JUNE 2016 PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA ISSUE 89
JULIE ZANGENBERG: LEARNING TO UNWIND BIG SWEDISH DESIGN SPECIAL NORWAY’S BEST FARM EXPERIENCES ÓLAFUR DARRI ÓLAFSSON: THE BIG, FRIENDLY HEARTTHROB
Hasmark Strand Camping is a large, modern and child friendly campsite on Funen. We have everything within activities and experiences for the whole family, whether you like action, relaxation, good food or Danish coziness. In the years 2013 and 2014 we were elected the best campsite in Denmark - we aim to live up to that in the years to come! Our Viking theme makes it fun for children, we even have a Viking ship for them to play on, bouncy cushions to hop on and 5 other playgrounds to choose from! And the children can help us feed our rabbits and goats. Both children and adults enjoy the large 650m2 indoor waterpark, and when the school summer holiday starts, we also open our 1000 m2 large, outdoor, heated waterpark. We have some days throughout our season were we gather around the fire and sing songs, tell stories and bake twist bread. This is a good opportunity to gather the family and enjoy the coziness together and to experience the authentic camping atmosphere and finding new acquaintances at our campsite. We have a restaurant with a very good chef, service minded waiters and a real Viking atmosphere. The beach is right next to us and with a new beach oasis where there is a good opportunity to make a picnic!
Scan Magazine | Contents
Contents COVER FEATURE
will argue with the fact that it is among the best in the world. This top three presents impressive institutions for keen athletics and future international diplomats alike.
36 Julie Zangenberg – burning the midnight oil From Catch That Girl to Heartless, Danish model and actor Julie Zangenberg has been busy. With her own cookery show on Danish television, she has made her relaxation hobby into a work-related duty. But now, the Danish star tells Scan Magazine it is time to learn how to unwind.
36 40
62 Destination Norway – experience Trøndelag Trøndelag may aptly be described as a small but perfectly formed miniature version of Norway, boasting an impressive selection of all the things the country is loved for, concentrated in one region. Take a food safari, go on a wildlife adventure to study moose and bears, join a kayak excursion or soak up the arts and culture of the vibrant Røros.
DESIGN 11 Gowns and gear From bridal gowns to festival gear, this month’s design feature has you covered, whether you will be dancing the night away in front of the main stage or at your cousin’s wedding. We also bring some news from Scandinavia’s proudest frying pan producer – just in case that barbecue goes bust.
74 Enterprise Spotlight – Denmark We continue our journey to the heart of Denmark’s business savvy, exploring the best places to do business and the most fascinating new ideas and products produced by the Danish business scene.
86 Enterprise Spotlight – Finland
SPECIAL FEATURE
As preconceptions would have it, Finnish businesses are at their best when working with design and technology. We present one of the country’s most celebrated architecture firms, alongside an app that is taking the business world by storm.
32 Food, glorious food From goat’s cheese and fine wines to reindeer meat and a love of local, we present a couple of hidden Danish gems for foodies alongside an experience steeped in heritage, all the way up in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Laponia.
BUSINESS 70
SPECIAL THEMES 14
Top Swedish design brands of 2016 Sweden never fails to impress when it comes to fashion and design. We spoke to some of the nation’s leading jewellery designers, most avantgarde creatives and proudest protectors of a rich craft tradition to find out what makes Sweden’s design pioneers tick this season.
40
14 96
Norway’s best farm experiences Whether you are a teenager keen on an enlightening adventure through the 4H organisation, or a family looking for a different kind of holiday full of fresh air, fun and time to unwind, our farm experience special will have just the thing for you.
52 A Danish educational top three Non-Danes may need a moment to get their heads around the Danish education system, but no one
Use your story and make every day count We wrap up our article series about the Scandinavian entrepreneurs on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list, with a chat to Swede Carl Waldekranz who implores you to make every day count and refuse to let age hold you back. Meanwhile, business columnist Steve Flinders explains how your real story can help you get a job.
