AUGUST 2014 ISSUE 67 PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA
TIM SCHOU – MORE THAN JUST A EUROVISION STAR JENS LAPIDUS: DEALING WITH DARKNESS MADE IN FINLAND: BRANDS SIGNED SUOMI AN AUTUMN IN SWEDEN: FROM FESTIVALS TO FORESTS
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Scan Magazine | Contents
Contents COVER FEATURE 8
8 28
a lot to be proud of, and it is no wonder that the special mark for products produced in Finland, the Key Flag Symbol, has grown in popularity of late. This special theme presents a multitude of Finnish design and innovation, from jewellery and branding hubs to snow tools and beauty products. Whatever floats your boat – Finland knows how to make it.
Tim Schou – more than just a Eurovision star Having represented Denmark in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest with his band, A Friend in London, Tim Schou decided to take a new direction. The singer talks to Scan Magazine about authenticity, fan mail, and combining acting with life as a pop star. 64
Top eateries in Zealand We need only mention Noma, and the world will know why we went to Zealand to list the very best of gastronomic experiences here. If nouveau Nordic cuisine is big, Danish grub is just… actually, go taste it and see for yourself.
87
The power of conformity – and interdental brushes “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” business columnist Paul Blackhurst quotes Edmund Burke in his piece on how the power of social conformity relates to business. On a different note, the only thing necessary for great oral health is TePe. Read more in the business section.
DESIGN 13
From clever click to fizzy fashion We came across some truly clever design innovations this month: from stylish furniture that hides wires and bulky equipment to headphones that sound as zingy as they look and a fashion boutique named after hot chocolate but serving its guests bubbles.
BUSINESS
SPECIAL FEATURES 19
Pirates meet Nordic Noir author A good story is what unites the subjects of our two special features this month. Whether you jump on a boat at Denmark’s Hjejlen or pick up a Jens Lapidus novel, you are guaranteed to learn a lot: about steamboats and pirates in the case of the former, and about life in post-social welfare Sweden in the case of the latter.
SPECIAL THEMES 23
35 50
An autumn in Sweden There is no need to feel down about summer coming to an end – at least not if you are planning a trip to Sweden this autumn. If music is your thing, choose between a star-studded guitar festival and the Karaoke World Championships, or if you are more into sports and nature, opt for skiing guaranteed regardless of the weather forecast or a trip to one of the world’s top-ten most beautiful wilderness areas. Welcome to autumnal Sweden!
GEARING UP FOR THE SWEDISH ELECTION 93
Swedish democracy now and then It is almost time. In the month before the Swedish general election, we present our final election Q&A alongside a piece chronicling the development of Swedish democracy from its inception to the present day. What it will look like post-September, you decide.
CULTURE 98
Danish rock and Nordic dance This autumn brings great news for Scandimaniacs in London, as Danish rock band Nephew plays the Shepherd’s Bush Empire and Sadler’s Wells brings an entire season of Nordic dance productions. For more gigs and exhibitions, fastforward to the culture calendar.
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Made in Finland Between excellent product development and design and a long tradition of expertise within ICT, bioeconomy and clean technologies, Finland has
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We Love This | 12 Fashion Diary | 72 Restaurants of the Month | 78 Hotels of the Month Attractions of the Month | 90 Conference of the Month | 96 Humour
REGULARS & COLUMNS
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 3
Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note
Dear Reader, “Only when we admit what we are, can we achieve what we want,” says Tim Schou, this month’s cover star, a man of many mottos who, since his breakthrough in the Eurovision Song Contest, has chosen a slightly different road to fame, emphasising the importance of authenticity and honesty. It is an admirable outlook on life, but one that stands in stark contrast to that of realist and celebrated Nordic Noir author Jens Lapidus, interviewed in our features section. Describing Sweden after the decline of the welfare state, the criminal defence lawyer and writer makes no effort to paint a rose-tinted portrait of a society where, he suggests, human beings are exploited as capital. Whether you opt for a glass half-full or glass half-empty worldview, it is certainly worth reading the portraits of both these artists, which pose some interesting questions to say the least. Continuing on the theme of social commentary, we also wrap up our Swedish general election special this month, as the election campaigns draw to a close. In addition to our final general election Q&A, we present a brief overview of Sweden as a parliamentary democracy: less of the bleak post-social welfare critique from Lapidus’s novels, perhaps, but a call to action for all the Swedes out there to vote, most certainly. The August issue’s special themes offer one huge, celebratory ode to all things Finnish, as we present the very best of Finland’s
design brands, creative agencies, and other innovators, alongside some mouth-watering tips of where to go for culinary pleasure in Zealand, and a shortlist of the most exciting festivals, nature experiences and cultural highlights not to miss in Sweden this autumn. Indeed: we are trying to accept that summer is nearly over, but what a summer we have had! The only right way to wrap it up, if you ask us, is with a schnapps-fuelled, singalong-friendly crayfish party – details of which, if you are in London, you can find in the Scandinavian business calendar. Come rain or come shine, we are ready to embrace autumn: as Bloggers’ Corner contributor Andy Lawrence reveals, Nordic Noir family saga The Legacy outperformed both The Bridge and Borgen and is due to hit Sky Arts; Sadler’s Wells is bringing a whole season of Nordic dancing to London; and Danish rockers Nephew are taking to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire stage. What can I say? Bring it on.
Linnea Dunne Editor
Scan Magazine
Contributors
Josefine Older Steffensen
Issue 67 | August 2014
Tina Lukmann Andersen
Louise Older Steffensen
Julie Guldbrandsen
Kjersti Westeng
Published 11.08.2014
Julie Lindén
Paul Blackhurst
Signe Hansen
Mette Lisby
Published by
Ellinor Thunberg
Maria Smedstad
Scan Magazine Ltd
Malin Norman
Karl Batterbee
Sofia Nyblom
Sara Schedin
Design & Print
Kathleen Newlove
Andy Lawrence
Liquid Graphic Ltd
Anita Karlsson
ISSN 1757-9589
Executive Editor Thomas Winther
Bella Qvist Astrid Eriksson Mia Halonen
Creative Director
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Mads E. Petersen
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Editor Linnea Dunne
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4 | Issue 67 | August 2014
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Scan Magazine | Contributors
This month’s featured contributors Danish-American Kathleen Newlove is based in Paris, France, where she is cultivating her creative talents in photography, singing, writing, and knitting. When she is not buying shoes, you can usually find her photographing and tasting the local cuisine at restaurants all around the globe. For her travels to Australia, Argentina, India, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, and all over Europe and North America, she tries to pack light but finds it difficult to select just a couple of pair of shoes from her Carrie Bradshaw-esque collection. Having worked for 15 years in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, Kathleen recently started her own destination management company, assisting students, tourists, and professionals travelling to Paris. As one of the newest Scan Magazine contributors, Kathleen contributes with articles focusing on Danish dining and the notto-miss experiences of her beloved homeland.
Sofia Nyblom is one of Sweden’s most versatile music journalists and producers, active as a writer, radio and tv producer, and presenter and moderator during the major classical music festivals. Lately, she has taken an active role in promoting and advising high-profile Swedish and international artists, musicians, ensembles and concert venues, ranging from Swedish Radio Berwaldhallen to opera singer Anna Larsson, Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble, pianist/conductor Simon Crawford-Phillips and others. As of August, Sofia is Artistic Advisor and Special Projects Manager at From Sweden Productions, where she is in charge of putting on the much-loved Christmas From Sweden concert on 23 December at Cadogan Hall, London. Sofia contributes to the August issue of Scan Magazine with a fascinating portrait of celebrated Nordic Noir author Jens Lapidus.
Malin Norman is a freelance writer and media analyst, normally based in London but currently exploring Spain and the beautiful island of Majorca. She has previously worked in global marketing, advertising and translations in the UK and the US, and started writing for Scan Magazine at the beginning of this year. Having grown up in a small town in the north of Sweden, Malin has always been curious about other countries and cultures, and her studies in international marketing, tourism and English were conducted partly in Sweden but also in the UK, France and the Netherlands, and with extensive research trips to Thailand and Vietnam. A moose hunter’s daughter, brought up on moose meat and wild berries, Malin is also fascinated by nature and organic food. Other interests include the increasingly popular craft beer market, running, and photography. Next up for this Swedish explorer is Buenos Aires in Argentina.
Bella Qvist is a freelance writer, video maker and Swede abroad. She was born in Munich and raised in Stockholm before moving to the UK to study journalism and German. She lived in Berlin, Heidelberg and London before settling in Sheffield, Yorkshire, where she enjoys writing and walking in the peace and quiet of the nearby Peak District, which, she says, provides a nice contrast to her busy job. Bella is a keen advocate of equal rights and regularly contributes to titles such as the Guardian and DIVA Magazine on issues including LGBT rights, role models and popular culture. She runs YouTube channel Backstage With Bella and dabbles in both translation and photo shoot styling, meaning that she enjoys getting stuck into different projects. Her interests include music, politics and cooking, and she has not missed a single episode of Swedish radio’s På Minuten.
6 | Issue 67 | August 2014
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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Tim Schou
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Tim Schou
More than just Tim Schou from Eurovision Danish singer and performer Tim Schou has gone solo after his many years with the band A Friend in London. The band won the Danish Eurovision qualifying competition, came 5th in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011, and Schou is now showing the world that he is more than a song contest winner. By Tina Lukmann Andersen | Photos: Novak Entertainment
When he was little, Tim Schou never went travelling with his parents; the family mainly stayed in the small town in the Danish countryside. The other kids teased him about having never stepped across a small stream surrounding their school. Today, Schou has probably done more travelling than anyone else in that school – by far. Schou goes where the road takes him. ‘Always travel, never arrive,’ is one of his mottos, of which he seems to have quite a few: quotes well thought-through coming from a young man – but a young man who knows what he wants. While being on the road can be lonely and impact negatively on one’s personal life, he will let nothing stand in his way. The only thing he has packed with him is a big heart, strong opinions and a winning personality. And his guitar of course – which he taught himself how to play. A direction that is real “Only when we admit what we are, can we achieve what we want,” says the singer. This is another of his mottos. “In 2014, it is impossible for a singer to avoid sounding like another singer, and therefore you need to stand out through something else.” To do this, he attempts to keep his music as honest and real as possible – because there is only one Tim Schou. Another way of standing out from other pop stars is by treating his fans as friends,
which is also what he decidedly calls them. There is not a single fan mail he has not answered. People in the music business often get surprised at the sight of Schou’s CV. At the age of 26, after touring around the world with his music and experiencing most aspects of the music industry, he knows what he wants for his career. Not that he tries to predict what exactly will happen – but he certainly knows how he will try to achieve his dreams. “People don’t know half the things I’ve done,” he says. “They mainly just recognise me from the Eurovision Song Contest, where we [A Friend in London] represented Denmark. But I’ve done quite a lot more than that.” Released a duet with Carly Rae Jepsen, for example, toured sold-out shows across Europe’s biggest stages, opened for acts like Backstreet Boys, New Kids On The Block and Simple Plan, won a worldwide music contest with 40,000 bands competing, and played in front of 65,000 people in Malta. Indeed, Schou is more than just Schou from the Eurovision. When he thinks about the past he cannot quite believe everything that has happened. “It’s crazy,” he says. And it is not that he wants to brag: “I just don’t want to be put in a box. I want people to recognise me for my skills and talent – no matter how I use it.” Issue 67 | August 2014 | 9
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Tim Schou
Olsen and Aske Damm Bramming were taking music lessons at the same school, and even though they were very different from Schou (whose favourite music was the likes of Westlife and not anywhere near the other lads’ more underground taste) they clicked from the beginning. Music has been the biggest part of Schou’s life ever since A Friend in London started out, but he has never stopped acting. He is currently playing the role of Flounder in The Little Mermaid at The Royal Opera in Denmark, and last year he played the lead as Claude in HAIR at a big Danish theatre. “What I really love about acting is how you can step into another world,” he says, continuing with a big smile: “Just like in Peter Pan, where dreams can come true.” He explains how, in this other world, he finds inspiration for his music, and how writing songs or performing as a musician is an act as well – away from everyday life. “I’m a f***ing poet,” he says, continuing to describe how he loves to write down his inner thoughts and experience them being performed – just as he enjoys performing and making other characters come true in the world of theatre.
Schou describes the direction he has taken as “real” – interesting, as his new single Supernova is getting more airplay than any of A Friend in London’s hits from the debut album Unite. But he is in no rush and pays for everything himself. “You can easily get lost if you rush towards your goals,” he says. What he wants, ultimately, is for people to see all his inner thoughts and creativity. Holding on tight to authenticity is nothing new for the pop star. A Friend in London, an indie band with the ‘right’ radio station backing and the ‘right’ segment of fans, knew from the beginning that they were putting their image at risk by saying yes to participating in the Eurovision. But they did it because they believed that if what you create is good enough, it should be about that at the end of the day. The song contest opened the door to the rest of the
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country and the band made an example of not doing what you are expected to do. And from one day to the next, the band was famous. “It was almost too much,” says Schou. “People started telling us what to do and how to act.” The band’s musical style was changing in order to make commercial hits, which the band in the end felt that they could not put their name on. They finally decided to split up and each member is today following their heart on different paths. “I’m a f***ing poet” Since childhood, Schou has not only been enjoying singing, writing songs and listening to The Three Tenors. Acting has been just as big a part of his life. It was when he took acting classes that he met the three musicians who ended up being the other three quarters of his future band. Esben Svane, Sebastian Vinther
It may sound impossible to do both acting and singing at the professional level good enough for Schou, but quite evidently it is possible, since his music, too, is doing very well. Schou has just returned to Denmark from Los Angeles, where he was working with Miley Cyrus’s ex-manager and photographer and Incubus’s manager. Furthermore, Anders K from Too Many Lefthands (Number 1 DJ in Scandinavia) has made a remix, which is soon to be released alongside a new music video. Schou wants to do it all and believes that, once you have accepted that – and have admitted who you are – it all becomes possible.
Check out Tim Schou’s new music video, which was released last month. For more information, please visit: www.timschouonline.com
Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This
We love this... A subdued colour palette works all year round. Black, grey and brown are classic shades that summon a temperate, gentle atmosphere – perfect for our laid-back late summer moods. By Julie Guldbrandsen | Press photos
This gorgeous lamp by Studio Lindholdt is destined to become a new contemporary classic. The design is reminiscent of Bauhaus yet crisp and original. £500. www.studiolindholdt.dk
This beautiful and timeless No 1 sofa was designed by Børge Mogensen in 1955 and re-released this year by Fredericia to commemorate the designer’s 100th anniversary. From app. £3,300. www.fredericia.com
Kay Bojesen’s turtle doves are a cute and decorative pair of birds, made from natural and smoked oak and sold in sets of two. £99. www.panik-design.com.
Elegant and very on-trend, this green marble wall clock designed by Norm Architects for Menu is an uncomplicated and cool piece of design. £210. www.heals.co.uk.
The SE68 dining chair was designed by Egon Eiermann in 1951. The chair was originally made for orchestras and the comfort is great whether upholstered or not. This is a multipurpose stacking chair, available in several colours. From app. £277. www.pleasewaittobeseated.dk.
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 11
Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
Fashion Diary... Autumnal shades are slowly making their way into the fashion image, but there is no reason to let go of summer just yet. Simply invest in statement pieces that combine brighter tints with the richer spectrum of the colour scale, and you are set for a chic transition to slightly chillier times. By Julie Linden | Press photos
Monster ring from Maria Nilsdotter, approximately £394. This cute little monster is made up of plated gold, garnet and tsavorite, and is a brilliant representation of Maria Nilsdotter’s twist on gothic styles. Available at www.marianilsdotter.com
Silk top from Filippa K, approximately £138. This simple cut silk top from Filippa K has a beautiful burgundy shade that will go well with the rest of your autumn wardrobe. For warm August nights, silk is a perfect material to keep your skin cool. Available at www.filippa-k.com
Complete face palette from & Other Stories, £12. Keep your touch-up simple with this combination palette, complete with a light crème formula. Available at www.stories.com
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Suit from Minimum. Jacket £80 and trousers £60. Danish brand Minimum makes affordable and elegant day-to-night wear for women on the go. This brightly-patterned suit can be worn together or separately, all according to your mood of the day. Available at www.minimum.dk
Green croco-patterned clutch from By Malene Birger, approximately £150. This crush-on-croco evening bag has a clear jewel colour that pops against any backdrop, while offering enough space for all your necessities. Available at www.bymalenebirger.com
Scan Magazine | Design | Zound Industries
From colourful to fine-tailored fashion accessories, the Zound Industries brands include Urbanears, Coloud, Molami and Marshall Headphones.
Headphones turned fashion By combining fashion and technology, the Stockholm-based brand incubator Zound Industries has added a new set of values to the industry and changed the way we look at headphones. By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: Zound Industries
launched our first products in 18 countries straight away and that really characterises Zound Industries,” says Ekman about the rapid international expansion.
If you had a pair of headphones a couple of years back, they were most likely black and not too exciting fashion-wise. A lot changed when Konrad Bergström and his seven fellow co-founders started Zound Industries in 2008. “We were the first to look at headphones as a fashion accessory,” says Pernilla Ekman, CEO at Zound Industries. The first product in 2009 really stood out, and the company “saw the potential and seized the opportunity.” The combination of design and functionality is still the key ingredient.
The approach proved successful to say the least. Zound Industries’ turnover increased by nearly 11,000 per cent over a three-year period. No wonder it won Supergasellen 2013, an award by Swedish business paper Dagens Industri (DI) for being the fastest growing company in the country.
Rapid expansion
Multiple talents
Fast-forward to 2014 and Zound Industries has put the colourful headphone line Urbanears on the map, along with successful launches of headphone brands Coloud, Molami and the licensed brand Marshall Headphones. The company is present in 95 countries and the brands are available in 20,000 shops around the world. “We
Zound Industries combines design and functionality and does everything inhouse, with a 360-degree-perspective to preserve the brand DNA. “Everyone has their own task and talent, and everyone really gets to use it. But we all have the same driving force and goal going forward,” Ekman says.
Today, 65 employees work across the head office in Stockholm, an office in New York, and a production office in Shenzen, China. All eight co-founders are still in the company, also co-owned by several influencers within the disciplines of fashion, technology and business. The latest partner to invest is the Swedish telecom operator TeliaSonera. British sound meets Scandi design Scandinavian design meets 50 years of rock’n’roll history in Marshall Headphones, developed by Zound Industries for the British rock legend Marshall alongside a popular line of home speakers. Another popular brand, Urbanears, was recently voted one of Britain’s coolest and will be included in the book CoolBrands 2014/15, due to be published in September.
CEO Pernilla Ekman
For more information, please visit: www.zoundindustries.com
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 13
Scan Magazine | Design | Kakao by K
Kakao by K – Scandinavian ethos and a bubbly spirit With a Danish upbringing and a background in research, Karina Baldorf found that a well-planned Scandinavian fashion boutique in the bustling centre of Edinburgh was the perfect haven for her creativity. A cosy cup of hot chocolate provided a name for the business – but if you ask Baldorf herself, there is no beverage more suitable to celebrating her customers than a lovely glass of bubbly. Minimalist but cosy - Baldorf's shop perfectly embraces the Northern feel.
By Julie Linden | Photos: Kakao by K “Our boutique is all about offering unparalleled service with a personal touch,” explains Baldorf, owner of Kakao by K. “I want my customers to really enjoy their shopping experience, so I often offer them a glass of champagne or a cup of tea as they have a browse. My aim is to give them something the high street can’t.” Baldorf’s care can not only be seen in the exquisite detailing of the Kakao by K shop interiors, where she has successfully combined Scandinavian minimalism with comfortable seating areas for shopping companions, but also in the success of her online shop. Shipping to countries all over the world, including to a firm fanbase in Scandinavia, Baldorf has made
brands like Danish Minimum and Swedish Filippa K available to a whole new clientele. “I always knew I wanted to work with people, and selling fashion online is the perfect way to extend the brand and our bespoke service,” Baldorf says proudly. And the UK market has taken notice. Earlier this year, Kakao by K was nominated for a prestigious Drapers Independent Award, an enormous honour for the owner. “I still can’t believe it – we’re very excited. It goes to show that the Scandinavian ethos transfers well to the British market and that we’re having an impact on the boutique sector. Fingers crossed we bring home the much-coveted accolade.”
Karina Baldorf (right) loves introducing customers old and new to Scandinavian fashion staples.
For more information, please visit: www.kakao.co.uk
Scan Magazine | Design | Resize Design
Red Line is a mix of engineering and craftsmanship, used for clever storage and room separation.
Blue Line provides a sleek and practical solution for TVs.
Green Line is an innovative and mobile clothes rack for hallways and hotel rooms.
Smart floating modules for urban homes Resize Design makes clever furniture with craftsmanship, functionality and decorative design in mind. “We create our designs with genuine materials such as wood, metals and stone from the north of Sweden. Our furniture is a blend of design and art,” says founder, CEO and designer Viktor Lindbäck.
Local production, international growth
By Malin Norman | Photos: Resize Design
When Lindbäck, now 23 years old, moved to Stockholm for product design studies at the Royal Institute of Technology, he started thinking about solutions for the often limited space in urban flats, and soon the idea for floating modules mounted on pillars was born. “It was important to create a sleek solution, which is easy to bring when moving and without leaving marks on the walls,” says Lindbäck. The celebrated first collection, Stockholm, was launched at Stockholm Furniture Fair and has been nationally and internationally praised. The collection consists of shelf units on a pillar, fastened between ceiling and floor without screws. The modules are easy to transport and have been named after the colours of the Stockholm underground lines, such as Red Line and Green Line. The pillar construction has since been supplemented
well as design hotels, stores and offices where Resize Design helps create an exclusive interior design experience.
As other companies move production to low-cost countries, Resize Design believes in producing locally and has chosen to keep its Viktor Lindbäck is the founder, manufacturing in Skellefteå. NorrCEO and designer of Resize Design land offers a wealth of natural reEntrepreneurship and new trends sources such as wood, metal and stone, and the company’s furniture is smart, beauLindbäck was encouraged early on by his tiful and real – keeping in line with nature. grandfather, who was running an inventor school and motivated youngsters to come up Staying true to his heritage, Lindbäck is a with new and innovative ideas. “This is also member of Young Entrepreneurs of Swehow we work in the company today. We conden. He has also received the Future Innotinuously compare suppliers, try to find the vator award, which supports entrepreneurs best materials, and work on our long-term under the age of 30. The international jourrelationships. All in order to provide the best ney is also soon to take off, as Lindbäck is solutions,” the entrepreneur explains. one of the designers to showcase products at Paris Design Week, 6-13 September. Inspiration comes from modern design and traditional craftsmanship as well as new trends. “More and more people live in For more information, please visit: smaller flats. We try to find clever soluwww.resizedesign.se tions for this,” says Lindbäck. The cusor follow on Instagram: @resizedesign tomer base includes urban consumers as with the Norrland collection of sideboards and wall-mounted storage solutions.
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 15
Scan Magazine | Design | Clic
Hear beauty, see beauty, hide everything else
Seven years after crafting his first drawings, the autodidactic designer attracted the attention of several investors and clic was officially founded. Timeless designs
Designed to hide wires and bulky electronics, the Danish clic furniture range enables even the most devoted music, TV and computer enthusiasts to present a timeless, stylish and uncluttered home. Cutting no corners when it comes to uniting beautiful sound with beautiful exteriors, all clic modules are designed, produced and quality-checked in Denmark. By Signe Hansen | Photos: clic
In 1998, Mike Fabricius, a hi-fi specialist aspiring to combine his love for music with his love for stylish design, created the first sketches for clic. “Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve been a sound enthusiast – I probably have around 2,000 records, and my stereos have always been big. But in contrast to most other people in my sector of the business, I did not think that a huge speaker system looked
16 | Issue 67 | August 2014
cool. To me it was a necessary evil to get the high sound quality,” says Fabricius, adding: “Most sound systems are created to please your ears and not your eyes. And those pleasing your eyes have often ignored your ears. clic originated from the idea of creating a luxurious piece of highquality furniture that hides what needs to be hidden, presenting music or movie systems with a clear sense of style."
Today, as the director of clic, Mike Fabricius has designed a wide range of models varying in function, size and design. However, all modules have some design principles in common. “All our designs are very clean and minimalistic without disturbing, fashion-dependent details. For instance, there are no handles. I want to make sure that our customers have the opportunity to decorate with whatever they want to decorate with, and that means that the furniture should not be fighting for attention with whatever our customers want to put on top of or next to them,” stresses Mike Fabricius. Behind the smooth sound system exteriors, cables, a sub-woofer, software, game
Scan Magazine | Design | Clic
piece of furniture that they can combine with their own design and sound,” explains Mike Fabricius.
PlayStation and then it ends up looking messy anyway. Model 130 solves that, but you can also choose to have the three rooms, allowing for a music system and two speakers to be fitted. I don’t think such a small piece of furniture has ever been known to be able to do so many different things,” says Mike Fabricius. Not just for the geeks Sold through high-end electronics retailers and fashionable furniture stores, clic is popular with hi-fi fanatics as well as young design connoisseurs. “Our customers are the kind of people that like cool designs but want something a bit different from the typical brands that everyone has. They want a cool, distinctive
Clic furniture is individually produced to the customer’s specific requests and offers a variety of choices. Customers can for instance choose whether they want a floor- or wall-mounted module, whether it should have drawers, regular or fabric doors, the colours of the doors, the number of cable openings and much more. After the piece of furniture has been assembled, it is painted one last time to conceal all joints and ensure that the colour never fades. All clic models are personally signed-off by the person responsible for constructing it as well as the person responsible for packing it.
