadsø, or listen to magical ice music at the Ice Music Festival in Geilo, or perhaps push yourself to the limit during the extreme sports week in Voss? From Fredrikstad in the south to Svalbard in the north, Norway is renowned for its music festivals. All Norway’s festivals offer a great variety of activities and help
add a different dimension to your holiday experience, whether you are most keen on nature, culture, food or music. Attending a festival is a great way to explore both
culture and traditions, and best of all is that many of the festivals are completely free. This edition of Scan Magazine gives an excellent insight into this year’s festivals in Norway. All you have to do is add a few to your to-do list for 2014 – I have already noted mine. Have a thrilling festival year!
Northern Lights, Grøtfjord, Kvaløya Photo: Gaute Bruvik / visitnorway.com
Plan your festival year on: www.visitnorway.com Per-Arne Tuftin
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Festivals in Norway 2014
Photo: Emelie Ulsnes Sommervold
Many of the Spitsbergen Marathon participants travel the world running marathons while collecting stamps in their passports. The race in Svalbard, however, is probably the only one where they face the risk of running into a polar bear.
Competitive running in polar bear territory The Spitsbergen Marathon is probably the only marathon in the world where outrunning a polar bear is more important than outrunning your opponents. By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Spitsbergen Marathon
Every year, in the first week of June, around 200 adventurous athletes from around the world flock to the arctic archipelago Svalbard to participate in the exotic Spitsbergen Marathon. This year marks the 20th anniversary of one of the world’s most extraordinary experiences in competitive running. “We have had participants from 22 coutries. Many of them travel the world to compete in marathons, while gathering stamps for their passports. They are a different kind of breed, and the Spitsbergen Marathon is an important part of the journey for them,” says Helle M. Jakobsen, organiser at Svalbard Turn. Starting and ending in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town, the course sends the participants through a
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harsh but beautiful arctic landscape. Despite the incomparable nature of the marathon itself, one aspect that stands out for most is undoubtedly the legitimate risk of running into a polar bear along the course. “That is something you definitely will not get anywhere else, and in itself a reason to participate for many of our runners,” says Jakobsen. She points out that while some of the runners are more worried than others, there has not yet been an incident where polar bears have wandered onto the course. But the organisers take no risks. “We have polar bear guards on ATVs, armed with rifles, spread out along the course,” Jakobsen asserts. Though growing in stature, the Spitsbergen Marathon has always been the
little brother of the Svalbard Skimaraton. As it is the last race of the crosscountry season, over 700 skiers, including top athletes like Therese Johaug and Eldar Rønning, will flood Longyearbyen in the beginning of May, anxious to set out into the vast snowy landscape, protected by polar bear guards who have exchanged ATVs for snowmobiles. “The Svalbard Skimaraton is very attractive to cross-country skiers because of its exclusive and exotic feel. It is more than just a race. It is an opportunity to experience Svalbard,” says Jakobsen.
Polar bear guards on snowmobiles.
For more information, please visit: www.svalbardturn.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Festivals in Norway 2014
More jazz for the money By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: Bjørn Steffensen
One of the biggest and longest-lasting festivals in Bergen, Nattjazz, has since its origin in 1972 been a crucial part of the city’s culture experience. In May this year, the festival will stage as many shows as last year, only in fewer days, offering even more music for the money. Arranged during the same week as the established Bergen International Festival, this May the jazz festival, visited by nearly 13,000 people annually, boasts close to 100 concerts and events. “Among others in 2014, Nattjazz and Bergen will finally present two American jazz singers again, Dianne Reeves and Madeleine Peyroux, alongside other famous artists,” says Roger Lygre Solvang, head of media at Nattjazz. “Arranged over the course of ten days, from Thursday 22 to Saturday 31 May, this year’s festival is also one day shorter yet offers the same number of concerts and
events, subsequently providing more entertainment for the money,” says Solvang. Idyllically located by Puddefjorden on Nordnes in Bergen, all the gigs at Nattjazz are performed under one roof in one of the most modern festival facilities in the Nordic countries. “We want the audience to experience and enjoy quality music across several genres, and we offer them a chance to discover new artists,” he continues. “While our main focus is ethnic and modern jazz, we are no strangers to booking artists from all over the jazz world, offering both up-and-coming performers and established stars.” "Nattjazz also focuses on the increasingly exciting developments within Norwegian jazz, having offered a breakthrough for several domestic stars. And speaking of enjoyable Norwegian experiences, the Bergen spring should be mentioned, naturally best enjoyed during a festival,” Solvang concludes.
Sacred musical moments By Kjersti Westeng
Oslo International Church Music Festival is a ten-day festival celebrating the diversity of church music across Europe. The theme of this year’s festival is sacrifice, and visitors will see church musicians, choirs, orchestras and ensembles from all over Europe working together to answer the very curious question: what role do acts of sacrifice play in today’s society? March 2014 marks the fourteenth year for Oslo International Church Music Festival. Opening the festival is the Italian ensemble Accademia Bizantina with their per-
formance of Handel’s oratorio Jephtha, accompanied by The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir and six young outstanding soloists, led by Ottavio Dantone. With around 15,000 visitors yearly, Oslo International Church Music Festival has become a central institution in the development of church music in Norway. “We focus on the diversity of church music as a historical genre and we both preserve the tradition and develop it further. The festival is Norway’s largest exhibition of early music and associated international specialist performers. We garner consid-
The Norwegian jazz festival Nattjazz started out in 1972 and has since become an integral part of Bergen’s cultural spring.
For more information, please visit: nattjazz.no
erable international attention in our efforts to make contemporary music more visible and accessible through development efforts and educational initiatives,” says artistic director Bente Johnsrud. The 2014 festival will see great performances from the legendary music scene in the Netherlands, such as L'Armonia Sonora, Leo van Doeselaar, Concerto Palatino and Peter Kooij led by Mieneke van der Velden. The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir led by Daniel Reuss will perform Rachmaninoff’s Vesper, and Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam and Harry van der Kamp will perform renaissance music. Closing the festival is one of the world’s leading choirs: German RIAS Kammerchor, and the baroque ensemble Concerto Köln. “We also have a total of five new works premiering, so there is definitely a lot to look forward to,” finishes Johnsrud. For more information, please visit: www.oicmf.no
Concerto Köln. Photo: Harald Hoffmann
RIAS Kammerchor. Photo: Matthias Heyde
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Held in Harstad since 1965, the Arts Festival of North Norway celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Arctic arts The annual Arts Festival of North Norway has been held in Harstad since 1965, and will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. What began as a musical event with a particular focus on the meeting of amateurs and professionals is now a top-shelf international event that presents and produces a vast array of musical genres. The arts festival also has a strong focus on children and young people and caters to people with different disabilities. By Maya Acharya | Photos: Roger Hennum
For many, the far north – where the mountains are jagged, the fjords ice-cold, and the midnight sun looms high in the sky during the summer months – carries a connotation of isolation, an untouched and remote part of the world. But despite the region’s harsh climate and striking contrasts, or perhaps because of them, northern Norway has continually been a source of inspiration, art and creativity. The Arts Festival of North Norway provides an annual gateway into this rich cultural arena, while at the same time reaching out far beyond the confines of the arctic circle.
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Local meets global When the festival first started almost half a century ago, it was more of a collaboration of north-Norwegian freelance musicians and singers. Since then, the festival has flourished and grown, attracting global audiences and featuring acclaimed artists from around the world. From Zimbabwean afro-pop to Albanian isopolyphonic choirs and modern dance, there is no shortage of diversity, and audiences have much to choose from. The festival's head of information, Tone Anita Karlsen, notes that enjoyment of di-
verse experiences is not solely the privilege of audiences. “Many of our guest artists from Latin America and Africa are used to playing enormous venues to hundreds of people, so the intimacy of Harstad can be quite different. However, I think people find it amazing to come to this beautiful part of the world and enjoy the natural surroundings, and to see Harstad’s well-known group of islands.” In addition to welcoming international artists, the Arts Festival of North Norway still maintains a focus on local, Norwegian talent. It has already been announced that the award-winning Norwegian rock band Yoga Fire, known for their exuberant and occasionally unclothed performances, will be making an appearance this year. In addition, there will be the premiere of a brand new opera created through an equally current collaboration between the Norwegian Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra, Hålogaland Theatre, Barents Event and the Arts Festival of North Norway. “The festival is about promoting highquality performances, whether this is done by profiling acclaimed artists or by
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Festivals in Norway 2014
putting new, emerging artists in the limelight,” Karlsen explains.
good to see people getting involved and letting loose,” says Karlsen.
Mixing and matching
Arts for everyone
Though the Arts Festival of North Norway is heavily centred on music, the festival’s name accurately reflects a whole host of genres. “There is dance, poetry, theatre, film – really a very versatile programme,” says Karlsen. “We also try to experiment by putting together exciting combinations and overlapping styles. For example, in 2012 we had a dance show called Frikar meets Kung Fu, which merged traditional Norwegian folk dance with Kung Fu choreography.”
Lego building and Kung Fu folk dancing might seem like unusual notions given the context, but they are illustrative of the festival’s commitment to exploring different cultures and opening dialogues through art. Karlsen’s claim is that the festival aims to be as inclusive, innovative and diverse as possible.
Last year's theme, Homo Ludens (the playing man), also encouraged interactive performances, one of which involved playing with Lego. “We had grown-ups sitting on the pier building Lego – it was
One of the ways in which the festival achieves this is through a cultural festival for young people, NUK++, which mixes both able-bodied and disabled young people. “It’s important for us to involve children and young people. Art and culture can be just as important for children as learning maths or science – it develops knowledge, empathy and creativity,”
Jonas Alaska
Cycle
NUK++ instructor and kids. Photo: Hedda Nilsen
Baby Elephant Photo: Knut Utler
Karlsen insists. “This is a festival for everybody: different generations, young and old, able-bodied and disabled.” She maintains that the festival’s future challenge will be to spread its net even wider by involving new audiences and groups of society. Festival director Tone Winje looks positively towards the future: “We’re looking forward to celebrating the Art Festival’s 50th anniversary this year and see this as a brilliant opportunity to look towards the next fifty years, and of course also allow ourselves to recall some of the wonderful things that have been achieved in the past. We will also be launching a semi-centennial anniversary book so that the public can read and enjoy our story too!” For more information, please visit: www.festspillnn.no
Attracting global audiences and acclaimed artists from around the world, the Arts Festival of North Norway offers everything from Albanian iso-polyphonic choirs to Kung Fu folk dancing.
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Hosting the Tall Ships Races for the fourth time, Bergen will be marking the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its training ship, SS Statsraad Lehmkuhl, through a grandiose naming ceremony of a completely new, modern vessel.
Getting swept away in Bergen Hosting up to 100 stunning sailing ships from all corners of the world and half a million people across four days of festivities, the Tall Ships Races Bergen is set to be the biggest event in western Norway this year. By Maya Acharya | Photos: Eivind Senneset
This is the fourth time that Bergen has been chosen to host this maritime festival, as one of the four host ports comprising the route for the annual tall ships race. With the city’s surrounding mountains creating an intimate atmosphere, along with Bergen’s picturesque harbour, it is not hard to see why.
naming ceremony of a completely new, modern vessel. Tall Ships Races Bergen’s project manager, Haakon Vatle, says: “It will really be a spectacular view to see
A festive year 2014 is a special year for Norway. Not only will the country be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian constitution, but maritime Norway will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Bergen’s own beloved training ship, the SS Statsraad Lehmkuhl. One of the ways in which the Tall Ships Races Bergen will be marking the occasion is through a grandiose
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Enslaved band
the old, venerable ships welcoming in the new.” In many ways, this will be a symbolic ceremony. “The festival aims to show that Norway has a rich maritime cultural heritage,” explains Vatle. “But we also want to show that we continue to be an important seafaring nation and that sailing is still something that sparks an interest among young people.” There certainly seems to be no lack of interest among the younger generations of maritime enthusiasts. In fact, this year the Tall Ships Races will be offering over 100 young people aged 15-25 the chance to get on board as trainees on various ships sailing in the regatta from Bergen to Esbjerg. This is an important outcome of one of the main aims of the Tall Ships Races, as voiced by the administrating charity Sail Training International (STI): “the development and education of young people through the sail training experience, regardless of nationality, culture, religion, gender or social background.”
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Sea shanties and heavy metal The merging of the modern and the new is a recurring theme at this year’s festival. The cultural programme emphasises the combination of maritime cultural traditions with more up-to-date music and culture. Hence festival-goers will be able to feast their ears on traditional sea shanties along with hip hop, rock and heavy metal. “In the olden days, they used to say that a singing ship is a happy ship – a sign that the crew were feeling well and good,” remarks Vatle. “We want music to be a strong focus at this year’s festival. During the festival, the crew on Statsraad Lehmkuhl will sing shanties from the masts every day at 6 pm and we are encouraging the audience to sing along. We want to make Bergen a singing ship!” In addition to these evening shanty singalongs, there will be free concerts from two different stages, featuring highlights from Bergen’s varied cultural scene.
Bergen’s harbour can also expect to set the stage for a new twist on shanty traditions. As part of the festival’s focus on renewal, composer Ole Hamre has teamed up with heavy metal rockers Enslaved to perform a piece incorporating everything from scuzzy guitar sounds and ship flutes to metal, shanties and spectacular fireworks. This musical number will be performed from the Statsraad Lehmkuhl and will be part of the closing ceremony on Saturday evening. Full speed ahead It is interesting and pleasantly ironic that the first Tall Ships Race in 1956 was a race of 20 of the world’s remaining large sailing ships. The race was intended to be a curtain call farewell to the dying era of the great sailing ships. Luckily, the event was so successful that it led to the formation of STI, who have organised the races and regattas annually around the world ever since, turning things in a completely new direction.
So what is it that continues to float people’s boats? “No matter where it is held, the Tall Ships Races attracts hundreds of ships and millions of spectators,” asserts Vatle. “It's not just a festival for people who know about sailing. For three days in Bergen, both day and night, there will be events for families, entertainment such as music and street performances that everyone can enjoy and take part in. People can see the beautiful sailing ships and be part of this important national history. It creates a great, communal atmosphere in the city.” It seems one has to be there in person to get the full experience, but in summing up the joyful atmosphere and spirit of the event, the festival’s tagline - Hey ho, let’s go! - does a rather excellent job. Follow the festival at: www.tallshipsbergen.no and www.facebook.com/tallshipsbergen
Photo: Robin Strand
Photo: Robin Strand
A singing ship is a happy ship, goes an old saying. As such, the cultural programme at the festival offers everything from old sea shanties to hip hop and heavy metal.
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A spectacular celebration
Norwegian Military Tattoo is arranged every second year, and this year marks its 11th anniversary. So mark the date – and prepare for a night full of energy.
By Anja Elen Eikenes | Photos: Norwegian Military Tattoo
The world’s elite of military bands come together to celebrate the bicentenary of the Norwegian constitution with a magnificent show, including artistry, drill and precision close to perfection. 9-11 May this year, head to Oslo Spektrum for the opportunity to experience a diverse show with performances from some of the best military bands in the world. Norwegian Military Tattoo blends classical and rhythmic music with marching and drill, all building up towards the spectacular grand finale. The head of Norwegian Military Tattoo, Colonel Christer Johannesen, promises a truly meaningful show. “We celebrate a constitution that represents the values of democracy, freedom and justice. These val-
ues will provide the topic for the artistic planning of the tattoo.” It has been 200 years since the constitution was written in Norway, and the Norwegian Military does not take the celebration lightly. Over 800 people take part in the event, making it the biggest indoor show in Norway. Ten nations that played a part in Norwegian history will also take part in the show, including Japan, the US, and Russia. One of Norway’s many contributions during the event is musician Ingebjørg Harman Bratland, one of the leading young performers in vocal folk music.
Top: The Swedish army Bottom: Hans Majestet Kongens Gardes Left: Norwegian Military Tattoo
For more information, please visit: www.normiltattoo.no
Cod Fishing World Championships in spectacular scenery By Stian Sangvig | Photos: Willy Jansen
VM i Skreifiske, the Cod Fishing World Championships, is an annual competition that takes place over a weekend in March in Svolvaer in the spectacular mountainous isles of Lofoten in northern Norway. “The idea was formed following growing fishing restrictions on hobby fishermen after years of declining fish stocks,” explains coordinator Willy Jansen. “From
some 200 contestants in 1991 we have grown to over 600 contestants in 2013.” The 2014 Championships will take place Friday 28 and Saturday 29 March. Participants are responsible for bringing their own fishing rods, complementary accessories and clothing, while the organiser provides boats as part of the registration fee. “Providing boats for everyone can be challenging, which is why we set the maximum to 580 participants,” says
Jansen. “Professional sea anglers and boat owners, however, are also welcome to take part. International interest is growing too, and in 2013 nationalities included Danes, Swedes, Britons, Germans, Lithuanians, Russians, Slovaks and more, in addition to Norwegians.” “Prizes vary from year to year, but they are usually a trophy in addition to fishing equipment, paintings, wood carvings and other local pieces of art,” explains Jansen. The world champion is the participant catching the largest cod. Additional categories include juniors, ladies, gentlemen, groups of up to four, and professionals. On the Friday all types of fish can be caught, but Saturday’s main competition is about cod only. Via Oslo and Bodo, Svolvaer is accessible by air, and the deadline for registering for the 2014 championships is on 15 February. For more information, please visit: www.vmiskreifiske.no
Champion 2010
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Svolvær
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Making contemporary music more accessible As the days grow longer and the sun returns to the North of Norway, the city of Harstad gathers for the 21st Ilios Festival of Contemporary Music. The festival is held annually during the fifth week of the year, coinciding with the sun’s modest return after a dark winter. The name Ilios comes from Greek mythology and refers to the God of the Sun. “The name symbolises the return of sunlight to the north. There is a great atmosphere in the town at the time, which contributes to a great ambience for the festival,” says festival manager Mats Iversen Vangen, who is enthusiastic about sharing contemporary music with the general public. He wants to make the genre more accessible and reach out to the ‘sceptics’. “I believe a lot of people feel that contemporary music is difficult to listen to. With this festival we want to create a backdrop that makes it easier to experience. There aren’t many festivals that of-
fer this genre and our broad variety of contributors,” Vangen says. Exhibitions and concerts During a long weekend in January, acts will be performing all over Harstad in addition to several art exhibitions. Vangen specifically mentions MIN Ensemble, performing on the opening night, as well as the drum group SISU, performing Steve Reich’s Drumming, the ensemble Bodø
The Ilios Festival is held 30 January to 2 February 2014. By Anette Berve
The Ilois Festival of Contemporary Music welcomes the return of the sun to the north of Norway by bringing otherwise inaccessible contemporary music to the masses. Photo: Illios Festival
Where everyone is a star By Kjersti Westeng
Intimate, inclusive and innovative are the three words best used to describe Vossa Jazz Festival. Every year on the weekend of Palm Sunday, the small village of Voss in western Norway comes to life when big international stars go on stage to celebrate the beautiful world of jazz, folk and world music. The American jazz guitarist Bill Frisell has been given the honour of opening the
Sinfonietta, and artist Eva Bakkeslett. In order to make the festival relevant for the whole community, pub concerts with a less formal atmosphere are arranged throughout the weekend. The Sunday walk concert in particular is a way to bring the performers to the people. “With the Sunday walk we combine a Norwegian tradition with music. Along the route, the audience can experience artists in an atypical concert venue. This way we can reach people who would not normally seek out our festival. There isn’t a great selection of cultural activities this time of year, so we want to be an exciting alternative.”