CULTURE 102 A big friendly heartthrob Our Icelandic correspondent Stephanie Lovell had the pleasure of finding out just how impressive – in terms of both sheer height and charm – actor Ólafur Darri Ólafsson of Trapped really is. For more bearded heartthrobs, refer to the culture calendar which includes a London gig with The Soundtrack of Our Lives singer Ebbot Lundberg and more.
REGULARS & COLUMNS 10 We Love This | 6 Fashion Diary | 58 Attractions of the Month | 89 Restaurants of the Month 92 Activity of the Month | 93 Experience of the Month | 96 Hotels of the Month | 100 Humour
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 3
Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note
Dear Reader, How do you unwind? I have started a new habit of popping out to the garden for an evening yoga session, and it is one of the most cherished moments of my day. I often return to work afterwards, undoing that all-important disconnecting from duties some would probably say. But I sometimes wonder about that perceived work-leisure divide, or the work-life balance we like to talk about; I wonder if we are staring ourselves blind on a problem that does not really need fixing. When this month’s cover star, Danish actor Julie Zangenberg of Heartless fame, talks about her TV cookery show she almost sounds apologetic about the fact that she has made her hobby into work. She has spent her professional life working 80hour weeks and needs to learn to unwind; now she cannot even switch off in the kitchen. Yet that was the choice she made, and she is not alone. Jasmin Zivaljic, designer and founder of globally celebrated Swedish jewellery brand KumKum, insists that part of the reason why she went into jewellery design was for the lifestyle. She now spends months every year on tropical islands working with beads. I think few people would blame her. Similarly, many of the people behind the guest farms featured in this issue speak
of that dream of a holistic lifestyle: of creating something worthwhile, living farm life fully and wholeheartedly, and sharing it with others. As for entrepreneur Carl Waldekranz, he has no regrets. Inspired by his mother, who left her day job to pursue her passion for ceramics, he works tirelessly to empower other entrepreneurs and help them with their passion projects. That, he says, is bigger than himself. I know I am lucky that the ideas and conversations that spur me on in work keep me up at night not due to stress but out of excitement. And who am I to decide; perhaps that work-leisure divide is a desirable thing for some. Whether you want to be inspired to follow your dreams or need a break to unwind, this issue of Scan Magazine will hopefully make good company. Me? You will find me out the back, on the yoga mat.
Linnea Dunne, Editor
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4 | Issue 89 | June 2016
This magazine contains advertorials/promotional articles
Published 06.2016
#äventyr
the original since 1991 organic lantchips since 1995
what an adventure! A chip fryer found in a barn was the start of our journey with the LantChips. We wanted to build something new and to work together as a family. There and then we began producing our very first chips, exactly 25 years ago. The result: Naturally crispy chips, our own energy efficient fryer and cooperation with local farmers. Our story will continue... Now we would like to join you on your #äventyr (adventure). Please share!