For more information, please visit: www.clic.dk
consoles and much more can all become part of a stylish set-up. One-off solutions All clic furniture is handmade in Denmark, and thanks to a special technique clic’s back panels, which are attached by magnets, can be removed or moved without affecting the stability of the furniture. Among other unique features are elegant cable openings, built-in iPhone docks, iPad ponds, and fabric doors that allow music and remote control signals to penetrate without revealing what is behind them. One of the newest clic models, model 130S, also offers pulled-back sidebars. This means that the small module, which is just 37.5 centimetres deep and 16.5 centimetres high, can hold, for instance, a sound bar as well as a PlayStation. “A lot of people buy a sound bar but forget that they also have to fit in their Apple TV or
An iPhone dock might be handy if you use your iPhone to control your music.
The various clic modules allow you to design your own piece of furniture to fit your hi-fi needs and design preferences.
Customers can choose to include a stylish iPad pond in their clic modules so that everyone knows where to find it.
Despite its small size, model 130 can be adapted to suit multiple set-ups.
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 17
Enjoy the mountains of Hemsedal with your family and friends! Experience activities such as hiking, biking, fishing and climbing in scenic surroundings. Holiday packages from NOK 729 per person. Book your mountain holiday on:
Scan Magazine | Culture Profile | Hjejlen A/S
Photo: Lars Holm
Pirates of the not-so Caribbean Imagine navigating Denmark’s Lake District by sea instead of by car. Right in the middle of Jutland, you can hop aboard a glorious steamboat and see all the gorgeous villas, diverse wildlife, and magnificent landscapes that this region has to offer.
from the company’s history, humorous anecdotes, even little tidbits of juicy gossip from time to time.
By Kathleen Newlove
Whether you are looking for a pleasant day on the water or a dinner cruise, this is a special outing that you will remember fondly for years to come.
At Hjejlen, many of the different boats in the fleet can be hired for private events, or you can choose to buy a day pass for hopon/hop-off access to many different points of interest, including Himmelbjerget (The Mountain of Heaven), a 147-metre tall hill, considered a mountain by Danes as it is one of the highest points in the country. It is an exceptionally cosy hike for visitors young and old, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding area. The kind folks at Hjejlen offer activities including pirate-themed voyages for the children, Frikkedelle (Danish meatball) dinner tours, and floating rum tastings for the adults. Their namesake, the boat called Hjejlen (The Golden Plover), is the world’s oldest original paddle steamer still in operation. “It is in itself quite an experience to come aboard and see ‘the old lady’ sail at full speed while the stokers
are in the hot engine room shovelling coal to power the engine, just as has been done for the last 153 years,” says Hjejlen’s tourism and marketing coordinator, Rikke Klarbæk Olesen. The lucky passengers on these boats keep very good company. Not long ago, when Hjejlen celebrated its 150th anniversary, Her Majesty Queen Margaret enjoyed an afternoon sailing the same route as King Frederik the VII of Denmark, who was one of the first guests when the boat originally hit the water in 1861. Come experience for yourself the informal atmosphere of Hjejlen’s crew. “They are like one big family who come and sail year after year and delight in giving guests amazing memories on the lakes,” Olesen continues. Engage them in conversation and they will share interesting stories
Boat Skipper Bent Jensen and Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark exploring the waters. Photo: Jens Anker Tvedebrink
For more information, please visit: www.hjejlen.com
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 19
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Scan Magazine | Special Portrait | Jens Lapidus
Dealing with darkness What is right and wrong? To what extent are human beings prone to transgress for the sake of easy cash? These are the questions which preoccupy Jens Lapidus, one amongst Sweden’s quickly growing number of lauded crime novel writers. Following his literary debut in 2006 with Easy Money, Lapidus has catapulted to fame, aided by the success of the film adaptations of his Stockholm Noir Trilogy. By Sofia Nyblom | Photos: Anna-Lena Ahlstrom
We meet at Café Rival, lodged in one of former ABBA member Benny Andersson’s hotels in Stockholm’s trendy Södermalm. Jens Lapidus gives the Swedish capital pride of place in his novels, whilst describing the mechanisms of its shadiest inhabitants. “I’m interested in people. I’m interested in showing that life isn’t all that easy – it’s never an easy nut to crack. “Lapidus has first-hand knowledge: he has met them all in his role as criminal defence lawyer and knows what makes them tick. The rich boys who come to terms with childhood abuse by becoming abusers themselves; the immigrants who fail at making an honest living and surrender to joining a sprawling family of mafia members; the women faced with the terror of discovering the darker sides of their spouses or boyfriends. The drug addicts, the pimps, the child prostitutes. But although he uses material from his professional experience, no one – including the Lawyer’s Society – has ever questioned the integrity of Jens Lapidus. “Like any writer, I change names and locations, alter situations beyond recognition.”
Lapidus has been preceded by a number of Swedish writers dealing with crime: in the 1970s, there was the Sjöwall-Wahlöö couple, followed by Henning Mankell – crime writers who came from the left politically, and set out to criticise the breakdown of social democratic values in Sweden. The breakthrough for the Swedish crime narrative on a broader scale came with Stieg Larsson. And like Larsson, Mankell, Läckberg and the rest, the rights to Lapidus’s novels have been sold in numerous countries – 30, to be exact. His Stockholm Noir has become one of the ingredients of Nordic Noir. “Being part of this ‘movement’, Nordic Noir, has been a blessing and a curse,” says the writer. “A blessing, because so many doors have opened internationally; a curse, because a certain level of expectation comes with the favours granted.” He likes to think of his books as thrillers rather than murder mysteries, he insists – murder per se never holds primary focus. “One theme I explore in my books is New Sweden – at least that was suggested in a radio debate in Australia, where the programme host juxtaposed my books with those of Henning Mankell. His books de-
scribe the decline of the welfare state, while mine deal with Sweden after the decline – a Sweden where brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton are marketed in central Stockholm, and where those who have money become obsessed with brands to the extent of identifying with brands.” Brands play a central part in Lapidus’s books as tools to describe characters who aspire to owning luxury brands. As for the author himself, he was elected Sweden’s most well-dressed man by the influential men’s magazine King. “That’s a while ago,” he laughs with a deferring gesture. “As it happens, when my first novel, Snabba Cash (or Easy Money), was published in 2006 there was no conscious promotion of the book. I would be scheduled for interviews during the working day, and as a lawyer I always wear a suit at work – well, I didn’t comply with the cliché of a writer, and the suit became my trademark,” he explains. But times have changed: during the launch of his new novel, The VIP Room, the image of the immaculately dressed Lapidus appeared on every single billboard throughout Stockholm. Footnotes to aid translation The workload for Lapidus is evenly distributed between writing and serving as a defence lawyer. In addition, translations and film adaptations take up some of his time. Translating Lapidus into English has unforeseen consequences, as the compli-
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 21
Scan Magazine | Special Portrait | Jens Lapidus
But the theme of his new series, which was launched in Sweden in June, suggests a new direction – exchanging the familiar set of characters from Stockholm Noir for a detective pair, a female lawyer and a seasoned criminal who has just been released from an eight-year sentence. The themes explored are types of crime increasingly common as sources of substantial amounts of cash: kidnapping, trafficking – and child pornography. “The focus has shifted to ‘soft’ targets – targets that are often written about less in media and therefore receive less visibility. Human beings exploited as capital.” Whether or not The VIP Room will travel as well as his first series is yet to be seen. Either way, the success of Jens Lapidus has an additional dimension: his rise to fame has gone hand in hand with the success of the film adaptations. How does he feel about the films? “I think they are very good. They have maintained… an authenticity,” he says, adding: “And they are very well crafted, which doesn’t always go for this genre of films.” Despite talks about an American screen adaptation of Easy Money, nothing conclusive has emerged. But the image of New Sweden projected by Lapidus’s books clearly holds a disturbing, dark appeal to his readers.
Age: 40 Profession: Writer and criminal defence lawyer
cated process behind Easy Money proved. “We had bad luck with the first translation – it lacked the contemporary grittiness of my language.” The launch was delayed by two years, before Lapidus and his new translator arrived at the definitive version. Some Swedish expressions simply would not translate.
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“The expressions ‘svenne’ and ‘blatte’ (roughly ‘white Swede’ versus ‘darkie’) are not translated. As for locations that carry distinct associations to a Swede, some have been given a descriptive phrase such as ‘the affluent suburb of Djursholm’. In Poland, they use footnotes,” he says, chuckling at the academic approach.
Titles published in Swedish: Snabba cash Aldrig fucka upp Gängkrig 145 (co-authored with Peter Bergting) Livet Deluxe VIP-rummet Next title in English: Life Deluxe Swedish film adaptations: Easy Money Never Fuck Up Life Deluxe Publisher: Pantheon (USA) MacMillan (UK and Commonwealth)
AN SPE AU CIA TU L T MN HE IN ME SW : ED EN
Photos: Henrik Trygg
Photo: Conny Fridh
Celebrating seafood, apples and geese – Swedes know how to make autumn a season for parties! Autumn in Sweden is all about celebrating. From weird and wonderful food, traditions and produce to great culture, music and the outdoors. By Anna Hjerdin, online communications manager at Visit Sweden
In August, Swedes don silly party hats and bibs, sing songs and throw parties for the delicious crayfish. In northern Sweden, this is also the time for the, love it or hate it, Surströmming premiere, the start of the fermented herring season. And if you are on the west coast, do not miss the Lobster premiere. This is when Swedish law says you can start catching lobster, and it always falls on the first Monday after 20 September, at 7 in the morning. If you are in the area you can also take part in the Icebug Xperience, a brand new outdoor event in the archipelago of Bohuslän. For a more leisurely day out, head south to Kivik in Skåne, where the Kivik Apple Market takes place in September. Here, ap-
Then, perhaps it is best to rest a little, until we start the advent celebrations, marking the start of the much-loved Christmas season.
ples in all forms are celebrated, and you can also see the largest apple art piece in Sweden. Stay a little longer in Skåne for the annual goose feast that takes place on 10 November, St Martin’s Day. Dishes to enjoy at the feast include the sweet and sour ‘svartsoppa’, or black soup, goose of course, and a traditional Skåne apple cake. For music fans there is plenty to experience throughout the autumn, starting with the Way Out West festival in Gothenburg in early August. If you are a fan of guitars or fancy yourself a bit of a singer, head to Uppsala for the International Guitar Festival and Stockholm for the Karaoke World Championships.
Photo: Carolina Romare
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 23
Srinivasa Prasad, In and Out, 2012. Photo: Wanås Konst
A sculpture park where everything is possible Wanås Konst is a hidden gem for contemporary art in the Swedish forest. Lush beech trees, cows and meadows create a setting far from classic white art spaces – a must for art connoisseurs and rookies alike. By Ellinor Thunberg
Head to the south Swedish region of Skåne to find an exciting art gallery and sculpture park embedded in greenery next to a medieval castle. The park has over 50 permanent works by prominent international artists. “We are listed by the New York Times as one of the foremost sculpture parks in the world,” says Mattias Givell, co-director and head of development. Forget strict museums where visitors and works are separated by ropes or glass walls. The park allows for plenty of interaction and you can for example climb a sculpture by Jacob Dahlgren, leave a wish
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in a tree by Yoko Ono or walk a certain forest route by Janet Cardiff. “Our focus is to create new pieces of work for the site with the artists. Every year we open new exhibitions and projects, so you will see something new every time you visit,” says Elisabeth Millqvist, co-director and artistic director.
park with mature beech trees. When you walk down a trail, the art appears and becomes a discovery. You can start by spotting it and then reflect upon what it means. That is a great starting point,” she says. Givell adds that the setting also makes it easier for both artists and visitors to be brave, open-minded and think outside the box. One example is the current exhibition Dance Me, where sculpture meets dance and choreography. “The combination shows how several disciplines are loosening up, merging with each other. That is a clear tendency in many fields,” says Millqvist. Art for all Wanås Konst has around 60,000 visitors per year, plus around 5,000 children enjoying tours and workshops in an extensive learning programme.
Beech trees and meadows Galleries are quite often white, cube-like spaces, and Millqvist says the natural setting changes the whole experience. “The art is located in a rather wild and lush
“We meet many school children who do not normally visit art galleries with their parents. We encourage them to come back, with a special ticket giving free ad-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | An Autumn in Sweden
mission for adults accompanied by children,” the artistic director explains. Sustainability at heart Wanås is an accredited Long Run Destination and part of a global network of destinations working for long-term sustainability. “We work according to the guidelines and ‘4 C:s’ – conservation, culture, commerce and community,” says Givell, adding that visitors can enjoy arts in a setting that preserves, builds and challenges the future. The museum shop features a deli with local products such as homemade sausages, chocolates and organic apple juice. There is also an organic lunch café and the on-site farm is one of the largest organic milk producers in northern Europe. A chief executive duo Millqvist and Givell, a married couple and the duo in charge, both have prominent merits from the art world in New York and Stockholm. So what made them move to the countryside? “It is characteristic for Wanås that the artists come here to create something new. To me it was the way of working together, along with being in a place where contemporary art meets a wide audience,” says Millqvist.
Givell believes that creative thinking off the beaten track plays a vital part in shaping our world and future, something that he would like to proselytise and share with as many as possible. “I always worked with contemporary art in various ways and was familiar with Wanås. I was attracted by the ‘gem in the forest’ with its treasure 5 ways to explore Wanås We picked five works from the permanent collection and how to enjoy them.
1. Make a wish: Wish Trees for Wanås, 2011,
of an international contemporary art collection, and wanted to develop and make it more visible and available both locally and globally,” he says. Millqvist suggests that dual leadership is based on a modern way of thinking. “Together, you cover more competencies, but clarity and trust is important,” she says. “On the one hand, differing perspectives are complex, but on the other hand you get a synthesis of ideas that is bigger than what one could achieve alone.”
Yoko Ono. Add your own wish and hang it in the treetops.
2. Go underground: Svindel/Vertigo, 2002, Charlotte Gyllenhammar. Explore the underground room, where her studio is recreated – upside-down.
3. Walk away: Wanås Wall, 2002, Jenny Holzer. Stonewall featuring 260 engraved sentences – the longest piece of art, stretching nearly two kilometres.
4. Loose yourself in greenery: In and Out,
In brief Visitors per year: 60,000 Location: Östra Göinge, 1.5 hours north-east of Malmö, close to Kristianstad and Hässleholm. 2 hours from Copenhagen International Airport. Season: New exhibitions in May, until early November. Park open all year. Artists: More than 200 over the years.
2012, Srinivasa Prasad. The artist signed the
History: The exhibitions were initiated in
front lawn of Wanås Castle with willow and
1987 by Marika Wachtmeister.
clematis, and it doubles up as a 500-metre
Wanås Konst is run by The Wanås
labyrinth.
Foundation.
5. Mingle with cows: 11 Minute Line, 2004, Maya Lin. A winding grass bank on a meadow filled with cows. Clearly visible on Google maps too!
For more information, please visit: www.wanas.se
Jacob Dahlgren, Primary Structure, 2011. Photo: Wanås Konst.
The duo in charge: Mattias Givell and Elisabeth Millqvist. Photo: Wanås Konst.
Yoko Ono, Wish Trees for Wanås, 1996–2011. Photo: Wanås Konst
Charlotte Gyllenhammar, Svindel/Vertigo, 2002. Photo: Anders Norrsell
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 25
Explore red granite cliffs, tiny islands and picturesque seaside villages. Photo: Åsa Dahlgren
Lobster mania on the Swedish west coast
By Ellinor Thunberg
West Sweden is not all about seaside villages and tranquil islands along the coast, but stretches inland to vast fields, meadows and untouched wilderness. “You can experience many different parts of the shifting Swedish nature and culture here in the same small area,” says AnnCharlotte Carlsson, marketing director at the West Sweden Tourist Board. Even though attractions span from UNESCO listed rock carvings, via the only marine national park in the country, to elk-spotting, farm shops and historic castles, one great reason to visit during autumn is to explore the archipelago and enjoy great seafood in general and lobster in particular.
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The Shellfish Journey The shifting nature is not only great for the experience itself, but the region offers the perfect setting for a foodie holiday, with fresh primary produce from the ocean as well as forests and farmland right on your doorstep. “The food here is of very high quality thanks to the fine primary produce, and it is served in amazing, genuine settings,” says Carlsson. One truly genuine experience is the Shellfish Journey, a concept with various seafood safaris running all year round, with autumn and spring being the best seasons to attend. “One of the autumn highlights is the start of the lobster season, which always happens on the first
Monday after 20 September,” Carlsson continues. Everything from langoustines to prawns, oysters and mussels is extra tasty during the autumn and spring season thanks to the cooler water. “You join a local fisherman and catch shellfish together, experience the archipelago and hear local stories before bringing back the catch to prepare it on the jetty or in a boat house,” says Carlsson, adding that the exact rou-
Photo: Åsa Dahlgren
Imagine picturesque coastal villages, smooth red granite cliffs and fresh seafood aplenty. Autumn is the prime season for shellfish, especially lobster, and you can help bring them to the table on a seafood safari.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | An Autumn in Sweden
tine depends on which seafood safari you join – and there are plenty of options. As one example, she mentions an oyster safari at Everts Sjöbod, where you join the small wooden boat Tuffa to harvest wild oysters and eat them on board, complete with seaweed crispbread and a special porter brew. By the end of the summer, everything is settling down along the coast and autumn welcomes visitors with its beautiful light and trees in shifting colours. The weather at sea is often clear and crisp, with the occasional storm coming in. Stay active on holiday West Sweden also has perfect conditions for outdoor activities including kayaking, hiking or biking. If you love combining good food with running or hiking, you should look into the new Icebug Xperience. The three-day hiking and trailrunning event takes place on 4-6 September this year.
super fresh seafood and enjoy the hot tub or sauna,” she says. But she instantly adds the national marine park Kosterhavet as another amazing place, along with small car-free islands such as Käringön and Åstol.
Gothenburg is the gateway West Sweden is connected to the rest of Europe with plenty of direct flight routes, making Gothenburg the natural starting point for a visit. The city is often described as friendly and relaxed with a small-town vibe, and slightly more alternative than Stockholm. The cafés make natural meeting points, the restaurant scene is vibrant, and there are plenty of independent shops and local designers. Families with children love attractions like Universeum science centre and Liseberg amusement park. Hidden gems to explore The coastline offers plenty of tiny, untouched islands and picturesque villages with cute wooden houses – so does Carlsson have a favourite seaside location? Turns out, it is hard to choose. “One favourite is the most westerly group of islands in Sweden, Väderöarna, located a short boat trip away from Fjällbacka. During autumn and spring you can hike, eat
For more information, please visit: www.vastsverige.com www.vastsverige.com/en/Shellfishjourney www.icebugx.com
Photo: Lisa Nestorson
Photo: Jonas Ingman
“You hike or run on the smooth granite rocks, experience the coastal villages, the archipelago and enjoy shellfish in the evening,” says Carlsson and adds that children can join for free with a competing adult.
The participants cover around 70 kilometres over three days, and the route goes through Hunnebostrand, Ramsvikslandet, Kungshamn, Smögen, Bohus-Malmön and many other scenic places along the way.
The shellfish is extra tasty during autumn and spring, thanks to the cool water. West Sweden is a paradise for seafood lovers. Photo: Kristina Gillertedt
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 27
This year’s festival will take place at Uppsala Concert Hall 8-12 October. Thousands of visitors will be able to enjoy a programme of workshops, seminars and concerts, as well as the Guitar Fair, with exhibitors showcasing products and collectors’ items as well as hand-made guitars. Since opening its doors 11 years ago, the event has grown tremendously while still placing people at its heart, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Festival visitors can listen to some of the world’s most well-known musicians, take part in workshops and talk to the performers, and meet other enthusiasts from around the world who share the same passion. Two outstanding female performers The programme involves some of the greatest international musicians out there. One of the highlights is Anoushka Shankar, an exceptional sitar soloist and composer who has been nominated for several Grammy Awards. Her father, Ravi Shankar, was a role model for the likes of George Harrison, Philip Glass and John Coltrane, and her sister is the famous singer Norah Jones. Shankar is a global performer in the true sense of the expression, blending Indian music with flamenco, jazz, electronic and classical influences while staying true to her musical heritage.
Anoushka Shankar will perform at Uppsala International Guitar Festival. Photo: Yuval Hen, Deutsche Grammophon
Celebrated festival for guitar heroes Uppsala International Guitar Festival is one of the most influential guitar events in the world. “Our vision is to create a meeting place, a music celebration focusing on the guitar. It’s a world-class smörgåsbord at which everyone can find their favourite artist or music,” says Klaus Pontvik, founder and festival director. By Malin Norman
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American guitarist Jennifer Batten is another prominent profile, inspired by Weather Report, The Prodigy, Zappa and jazz musician Joe Diorio. She is mostly known for having played with Michael Jackson for 15 years and being vital during his three world tours, Bad, Dangerous and HIStory, before being approached by Jeff Beck and joining his world tours. Batten will display her guitar magic at the festival, as well as hosting a rock and pop clinic. “For us to have two of the best female performers in the world participating is amazing. Batten is the queen of the guitar, and Shankar such an incredible musician,” says Pontvik. Flamenco and Woodstock photography Other highlights include legendary Swedish classical guitarist Göran
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | An Autumn in Sweden
Söllscher, who will perform a Bach programme on his 11-string Bolin guitar. Popular fusion and jazz musician Mike Stern, who has played with icons such as Miles Davis and Jaco Pastorius, will also attend. The audience can expect an exceptional show by jazz trio The Great Guitars, with Martin Taylor, Ulf Wakenius and Robin Nolan. One of the most renowned flamenco composers, Vicente Amigo, is another top artist in the line-up, his band mixing traditional flamenco and new impressions. American rock photographer Henry Diltz will also appear with his exhibition of photos. Diltz was the official photographer at Woodstock in 1969, and has been celebrated for his album covers, festival photos and shots of rock and pop stars in the ’60s and ’70s. A musician himself, Diltz will reveal the true stories behind the pictures of some of the world’s biggest artists. “This is a fantastic part of the programme. Diltz is an icon – a living legend!” says Pontvik.
Celebrating young talents... Young musicians, guitarists in all styles, will also have the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of a jury during the International Young Talent Competition. The competition is open to guitarists from around the world up to the age of 25, and the three finalists will get the chance to perform during the festival.
explains, “this is a great venue to gain inspiration and knowledge, and be part of creating music history.” The beautiful setting of Uppsala, combined with one of Sweden’s foremost music venues and the diversity of performers and young talents, without doubt contributes to the strength and success of the festival.
Swedish fingerstylist guitarist Gabriella Quevedo won the competition two years ago and will perform as a special guest together with the festival programme’s youngest musician, the famous 17-yearold South Korean YouTube star, Sungha Jung, in an exclusive show. ...in Uppsala - an inspiring place Uppsala is best known for its 15th century university and its cathedral, but the city also offers visitors beautiful surroundings, great restaurants, museums and shopping. In 2007, the new Concert Hall was opened, a magnificent building and first-class establishment that offers a spectacular view of the city. As Pontvik
Uppsala Botanical Garden. Photo: Uppsala Castle
Uppsala International Guitar Festival 2014 line-up: Jennifer Batten Band, USA Mike Stern Band, USA Anoushka Shankar, UK Berta Rojas, Paraguay The Great Guitars: Martin Taylor, UK; Ulf Wakenius, Sweden; Robin Nolan, Holland Vicente Amigo Band, Spain Göran Söllscher, Sweden Analia Rego, Argentina Aniello Desiderio, Italy Sungha Jung, South Korea Henry Diltz, USA (rock photographer)
WIN TICKETS to the festival! Write to Uppsala International Guitar Festival, tell them what you think of it and which is Legendary rock photographer Henry Diltz will share his pictures and stories. Photo: Paul Zollo
Jennifer Batten, previously Michael Jackson's lead guitarist, is one of this year's highlights. Press photo
your favourite artist in this year’s line-up, and you are automatically in with a chance to win tickets for the concerts with Shankar, Jennifer Batten and Vicente Amigo. Send your email to
competition@scanmagazine.co.uk and please write ‘Guitar Festival’ in the subject line. T&Cs apply.
For more information, please visit: www.uppsalagitarrfestival.se The Guitar Fair is also taking place during the festival. Photo: Uppsala International Guitar Festival
Steve Vai and founder Klaus Pontvik opening last year’s festival. Photo: Bob Rose
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 29
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | An Autumn in Sweden
A festival for norm-shattering meetings and emotional engagements In October, it is once again time for Uppsala International Short Film Festival. During seven jam-packed days, the university town is expecting the arrival of 10,000 eager short film enthusiasts coming to experience the best and most recent short films in the competitive international arena. More than 300 films from around the world will be shown in the town’s classic cinema district. Make no mistake – this is one of the cultural highlights in Scandinavia. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Caroline Tiselius
There is a preconceived idea that short films are something for a niche crowd – highly cultural, very artistic and slightly alienating for the masses of cinemagoers. “Obviously, this is not how it really is,” festival director Niclas Gillberg explains. “Short films are rather an excellent example of how artists and directors can work with their craft independently from the big restrictions of the mainstream cin-
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ema institutes. They can work freely after whatever theme they choose to adapt, and think outside the box both visually and when it comes to storytelling. The result is often films most people can relate to and appreciate.” There are several reasons for making an effort to get to Uppsala International Short Film Festival. For the 33rd year, the festi-
val will offer a wide selection of short films sure to touch, provoke, entertain and charm the audiences. This year, there will be a lot of focus on films from the Netherlands as well as the timeless, classic theme of love. The festival always attracts a diverse, international audience. The event offers day passes granting you access to unlimited films, and for those who are only interested in one specific picture, single tickets are of course available. The over 300 films that are showing at the festival will give the audience a unique introduction to, or further education in, the richness and diversification that is the world of short films. Genres like fiction and animation will be shown as well as short films belonging to the documentary
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | An Autumn in Sweden
and experimental categories. In addition to this, seminars, exhibitions and talks will be held for those interested in deepening their experience and knowledge. There is always something on that will appeal to even the most picky of culture vultures. A sense of community Uppsala is Sweden’s fourth largest city and the home of the oldest centre for higher education in Scandinavia. Mostly thanks to the latter, Uppsala is already a big hub for culturally interested and enlightened people, making it the perfect location for the International Short Film Festival. The event will flood through the entire city. When the viewings are over for the day, the festivities continue at the festival pub, where people are welcome to mingle with directors, actors and other enthusiasts, exchanging ideas, thoughts and feelings regarding the event. “There is no VIP section,” says Gillberg, “which provides a sense of community and equality to the mingling. Without elitist thinking, people are free to network and strike up conversation with whomever they want.” For contributing film makers, there is a lot at stake at this film event. The festival is
recognised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which means that winning the national or international award at Uppsala International Short Film Festival automatically makes a film eligible for an Academy Award nomination. A screening at the festival also qualifies Swedish short films for Guldbagge nominations (the Swedish National Film Award) and British films for nominations to the prestigious BAFTA. The quality of the contributions are extremely high, and if you are interested in seeing films that are shattering the norms and preconceived ideas of humanity and life, the Short Film Festival is definitely worth your while. The event is a meeting place for amateurs and professionals, media, industry people and those simply interested in doing something new and exciting to break up the autumn melancholia. The programme will provide interesting views and insights into Swedish film history and international culture and engagement. Uppsala International Short Film Festival For more information, please visit: www.shortfilmfestival.com
Dates: 20–26 October Tickets on sale from 10 October
Award winner Boris Seewald
Film makers’ seminar
Award winner Malin Skjild
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 31
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | An Autumn in Sweden
Karaoke singers chase stardom The world’s top amateur singers gather annually to compete for the title of Karaoke World Champion. This year, the three-day event will be held at the Solidaritet Arena nighclub in the new Tolv Stockholm complex at Tele2 Arena on 13-15 November, featuring a cash prize of D5,000 and other prizes for the winners as well as karaoke singing for all after each night of competition. So come watch an amazing show and let your inner karaoke star shine bright!