41st Vossa Jazz Festival on Friday 11 April. Known as one of the leading guitarists within jazz ever since the 80s, Frisell will no doubt set the standard and tone for the rest of the festival, which will feature performers like Andy Embler, Dave Liebman and the famous Wilco guitarist Nels Cline. “We have a lot of exciting artists this year, both international and local, attracting a very diverse audience,” says festival director Trude Storheim.
Andy Embler and famous saxophonist Dave Liebman are both coming to Vossa Jazz this year. Photo: Maarit Kytoharju
American jazz guitarist Bill Frisell is opening this year's festival. Photo: Michael Wilson
For more information and a full programme, please visit: www.ilios.no
Storheim explains that the main aim of the festival is to include the audience, both on and off stage, in order to create the intimate atmosphere Vossa Jazz is so famous for. “One of the most memorable performances at Vossa Jazz is Superjazz, where disabled people are invited up on stage to perform with professional musicians,” she says. Another aim of the festival is to showcase young and local talent through Badnajazz for kids and UNGjaJAZZja for youths. Having practised throughout the year, they show off the finished result on stage during the festival, also accompanied by recognised, professional artists. “We maintain a very high quality of all of our performances, while giving our audience a chance to learn and perform themselves,” Storheim finishes.
For more information and information on how to buy tickets, please visit: vossajazz.no
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Above: The coast museum, Herøy Gard, which has strong links to the play itself.
The actors performing Herøyspelet are: Heidi Ruud Ellingsen, Jon Bleiklie Devik, Anette Hoff, Bjørn Willberg Andersen, Hedvig Garshol and Nils Ole Oftebro and more.
Viking musical surrounded by magnificent nature This summer, the exciting and historical play known as Herøyspelet takes its audience back to the Viking era on the small island of Herøy off the western coast of Norway.
located at this cultural and religious centre, its history stretching back to the Viking era and through the Middle Ages. “It’s a gathering place for the local and regional community as well as national and international visitors that want to experience the story of The King’s Ring and step back in time to 1,000-year-old culture and history,” André Nærø says.
By Camilla Brugrand | Photos: Siv Nærø
On the outdoor stage, with the Atlantic on one side and the fjords on the other, the elite of Norwegian actors will perform Herøyspelet, or the Herøy Pageant, The King’s Ring, a grand Viking musical with a script based on and built around historical passages from the Snorre Saga. “It’s magical and the audience will really feel like they are being taken back in time,” says managing director John André Nærø. In the play, King Olav Haraldsson and his men are approaching a Herøy farm as Viking rebels and their leader Karl Mørske set fire to the main building. The King seeks to persuade the rebel leader to lay down his sword and ultimately his life for the King’s cause. This marks the begin-
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ning of a story filled with battles of personal gain and loss, love and revenge, faith and superstition, life and death. André Nærø believes that people’s interest in Vikings has increased thanks to the many series and films made about the era in recent years. “The life of the Vikings contains a lot of action with a rich and exciting culture, and I think that this, among other things, is something that people find fascinating,” he says. Herøyspelet is historically and geographically associated with Herøy, an island which is mentioned in the Snorre Saga, where King Olav Haraldsson, later known as St. Olav, harboured his ships. The Herøy coast museum, Herøy Gard, is also
About 200 actors, both professionals and amateurs, take part in the play, including a live choir and orchestra. A couple of Norway’s most established actors, Anette Hoff and Nils Ole Oftebro, have been in the play the last two years, and are also scheduled for Herøyspelet 2014. “Actor Pål Sverre Valheim Hagen, internationally known from the blockbuster movie Kon Tiki, and actress Heidi Ruud Ellingsen joined the play last year. We hope they return this summer as well,” André Nærø closes. The theatre performance takes place on 5 and 6 July at Herøy Gard. For more information, please visit: www.heroyspelet.no
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An authentic take on Scandinavian history The biggest Viking festival in Norway happens in beautiful surroundings at Karmøy, and when asking Aud-Irene Jacobsen, who works for the municipality and manages the events, what the secret recipe behind a successful festival is, there is only one word for it – authentic. When the Viking heritage goes on display every summer at Avaldsnes, Karmøy, everything from the clothes worn to the food served are identical to what the children would have read about in the old sagas that famously tell the stories of the Scandinavian sea warriors. “We focus on creating a ‘living history’ by selling authentic Viking products in beautiful surroundings,” says Jacobsen. She adds that the festival wants to change the common perception of Vikings as being barbaric plunderers abroad, instead showing the ‘real Vikings’ as hard-working farmers. The festival is held next to Harald Hårfagre’s royal estate. The buildings that
previously housed famous Viking kings can be found by the strait that gave Norway the name ‘Nordvegen’ – the road to the north. The heart of the festival is the market with its national and international participants, aiming to teach children and families to make, bake and build equipment, clothes and food exactly as their ancestors did.
Jacobsen explains that the key aim of the magical atmosphere of “walking through the woods and back in time” is to transport the 19,000 yearly visitors from the modern world to a time where family fun was enjoyed in the great outdoors. The goal is to give the whole family a day to remember, she says – and what better way to do it than the Viking way? By Camilla Fredstad Huuse Photos: Aud-Irene Jacobsen
For more information, please visit: www.vikingfestivalen.no
The great Arctic running experience By Kjersti Westeng
It is 8.30 in the evening, yet it is light as day. You are about to embark on a 42kilometre run through beautiful Arctic scenery, running under the midnight sun. The fresh mountain air creates the perfect temperature, especially at this time of day. You take a deep breath as you look at your fellow runners. Ready, set, go! Organised by the foundation of the same name, the Midnight Sun Marathon takes place in Tromsø every June. Around 5,000 eager runners from all over the world gather to participate, although not everyone runs a full marathon. There is also a half marathon, a 10-kilometre race, a 4.2kilometre fun run and a children’s race to choose from, making sure that the whole family can get involved. With a start time of 8.30 pm, runners experience the great Arctic scenery at its best: lit up by the midnight sun. The 2014 Mid-
night Sun Marathon will be held on 21 June, marking the 25th anniversary of the spectacular race. “Runners from over 60 different nations participate in this marathon. We’ll celebrate the anniversary by putting on a concert and various events in the city centre,” says race director Nils Hætta. MSM arranges several other events throughout the year, such as the 50kilometre mountain race, Tromsø Mountain Ultra, in August and the Reindeer Racing Championships in February. For those wanting a challenge out of the ordinary, the Polar Night Half Marathon in January is the perfect choice. Despite the sinking temperatures and the absolute darkness, this half marathon is extremely popular, especially as you have a good chance of running under the northern lights. “It is a fantastic experience. You won’t find these kinds of running conditions many other places in the world,” finishes Hætta.
The Arctic scenery makes this marathon a spectacular experience. Photo: Marius Hanssen
For more information, please visit: www.msm.no
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Dive into the rich traditions of Norway without make-up, at the annual Folkemusikkveka in Ål, the longest running Norwegian music festival solely dedicated to folk culture.
Pay a visit to the oldest folk music festival in Norway Ever since Alexander Rybak stepped on stage and won the Eurovision Song Contest with his folk-dancing back-up men of Frikar, the world has been amazed by the skilled hops and moves of Norwegian folk dancing. Add the impressive repertoire of the country’s musical history, and there is plenty of folk soul to be celebrated. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Folkemusikkveka
Folkemusikkveka (the Folk Music Week) dates back to 1976, making it the longest running Norwegian music festival solely dedicated to the rich folk culture. What is more, the festival is one of few not to focus on the competitive side of musical and dance performances. “For us it’s been very important to bring the tradition of folk music and dance back to a recreational and enjoyable stage,” says UlfArne Johannessen, general manager of Folkemusikkveka. “That’s why we’ve eliminated the element of competition, aiming to focus on the quality experience of culture instead of ranking it.”
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Dancing the Halling The festival takes place in Ål, Hallingdal, in May every year. This area of Norway is known for its important ties to the traditional music and dance scene, having named one of the most famous dances of all: the ‘Halling’. This dance is also called ‘Laus’ (meaning loose), and is a quickbeat acrobatic and athletic dance that is traditionally performed by young men at weddings and similar celebrations. One of the most famous elements of the routine is kicking a hat off a pole, usually held by a woman dressed in national cos-
tume. The name ‘Laus’ is derived from the positioning – meaning that the dance is performed alone and not in pairs. “This dance in particular has a strong and natural connection to Hallingdal. It is still very popular here, and we are of course very proud of that,” says Johannessen, who is also a skilled performer of the dance. The music of yesteryear Among the many musical traditions at Folkemusikkveka, you may see, listen and even attempt to play the rustic ‘munnharpe’ (Jew’s harp) – the source of a distinct Nordic folk sound. This instrument has been around since the Viking age and will pose even the most skilled musician with a thorough challenge. Successful or not at the munnharpe, why not let your nights be accompanied by the
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sound of Hardanger fiddle, the national instrument of Norway? Similar to violin harmonies, Hardanger fiddle can be lively and upbeat, but it has a much more hollow resonance than the violin and four or five sympathetic strings in addition. It is often played accompanied by a tapping foot keeping the rhythm, and similarly to the Halling folk dance, it traditionally belongs to weddings and parties. The week will bring forward the best in folk dance music, and visitors are known to be swept away by rhythms lasting until the early hours. No matter your taste in music, you are sure to find the musical atmosphere of Folkemusikkveka irresistible. “We welcome both professional players and amateurs,” says Johannessen. “We hope to represent the width in Norwegian folk music as well as dance,
and simultaneously inspire people to learn more and improve.”
mate experience, and the stage should be small enough to convey that.”
Downscaling for genuine interactions
The wonders of Norwegian nature
Folkemusikkveka is an arena for genuine interactions, Johannessen explains, as the festival shies away from excessive media attention. The hope is to bring local and international interest to both stage and audience, without losing the intimate feeling that defines the character of the Norwegian folk spirit. “As much as we appreciate globalisation and how quickly both music and dance can be shared all over the world nowadays, our personal concept is very local. For a long time the main goal of similar festivals has been to compete, grow and puff everything up to an extreme – and that’s something we don’t quite believe in,” says Johannessen. “Folk music and dance should be an inti-
Judging by past years’ successes, the May 2014 festival will be nothing short of a traditional music aficionado’s paradise. If in addition you happen to be somewhat of a Nordophile, the location alone will have you persuaded. Beyond the music and dance events throughout the week between 23 May and 1 June, the area of Ål offers plenty of chances to enjoy stunning nature and recreational adventures. “This is Norway without make-up,” Johannessen insists. “It’s what I would call the real deal, in terms of both culture and nature experiences. Coming to Folkemusikkveka is diving into the rich traditions of Norway.”
For more information, please visit: www.folkemusikkveka.no
Learn the acrobatic and athletic moves of the Halling folk dance or try your hand at the munnharpe (Jew’s harp) – both likely to provide a challenging laugh.
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Salmon fishing in Surnadal By Oda Marie Eidissen | Photos: Norsk Laksefestival
At the peak of the Norwegian summer, hundreds of people gather in the small village of Surnadal to compete in the salmon fishing event Norsk Laksefestival. Surrounded by fjords, mountains, deep valleys and forests, Surnadal makes an ideal place for fishing and exploring the wild Norwegian nature. Visitors without a fishing rod can enjoy live music, taste some delicious food in the marketplace, take part in various activities for both children and adults, or simply savour the trickling sounds of river Surna during the bright summer evenings.
than 6,000 inhabitants, it attracts tourists from all over Norway and beyond when the festival takes place 19-22 June. Their chances of catching some of the exclusive Norwegian salmon in Surna are good, as the salmon stocks increase significantly when the river is swelling with water. “Although the festival is mainly a salmon fishing competition that aims to raise interest in salmon fishing, it is also a social event and cultural happening, as manifested by the award Surnadal received in 2012 as the culture capital of
Surnadal is located in the county of Møre og Romsdal in the western part of Norway. River Surna is one of the most important salmon rivers in the region, and since the first festival was arranged in 2000, over 12,000 people have visited Surnadal to try their luck at fishing in the prolific river. Although the village has less
For more information, please visit: www.norsklaksefestival.no
Annual festival celebrating Norway’s mountains By Stian Sangvig | Photos: Norsk Fjellfestival
Norsk Fjellfestival (Norwegian Mountain Festival) is an annual festival celebrating the Norwegian mountains near Åndalsnes in western Norway. “Since the inception of the festival fifteen years ago, it has developed into three annual events,” says festival manager Solrun Sylte. “In 1999, local mountaineers had the idea of showing our mountains to the masses,” Sylte explains. And what started out as a few informal mountain trips has since developed into a week-long festival containing 130 mountain walking and climbing tours, guided by experienced mountaineers. The events and courses are open to adults, children and the whole family. The competition Mountain King/Queen of the Year sees participants climbing the seven major surrounding mountains, all
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the county,” says Bente Groeggen, marketing manager at Norsk Laksefestival. Children are welcome to participate in the competition as there is a great focus on encouraging and inspiring children to go fishing. If the hours by the river become tiring, a fairground, a duck race and a singing competition are some of the activities on offer for kids. Later in the evenings, visitors can enjoy live music, fresh food and drinks. Last year, 120 people participated in the competition, and for the experienced or amateur fishermen out there wishing to try their luck, a first prize of 30,000 NOK is awarded to the participant with the largest catch. Surnadal's mild summers are also hugely appreciated by the tourists, and whether you are an aspiring salmon fisher or not, the long and bright evenings are sure to set the mood for an adventurous and fun weekend for the whole family by the river Surna.
higher than a thousand metres above sea level. Winners of the additional Mountain Goat award include Olympic cross-country skiing champion Vegard Ulvang, Foreign Minister Boerge Brende, and HRH Queen Sonja. In 2014 the festival will take place from 6 to 13 July. “The first event of 2014 is Romsdals vinter (Romsdal’s Winter) between 10 and 13 April,” says Sylte. It is held this year for the seventh time and consists of guided ski trips to the mountains as well as concerts, speeches and food, all in and around Åndalsnes. The event facilitates up to 100 people. “The latest addition to the festival is the new 8.6-kilometre run, Romsdalseggen, which takes place on 6 September 2014,” Sylte adds. 800 people can participate, and the highest point is at
1,200 metres above sea level. The festival is close to Ålesund and Molde Airports, with direct flights from all over Norway as well as London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Riga.
For more information, please visit: www.norskfjellfestival.no
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Japanese snowball fight saved town without hope Norway’s toughest winter festival, Yukigassen, is held every year in Vardø and attracts 400-500 participants from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany and Russia. Since the beginning in 1997, when the competition had eight participating teams, it has grown significantly, and last year 40 teams fought to win the only snowball throwing championships in Scandinavia. “I hope this festival can contribute to creating a positive spirit in the town and amongst everyone who lives here,” says Anita Remme, former president of Yuki-
gassen Norway. “Before this festival, Vardø was a town without hope, without future. My great wish is that this festival will be its big saviour and stop people from leaving.” Yukigassen originated in the 80s in Sobetsu, a town in northern Japan not far from the city of Sapporo. The word means ‘snowball fight’, and the sport was brought to Vardø in 1997. Yukigassen is carried out between two teams aiming at conquering the other team by hitting them with snowballs or stealing their flag. Each team has 90 snowballs to use during the game, and seven judges are involved in
each match. In addition to the snow ball fights, events such as The Golden Glove and the World Championships in Yukidance are also arranged during the festival. Yukigassen 2014 will be held 26-30 March, and participants must sign up before 20 March. All attendees must be 16 years or older. By Anette Fondevik Photos: Yukigassen
For more information, please visit: www.yukigasssen.no
Tease the taste buds at Gladmat food festival Norway’s leading food festival is all about showcasing what the culinary world has to offer, both locally and internationally. Every July, Vågen in Stavanger transforms into a bustling food festival. For four action-packed days vendors, food producers and restauranteurs stand side by side along the dockside to let visitors get a taste of their best products. “We see ourselves as Scandinavia’s biggest conveyor of food culture and food experiences,” explains festival manager Mona Vervik. “We want the festival to mirror the food tradition in Norway, but also international cuisine. It is all about exhibiting the diversity and extensive range of food traditions, from local traditional products to new cooking trends.” Inspiration Vervik explains that there is a multitude of activities, from food tastings, beer tast-
ings and cooking lessons to cook-offs and discussions. The festival also encourages the vendors to offer low-cost tasting platters, so that the visitors more easily can try several products and dishes and keep the festival from becoming a costly event. Vervik wants the visitors to be inspired. “I want people to leave the festival full of food and full of impressions. A motivation to come should be the possibility of tasting something new and being inspired by different ways of cooking. The best feedback I get is when people say they’ve tried something for the first time at the festival.” What makes the festival stand out is the involvement of local restaurants and chefs. Known as the food capital of Norway, Stavanger is home to several wellrenowned and awarded chefs. “The local restaurants contribute with tailored menus and their own events. The restaurant industry in Stavanger has a very high standard due to our international com-
munity, and it is great that it is a part of the festival.” By Anette Berve | Photo: Jonas Haarr Friestad
The 16th Gladmat food festival: Held in Stavanger Runs 23-26 July Over 250,000 visitors annually Over 100 contributors
For more information, please visit: www.gladmat.no
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Top: Gamlebanken fiddlers performing at the festival in 2012. Photo: Knut Aastad Bråten Below: Gnekk og yt, who made it to the group finals in 2012. Photo: Mari Skeie Ljones
Above: Even Røhjell. Photo: Linda Gytri
All folk, all day The quiet little town of Steinkjer will come alive this summer, as 2,000 people are expected to attend the popular folk music and dance festival, Landsfestivalen. By Magnus Nygren Syversen
Since its beginning in 1986, Landsfestivalen has grown to become one of Norway’s largest folk music and dance festivals, travelling from town to town, held in a new place each summer. Regarded as the national championships within its genre, it sees over 500 of the country’s best folk musicians and dancers participate during the course of the five-day festival, hoping to leave as champion.