Robert Arnegård Managing Director Svenska LantChips
www.lantchips.com
Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
Fashion Diary… Experimental drinks, sleepless but dance-infused nights, the discovery of new bands and your favourite tune for the summer – festival season is upon us. And no matter your choice of melody, from Patti Smith to Lukas Graham, you need some pretty serious clothing allies while stomping the festival grounds, even when it is pouring rain and there is no end to the mud. That is exactly what we love about it, right? Maybe not. But it is the price we pay for the best musical and party experiences of this rocking season. By Mette Hindkjær Madsen | Press photos
Should the sun grace you with its presence, something light and breezy is the go-to option for comfort. This top will protect you from a tee-tan and make sure you do not get overheated. The chic print goes great with an edgy jacket when the moon comes out to play. House of Dagmar Ren top, £179 www.houseofdagmar.se
Music is of course the big attraction, but if you do not look cool you might as well stay at home and listen to tunes. A leather jacket is an absolute must-have companion on your festival endeavours, and will cement that cool factor. 2NDDAY Ellen leather jacket, £400 www.day.dk
Solid, sturdy materials come in handy when you are taking a break on the grass between concerts or in situations where you get covered in various spilled drinks. When that almost inevitably happens, you will be delighted with yourself for choosing items in the ever fashionable fabric that is denim. Wood Wood Nabbi skirt, approx. £131 and Wood Wood Nia jacket, approx. £175 www.woodwood.com
6 | Issue 89 | June 2016
An experienced festival goer is prepared for every type of weather because, as we all know, the gods controlling the rain or sunrays tend to opt for a bit of everything. These boots will carry you through the puddles without making your entire lower leg sweat; a wonderful alternative to the full rubber boot. Ilse Jacobsen Hornbæk rubber boots, approx. £112 www.ilsejacobsen.com
Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
Festival style is all the rage, and this hoodie is sure to make you noticed by concert comrades and style photographers alike. It is as fresh as they come and will keep you warm until Kygo finally turns up in the middle of the night to flip records. Soulland Holm sweatshirt, £195 www.soulland.com
Men and tote bags have been a trending combination for some time now. These bags are as much for guys as they are for girls, so stop putting your extra shirt, scarf and wallet in your partner’s bag and get your own. As the name reveals, it holds everything! Hunkydory Everything bag, £35 www.hunkydory.com
Nothing kills your expertly planned look like a heavy shower and the need for the most dreaded of all fashion items: rain gear. But fear not – our friends at Stutterheim have provided some sleek rain gear that will make you hope for more than just drizzle. Stutterheim Opal lantern rain jacket, £230 www.stutterheim.com
If you are looking for a pair of quality shorts that will not rip when you are running your third round of beer relay and go smoothly with everything in your closet (or the few things you had room to pack because of all that gin in your backpack), Acne is your brand. Perfect for the festival outfit as well as the posh summer outing once you get back home, it will not disappoint. Acne Seymour shorts, £110 www.acnestudios.com
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 7
Scan Magazine | Design | Street Style
Nordic Humans of London Scan Magazine’s brilliant Sanna Halmekoski has once again hit the streets of London to find out what the Scandinavian fashion fanatics are wearing. Cool, sleek and full of statements, this is a little piece of Scandiland in the United Kingdom. Text and photos by Sanna Halmekoski | Twitter: @suomigirl | www.suomigirl.com
Sergei Vartiainen, Finnish singer, songwriter and model (www.sergeivartiainen.tumblr.com)
“I try not to buy new clothes and often shop at second-hand shops. Today I am dressed quite smart since I am going to a casting. My shoes are by Tag1, jacket by Falmer, trousers by Acne, and my bag is from a shop in Helsinki.”
Nadia Jönning, Swedish co-owner of Jönning and Riashi hair salon (www.nadiajonning.com, www.jonningandriashi.co.uk)
“I work with a lot of Swedish clients because they trust another Swede to do their blonde hair. I mix high street with brand names. I like Danish designers and shopping in Copenhagen. My shoes are by Balenciaga, bag by Mulberry, dress by Malene Birger, jacket by River Island, and trousers by H&M.”
Sergei Vartiainen
Maria Foerlev, Danish owner and director of Etage Projects gallery (www.etageprojects.com)
“My gallery provides a platform for designers, artists and architects to explore ideas through exhibitions. Because I meet a lot of clients, I tend to wear stylish yet comfortable clothes. My sunglasses and shoes are by Celine, with whom we collaborated for the exhibition FOS for Celine. My trousers and shirt are by Zara.”
Maria Foerlev
Nadia Jönning
8 | Issue 89 | June 2016
F E T G T D
O L H R E A
U K E E S Y
AD OURY
CHARLES AND RAY EAMES
SAARA EKSTRÖM ALCHEMI
CONTEMP ART & VISUAL CULTURE THROUGH 04 SEPT, 2016 TUE 11-20, WED-SUN 11-18 WWW.BILDMUSEET.UMU.SE
CONTEMPORARY ART & VISUAL CULTURE 12 JUNE - 04 SEPT, 2016 TUE 11-20, WED-SUN 11-18 WWW.BILDMUSEET.UMU.SE
AT
CONTEMPORARY ART & VISUAL CULTURE 12 JUNE - 04 SEPT, 2016 TUE 11-20, WED-SUN 11-18 WWW.BILDMUSEET.UMU.SE
BYS T E D
www.kumkum.se
Foto: Johan Kalén
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON Composed of pure and illuminating materials. Inspired by the universe’s enigmatic phenomena.