The winners of the 2013 Karaoke World Championships.
By Anita Karlsson | Photos: Karaoke World Championships
The Karaoke World Championships are all about celebrating amateur talent and the joy of singing. The annual competition started in Finland in 2003 and features contestants from 30 countries around the world. Each country holds regional and national finals to select the best male and female singers to represent their country in the competition. “For people who love music and want to see the best up-and-coming singing talent that the world has to offer, this show is a must-see,” says Michael Yelvington, director of international affairs at KWC. “The competition has opened the doors for the careers of many singers,” he says, mentioning as an example the 2008 Swedish contestant Jasmine Cara, who is now a professional.
Yelvington explains that the performances maintain world-class standard and are not the same as your typical karaoke singing to a TV screen. The international jury’s criteria are based on presentation, singing ability, song difficulty and connection with the audience. Guests are invited to join the contestants after each night’s competition for public karaoke in the new Karaoche Bar at Tolv Stockholm. Finalists of the 2013 Karaoke World Championships.
The event will be streamed live at www.livestream.com and is proudly sponsored by Daiichikosho Company, which has been an industry innovator since karaoke was invented in the early ’70s.
For more information, please visit www.karaokeworldchampionships.com or search for ‘Karaoke World Championships’ on Facebook
International festival brings the world to Småland Småland’s Kulturfestival is taking place between 30 October and 2 November, with international performances and exhibitions across art forms. By Malin Norman
The festival offers an extensive programme in surprising venues such as factories, old barns and medieval churches, across ten municipalities in Småland. “We want to create new rooms for culture, where people can discover different combinations of art, literature, design and music. And we want to show that the countryside can be an exciting place no matter the time of year,” says Susanne Rydén, founder and project manager at the festival. From Rio to Bach One must-see is the Live in Rio concert in Eksjö on 2 November, with PianOrquestra from Brazil and Swedish band New Tide Orquesta. PianOrquestra explores its Brazilian rhythmic roots in a musical experiment with one piano played by ten hands, while New Tide Orquesta brings a mix of modern chamber music, free improvisation, and a hint of tango – a dynamic blend set to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Another highlight is Heaven and Pancakes
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in Tolg church in Växjö on 31 October. Worldfamous organist Gunnar Idenstam and Lisa Rydberg, one of Sweden’s most well-known folk music profiles, will offer music by Bach with a Swedish folk music touch. The venue is located next to the Pancake House, giving visitors the chance to enjoy pancake delicacies before or after the concert. Worth mentioning is also Lammhult’s furniture factory, transforming into an interna-
tional venue. Inspired by the award-winning concert hall in Istanbul, Lammhult’s will open its doors for a special event with Swedish and Turkish performers and designers on 1 November. Småland’s Kulturfestival offers numerous other exciting experiences for both Swedish and international visitors, with its broad programme and rare venues. As Rydén explains: “We want to bring the world to Småland, at the time of year when we need it the most.”
Gunnar Idenstam and Lisa Rydberg. Photo: Per-Åke Persson
PianOrquestra will perform with New Tide Orquesta at the Live in Rio concert. Photo: Marcia Moreira
Småland’s Kulturfestival is taking place between 30 October and 2 November. Photo: Pelle Wahlgren
For more information, please visit: www.smalandskulturfestival.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | An Autumn in Sweden
Photo: Per Eriksson
Photo: Ùyvind Lund
Torsby Ski Tunnel is the ideal adventure holiday destination for anyone looking to get fit and have fun. Torsby Ski Tunnel provides 2.6 kilometres of snowy, white cross-country ski tracks – all year round.
Get fit and have fun -with snow all year round Tucked away in the heart of Värmland, Torsby, with its internationally-renowned ski tunnel, offers an insight into the future of winter sports technology as well as thrilling training sessions and powder white snow – all year round. By Bella Qvist
Adventure holidays are becoming increasingly popular worldwide and the small Swedish town of Torsby has been leading the way since 2006, when the jewel in their winter sport crown first opened.
skiers total an average incline of 25 metres per lap. With both slopes and climbs along the track, it is a fun workout and the perfect challenge for thrill-seekers and cross-country skiers at any level.
That jewel is Torsby Ski Tunnel, a 1.3kilometre-long overground indoor track covered in snow and kept at a constant temperature of -3 degrees Celsius. Part of an impressive sports centre complete with its own college, hotel and test centre, it is Sweden’s first and only cross-country ski tunnel and the highlight of this winter sport mecca that sees both Olympians and novices arrive from June to March.
“It’s gotten very popular to exercise. More and more people come here for an active holiday, fusing summer and winter in one. Last year, we had more than 34,000 visitors,” says Linda Danielsson of Torsby Ski Tunnel, explaining their success. “The skiing here is unique, but the clever thing is that you can combine it with lots of other activities,” she says, adding that the facilities include a biathlon shooting range and world-class instructors.
What is more, the tunnel follows the natural curves of the ground, which means
Cross-country and roller skiing activities can be combined with cycling, running
and Nordic walking, giving you a variety of training opportunities in gorgeous landscapes. A golf course can be found nearby, as can hotels, rental cottages and restaurants – why not try the local dish, ‘motti och fläsk’? Torsby Sportcenter is ideal for elite race preparations, but it is equally suited to family holidays and team-building weekends. In fact, you do not have to be a professional to enjoy Torsby – far from it. “We see all kinds of visitors, from professional athletes to people who have never seen snow before,” says Danielsson. “No matter their level, everyone has lots of fun.” So take your mind off the autumn rain, try something new and kickstart your fitness plan by immersing yourself in snow and ice – all before Jack Frost has even landed on Swedish soil.
For more information, please visit: www.skitunnel.se
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 33
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | An Autumn in Sweden
Beautiful and varied scenery and memorable activities in the archipelago on the west coast of Sweden.
Adventure and eco tourism in the archipelago For twenty years and counting, Upplevelsebolaget has been offering tours of the fantastic nature of the west coast of Sweden. Choose your level of adventure in and around Sweden’s first marine national park. Paddle, bike, hike or climb your way through the scenic landscape.
books about sea kayaking and climbing in Bohuslän.
By Anita Karlsson | Photos: Joakim Hermanson / Upplevelsebolaget
When asked about what makes Bohuslän special, he replies: “Actually, the more I travel, the more beautiful Bohuslän becomes. And I’ve dedicated large parts of my life to travelling as I think it’s amazing, so my perspective is pretty objective. When it comes to kayaking, there is no place on the planet better suited for it than the coast of Bohuslän, if you ask me. There is a lot of water and plenty of coastlines on the planet, but few archipelagos. And the few archipelagos that exist are often quite grim places with strong winds and currents, tides, heavy precipitation
Upplevelsebolaget can be translated as ‘the Experience Company’ – and an outof-the-ordinary travel experience with a lasting impression and a growing awareness for nature preservation is just what its tours are all about. Add enthusiastic and experienced instructors who are happy to accommodate your personal wishes, and you have the company values in a nutshell.
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To Joakim Hermanson, co-founder and owner of Upplevelsebolaget, no landscape on the planet beats that of Bohuslän on the west coast of Sweden. And that is despite him being an experienced adventure traveller who has biked and kayaked his way through the six continents, with a fondness for remote places away from the ordinary travel routes. He gives inspirational lectures on his travel adventures and has even written guide
Sweden’s first and only marine national park
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | An Autumn in Sweden
and cold water. The archipelagos in Finland and Sweden are pleasant and accessible exceptions, and of them the one in Bohuslän is an exception in itself since there are many more species living here than elsewhere.” It is not only Hermanson who recognises the unique biological diversity in the district; Kosterhavet National Park was established here in 2009, fifteen years after Upplevelsebolaget started its first tours in the area, and last year CNN listed the Bohuslän coast as one of the ten most beautiful wilderness areas in the world. It is Sweden’s first and so far only marine national park, protecting the life in the sea and the surrounding islands, islets and skerries. In the national park you will find plenty of harbour seals and rare seabirds such as Arctic terns and skuas as well as fish including plaice, cod and sea trout, Sweden’s only coral reef, and much more. Hermanson explains that there are about 6,000 marine species in the national park, compared to a few hundred in the Stockholm archipelago.
travel enthusiast continues. “And that is exactly what you have in the archipelago. You can paddle your way around the plenitude of small islands in many different ways, choosing calm or more challenging waters as you wish, enjoying the beautiful and varied scenery as you move along.” Activities for all According to Hermanson, kayaking is best experienced between May and September, August and September being particular highlights as the tourist season is over but the water is still warm. Besides kayaking, Upplevelsebolaget offers hiking, biking and climbing tours in the area. You can choose your level of difficulty from beginners’ to more advanced levels. Upplevelsebolaget knows the area well and has several guided trips you can book on the website, as well as offering selfguided tours. As part of the self-guided tours, you can rent activity and camping equipment. The information and support is on Upplevelsebolaget, and they will even come and pick you up when you get to your destination, no back-tracking needed.
garding overnight accommodation, from camping outdoors and cooking fresh fish over an evening campfire to staying the night at an inn that holds a nice restaurant, sauna and live music. If you travel in a group of a minimum of four people, you can contact Upplevelsebolaget for the possibility of travelling on other dates than those available on the website. Eco tourism company of the year Upplevelsebolaget is certified according to Nature’s Best standards, which is a Swedish quality label for eco tourism. In 2006, the company received the award for best Swedish eco tourism company of the year. Hermanson explains that the company already at the start in 1994 set out to do sustainable tourism. “If you get a chance to experience these beautiful surroundings, then I think it’s almost impossible not to feel an interest to preserve this or similar natural environments. I want our customers to carry with them the feeling of having had an amazing experience in a unique environment that is worth fighting for, worth preserving.”
“Kayaking is much more interesting when there are many different routes to take while heading for your destination,” the
For the multi-day tours, you can choose between different convenience levels re-
Kayaking near a fishing village on the island of Orust.
Rock climbing on the warm, red, glimmering granite in Bohuslän with a stunning ocean view.
For more information, please visit: www.upplevelsebolaget.com
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 35
: ME D E TH LAN L A I IN EC IN F P S DE MA
Helsinki, summer and design What a winning combination! If you visit Helsinki, you simply must not miss a visit to Design District Helsinki. The area offers shopping, exhibitions, services and a great urban atmosphere throughout the year, but for most people, summer is their favourite time to visit this marine neighbourhood with its parks and green areas, topped up with vibrant city culture.
Welcome to visit the extraordinary and diverse Design District Helsinki!
By Aino Vepsäläinen, Design District Helsinki | Photos: Timo Junttila
The heart of Design District Helsinki is Dianapuisto Park, from which the district spreads out towards the Kaartinkaupunki, Kamppi, Punavuori and Ullanlinna areas. The whole district is within walking distance and can be easily explored with the special DDH map. The map is available, for example, at the district’s member shops as well as the Helsinki City Tourist Information. It shows all the 200 members of the area: shops, galleries, museums, restaurants, hotels, and so on. One of the district’s specialties is its late night shopping events, with Helsinki’s renowned Night of the Arts on 21 August as an example. The boutiques and gal-
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leries of the district stay open later than usual in the evening, and the visitors get an opportunity to meet the designers and artists, enjoy the exhibitions, and discover great shopping opportunities. The year of 2014 marks the centenary of the birth of famous Finnish furniture designer Ilmari Tapiovaara. In honour of the event, Design Museum is staging an extensive exhibition of Tapiovaara’s work. Another reason to visit the museum is, of course, its permanent exhibition, Finnish Form. Design Forum Showroom nearby presents graphic design by Jussi Karjalainen, a well-known illustrator and artist of CD and book covers.
Photo: Panu Turunen
For more information, please visit: www.designdistrict.fi www.facebook.com/latenightshopping helsinki www.designmuseum.fi www.designforum.fi
Special Theme | Made in Finland
Good work from fine land The Finns are experts in solving problems and inventing new solutions to improve our everyday life. We have always paid a great deal of attention to the environment, to sustainability and to applying user-friendly principles. Thanks to these factors, Finland has transformed from a poor agrarian society into one of the best countries in the world, according to many international rankings. Text and photos by The Association of Finnish Work
Beyond internationally well-known consumer brands, Finland has top-level expertise in clean technologies, ICT, bioeconomy and the life sciences sector. Finnish companies are putting a lot of effort into product development and design. Because the whole production chain can be guaranteed, Finnish products are very reliable.
design. Companies granted the symbols are the forerunners of the Finnish business world, investing in design and understanding its value as an integral part of the business strategy. More broadly, the symbols highlight the importance of highly-skilled and intangible work in building the Finnish success story.
For those companies that want to stress the Finnish origin of their products and services, The Association of Finnish Work grants the Key Flag Symbol. With the help of the symbol, the consumer knows instantly that the product or service has been produced in Finland, while the Design from Finland symbol indicates the origin of unique and high-quality Finnish
The design and engineering know-how focusing on the practical use of the products means that Finns are excellent at designing beautiful, well-functioning everyday products and services. Next time you visit Finland, make sure to find products and services marked with either the Key Flag symbol or the Design from Finland symbol.
The Association of Finnish Work, founded in 1912, is an expert organisation whose duty is to promote the appreciation of Finnish work. The association offers a unique platform for enterprises and organisations, consumers, representatives of the media and politicians to meet and work together to promote Finnish work. The organisation governs the Key Flag, the Design from Finland and the Finnish Social Enterprise symbols.
For more information, please visit: www.avainlippu.fi/en
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 37
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
For many people, work these days means long hours in front of a computer. It is absolutely necessary to find a way to take care of your back while sitting.
A revolution of sitting transforms occupational health and speeds up motion Salli Systems from Finland has done pioneering work for 24 years to solve the problems of sitting. Numerous studies conducted at Salli have found connections between a number of illnesses and sitting disorders. Text & photos by Salli Systems
Well-known issues include problems with the spine, but many other common internal organ illnesses are linked to sitting, such as prostate cancer and prostate overgrowth, poor sperm quality, erectile dysfunction and lack of testosterone – and perhaps not surprisingly so: putting pressure on your testicles day after long working day, your testicles end up squeezed and keeping completely the wrong temperature.
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The development of the two-part saddle seat was based on direct and indirect studies and basic facts of anatomy and physiology. The simple motto: let us make room for your important bits and pieces. And for the ladies, the most important organs lie inside the pelvis; avoiding unnecessary pressure and exercising pelvic floor muscles can be done with the swinging Salli chair.
Salli is known for the slogan, ‘it is all about circulation’. Micro and macro circulation make up the foundation of healthy metabolism. 20 litres of lymph and blood travel in 400-500 kilometres of vessels at any time in the average-sized human. Sitting disorders – disastrous due to lifestyle Sitting is a risk factor for spine degeneration, posture problems, arthritis in hips and knees, internal pelvic problems, genital health problems, low oxygen levels in the hip area, poor circulation into the head and tight muscles in the neck on the main vessels.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Countless articles have been published focusing on how sitting kills, which has led to the thinking that all sitting is bad. But realising that it is almost impossible to work just standing, Salli came up with the solution of sitting as if in the saddle. If a person is in a fully relaxed mood, such as under water, the position approaches saddle-like sitting with both hip and knee joints at a 135-degree angle. To get the full benefits and full circulation, the saddle seat needs to be divided and preferably also swinging to improve the motion. Salli sitting welfare concept When creating a concept of a lifestyle of healthy sitting, it is not just about sitting on a saddle chair. The working environment has to adapt to higherpositioned sitting, a height-adjustable table is necessary, the elbows must be supported, the monitors set to the correct height, and there should be more than one monitor. The divided swinging chair combined with the correct clothing gives you the best possible sensation of sitting.
Dentists have become increasingly aware of health issues: the working position is difficult and leaning forward all the time can cause problems for most professionals.
Highly-educated professionals, such as doctors and dentists, have found Salli to be their choice for their working life. Salli wants its customers to retire healthy; there are so many enjoyable years after one’s working career, and of course one’s working life can benefit from fewer sick days and a more active work experience. One chair, one world As internationally-known Finnish innovation products, the Salli chairs are exported to 60 countries across all continents, and top professionals in the medical and dental fields are using and recommending the chairs. With more and more industries following their example, the Salli chairs are found in a growing number of offices and among different professionals, but also in homes all around the world. Ongoing product development is done in collaboration with physiotherapists and scientific partners. All Salli saddle chairs are made with top-quality control and the expertise of the very best professionals,
The development of Salli saddle chairs has been in the hands of Veli-Jussi Jalkanen since the very beginning. Salli will celebrate its 25-year anniversary in 2015, as the first Salli product was introduced in 1990.
making a 10-year warranty for the product a no-brainer.
What does it take to adopt the concept of healthy sitting? - Becoming aware - Wanting change for increased health, comfort and productivity - A little bit of investment: using your Salli chair costs less than a cup of coffee a day (based on 10 years of usage during working days) - Reorganising the work space - Changed clothing for the optimal benefits - Tolerance of early-on soreness - Learning a new way of working - Possibility to get your daily workout just through sitting on a swinging chair, reaching things, and rolling around your work space: deep inner muscles are exercised and while working you are toning your waist line and improving your circulation
For more information, please visit: www.salli.com
When totally relaxed, we naturally end up in the position we would be in when sitting on saddle chair.
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 39
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Designing the difference
perience the new ship during the first year, and Viking Grace won the prestigious Shippax Design prize.
With the help of great interior design, companies could increase their profits significantly. How? Leading Finnish designer Vertti Kivi and his colleagues at dSign know just how to do it, and they have an impressive track record to prove it.
dSign Vertti Kivi & Co. recently opened an office in Dubai, anticipating the 2020 World Exposition. Kivi has exciting plans for the future: “I want to create even greater spatial experiences, places people want to visit again and enjoy spending time.” In tough markets, it could very well be the quality of the interior design that makes all the difference.
By Mia Halonen | Photos: dSign Vertti Kivi
Vertti Kivi is without doubt one of the most notable Finnish designers of all time. Kivi’s office, dSign Vertti Kivi & Co., has executed some 800 projects in several different countries, ranging from small offices and shops to hotels, fine dining restaurants, airport lounges and cruise ships. The international client list includes big names such as Microsoft, Finnair, Fazer, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Tatler’s Travel Guide picked one of Kivi’s hotel designs in Thailand as one of the best hotels in the world. The list could go on and on. “The space always communicates something about the company,” says Kivi. “Shouldn’t it be saying something you want it to say?” In Kivi’s native Finland, functionality has always come first. “But the look and feel is increasingly important.” For example, design can make people choose one
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restaurant over another, the best employees are more committed to firms with pleasant working environments, and welldesigned shops have greater turnover. Kivi provides a striking example: “Aktia, a bank chain in Finland, renovated all its premises. At one point, the branches that had already been done up showed a 30 per cent increase in their business.” That is a lot of money. Great places for monitoring the importance of design are hotels. A cool design can transform the hotel itself into a tourist attraction. The upcoming Hilton hotel in Tallinn, Estonia, has been designed by dSign. Perhaps it will experience similar success to the new ship sailing between Sweden and Finland, Viking Grace. “The shipping company was expecting some 700,000 passengers a year, but that nearly doubled.” 1.3 million people wanted to ex-
For more information, please visit: www.dsign.fi
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Sixty years old is the new young This year, Tammi Jewellery celebrates 60 years of history with new owners and new ideas. CEO and one of two owners, Miia Saarikko, is enthusiastic: “It is great to work with a brand with history. Some experienced buyers at international fairs know more about our brand than I do!” By Taina Värri | Photos: © Gabri Photography
The other partner, goldsmith Marjut Kemppi, has worked for the company for over twenty years and masters the entire process of handmade jewellery. Tammi Jewellery prefers unique crafting to computer-aided design. “The difference is in the structures,” Saarikko explains. “One of our most popular products is the Archipelago collection. Like the new Puro
Siipi pendant
Kaari pendant
collection, it is based on abstract, natural shapes. The more realistic Orchid pendant is designed for the jubilee year of 2014 especially.” Tammi Jewellery uses 100 per cent recycled gold and aims to reduce the waste that inevitably comes with packaging the precious pieces. The plastic cases had to go and give way
The Orchid celebrates 60 years of Tammi Jewellery.
to the new ones, made of cardboard. The mailing packages are recycled whenever possible. “Nature is our inspiration, so it goes without saying that we want to make environmentallyconscious choices.” Saarikko is aware that, at present, the older generation in Finland knows the Tammi brand better than the younger. “That will soon change,” she says. “We have already attracted new young customers with our latest designs. It will be thrilling to see what happens when we launch our golden wedding collection.”
For more information, please visit: www.tammenkoru.fi
Puro bracelets
Everlasting love of glass Glass artist Heikki Viinikainen has 15 stitches on his finger. He was giving the final touches to one of his pieces of art when it suddenly broke in two and cut him. It was a deep cut. By Taina Värri
Viinikainen has forgiven his volatile lover: “Glass is graceful, soft and plastic and at the same time very aggressive and totally merciless. You must be strong, yet you must not mistreat glass. When it is hot you must be very careful not to burn yourself. My misluck was to try to work on it while there was an invisible tension inside.”
The risk of the glass breaking is always present, whether it is the piece that you are working on or a unique work of art from the ’50s or ’60s. Viinikainen is painfully aware of the fact that in one brief moment, everything can be lost. Yet he is totally smitten: “There is the transparency, the light and the openness in glass. When you look at, say, a metal object, your gaze stops on the surface. With glass you can see deeper, and it is a totally different world in there. And then there are the colours! I can’t think of ever really letting go of glass. There is nothing else in the world quite like it.”
Unique Sato vase. Photo: Heikki Viinikainen
Kuohu champagne glass. Photo: Heikki Viinikainen
Babushka glassware. Photo: Anne Croquet
For more information, please visit: www.studioviinikainen.com Heikki Viinikainen is a passionate glass artist. Photo: Janne Rahunen
Sulava art piece. Photo: Heikki Viinikainen
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 41
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
logo since Werklig worked its typographic magic on it. Standing out A skilled eye can easily identify when the Werklig team has been involved in a project. Kaitala is especially proud of the team’s typographic expertise and strategic insight. “Our strategic business insight makes us stand out amongst our competitors. We provide our clients with working, long-term solutions that really encompass what they’re about,” Kaitala explains.
Red Bull Crashed Ice is the official tour of Ice Cross Downhill World Championships, and Werklig created the overall branding for the event in Finland.
Giving ideas wings to succeed One size fits all? Think again. At Finnish brand design agency Werklig, it is all about creating innovative, individual visual designs that represent the client to the fullest. By Nina Lindqvist | Photos: Werklig
“We think of ourselves as creative problem solvers,” says Janne Kaitala, co-founder and CEO of Werklig, an independent brand design agency founded in 2008 in Helsinki. Werklig, whose pun-happy name is a combination of the German word for work, ‘werk’, and the Swedish word for true or real, ‘verklig’, has an impressive clientele consisting of public administration companies, small-scale start-ups and wellknown household names such as Red Bull. The company is also a member of Impact Alliance, a Nordic network of independent agencies specialising in branding and communication. “At Werklig, we help the client discover the very core of their brand strategy and design the elements needed for the brand to stand out,” Kaitala explains. Werklig has created designs for numerous big Finnish clients, such as nuclear power company Fennovoima, mobile operator Tele Finland, and logistics company Hako-
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nen. Even the Finnish parliament has enlisted Werklig’s design expertise. “We give our Finnish clients global appeal through our visual designs, which enable them to compete on a global level and stand out amongst their competitors,” Kaitala says. The agency also recently gave the Design from Finland label, used to indicate items of high-quality Finnish design, a muchanticipated makeover. Marimekko, Iittala and Fiskars have all started to use the
In addition to creating the visual identity for the Finnish Parliament, Werklig designed identities for the Parliamentary Ombudsman of Finland and the National Audit Office.