Gudbrandsdølenes. Photo: Knut Aastad Bråten
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The festival will definitely be in good hands with Bjerkem, manager of the Hilmar Alexandersen Foundation. The foundation organises the yearly Hilmarfestivalen, making its employees and volunteers experienced in the art of hosting large festivals.
As one can imagine, this makes for more than a few unmissable concerts and musical experiences, especially when considering that top names such as brothers Gjermund and Einar Olav Larsen, two of Scandinavia’s most highly regarded folk musicians, will be attending the festival this summer.
The festival will be held at Campus Steinkjer, an easily accessible event venue large enough to house all the concerts under one roof. “This means short distances between concert halls, and an intimate environment in which to enjoy music and food, as well as the local culture,” says Bjerkem.
This year, Landsfestivalen travels further north than ever before, as it finds a temporary home in the municipality of Steinkjer in Nord-Trøndelag, the geographical centre of Norway. “Being this far north means that we can enjoy folk music and dance all day long, as it only gets dark for a couple of hours each night during summer. And if people want a break from the music there are several hiking opportunities in the beautiful surrounding nature,” says the 2014 organiser, Johan Einar Bjerkem.
Landsfestivalen is expected to make quite an impact on the small town of Steinkjer, a place with only 21,150 or so inhabitants. Around 2,000 people are expected to visit when the festival takes place 16-20 July, and 400 volunteers will be there to make sure that everything runs smoothly.
For more information, please visit: www.landsfestivalen.no www.hilmarfestivalen.no
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: 2014 E EM TS TH IGH I L N MI IGH H ISH
N
FIN
Top: Pori Jazz Festival (Photo: Olli Sulin). Below left: Imatra Big Band Festival (Photo: Heikki Humber). Middle: Oulu Music Festival; Kimmo Pohjonen on accordion and dancer Minna Tervamaki (Photo: Courtesy of Kimmo Pohjonen). Right: Helsinki Festival (Photo: Sasa Tkalcan).
It is all about passion How is Finland able to offer such strong cultural experiences? Why is it unparalleled in many artistic fields? I think the answer lies in the fact that Finns tend to be passionate in many respects. Things are taken seriously here in terms of art, entertainment, and culture in general. But do not be misguided – being serious does not mean being boring or rigorous. By Kai Amberla, executive director of Finland Festivals
It is no surprise that Finland is often called the Promised Land of Festivals. But we could add many other promises as well. There are probably more symphony orchestras, more theatres, and more museums per capita than anywhere else on the planet. A new, energising phenomenon is big stadium concerts with Finnish or foreign artists performing in Helsinki during the summer, not to mention the very active club scenes in the bigger cities.
artistic productions, top-class performers from Finland and abroad, reliable infrastructure, excellent transport connections, and festival venues in splendidly scenic rural or urban settings.
But talking about festivals: this country of only five million people has hundreds of festival events – festivals that provide an ideal opportunity to enjoy the cultural tourist experience, with high-standard
Festivals always begin with the passion of individual artists. We might well consider the example of Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, which started over 40 years ago with the vision of cellist Seppo Kimanen of
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But leaving aside considerations of artistic production, festival conditions, surroundings, accommodation, transport, food, drink and fine ambience, it always comes back to passion.
a calm and peaceful venue that would combine a scenic setting with top-class chamber music. Or we might reflect on the Midnight Sun Film Festival, created by the world-renowned Kaurismäki brothers in a place where the sun never sets. The festivals and other cultural activities of Finland include dozens of similar stories of powerful personalities. And the passion goes beyond traditional culture without any difficulty. Just look at Rovio’s Angry Birds games and the many related products, or Supercell’s extremely popular mobile game applications that are topping charts everywhere. These innovations were born thanks to an endless amount of energy and passion, combining serious engineering skills with a culturally open mind – and particularly with childish glee and an urge to laugh and make other people laugh as well.
It is indeed ultimately all about passion – and passion is easy to find in Finland. www.festivals.fi
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Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Finnish Highlights 2014
The four-race event Tour de Pirkka is, according to the organisers, the epitome of the gutsy and gritty attitude so characteristic of the Finns.
In the spirit of sisu If you feel like spicing up your sports routine with a little sleet, mud or midnight sun in the seasonal glory of Finnish nature, the four-race event Tour de Pirkka might be just the thing for you. By: Anna Taipale | Photos: Tour de Pirkka
Tour de Pirkka is a year-round sporting happening in the Tampere area, consisting of four separate events in line with the seasons: a ski race held in the winter, cycling and rowing stretches in the summer, and a jogging race in the autumn. Participation is open to anybody regardless of age, athletic background or gender, and there are stretches for the advanced as well as elementary levels. Over 10,000 people from all over the world take part in the tour every year. “The main stretches are arduous, the ski one, for instance, being 90 kilometres. Many consider this an extreme sport and attend to challenge themselves,” says coordinator Outi Kartano. The roots of the event extend to the individual races held for decades by local
sports clubs, but in 1979 the sports were unified to encourage the locals to excercise all year round. Along came Tour de Pirkka, which, according to the organisers, is now the epitome of Finnish sisu, the gutsy and gritty attitude so characteristic of the Finns. “The main goal is not winning the race but having fun with fellow athletes from different backgrounds. The same stretches are attended by teenagers and those who have done the race 50 times,” Kartano says. None of the separate events has ever been cancelled. “One year there was a hailstorm during the cycling race at Midsummer. The event continued after we had gathered every single extra piece of clothing from the staff for the athletes,”
Kartano recalls, laughing. Another memorable event was the ski race in the beginning of the 1990s, when there was hardly any snow. “There was no way anybody could get lost on that stretch – everything was green except for the tiny track we managed to maintain,” says Kartano, adding: ”But the most-loved and recalled races are, of course, the hardest ones.”
For more information, please visit: www.pirkankierros.fi
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Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Finnish Highlights 2014
Photo: Merja Ruotsalainen
Photo: Photo Markku Hyttinen
Qstock is the most popular music festival in northern Scandinavia, now with 30,000 visitors a year.
Bringing music lovers together in the white night Picture lots of happy people enjoying great music on a lush island with a sandy beach. Now take that image away from the tropical setting, transfer it to 200 kilometres south of the polar circle, and you will end up with Qstock Festival in Oulu, Finland. By Mia Halonen | Photos: Qstock Festival
Since 2003, Qstock has built a reputation for being a great place to see both international stars and the most interesting names on the Finnish music scene. During the last weekend of July, a total of 60 bands perform on six stages. “Hard rock is still going strong in Finland, but it looks like Finns have developed a broader taste in music lately. For instance, last summer First Aid Kit and Inner Circle were big hits,” says festival coordinator Niina Ristolainen. “But lots of people keep coming back year after year, mostly because of the exceptional atmosphere. That’s why so many have bought the 2014 early bird tickets without knowing any other acts than Volbeat!” The rest of the line-up will be revealed later in the spring.
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Qstock started out as an affordable little festival for the locals, but it soon grew to be one of the biggest in the country. Now, with 30,000 visitors yearly, Qstock is the most popular music festival in northern Scandinavia, gathering music lovers from all over Finland, northern Norway, Sweden and Russia. Last summer, visitors from as far away as Italy and Japan came to hear the great Finnish love metal band, HIM. “The festival is held on an island, so there are limits to the growth,” Ristolainen explains. “And we want to keep this cozy, so that people of different ages will feel welcome.” Unreliable weather can be a problem for outdoor events anywhere, but in July there is less danger of showers even at the 65th
latitude. “We have always been incredibly lucky with the weather,” says Ristolainen. “Last summer it looked stormy right before the HIM gig, but miraculously the clouds disappeared just in time.” The lively Oulu town centre with several quality hotels is less than one kilometre from the festival area, and Nallikari camping site is nearby, too. Enjoy the white nights by the Gulf of Bothnia: at the time of Qstock Festival, the sun sets just before 11 pm, only to rise again at 3.50 am. If you have never experienced the magical feeling of a Finnish summer night combined with great music, you are in for a treat!
Photo: Photo Markku Hyttinen
For more information, please visit: www.qstock.fi
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70 artists will be performing at this year’s Ruisrock, where previous headliners have included Nirvana, Bon Jovi and The Prodigy.
Rock up to Ruissalo this summer Every year, hordes of music fans descend upon the beautiful island of Ruissalo in Turku, Finland, for Ruisrock festival. Whether you are into metal or reggae, indie or electro, you can be sure to find something here to suit your tastes. This year, the festival is more accessible than ever, so there is no excuse to miss out on this fun-packed summer weekend of music. By Stephanie Lovell | Photos: Ruisrock
Founded in 1970, Ruisrock is one of Europe’s oldest festivals, every year attracting a wide range of Finnish bands and international megastars, with past headliners including Nirvana, Bon Jovi and The Prodigy. At this year’s festival, which will take place 4-6 July, 70 artists will be performing, including Finnish bands Vesa-Matti Loiri, Cheek and Haloo Helsinki!, as well as Phoenix (France) and Caribou (Canada). Set in the midst of a nature conservation area by the Archipelago Sea, with luscious green fields and a beach, Ruisrock does all it can to make the festival as eco-friendly as possible. “All the electricity we use is generated from over 50 per cent wind en-
ergy,” says Mikko Niemelä, Ruisrock’s promoter. “We try to minimise the amount of waste and re-use as much as possible year on year. We have also banned the distribution of unnecessary materials, such as flyers, in the festival area.” A lot of thought also goes into the services and activities on site, ensuring all your needs are met. “You can eat at many different restaurants and food stalls and drink champagne, cocktails and, of course, beer, in our bar areas,” says Niemelä. A festival for all In 2012, Ruisrock launched an initiative with the support of the Ministry of Educa-
tion and Culture to improve the accessibility of the festival. “We want to ensure that everyone can enjoy themselves, so we try to make it as easy as possible for people with special needs or disabled people, who might need extra assistance,” explains Niemelä. “In a wider sense, we also try to make things easy to read, for example by having four different language options – Finnish, English, Russian and Swedish – on our website.” People of all ages, from children to grandparents, come together and are united by their love of music at Ruisrock. The Finnish summertime is all too brief, so what better way to make the most of it than by spending a weekend in beautiful surroundings, enjoying great music together with friends?
For more information, please visit: www.ruisrock.fi
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N DE E : E W EM IN S H T IT IAL VIS C O E SP ES T 2014 C IN LA P 0 Photo: Rodrigo Rivas Ruiz
P1 O T
Photo: Göran Assner
Photo: Lola Akinmade Åkerström
From Capital of Culture to Bocuse d’Or 2013 was a fantastic year for Sweden with the Eurovision Song Contest held in Malmö in May and the opening of the ABBA Museum in Stockholm. And the good news is that 2014 is looking even more exciting! Sweden was recently voted 4th in Lonely Planet’s top-10 destinations to visit in 2014. By Anna Hjerdin, Visit Sweden | Photos: imagebank.sweden.se
Explore the picturesque cobbled streets of Wallander’s Ystad in Skåne in southern Sweden, go shopping for cool Scandinavian design and fashion in the capital of Stockholm, or head out into Gothenburg’s amazingly pretty archipelago off the west coast of Sweden for a ‘seafood safari’. The north is home to the northern lights and midnight sun, vast forestlands and worldrenowned hotels like the ICEHOTEL and TreeHotel. Try mushing your own team of huskys – or why not go glamping at the Aurora Safari Camp, where you can learn how to capture the northern lights on camera like a professional photographer? For culture vultures, Sweden is the place to be in 2014. Umeå in northern Sweden has been chosen as the European Capital
of Culture 2014, making it the EU’s northernmost Capital of Culture ever. Then there is the food. In Sweden we forage many of our ingredients from the woods, the sea and the fields. Our cuisine takes its flavours from a landscape that stretches across nine climate zones, from the fertile plains of southern Skåne to the windswept reaches of northern Lapland.
When you are done with the shopping, sightseeing and eating, head for one of the many Swedish cafés for a typical Swedish ‘fika’. ‘Fika’ is a social institution in Sweden, where you take a break to have a coffee and cake with friends, and Sweden offers plenty of everything from cute, traditional cafés to trendy coffee bars where you can always get a great cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun.
There are plenty of reasons to visit Sweden in 2014. Scan Magazine’s top-10 is just a start.
Get a taste of one of Europe’s most innovative and exciting food scenes, whether you try one of Stockholm’s or Gothenburg’s Michelin starred restaurants, or hang out with the locals at cool bistros and cafés. In May, Stockholm is hosting Bocuse d´Or, one of the world’s most prestigious cooking competitions, a must for any self-respecting foodie. Photo: Staffan Widstrand
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top 10 Places to Visit in Sweden
A cultural treasure surrounded by wilderness With a vibrant culture scene and a wide range of outdoor experiences, the Swedish town of Arvika, close to the Norwegian border, is a place where visitors do not have to choose between culture and nature. Rackstad Colony. At the Rackstad Museum, visitors can enjoy their work alongside the creations of other artists.
“The nature reserve Glaskogen has 30 kilometres of walking trails and 365 lakes,” says Eva Aasum, tourism director at Arvika municipality. “Visitors can go fishing or canoe paddling, or just enjoy the feeling of being in the wild, just outside the town.” Glaskogen has a popular camping site and an information centre that is open between 1 May and 30 September. After enjoying a hike in the majestic nature there are plenty of things for the culture-minded to explore.
Above: Panoramic view over Arvika. Photo: Arvika Kommun Below left: Glaskogen. Right: Arvika has a long tradition of art and crafts.
But the tradition of genuine Swedish craftsmanship is evident in more than one way in the region. At Klässbols Linen Weaving Mill, visitors can explore the famous factory that manufactures the tablecloths used at the Nobel Banquets. Arvika also has a lot to offer when it comes to music. “During the summer there are concerts almost every day,” Aasum continues. “At the restaurant Olssons Brygga, you can enjoy live music next to the lake every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer.”
The town has a long tradition of art and handicraft that goes back to a strong pottery heritage. In the early 1900s, a group of artists settled down by the lake Racken, and they soon became known as the
By: Elin Berta | Photos: Per Eriksson
For more information, please visit: www.visitarvika.se www.glaskogen.se
Oslo
Frederikshavn
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Holyhead
Liverpool
Kiel
Gdynia
Rosslare Fishguard
Harwich Hook of Holland
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top 10 Places to Visit in Sweden
Rådhusparken in central Umeå, with boat restaurants on river Umeälven offering al fresco dining and live music most nights of the week.
Culture capital with an edge One of the fastest growing cities in Europe, and the largest in northern Sweden, Umeå combines the buzz and excitement of a city with the familiarity and handiness of a small town. With around 36,000 students, the city has a reputation for being forward-thinking and edgy, and as European Capital of Culture 2014, it offers visitors an exciting mix of culture, shopping and nature – with a lot of sun. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Visit Umeå
“It’s not just growing quickly,” says Erja Back, project manager at Umeå tourist board, about the city’s population of 118,000. “It’s very young as well. A lot of what happens here is a bit risqué. You might go to see a classic opera, and you think you know exactly what to expect. But it will probably be a little bit different when you see it in Umeå – it’s in the city’s blood.”
ing to put on a spectacular outdoor opera in the late summer of 2014, in a collaborative effort with the Catalan group La Fura dels Baus, world-renowned since its breakthrough performance at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992. The show, Richard Strauss’ one-act opera Elektra, is an expressionistic masterpiece about one of the most dysfunctional families in literary history.
In addition to touring all across Sweden’s largest and northernmost province, Norrlandsoperan in Umeå is currently prepar-
Four seasons? Have eight
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But whenever you visit, there is something to see. “You should never get to
Umeå and find that there’s nothing on,” says Back. “The Sámi people – Europe’s last indigenous people – live according to eight seasons, and the event organisers have planned their calendar with these in mind: every season has its own inauguration ceremony, and every season something in the programme changes.” So, for example, Bildmuseet, a centre for contemporary art and visual culture, will present a Sámi themed exhibition for each of the eight seasons, alongside the work of countless world-renowned artists from Sweden and abroad, and throughout 2014, a whopping 30 festivals will take place. In addition, Umeå will become home to one of the world’s finest collections of vintage guitars, as Guitars – the museum opens next month, sharing a building with music shops, a live music stage, studios and more. Later in the year, Umeå’s brand new
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top 10 Places to Visit in Sweden
House of Culture, Väven, will open, designed collaboratively by White Architects and Snøhetta, the brains behind Oslo’s famous opera house. Large heated roof pathways will take visitors on a twenty-fourseven tour with a view, 6,000 square metres will become the new home of the city’s library, and cafés, a black box and a theatre will add to the sense of a cultural meltingpot right on the Umeälven riverbank. Blessed with nature and sun Running past the new House of Culture and through the entire city, river Umeälven reminds the visitor that Umeå is a city surrounded by unspoilt nature, and there is plenty of fun to be had with it. Try some midnight or gourmet kayaking, or go for an archipelago tour with a buffet. Or if animals are your thing, choose from a seal or elk safari, the latter with a chance to spot a bear. The area around the city offers numerous rivers and streams and is only 18 kilometres away from the sea. “A lot of our foreign visitors actually come for the weather,” says Back, explaining that the amount of sun the region gets seems unfair at best for many of its neighbours, especially those from the Norwegian coastline. “We get beautifully bright evenings, and many of the cafés, bars and restaurants virtually move outside during the summer months, offering great food and live music.”
Left: The exterior of Bildmuseet, where Sámi exhibitions will be showing alongside the work of famous Swedish and international artists throughout 2014. Right: The Senior Choir, a choir set up with the aim to improve the quality of life and physical and mental health of senior citizens, performs together with David Sandström from the famous hardcore punk band Refused. Photo: Andreas Nilsson
While hotels such as the trendy Comfort Hotel Winn and the historic Clarion Collection Hotel Uman offer reliable, enjoyable comfort in the centre of the city, Back is particularly excited about a couple of new additions to the list of accommodation options. Bringing back to life an old 19th century seamen’s hostel, Stora Hotellet is due to open in the spring with a maritime theme throughout, and sharing its entrance and an indoor square, the innovative 162-room U&Me will add to the excitement of the opening of Väven later in the autumn. Together, all of these new riverside developments will give the city centre a whole new look and feel – and a new panoramic view for those on the opposite side of river Umeälven.