FINE JEWELRY
Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This
We love this… Stacks of documents, to-do post-its and random stuff piling up on your desk? Trust us, we know the feeling. And the only thing worse than leaving your desk a mess after a long day at work, is coming back to it the next day. After a long holiday, the last thing you want to come back to is stressful heaps of chaos. But fear not! We have collected some stellar items that will easily keep your work place tidy and leave room for your thoughts and ideas to untangle and turn into genius. By Mette Hindkjær Madsen | Press photos Paper clips and pencils thrown into your drawers can make it frustratingly difficult to get hold of what you need when you need it. Enter the toolbox for you to store all those tiny office items you use. As a bonus, when you no longer have use for this toolbox on your desk, you can use it for your make-up brushes, or actual paint brushes outside of the office. NOMESS Copenhagen toolbox, approx. £35 www.madeindesign.co.uk
There is no doubt that taking good care of your eyes while slaving away at your desk is an absolute must to keep your mind sharp. Who knows, with a clear head you could make less of a mess at your desk as well. This magical little helper from Northern Lighting will brighten up your document trotting and give you a place to throw your highlighting marker when you are done. Northern Lighting Buddy lamp, £159 www.coferdesign.com
Sometimes desk drawers just do not cut it and you need more space for your work stuff. This shelf from A2 has plenty of space for books, boxes, documents and what not. It keeps things in plain sight, so you know exactly what you are reaching for rather than roaming around a dark drawer – which also serves as motivation to keep the shelves tidy. Voila! A2 Show shelf, £1,139 www.royaldesign.co.uk
10 | Issue 89 | June 2016
This pinboard is your perfect partner in organisational crime. Get a good overview of your to-do lists and documents lying around; if it is right there in front of you, we bet it is less likely forgotten. Maybe you can even fit a picture of a loved one or an inspirational collage. ferm Living pinboard, £195 www.fermliving.com
A saviour when you are in desperate need of a break from desk chaos is this storage bag from Bloomingville. Simply sweep the entire pile off your table into this bag and you can keep whatever it holds at bay until you have the mental space to deal with it. Bloomingville cork storage bag, £49 webshopb2b.bloomingville.com
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Askepot & Valentino
The perfect clothes for the big day Finding the perfect thing to wear to a wedding for the bride and groom, as well as the bridesmaids and groomsmen, can be stressful. At Askepot & Valentino in Tønder, Denmark, you can find the perfect dress and suit all under the same roof. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Askepot & Valentino
“The most important thing for us is that you feel special and taken care of,” says owner Jonna Gehrt. She started the business 18 years ago and today it stocks a wide range of wedding dresses, suits, evening and cocktail dresses as well as confirmation dresses. To try on the wedding dresses, you need to book an appointment. You then have around two hours to try on dresses, with the help of your own personal assistant, until you find the right one. You and your friends and family will be provided with tea, coffee and chocolates to make this luxurious experience even more special. “Most people book an appointment with us about four or five months before their big day. We get booked up quickly, so it’s a good idea to book in advance,” explains Gehrt. The groom can do exactly the
same to find the right suit, bringing along a few friends and potentially their other half, to ensure a flawless fit.
Askepot & Valentino’s reviews speak for themselves, with most mentioning the nice atmosphere and fantastic customer service. People travel across Denmark to say yes to the dress, the shawl and the accessories and to have an enjoyable, stress-free day where they are ensured the best service, high-quality dresses and, most importantly, a relaxed atmosphere.