A diverse clientele means finding different solutions that work for each individual client. There is no one-solution-fits-all, Kaitala emphasises. “The aim is always to make an impact on the target audience. But the way to achieve that is different for every client. Start-ups usually prefer a more daring approach, whereas established companies might prefer a less bold design.” One of Werklig’s newest clients is KYRÖ Distillery Company, a Finnish start-up producing rye whisky. For Kaitala and his team, it is rewarding to see a brand identity flourish from nothing. “They came to us with the idea of selling rye whisky, which was born during a visit to the sauna. Today, the company has had a pop-up store in Helsinki and has its eyes set on global metropolises such as London, Berlin and Tokyo.”
For more information, please visit: www.werklig.com
Fennovoima is a Finnish energy company that has collaborated with Werklig since 2008.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Perfect match When the leading Finnish marketing communications agency hasan & partners acquired 51 per cent of the Swedish creative digital agency Perfect Fools earlier this year, it was no hostile takeover. “Instead, it’s a true love affair,” declares CEO of hasan & partners, Eka Ruola. In terms of what the combined forces can do for their clients globally, the sky is the limit. By Mia Halonen | Photo: hasan & partners
“Our mission has never been to make ads, but to help our clients market their products or services better,” says Ruola. “Now, with the joined forces of hasan & partners, Perfect Fools, and our consumer insight company Frankly partners, we can serve our clients even better, through every channel.” Ruola is clearly excited about the start of the new, more international
era. “It is fair to say that Helsinki is not the first place most global brands look for a creative agency, but with world-class digital expertise and capacity, we can pitch for more heavy-weight clients.” On top of a deep understanding of the Nordic and Russian markets, the new superagency offers the skills needed to do business globally. “This is a smart way to grow outside of Finland,” says the CEO. And hasan & partners certainly has grown fast during this past year: the five units across three countries now employ 110 top professionals of 15 different nationalities. “The offices in Helsinki, Stockholm and Amsterdam truly are melting pots of different cultures,” says Ruola. “We wanted the best people in digital marketing, and that’s what we’ve got.” Tony Högqvist of Perfect Fools (left) and Eka Ruola of hasan & partners (right)
For more information, please visit: www.hasanpartners.fi
Natural approach to health and beauty Nothing is more personal than the choices we make in caring for ourselves. The natural skin care products of global cosmetics brand Dr. Hauschka respect the skin’s inherent rhythms, believing that when we feel healthy and balanced, we are better able to care for others and the planet on which we live. By Inna Allen
Founded in Germany over seventy years ago, pioneering holistic pharmaceutical company WALA Heilmittel introduced chemist Dr. Rudolf Hauschka’s revolutionary approach to skin care in 1967. Based on the understanding that
Providing make-up for the Miss Finland contest. Photo: Hans Lehtinen
beauty results from skin health, Dr. Hauschka Skin Care products are specifically formulated to restore beauty by working with the skin to support its own natural processes of renewal. Dr. Hauschka’s approach is based on the theory of anthroposophical medicine – a form of alternative medicine that in part complements and in part replaces mainstream medicine. “The company grows the highest quality botanicals and harvests them at the peak of their potency so that the power of the living plant can be harnessed and captured in the products,” explains Merja Ekholm from Itu Biodyn in Helsinki, a specialised wholesaler of organic products and Finland’s agent for Dr. Hauschka merchandise. “In addition to the products, Dr. Hauschka is famous for its revolutionary skin care methods that turn con-
ventional practises on their heads – add oil for oily skin, avoid using facial night creams, don’t exfoliate, and so on.” Dr. Hauschka is also a prominent figure in the professional make-up field. As with all Dr. Hauschka products, the properties of the natural ingredients bring the beauty, life and vitality of nature to their users.
Rose petals are an important ingredient in Dr. Hauschka products. Photo: Dr. Hauschka
For more information, please visit: www.itubiodyn.fi www.dr.hauschka.com
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 43
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Wonder is based in an old red brick warehouse at Helsinki harbour. Design methods are used to innovate and build strategy.
Finnish design creates wonder Wonder Agency is a Helsinki-based design agency that works with ambitious clients to build remarkable brands and businesses, equipped with a strategic and creative toolbox.
expectations. “It is a mindset that keeps driving us forward,” he says.
By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: Wonder
Design that matters
Brands are about much more than advertising and marketing these days. Wonder takes a holistic approach to include everything that matters from strategy and innovation to internal culture and brand experience. The agency was founded in 2008, today with 12 employees and an office in an old harbour warehouse in the Finnish capital. The impressive portfolio of brands includes Fiskars, Marimekko, Altia, Koskenkorva and many more. “The cornerstone of what we do is design, not just how things look, but very much the methodology. What it really means is that design is the way in which we help companies innovate and build strategy,” says Tobias Dahlberg, founder and managing director. Design as a methodology means combining science and art, analytical thinking
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with creative thinking and doing. It is more than beautiful objects, and Dahlberg highlights the fact that there is a major distinction between the word design as a verb and as a noun, the former being a way to approach problem-solving and the latter being an outcome, like a pattern or a vase. Being remarkable Everyone at the agency has one important thing in common: a strong desire to create something remarkable. “We hate average. There is such an over-supply of most products in our part of the world and we already have all the things we need. We are trying to push our clients to be remarkable, or in other words do things that people notice, talk about and think is really nice,” says the managing director. The aim is to be a world-class agency, and Dahlberg tries to be a visionary leader and inspire people to exceed
The Scandinavian countries are famous around the world for great design. Dahlberg wants to elevate the meaning and use of design: “My dream is to use design to solve the bigger problems in the world. We are already known for great design in the Nordics, so why not build on this? Design is a human-centred and creative problem-solving methodology that has the power to change the world. We have the credibility to take the lead, and take credit for it.” Tobias Dahlberg, founder and managing director.
For more information, please visit: www.wonderagency.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
For the love of beer In the atmospheric style of the beer cellars of central Europe, Finland’s Plevna Brewery Pub & Restaurant offers its customers authentic and historic surroundings. With several award-winning brews available directly from its own brewery, Plevna has something for every palate. This year, Plevna celebrates its 20th anniversary with a varied and changing selection of seasonal products. By Inna Allen | Photos: Sebastian Trzaska/Plevna
Tampere’s only genuine brewery pub and restaurant, Plevna opened its doors in October 1994 in the old Finlayson cotton mills. Located on the premises, Koskipanimo brewery, run by brew master Sam Viitaniemi, produces various different products, from dark, pale and wheat lager to stout and cider. Viitaniemi is constantly developing new types of brews, and the brewery produces several smaller batches of sea-
sonal and specialty beers. “Marking the 20th anniversary, we are also re-creating some of our older beers from years back,” says restaurateur Marika Tähtinen-Hakala. “And this summer, we are bringing out a trilogy of wheat beers: Amarillo Weizen, Motueka Weizen, and Simcoe Weizen.” To complement your tipple of choice, Plevna also serves a varied food menu. In addition to
Lighting the way with lanterns Praised for its simple, sharp and stylish lanterns, Leino Design designs and produces high-quality stainless steel products. Striving to design long-lasting and ecological quality products that stand the test of time, Leino Design flies the flag for genuine Finnish design, workmanship and production. By Inna Allen | Photos: Leino Design
Established in 2009, with its workshop based in Salo in the southwest of Finland, Leino Design is a husband-and-wife team focusing on designing and producing stainless steel products
for the home. Just like the company’s main products – handmade stainless steel lanterns – all Leino Design items have been manufactured in Finland from genuine Finnish stainless steel.
the best-selling sausage pan, made with bratwurst, Thüringer sausage, herb-andcheese sausage, and small sausages filled with pearl barley, served with a bacon-onion-potato mix, there are plenty of tasty dishes and lighter bites to choose from, whatever your appetite level may be. In line with its many German influences, Plevna will also be celebrating Oktoberfest from 22 September to 5 October this year. Throughout the festivities, customers will be able to enjoy special Oktoberfest beers and foods, meet wagon-pulling Shire horses, listen to live music every evening, and take in the wonderful atmosphere.
For more information, please visit: www.plevna.fi
“We are part of the Association of Finnish Work and strive to design long-lasting, ecological, high-quality products that can withstand the harsh Nordic weather conditions,” says one half of the duo, Mirkka Leino. The company’s products have been granted the Key Flag Symbol, providing consumers with the instant knowledge that Leino Design items have been produced in Finland for Finnish conditions. “Finding out about the origin of products or services is becoming more and more important, so we are extremely proud to say that our Made in Finland factor is almost 100 per cent – only the glass used in our lanterns comes from elsewhere,” Leino continues. The company also carries the respected Design from Finland mark, which indicates the origin of unique and high-quality Finnish Design. Leino Design’s beautiful lanterns can be placed inside or outdoors, to adorn living rooms, verandas, gardens, terraces, balconies or even the summer cottage pier. They add soft, atmospheric lighting and will withstand use, wherever you place them.
For more information, please visit: www.leinodesign.fi
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 45
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
A natural oasis in one-of-a-kind design setting Surrounded by calm and quiet nature, right by the seaside, yet only a few minutes’ drive from Helsinki’s city centre, Hanasaari is the perfect spot for combining a city break or a business trip with an opportunity to enjoy the Nordic archipelago. Providing a cultural centre, a maritime hotel, a conference venue and a top-quality restaurant, Hanasaari is a one-of-a-kind setting where culture, business, design and leisure meet. This summer, Hotel Hanasaari has undergone a stunning re-design to enhance the nature experience of its visitors. By Inna Allen | Photos: Hanasaari
Often hosting international conferences, Hanasaari is renowned for its business facilities, and is also a particularly popular place for private functions. Restaurant Johannes serves delicious locally-produced food and fresh Nordic flavours in a beautiful setting with views across the Finnish archipelago. “We can serve up to 240 guests, and in the summer, the terrace creates the perfect spot for al fresco dining,” says business director Ari Vilkki. Due to its magnificent position beside the Baltic Sea, the maritime landscape is without doubt one of Hanasaari’s trump cards.
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cious hotel rooms have been renovated by designers Kivi and Tuuli Sotamaa, children of the interior’s original designer, professor Yrjö Sotamaa. Seeking to restore Hanasaari’s role as a forerunner in design, the Hanasaari Re:Design project has created intimate and pleasant spaces with customised, handcrafted and technologically-advanced furniture. Furnished to intensify the nature experience, each room at Hotel Hanasaari has an unobstructed view of the sea, so that the special nature of the archipelago is the first thing guests see when waking up.
A conservation area, Hanasaari’s surrounding nature is ideal for long, leisurely walks, cycling treks or fishing trips. And yet the heart of Helsinki city centre is less than 10 minutes away. New, impressive design Hanasaari was established in the 1970s, and the original building, designed by architect Veikko Malmio, has been carefully maintained and renovated over the years. “The interior of the building, with simple shapes and natural materials, was inspired by nature, art and Finnish design,” Vilkki explains. Now, 36 of the 61 bright and spa-
For more information, please visit: www.hanasaari.fi
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Petri and Pauliina Pirkola of WTF.
A touch of Bilbao in Helsinki.
Home is where your boat is The little motorboat, as CEO Petri Pirkola calls his creative agency WTF Helsinki, has taken a bold spurt across the Baltic Sea towards continental Europe. The possibilities of the Baltic region were so tempting that the whole family – business partner and wife Pauliina, baby Peppi and Eki Emilio, the furry woofer – jumped in the boat and moved to Tallinn, Estonia. By Taina Värri | Photos: WTF Helsinki
At the time of speaking to Pirkola, he and his family have been living in Tallinn for one week. The city itself was already familiar to them, but from now on it will be their hometown, too. The family feels at home already. “Our routines are quite the same here, thanks to Peppi and the dog,” says Pirkola. “I plan to join the local Niitvälja Golf Club, and we, my wife and I, love to run, which is easy to practise anywhere. And the people here are so friendly!” Pirkola is excited about the fresh market opportunities and the new way of working. “WTF has the concepting, branding and marketing skills that the Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania can utilise.
In exchange, we get to work among 50 start-ups at the new creative hub Garage 48 in the very heart of Tallinn. This new environment provides a totally new burst of positive energy and networking, up-todate technical know-how and flexible cooperation. It is also smoother to manage things when your business partners are familiar with the local proceedings,” he says. The WTF headquarters, however, will stay in Helsinki. “At the moment it is just the two of us here in Tallinn, Pauliina and I. We are taking small steps, but I believe at some point during this year we will hire new staff here in Estonia too.” Diverse projects in South Africa and Hong Kong have been fruitful. Recently,
WTF Helsinki was invited to join Confrad, a chain of independent advertising agencies, as the country representative of Finland and Estonia. This collaboration has already opened up new partnerships and ventures in Denmark and Germany. “I like this,” says the CEO, smiling, “and the amount of talent here is totally absurd! We certainly are here to stay.”
WTF does branding and marketing for Finnish and Estonian companies, cities and municipalities.
For more information, please visit: www.wtfhelsinki.fi
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 47
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Human touch Let us guess: you usually grab your coffee and have it by your desk. At the Lapuan Kankurit weavery, the machines stop twice a day for coffee breaks. By Taina Värri | Photos: Lapuan Kankurit
Lapuan Kankurit is a family business, owned by Esko and Jaana Hjelt. The weavery was founded in 1917 and Esko Hjelt is a fourthgeneration weaver. The techniques used are based on a long tradition, but the designs are modern. The next season’s designs are presented at fairs in Paris and Frankfurt this fall. “Somehow, the right
people always just end up working with us,” says Jaana. “It is the chemistry, and of course us knowing the special talents of each designer. One masters the weaving, another is a great illustrator, a third knows everything about the latest trends.” Sometime last year, Esko started to obsess about combining tencel fibre and linen. No-
Lapuan Kankurit combines natural fibres and modern design with traditional weaving techniques.
Life is sweet A rapidly-growing delicacy in the flourishing sweets industry is Finnish, high-quality, soft liquorice that feeds fans all over the world from Australia to South-Africa. One of the biggest exporters is Halva, producing several thousand tonnes of the black sweet every year. By Anna Taipale | Photos: Halva
Halva’s managing director, Jean Karavokyros, admits to exceeding the average Finn’s annual sweet consumption of 13.5 kilos. “I probably eat around 100 kilos of liquorice per year and still love it.” Karavokyros clearly is not the only one; Halva exports to 25 countries and is continuously expanding its territory, the newest addition being eastern Europe. For the past 10 years, Halva has became one of the leading liquorice producers in the world, with its export taking up over half of the company’s produce.
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Halva has a wide assortment of soft, highquality liquorice in different shapes and tastes that have relieved sweet teeth both nationally and internationally for nearly seven decades. Founded in 1931 by Karavokyros’s grandfather and his brother, Halva Ltd first produced the Greek namesake delicacy but switched gears in the 1950s in favour of the sticky sweet. Karavokyros believes the secret to the globally-growing affinity for the sweet to be, besides its exotic aroma, its naturalness com-
body else was interested. “Only once Esko had woven the first piece that we could touch with our hands, all doubt was gone. We had a totally new, soft, light and absorbent fabric in our hands,” Jaana muses. “We sometimes wonder if the coffee breaks are too old-fashioned. On the other hand, it is a long tradition and it brings people together every day. And it is good for the spirit. We have had people working here with us at Lapuan Kankurit for forty years!”
For more information, please visit: www.lapuankankurit.fi
The Lapuan Kankurit flagship store at the Helsinki Senate Square quarters.
pared to other candies. One of the latest additions to Halva’s sweet assortment is liquorice sweetened with Stevia. “Health consciousness is a growing trend in western culture, and our product heeds that call. Liquorice has fewer artificial ingredients than most other candies, and liquorice root has historically been believed to have multiple health benefits – even ancient Egyptians used it to treat inflammatory stomach conditions,” the director explains. In recent years, Karavokyros has witnessed a growing interest in the use of liquorice as an ingredient in both home cooking and fine dining. “Recently, there was a cookbook published with over 200 recipes for liquorice. I’ve seen everything from liquorice-marinated lamb to liquorice sauce for fish.” For more information, please visit: www.halva.fi
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
FINN CRISP can be enjoyed in many different ways: on its own or with different toppings.
Healthy Nordic pleasures Imagine this situation: you would love to have a snack, but then you remember, yet again, that snacking tends to make you feel guilty. Then imagine this: you recall that, if you are snacking on FINN CRISP, the healthy and pure rye crispbread that has been a part of the Finnish diet for centuries on end, it is completely guilt-free.
“I think more and more people pay attention to the healthiness of what they eat. FINN CRISP has many really healthy product attributes, and it also tastes really good,” says Sungatullina. An avid FINN CRISP eater herself, she knows what she is talking about. “I always have them on my desk in the office, and I don’t feel guilty eating them.”
By Johannes Laitila | Photos: FINN CRISP
A trip to my local convenience store in London took a pleasantly surprising turn a while ago. As I was walking between the shelves rather absent-mindedly, a red package with the text FINN CRISP on it caught my eye. I looked closer. It turned out to be a package of thin rye crisps, a uniquely Finnish product and something I have been eating ever since I was born. It was definitely not the first time I had bought thin crisps in my life – it was just the context that was unexpected. Or was it, actually? FINN CRISP is sold in more than 40 countries, the UK being one of them, and the brand is still gaining popularity at a rapid pace. “We have been growing in double digits the last couple of
years,” says Azaliya Sungatullina, brand manager at FINN CRISP. “More and more people are discovering it.”
And why feel guilty when there is no reason whatsoever to do so? FINN CRISP is at the heart of a healthy Nordic diet, without taking anything away from the taste.
For Finns, crispbread is all about traditions, having been a part of a Nordic diet for centuries. The story of FINN CRISP began more than 60 years ago: Helsinki was hosting the Summer Olympic Games in 1952, and as much as it was about sport, it also provided a showcase festival for Finnish companies. That was when Vaasan formed FINN CRISP to export crispbread. What started with export to Sweden has now become a worldwide phenomenon. FINN CRISP is already gaining footholds even in markets where bread has traditionally always been white and soft, and never before dark and crispy.
For more information, please visit: finncrisp.com facebook.com/THEFINNCRISP
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 49
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Solutions for everyday life Design is central to many successful Nordic businesses, but Stala stands out from the crowd by allowing customers to design products that meet their own specific needs using the company’s unique web-based planning programme. In this respect, the company shows how over 40 years of design heritage can go hand-in-hand with cutting-edge internet-empowered customisation. By Sanna Halmekoski | Photos: Stala
The Stala name combines the English word ‘stainless’ with the name of the Finnish town Lahti. This is where the company’s story began in 1972, when founder Reino Rajamäki purchased the stainless steel sink and kitchen worktop manufacturing department of Upo, his previous employer. “A company name that derives from an English word demonstrates how Rajamäki from the start was looking forward to expanding abroad, and turning his business into the successful international enterprise it is today,” says sales and marketing director Pasi Kallio proudly. Design has always been integral to Stala’s business model, and the company offers a variety of everyday products for domestic
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kitchens and gardens. Stala’s kitchen range includes stainless steel kitchen worktops with sinks, which can feature accessories such as chopping boards and waste-sorting systems. Production of gardening tools and mail boxes has brought the business into the garden as well. All of the products have been designed with a clear purpose in mind to suit the Nordic environment and clientele. “We can provide just over a million different stainless steel kitchen worktops with sinks made according customer-specific measurements,” explains Kallio. How is this impressive number possible? The answer is a planning programme called Stala Designer on the company’s website, which allows customers to design their
own unique stainless steel kitchen worktops. The resulting product not only fits their homes, but contains the specific practical and aesthetic features they desire. Stala’s modern production technology enables rapid turnaround of custommade products created using the Stala Designer programme. Once a customer has finished a design, it only takes six days for the company to finish the final product in stainless steel, a timeless surface that is hygienic, highly waterresistant, easy to keep clean, and also recyclable. Stala’s factory is based in Lahti, and the company’s managing director is still a family member, Rajamäki’s daughter Tuija. However, exports now account for more than 30 per cent of the operations, and Stala’s web-based platform makes it easy for new international customers to discover the brand. For more information, please visit: www.stala.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
expect authenticity. This is especially valued by the collectors of glassware, Moomin and Angry Birds products.” Exotic flavors and natural health The Finns have taken care of their health with wild berries and herbs for generations without putting much thought into it. The super berries, lingonberry and bilberry (wild blueberry), have just recently started gaining their foothold internationally, especially in Asia and North America.
Finnish woodlands provide you with nature’s own safe ways of taking care of your well-being, for example with wild berries and nettles. Photo: Saana & Olli
Everything made in Finland
The berries in Finland remain for a large part of the year frozen under the snow, and a couple of months under the midnight sun. These weather conditions have great effects on their health benefits. “We are only now starting to realise how valuable the old know-how of our ancestors is,” explains Peltola. “It is normal for a Finn to keep infections at bay with certain berries that help to ensure the adequate vitamin and mineral levels. Keeping one’s iron levels up with dried nettle rather than popping pills is increasingly becoming the choice of non-Finns, too.”
FromFinland.fi is an online shop for products made in Finland. “There are incredibly interesting stories of why people around the world love a certain Finnish product,” says the founder, Anu Peltola. By Tuomo Paananen
“Our customers make my job exciting and fun. When someone from Tahiti buys sand toys from us, a Finnish web shop, we find it humorous, but most of all we take it as a great compliment. A little bit like having sold high-quality ice to the Eskimos, right?” Peltola laughs.
and smoked fish. She was first introduced to these goodies 35 years ago as a young girl playing in Finland with her band. After 35 years of reminiscing, she incidentally found fromFinland.fi and can now actually enjoy these products she had been missing for years,” says Peltola.
Vodka chocolate and salmiakki – the tastes of Finnish weirdness
Starting out in a sauna
The most popular sweets are, according the the founder, like the Finns themselves: a little bit weird. Salmiakki, or salty liquorice, is a national addiction. Alcoholfilled chocolates are also a traditional part of the Finnish sweets culture.
“In the US, start-ups typically start in a garage. I didn’t have a garage, so my home sauna was the perfect first warehouse for the business. Thankfully, we have moved on to new premises since, and I can enjoy my sauna in the traditional way again,” the owner laughs.
“It’s always fun to learn how people around the globe have found us. We have a customer in Australia, a lovely lady who regularly shops for Fazer Liqueur Fills,
Every product sold at fromFinland.fi must be made in Finland; merely a Finnish name is not enough. “We won’t compromise or make any exceptions. Our clients
The vodka-filled chocolates are also popular outside Finland, especially in the US and South America. Photo: Karl Fazer
The Finnish delicacy salty liquorice (salmiakki) has an exciting and adventurous taste. Photo: Karl Fazer
For more information, please visit: www.fromFinland.fi
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 51
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Design straight from the backbone In Oulu, Finnish Lapland, Nikama Design creates beautiful jewellery for men and women made out of surgical stainless steel. The company has developed special methods to create unusual shapes out of this hard-to-form material by hand, inspired by the human body’s spinal vertebrae. By Sanna Halmekoski | Photos: Nikama Design
Teemu and Päivi Partanen already had four children when they decided to have one more: Nikama Design, born in 2009 out of love and team work. Päivi, a fashion designer by training, is the creative force behind the jewellery designs. Teemu, with years of business experience from Nokia, turns Päivi’s ideas into reality. Last autumn, this design family grew even bigger, when Nikama acquired internationally-acclaimed steel designer Eero Hyrkäs’s Jaur and Arctichrome brands. Previously in his career, Hyrkäs also constructed pieces for iconic Finnish brand Iittala. For him, Teemu has been like the son he never had, and he trusts Nikama Design to continue his life’s work. Nikama comes from the Finnish term for a spinal vertebrae, the body part which is
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also the starting point of the company’s jewellery designs. Surgical stainless steel is the chosen material due to its hygienic and durable properties, and moreover, because its shine never dies out. “Surgical stainless steel is difficult to forge. Many believed that it was impossible to make a bracelet out of it, but with perseverance, I was able to produce one,” Teemu says proudly, adding: “Nikama represents spinal vertebrae, which symbolise humanity, solidarity and mediation. Our designs express these values and bring new and instantly-recognisable shapes into the jewellery market.” The Jaur collection consists of stainless steel luxury dining designs. The bestknown product is a steel pitcher series that won the International SASSDA steel design competition in 2002. The name, Jaur,
stems from the spoken Lappish for ‘deep water’ and refers to the raw nature at Lake Inarijärvi, which has been the source of inspiration for Hyrkäs’s genuine and plain style. The Arctichrome collection includes candle holders, vases and thermometers. Its most popular artefact is the Northern Lights Lantern, which resembles the famous Sibelius monument in Helsinki. “Nikama designs are popular wedding, company and birthday gifts and can be purchased on our website,” says Teemu. “Like a big family, our products support each other and are made with love and passion locally in Oulu. We also design bespoke pieces to order, according to our clients’ visions.”
For more information, please visit: www.nikamadesign.fi
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Finnish design to the fullest Mehujehu is still a relatively young product; Loponen first got the idea some four years ago, and the company behind it, Innotuning, was formed in 2011. However, from the very beginning, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. “Users give the final verdict, and that is where the most valuable feedback comes from,” says Loponen. “That feedback gives the product a great chance to succeed.” Mehujehu got more marketing power in late 2013, when Markus Heinonen joined as marketing director. Now the company plans to find more resellers all over the world.
Stylish Mehujehu containers make drinking from a juice carton less messy.
And the straw will not escape the juice carton ever again When children reach the age of being able to drink out of a juice carton on their own, other problems can emerge: all of a sudden, the kids have colourful sugary stains all over their clothes. Finnish Mehujehu provides a stylishly-designed solution for parents battling these issues.
The product itself comes in various different colours and also with two alternative prints. It is virtually impossible for kids to break it, and it looks good. New versions and innovations are already in the making. “As has always been the case with the Finnish design tradition, it was always our intention to combine design with usability and durability,” says Loponen. So far, it has proved to be a recipe for very promising success.
By Johannes Laitila | Photos: Aki Loponen / Mehujehu
Juice cartons are convenient. They are easy to take with you wherever you go, they are perfectly sized, and what they contain usually makes children happy. But if you hold on to the carton a bit too firmly and forget to pay enough attention, the juice can spill, the straw can fall and a huge mess can follow. This is something Finnish Aki Loponen saw happen to his son time and time again. He and his wife started thinking about buying one of those things, those juice carton containers. But after searching for a bit, they realised that there was no such thing.