A university that is bursting at the seams; sun-kissed rivers and bright nights; a brand new, architecturally-intriguing culture complex; and an indigenous people with a lot to say about both culinary and materialistic culture – Umeå is undoubtedly worthy of the Culture Capital stamp. “It’s an exciting time,” says Back. “There are so many theories brewing here, and a lot of people who want to change the world.” A little, big city with a different take on just about everything, it might just change your mind about a thing or two. For more information, please visit: www.umea2014.se and www.visitumea.se
Get up close and personal with moose at Älgens Hus in Bjurholm outside Umeå. Photos: Calle Bredberg
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Photo: Svanthe Harstrøm
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top 10 Places to Visit in Sweden
Above middle and right: Activity at the hyper-modern Stenstan Visitor Center
Winter extension Sundsvall has become an expert on winter activities as a result of the many snowrich months. “The best thing about the spring in Sundsvall is the late winter,” laughs Maria Åslin, marketing director at Visit Sundsvall. “It’s standard for us to ski through the whole of April.” By: Sara Mangsbo | Photos: Visit Sundsvall
But not everyone is a keen skier. And even though Sundsvall offers five beautiful slopes and 400 kilometres of tracks for cross-country skiing, there is so much more to do. Jig fishing, for example, is ideal as the city is located close to many different lakes and ponds. Anders Johansson, fishing guide, describes an idyllic winter scene when speaking about his excursions: “While we wait for the fish to bite, some people sit around the camp fire while others might drive around the woods with our snow scooter. We then
gather to cook together on the open fire.” Anders usually brings slices of reindeer meet, a local speciality. And of course, if you are lucky, some supremely fresh fish, just pulled out of the ice-cold water, accompanies the meal. Stenstan Visitor Center If you want to stay away from the freezing cold and prefer indoor activities, Stenstan (the stone town) Visitor Center is definitely worth exploring. In this hyper-modern complex, you get to interact with the latPhoto: Svanthe Harstrøm
est technology and learn more about Sundsvall’s architecture and history. In 1888, the biggest fire in Swedish history devastated the whole city. But as wealthy merchants engaged the best architects and craftsmen around for reconstruction, an extraordinary city, inspired by Berlin and Vienna, grew in the middle of the deepest forests. At the visitor centre, you can learn more about this and the rich cultural heritage of Sundsvall. Supper in an igloo Beautifully located by the sea, Sundsvall is only a 50-minute flight away from Stockholm. Visit Sundsvall’s website offers plenty of tips and ideas to help you with travel, accommodation and activity planning. Why not arrange supper in an igloo for your mid-term family trip or play a game of ice-hockey with your colleagues at the next conference? One thing is certain – Sundsvall will keep you busy. For more information, please visit: visitsundsvall.se/en
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Photo: Magnus Grubb
Photo: Lars Strangberg
The summer gem of Sweden To say that Ängelholm is a town for all is not an exaggeration. It is unusual that small communities have much versatility to offer, but to many this friendly town is the apple of the south of Sweden’s eye. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Ängelholms Näringsliv AB
“It is rare to be this close to nature,” says Lisbeth Holmåker, manager of Ängelholm’s tourism office.“Visitors are always amazed by the nature’s richness and the right of common access, allowing them to enjoy it for free!” Ängelholm is a picturesque coastal town in the heart of a region with genuine culinary traditions. It is overflowing with farm shops where you can get the greatest and freshest products nature has to offer. Rönne River, which runs through the town and out into the ocean, gives added beauty, making it a true gem on the Swedish west coast. The town offers an extraordinary selection of activities suitable for anyone with a sense of adventure. Outdoor activities such as hiking and canoeing are popular
ways to spend the beautiful Swedish summer days, and Ängelholm is also the most densely golf course equipped area in Europe, and worldwide second only to Florida. Within a 40-minute driving distance alone, you will find 31 first-class golf courses. For the sports enthusiast, 2014 will be a particularly good year to visit Ängelholm since it is hosting the J/24 European Open Championships in August. The sailing championships are sure to attract a large crowd of supporters and summer guests, who can expect some prominent sailing and a festive mood amongst Ängelholm’s restaurants, bars and squares. Combine this with the spectacular Festival of Light, also taking place in August, and you will have an experience out of the ordinary.
Ängelholm is part of the Helsingborg Family, a collaboration with ten other municipalities in the southwest of Sweden. Together they work towards creating a common platform for creativity and tourism. This is possible partly thanks to the excellent public transport links in the south of Sweden. Should you want to leave the dreamy scenery, you can just catch a train and arrive in Copenhagen two hours later, placing Ängelholm close to the multicultural centre of Europe. But why would you want to leave? There is really no reason. , DON’T MISS: - Festival of Light, 8 August - J/24 EOC, 9-15 August - The six-kilometre long beach, beautiful all year round.
For more information, please visit: www.engelholm.com
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In the summer, a number of different boats take you out on Lake Mälaren, allowing you to make the most of the city’s location and really get to know the archipelago. Photo: Clifford Shirley
Waterside fun and relaxation all year round One of Sweden’s oldest towns, Västerås has a history that entails kings, monasteries and the birth of the highly influential robotics and automation technology business ABB. But keen as it might be to acknowledge and pay tribute to its industrial past, the city is opening up to embrace another of its old friends: Lake Mälaren.
equally busy in the winter months, ice skating and strolling on the frozen lake being hugely popular and restaurants opting to put their outdoor furniture on the ice.
By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Västerås & Co
Power plant turned water park It is only really in recent years that visitors have been actively encouraged to explore the countless opportunities Lake Mälaren creates. The last decade or so has seen the space between the harbour and the city centre open up, with new pedestrian and cycling lanes making the harbour, city beaches and waterside residential areas more easily accessible. “There’s a lovely vibe here recently, and you really begin to feel that you’re by the
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water,” says Pernilla Törngren, head of tourism at Västerås & Co. “There’s the nice view of the harbour with all the boats and some award-winning restaurants overlooking the water, and this year, a brand new sandy beach will open up only a stone’s throw from all the shopping streets in the heart of the city.” While the summer naturally lends itself to swimming and sunbathing, with countless boat tours and mini ferries adding to the picturesque archipelago feel, the harbour is
More exciting still, but also on the theme of water, is the project that is expected to put the city on the map way beyond the country’s borders: the brand new adventure water park. Inside the old steam power plant, the biggest water park in the Nordic countries in being created, filling the over 100-year-old building with everything from a tropical jungle to an Arctic sea ice environment, its slides alone covering more than half a kilometre. Eight floors will be transformed, using top-of-
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top 10 Places to Visit in Sweden
Above left: Frösåkers Brygga and Anundshög offer, in head of tourism Pernilla Törngren’s words, “history for real”, with a chance to try rowing a Viking boat. Photo: Jennifer Gosch. Middle: Västerås is a lakeside city all year round, with ice skating on the lake being hugely popular during the winter months. Photo: Kristoffer Hasselberg. Right: Artist Mikael Genberg’s Woodpecker Hotel, a one-room treehouse situated 13 metres above ground, promises a very different hotel experience. Photo: Clifford Shirley
the-range sound and lighting effects. “Transforming a listed building into an adventure water park is not exactly a simple task,” Törngren laughs. “But it’s going to be absolutely spectacular. We can’t wait!” Speaking of internationally-renowned visitor attractions, a person who has done more to put Västerås on the global map than most of its patrons is Mikael Genberg, the artist working towards building a little cottage on the moon. His unusual creations Woodpecker Hotel, Hotel Otter Inn and Ooops Hotel all make for weirdly wonderful stays in and around Västerås: the former a no-nail, one-room treehouse situated 13 metres above ground in an oak tree in central Västerås; the second an underwater room in Lake Mälaren; and the latter a spacious room with a sauna and large deck, appearing to be sinking into the water in the archipelago outside the city. All three accommodation options promise to live up to the highest of Scandinavian standards while providing the experience of a lifetime.
music can be enjoyed in the concert hall, Teater Västmanland offers shows of both the ground-breaking and the classical kind, and Västmanlands länsmuseum, which shares premises with the art museum and opens its doors to a new section in May, tells the story of the local history and cultural heritage. At Kungsbyns animal park just outside the city, visitors can get up close and personal with moose. History enthusiasts are also encouraged to leave the city for a trip out to the Bronze and Iron Age tumulus Anundshög and the nearby Frösåkers Brygga, a family-run historical viking site. “No museum can match this. This is history, for real,” says Törngren. “The people who run the Viking site are genuinely passionate about teaching visitors about the history of the
Vikings, and you can learn how to cook the Viking way, have a go at rowing a Viking boat and make bread over an open fire.” While some say that Västerås is ideal for those who want to take a day trip to Stockholm, less than 50 minutes away by train, but stay somewhere more affordable, it is hard to see why you would want to leave once you get here. With more celebrated restaurants per capita than most towns, a 13th century cathedral awarded three stars by Guide Michelin, and more waterside fun than you could wish for, there sure is plenty to keep you busy – and more than satisfied. For more information, please visit: www.visit-vasteras.com
Photo: Kristoffer Hasselberg
Shopping meets culture Sweden’s fifth-or-so largest city, Västerås is known as the perfect-sized shopping destination, with a handful of shopping centres as well as picturesque cobbled streets with independent boutiques. Moreover, there is more than a handful of interesting cultural attractions within walking distance of wherever in the city centre you are, including Västerås konstmuseum, the art museum that recently moved into new premises in the early 20th century building that once was ABB’s, then-ASEA’s, first factory. World-class
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Above left and top right: Ronneby Brunnspark with its listed buildings has a fantastic rhododendron collection. Below: Visit Ronneby Brunnnsbad’s new water adventure park (left), take a stroll in the beautiful old town (middle) or visit the Island of Karö with the Karö boat (right).
Ronneby – the new health resort Travelling around Sweden? Do not miss Ronneby. As the oldest town in the region of Blekinge, Ronneby has a lot to offer: incredible nature, history and culture. Today, the town also boasts a new spa facility, which makes it the perfect destination for anyone wanting to mix relaxation with outdoor fun.
acters, and a short theatre piece is performed. This feature is very popular with the town’s visitors. The archipelago and Karö
By Cecilia Varricchio | Photos: Jeanette Rosander
Ronneby Brunnspark is one of the most important attractions in the town, and this year it was awarded the prize for Sweden’s most inspiring park. Additionally, in 2005, it was voted Sweden’s most beautiful park, and it offers a wide range of activities, especially during the summer. Visitors can stroll around and take in the beautiful nature and admire the old villas, and the park is also home to the famous Ronneby Brunn Hotel, Blekinge’s largest conference centre, which doubles up as a relaxing holiday resort for the whole family. People have made pilgrimages to the Ronneby spring ever since 1705, but Ronneby’s reputation as a health haven is now stronger than ever. Moreover, since 2010,
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Ronneby Brunnsbad has a new, exciting water adventure park. Fascinating history Ronneby is a small town with a long, fascinating history and was part of Denmark until 1658. On 4 September 1564, the socalled Ronneby bloodbath took place in the town, a battle that was held between the Danish and Swedish armies. Most of the population was killed and most of the town was burned to the ground. To learn more about the history of Ronneby, and at the same time enjoy the picturesque town centre, visitors are offered historical tours of the town. During the walk they will bump into actors playing historical char-
Ronneby also enjoys a fantastic archipelago, and the beautiful island Karö is situated close to the coast. On Karö, visitors can stay in one of the 15 cottages next to the sea. But Ronneby is strategically placed in relation to many other popular destinations as well, so while staying in the town, make sure to note the many other popular attractions that are close at hand. This is the ideal place for an extraordinary nature experience, with lovely cycling routes and cosy routes for driving or motorcycling – a place that makes you feel regenerated.
For more information, please visit: www.ronneby.se
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top 10 Places to Visit in Sweden
Left: Karlshamn celebrates its 350-year jubilee in 2014. Top right: The archipelago with its stunning nature is well worth a visit. Experience it by boat. Right: See the wisent at Eriksberg Vilt & Natur wildlife park.
able to catch some of the world’s largest salmon and sea trout. The establishment is run by Mörrum's Kronolaxfiske. Their museum showcases exhibitions about the wildlife in River Mörrum and the history of fishing, as well as a 13-metre aquarium. Close by is restaurant Kungsforsen, known for delicious food, and beautifully situated next to the river. For the inquisitive
Coastal town with stunning wilderness Karlshamn is a charming coastal town in the county of Blekinge. It is known for its beautiful surroundings, with the archipelago and nature reserves a short drive or boat ride away. Lena Axelsson, tourism manager at Karlshamn Tourist Information Office, recommends some of the most sensational experiences.
Karlshamn offers experiences beyond nature as well. Kreativum is a bustling science centre with over 100 discovery stations and southern Sweden's only MegaDome cinema. Kreativum also has a conference centre and its own café and shop selling clever things you will struggle to find anywhere else in Karlshamn. In 2014, Karlshamn celebrates its 350year jubilee as a town, and festivities will take place throughout the year, peaking in October with the annual Culture Night.
By Malin Norman | Photos: Karlshamn Tourist Information
“A must-see is Tjärö, one of the most beautiful islands in the archipelago,” she says. The island is a nature reserve with untouched nature, accessible only by boat. What may come as a surprise is how leafy and green southern Sweden's archipelago is compared to the rest of the coastline. Exquisite wildlife Another extraordinary experience is Eriksberg Vilt & Natur, Scandinavia's biggest wildlife park and conference centre with a hotel and exclusive restaurants serving game from the estate. While exploring the ten-kilometre safari area you can spot wisent (European bison), wild boar, mouflon sheep and deer. The reserve also boasts
the protected red water lily as well as rare bird life, including white-tailed eagles. Eriksberg has become increasingly popular amongst business travellers and families alike for its charm and character. “It is a truly fantastic experience if you enjoy great food and accommodation, in the middle of the stunning wilderness,” says Axelsson.
AT A GLANCE: Population: 31,000 County: Blekinge
World-class fishing
Closest airport: Ronneby
Karlshamn is also famous for the quality of its fishing, both fresh-water and saltwater. River Mörrum in particular is considered one of the best fishing destinations in the country, where you will be
Closest international airport: Copenhagen
For more information, please visit: www.visitkarlshamn.se
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Kalmar’s famous castle gives adults a history lesson while allowing children to take part in a battle and be dubbed prince or princess. Situated on the coast, next to the bridge to the island Öland, Karlstad offers picturesque picnic spots as well as plenty of mooring opportunities.
Historic city with nature and sea at its doorstep The city of Kalmar, once a historic medieval commerce centre with the Nordic region’s oldest city arms, today is a bustling yet idyllic town with a lot to offer any visitor. By Ulrika Kuoppa | Photos: Destination Kalmar AB / Magnus Bremefors
A lot of history can be enjoyed in this charming south-eastern costal town that came under such heavy attack from the Danes in 1611 that what was left of the devastation ended up being moved to a safer location. Today, Kalmar’s city centre is found on the Kvarnholmen island, and reminders of the importance the city possessed can be found all over, with carefully renovated buildings and fortifications telling their tales. At the Kalmar County Museum visitors can get an in-depth understanding of the city’s past and explore the architectural salvages from the regal warship Kronan, which sank in 1676. Its bits and rusty pieces are well described in English and offer the visitor a historic thrill and intimate look into life at sea.
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a battle and are dubbed princes and princesses. “During the summer, there’s always something happening in Kalmar,” Sköld insists.
The great outdoors is within easy reach and at the beautiful Stensö peninsula a threestar camping with amazing trails to the cape is found. “During the summer of 2014 a 180-metre long jetty giving swimmers at Stensö easy access to the sea is sure to become an attraction,” says Sofia Sköld, marketing manager at Destination Kalmar.
“Our highly regarded outdoor theatre stars the actor Robert Gustafsson (named Sweden’s funniest man). Free music is on offer every Tuesday and Thursday and Kalmar City Festival offers three days of concerts for every taste, dance performances, street theatre, shows, competitions and other activities.”
With its costal setting, next to the bridge to the famous island Öland, boats can moor right in the city centre. Canoeing is also popular: “To gently paddle on the canal through the heart of the city and make a picnic stop at the castle is a great day out,” says Sköld.
For sports lovers, the legendary Ironman takes place in August, seeing athletes swim the Kalmar Strait, cycle in lush green scenery, and run through the beautiful historic town centre before finishing at the main square of Kalmar, Larmtorget. Kalmar, indeed, offers something for everyone.
At the renowned Kalmar castle, grownups can get a real sense of history while the youngest family members take part in
For more information, please visit: www.kalmar.com/en
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top 10 Places to Visit in Sweden
Left: Vadstena, the old monastery town, is like an old history book. The museum in the old royal estate tells the story of Saint Bridget of Sweden, the Brigittines nuns and more. Top middle: The old industrial landscape next to River Strömmen in central Norrköping has been preserved and now houses museums. Below: Kolmården Wildlife Park is the largest zoo in the Nordics. Right: Göta Canal, a construction from the 19th century, is one of Sweden’s most popular tourist attractions.
Charming chameleon of pilgrimage and fun Östergötland in Sweden prides itself on being the county where you can go on a pilgrimage and see a tiger on the same day. With the largest zoo in the Nordics, a hugely popular canal landscape, a religious citadel steeped in history, some well-kept archipelagos, and two charming cities forming Sweden’s fourth metropolitan region, it certainly is a multi-faceted place. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Visit Östergötland
“Vadstena is a bit like a history book,” says Susanne H. Fredriksson, head of hospitality and tourism at Visit Östergötland. Its royal estate was bestowed to Saint Bridget of Sweden by King Magnus Eriksson in 1346 as she founded the Brigittines Order, and the historic building’s current guise of a hotel and museum still whispers the secrets of past inhabitants: kings, nuns, soldiers and mental patients. The roots of the so-called twin cities, Norrköping and Linköping, are perhaps less noble, but worth exploring nonetheless. “Since the older buildings were moved out to the vivid historic townscape of Gamla Linköping Open-Air Museum, Linköping has quite a continental feel, with modern architecture and plenty of
open squares and outdoor terraces,” says Fredriksson. “Norrköping is perhaps a bit cosier: a lot of the older buildings have been preserved, primarily in the old industrial landscape. Here you’ll find Arbetets Museum, the Museum of Work, an old cotton mill depicting the working life of the factory workers during the early 1900s, as well as Vizualisation Center C, a public arena with sensory experiences like a virtual reality arena, a dome theatre and media laboratories.” The prominent Göta Canal provides the setting for a charming outdoor adventure. “The area around the canal route is developing quickly,” says Fredriksson. “You can take a daytrip on the canal by boat or borrow a bike and cycle alongside it, stop-
ping for coffee or ice cream and looking in the little shops. And don’t worry about tired legs – there’s an on-demand pick-up service should you need it!” But not even the most renowned 19th century canal construction can compete with Kolmården, the wildlife park that boasts Scandinavia’s first ever dolphinarium. Safari cable cars take you close to lions, giraffes and zebras, with other areas introducing everything from tigers and monkeys to endless jungle gyms and slides. It is true that you can take a pilgrimage and see a tiger on the same day in Östergötland, but you can also jump on a bus to the archipelago for a boat trip before heading into town to see a gig – and still stay busy when you wake up the next day. Not too keen on busy? Östergötland, luckily, is spacious and green enough to offer you a proper break, too. For more information, please visit: www.visitostergotland.se
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Lund – the cute, smart city Lund is a neat city in the south of Sweden. Once dubbed the ‘capital of science’ by a Stanford professor, Lund prides itself on having an internationally respected university, a beautiful city centre and a friendly attitude towards life and people. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Leif Johansson, Xrayfoto
A young man is speeding through the city centre on his bike wearing a top hat and tails, clutching a bouquet of flowers in his hand. People hardly give him a second look. Why would they when it is more or less a daily sight here? This is Lund, a city with a medieval touch, where all sights and attractions are just a stone’s throw away. Here, people celebrate uniqueness and adore culture and innovation. “There’s a warm atmosphere here and people are very open,” says Per Persson, director of trade and tourism in Lund. “It’s a fine balance between hearts and minds that’s hard to find anywhere else.”
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Student life dominates the city with its proms, parties and peculiar traditions, making Lund a feel-good city. The welldressed man on his bicycle is more of a rule than an exception. Here, the cultural crème de la crème mixes with the nerds of knowledge, resulting in a richly intellectual and witty atmosphere that always offers a peculiar experience to visitors, no matter what time of year they stop by. Student carnival, music and laughs In the summer, Lund invites you to activities arranged by the Summer Lund initiative. Enjoy everything from circus acts
and street performances to concerts, art shows, sing-alongs, and much more. 2014 will be a particularly festive year as, once again, it is time for Lundakarnevalen, the student carnival, a festival that takes place every fourth year. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and party-goers who want to enjoy the fun, spirit and happiness the festival brings. For three days in May, the city transforms into a jumble of delight with the carnival parade, artistic stunts, performances and a carnival area where Lund puts on music, dance, activity tents, lotteries and everything else you would expect from a carnival in a major university city. Just weeks before the carnival, Lund celebrates Walpurgis Night, known in Sweden as Valborg, the last day of April. The city’s inhabitants gather in parks and
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Bottom left: The Museum of Sketches exhibits art from initial idea and sketch to finished product. Top right: Lund Cathedral, which has received three stars from the honourable Michelin Green Guide. Middle: Lund Historical Muesum. Photo: Sydfoto AB. Right: Flyinge, the largest breeding station in Sweden. Photo: Krister Lindh.
common areas to welcome spring and watch bonfires, and on 1 May the celebration continues, as Lund’s Student Singers perform their traditional concert on the stairs of the main building of the university. This popular show is broadcast live on national television. In the mood for fun? The Lund Comedy Festival, the largest comedy festival in Sweden, takes place in August. Enjoy firstclass stand-up performances from national and international comedy artists, alongside other humorous activities and performances. Lund is known for its humour and dry wit, and this festival is no exception. It is like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and even the humour has an English influence. A city of culture and innovation If you are interested in sport, do not miss Lundaspelen. It is a combination of two tournaments, basketball and handball, that takes place in December and January every
year. It attracts more than 13,000 participants and guests from all over the world. Lund is a city of year-round culture. The Cathedral, which has received three stars from the honourable Michelin Green Guide, attracts over 700,000 visitors each year with its spectacular architectural structure. And do not miss Kulturen, Sweden’s second oldest open-air museum. This very special museum is located right in the city centre and has exhibitions and activities for the whole family.
currently being developed: the Max lV Laboratory and the European Spallation Source (ESS). Both will put Lund on the map of forward-thinking, sustainability, technology and exploration. “What’s happening in Lund right now is really exciting,” Persson says. “It’s truly a city with a tradition of innovation.”
HIGHLIGHTS IN 2014: Lundaspelen (Basketball), 2-5 January Lund’s International Jazz party, 18 January Walpurgis Night/Valborg, 30 April
The Museum of Sketches exhibits art from initial idea and sketch to finished product, demonstrating to visitors how art develops and transforms. It is a one-of-a-kind, internationally-renowned must-try experience.
Lund Student Carnival, 16-18 May European Championships in Jujutsu, 24 May Summer Lund, 14 June – 14 August Lund Comedy Festival, 27-30 August Culture Night, 20 September Lund Choral Festival, 13-19 October Innocarneval, 1-5 November
Whenever you come to Lund, there is always something happening that will keep you thoroughly entertained. Finally, Lund is a city of never-ending progress. Two large research facilities are
Lundaspelen (Handball), 26-30 December
For more information, please visit: www.visitlund.se and www.lund.se
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Y E: RWA M HE NO L T IN
IA N EC ATIO P S IN
S
T ES D P TO
Photo: Terje Rakke, Nordic Life AS
Photo: Kristin Folsland Olsen
From history to hiking Norway’s envy-inducingly strong economy may well be indebted to oil resources and long-lasting design, but the impact of a tourism industry that thrives thanks to a rich cultural history and mind-blowingly multi-faceted landscapes cannot be underestimated. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Visitnorway.com
Sure, go north for the northern lights or the midnight sun: they are must-see once-in-a-lifetime experiences. But pay attention along the way, and you will be amazed by the stunning valleys, the breath-taking fjords and the many wellpreserved national parks. Beautiful landscapes can be found all around the globe, but few places offer nature quite as dramatic as Norway’s. Once you get over the initial bewilderment, the fun begins: if you have never gone dog sledding before, now is the time to try it, and the same goes for snowshoeing. Then continue the adventure with ice climbing, kayaking, and a horse riding tour to a backdrop that could easily be mistaken for a film set, before you embark
on a refreshing round of cross-country skiing, Norway’s national sport. There is no end to the winter adventures on offer – but summer will not let you down, either: nowhere else in the world is hiking such a pleasure, and the less faint-hearted can even attempt climbing Galdhøpiggen, the highest mountain in all of Scandinavia and northern Europe.
from, while many of the festivals on offer contribute to the cultural history lesson. Norwegian culture is not all ancient though, naturally, and on our journey to find the highlights and must-sees for tourists in Norway in 2014, Scan Magazine found celebrations of everything from food to music – including the inspiring Rockheim, the National Museum of Rock. What else? Well, did you know that a small Norwegian town with only around 4,000 inhabitants is on UNESCO’s tentative list? Read on to find out more about the spots Scan Magazine believes will be among this year’s highlights.
But visitors come to Norway for more than outdoor adventures. The country has a history rich in stories about ancient kings, feuds and monasteries, and the indigenous people, the Sámi people, have a thing or two to teach its guests, in addition to an endless number of stories to tell. The cultural heritage savvy have countless museums and guided tours to choose Photo: CH
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Destinations in Norway
Above left: Innherred offers an insight into Norway’s rich history and cultural heritage. Top right: Olsok Day offers a range of activities for the whole family. Photo: Marius Rua. Below right: Beautiful landscapes have inspired artists and authors for many hundreds of years. Photo: Steinar Johansen
Walk in the footsteps of ancient kings Innherred offers everything from action-packed experiences such as mine and cave tours, dog sledding, climbing or snowshoeing in the dark to fishing in the famous Trondheimfjorden, amazing local cuisine and of course the opportunity to explore the place where one of Norway’s most important historical events, the battle of Stiklestad, took place in 1030. By Anette Fondevik | Photos: Innherred Turistkontor
Innherred is a traditional district in the Nord-Trøndelag County in central Norway, covering the areas around the inner part of Trondheimsfjorden and situated approximately 80 kilometres from Trondheim. St. Olavsleden, or St. Olav’s Way, is considered to be Scandinavia’s answer to El Camino, stretching 564 kilometres through Sweden and Norway from the Bothnian Sea to the Atlantic, following ancient paths where pilgrims walked towards the final destination of Nidaros. The route starts in Selånger, where King Olav Haraldsson stepped ashore in July 1030 after years in exile, determined to convert the country to Christianity and win back the throne. His journey ended in Stiklestad in 1030, where the King fell dur-
ing a battle against local chieftains. A year later, he was declared Saint Olav. From past kings to present Sámi people Today, Stiklestad is a great place learn about history, the most famous event being the Saint Olav Drama. You will also find a cultural museum, open all year round, featuring exhibitions, a museum shop, café, restaurant and Stiklestad Hotell. The Olsok Day is an ecclesiastical feast that marks St. Olav’s death, celebrated with a festival called St. Olav Festival every July. During this celebration, Stiklestad is transformed into a large market area and medieval tents are set up with craftsmen and merchants demonstrating their knowledge of ancient handicrafts. Visitors can buy products of leather, wood, iron,
glass and various fabrics, and medieval music contributes to the atmosphere. Another of Innherred’s gems is one of Norway’s largest national parks, BlåfjellaSkjækerfjella National Park. It offers a diverse landscape from primeval forest to high mountains and scree and is an area rich in cultural heritage, such as the Sámi tradition, promoted and preserved by Saemien Sijte, a museum and arena for different activities with an objective to strengthen the south Sámi identity, language and community spirit. Innherred further offers a vast range of local produce. The Golden Route is a stretch of road running through the beautiful landscape of Inderøy, where you will find local food, art and cultural experiences, combining tradition and innovation. Visit Innherred tailor-makes tour suggestions to match your needs with a focus on high-quality culture- and history-based experiences. For more information, please visit: www.visitinnherred.com
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Destinations in Norway
Top left: The Rockheim museum collects, preserves and shares Norwegian music from the 1950s up until the present day. Below left: The majestic Nidaros Cathedral. Right: The St. Olav Festival takes place every year during late July and early August. Photo: Cathrine Ruud.
Cultural pearls and a sparkling nightlife Norway’s third largest city, Trondheim, is best described as a combination of historical treats and an exciting and dynamic cityscape. By Camilla Brugrand | Photos: CH, Visitnorway.com
Trondheim is the type of city where you do not have to rely on public transport. By wandering around the cosy, vibrant city, you get to experience everything that Trondheim has to offer – on foot. One of the city’s real treats is its position as host of the national museum of pop and rock, Rockheim. The museum’s goal is to collect, preserve and share Norwegian music from the glorious '50s up until and including the present day. “Another must-see in our beloved city is the majestic Nidaros Cathedral. Trondheim is a lively and green city and the river, which is the heart of the town, meanders beautifully through the centre,” says Line Vikrem-Rosmæl, general manager at Trondheim Visitors & Convention Bureau.
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been renovated. There is something for everyone in every price class, with everything from comfortable to luxurious standards.”
A little island called Munkholmen attracts not only locals, but also thousands of other visitors every year. It was a monastery in the past, then turned into a prison. “People who go there can enjoy the historical aspects while also grabbing a bite to eat in the restaurant located on the island,” says Vikrem-Rosmæl.
Sample the local culture by attending the annual St. Olav Festival and the Food Festival, running from late July to early August. Other treats not to miss are the Jazz Festival in May, the Kosmorama Film Festival in April, and the International Trondheim Chamber Music Festival in September.
The city has often been referred to as the ‘gateway to the north’, because it is located in the middle of Norway. It is a place most people visit either on their way to the west coast to see the fjords, or en route to the north to gaze at the amazing northern lights.
“In addition to these types of festivals we also have the Pstereofestivalen, a pop and rock festival that most of the students living here attend to kick-start their semester in the middle of August. A gigantic picnic is put on every year for all the visitors,” says Vikrem-Rosmæl.
“Trondheim is said to be the best hotel city in Norway, with a capacity of 3,600 rooms in 2014,” Vikrem-Rosmæl explains. “All the hotels are either newbuilds or have
For more information, please visit: www.visittrondheim.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Destinations in Norway
Left: Ice climbing is a very popular winter activity in the National Park Region. Photo: Arve Danielsen; Top middle: The beautiful Jotunheimen. Photo: Johan Wildhagen; Below: Cross-country skiing is a fun activity for the whole family. Photo: Terje Rakke/Nordic life/www.visitnorway.com; Right: The National Park Region is a very familyfriendly holiday destination.
Fantastic outdoor adventures Located in central Noway, the Gudbrandsdalen Valley is famous for its stunning scenery and fantastic skiing and hiking opportunities. Surrounded by what is known as the National Park Region, the northern part of the valley is particularly popular with families seeking outdoor adventures out of the ordinary. By Kjersti Westeng | Photos: Nasjonalparkriket Reiseliv AS
The National Park Region consists of six of Norway's most beautiful national parks: Jotunheimen, Dovre, Breheimen, Rondane, Reinheimen and Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella. These beautiful national parks offer a range of adventures and activities throughout the year. “We welcome you to one of the most complete tourist destinations in Norway. Choose from our vast number of things to do, places to stay and things to see," says Lasse Stadeløkken, marketing manager of destination agency Nasjonalparkriket Reiseliv AS. Ice climbing, canyoning, rafting, kayaking, horse riding and swimming are just a few of the thrilling activities offered in this area. Heaven for eager hikers During the summer, the national parks are some of the most popular travel des-
tinations in Norway. A lot of eager hikers come here to climb Norway’s highest mountain, Galdhøpiggen, or to walk across Besseggen, one of the most popular mountain hikes in the country. However, there are just as many adventures to explore during the winter. Most hotels and cabins are open throughout the year, making the area a popular destination for those wanting to try their luck with Norway’s national sport: crosscountry skiing. In the heart of Rondane lies Høvringen, a place where time seems to be standing still in between tall, white mountaintops. With courses and guidance available, there is no excuse not to give the popular sport a go, if only to enjoy the peace and quiet of the snowy mountains.
For those more interested in downhill skiing, the National Park Region offers a number of options. One of the more popular destinations is Bjorli Ski Resort, known for having large amounts of snow from October to April. The ski resort is rapidly expanding and visitors can now pick and choose between 11 slopes, some perfect for children and beginners, ensuring that the whole family can participate. Another popular ski resort is Lemonsjø in Jotunheimen. Though smaller than Bjorli, Lemonsjø attracts a lot of families with kids due to its familyfriendly environment with both skiing classes and games for children. Stadeløkken ends with an invitation: “Treat yourself and your family to a winter adventure in the true heart of Norway this year!”
For more information, please visit: www.nasjonalparkriket.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Destinations in Norway
Photo: Tom Atle Bordevik
Photos: Stegarud Foto
Photo: Nancy Bundt
A small town shining bright Just outside the Norwegian capital, past miles of barren landscape, you suddenly find Rjukan – a small but spectacular oasis of cultural history, nature and tradition. By Maya Acharya | Photos: Visit Rjukan
With just 4,000 inhabitants and encircled by mountains shielding it from the sun during the winter, you might be forgiven for thinking Rjukan was not the kind of place to warrant international attention. But you could not be more wrong. Interest in this little mountainside community has shot through the roof in recent months. Rjukan happens to be world-famous for the ‘heavy water sabotages’ that took place during World War II, putting the town on UNESCO's tentative list, and more recently providing the subject of a six-part series by Norway's leading broadcasting corporation, called The Heavy Water Battle. This aside, the international spotlight has been on Rjukan for a very different reason lately, namely because of the town’s newly installed, giant sun mirror: a 100-year-
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old idea turned contemporary art project that has reflected sunlight onto Rjukan for the first time. Manager of Rjukan’s tourist centre, Karin Rø, says: “People have been really happy to have our spot of sunshine. It’s warming, both physically and mentally. We weren’t expecting it to attract so much attention. For us it was just an idea we managed to accomplish, so it’s strange to suddenly have camera crews from China knocking on your front door.” This humbleness is striking for a town that seems to be brimming over with cultural heritage and fairy-tale-like nature. Take for example the town’s surrounding villages where traditional music, rose painting and costume stitching are still creating livelihoods. Or the majestic Mt. Gaustatoppen which offers a view of a
sixth of the country from its peak – not to mention that Rjukan, as one of the best locations in Europe for ice-climbing and skiing, is a winter sport nut’s paradise. Rjukan’s 104-metre waterfall was the reason that the area was chosen to be the home of what was, at the time, the world’s largest power-plant. It is interesting that a town built less than 100 years ago by an energy company now has such an important place in Norwegian cultural history, along with a vibrant energy of its own. As Rø testifies: “Rjukan truly has a great deal to offer in a very compact area. We are definitely ready to welcome many more visitors to this very special town.”
The new, giant sun mirror. Photo: Marte Christensen
For more information, please visit: www.visitrjukan.com
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway
Located near the Jotunheimen mountains in southern Norway, Valbjør Farm makes the perfect base camp for outdoor enthusiasts with their eyes set on Norway’s highest mountain, Galdhøpiggen.
Hotel of the Month, Norway
Explore Norwegian traditions Close to the majestic mountains of Jotunheimen in the south of Norway, you can experience local cuisine and Norwegian traditions on Valbjør Farm. By Ingvild Vetrhus | Photos: Kai Valbjør
Surrounded by beautiful Norwegian nature on the protected farmland of Valbjør, guests spending the night in one of the farm’s restored old log houses are met with a magnificent view of Jotunheimen, the largest concentration of mountains higher than 2,000 metres in northern Europe. The farm, dating back to Viking times, hosts a burial mound that shows that there was settlement in the area more than 1,000 years ago. “The farm has a very special atmosphere and beautiful location,” says owner Kai Valbjør. Only five kilometres away from the farm is the traditional village of Vågå, and the area around the farm also offers good hiking options in mountainous landscape. If your destination is Norway’s highest mountain, Galdhøpiggen, or the popular mountain ridge, Besseggen, Valbjør Farm is a great base camp.