Loponen decided to change this. He started to develop a product that is now known as Mehujehu, Finnish, naturally, for ‘juice wizard’. “The first step was to think about the material,” recalls Loponen. “You can’t make them from wood, and you can’t make them from cardboard either because that wouldn’t really solve the problem.” He ended up with a prototype made of polypropene. After checking with the Finnish innovation authority, Loponen was all set to move on with his recently-found business plan.
For more information, please visit: www.mehujehu.fi
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Allergy-friendly, easy-to-clean, reversible bespoke rugs made in Ostrobothnia Jani Ylitalo, founder of 10-year-old Forme, designs bespoke rugs that are made at his mother’s weaving mill in Osthrobothnia. The family business is all about being reliable, straight-forward and no-fuss – just like its products. By Christina Bohane | Photos: Forme
Ylitalo uses 10 different colours – mainly black, white, and shades of grey – of which the customer can choose a simple design that works as a reversible rug. The rugs are not treated with any chemicals, and they can be cleaned at home. The paper yarn used is woven so tightly together that it does not collect dust. Forme Rugs are made using cotton that is recycled from
the leftovers of the European clothing industry; the thin yarn is delivered in reels, and Forme Rugs spins it into thicker mop yarn. Moreover, Forme Rugs does the carpet edging itself. And when we say Forme Rugs, we mean Ylitalo’s mother and a few other people in their 60s, who still know the secrets of this dying tradition. Despite being a big believer in simplicity
and sticking to well-known, well-functioning materials and design, Ylitalo is looking to expand the organic raw materials used for his rugs. He has already started to design wool rugs, and at the moment he is looking to expand production into countries beyond Finland in order to make the price right for the customers. The Forme shop, where Ylitalo also designs the products, is located in Helsinki. The products are also available online and in rug and interior design shops throughout Finland. For special prices, check out Design Market at Kaapelitehdas in Helsinki, 6-7 September this year.
Founder of Forme, Jani Ylitalo
For further information about these bespoke rugs delivered to all over Europe, please visit: www.forme.fi To contact the company, please email: info@forme.fi
Snow tools inspired by professional everyday users Two years ago, Finnish Motoseal bought an idea from a janitor to design a scraper that requires only one move to clear snow. The company is also the first in the world to use stepless length adjustment in a snow pusher. By Tuomo Paananen | Photo: Finnish Motoseal
You would think that something as simple as a shovel or a scraper cannot be improved. How-
ever, Motoseal is a company that has proven this to be complete balderdash. “We bought
Masi Polar Plus is ergonomic and suitable for users regardless of their height. Most of the Motoseal products are covered by the Finnish Key Flag symbol, meaning that they are guaranteed to be manufactured in Finland.
It only takes one move to clear the snow with the Masi Swing snow scraper. All of the Masi snow tools are designed to handle the rough Finnish winter and work well even in extremely cold temperatures.
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the idea of our Masi Swing snow scraper from a Finnish janitor who realised that changing the angle of the scoop would create a tool you only need to swing once to clear the snow. This is perfect for clearing narrow paths and front porches – it replaces the ineffective brush,” says managing director Kari Sallinen. The other innovation, snow pusher Masi Polar Plus, is designed by Motoseal’s own staff. This easily-customised tool is the first snow pusher in the world that has a steplessly adjustable handle length. “It doesn’t matter how short or tall the user is; with Polar Plus you don’t have to compromise. In addition, the handle has a brilliant ergonomic design that saves your wrists from heavy strain,” Sallinen explains. Motoseal was the first company in Finland to make the scoop of a snow pusher from plastic in 1982, and the company has been open to innovation and developing its tools ever since. “We are always interested in hearing about new ideas. We have around half a dozen new usergenerated ideas offered to us every year. Obviously, we cannot take them all, but we always give feedback to all our innovators.”
For more information, please visit: motoseal.fi
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Pure Waste and Costo turn textile waste into completely new products.
The Goretex of recycling Finnish company Pure Waste Textiles is renewing the image of recycled textiles – and showing that a cloth made of 100 per cent recycled material does not have to be wornout or old at all. Quite the opposite. By Johannes Laitila | Photos: Pure Waste / Costo
Textile factories around the world tend to produce not only clothes, but also a massive amount of textile waste, which in turn has a very negative impact on the environment. This is where the founders of Helsinki-based Pure Waste Textiles saw an opportunity. If the textile waste can be used and reproduced in order to create completely new clothes, it would both be ecologically sustainable and change people’s idea of recycled materials. “We came up with this completely new kind of recycling aspect,” says Hannes Bengs of Pure Waste Textiles. “Usually,
recycling is about turning old into new, but we wanted to do something that was new all along.” Pure Waste Textiles sources textile waste globally and processes it into textile and yarns that are made completely of recycled material. Nothing is added. “For example, factories produce so much denim waste annually that if it was turned into a textile roll, it could be wrapped around the world eleven times,” Bengs explains. The idea of Pure Waste Textiles only emerged some two years ago, and the company was founded last November. However, the people behind Pure Waste
had already gathered years of experience in the field of recycling and fashion. In 2006, Bengs started a company named Costo with a couple of friends, all of them in their late 20s at the time. “We didn’t know exactly what we were going to do, but it was to have something to do with fashion and ecological thinking,” says Bengs. Costo started to produce, and still does, accessories such as hats, bags and wallets, and the idea was the same: everything had to be 100 per cent recycled. Pure Waste is ambitious in its approach, and the company has aimed for the international market from the very beginning. “In the future, we are hoping to sell Pure Waste alongside other brands – a little bit like what Goretex does, but with recycling.” We all know Goretex, right? Be prepared for Pure Waste to ring the same kind of bell. For more information, please visit: www.purewastetextiles.com
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 55
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Day-to-night slow fashion for the everyday woman Timeless and wearable quality garments with a personal, colourful touch. This perfectly encapsulates what Finnish knitwear company Kaino is all about. The days of having to choose between style and comfort are over. By Nina Lindqvist | Photos: Kaino
“Our garments are designed for the everyday woman who craves versatility and comfort. She can wear her Kaino garment to the office and add some accessories after work to make it appropriate for a night out,” says Niina Sinisalo, founder of Kaino. Kaino was founded in 2010 when Sinisalo, together with her business partners, decided to
Niina Sinisalo, the founder of Kaino.
buy a local knitting company that was going out of business. “The material changed but the scissors remained,” laughs Sinisalo, referring to her old job as a hairdresser. The company is based in Köyliö, a small municipality in western Finland. The name ‘Kaino’, besides being a both male and female name, also means shy or modest in Finnish. “The peo-
Kaino is known for its timeless quality knitwear, made from start to finish in Köyliö in western Finland.
In search of the human vision in digital environment Trust Creative Society has a strong reputation in the design of products and services, but is also skilled when it comes to digitising them into easy-to-use formats. When creating strategies for businesses, the company concentrates on the human input. By Tuomo Paananen | Photos: Trust Creative Society
The idea of designing something should be extended beyond the drawing board; a good design process concerns the whole organisation and the personnel as well, if you ask Pekka Rintamäki, strategic director at Trust Creative Society. “We make strong design for products, which is really important. For instance, in some market areas visual storytelling is stronger than in others, and an extraordinary design of an item might be the only way to stand out. However, we design services as well: the human input makes a Strategic director huge difference in Pekka Rintamäki
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companies no matter where you are.” Trust Creative Society advises its clients to put their heart into whatever they do. However, when designing or digitising products or services the users come before the organisation itself. “When we are digitising brands, services and products, we like to outsource the pro-
ple here are indeed known for their modesty,” Sinisalo explains with a glint in her eye. But Kaino’s design is far from modest. The collections, described by Sinisalo as “truly Finnish,” play with a multitude of colours and are always true to the brand. “We do our own thing. There is nothing like Kaino out there on the Finnish design scene,” says the designer, naming Finnish hayfields and people on the street as examples of inspiration for Kaino’s collections. Sinisalo describes Kaino as a slow-fashion company with sustainability and eco-friendly production as top priorities. The knitwear is designed and produced from start to finish in Kaino’s factory shop and made out of natural materials, such as organic cotton and merino wool, something that customers appreciate. “The Kaino customer values quality and is genuinely interested in the story of the garment,” Sinisalo explains. Having already dressed First Lady of Finland, Jenni Haukio, Kaino is well on its way to becoming an established name in the Finnish fashion industry. For more information, please visit: www.kaino.fi
gramming and concentrate on the user interfaces. For example, with our patient care systems we want to make sure that the patients really get the help they need.” In addition to top-notch design and creative skills, the company offers other businesses help with their strategies. “The computers and systems are programmed to do what they do – we all need the human vision all the way from the designer to the end-user,” Rintamäki insists. “The bottom line is a wellplanned business strategy, which can be measured by how well it is conceptualised into real actions.”
For more information, please visit: www.trust.fi
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Rebel with a cause The iconic jopo bikes are an essential part of the Finnish lifestyle. The favorite of the ultracool Helsinki hipsters is a true Finnish design classic, and next year, this agile city bike will be 50 years old. Now Scandinavia’s most popular bike, jopo, is conquering new territories. By Mia Halonen | Photos: Helkama Velox
In 1965, the Finns had been rebuilding the country after World War II, and the hard work was starting to pay off. There were more things to buy than ever before. People were moving from small farms to bigger cities. Tango was still the favourite at the rural dance halls, but you could feel that change was coming. In this optimistic atmosphere, a new kind of bicycle was born. jopo, made by Finnish quality bike manufacturer Helkama, was anything but the granny’s old bike. This was something completely modern, something fresh and rebellious: small wheels, low frame, high seat post and high handlebar. And the colours! Bright yellow, red, blue, lime, white and even the quintessential orange that later became
synonymous with other classic Finnish design. jopo really stood out. “jopo was also very practical,” says Helkama Velox’s managing director, Jari Elamo. “The height of the saddle and the handlebar could easily be changed, so this was a bike everybody in the family could use.” For 10 years, jopo ruled the Finnish bicycle market, until other Helkama bike models took over. jopo’s production stopped in 1974. But true classics always come back into style. At the turn of the new millennium, a lot of retro influences came into fashion. Helkama Velox re-launched jopo in 2000, and it was an instant success. Trendsetters with fond childhood memories of
jopos were in their thirties; the familiar name brought back nostalgic feelings of a safe, carefree youth. Who would not want to give that to their own children, too? Despite the retro look, jopo is completely modern. “jopo is now more ergonomic and durable than before,” Elamo explains. “The colours are still bright but updated.” Moreover, when you get too tired to ride a bike all the time, you can get an electrically assisted jopo. Rumour has it that even Santa Claus has one! Elamo is very optimistic about jopo’s future: “If you can be successful in a cycling capital like Copenhagen, then there is no limit.”
For more information, please visit: www.helkamavelox.fi
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Soft and tough How to keep textiles, carpets, leather, wood and other surfaces clean in an easy and eco-friendly way? Softcare from Finland has solutions good for kings.
easy and convenient. That is where the Softcare protective products come into the picture.
By Mia Halonen | Photos: Softcare
Espoo is the second biggest city in Finland, but you would not know it here in northern Espoo. The peaceful forests and the clear waters of the famous Nuuksio National Park are right next door, and there is no sign of the buzz of the other parts of the capital region. Yet, the innovative products manufactured in the former shop building here are cutting edge. Softcare cleaning and protective products are used in royal palaces, on cruise ships and in ordinary households alike.
and managing director of Soft Protector Ltd, the maker of Softcare products, and his self-deprecating sense of humour is disarming: naturally, a bad salesman could not sell his products to over 25 countries and have close to a 90 per cent domestic market share in some product groups. But the high quality of the products is clearly very important to him, and not only from the business point of view. In Softcare, eco-friendliness is not just marketing babble, either.
“I’m such a bad salesman, that my only choice is to make great products so the customers keep coming back for more,” says Reijo Saunamäki. He is the founder
Protecting softly
Practically all of the furniture shops in Finland sell the Softcare protective products, and the domestic market share is above 80 per cent. By protecting the furniture right from the start, the maintenance becomes easier. With good care, leather sofas and expensive tables look great for much longer, and that saves money. This is especially important in heavy-duty places such as cruise ships: Softcare products protect the upholstery and surfaces on many luxury ships sailing in places like the Caribbean Sea. Other high-profile places include presidential and royal palaces.
The majority of people are too busy and, put bluntly, too lazy to put much time or effort into cleaning. Everything has to be
“Easy and safe to use, that’s what our products are,” says Saunamäki, who has
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
good reason to be proud of the company he has built. Fortunately, the same highquality product can be used to protect the different surfaces, textiles and carpets in ordinary homes, on boats and in cars. While many people realise the importance of protecting big items such as indoor and outdoor furniture, fewer pay the same kind of attention to more personal items, including clothes and shoes. But if you pay a small fortune for a fancy pair of high heels, would it not be wise to protect them from the elements? Especially in a harsh climate like that in Finland, where you need several kinds of shoes and boots as well as coats for different occasions, it really pays off to take care of your gear. “Knowledgeable sales people in shoe shops are very familiar with the best Softcare products to protect different kinds of leathers and textiles, including sportswear,” Saunamäki insists. Environmentally-friendly washing “High quality starts with the ingredients,” Saunamäki points out. “Individual shoppers make environmental choices every time they buy, for example, a packet of detergent, but a manufacturer’s choices weigh so much more. We have a big responsibility and we embrace it wholeheartedly.”
With regard to washing detergents, ecofriendliness means that, first of all, the products are biodegradable even in low temperatures. Modern washing machines have 20-degree programmes, so the detergent must be able to perform in cold water. There is no phosphate or zeolite in Softcare detergents; they are gentle with the fabric so no separate conditioner is needed. In all of the Softcare detergents, there are very small amounts of chemicals and perfumes that irritate sensitive skin, so the products are suitable also for textiles for babies, allergic people and pets – yet, the clothes are effectively cleaned. Another beneficial fact is that there is significantly less dust in the air upon washing clothes with Softcare, so there is less cleaning to be done around the house. The future is bright Customers in western countries have been eco-conscious for some time, but now people in countries such as China are starting to demand effective but at the same time environmentally-friendly products, too. “Making ecological products doesn’t necessarily mean cutting the profits,” says Saunamäki. “It can be a real asset, too.” Saunamäki has a background in international furniture design. He has witnessed many global financial ups and downs, but
his vision for the Softcare future is optimistic. “It is during a recession that a company has a real opportunity to grow and win market shares. This is a challenge and a great chance for us to expand to new markets.”
For more information, please visit: www.softcare.fi
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Responsible plastic packaging with high-definition printing Muovijaloste is a traditional Finnish family-owned company that has applied a responsible care programme to every part of its production chain. In addition to its commitment to keeping the environment clean, it produces some of the world’s finest multi-colour prints on plastic, using the latest and greenest technology. By Tuomo Paananen | Photos: Muovijaloste Oy
Today’s requirements of speed and fresh products have led the packaging industry to find more flexible solutions than ever before. Usually the freshness of, for example, groceries is guaranteed by good plastic packaging, as Markku Mattila, production manager of Muovijaloste, explains. “There are plenty of packaging products out there that are said to be biodegradable, but nothing really vanishes or degrades completely. Plastic is a byproduct of oil refining, causing virtually zero pollution. In addition, we are committed to filtering out our emissions, and each one of our products can be recycled,” Mattila continues. One of the company’s cornerstones in keeping the emissions and material spoilage down
is the Comexi printing machine, acquired by the company in 2010. “Comexi uses less colours than any other machine, and all its surplus colours are recycled. We can also print on thinner plastic and make smaller batches than ever before. This way we don’t have to use excessive amounts of material.” The company has been managed by the one family since 1949, yet it has been able to change in order to commit to new ways of manufacturing packaging products. “The key in this industry is flexibility and an environmentallyfriendly attitude. In addition to this, we can make exquisit prints and designs on practically any plastic surfaces.”
Reduce waste and spending with designer cloth nappies Ella and the Wolf (Ella ja Susi) is a Finnish company designing and selling reusable cloth nappies as well as hygiene bags to carry your child’s and your own sanitary items. These eye-catching products save money in the long-run and make the ordinary day just that bit brighter. By Tuomo Paananen | Photo: Ella ja Susi
Ella and the Wolf is all about tackling the doubts about reusable sanitary products. In addition to offering playful and exciting designs, the products help you reduce the amount of
Ella and the Wolf (Ella ja Susi) is a fairytale-like name that Siik came up with based on word play: her son’s name is Sisu, which then transformed into Susi (meaning wolf in Finnish).
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waste and save money. “I trust that using Ella and the Wolf nappies is better for the environment than using disposable ones,” says Krista Siik, founder of the one-woman company. And
Ella and the Wolf reusable nappies with snappy designs. Seeing your little one swooshing through the living room wearing these will put a smile on your face.
Plastic packaging ensures that vegetables are fresh and clean at the moment of purchase.
Fresh Finnish rye bread is the nation’s favorite.
For more information, please visit: www.muovijaloste.fi
she knows what she is talking about, as she has personally designed and picked the materials for her products. “It only takes a short while to get the hang of using these reusable nappies,” she says. “You can choose whether you want the nappies’ closing mechanism to be made of velcro or buttons. I have two main models: one with a moisture shield and one without, and you can adjust the amount of absorption materials in both. All my products are made mostly from natural fabrics.” Siik has been making her products for three and a half years now, but only started selling them at the beginning of 2014. The decision to establish a company was made due to high demand of good-looking and environmentallyfriendly products. “Changing your baby is something you will do very often, but I don’t think it should have to be a dull experience,” says the entrepreneur. “According to the feedback I’ve received, these products can really brighten up your day.”
To find out more about the Ella and the Wolf products, please visit: www.ellajasusi.fi
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
The Nordic natural blondes There is something fundamentally Finnish about birch trees. The slender trees with white bark are associated with the precious Nordic summer nights after a sauna session by a blue lake. Perhaps some of that serene feeling is still intact within the Kiteen Huonekalutehdas Ltd furniture, made of the beautifully blonde hardwood? Now, even the elderly can enjoy it. By Mia Halonen | Photos: Kiteen Huonekalutehdas
Wood is the traditional material for Finns to build anything. From beds to bridges, sleighs to houses – everything in Finland used to be made of wood. And why not? After all, wood is an excellent material: it is durable, workable and within easy reach in a country of which two-thirds is still covered with forests.
Huonekalutehdas, Raakel Tiihonen, who knows that wooden furniture is ecological rather than disposable. “Unlike furniture made of plastic or cheap board, you can always paint or modify wood over the years, so the same piece can get a new lease of life.”
Lovely, lasting birch
Kiteen Huonekalutehdas is a traditional Finnish family business. It was founded in 1920 in a part of Karelia that now belongs to Russia. After World War II, the furniture factory continued work in Kitee, on the Finnish side of the border in eastern Finland. Tiihonen and her late husband bought it a quarter of a century ago, and now Tiihonen’s two sons are in the business as well.
Bedroom sets have been their best-selling articles for a long time, and now there is a new niche: beds for the elderly. “People all over the world live longer than ever before, and most would like to live in their own homes,” says Tiihonen. Kiteen Huonekalutehdas manufactures beds that do not look like cold hospital beds. “The wooden motorised beds suit the other familiar furniture at home or in the nursing home. Yet, with wheels and adjustable height, they are very functional, both for the person sleeping in it and for the carers.” The most beautiful and practical blondes? Must be from Finland!
Traditional business with new niche By far the most-loved wood in Finland is birch. It is durable and its natural blondeness appeals to people all over the world. No wonder quality furniture factory Kiteen Huonekalutehdas specialises in using the material. ”When you buy a piece of furniture made of birch, you are buying something that will last for a very long time,” says managing director of Kiteen
For more information, please visit: www.kiteen.fi
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 61
Photo: Lindroo
Photo: Lindroo
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
Above left: Necklace designed by Olli Lindroos for Miss Finland 2014, Bea Toivonen.
Custom-made jewellery from Finland With shops in both Helsinki and Pori, Esko Lindroos Oy has been selling gorgeous jewellery for almost 40 years. Primarily designed by Lindroos and other Finnish designers, the extensive collection consists of wedding rings, fashionable watches, jewellery and diamonds. By Kjersti Westeng | Photos: Pasi Salminen
Master goldsmith Lindroos founded Esko Lindroos Oy in 1976. He spent most of his time designing and manufacturing unique jewellery in the Lindroos workshop, and this is also where Esko’s son, Olli Lindroos, first learnt the trade. Olli took over from his dad in 2009, after finishing his degree in jewellery design. “I practically grew up in that workshop. It was my second home and I made my first ring when I was 12 years old,” says Olli.
beautiful ring in 2012. Olli entered three designs and won both first and second place. The ring is a three part combination ring, with a large diamond in the centre and curved, yet simple and elegant, rings on each side. It comes in white, yellow or red gold. “It is a very special piece of jewellery. It can be made in more than 3,500 different ways, so it is truly a versatile ring collection,” says the designer.
The collection sold at Esko Lindroos Oy features a range of jewellery designed by both Finnish and European designers. Additionally, they sell watches, silverware and crystal. Some of the most popular jewellery collections are Olli’s own designs, in particular his ring collections.
Another popular collection is the Harmony ring collection, which holds the Association for Finnish Work’s Design from Finland label. Made as part of the 35th anniversary collection of Esko Lindroos Oy, the stylish Harmony collection values distinctive design, Scandinavian touch and excellent quality.
The most popular piece, the Lumi wedding ring, was originally designed for a competition to crown Finland’s most
Renowned for high quality, Esko Lindroos Oy’s mission is to meet the expectations of even the most demanding customers with
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excellent service. The in-house goldsmiths are experts at turning an idea into a truly unique piece of jewellery. Customers can therefore walk into any Lindroos store with an idea or a drawing, and get a custom-made piece of jewellery designed from scratch. Their expertise is at your disposal, and nothing is ever impossible. “We’ll never say we can’t do something. Instead we sit down with our customers and find a way to create exactly what they’re after,” finishes Olli Lindroos.
For more information, please visit: www.lindrooshelsinki.fi www.ilovelumi.fi
LEFT: The drop vases were inspired by a profound respect for nature and make a very special gift or collector’s item. Photo: Panu Turunen. RIGHT: Finland’s leading glass blower, Kari Alakoski, works in a historic glass factory in Riihimäki, creating Turunen’s premier glass designs. Photo: Emil Bobyrev
The soul of a thousand lakes – Finnish glass designer has captured our hearts From the Finnish forests that gave us Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala and Kaj Franck comes Panu Turunen’s beautifully minimalistic glass art, handmade to perfection in complete unison with the elements. By Bella Qvist
Like individual drops of water frozen in time, Panu Turunen’s glass art sculptures convey the heart and soul of Finland and evoke a feeling of being at one with nature in its purest form. Turunen, who not only is one of Finland’s foremost glass designers but also a Design Manager at Finland’s biggest glass manufacturer, Skaala, values a respect for tradition as an essential part of his work. He therefore employs Finland’s leading glass blower, Kari Alakoski, to
bring to life his exquisite glass designs, such as the drop vases. Working in the old historic glass factory of Riihimäki, Alakoski tames glowing glass lava in the heat of the fire, mouth-blowing it into ice cold, crystal clear glass items that carry with them the souls of Finland’s thousand lakes. Inspired by Finnish nature, culture and mythology, Turunen’s unique glasses, plates and statuettes adorn homes and
art galleries around the world; Shanghai World Expo has exhibited his pieces, and Italian glass designer Carlo Moretti ordered an entire collection. It is plain to see why: these timeless works of art make special gifts as well as outstanding collector’s items. The Finnish artist employs the traditional technique of mouthblowing to shape his glass sculptures, making each and every piece unique. Photo: Panu Turunen
For more information, please visit: www.panuturunen.com
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 63
: ME LAND E H A L T ZE
Photo: Nordic Food Lab
CIA ES IN E SP TERI A PE O T
The gastronomic promised land If nouveau Nordic cuisine is the word on everyone’s lips – and, as it were, the taste in everyone’s mouths – Danish food is right up there with the cream of the crop. With Copenhagen’s two Michelin-starred Noma Restaurant having been ranked the best restaurant in the world four times since 2010, Zealand-based restaurateurs are riding on a wave of confidence and media praise – and for good reason. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: VisitDenmark
From the often rye-based smørrebrød to the fresh-to-the-minute fish from surrounding waters, Danish cuisine is not just a feast for the tastebuds, but a real health course as well. Add a quick Akvavit or a glass of bitter, and the simplest of suppers can feel like a real treat. But while the Danes are proud to keep old cooking techniques from the late 19th century alive, gastronomic pioneers such as René Redzepi, co-owner of the afore-
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mentioned best restaurant in the world, are breaking new ground with innovative food projects including Nordic Food Lab, bringing everything from moth mousse and cricket broth to roasted locusts to your plate. A trip to Zealand, needless to say, comes with an array of food options suitable for the most conservative tastes as well as the experimental food snobs. Scan Maga-
zine discovered a fishmonger with locallysourced delicacies as well as herring and other fish from Jylland; a local’s haunt in a fishing village with an open sandwich specialty called Stjerneskud (or shooting star); a restaurant frequented by royals, occasionally spoiling its guests with a taste of zebra or kangaroo; and an eatery producing some of the most-loved, nicestsmelling rye bread in Denmark. And that is just the beginning. Indeed, if you want to do it like the Danes, opt for fish, and plenty of it. But why limit yourself? Do your research well before visiting this gastronomic promised land – because there are hidden gems you just do not want to miss.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Eateries in Zealand
Flavours of the sea at Kuberts Fisk We all know that we should eat plenty of fish, but it is not always easy to do. Kuberts Fisk (Kubert’s Fish) makes it much easier to keep your omega 3 levels up. With a shop, a café and out-of-house service, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the best of Danish fish. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Kuberts Fisk
Kuberts Fisk is first and foremost a fishmonger, which won third place at the National Competition for Fishmongers, but during the summer the shop extends its expertise and opens up a café serving delicious fish dishes for both lunch and dinner. With the fish both sourced locally and arriving from Jylland, there is plenty to choose from. The traditional Scandinavian love of herring can also be satisfied while enjoying the Danish summer in the delightful garden outside, which is partly covered for those rainier days. Do as the Danes and eat fish
people are eating fish more frequently. This is also linked to the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, who suggest that Danes eat fish at least twice a week – a message reinforced by adverts and recipe suggestions. With fishmongers such as Kuberts Fisk, there really is no stopping the Danes when it comes to eating fish. The dishes you can taste at Kuberts Fisk have a healthy spin and provide a welcome break from all the ice cream the
summer inevitably brings. All dishes are made from scratch, and all the produce is responsibly sourced. There is also the opportunity to try this delicious fish out-ofhouse, as Kuberts Fisk provides an excellent service in order for you to take your prepared fish dishes with you and excite guests and family with the tastes of the sea. Do as the Danes: eat plenty of fish this summer, and visit Kuberts Fisk. Set in the beautiful Nykøbing in Zealand, this sea delicacy gem promises a great and tasty day out. For more information, please visit: www.kubertsfisk.dk www.facebook.com/kubertsfiskns
Lars and Tanja Kubert
Lars Kubert, the owner, says that over the last nine years, headway has been made in terms of the fish that people are trying and how much of it they are eating. Salmon and tuna are particularly popular, as sushi has become more and more popular in Denmark, which also means that
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Eateries in Zealand
In the summertime, Karrebæksminde is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike.