Local production and commodities are in focus and the staff specialises in organic farming. The farm houses mainly sheep and goats and has its own goat milk production, with visitors welcome to join in with the milking of the animals. The farm shop also sells locally produced delicacies, such as salami of goat meat, cheese produced from the milk of Valbjør Farm’s own goats, herbs and various local handicrafts. Although there are kitchens in most of the log houses on the farm, it is possible to order breakfast including fine local foods and freshly baked bread from the bakery in the nearby village of Lom. The dinner menu often includes kid goat meat, lamb from the farm’s own herd, which grazes in Jotunheimen mountain area, deer from the local forest and fish from Vågåvatnet or one of the countless other lakes in the region.
The family-friendly farm also welcomes groups and businesses to dine in the traditional houses, and the staff is happy to facilitate conferences and other activities. The farm, which houses 20 beds, is rich in history and Norwegian cultural heritage, yet with all the modern conveniences you would expect to find today.
For more information, please visit: valbjoer.no
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Svogerslev Kro is known to have existed since the 1600s and attained its royal privilege, as given to many inns in Denmark at the time, in 1727.
Hotel of the Month, Denmark
A royal privilege For the historically interested, the weary traveller and the oenophile, north-eastern Zealand offers a hidden gem. Just three kilometres outside the historical town centre of the old episcopal see of Roskilde, some thirty kilometres outside central Copenhagen, lies Svogerslev Kro (or, Svogerslev Inn). But although it is just a short hop from virtually any tourist attraction in central, northern and eastern Zealand, the inn is a spectacle in its own right. By Marjorie de los Angeles Mendieta | Photos: Svogerslev Kro
Historical references mention wayside inns since the Middle Ages, but the phenomenon is probably older. In 1283 a royal decree ordered the erection of inns along the major roads in Denmark, so that travellers and later the royal mail coach were always able to reach a safe haven before nightfall. In exchange for providing safety from the highwaymen, the innkeeper was, as a royal privilege, allowed to brew beer and distil spirits. He was also exempt from
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housing soldiers – a form of taxation at the time. Lastly, the inn was allowed to boast insignia in the shape of the royal crown, a privilege still in force. The small town of Svogerslev is situated on the road between the boroughs of Roskilde and HolbÌk. The cities mark the entrances to the two main waterways of northern Zealand: Roskilde Fjord and Isefjord. The inn is known to have existed
since the 1600s. It attained its royal privilege in 1727, and today it is one of only 113 original Danish privileged inns. Despite being equipped with modern accommodations, the inn itself captures the feeling of the 18th century with its three ruddy thatched wings, its low wooden beam ceiling and the delightful shades of the old inn garden. In the latter part of the 18th century, the inns, due to their brewing privileges, gained notoriety for gathering crowds of a more dubious nature. For a while the local count and prefect had their minds set on closing down the inn, but because of the royal privilege, permission had to be obtained from the King’s Council in Copenhagen, and this bureaucracy was too stiff to move. The inn remained, and
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Denmark
today the country inns of Denmark are very much in vogue again. Full of history, but up to modern standards Despite being the second generation of the current innkeeper family, owner Kim Frost believes that history alone does not cut the mustard. Whereas a traditional Danish inn meal would likely consist of boiled potatoes and gravy-thick sauce, the menu at Svogerslev Kro offers an almost haute cuisine-like standard tour de force in the Nordic and French cuisines. The restaurant caters not only to the hotel guests and booked wedding parties and similar, but is open every day at lunch and supper time, drawing crowds from the surrounding area and more remote parts of Zealand. The inn houses 17 double and one single room, all meeting modern standards, but furnished with respect for the rest of the inn’s historical, bright interior. Apart from acting as a well-situated stay for holiday travellers who wish to explore Zealand, the inn is sought by wedding and company parties and attenders of the lectures, musical concerts and various other happenings at the inn. Furthermore, it lies in the vicinity of three large golf clubs, attracting visitors from Denmark and abroad, and many golfers choose to stay the night in Svogerslev.
bition to eventually make a bid for hosting the European Wine Tasting Championships. Whether you are interested in the historical buildings of Roskilde, the city life of Copenhagen, the Zealand countryside, golfing or oenology, Svogerslev Inn promises the ideal surroundings for a stay.
Below: Owner and wine enthusiast Kim Frost, second generation of the current innkeeper family, harbours the dream of one day being able to host the European Wine Tasting Championships.
For more information, please visit: www.svogerslevkro.dk
But Frost’s real passion is fine wines. Over the past years, Svogerslev Kro has been awarded the prestigious Best Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator Magazine – an award bestowed only upon restaurants whose wine card contains at least 400 different labels from a wide range of wine districts. Frost is an educated wine steward and member of the Danish branch of the International Sommelier Association. For the true oenophile, Svogerslev is itself a holiday destination – an Eldorado in wine selection. The inn regularly hosts wine tasting events, wine exhibitions and lectures on wine. Not long ago, Danish oenologist Peter Sisseck, whose Spanish vineyard produces the coveted Pingus wines, dropped by to give a presentation of his work, and Kim Frost harbours the am-
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Finland
The resort that was in the 19th century exclusive to the wealthy today welcomes tourists and locals to enjoy stunning views and unspoilt nature in a classically Finnish landscape.
Hotel of the Month, Finland
A warm welcome at the cape of good mood Petäys Resort, near Hämeenlinna, is located on a picturesque cape jutting out into Lake Vanajavesi. In this beautiful corner of nature, today’s sprawling resort, complete with hotel, wellness centre, beach, saunas and sports facilities, welcomes visitors from near and far. A combination of inventive dining and relaxation in the lap of nature makes a visit to Petäys, a location inhabited and enjoyed for hundreds of years, something to remember. By Joanna Nylund | Photos: Petäys Resort
In the 19th century, this summer playground for the wealthy, with its villas and white verandas, became synonymous with holiday seclusion. Distinguished guests and leaders of state were entertained here, far away from prying eyes. These days, Petäys is a full-scale resort that caters to tourists and locals alike. The resort makes the most of stunning vistas and unspoilt nature, offering guests a va-
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riety of ways to relax in a classically Finnish landscape. By means of extensive refurbishments from the 1990s onwards, Petäys has gradually transformed into the versatile holiday destination it is today. Something for everyone “We have holiday makers coming from abroad to enjoy the fantastic location. We also receive conference guests from all
over; this is a popular place for companies to come. The locals, on the other hand, turn to Petäys to host weddings, christenings, birthdays, bachelor parties and all kinds of family gatherings,” says general manager Sanna Grön. Weekend guests often book into the wellness centre, which offers massages and a chance to unwind after an active day. Special weekend packages are available for those cold weeks of January when spoiling yourself a little seems just the thing. Around the world in six courses The resort runs several restaurants, where great food and inventiveness combine for some truly extraordinary experiences. When it comes to fine dining, Petäys is not content to just pull out all the stops; it ac-
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Finland
Petäys runs several different restaurants and is not afraid to experiment with concepts like Dining in the Dark and Petäys Air Dinner, the latter a treat that takes diners around the world in six delicious dishes.
tually takes off. Petäys Air Dinner is a comfy armchair trip around the world in culinary delights. Hosted by the captain and airline stewards of ‘Petäys Air’, this gourmet trip with a twist takes guests around the world in a menu of six courses from six countries, with musical entertainment to match. The destinations remain a closely guarded secret, but there is a promise of returning home to Petäys in the end, ”without jet lag or too much turbulence.” Bubbly guaranteed. Welcome aboard! Dining in the dark Winter in the Nordics is a good time to make peace with darkness. For those who really are not afraid to be guided by their tastebuds, Petäys offers a unique chance all year round – as the first ever restaurant in Finland hosting Dinners in the Dark. Savouring this opportunity to let your sense of taste and smell guide your dining experience, you and your party will be eating and drinking in complete darkness. What is served is a secret only the senses can reveal, and with a few words on security – for instance, no coffee will be served, and the restaurant is not responsible for food and wine stains on clothing – all that is left is to enjoy this very different kind of gourmet dinner. Afterwards there is the opportunity to discuss your experience as a group – in a lit-up room this time!
and dining concept. It is a six-course, sixwine fête that has been lovingly put-together by the restaurant staff. In summertime, the family of restaurants is made complete by Restaurant Kaisa by the waterside, with its very own menu of relaxed beach food just perfect for lazy days spent in the sun. Happily active Petäys offers a variety of sports and activities for working up a proper appetite. Located on a sprawling sixteen hectares of land, the estate boasts two tennis courts, a football pitch, frisbee golf, crazy golf, beach volley, a children’s playground, and of course a beach. There are also several golf
courses nearby, and in the summer, there is the opportunity to take to the skies in a hot-air balloon across stunning landscapes. Or why not hire a bicycle and go for a trip to a nearby garden centre and vineyard? Wintertime offers the possibility to trek with snow shoes, try Nordic walking, and, naturally, a real Finnish classic: a hot sauna by the frozen lake. Looks like the pearl that is Petäys, enjoyed for generations, will continue to be a holiday haven for many more to come. For more information, please visit: www.petaysresort.fi
As if this creative bent was not enough to ensure Petäys’ place on the gourmet map, the resort also takes pride in its wining
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Sweden
Above left: Sätra Brunn’s sales and marketing manager, Sofia Granlund. Top right: At the well house, established by Samuel Skragge over 300 years ago, you can taste the high-quality Sätra Brunn water.
Hotel of the Month, Sweden
Stop the time to start the thought Water is the king of food, goes an old Kenyan proverb. Whether provincial medicus Samuel Skragge, who came to the spring in Sätra in the year of 1700, had ever been to Kenya is unclear, but he certainly would have agreed with the saying: he found the water to be of such high quality that he decided to buy the land and set up a health spa. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Maria Andersson / Mattias Thuvander
The staff at Sätra Brunn sometimes say that time stands still at the spring, and though a lot has changed since the days of Skragge, the well house, bath house, church and lodges are all still right there. The area is now a resort of around 100 little houses, including a three-star hotel, a two-star alternative, a much-loved restaurant, conferencing facilities and, naturally, a spa. “A lot of people come here for the peace and the fresh air,” says Sofia Granlund, Sätra Brunn’s sales and marketing manager. “Because everything’s spread out across different buildings, you get out and move around – and people like that.
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There’s also a very special calm in the air that’s hard to describe.” In addition to fresh air and serenity, you can enjoy a swim in the 34-degree pool, a dip in the jacuzzi, some time in the steam room or a nice massage. If visiting with a special friend, the brand new duo treatment, which takes place in a treatment room specially designed for treating two people simultaneously and does wonders for feet and hands as well as neck and scalp, will be just the thing for you. Other than bringing countless health benefits, the Sätra Brunn spring water has a very special taste. Hotel and conference guests get to taste it in the resort’s own
bottled mineral water, but the real, ironrich deal can be enjoyed straight from the spring thanks to a tap in the yellow well house. The trinity well, which is what the spring is formally known as, gets its unmatched qualities from the boulder ridge that runs through the area. Saved from threatened closure by some passionate locals who decided to set up a cooperative in order to preserve the cultural heritage and pride of the village, Sätra Brunn is a bit like chicken soup for the soul: a rich-in-history, full-of-charm health spa where yoga meets great food and a whole bunch of genuinely driven people. Come and stop the time to start the thought – and reap the benefits of the king of food.
For more information, please visit: www.satrabrunn.se
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
Attraction of the Month, Denmark
Dive into South Funen’s submerged Ice Age landscape When it comes to beautiful landscapes, outdoor activities and delicious, local produce, the South Funen archipelago is unrivalled. Summer or winter, families, seniors and young couples find respite in the region’s alluring combination of outdoorsy fun and indoor indulgence. Underwater hunting is one of the many activities popular all year round. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Naturturisme I/S
With 55 islands separated by shallow waters, the spectacular features of South Funen’s submerged Ice Age landscape offer an array of family-friendly and adrenalin-inducing sea- and land-based activities. Diving, kayaking, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, riding, surfing and underwater hunting are just a few of the ways to explore the hills, forests, islands and ocean. It is no wonder that the region, which has for decades been renowned for
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its first-class agricultural produce and mouth-watering artisan food traditions, is one of Denmark’s favourite holiday destinations. Nina Brandt Jacobsen, project manager at the cross-municipal development organisation for South Funen, Naturturisme I/S, explains: “One of the things that make the region so extraordinary is the breadth of outdoor activities available. There is something for everyone, from the young hardcore water sport
enthusiasts who want to embark on major kayak explorations, to families with children going on seal safaris, enjoying the sea on historic sailboats or spending the afternoon with our Icelandic horses. And, of course, we also have countless more mature couples who explore our 220-kilometre long hiking track all year round.” Dive in With its mild climate and numerous beautiful beaches, South Funen is traditionally a popular summer holiday destination. But recent years have also seen an increase in more unconventional water-based activities, many of which can be enjoyed all year round. Equipped with detailed maps, visitors can explore the area by kayak or join
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
a guided tour. In wintertime, drysuits are provided and B&Bs can replace the natural shelters popular in summertime. Another sport gaining popularity is underwater hunting. “Many people are surprised to learn that underwater hunting is something that people do all year round. Diving in with a harpoon or spear while a chef waits on the beach to prepare your catch is a hugely popular group activity – even in winter when the water is especially clear and you can warm up with a mulled wine or coffee afterwards,” says Jacobsen. With around 20 Second World War ship wrecks scattered around the seabed, the area is also a haven for ordinary scuba divers, and some wrecks can even be enjoyed by snorkelers. The seabed is also the home of a number of Stone Age settlements, some only a few metres below the water surface. Family fun and culinary indulgence Every year, thousands of families visit South Funen to enjoy the safe beaches and shallow waters, which in some instances make it possible to cross from one island to another by foot. But the area also offers a string of family-friendly inland activities. Among the most popular are treks on the super friendly Icelandic horses whose special gate, tölt, makes them easy and comfortable to ride even
Treks on South Funen’s friendly Icelandic horses are popular with both inexperienced riders and families.
for beginners. The small, sturdy horses enjoy being outside all year round, and with a variety of landscapes including covered forest stretches and beautiful coastlines it is safe to say that their riders will too. Many people combine the treks with a visit to one of the area’s many eateries or a picnic with local produce. “When people are out and about, moving in the fresh air, a stale packed lunch is not going to be satisfying; South Funen is booming with local high-quality food brands such as Konnerup Chocolate, local beers and loads of top-quality meat products as well as, of course, fresh vegetables. The food here is something quite special – an integral part of the experience,” says Jacobsen. With numerous angling opportunities, catching your own lunch with the kids is another possibility. Adrenalin rush For those looking for a real adrenalin rush, the South Funen archipelago pro-
vides excellent conditions for all sorts of wind surfing, including the increasingly popular kite surfing. With numerous islands, finding a beach with the right wind direction is almost inevitable. If the wet element is not your thing, the area’s many hills provide an excellent on-ground substitute, easily explored by mountain bike. “South Funen is one big playground: whatever you feel like, you will find it, also in a family-friendly version. Whether you are going for an adrenalin rush, laidback indulgence or family fun, you can find a combination here that will make everyone happy,” Jacobsen ends.
For more information, please visit: www.detsydfynskeoehav.dk
Top left: South Funen is renowned for its spectacular produce and homemade delicacies; even organic wine is among the many locally-produced treats. Middle: With its thrills and natural beauty, underwater hunting is growing in popularity. With appropriate drysuits, the sport can be enjoyed all year round on South Funen. Right: Why not let the kids catch their own lunch?
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Finland
The Lynx snowmobile
Attraction of the Month, Finland
Paving a snowy path to new design innovations Heard of Arctic Design? The concept may be new, but in a world increasingly affected by climate change, it is playing an ever greater role. The Arctic region is characterised by permafrost, frozen seas, the forest boundary and the challenges of living in subzero temperatures. Arctic design affects the quality of life within the Arctic for the better. By Joanna Nylund | Photos: Arctic Design Week
The northernmost design happening of the world, Arctic Design Week, is an annual event taking place in Rovaniemi, Finland. This is where designers and businesses get together to let the ice sparks fly on new design innovations. How does Arctic design differ from Nordic design? The head of the Arctic Design Week, Julius Oförsagd, suggests: “It looks a lot like other Nordic design – because we are
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Nordic, of course, and take our influences from the design greats in this part of the world. But Arctic design is something more. It is design for some of the harshest conditions in the world. Up here, things need to be not just functional and beautiful, but also able to stand the elements!” ‘Up here’ is the northern Finnish city of Rovaniemi, located within the Arctic Circle. Six years ago, the Faculty of Art and
Design at the University of Lapland bonded with the Regional Development Agency of Rovaniemi over a shared interest in Arctic issues, and the concept of Arctic design was born. As partner of the project, the city of Rovaniemi has since played host to the Arctic Design Week that takes place here in February every year. The purpose of the week is to bring designers and design students together with businesses willing to put their design concepts into production. The buzzwords are aesthetics, form and function. Uniting Arctic residents “It’s not just the north of Scandinavia that is interested in this kind of design. The Arctic covers a sizeable chunk of land, and our innovations attract interest from across the world. Having to live and work
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The Arctic landscapes and extreme weather conditions make great demands on design in order for it to stand the elements. The exhibitors at Arctic Design Week all have in common that they show great respect to the vulnerability of the Northern environment.
amidst snow, ice and freezing temperatures is a challenge shared by many countries and peoples,” adds Oförsagd. The Arctic region is home to over thirty indigenous peoples. Unsurprisingly perhaps, the key philosophy behind Arctic design is sustainable development. The vulnerability of the Northern environment is front and centre in all aspects of the design process, with complete respect for nature at its core. The other main focus is on human adaptation to the cold. And if you think Arctic design is something applied only to housing, think again. The field is broad and covers audio-visual design, transport, clothing, art, textiles and graphic design, to name a few.
design. Its flagship product is the Lynx – a snowmobile for Scandinavia, innovative in both looks and power. The Lynx is the only snowmobile designed to make its own tracks. The performance is outstanding: even -40 degrees centigrade will not stop this powerhouse from functioning. The Lynx line is also designed to protect riders from as much cold as possible under its strong and bulletproof hood. Every snowmobile has to be compact and easy to manoeuvre; the Lynx is even equipped with ‘eyes, ears and teeth’ – eyecatching details that make this snowmobile quite a looker, and a favourite with the many Northerners enjoying snowmobiles for racing and as a fun winter hobby.
where designers get to present their ideas to companies, brunch events, panel discussions, design shopping and a multifaceted Fashion Design Show like no other – on a catwalk made of snow and ice. This year’s Design Week has already attracted some big names, among them industrial giant Wärtsilä and Ivana Helsinki, the Finnish fashion brand currently making waves across the world. If interest, and environmental challenges, are anything to go by, Arctic design will have a bright future. Oförsagd repeats the motto of Arctic design with a smile: “If it works here, it’ll work anywhere!” That sounds like promise enough for the rest of the world to take notice.