Dinner and drinks by the canal With a view over the ever-lively neighbouring canal, restaurant Kanal-Kroen serves up traditional Danish dishes with locally-sourced fish. By Lene Bech | Photos: Kanal Kroen
Just a few years ago, local residents as well as visitors to the small fishing village of Karrebæksminde, connected by a mechanical drawbridge to the Danish island Enø, got a new gathering point with an unprecedented view across the local canal. In 2012, Ulla Pedersen and her husband, the owners of Kanal-Kroen, turned the old tavern that was previously housed in the building into a restaurant with an adjoining pub. Karrebæksminde is a popular holiday spot for Danish and foreign tourists, many of whom have summerhouses in the nearby area or are enjoying a sailing holiday and arrive at the marina Søfronten by boat. The local beach is a natural hotspot during the summer, and so is the canal that Kanal-Kroen’s large outdoor terrace overlooks. “It’s a wonderful view, our guests sit right by the waterfront and watch the ships go by,” says Pedersen and adds: “People come here for a Sunday lunch or
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for dinner, while others just come for a glass of beer or wine, to sit down and enjoy the view.” Pedersen believes that the lively environment of the fishing village is one of the
By the bank of the idyllic canal, Kanal-Kroen attracts visitors all year round.
main reasons why people keep coming back. “There’s always something to look at because there’s always something happening on the canal,” she says. A year-round local gathering point When Pedersen says “always,” she means it literally. As the only restaurant in Karrebæksminde, Kanal-Kroen is open yearround, and as the weather cools down in the fall guests move from the outside ter-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Eateries in Zealand
ABOVE: Guests at Kanal-Kroen can enjoy the view of ships sailing past the canal towards the town of Næstved. BELOW: The local smokehouse, Martens, has been somewhat of an institution in the fishing village for years and delivers smoked eel and salmon to Kanal-Kroen.
race to the roofed patio inside, the view of the canal intact. The fact that it is open year-round has also made Kanal-Kroen a beloved gathering point for the locals, who stay put in the village once summer and the flow of tourists come to an end. While her husband was born and bred in the village, Pedersen herself has lived in Karrebæksminde for the past 40 years, so the couple has an intimate knowledge of local life and Pedersen finds it gratifying that the locals enjoy coming to KanalKroen too. “The locals have really enjoyed it, the fact that they now have a place to
frequent and a place where they can throw events or small family parties. It has become a local gathering point and people have been very supportive of us,” she says. Locals come here year-round to socialise and Kanal-Kroen upholds its status as a gathering point not just because of the food and drinks but also by hosting regular events such as game nights. During the summer, tourists and locals come here on Friday nights for an evening of live music and dancing. The Friday night events cater to a mature audience, treasuring different kinds of music with a focus on evergreens and country music. Traditional Danish dishes Every day, all year, Kanal-Kroen features a menu of the day that changes according to the season and the available, fresh ingredients. While seated by their view of the canal, guests at the restaurant enjoy rustic, traditional Danish dishes such as pork tenderloin. Being located in a fishing village, however, Kanal-Kroen has a special emphasis on popular fish and seafood dishes that are cooked up with fresh, locally-caught ingredients bought from a local fisherman. Popular staples on the lunch menu include roast plaice, open sandwiches with
shrimp, fish fillet with shrimp and, not least, the Danish open-sandwich classic popularly named Stjerneskud (shooting star), a seafood extravaganza that features fried haddock, shrimp, crayfish and caviar, to name just a few of the key components. Kanal-Kroen has all of its smoked foods, such as the warm smoked salmon and the smoked eel, delivered from a local smokehouse, Martens, which has existed in Karrebæksminde for generations. While many parts of the menu at KanalKroen reflect the location and atmosphere of this locally-rooted restaurant by the water, one traditional Danish dish on the menu is so popular that it has its very own day of the week, no matter the season and the menu of the day. And it has nothing to do with seafood. Every Thursday, Kanal-Kroen serves up roast pork with parsley sauce and, not surprisingly, it is a big draw amongst perhaps especially the Danish guests: “Oh yes, it’s very popular,” Pedersen confirms. It does not get much more Danish than that.
For more information, please visit: www.kanalkroen.com
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Eateries in Zealand
An innovative and honest kitchen Traditional food combined with the desire to experiment. These are two of the main ingredients in the successful recipe for restaurant Gilleleje Havn, which over the last couple of years has become well-known throughout Scandinavia for its famous rye bread. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Gilleleje Havn
When you enjoy a meal in restaurant Gilleleje Havn, the first thing you notice is most likely the stunning view over Zealand’s largest and most beautiful, unspoiled fishing port. But there is more to it than meets the eye. The restaurant, which opened in 1976 and can host 150 people for dinner parties and private arrangements, does not only offer you what the people behind it call a quality meal. It also provides you with some of the best rye bread you will ever taste. “It all started six years ago, when some of our customers asked us if they could buy
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some of the bread we were serving at the restaurant,” says restaurant manager Annette Bylov Sørensen, who owns restaurant Gilleleje Havn together with her husband, Jack Juul. “They really liked the bread and wanted to bring some of it home. We thought it could be fun to bake a little bit, so we started baking a couple of extra rye breads every morning, and that soon became so popular that we decided to expand our bread business. Today we have a 1,000-square-metre bakery in the other part of town, delivering bread all over Denmark, and from August on to Sweden and Norway as well.” Quality takes time If you think the high demand for the bread has made restaurant Gilleleje Havn lower the standards in order to produce more, you have to think again. Quality is a keyword at the restaurant, so throughout the
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Eateries in Zealand
process it has been important to stick to the traditional way of doing things. “The bread is hand-made even though we have a factory, because we don’t want to compromise with the baking time, the quality of the bread or the ingredients. The general idea behind the bread is the same as it has always been. Our rye bread weighs two kilos and is baked for almost two hours. Sure, we could do this faster and be more efficient, but we don’t want to, because the time spent on the bread is what makes it so special,” says Bylov Sørensen.
take great pride in living up to your expectations and making sure you get a good experience at their place.
Although the bread baking follows the same procedure, it never gets boring and predictable. Over the years new varieties have been added, as the chefs like to experiment with different ingredients to create new recipes and make sure the bread always develops.
“We don’t serve these fancy, small portions you find so many other places. Our portions are big and the collations don’t look like flower arrangements, because it is very important for us that what you see is what you get. We don’t want to cheat anyone.”
Another essential feature at restaurant Gilleleje Havn is honesty. So whenever you stop by to enjoy a meal, you can be certain of one thing: you are not going to leave the restaurant feeling hungry. Bylov Sørensen and the rest of the staff at the restaurant
Even though the restaurant has become a well-respected name in Scandinavia it is still very important for the owners to hold on to the local roots. Therefore, they try as far as possible to use local produce and
Honesty is key at Gilleleje Havn. The portions are big, the rye bread always fresh, and what you see is what you get.
This year’s experiment is a new gin
work together with other local producers. In an attempt to stay innovative, restaurant Gilleleje Havn has this year been inspired to make gin together with the alcoholic beverage company Schumacher – a gin with the taste of buckthorn, since Gilleleje is one of the few places in Denmark where you can harvest buckthorn, explains Bylov Sørensen. “We are always looking for new experiments, so this year we decided to try to make gin. It is all very new, but the first responses we have had from our customers have been very positive, so hopefully this will become a success as well.” For more information, please visit: www.gillelejehavn.dk
With stunning views across Zealand’s largest, most beautiful fishing port, Gilleleje Havn can host 150 people for dinner parties and private events.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Eateries in Zealand
Food and culture in the heart of Nykøbing Falster It is rare to get the opportunity to dine in the same rooms royals have been visiting since the 18th century, but at Czarens Hus (The Tsar’s House) you can do just that. Czarens Hus offers a beautiful setting and fantastic locally-produced food, and if you are lucky, you might even be able to try a bit of zebra or kangaroo. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Finn Arnesen
Fresh and seasonal food, that is also locally produced, is very important to Finn Arnesen, the restaurateur behind Czarens Hus. The evening buffet offers fantastic meats and a wide range of salads, the meat produced locally and therefore never frozen, and the salads staying true to the seasons. It is also here that you can be lucky enough to try some of the slightly more exotic meats. An inn, the Tsar and a museum Czarens Hus keeps to fresh produce and is very aware of where its produce comes from, making that a top priority in the restaurant. Whether you want to try pulled pork, a traditional æggekage (Danish omelette) or spare ribs marinated in the local stout, there should be something for everyone at Czarens Hus.
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The 17th century building has a rich history and has been an important building to the city since its earliest-known owner, Ivar Rosenfeldt, who provided the post for the city and also used the building as an inn. At the start of the 1700s, the Danish King, Fredrik IV, formed an alliance with the Russian Tsar, Peter the Great, during
the Nordic wars. Peter the Great provided Denmark with his fleet, and when he arrived in Denmark he visited Nykøbing Falster. Peter the Great ate at Rosenfeldt’s inn, preferring that to the formalities of Nykøbing Castle, and thus provided the building with its name. The museum, Falsters Minder, is conveniently housed in the same building, so there is every opportunity to learn more about the local history. Czarens Hus encompasses everything from a good few history lessons to great food. The building is brimming with history and the food provides a taste of the region, whilst also being healthy and fresh. There really is something for everyone at Czarens Hus, and the experience will definitely be something to write home about.
For more information, please visit: www.czarenshus.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Eateries in Zealand
Remarkable seaside dining experience It is no secret that Scandinavian chefs throughout the world are at the top of the food chain, so to speak, when it comes to nouveau Nordic cuisine. They tempt you to try old favourites in new ways and turn things you would never normally dream of eating into the most delicious, mouthwatering meals. By Kathleen Newlove | Photos: Mike Mortensen
Your holiday to northern Zealand will not be complete until you visit Restaurant Skotterup, where two newcomers to the scene opened this establishment at the end of March this year. Nicolaj Frandsen and Peter Bloch Jensen are the hottest thing coming out of the kitchen this season. Frandsen, the head chef, and Jensen met about four years ago, and they quickly struck up an inspired and lively friendship that demonstrates its passion in all of the dishes at Skotterup. “Our motto is food from the heart,” says Jensen, “and we take traditional dishes that everyone is familiar with, recipes which we then turn upside-down to serve you something you would never have imagined.” The restaurant is located in a beautiful old house just 20 metres off the beach. Frandsen
and Jensen are quite well-known among the locals and foodies throughout the country, not only for their farm-to-table cooking, but for their amazing ingredients and wide knowledge of Scandinavian cuisine. “We take advantage of all the wonderful ingredients that nature has to offer – we even pick wild herbs that grow on the beach and use them all over our menu,” Jensen explains. If you are looking for a fun, friendly environment with a great view and sumptuous food, look no further.
For more information, please visit: www.skotterup.dk
Golden opportunity turned popular harbour haunt 15 years or so ago, Claus and Kristina Klarskov, soon to be married, came upon a golden opportunity in Nakskov, Lolland-Falster. The couple realised that while the town was a popular tourist destination with Danish and German tourists, it lacked cafés and restaurants to cater to them and the locals. By Louise Older Steffensen | Press Photos
As it happened, Claus was a chef and Kristina a waitress who knew the area well, so they were perfectly suited to set up exactly such a venture. The Klarskovs are still there today, and Claus and Kristinas Spisehus Café is as popular as ever. The summer months see more than 250 guests visit the restaurant daily, and good weather allows them to open up an additional area outside on one of the main streets, located just a few hundred metres from Nakskov’s beach and harbour. The family-run restaurant and café opens with a brunch menu at 9am, and the kitchen closes around 8pm or, as Claus says, “whenever the last guest has been served.” The menu is varied – wild boar sandwiches, anyone? – and very reasonably priced at between 50 and
100 DKK per dish. Tourists from abroad and traditionally-minded Danes may want to dive into some smørrebrød, while Claus himself is keen on another Danish classic: pariserbøf, a beef burger on white bread with various traditional condiments. More than anything, Claus and Kristina aim to provide good food made of local produce as well as quick and friendly service. Kristina takes care of the waiting team while Claus runs the kitchen. It can be a little stressful to own a restaurant, they admit, particularly in the summer months, but they love it. And the future of the restaurant looks bright: the couple’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Julie, has joined her dad in the kitchen, where she is training as a chef.
For more information, please visit: www.clausogkristina.dk
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Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Finland
Restaurant of the Month, Finland
Irish winds on Arctic sand dunes You might not expect to find sandy beaches like this so far north, but Kalajoki sandbanks is one of the most famous hot spots in Finland. You probably would not expect to find an authentic Irish bar here either, but Sandy Kelt is a cosy place to enjoy the relaxed Finnish lifestyle all year round. By Mia Halonen | Photos: Sandy Kelt
Kalajoki sandbanks has been a famous holiday destination for decades, and for a good reason: what could be a better place to enjoy the precious white nights than a beach by the shimmering Gulf of Bothnia? “What many people don’t know is that Kalajoki is wonderful any other time of the year, too. Walking on the frozen sea and watching the northern lights is so exciting,” says entrepreneur Hanna Saari. Saari, a Kalajoki native, lived abroad for many years. The experience made her appreciate home even more. “Absolutely
unique nature, pure waters, the standard of living and the sense of security – it’s all here. And Kalajoki is a perfect place for visitors to get a piece of it, too.” Now Saari and her business partners run restaurant Dyyni, which is known for serving excellent Nordic food, and an Irish bar called Sandy Kelt, open every day of the year, including Christmas. The idea for an Irish bar came from an Irishman, who is married to a local girl. With the theme and authentic Irish décor came hearty food
and Irish activities. “Every year, we have Celtic games, with hurling and Irish music and dancing. Finns really like the Irish mentality and humour, maybe because of the similar location on the edge of Europe,” Saari explains. The restaurateurs make the most of the sandy location. Every summer, extreme sports enthusiasts gather here for Xgames to see the best of BMX, parkour, sky diving and wind surfing, as well as to play beach volleyball, beach football, beach floorball, beach baseball – anything that is difficult in the deep sand. Or snow, for that matter: “We try to save enough snow from the winter for the games,” says Saari. And they need to save some ice for the summer, too: Dyyni Flair brings together an international bunch of bar professionals to compete in blending the best cocktails. With all this, it is no wonder one of the most popular songs in the ’70s in Finland was California dreaming – in Finnish, naturally, dreaming about the sands of Kalajoki.
For more information, please visit: www.hiekkadyyni.fi
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Your Shortcut to Scandinavia Bergen
NORWAY
Oslo Stockholm Bromma
SWEDEN Aalborg
Gothenburg
Aarhus
UNITED KINGDOM
DENMARK Billund
Manchester
London City
GERMANY Brussels
D端sseldorf
BELGIUM
SWITZERLAND
Munich
Z端rich
S nacks
Me als
Drinks
ba.com
Pap ers
Lounges
Smiles
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
Restaurant of the Month, Denmark
Unforgettable Michelin bites in Aarhus Few of us get the opportunity to experience how it feels to be in a Michelin-starred restaurant, and very few of us get to try a variety of such restaurants. Nordisk Spisehus in Aarhus has however made this experience accessible to many more, by combining Michelin dishes from around the world, and providing people with a taste of the exquisite.
full monty, as it is only the eight-course menu that features Nordisk Spisehus’s own dishes. Yet, with two desserts, the eight-course option is hard to turn down. Journey for the senses
By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Nordisk Spisehus
Tokyo and Barcelona are both cities boasting some of the best restaurants in the world, and the two cities have been combined to form the new theme at Nordisk Spisehus. Three Barcelonian (e.g. Enoteca and Tickets) and two Tokyoite (e.g. Amour) restaurants, all holding Michelin stars, have each sent a recipe to Nordisk Spisehus, to be combined with three dishes created by the chefs at the Aarhus kitchen, forming an eight-course menu that will guide your taste buds on a jour-
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ney from one Michelin-starred restaurant to the next. There is every opportunity to try these dishes, as there are options to suit all. It is not necessary to go for the full eightcourse menu; three- and five-course menus are also available. This gives everyone the chance to try a few of these famous dishes, and the five-course menu offers the diner the luxury of tasting all the Michelin dishes despite opting out of the
The journey does not stop at the taste buds, but continues to tickle all the senses. Every time a new theme is taken on by Nordisk Spisehus, which is six times a year, the interiors of the restaurant change along with the theme. This includes everything from cutlery to the music being played in the background. The current theme requires cutlery as well as hands and chopsticks to eat. Each new theme takes two months to develop, and the chefs are constantly being challenged to recreate their food and reinvent themselves. The owner, Frantz Longhi, is not
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
short of praise for his staff, who he says are some of the best in the world, mostly because of the constant change the restaurant brings. The chefs have to reconstruct Michelin dishes from around the world, and have often been commended by food critics on the exceptional level of quality of the dishes, as high as those in the original restaurant. Though you are highly unlikely to find all the staff suddenly playing various instruments, Longhi describes his restaurant as more of an orchestra than a restaurant: the chefs are artists while the restaurant is like a theatre or concert hall. Things are constantly changing, and despite the dishes coming from radically different countries and traditions, they all fit together under the same roof, just like different pieces of music would during a concert. Moving from dish to dish is like a jump from one taste to the other, but with a common thread running through them all, creating a magical taste sensation that cannot be experienced anywhere else in Europe.
New places, new themes If you are not going to Aarhus this summer, but instead heading to the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, it is still possible to try some of the dishes created by the Nordisk Spisehus chefs, as well as some of the best smørrebrød in Denmark, in the sister restaurant, Kähler, set in the beautiful Tivoli Gardens. The restaurant is the only design restaurant in Copenhagen and combines traditional Danish ceramics with delicious food. Nevertheless, if you are looking for the full Michelin taste sensation, Aarhus is the place to be this summer. The current theme, Tokyo & Barcelona, will run until the end of August, when the restaurant again changes the dishes and the interiors to suit a new theme, this time focusing on the Nordic and Scandinavian regions. With dishes arriving from Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki, this is bound to be yet another exciting theme, set to pleasure all the senses. It will also give you the opportunity to try many of the
tastes and dishes that have made Nordic food stand out over the last couple of years. A visit to Nordisk Spisehus is bound to be an unforgettable experience, and one you will tell friends and family about for years to come. It is something you cannot experience anywhere else in Europe, and moreover, if you are not planning on going to Barcelona and Tokyo this summer, it is a great opportunity to get a taste of both cities. Nordisk Spisehus is dedicated to giving you the absolute best experience you could have, on a level few other restaurants ever go near. Go there, be amazed, and leave with a smile on your face and a holiday memory to be cherished forever. For more information, please visit: Nordisk Spisehus: www.nordiskspisehus.dk Kähler Tivoli: www.kahler-i-tivoli.com
ABOVE LEFT: Frantz Longhi, owner of Nordisk Spisehus. MIDDLE: Geko dessert. RIGHT: A celebration of lobster. TOP RIGHT: Wagyo beef.
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Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway
Restaurant of the Month, Norway
Aphrodisiacs of the fjord Every restaurant has a story, but few have a story like Cornelius Restaurant on the islet of Bjorøy, a 20-minute boat trip from Bergen in Norway. As Owner Alf Roald Sætre tells Scan Magazine, it contains all the themes a good story needs: love, death, dramatic fjords, aphrodisiacs – and resounding success. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Cornelius Restaurant and Truls J. Løtvedt – Bergen
As a third-generation oyster farmer, Sætre had fallen in love. He had set eyes on an islet owned by an old man, and as he could not afford to buy it, he went after the daughter who would inherit the land. “Unfortunately she married a friend of mine instead, a cool guy with a motorcycle,” he says and explains how he decided to venture out to Seattle to explore ideal fish farming conditions that had so far been ignored. Seventeen years later, drained of his enthusiasm for a project
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that had been a great success, with Sætre becoming co-owner, he returned to his homeland only to discover that his childhood sweetheart was widowed. “So I started feeding her lots of sea urchins, known for their aphrodisiac effect on women. And it worked!” Cornelius Restaurant, named after Sætre’s grandfather, was finally set up in 2003 and has been a real success story. Situated on the five-acre islet of Bjorøy in
a beautiful fjord, it offers not only magnificent views but also dream conditions for an aquaculture enthusiast. Here, nothing has been left to fate: a lot of effort has gone into the architecturally admirable main building with modern, stylish décor throughout, and a small platform has been built to accommodate guests who arrive by helicopter. A meteorological concept Purpose-built tanks of constantly pumping salt water have been installed so that guests can watch scallops and shellfish in action, picking exactly what tickles their fancy that particular moment, and big widescreen projectors in the restaurant allow the diners to watch staff dive for the seafood that will shortly be served – absolutely fresh.
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway
“We call it ‘a meteorological concept’,” Sætre explains. “The weather and natural conditions are in charge, and we always serve up the very best fish we can get that day. On a cold and windy day, we make sure that the food is particularly hearty, with hot, warming sauces, and on warmer summer’s days, we keep it light and fresh.” With a wine cellar of over 7,000 bottles of wine, it promises to be an impressive all-round gastronomic experience.
aquaculture tradition first-hand. “We’ll tell them about the local fishing culture and show them exactly how the fish is smoked. They get to taste cod or salmon straight from the smoking oven, as well as our special fish chowder,” says Sætre. During two hours of walking and talking, with treats for the eyes as well as the taste buds, the guests get a refreshing break from the fine dining environment of the cruises to soak up the real deal of aquaculture.
Walking and talking
“I also keep some cages of a type of small hake fish unique to the local area, which, upon the cruises’ arrivals, we cook in front of the visitors and serve with butter and a special Norwegian flatbread.” And with
A recent development is a collaboration with local cruise companies, offering a package deal that gives cruise guests the opportunity to experience the Norwegian
each food sample comes a story or two from the founder himself. Sætre’s love of and knack for storytelling permeates the entire experience of Bjorøy and Cornelius Restaurant, from the moment visitors step off the boat from Bergen on the mainland and are told the story of how the little island was first acquired, to the high-technological devices that show how the food reaches the plate, every step of the way, and the food itself, which tells a tale not only about Sætre’s passion for fish farming but also about local history and culture. Every restaurant has a story – but why settle for just one?
FACTS: How to get here: Boats leave Dreggen Quay in Bergen city centre every evening at 6pm and return at 10.30pm or 11.30 pm. Package deals: Boat return ticket plus meteorological three-course meal: 845 NOK per person; or ‘Holmen Spesial’, including boat return ticket, a talk about seafood, food samples from the tanks and aquariums, and meteorological three-course meal: 1045 NOK per person. Sail-away menu: Available upon request, including lobster, crayfish, shrimps, mussels, crab etc. Prices vary.
For more information, please visit: www.cornelius-restaurant.no
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Sweden
Hotel of the Month, Sweden
Celebrated resort with tailwind Built in 2008 as a modern resort just 10 minutes from Gothenburg central station and Gothenburg City Airport, Sankt Jögen Park has proved that a blend of ayurvedic spirit and leisurely luxury is a winning concept in the world of spa. Not only is the venue literally winning, with an impressive collection of prestigious awards; the already booming business is experiencing some serious tailwind.
grape, cassia and sandalwood, and this year, the spa’s Elemis treatment Exotic Lime & Ginger Salt Glow was awarded Best Spa Treatment of the Year by Spa Star International.
By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Sankt Jögen Park
The 2014 ritual flirts with the orient, utilising essential oils of patchouli and ginger, known for their healing, warming and stimulating qualities. If you like the sound of treating yourself to something luxurious and exclusive, booking now would be a good idea.
If you have been to a spa in the Nordics recently, you will have heard of the spa ritual concept. You might not, however, have been informed that the idea originated here, inspired by the ayurvedic doshas with the aim to provide good energy for overall happiness, health and balance. Since Sankt Jörgen Park came up with the three rituals of Relax, Energy and Pu-
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rify, the concept has been showered with awards and copied generously. At its home spa, the awards keep on coming and the Spa Ritual of the Year has grown into a hugely popular feature. The 2013 Limited Edition, Sparkles, was a resounding success with around 5,000 guests enjoying the luxurious blend of
Expansion and growth But central to the Sankt Jörgen Park resort concept as the spa facilities may be, they
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Sweden
are not alone in experiencing some significant growth. “This autumn, we start building an event space of 400 square metres right next to the hotel,” head of marketing, Lisa Thorén, reveals. “We’ll see large conferences, small-ish trade fairs, parties, weddings and cooking classes fill the hall, which is due to open next summer.” Moreover, while business golf has been a little bit on the back-burner for a few years, it is now picking up quickly again, as is the interest in beginner’s classes and club membership. With its very own Golf Academy including three simulators, golf carts and equipment for hotel guests’ use, alongside an 18-hole golf course that promises never to take you further than 10 minutes away from the hotel, Sankt Jörgen Park is the busy golf lover’s dream. As Thorén puts it: “If what you want to do is play golf, why waste time getting to and from the tee?” New this year is that the resort’s Golf Package includes two green fees – for the same price as before. “The course has never been in better shape, and we owe that to gifted green keepers as well as an early spring,” says Thorén. “It bodes well for the autumn golf season!” An active, healthy lifestyle As the leading ritual spa in the Nordics, Sankt Jörgen Park treats mental well-
being and physical health as equally important and perfectly dependent on each other. “It’s all about that active, healthy lifestyle,” says Thorén and boasts about exercise classes ranging from zumba to yogilates and food options covering RAW food as well as organic juices and traditionally Swedish culinary treats. While less is certainly more in regards to noise and impressions, the resort being an oasis of calm right next to the city in the truest sense of the term, it is the wealth of options that gives guests the chance to really relax and recharge – be it
through a round of golf, a spa treatment or simply a quiet hotel break. And that goes for business and pleasure alike: “On Fridays, the suit comes off and the bathrobe comes on,” says Thorén about the resort’s typical guests. Countless accreditations and awards courtesy of bodies including Svenska Spahotell and Reseguiden just do not lie. Most likely, neither does the need to expand or fully booked golf classes. Sankt Jörgen Park was a very rapidly rising star when it opened in 2008, and it is showing no sign of stopping.
For more information, please visit: www.sanktjorgenpark.se
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway
The Aurlandsfjord. Photo: Visit Flam / R.M Sørensen
Hotel of the Month, Norway
Relish in fjord panoramas and historical atmospheres Commonly regarded as one of Norway’s most striking fjord sceneries, the Aurlandsfjord stretches inland to reveal miles upon miles of tranquil, untouched and UNESCOrecognised natural splendour. Since the mid-1800s, tourists have been venturing to the small fjord base of Flåm in search of abundant salmon rivers and characteristic waterfalls. Fretheim farm provided the first warm hospitality to these travellers and continues to do so today – in the historical atmosphere of Fretheim Hotel. By Julie Linden | Photos: Visit Flåm
“I know that many people see Flåm and the Aurlandsfjord solely as a summer destination,” says Øivind Wigand, director of Fretheim Hotel, continuing: “But we have so much to offer throughout the year. The autumn and winter seasons are fantastic in this part of the country, and no matter what the purpose of your stay is, we can accommodate your wishes.”
charm of the timber building’s antique rooms make you feel warmly welcomed and at home, but the variety of activities and flexible choices will let you tailormake a stay suited to your needs. With a commitment to autumn and winter activities in particular, Fretheim boasts both the location and the contacts to make your stay an unforgettable one – whether for private or business purposes.
Homely charm and flexible choices Accommodation is a multifaceted term at Fretheim Hotel. Not only will the historical
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Nearby attraction the Flåm Railway is known around the world for its meander-
ing trail between Myrdal and Flåm, showing off Norwegian nature in its finest suit. The railway line, which was completed in 1940 in order to transport post and animals between the two sites, was recently crowned the world’s best train ride for the year of 2014 by Lonely Planet, and passes a number of stunning waterfalls and steep cliffs. Getting active If physical activity is more your thing, Flåm is a beautiful location to discover by bike. But why let one thing rule out another? Fretheim Hotel is more than pleased to advise you on how to combine your Flåm Railway adventure with a bike ride out of the ordinary, connecting challenging climbs with breath-taking views. In fact, activities in all forms have become somewhat of a Fretheim motto, which makes it easy to understand why
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway
the hotel is preferred by many as an ideal conference destination. “We have exchanged the traditional ‘hotel and conference’ term for a ‘hotel and experiences’ term. It’s absolutely fantastic that we’re situated where we are, because it means that we can use the surrounding nature and fjords to create spectacular experiences for everyone. Visitors can go biking, or they can take part in our popular fjord safaris – everything available around the corner from the hotel,” Wigand says. A dedication to local treats and a creative cuisine Vicinity means a lot to Fretheim, Wigand explains. Not only does the word describe the endless list of activities available on the hotel’s doorstep, but it also entails fantastic cuisine made from produce grown close to Flåm. As part of De Historiske, an historical hotel and restaurant membership organisation, Fretheim vows to present guests with traditional and local quality food. For instance, an à la carte menu has been discarded in favour of a menu varying according to the daily deliveries from local producers and farmers. Wigand adds that the hotel’s strong connections with the agricultural college of Sogn og Fjordane gives the menu even more of an inspired flair. “Our chefs have the freedom to be very creative with the
Stegastein viewpoint. Photo: Visit Flam / J. Akselsen
produce delivered, and thus give the meals a special touch,” he says. “Still, we’re very keen to keep the traditional character of Norwegian cuisine alive. It creates some challenges that we are happy to meet, but the key point is that we are never confined to a set menu that doesn’t accept alterations.” Tranquility and simplicity Add a spectacular view of the fjord to a menu changing daily, and you will see why it is difficult not to be both inspired and rejuvenated by a visit to Fretheim Hotel. Want to kick back after a stimulating day of new experiences? Make a visit to the hotel’s Sivle library, paying tribute to local
author Per Sivle, or relax and take in the tranquil atmosphere at one of the hotel bars. There is no need to worry about the seasonal cold – Fretheim Hotel’s cosy fireplaces will keep you warm and comfortable, just as its earnest hospitality has done for more than a century. “There’s a simplicity and scenery up here that must be experienced. If we can add quality and personal attention to that experience, that’s our greatest desire,” says Wigand. For more information, please visit: www.fretheimhotel.no
LEFT AND MIDDLE: Fretheim hotel is beautifully situated at the fjord base of Flåm. Photos: Visit Flåm/K. Lange. TOP MIDDLE: Indulge in clean, local produce. Photo: Visit Flåm / S. Karlsen. RIGHT: The Flåm Railway was built in the 1940s and provides the best view of some of Norway’s most exquisite nature panoramas. Photo: Visit Flåm /R.M. Sørensen.
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Finland
Hotel of the Month, Finland
The best of both worlds: a resort in the city For those who appreciate world-famous Finnish architecture, nature and a central location, BEST WESTERN Hotel Rantapuisto in eastern Helsinki is a real treat. The large windows bring nature inside, be it the forest park or the archipelago of the Gulf of Finland. Hard to believe, perhaps: but you can find a holiday resort in a European capital. By Mia Halonen | Photos: Hotel Rantapuisto
Hotel Rantapuisto is probably best known as a superb place for conferences. 26 different meeting spaces, including a fullyequipped auditorium for 300 people, cater to groups of all sizes, while the three restaurants serve fresh Scandinavian food. The building itself is an excellent example of the stunning Finnish architecture from the ’60s, with beautiful fireplaces, big windows, panelling and lighting. But what really makes Rantapuisto stand out is what surrounds it: the clean Nordic nature. “You are just 15 kilometres away from Helsinki city centre, but you simply forget
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that here,” says director of sales and marketing, Pipsa Kyöstiö. “Nature is everywhere around us, and yet the nearest metro station, Rastila, is close by, as is Itäkeskus, the biggest shopping centre in Scandinavia.” It only takes about 20 minutes to get here from the airport. But driving or making use of the efficient public transport are not the only ways to get to Rantapuisto. “You can also get here by boat,” says Kyöstiö. “A whole other world opens up from the seaside when you head here from the Kauppatori market square. The boat trip on a traditional or modern vessel is something everybody can enjoy,
regardless of age. And you don’t need any special equipment for that, either.” You can get into the holiday mood by taking a swim at Hotel Rantapuisto’s own beach. Fishing and kayaking on the softly rolling waves of Helsinki archipelago make for a wonderful experience, as does snow-shoeing in the winter. There is also a large sports hall on the premises, so even big groups can have a day packed with activities – followed by an experience of the Finnish sauna, naturally. Fortunately, you do not have to wait for an invitation to a conference to come here; private travellers are welcome to enjoy all this as well. Maybe one of the 67 rooms or three apartments in Rantapuisto is available for you? For more information, please visit: www.rantapuisto.fi
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Sweden
Clockwise from left to right: Tatiana De Rosnay, Siri Hustvedt, Tom Rachman, Conn Iggulden, Maria Källsson (director of Göteborg Book Fair) and David Grossman.
Attraction of the Month, Sweden
Celebrating 30 years of celebrating literature It is time again for Göteborg Book Fair – the largest meeting place in the Nordic countries for publishers, agents, writers and readers. This year, we hear stories from around the world, but all eyes are on Brazil. By Ellinor Thunberg | Press Photos
Göteborg Book Fair has everything from seminars and events to exhibitions, activities and the International Rights Centre for publishers and agents. This year, writers from 35 countries are represented and more than 1,200 journalists will cover the fair.
were born in the ‘80s. They are young, some even debutants, playwrights and authors who write for children. It is a whole new Brazil and it will be very interesting to get to know it,” says Källsson, mentioning Vanessa Bárbara, Andréa Del Fuego and Michel Laub.
All eyes on Brazil
The second largest section, Voices from Catalonia, offers an interesting dimension as so many visitors have been to Barcelona.
“No other country feels more 2014 than Brazil, with the World Cup and an international focus on the country. We are really pleased and excited,” says Book Fair director Maria Källsson. Brazil is diverse and has a rich culture and history, and it is the only Portuguese-speaking country on the South American continent. The native literature has been in the shadow of Spanish writers, but one famous name is Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist) – however, there is more to explore. “Many of the authors this year
Always up to date A lot has happened since 1985 and the fair has grown from 5,000 visitors initially to nearly 100,000 today. Apart from being a showcase for contemporary literature, it is also an arena for culture and education. The Cloud is a space dedicated this year to education staff, offering in-depth discussions and
workshops. Because of the Swedish general election in September, education is an even hotter topical than usual. Another current topic is new technology, and the Digital Square is a must-visit open to all ticket holders during all four days of the fair. “The foundation of a good book is always a good story, but here we look at different formats. It can be an e-book or even a video game these days,” says the director. Göteborg Book Fair takes place 25-28 September at the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre in Gothenburg. With around 3,400 scheduled activities, there is something for everyone.
5 authors to watch in 2014 Siri Hustvedt: What I Loved, The Blazing World Tom Rachman: The Imperfectionists, The Rise and Fall of Great Powers David Grossman: Falling out of Time Conn Iggulden: The Gates of Rome, Empire series Tatiana De Rosnay: Sarah’s Key, Boomerang
For more information, please visit: bokmassan.se/en
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 83
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
ABOVE: The historic building is in itself worth a visit. BELOW: The permanent exhibition is called A history of photography.
Attraction of the Month, Norway
From private exhibition to national museum In picturesque surroundings in Horten lies Preus Museum, Norway’s national museum of photography. With an extensive collection of photographs, technical equipment and literature, the museum tells the story of photography and its role in society through the years. By Kjersti Westeng | Photos: Andreas Harvik / Arne B. Langleite
Funded by the Ministry of Culture, Preus Museum’s vision is to be the leading actor within the field of photography, both on a national and an international scale. Through active communication, the museum spreads valuable knowledge on photography and its history, as well as participating in public debate on issues regarding the importance of photography in today’s society. Bought by the Norwegian government In 1966, Leif Preus founded Preus Foto A/S, a photography shop that grew to be-
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come one of Norway’s largest photography firms in the ’80s. A decade later, he opened up a private photography exhibition, mainly for his employees and others
with a special interest in photography. The exhibition grew with the number of visitors, leading the Norwegian government to buy Preus’s collection of photos, books and technical equipment in 1994. The following year, Preus Museum opened its doors to the public. Head of administration, Astrid Roberg, says: “Photography is such an exciting field to be working in because it involves so many things: documentaries, images, history and culture.”
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
In 2001, the museum moved to the historic Karljohansvern in Horten. Dating back to the 1860s, the building was previously used to store grain for the Royal Norwegian Navy. It was adapted for museum purposes in 2001 by architect Sverre Fehn, an internationally renowned architect who received the very prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1997. “The building is in itself worth a visit. It is historic and truly beautiful,” says Roberg. The exhibitions Preus Museum is famous for its extensive collection of photographs, literature and technical equipment. When the exhibition was bought by the Norwegian government, these collections became the foundation of the entire museum and the basis of its exhibitions. Today, Preus Museum has had great success with its permanent exhibition, called A history of photography. As the name suggests, the exhibition takes you on a journey through the history of photography: from the very first experiments of photography to the massive industry it is today, from black and white to colour, from analogue to digital, and from photos of memories to photos of art. Additionally, the museum has two galleries, featuring one or two temporary exhibitions. These change three times a year. The current exhibition is The history of space photography and will be open until 14 September. Revealing the fantastic variety of outer-space photography from the early 1800s until today, the exhibition is a prime example of the importance of photography, featuring the first photos of the earth from space, our solar system, the stars, the Milky Way and the universe far beyond our solar system. “Curated by Jay Belloli for the California/International Arts Foundation in Los Angeles, this exhibition reminds us of the fact that we are just a small part of an enormous universe with a number of unanswered questions,” says Roberg. “At the same time, it examines and questions the way we treat our planet today.” On 28 September, two new exhibitions will take over the galleries. The new exhibitions are by Norwegian artists Toril Jo-
ABOVE LEFT: The museum is perfect for children and families. RIGHT: The popular Photography Day is hosted every August, celebrating all aspects of photography.
hannesen and Vilde Salhus Røed, both famous for exploring new ways of expressing themselves artistically. Preus Museum also has its own photographic conservation department, offering courses and workshops to all visitors on topics such as restoration techniques and preservation of photographs. Perfect for children A very important aspect of the museum’s vision is to educate its visitors within the field of photography. The library consists of around 30,000 volumes, covering photography from the early 1500s until today. Additionally, the museum offers a range of workshops for schools, making the museum a popular place to visit for people of all ages. With support from DNB Savings Bank Foundation and Arts Council Norway, the museum now hosts both one-off workshops and longer courses, such as a digital photography workshop, an iPod workshop, a pinhole photography workshop, and an analogue darkroom course.
On top of the workshops, the museum has its own section for children, where they can explore shadow theatre, optical lenses and camera obscura. On the Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day, held on the last Sunday in April every year, Preus Museum arranges a photography day for children where they get invited into the darkroom to participate in all kinds of photography fun. Photography Day Another popular event is Photography Day, hosted every August. This year, the event will be held on 24 August, inviting all photo enthusiasts to celebrate photography and its 175-year anniversary. Working with various photography organisations, the museum will host workshops, exhibitions, lectures and a wide range of activities suitable for both children and adults. For more information, please visit: www.preusmuseum.no
Consisting of around 30,000 volumes, the library chronicles the history of photography from the early 1500s until today.
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Photo: K.R. Hoppe
Photo: K.R. Hoppe
Photo: Jens Lindhe
Photo: Det kongelige bibliotek
Photo: Det kongelige bibliotek
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
Still today, Blixen’s former home at Rungstedlund is characterised by her Scandinavian style mixed with furniture from Africa.
Attraction of the Month, Denmark
An extraordinary woman As the early morning fog rolls across the landscape at Rungstedlund, you are enveloped in a colourful cacophony of birdsong and serenity. It is not hard to imagine what it would be like to be a forward-thinking writer, penning masterpieces behind the doors of this regal residence. By Kathleen Newlove
Some people manage to accomplish amazing things ahead of their time. Karen Blixen is not only the famous author of Babette’s Feast, Out of Africa, and many other works, but she was also an exceptionally talented painter trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. She was a privileged, modern woman who spoke many languages fluently and was “globalised before we even knew the word,” as director of the Karen Blixen Museum, Catherine Lefebvre, puts it. Blixen was in her late 20s when she moved to Africa and became a Baroness. That may seem like a glamorous and exciting way to escape a traditional and
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sheltered upbringing, but much to her dismay, the marriage ended in divorce after approximately a decade, and Blixen sadly contracted syphilis. When her next love affair ended due to a private plane crash, she moved back in with her mother at Rungstedlund at the age of 46. Although she had been writing on and off since the age of eight, “she became a writer at almost 50 because she thought the only hope for her was that she might be able to tell a good story,” Lefebvre explains. If you visit Copenhagen, Blixen’s private home and museum in Rungsted Kyst, 25 kilometres north of the capital, is not to be
missed. Here, you pass through an eyecatching array of rooms still decorated in the author’s very luminous Scandinavian style mixed with some of her furniture from Africa. To this day, the museum staff place bright floral arrangements throughout the residence, just as Blixen did when she lived there, to preserve the authenticity of this tranquil space. Blixen is buried among trees that are 300 years old on this beautiful estate, a 14acre park that is open all day. It serves as a bird sanctuary, now supervised by the Danish Ornithological Society, and has been a protected area for over 50 years, ever since Blixen implored Danish citizens for financial help to make it so during one of her famous radio broadcasts.
For more information, please visit: blixen.dk/en
Scan Magazine | Business | Key Note
Scan Business Key Note 87 | Business Profile: TePe 88 | Conference of the Month 90 | Business Calendar 92 | Politics 93
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“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” – Edmund Burke By Paul Blackhurst, client director at Mannaz
Solomon Asch created a series of experiments to demonstrate the power of social conformity. Humans are the most social of all animals, and from the earliest days, we have struggled with the need to fit in with the group. The need to be accepted by the community was often literally a matter of life and death. This primal need has left some deep, unconscious programmes. Asch’s experiments (available on YouTube) show that most people are willing to give up their view of reality to conform with a group of three or more people. In many management teams, this effect leads to groupthink. In 1961, after consulting with his advisors, John F. Kennedy approved an invasion of Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro. Advance press reports alerted Castro to the threat. Over 1,400 invaders at the Baha de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) were vastly outnumbered. Nearly 1,200 surrendered and others died. “How could I have been so stupid?” Kennedy asked afterwards.
Yale psychologist Irving Janis felt that many of Kennedy’s top advisors were unwilling to challenge bad ideas because it might disturb group concurrence. Fears of shattering warm feelings of perceived unanimity – of rocking the boat – kept some of Kennedy’s advisors from objecting to the Bay of Pigs plan before it was too late. Advisor Arthur Schlesinger lamented: “I bitterly reproached myself for having kept so silent during those crucial discussions. I can only explain my failure by reporting that one’s impulse to blow the whistle on this nonsense was simply undone by the circumstances of the discussion.”
So, your homework this month is to embrace conflict, and personally determine to stand for what is right, regardless of the cost. JFK said: “When the high court of history sits in judgment on each of us, it will ask: ‘Were we truly men of courage – with the courage to stand up to one’s enemies – and the courage to stand up, when necessary, to one’s associates?’”
By contrast, in the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, JFK had revamped his decisionmaking process to encourage conflict and critical evaluation. Internal debates allowed realistic scrutiny of alternatives. The U.S. blockaded Cuba and eventually Khrushchev removed the missiles. Robert Kennedy wrote: “The fact that we were able to talk, debate, argue, disagree, and then debate some more was essential.”
Paul Blackhurst, client director at Mannaz
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Scan Magazine | Business Profile | TePe
A healthy smile from Sweden On a mission to improve oral hygiene and promote healthy smiles globally, familyowned Swedish company TePe has been thriving on in-house production and close industry collaboration since 1965. As a result, 25 per cent of all toothbrushes purchased in Sweden are signed TePe – and thanks to the interdental brush, the company is gaining ground across other markets as well. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: TePe
The story of TePe started in 1965, when professional wood carver Henning Eklund was advised by his dentist to create a triangular dental stick. With help and support from two professors at the School of Dentistry in Malmö, he developed the machinery for the small-scale production of these brand new dental sticks, and subsequently started selling them through the local pharmacy. Short of 50 years later, TePe has grown to become one of the world’s leading oral
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hygiene product manufacturers, but the spirit has changed little, as thirdgeneration CEO Joel Eklund explains: “My grandad was inventive by nature and very much driven by the urge to develop something new. He could never have imagined that the company would grow as quickly as it has done, but still today our strategy is to a large extent based on how he used to work: close cooperation with dentistry experts, in-house production and machine development, and pharmacy distribution. A lot has happened since his day,
but these are still cornerstones of the TePe business model.” Commitment to high standards Representing Sweden in the ISO dental care committee, TePe puts a lot of emphasis on the opinions and support of dental care professionals and their recommendation of TePe’s products to their patients. That the company’s products fulfil all requirements specified in international ISO standards goes without saying, as does the fact that the company holds the ISO 9001:2008 and 14001:2004 certifications. “Our involvement with ISO is a sign of our commitment to high standards within the industry and in the development of products such as the interdental brush,” says Eklund. “The work is sometimes slow, but
Scan Magazine | Business Profile | TePe
in the long-term it’s fruitful and important.” This no-shortcuts approach is part of the TePe DNA, with beginning-to-end control being key to its success: despite an annual turnover of around 450 million SEK and export to over 50 countries, everything from R&D to production and testing still takes place in Malmö in southern Sweden. “This has always been a natural choice, and a way for us to control and guarantee top quality,” explains the CEO. “At the same time, being able to create jobs in Sweden is a motivation, and it feels like more and more businesses are seeing the benefits of centralising production to Sweden – which is great news for the labour market as well as the economy as a whole.” Interdental hit and expansion Recent years have seen several new additions to the product portfolio, the conquering of new markets, and new and improved channels of distribution, including this year’s introduction of TePe’s products at one of Sweden’s largest, most-loved supermarket chains, ICA. But amongst the most crucial turning points in the company history, according to Eklund, was the increased investment in interdental brushes, initially a result of close
collaboration between Eklund’s father and industry professionals, introduced onto the market in the ’90s, and now by far the company’s most important product category.
It was also the success of the interdental brush that enabled significant international growth for the company, which has grown from an almost exclusively Swedish trader in the 1990s to an international player with subsidiaries in four countries and export through external distributors in more than 50 countries. The first step was the successful launch of the German subsidiary in 1998, pushed through by Eklund’s predecessor, then-CEO Birgitta Nilsson, eventually leading to similar developments in the Netherlands and Italy. Since then, TePe has also acquired a distributor in the UK, now one of its most important markets, and can be spotted on the shelves of, among others, Boots.
A proud family business man, Eklund maintains that his own motivations are honest and simple: “That we produce high-quality products marketed under our own TePe brand, improving oral health around the world, means that I can be whole-heartedly proud of the company and our offering,” he says. “But I also take pride in our international expansion, with a subsidiary in Germany since 1998 and colleagues in five different countries from a wide range of backgrounds. Among my colleagues are professionals ranging from dental hygienists to control engineers and graphic designers, all highly skilled in their fields.” With 25 per cent of all toothbrushes bought in Sweden made by TePe, and a market leading position for interdental brushes in Sweden, Germany, the UK and other markets, what is the secret? “Our success is not based on secrets,” the CEO insists. “I have a great team of committed colleagues, all our products are made in Sweden, of exceptional quality and functionality, and supported by the dental profession. That’s it.”
For more information, please visit: www.tepe.com
CEO Joel Eklund
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 89
Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Denmark
Conference of the Month, Denmark
Hospitality and comfort in beautiful surroundings Professional and service-minded with a personal touch. Havnsø Ny Badehotel offers it all, whether you are having a conference, arranging a team-building event, or just checking in for a stay at the hotel. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Havnsø Ny Badehotel
There are hotel and conference centres that claim to be placed near the sea, and then there is Havnsø Ny Badehotel. It is located literally right at the sea in the southern part of Sejerøbugten, where it offers an astonishing view over Nekselø to the north-west and Vejrhøj to the northeast. “The location is everything. It is as simple as that. We provide the opportunity for our guests to enjoy a calm and relaxed stay in some of the most beautiful surroundings you will ever find. It is absolutely ideal for
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either having a conference or simply staying at the hotel, and it goes without saying that our meeting rooms have direct access to various terraces from where the view can be fully enjoyed,” says director Niels Elvstrøm. Aside from the view, Havnsø Ny Badehotel is also well-known for its extensive à la carte menu on offer in the restaurant complemented by a carefully selected wine list. Furthermore, the place is easy to get to from most places on Zealand and, in fact, the reputation has spread, so also
people from Sweden now pay the hotel and conference centre a visit every now and then to enjoy the view. Willing and able to meet your demands Amongst the facilities are four conference rooms of different sizes: four group rooms, exhibition opportunities, as well as wireless internet in all rooms and in all common areas. But if you are looking for something extra, you can be absolutely sure that Havnsø Ny Badehotel is willing and able to provide that as well. “It is very important for us to live up to our customers’ expectations. Therefore, we spend a lot of time focusing on their demands in order to be sure that we offer a high level of service. Actually, we often see that our guests do not know exactly
Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Denmark
what they want and need, so we also try to help them to concretise it. Maybe they require some special, technical equipment for a presentation or a specific kind of food, and if we do not already have it, we get external help, because their demands are our agenda,” says Elvstrøm, who likes to add a personal touch in order to make sure that everything is as expected. “Relaxed, professional and personal service has become a mantra for us. All our employees are visible and ready to help with whatever request you might have, and it always happens with a smile. Living up to our customers’ expectations is also an enjoyable challenge for us. If we just had to follow a standard procedure all the time, it would not be so much fun. We really like the satisfaction it gives, when our customers have a great experience here at Havnsø Ny Badehotel,” says the director. Try out some team-building In addition to providing the opportunity to organise conferences and meetings, Havnsø Ny Badehotel offers luxurious weekend stays with great chances for self-indulgence, golf tours, Christmas parties, island journeys, kayaking trips and much more – and just like with everything else here, you can individualise your stay to suit your exact needs.