Week of wintery creativity Stylish snow conquerors Bombardier Recreational Products Ltd is a world leader in motorised recreational vehicles. Its Finnish subsidy, BRP Finland, is the only manufacturer of snowmobiles in Europe, and a great example of Arctic
The Arctic Design Week is the annual hub around which Arctic design revolves. Every winter, Rovaniemi hosts this popular meet-and-greet event for designers and their prospective business partners. Events include exhibitions, seminars
The Arctic Design Week takes place in Rovaniemi between 17-23 February, 2014. For more information, please visit: arcticdesignweek.fi
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
The centre piece of the current exhibition of the works of Heidi Marie Wien and Kine Lillestrøm is a 30-metre long painting on plastic surface. Photo: Terje Holm
Attraction of the Month, Norway
Norway’s finest contemporary art With ambitious dreams and a recognised stall of noted artists, Punkt Ø – Galleri F 15 & Momentum offers a dynamic art experience. Welcoming creative souls from all over the world to exhibit their works, this multifaceted gallery wishes to focus on understanding and mediation in the artistic realm. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Punkt Ø
“We experience so much wonder and bewilderment from our visitors,” says Maria Havstam, head of communications at Punkt Ø. “Some of them are accustomed to contemporary art and can therefore relate to the different forms of expression, while others have a desire to learn more. That is why we offer guided tours of the gallery, and a well-developed programme for children and youths.” A successful merging and a splendid location Punkt Ø, founded in 2006 as a carefully developed part of the cultural programme
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in Østfold County, is a fuse between two separate art venues. Merging Momentum, the Nordic Biennal for contemporary art, with the 1966-born Galleri F 15, the administration was better able to provide for quality exhibitions of world-class contemporary art. Havstam points out the Moss location as an especially worthy cause for visiting the gallery, apart from the encounter with art itself. “The site is key. It’s an intersecting place between all three Scandinavian countries, which provides a truly unique platform to discover surrounding areas
as well as diving deep into the cultural enrichments we have to show.” “Moss is also a highly accessible location, Rygge Airport being mere minutes away. We know of the ambition we demonstrate in being situated outside of the capital, but this is something we value as a solid and good challenge,” says Havstam. International art at its finest As the gallery’s main focus will always remain on showcasing the finest contemporary art, Punkt Ø aims to bring as many different artistic expressions together as possible. From installations to paintings and sculptures, any curiosity can be met and thoroughly satisfied. “A current exhibition by the very talented Heidi Marie Wien and Kine Lillestrøm centres around a 30metre long painting, which truly plays with your perception of space,” says Havstam.
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
“Many of the represented artists use space in a very intriguing way, taking both architecture and human comprehension of a room into account. The converging of such elements is absolutely fantastic.” Another noted artist drawing intriguing links between architecture and art is Vibeke Bärbel Slyngstad. In her series Modern Classics she investigates the contrasts between strict, modernist architecture and natural phenomena, all while exploring and utilising painting as a medium. The artist, whose work has been presented at the Venice Biennale, offers a new perspective on the motif of her choice: interiors of classic, modernist buildings. Punkt Ø exhibitions are by individual artists and groups alike, the latter categorised by conceptual theme. Beyond exhibiting indoors, Punkt Ø strives to utilise the freedom of its baroque garden for as many displays as is practically suitable. The great outdoors becomes another arena dedicated to exploring unparalleled creativity, adding a green feel to the venue as a whole. The coming summer we may experience the Scottish artist Susan Phillipz’s sound installation in the area. “No matter where we do it, we strive to bring the best and boldest of artists to the public. Artists who can challenge and engage, and invite visitors to a platform of dialogue where they can understand varieties of illustration and communication,” says Havstam.
Top left: From a group exhibition with, amongst others, Jimmie Durham’s work Hitlerstones (to the left in the photo) and Orn Alexander Amundason’s Kreppa sound of financial collapse. Below: Andreas Siqueland's Winterstudio, Spring Nights shown in Alby park, Momentum – Nordic Biennial for Contemporary Art, 2011. Photo: Vegard Kleven. Right: From the summer 2013 exhibition Munch and Moss at Galleri F15. Edvard Munch lived at the Moss country manor Grimsrød from 1913 to 1916. Photo: Ingeborg Øien Thorsland.
for such a place, and it’s very important that we step up and meet that need,” says Havstam. She explains there are plenty of reasons to be excited about 2014 at Punkt Ø. In May, Norway will celebrate the 200-year anniversary of its constitution, a time of great festivity around the country. Gallery Punkt Ø will join the celebrations by exhibiting authentic maps from the signing of the Moss Convention – the de facto peace
treaty forming the basis for the SwedishNorwegian personal union. “It’s exciting to showcase these historically important maps. We had a curator to bring in contemporary artists who use maps and prospects in their works, so the contrast will form a good undertone to the exhibition.” For more information, please visit: www.punkto.no
A will to go further The ambition to be better and bolder stems from an everlasting source. Punkt Ø has numerous goals to be met, and is not afraid to set them high. One of the most significant points on the agenda is the construction of a separate building dedicated to the relationship between children, youths and art. “Our wish is to create a workshop where children and young people can come together and interact. We want to explain the art to them but also let them draw their own conclusions. We see the need
View of the Oslo fjord from Alby Park.
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Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Finland
Restaurant Aito offers seasonal set menus with reindeer in the winter and lighter dishes with fresh vegetables in the spring.
Restaurant of the Month, Finland
Fine dining without white tablecloths The Finnish word ‘aito’ means genuine and authentic, and as its name suggests, Restaurant Aito is a place for pure, real and unpretentious dining. By Karoliina Kantola | Photos: Aija Lehtonen
Would you like to have a delicious dinner with quality wine and good customer service – in other words, a memorable evening? Welcome to the cosy Restaurant Aito, located in a beautiful, popular neighbourhood in central Helsinki. “Aito does everything a fine dining restaurant does, but with a relaxed atmosphere and without white tablecloths or fine dining prices,” smiles Tuomas Serkamo, the restaurateur. For five years, the restaurant that seats up to 36 people has been offering delectable food accompanied by great wines – not to mention the individual service that fulfils the customers’ wishes and makes them feel as if they were really invited over for dinner. “We combine food, wine and service to create a one-of-akind experience,” says Serkamo.
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The restaurant also serves lunch, but the speciality of the place is most obvious in the evenings, when Aito offers three-, four- or five-course dinners with perfectly matched wines. The simple but carefully put-together food and wine menus change completely eight to ten times a year, always going hand in hand with the season.
So what might the customers enjoy at the beginning of the year? “During winter time, reindeer is popular, as is any other kind of hearty food. In January and February, burbot fish may be on the menu. Towards the spring, the season’s first vegetables come along and the dinner gets lighter,” Serkamo explains. The wines in Restaurant Aito come from around the world, but the food is made out of Finnish, mainly seasonal ingredients – in the restaurant on the spot, by hand. “The food is cooked traditionally: we cut the vegetables ourselves and make the sauce from scratch without any readymade extracts,” the restaurateur assures. Moreover, the staff love what they do – and you can taste it in the food. In Serkamo’s own words: “We make everything simple, but exceptionally well.” For more information, please visit: www.ravintola-aito.fi
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Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
In 2011, restaurateur Tanja Benn (pictured) took over Restaurant Bjørnekælderen and created a menu focused on the classic Danish kitchen and high-quality seasonal local ingredients.
Restaurant of the Month, Denmark
The traditional Danish kitchen is back at Bjørnekælderen Located in Copenhagen’s beautiful Frederiksberg neighbourhood, Restaurant Bjørnekælderen serves a taste of the traditional Danish kitchen in historic settings. The restaurant, which is popular with theatre goers, businesses and locals alike, focuses on high-quality Danish produce and sustainable, environmentally-sound sourcing. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Restaurant Bjørnekælderen
Having been established as an inn for more than a century, Restaurant Bjørnekælderen’s history and special atmosphere played a great role in owner Tanja Benn’s considerations when she took over the place in 2011. The experienced restaurateur has since managed to create a menu that combines the classic Danish kitchen with modern interpretations based on traditional ingredients. “Restaurant Bjørnekælderen is an old restaurant in historic settings, and that was something that I was very aware of when I took over the place. I wanted to protect the history but also bring the restaurant into the future, find a balance
to suit my own style,” stresses Tanja Benn, adding: “I always wanted to create a restaurant focused on the Danish kitchen and Danish produce, but I also wanted to go all the way with seasonal Danish ingredients sourced in an environmentally sound way. It just makes sense to me to take care of the environment that provides our daily bread.” With a Danish smørrebrøds (open sandwich) lunch menu as well as a special theatre menu and, of course, a tempting dinner menu full of traditional dishes and ingredients, the new Restaurant Bjørnekælderen’s has become popular
with both new and old guests. The restaurant also caters for a large number of parties in the restaurant and elsewhere. “We have a lot of experience of catering for large parties of up to 1,500 guests and approach every event with the stance that everything is possible,” explains Tanja Benn. Parties of up to 80 guests can be accommodated in the restaurant, and soon a new extension for conferences and business meetings will open.
For more information, please visit: www. bjornekaelderen.dk
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Scan Magazine | Business | Key Note
Scan Business Key Note 92 | Helena Whitmore 93 | Annika Åman Goodwille 94 | Business Calendar 94
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Nordic divergence By Nordea
The Nordic countries display diverging economic growth patterns, according to the economic outlook by Nordea’s economists published in December. “The once so strong Norwegian economy is heading for a sharp downturn driven by a declining housing market, while Denmark is gaining momentum after several years of housing market crisis. While benefitting from domestic tailwinds, Sweden has faced problems in its export markets, but now better times are ahead as activity internationally picks up. Finland is struggling with huge growth problems overall,” says Helge J. Pedersen, Nordea’s global chief economist. Nordea’s economists expect the Nordic economies combined to have grown by 0.8 per cent in 2013, rising to 1.6 per cent this year and 1.8 in 2015. This is well ahead of the Euro-zone economy, which is expected to have contracted by 0.4 per cent in 2013 and only expand by 1 per cent this year and 1.5 in 2015. The Nordea economists have sharply revised down their growth forecast for Norway since September. There are clear signs of a turnaround in the housing market, with declining house prices in both 2014 and 2015 contributing to a sharp drop in housing construction. And oil investment is about to peak. Declining house prices, lower income growth
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and mounting economic uncertainty will affect consumer spending, which already showed lower-than-expected growth in 2013. But two rate cuts and a potential substantial increase in oil revenue spending should dampen the downturn. The Danish economy is shifting gears, driven by improved business cycles abroad and gradually rising domestic demand. Nordea’s economists expect growth to be sufficiently strong to trigger a turnaround in the labour market this year. The housing market, the Achilles’ heel of the economy over the past years, is stabilising, and home prices are expected to gradually rise. Growth in the Swedish economy has remained weak in 2013. Domestic consumption is growing at a decent pace, but exports have not started to pick up, mainly due to weakness among European economies. The economy will gain momentum in 2014, when exports contribute to growth as global demand improves. In election year 2014 the domestic economy is stimulated by an expansionary economic policy mainly benefitting households. Investment activity will pick up as production rises. Rising leading indicators and improving fundamentals globally are not yet reflected in Finnish data and the economists have revised down their forecast for Finland substantially. After a contraction last year, the economists expect the economy to expand gradually over
the coming years with exports leading the way. Domestically low growth implies moderate inflation and weakness in employment, household consumption, investment and public finances. The increase in unemployment is curtailed by a simultaneous decline in the labour force.
Real growth, % 2011 2012 2013
2014 2015
World
4.0
3.3
3.0
3.7
3.9
Nordics
2.5
1.0
0.8
1.6
1.8
Denmark
1.1
-0.4
0.3
1.3
1.7
Finland
2.7
-0.8
-1.0
0.8
2.0
Norway
2.5
3.4
1.8
1.3
1.2
Sweden
3.7
0.7
1.0
2.4
2.4
Helge J. Pedersen, global chief economist at Nordea
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Scan Magazine | Business | Helena Whitmore
A new year, a new tax: non-residents to pay UK capital gains tax on UK residential property By Helena Whitmore, senior wealth structuring adviser, SEB Private Banking UK
In the Autumn Statement delivered by Chancellor George Osborne on 5 December 2013, it was announced that with effect from April 2015, non-residents will be liable to pay UK capital gains tax when they dispose of UK residential property at a gain. The exact scope of the new tax is not yet known, and will be subject to a consultation period before the new rules are introduced. In the past, UK capital gains tax has generally not applied to non-residents, so people who are not resident in the UK have been able to profit from the UK housing market without being subject to UK tax. This is unusual, as many other countries charge tax on the disposal of property located in the country, irrespective of where the seller happens to be resident. Of course, someone who is not resident in the UK is likely to be resident somewhere else, and subject to local taxes there, including on assets located outside that country. If the local tax rate on gains is higher in the other country, then the introduction of a charge to tax in the UK may not increase the overall tax payable at all, because the UK tax would normally be creditable against the foreign tax due. On the other hand, if the seller is resident somewhere that does not charge capital gains tax on the UK property, or if the local tax rate is lower than in the UK, then new UK tax will be an additional cost. It remains to be seen if this will cool the UK housing market, or put off foreign buyers from investing in UK property. Based on the Autumn Statement, it seems that only future gains will be taxable,
which is likely to mean some form of rebasing probably to the market value as of April 2015. It also seems that all gains on residential property will be caught, not only gains on high-value properties. Nonresidents who already hold UK property may want to review their arrangements before the new rules are introduced. On a practical level, the new tax charge may also affect people who have lived in the UK, but sell their UK properties after leaving the UK, if the sale does not qualify for principal private residence relief. Anyone who is thinking of leaving should look into the timing of any disposals before going ahead. Unfortunately, leavers may also be affected by another change to the capital gains rules, because with effect from April 2014 the principal private residence exemption final qualifying period after leaving the property will also be restricted from the final 36 months of ownership to 18 months. Consult your tax advisor if
you believe that you will be affected by these changes.
For more information, email privatebanking@seb.co.uk or call 020 7246 4307
Helena Whitmore, senior wealth structuring adviser at SEB Private Banking UK
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Scan Magazine | Business | Annika Åman Goodwille
Changing the world for the better – education, our most powerful weapon! If anyone has reached the hearts of all men, no matter their race, religion or culture, it is Nelson Mandela. Among his many wise statements, this one has long stuck in my mind: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I’m sure we all have inspiring stories to support that belief. By Annika Åman Goodwille, executive chairman of Goodwille Limited
A few statistics tell us that 61 million children are not in education and that 40 million of these live in poor and conflict areas in Africa. Here, the child of a literate mother has a 50 per cent better chance of survival. Uneducated mothers have on an average seven children, but even with just limited education only three children. If more women were educated, HIV would decrease and famine would be outperformed by food aid, yet two in three women in the world are illiterate. Statistics clearly indicate that educated people are less likely to be in conflict and more likely to live in peace and democracy. And the really scary thing is that the poorer the country, the higher the cost of education to an individual! Yet UNESCO, which once aimed to have all the world’s children in education by 2015, re-
puters reaching these areas brings the hope of increased education through remote teaching. The subject certainly needs more media attention and greater public awareness. Let us pray that aid for and spending on bringing the world’s children into education takes a new leap forward, and that by 2015 we
cently provided data to show that progress in reducing the number of children out of school has come to a virtual standstill for the first
can be closer to that perceptive dream of Nelson Mandela’s. It would truly be a worthwhile legacy.
time since 2002. This lack of progress coincides with significant cuts in aid to basic education – this fell by 6 per cent between 2010 and 2011 when six of the top ten donors to education reduced their spending. The changing donor landscape now sees the UK as the largest bilateral donor to basic education, replacing the USA. When all the statistics point towards the obvious fact that education helps solve so many of the world’s problems, why has the trend changed? It is not just global economic stagnation – it is also, apparently, the problem of finding teachers for these regions. Yet the improved possibility of electricity and cheap com-
Column by Annika Åman-Goodwille www.goodwille.co.uk
Scandinavian Business Calendar – Highlights of Scandinavian business events
SME-Club: return on networking Based on the assumption that ‘it’s who knows you’ that matters, one of Europe’s leading business networking strategists, author and international speaker Andy Lopata will share his best tips on how to get a return from your net-
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working. The interactive session, presented by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, will explore not just what effective networking really is, but also how a strategic approach can help you achieve more. The event is free to members and costs £20 excl. VAT for non-members. Date: 23 January
Link Up Drinks If you are not going to the aforementioned networking event, join the Swedish Chamber instead at their networking drinks night at the Lancaster London Hotel. If there is one thing that is sure to get you in the right gear for a successful year ahead, it is making friends and new contacts. Date: 30 January
Nordic Thursday Drinks Join the Norwegian, Danish and Finnish Chambers at their regular Thursday networking drinks event, this month at the Radisson BLU Portman. The 50 first people to arrive will get a free welcome drink, so do not be late! Registration starts at 6pm. Date: 30 January DUCC
Integrated financial market seminar The Swedish Chamber’s first event in 2014 will be a breakfast seminar with Peter Norman, Minister for Financial Markets at the Ministry of Finance. He will set the tone for a prosperous year ahead by speaking on the subject of integrated financial market and European economic recovery. The event is free to members and costs £20 for non-members. Date: 16 January
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Scan Magazine | Column | Humour
IS IT JUST ME...
By Mette Lisby
… who at the start of a New Year begins to look forward to the big awards shows? The Grammys, the Oscars, the BAFTAs… Awards shows are where actors, musicians, producers and directors make status of the year that passed, much like the rest of us do when we reach the end of a year – though their way of doing it outshines the quiet reflection most of us tend to do around New Year’s. Awards shows are much more spectacular than even the fanciest New Year’s Eve party. But really, they are just an excuse for creative people to celebrate… well, themselves. No other professions seem to have the need to do that. You do not see plumbers dress up and get together to hand out prizes, glorifying their own excellence with an endless stream of speeches, patting each other on the back. The yearly measuring up and rewarding themselves is strictly a privilege of artistic and creative businesses – or so-called
show business. Maybe show-off business would be more appropriate? I always found it funny that artists who, when critics review them and their work using a five-star system, respond with a deeply insulted ‘art can not be measured’, seem to be of the totally opposite conviction at awards shows that aim to clearly distinguish who is number one. And just like the attendees, the actual awards shows have one distinct ‘winner’: the Oscars. Runner-up is the Grammy, which serves as a fun reminder of the differences between the various professions’ self image. Where actors and actresses accept the level of glamour surrounding their celebration of themselves, musicians seems to be ‘too cool for school’, thus not necessarily showcasing their excitement. Even the clothing – in the event where there are still actual clothes involved in
Mutiny and fashion
I was a late bloomer. As I hit my teens, my friends in Sweden shot up around me in a blur of leggy, blonde confidence. I remained close to the ground, a frumpy, mousy-haired introvert, acquiring nicknames like ‘Yoda’ and ‘Smurf’. When my
family moved to England I remained dowdy and shy, but I gained something new – the status of being a foreigner. This gave me a sort of exotic mystique that I couldn’t have dreamed of back home. Added to this was my growing unhappiness at the archaic strictness when it came to personal appearance at my English school. After witnessing a teacher gleefully wipe the concealer off the face of a distraught, acne-riddled classmate during History, I decided the time had come for me to rebel. No more Yoda! England was making me grow up, out of protest. It still took some time, but thanks to Miss Selfridge, Boots’ 17 range and a LOT of staggering around my room, learning how to walk in high heels, I finally emerged, transformed. Gone was the Swedish frump. I was now a fully-fledged, tiny-eyebrowed British follower of fashion, swigging casually from my bottle of Hooch in the pubs at the weekends. I still remem-
the music industry, so typically just for the male performers, they are considerably toned-down. Luckily – like the rest of us – musicians and actors do spend the rest of the year actually doing something worth reflecting over, and maybe even worth celebrating, when we reach the end of this year.
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
ber how difficult it was in winter to trudge through the mud and sleet to catch the train to school, wearing sky-high, plastic Mary Janes. But I also remember the feeling, as I glanced across the train aisle and spotted girls of a similar age to myself, shivering away – their feet frozen to blue lumps inside their ridiculous, high-heeled shoes. I felt proud. England had given me a newfound, surprising sense of belonging. And after all, what are a few frostbitten toes to a Swede anyway? 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.
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Blogger’s Corner
Back on The Bridge Bloggers’ Corner: The very best of the Anglo-Scandinavian blogosphere: from films to fitness By Andy Lawrence
Proving that trying to follow The Killing’s success was not impossible, BBC Four scored a substantial triumph in terms of viewer and critical response to the offbeat Danish-Swedish police series The Bridge. The highly original idea of placing a bi-sected corpse directly at the midpoint of the Øresund Bridge, ensuring that police forces from neighbouring countries must co-operate in the investigation, was so breath-takingly inventive that several remakes were produced, including Sky Atlantic’s Anglo-French co-production The Tunnel. After a highly traumatic ending to the first season for the male lead character, Martin (Kim Bodnia), fans might have had
reasonable cause for concern about the possibility of Saga Norén (Sofia Helin) being partnered with a new officer in a second season, but thirteen months on and they are both back in action. A tanker is on a direct collision course with the Øresund Bridge. Aboard the vessel there is no sign of a crew, and five youths are chained up below the deck. Still grieving for his son, Martin Rohde is desk bound whilst he undergoes a therapy programme. Emotionally damaged, his colleagues treat him with kid gloves, never expecting a return to active duty. Saga Norén is in charge of the case and specifically requests to be partnered once again with Martin; together again, the pair must
Lost for words Scandinavian proverbs and sayings
Here are some other examples with their English counterparts in brackets: Brændt barn skyer ilden (Danish), also Bränt barn skyr elden (Swedish): a burned child is shy of fire (once bitten, twice shy)
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Hooked on Scandinavian fiction since seeing Kenneth Williams read Nils-Olof Franzén’s Agaton Sax stories on Jackanory, Andy Lawrence now maintains the blog Euro But Not Trash and lives in hope that one day Real Humans will be released in the UK. eurodrama.wordpress.com
Det regner skomagerdrenge (Danish): it’s raining shoemakers' apprentices (it’s raining cats and dogs) Så let som at klø sig i nakken (Danish): as easy as scratching the back of your neck (as easy as falling off a log)
By Adam Jacob de Boinod
Isn’t it interesting how different are the ways we express the same sayings? Finnish has both ‘En nylje karhua, ennen kuin se on kaadettu’ (I don’t skin a bear before it’s been felled) and ‘Älä nuolaise ennen kuin pöydällä tipahtaa’ (Don't start licking it up before it drops onto the table) while Danish has ‘Man skal ikke sælge skindet, før bjørnen er skudt’ (One should not sell the fur before the bear has been shot), all meaning the same as the English counterpart, ‘Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched’.
deal with the consequences of what happened on that bridge thirteen months ago, all while trying to solve the mystery. With the promise of an even more ambitious season, The Bridge returns to BBC Four in January. Fans wanting to delve even deeper into the narrative will get the chance to quiz Sofia Helin at Nordicana in London in early February.
Kiertää kuin kissa kuumaa puuroa (Finnish), also Å gå som katten rundt den varme grøten (Norwegian) and Att gå som katten kring het gröt (Swedish): to walk around hot porridge like a cat (to beat about the bush). Ikke at være den skarpeste kniv i skuffen (Danish): not to be the sharpest knife in the drawer (a sandwich short of a picnic; not the sharpest tool in the shed) Äpplet faller inte långt från trädet (Swedish): the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree (like father, like son) At skyde gråspurve med kanoner (Danish): to shoot sparrows with cannons (to take a sledgehammer to crack a nut)
Lika barn leka bäst (Swedish): alike children play the best (birds of a feather flock together) What’s your favourite Scandinavian proverb?
Adam Jacot de Boinod was a researcher for the BBC television series QI and is the author of The Meaning of Tingo and the creator of the iPhone App Tingo, a game involving interesting words. Here, he looks at what interests the outside world about the Scandinavian languages.
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Aalborg Opera Festival
Aalborg brings opera to the people By Thomas Bech Hansen | Photos: Aalborg Opera Festival
For ten days in March 2014, Aalborg Opera Festival vows to present opera as a truly popular art form. If you have just once thought that ‘that is not for me’, when hearing that an opera concert is in town, Aalborg Opera Festival challenges you to think again. Whether you are a concerto connoisseur or just curious about choruses, the festival promises to appeal to you. And that means never compromising with quality.
“We want it to be broad and for everyone. This means you must not be able to question the quality,� says the festival’s project manager, Gitte Friis Therkildsen. Top of the bill is a brand new production of Puccini’s Tosca. “It will be in an unconventional chamber version that sends the audience on the move,� explains Friis Therkildsen of the show that begins in Nordkraft, a power plant turned culture
house, and goes on to the House of Music before ending at Theatre Nordkraft. The programme is generally packed with activities, taking in free shows from Aalborg balconies, shows for children, brief chamber plays and longer solo acts. Many come for the special buzz in the city, as much as the opera itself. “You can hear the opera across the centre of Aalborg during the festival. We try to create a special atmosphere that captures the whole city,� says Friis Therkildsen. Left: Classic comedy: HMS Pinafore Right: Top of the bill this year: a brand new production of Puccini’s Tosca.
The 13th annual Aalborg Opera Festival, 13-24 March across Aalborg, Denmark. Read more and buy tickets at: en.aalborgoperafestival.dk
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Nordfyns Museum The history of the town of Bogense and North Funen, in words, artifacts, paintings and pictures. Nordfyns Museum Vestergade 16, DK-5400 Bogense, Denmark Phone: +45 6481 1884 E-mail: nordmus@mail.tele.dk www.nordfynsmuseum.dk
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Photos: Jan Jul
Modern lyrics for an old master February 2014 brings Nicolaj Cederholm’s theatre concert, Mozart Undone, to the Barbican Centre, London. Experience one of the most unconventional romps through one tonne of water and 30 Mozart hits, where music takes centre stage. By Sophia Stovall
“Live rock concert, visual spectacle, cabaret act – a show that defies categorisation yet has a cult following at home, drawing audiences who 'can't get enough of it'.” Copenhagen Post The 'theatre concert' concept began in 1994 with the Danish legends Gasolin, before they moved on to celebrate The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Bob Dylan. Now Nicolaj Cederholm, the Danish director who masterminded the theatre concert, turns his attention to Mozart. And where better to have the UK premiere than in
London, the beating heart of theatre, and performed at the Barbican Centre, the capital’s creative and cultural platform? Mozart enthusiasts will arguably be looking for the Magic Flute themes and Don Juans, but they should discard the music history and surrender to Cederholm and Lisa Mann’s uncensored Mozart melodies through water inspiration and mud anxiety. There are no actors, simply characters who embody the wonderment of Mozart's world undone. Musicians take centre stage, encouraged by a set designed to thrill and
tantalise. Mozart Undone is a deconstructed, dynamic and dramatic interpretation of 30 classic Mozart works, inviting the audience to experience a new interpretation of Mozart – not only relive a favourite piece, but also rediscover a master. From the water and mud, performers writhe and rise as painted spectres fuelled by immense sounds to deliver a truly explosive experience. Performers cavort through Anja Gaardbo’s choreography in bathtubs, cascades of water and mud, illuminated and created through costumes, make-up and clouds of white powder to create this grotesque 1700 landscape. Through the use of a tonne of water per performance, Cederholm delights in this metaphor for beauty, serenity and simultaneously the inherent threat it presents, particularly with electronic equipment and technology. This underlying sense of urgency manifests itself in the physical presence of the performers.
Photos: Isak Hoffmeyer
Co-produced by Betty Nansen Theatre (Denmark), Aarhus Theatre (Denmark) and Rogaland Theatre (Norway). With the support of the Embassy of Denmark in London and the Wilhelm Hansen Foundation, Copenhagen 25 February - 1 March 2014 Barbican Centre Box Office: 020 7638 8891
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Nordic Film Festival
Kaspar Munk’s new film, You and Me Forever, starring Julie Andersen.
Nordic Film Festival boosts attention for Nordic cinema That Nordic cinema has a lot more to offer than crime thrillers was thoroughly proved by this year’s Nordic Film festival. After two weeks of films and special events, the festival concluded with the premier UK screening of award-winning Danish director Kaspar Munk’s moving new film, You and Me Forever.
quartet The Pearls Before Swine Experience, who performed the soundtrack from Fjellström’s short noir animation series at the festival’s opening gala.
By Signe Hansen
After its London finale, the Nordic Film Festival moved on to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
From 26 November until 4 December, Nordic Film Festival, the second of its kind, treated film and Scandi enthusiasts to a thrilling mix of new feature films, documentaries, special guests and musical shows. The event, which saw 15 films screened across four venues in London, was arranged by Day For Night and benefitted not just from great guest numbers but also from generous voluntary involvement. At the closing gala, which took place in the beautiful Ciné Lumiére in London’s South Kensington, founder and CEO Sonali Joshi stressed her gratitude to those involved. After the film, the night’s special guests, film director Kaspar Munk and the three leading stars of his coming of age film, You
and me Forever, Julie Andersen, Frederikke Dahl Hansen and Emilie Kruse, sat down for a Q&A session. Many guests took full advantage of the opportunity to compliment the leading actresses and enquire about the director’s special methods, which involve a great deal of improvisation. Among other special guests to have taken part in this year’s festival were Swedish director Marcus Fjellström and Swedish
Day For Night’s Nordic Film Festival took place in London for the second year running during late November and early December, finishing with a closing gala and premier UK film screening in Ciné Lumiére. From left to right: Sonali Joshi with Kaspar Munk, Julie Andersen, Emilie Kruse, Frederikke Dahl Hansen and Soren Bay.
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinavian Music
Scandinavian Music
A collaboration between three Swedish music megaweights is the best thing in pop this month. Producer Style Of Eye has recruited Soso (Sophia Somajo) and Elliphant to front his new single, Kids – an explosive dance track that could well turn out to be as huge as Style of Eye’s last production credit, Icona Pop’s I Love It. Soso delivers a typically menacing vocal, Elliphant contributes an aggressive rap, and Linus Eklöw aka Style Of Eye himself produces the intricate and exceptional
synths. There is quite possibly not a single second of this song that isn’t a bit wow. Critically-lauded Linnea Henriksson is back with her second album. The new single, Du Söker Bråk, Jag Kräver Dans, sees her dive head first into electro, while still maintaining the indie-pop sensibilities that brought her such acclaim last time around; interesting, as it means that we get kind of a brand new take on electro music, a genre in which it is often quite difficult to stand out. Linnea Henriksson’s dabbling in synths throws up a fun and kitsch tune that is certainly more instant than anything from her, very good, first album, and quite possible even better. There is a big pop chorus, and an element of disco too. Linnea, I never knew you had it in you! New Finnish pop band SICI have just released their debut single, Fire – a quirky pop gem that bounces and squelches its way through a song just short of three minutes, as if to accentuate its suitability for Eurovision that little bit more. Their sound, at least based on Fire, is completely genre unidentifiable: there is everything from glam rock to vintage Italian in there. But the kitchen sink styling contributes to
By Karl Batterbee
an overall charm, rather than an annoyance – although, actually, that probably depends on the listener. Have a listen to see which kind you belong to. The Fire by Charlotte Qvale and Thomas Eriksen, who has written/produced songs for the likes of Donkeyboy, The Saturdays, Lise Karlsnes, and Rachel Stevens, is a very good duet that has just been released in Norway. Let us call it a mega duet – mega in that its production is quite large what with all the drums and a great deal of noise. Good noise. Lots of emotion too, all built up so that it at times feels quite epic. It is such a good listen. Finally, Swedish Idol has had its latest winner (they tried X Factor over there, but it did not work). The powers that be decided that this year’s winner’s song should be loosely based on the biggest Swedish hit of the year: Avicii’s Wake Me Up. Country music crossed with dance music crossed with Idol-winning, lyricallyinspirational pop music. What a formula! Check out Belong by Kevin Walker. www.scandipop.co.uk scandipop@googlemail.com
Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! Bjarne Melgaard in Oslo (Until 16 Feb) The Astrup Fearnley Collection contains some of the most important works by Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard. Melgaard has already reached a revered position in Norwegian and international art with his expressive paintings, drawings and sculptures. Melgaard’s distinctive style and provocative themes have made him a controversial and highly respected artist. Tue, Wed & Fri 12noon-5pm, Thu 12noon-7pm. Sat-Sun 11am-5pm. Astrup Fearnly Museet, Tjuvholmen, Oslo. afmuseet.no
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Jorn & Pollock (Until 23 Feb) Danish Asger Jorn and American Jackson Pollock are two important artists who never met, but each of them in their own way revolutionised painting during and immediately after World War II. This exhibition focuses on the period of 1943-1963. For both artists, there was a ‘before’ this period, and for Jorn also an ‘after’. It was in this period that the two artists’ work was defined and they achieved the greatest international attention, and it was during these years that a new, spontaneousabstract painting style arose. Tue-Fri 11am-10pm, Sun-Sa 11am-6pm.
By Sara Schedin
Asger Jorn, Dead Drunk Danes (Døddrukne danskere), 1960. Oil on canvas, 130 x 200 cm, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Donation: The Louisiana Foundation
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Jackson Pollock’s Ocean Greyness, 1953, Oil on canvas, 146,7 x 229 cm, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York. Photo: Scala Archives
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Denmark. www.louisiana.dk
Rafael Wardi in Helsinki (Until 2 March) The particular importance of light and colour is often emphasised when discussing Finnish artist Rafael Wardi’s art. He has even been called a master of the colour yellow, although the artist’s palette is made up of a much broader spectrum of colours that has varied over the decades. Wardi’s energy and artistic force continues to shine through in his latest work, which he completed in the summer of 2013 and is included in this retrospective exhibition. Tue & Fri 10am-6pm, Wed-Thu 10am-8pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm. Ateneum Art Museum, Kaivokatu 2, Helsinki. www.ateneum.fi
Nina Canell (17 Jan - 30 March) Swedish artist Nina Canell’s sculptures give substance to the intangible and lightness to the physical. The exhibition Near Here comprises a new series of works that will respond to the architectural environment of Camden Arts Centre. Testing the intimate intersection of audience, object, event and the surrounding space, the outcomes of her work are at once curious and poetic. Tue-Sun 10am-6pm, Wed 10am-9pm. Camden Arts Centre, London, NW3. www.camdenartscentre.org
Rafael Wardi’s Port III, 1992. Rovaniemi konstmuseum, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation collection. Photo: Rovaniemi konstmuseum.
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London A Cappella Festival (22-25 Jan) The London A Cappella Festival 2014 offers an opportunity for audiences to immerse themselves in the very best of the vocal world. World-class international headliners include Swedish vocal supergroup The Real Group and the all-American House Jacks, to mention a few. www.londonacappellafestival.co.uk Dance Machines - From Léger to Kraftwerk in Stockholm (22 Jan - 27 Apr) The exhibition presents works by Viking Eggeling, Giacomo Balla, Alexandra Ekster, Fernand Léger and Francis Picabia among others and focuses on the fascination with machines, industry and everyday mechanisation. In connection with the opening of the exhibition, Kraftwerk will perform at Cirkus in Stockholm on 21-22 January. Tue & Fri 10am-8pm, Wed-Thu & Sat-Sun 10am-6pm. Moderna Museet, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm. www.modernamuseet.se I Break Horses (23 Jan) Swedish electro-shoegazers I Break Horses are back in London this month. www.villageunderground.co.uk
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Late Barbarians (24 Jan - 9 Mar) The group exhibition Late Barbarians explores how shifting social codes and cultural values have been embodied in canonical western European art and architecture. Paying particular attention to historical representations of the body, photographs by Swedish Matts Leiderstam propose a queer re-reading of the gestures depicted in Renaissance paintings. Wed-Sun, 12-6pm or by appointment. Gasworks, London, SE11. www.gasworks.org.uk
Music of Today: Karin Rehnqvist (27 Feb) Swedish singer Marie Axelsson and soprano Johanna Bölja Hertzberg will perform the works of composer Karin Rehnqvist at this UK premiere of her riveting ensemble piece Raven Chant. The concert also includes Rehnqvist’s masterpiece Quem Chama? Royal Festival Hall, London, SE1. www.philharmonia.co.uk
Above: Nina Canell’s Unanswered Elemental Thoughts. Below left: Nina Canell’s Affinity Unit. Below right: Nina Canell’s Of Air.
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