As a new initiative, Havnsø Ny Badehotel opened a team-building course in April this year in nearby Rødsnæs. Everything is still relatively new, but the beginning has been a success, says Elvstrøm. “We have had very positive feedback from our customers so far. The terrain, which mainly is a course with lots of ropes up in the trees, is located in beautiful surroundings and there is a café as well, where you can enjoy some lunch. It is very close to the hotel and conference centre, which gives you
the option to combine the two things. For instance, you can start with a breakfast at the hotel, then have a team-building arrangement in the morning and come back here to eat and have your meeting. You can assemble it any way you want.”
For more information, please visit: www.havnsohotel.dk
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 91
Scan Magazine | Business | Calendar
Scandinavian Business Calendar Nordic Thursday Drinks at Kell SkĂśtt The world of business may still be covered in a somewhat sleepy haze, as the last few lucky holiday-goers return one by one to turn their Out of Office messages off and skim through endless unread emails, but the Nordic Thursday Drinks are back with a bang, and probably all the more exciting for it. This month, head to Kell SkĂśtt Haircare Salon in west London for some quality networking, and if you are one of the first 50 to arrive, you get a free welcome drink. Moreover, Akvavit cocktails, Tuborg, and lovely wine will be on sale, and both canapĂŠs and liquorice are stocked up on. Care about hair? Come early and get a Pureology goodie bag as a bonus! Date: 28 August
SCC’s annual crayfish party There is one way and one way only for any self-respecting Scandinavian to kickstart the autumn season and make the adjustment from holiday fun to business as usual as enjoyable as possible: a good old crayfish party. While London’s shellfish shebangs do not take place until September, we thought it high time to give you all the details and a chance to grab a ticket. ‘Keep calm and eat crayfish,’ reads the poster for the Swedish Chamber event on RS Hispaniola Victoria Embankment, and we probably do not need to say much more than snapsvisor (traditional drinking songs), comical paper hats, and man-inthe-moon lanterns. As one of the chamber’s most popular social gatherings, this is the real deal. Date: 5 September
DUCC
– Highlights of Scandinavian business events
The Finnish Chamber’s crayfish party The Finns follow suit with a crayfish party on the largest luxury River Thames boat, the M.V. Dixie Queen. Expect lots of singing, plenty of food, and more crayfish than you could possibly dream of. Naturally, the networking opportunities and Finnish nostalgia will be turned up to max, too, but in all honesty, the invitation had us at free-flowing schnapps‌ Date: 10 September
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Scan Magazine | Politics | The Swedish General Election
GEARING UP FOR THE SWEDISH GENERAL ELECTION
Q&A with Linda Öhrn Lernström Interview by Linnea Dunne | Press Photo
It’s general election year in Sweden, and only about a month to go now. How will the 2014 election year be remembered? Unfortunately as the year when the Sweden Democrats grew in popularity. What one issue or debate has been the most important in the run-up to the 2014 election? The success and growth of F!, the feminist party, which kickstarted the equality debate also amongst other parties. What one politician has surprised you positively? I’m going to have to pass on that question for now. But it’ll be very interesting to find out when the debates really kick off properly. What issue do you think deserved more attention and debate than it got? I think that unfortunately the debate around environmental policy tends to veer towards the populist, revolving around all the ‘wrong’ things – or, alternatively, it tends to be forgotten about entirely. Is there a specific debate or event from this election year that sums it up in a poignant way? It’ll have to be the equality debate again! What will be the critical, deciding factors in the last few weeks before election day? It’ll be all about jobs, education and the welfare system. Your prediction: who will be the big winners and the big losers? The winners will be the parties with a clear, strong political focal point, in this case feminism, immigration or the environment. The losers are the big parties with a wider political agenda, parties that are currently struggling with the way they
Linda Öhrn Lernström is the editor in chief of VeckoRevyn, one of the largest women’s magazines in Sweden targeting young women, and has featured on lists ranking leaders of the future.
communicate with the electorate. It goes without saying that it’s easier to reach an audience if focusing on a specific core issue, and at the same time the smaller parties of today are much better at reaching young voters simply because they know how to utilise social media. And by that I don’t mean that they have an Instagram account, but that they know how to effectively and successfully spread their politics through sharing.
vironmental policy is crucial; if we don’t take responsibility for the environment now, it will have catastrophic consequences in the not too distant future. Have you decided who you are going to vote for? There isn’t really a party that ticks every box on my list. I have changed my mind a few times, but I think I have finally made up my mind now – and it’s not the party I voted for in the European elections.
What are your hopes for the term following the election in September? I want Sweden to be a country of possibilities for everybody, regardless of sex, sexuality or background. Everyone in Sweden should have equal rights to health care and education, and there has to be a solid safety net for those who end up outside of society. At the same time, there has to be room for individual development and choice. En-
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 93
Scan Magazine | Politics | The Swedish General Election
LEFT: On September 14th, Swedes retreat to the polls. Photo: Riksdagen. TOP MIDDLE: The Feminist Initiative party, lead by Gudrun Schyman (sitting), hopes to secure representation in parliament. Photo: Feministiskt Initiativ. MIDDLE: Swedish women on their way to the polls for the first time, Stockholm 1921. Photo: Göteborgs Universitetsbibliotek. RIGHT: Incumbent Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, leader of the liberal-conservative Moderate party. Photo: Peter Knutson
The Swedish General Election 2014 – a look to the past with anticipations for the future For nearly 100 years Swedish politics have been characterised by a stable, parliamentarian democracy. Early historical documentation supports the view of a country where the right to choose and voice one’s opinion has always been highly regarded. As a final push ahead of this September’s election, we delve into the ups and downs of Swedish electoral history. By Julie Linden
Around year 1000 AD, the Vikings get it (believe it or not): “It is the people, not the King, who holds the power in Sweden.” This sweeping statement, made by Torgny the Lawspeaker while presiding over a Viking assembly, is by many considered one of the first documented manifestations of Swedish democracy.
The 1800s, popular movements get their say ahead of elections: Were it not for the right to demonstrate, matters such as equality, energy and welfare would hardly have become such archetype concerns in Swedish politics. Women fight for the right to vote – bouts that lead the suffrage movement to win the ballot in 1919.
1435, The Arboga Assembly: Sweden’s first (primarily noble, and thereby arguably quite undemocratic) general assembly – the prologue to the unicameral national legislature of the Riksdag – meets.
1979, Harrisburg nuclear meltdown poses Swedes with energy qualm: In a referendum, nuclear energy utilisation is deemed undesirable by 2010. The deadline is not met, and the quarrel between parties wishing to discard reactors completely and parties wishing to replace old reactors to ensure self-sufficiency has since been an overhanging query in national elections.
The 1700s, political parties emerge: The first two parties’ names? Hats and Caps (the former as they saw themselves as ‘men for their hats’ – a Swedish expression for being good enough).
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19 September, 2010, the Sweden Democrats win parliamentary seats: A right-wing populist party with strong objections to immigration takes home six per cent of the national votes. Many media outlets deem the party racist, and enforce advertisement boycotts to mark their opposition to the party’s policies. May, 2014, feminists take the front seat: Recent political debates have largely accentuated feminist movements and the Feminist Initiative party (F!, the first exclusively feminist party to win a seat in the European Parliament) as a challenger in cross-party discussions. The party has enjoyed a revival in recent years, reaching towards the four per cent elective threshold that would grant it representation in the Riksdag. On 14 September, Swedes head to the polls. With winds of all different colours blowing throughout Europe, it is not presumptuous to suggest that immigration, gender equality and environmental policy might play key roles in painting the political picture of the future.
Mark your calendar
WHY IS ONS 2014 THIS YEAR’S MOST IMPORTANT MEETING PLACE FOR THE GLOBAL ENERGY INDUSTRY?
25–28 AUGUST 2014
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1250 exhibitors and more than 60,000 visitors. Experience innovative technological solutions and meet new partners and clients.
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A vibrant city centre. Culinary adventures. Great artists. Cultural fireworks. At night you can pick and choose from our rich festival menu.
ONS celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2014, and has grown to become the leading meeting place for the global energy industry. This year’s theme is changes; the changes that affect technology, innovation, renewable energy and the global resource situation. Welcome to four days and three nights of business-boosting events. www.ons.no
Scan Magazine | Humour | Columns
IS IT JUST ME...
By Mette Lisby
Or does competition in silly things like board games and friendly sports games (not talking Premier League or World Cup here) bring out the absolute worst in people? In my experience, it has never brought about anything good. Maybe because I, as a six-year-old, cried my eyes out for two hours after losing in Yatzy – TO MYSELF!!! My dad apparently tired after approximately 18 hours of playing Yatzy with me and suggested I should instead play on behalf of him, noting down scores for the both of us. And as the dice would have it, it turned out that every time I rolled the dice for my dad, the points rolled in and he won big time. The sense of losing so badly – and unfairly – was too much. My dad explained that “losing to yourself is not really losing,” but that was, ironically, lost on me and I swore to never ever compete in anything else ever again. Truth be told, I still have flashes of competitiveness, mainly brought on by my husband, who is worse than the six-year-
old version of me. Far worse – in that competition I gladly forfeit. But a competitive husband definitely has his upside. He can be challenged to anything. How fast can you make the bed? How fast can you cook dinner? Do the groceries? However, there are downsides as well, like the time our fitness centre equipped its stationary mountain bikes with tiny screens enabling you to race against fictional competitors. My husband was on that bike like a dog on a ball: screaming, sweating, shouting, crying, cheering at his invisible competitors, like he was at the Tour de France – as both cyclist and spectator. I had to pretend not to know him as my fellow fitness club members fled the room in horror of this sweaty, yelling lunatic. After an hour and a half, I had to drag him off the bike because he had not taken
Car
My sister and her boyfriend both drive large, sensible cars, handy in blizzards and capable of tackling the miles and endless miles of Swedish motorways. By comparison, my other half and I go for bangonomics. This is the purchasing of an old, decrepit car and driving it until it dies, then buying a new, old, decrepit car, which works out cheaper than fixing the previous one. I am always a little conscious of how this system comes across to my Swedish
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any water the entire time. And trust me – it is not a pretty sight when a grown man cries after losing to imaginary competitors on a stationary mountain bike. So now he has agreed that there is no more biking at the gym, as long as I let him win at Risk.
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
relatives when they visit, which is what my sister and her boyfriend recently did. On their last UK trip we drove a little blue Metro, which barely managed 60 miles per hour downhill and only had four gears and no power steering (but which for some reason had an impressive-sounding central locking system, which went ‘KKKKKRRRRR-CHHHH’ when activated). This time they were amused to find themselves picked up in our new/old red Nissan, which has constant standing pools of rainwater in the foot wells and very few functioning dashboard features. I say ‘red’, but one door is in fact orange, a colour that appears to have been painted on with some kind of children’s finger paint. My sister’s boyfriend (who fixes Swedish fighter jets for a living) pointed worriedly at the rev counter, which jumps erratically between the numbers 7 and 8,
and also quietly suggested fixing the accelerator, which sticks in hot weather. Then we reached the motorway. I guess having lived here for as long as I have, I am now blind to UK motorway driving. “It’s nothing compared to Italy!” I shouted, as they both shrunk with fear in the back seat. Secretly, I felt a little smug. I might not be able to tackle the frozen tundras of the north, but by God can I handle the M25.
Maria Smedstad moved to the UK from Sweden in 1994. She received a degree in Illustration in 2001, before settling in the capital as a freelance cartoonist, creating the autobiographical cartoon Em. Maria writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.
Scan Magazine | Humour | Bloggers’ Corner
A Scandi-tastic Legacy Bloggers’ Corner: The very best of the Anglo-Scandinavian blogosphere: from films to fitness By Andy Lawrence
Secrets and lies buried for decades are dragged to the surface in Sky Arts’ forthcoming family saga, The Legacy. Internationally-acclaimed artist Veronika Grønnegaard (Kirsten Olesen) is terminally ill. Desperate to make amends for mistakes whilst time is still on her side, she is thwarted at each turn by the consequences of her past misdemeanours. Veronika’s children, Gro (Trine Dryholm), Frederik (Carsten Bjørnlund), and Emil (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) live very different lives and are united by the emotional scars each bears after growing up in a chaotic and dysfunctional household.
A hastily-written legal document has the power to unite or destroy the siblings. How will the family react to the estate’s division? Past and present collide as lies and deceit woven across the years are exposed. One by one, a series of skeletons tumbles out of the closet, and with each fresh revelation the family is rocked to its foundations. Universally acclaimed by the Danish press, The Legacy’s ratings in its homeland outperformed those of both The Bridge and Borgen. Directed by Pernilla August (Beyond), the series casts a critical gaze over hippy idealism and approaches to parenting that
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gained widespread social currency in Denmark during the late 1960s. Blessed with a supremely layered script from Maya Ilsøe, each scene bristles with emotional texture. A cast culled from Denmark’s pool of the finest screen talent ensures that the show is constantly magnificent. Proving that the Scandinavian invasion of UK TV shows no signs of running out of steam, Sky Arts has rewarded fans of Nordic drama with ten hours of tragedy, joy, laughs, and tears. This is a BAFTA Award-worthy series, destined to be a breakout hit.
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. Visit Andy’s blog on eurodrama.wordpress.com
Scan Magazine | Culture | Nephew
Electro rock from Aarhus to London If you are a Depeche Mode fan and like spicing up your English with some Danish phrases here and there, you should probably head to Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on 17 August. Not that Danish rock band Nephew relies on comparisons with the 1980s electro rockers from Basildon to pull a crowd; its reputation as one of Denmark’s greatest and record of number-one chart positions do that just fine. By Linnea Dunne | Press photos
Formed in 1996 by fellow musicology students at the University of Aarhus, Nephew is known for creatively mixing the English and Danish languages and for having a frontman whose appearance on Danish cult TV comedy show Drengene fra Angora pulled huge audience ratings. While the band’s debut album, Swimming Time, received impressive reviews and contributed to the forming of a solid fan base, it was the follow-up, USADSB, that is most often referred to as their breakthrough release. Coinciding with lead singer Simon Kvamm’s much-loved TV appearance, the album went double platinum in Denmark and spawned six hit singles. Since their second and celebrated album, the band has released another three full-length studio albums, all going to number one in the Danish albums chart,
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and their 2013 single, Gå med Dig, also reached the top of the singles chart and was certified gold in the band’s home country. In addition, the rock band has toured extensively across the world, and especially northern Europe, and won awards including nine Danish Music Awards, an MTV European Award, and the Nordic Music Award. No wonder that there is excitement in the air as they head, for the first time ever, to the British capital.
Nephew facts • The band has sold almost 400,000 albums – in a territory populated by only 5.5 million people! • They have received more than 40 national and international awards. • Nephew has had a whopping 11 number one hits on the national Danish radio chart. • The band has collaborated with stars including Timbaland and Polarkreis 18. • They were asked to write the official supporting anthem for the national Danish football team ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
Nephew plays London Do not miss this historical gig at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire on 17 August, with one of Denmark’s biggest rock bands. Get your tickets on TicketWeb.co.uk today!
Win a Nephew box-set, worth £24.99! Where is Mexico according to Nephew? Please email your answer to competition@scanmagazine.co.uk no later than 30 August 2014 with ‘Nephew’ in the subject line to be in with a chance to win. Three lucky winners will be chosen at random. T&Cs apply.
Scan Magazine | Culture | Sadler’s Wells
LEFT: Cullberg Ballet, Plateau Effect. Photo: Urban Joren. TOP RIGHT: Royal Swedish Ballet, Juliet & Romeo. Photo: Gert Weigelt. RIGHT: Zero visibility corp... it’s only a rehearsal. Photo: Eric Berg.
A choreography of northern light This autumn, London’s most respectable, ground-breaking dance venue looks to the Nordic countries for inspiration, presenting its Northern Light – A Season of Nordic Dance with six works celebrating Nordic dance culture. Expect everything from Renaissance-inspired ballet costumes to a Greek mythology interpretation courtesy of one of Norway’s leading dance companies. By Linnea Dunne Sadler’s Wells, one of the UK’s foremost and most respected dance venues and production houses, in London’s Islington is following in the footsteps of the countless recent Nordic everything trends, presenting this autumn its Nordic Light Season, featuring six works across its main stage, the Lilian Baylis Studio, and the off-site Platform Theatre in King’s Cross. Here is what you can expect:
the world presents choreographer Mats Ek’s adaptation of the world’s perhaps most wellknown, timeless love story, commissioned last year to celebrate the Royal Swedish Ballet’s 240th anniversary. The production marries a score by Tchaikovsky and Renaissance-inspired costume design by Magdalena Åberg with a dark, urban setting.
Variations on Closer The Artifician Nature Project Partnering up with the Platform Theatre at Central St Martins, Dane Mette Ingvartsen makes her London debut with this creation of choreography as a tool to think about the world and our relationship to it. With a persistently-changing stage environment, including countless props, the production explores the relationship between the animate and inanimate worlds.
Royal Swedish Ballet: Juliet & Romeo Performing in London for the first time since 1995, this the fourth oldest ballet company in
In her first ever London show, Icelandic Margrét Sara Guðjónsdóttir investigates what it means to be engaged in the act of watching, working with three charismatic female performers. Expect experimental music and a groundbreaking theatrical experience.
For those who have time Thanks to a style combining humour with purposeful discomfort and direct address in the hands of three performers, Finland’s Maija Hirvanen has become lauded as one of the rising stars of contemporary Nordic performance art.
Catch this show for a closer look at the habits formed by the fast pace of contemporary life.
zero visibility corp. … it’s only a rehearsal, goes the title of this production courtesy of one of Norway’s leading dance companies. Acclaimed choreographer Ina Christel Johannessen takes a closer look at Greek mythology, and lovers Artemis and Acteaon in particular, in this powerful, physical duet.
Cullberg Ballet’s Plateau Effect Founded by pioneering Swedish choreographer Birgit Cullberg, the Cullberg Ballet has been touring the world since 1967. The Northern Light Season makes its Sadler’s Wells debut, presenting choreographer Jefta van Dinther’s take on Plateau Effect.
Northern Light – A Season of Nordic Dance takes place 18 September to 14 November this year. For more information, tickets, and details on the many post-show talks and press nights, please visit: www.sadlerswells.com
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Scan Magazine | Culture | The Little Mermaid
Denmark’s little mermaid (and not the statue) If you are heading to Denmark to see The Little Mermaid you now have more than the usual option of a small statue at the Copenhagen harbour. By Damian Czarnecki and Tina Lukmann Andersen | Photos: Søren Malmrose
Just across the water from the Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen’s statue of the Little Mermaid lies the beautiful Danish Opera House. The mermaid has taken a swim to this amazing building from 2005 to experience her story being told to a new generation. Here, on 17 July 2014, the Fredericia Theatre opened its musical interpretation of Disney’s well-known love story, The Little Mermaid. The story about the mermaid who wanted to give away her beautiful voice in exchange for a human life in order to win her prince on land, was originally written by Hans Christian Andersen and later made world famous by Walt Disney. The story was first told live on stage in 2008 on Broadway, New York, and has now found its way to the Danish capital.
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The musical offers entertainment for the whole family. With songs from the Disney motion picture, colourful costumes and the extraordinary setting of the grand opera auditorium, children as well as their parents can enjoy a well-performed experience by very talented musical theatre actors. You will also find performers from other parts of the entertainment industry among the cast, including singer Tim Schou, this month’s Scan Magazine cover star. The show is performed in Danish, but not to worry – the musical is subtitled in English on a big screen above the stage as well. It is the second year in a row that the Fredericia Theatre has moved into the Opera House. Last year, it produced Disney’s Aladdin with great success both at this venue and at its own theatre in Fred-
erica, which is quite a small town in another part of Denmark. But small as it might be, it is turning into a frontrunner on the Danish musical scene. The theatre aims to stage musicals that have never been performed in Denmark before, such as The Little Mermaid, which will soon transfer to the Fredericia Theatre, opening on 28 August. The musical genre in general is a fastgrowing industry in Denmark, with both New York’s Broadway and London’s West End keeping a close eye on the development in the Scandinavian country. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the director and choreographer of The Little Mermaid is American Lynne Kurdziel Formato, who brings an international touch to the old Danish fairy tale.
For more information, please visit: www.lillehavfrue.dk
Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinavian Music
Scandinavian Music
Norway: not content with exporting the biggest worldwide novelty hit of last year with The Fox by Ylvis, they now have their sights set on the next twelve months, too. And there are two big summer novelty hits lording it over the Norwegian charts right now. First up is Salsa Tequila by Anders Nilsen. In his own words: “To make the ultimate summer hit, you need a few specific ingredients: a dancey beat, an accordion, a
saxophone, and last but not least: Spanish lyrics! The only problem is, even though I love Spanish, I don’t speak a single word of it, and neither do most people in Norway. So to make it easy for people that don’t speak Spanish to learn it, the lyrics are based on words everyone has heard before, so they can sing along.” And what does that mean? Here is a sample lyric: “Taco. Chorizo. Adelén. Old El Paso. Shakira. Livin La Vida Loca.” So it is sort of like what The Fox would say if he spoke in Spanish clichés. And painfully catchy too. Another Norwegian novelty is 3Logy’s The Banjo. As you might have guessed from the title, it is based around a banjo, and so in that sense, it has quite loud echoes of Avicii’s Wake Me Up. For the most part though, this is classic Europop: a big tune that has blatantly been produced specifically for the summer months. And when those are done correctly, they are very enjoyable. This is one of those moments. US producer Zedd has dropped singer Foxes as the featured vocalist for the European release of his Grammy Award-winning hit single, Clarity. And in her place, he has hired Denmark’s biggest popstar, Medina. It is a smart move, as we all
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
By Karl Batterbee know that few vocalists can convey devastating heartbreak and sadness like Medina can. On the other side of the coin, Swedish singer Miriam Bryant has dropped Zedd from a new version of their collaborative hit, Find You. She has recorded her own solo edit of the song, turning a big dance track into a retro-flavoured love ballad – and managed to improve it in the process. Elsewhere, Medina has also popped up on the new single from Sweden’s Anton Ewald. This Could Be Something is moody yet impactful electro-pop that exudes masses of sex appeal. And both singers deliver it well, sounding surprisingly well-suited to each other. Medina has had some corkers throughout her career, and this is up there with the best of them. Finally – new Swedish House. They are still churning it out at an incredible pace. If you are missing the Mafia, check out Otto Blucker’s Rise Again, Eric Prydz’s Liberate, Galavant’s House of Dreams, Avicii’s Lay Me Down, Hellberg’s This Is Forever, and Parachute by Otto Knows. www.scandipop.co.uk scandipop@googlemail.com
Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinvian Culture Calendar
Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! Nephew. Press photo
Nephew (17 Aug) Danish success story Nephew are bringing their melodic rock to Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London this month. For tickets and more information, visit: www.ticketweb.co.uk www.nephew.dk
The Hives (21 Aug) Swedish garage popsters The Hives know how to put on a live show. See them play some of their classics at the O2 Academy Brixton this month. www.thehivesbroadcastingservice.com Anna-Mari Laulumaa (Until 24 Aug) As part of the Edinburgh Fringe, Finnish AnnaMari Laulumaa is putting on the striking onewoman show, God is my typewriter, about the brilliant, tumultuous life of Pulitzer-winning American Anne Sexton. Hill Street Solo Theatre, Edinburgh, EH2. www.edfringe.com
Alice Boman. Photo: Daniel Ekbladh
Alice Boman (1 Sept) Swedish singer-songwriter Alice Boman will be playing songs from her debut album EP II (+ Skisser) at Café Oto in London. For more information, please visit: aliceboman.tumblr.com www.cafeoto.co.uk Mike Tramp (Aug/Sept) Danish singer-songwriter Mike Tramp, former member of hard rock bands White Lion and Freak of Nature, is touring the UK with his 2013 album Cobblestone Street. miketramp.dk Anne Sofie von Otter (25 Aug) As part of the Queen’s Hall Series, worldrenowned Swedish mezzo soprano Anne Sofie von Otter has assembled a collection of songs and instrumental music produced or played in Terezín – from colourful cabaret songs by Martin Roman to tender lullabies by Ilse Weber – which she performs with an ensemble of exceptional international colleagues. The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, EH8. www.eif.co.uk
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image that is in fact an illusion; what the eye perceives as dots in the paintings are in fact holes showing the wall behind the board. Furunes is one of Norway’s most internationally known contemporary artists and has exhibited extensively worldwide. Mon-Sun 11am-5pm. Millesgården, Herserudsvägen 32, Stockholm. www.millesgarden.se
Anne Sofie von Otter. Photo: Ewa-Marie Rundquist
Olafur Eliasson (20 Aug - 4 Jan) In Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson’s solo exhibition, Riverbed, the main work, a giant landscape, will unfold throughout the whole South Wing of the museum. The transitions between inside and outside, culture and staged nature, become fluid and transitory – and the progress of the visitor through the museum becomes a central issue. Tue-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Gammel Strandvej 13, Humlebæk. en.louisiana.dk
Olafur Eliasson and Einar Thorsteinn; Model room, 2003. Installation view at Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin, 2010. Photo: Jens Ziehe. Courtesy of the artist; neugerriemschneider, Berlin; and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York. © 2003 Olafur Eliasson and Einar Thorsteinn
By Sara Schedin
Anne-Karin Furunes in Stockholm (Until 31 Aug) Norwegian artist Anne-Karin Furunes has developed her own artistic technique where her subjects are presented through perforated large canvases, painted in black or white. The size of the holes and their placement create the
Martin Fröst (16 Sept) Swedish clarinetist Martin Fröst and the Apollon Musagète Quartet explore Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A K 581 and Brahms’s Clarinet Quintet in B minor Op. 115. Wigmore Hall, London, W1U. www.wigmore-hall.org.uk Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra (25 Sept) Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen opens the new season with Berlioz’s vast Requiem (Grande Messe des Morts). Royal Festival Hall, London, SE 1. www.philharmonia.co.uk
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