Dresses from around the world There is a wide choice of dresses at Askepot & Valentino. “Ultimately, there is a girl for every dress and a dress for every girl, so we stock a wide range of styles, including everything from vintage to modern,” says Gehrt. Askepot & Valentino is also a proud supplier of the exclusive Pronovias, whose dresses lead the way in the bridal world. The dresses stocked range in price, meaning there is something for both the tight and the big budget. Askepot & Valentino is also exceptionally practical as you can get everything you need under one roof; there is a tailor to alter dresses as well as suits, and everything can be stored until the big day.
For more information please visit : www.askepot-brudekjoler.dk
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 11
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Groupe SEB/OBH Nordica DK
60 years of intelligent design From its humble beginnings to its current world-class reputation, Tefal has been at the top of its game with the famous red dot representing quality design and the perfect temperature to cook at. The new Talent Pro range is the result of 60 years of hard work and dedication.
making cooking easier than ever. There are also pots and pans to suit your every need, so whether you are looking to create a fiery stir-fry in a wok or a delicate pancake, there is a pan for you.
By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Groupe SEB
When your egg sticks to the pan every morning, you know it is time to move on to bigger and better things: a non-stick frying pan. Tefal has become famous for its non-stick frying pans, created by Marc Grégoire when he realised that you could add PTFE to aluminium and thus fry without the food sticking to the pan. That was 60 years ago and since then Tefal has gone from strength to strength.
Talent Pro “Talent Pro is the fifth generation of nonstick pots and pans from Tefal,” explains Guillaume Lasnier, Groupe SEB/OBH Nordica DK’s country manager for Denmark. The Talent Pro range lasts even longer than any of the previous ranges, and the non-stick layer is even more ef12 | Issue 89 | June 2016
fective. This also means that the pans do not require fats and oils and are easily cleaned as the food does not stick. The pots and pans even make the food taste better. Tefal’s little red dot, or Thermo-spot, is more than just a design feature. The Thermo-spot changes colour and becomes more uniform when the pan is the perfect temperature. This ensures that your food actually fries, rather than steams, in the pan, hence creating a nice crust on your steak and retaining the crunch in your vegetables.
Long-lasting quality The new Talent Pro range lasts longer than ever before, and the new coating can even withstand metal utensils,
“We’re very proud to introduce the next generation of Tefal’s innovative cookware,” concludes Lasnier. With 60 years behind them, Tefal produces products of outstanding quality that will last you a lifetime. For more information, please visit: www.tefal.dk
WELCOME TO A HOUSE
OF FANTASY PLAY
– Junibackenon Djurgården in Stockholm! The Story Train is central to Junibacken, with its journey through the fabulous stories of Astrid Lindgren, but you will also meet many other famous figures such as Alfie Atkins, Festus and Mercury and Mamma Moo.
Meet the Moomin Family at Junibacken!
Junibacken’s major exhibition, until January 2017, is Moomin at Junibacken. The theatre performance And Then What Happened? can be seen every day in the exhibition area, based on Tove Jansson’s classic book: The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My.
junibacken.se/lang/english
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e:
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Photo: Gärsnäs
Photo: Lotta Jewellery
Swedish design: flying the sustainable humanist flag A strong tradition of democratic thinking, simplicity in form, and openness to a healthy variety of cultural influences have been among the defining features of Swedish design. This simple expression has become increasingly bold and diverse, reflecting the multiformity of our time. By Svensk Form
As a knowledge platform, intermediary and advocate for the design field in Sweden, Svensk Form knows all about the best ideas and creations coming out of this pioneering scene. Much like the design special that follows in this magazine, Svensk Form works with a variety of designers and design disciplines, from services and environments to crafts and industrial design. Promotion of Swedish design abroad is also key, resulting in collaborations such as the Design Solution: Swedish Design for 170 years exhibition during the 2016 Taipei World Design Capital. The exhibition explores the Design Solution theme while echoing the core idea of the 2016 Taipei Design Capital, which is adapting design thinking to solve social issues.
der the age of 36 and giving an indication of what is brewing on the scene. Expect everything from social and environmental engagement to a distinctive return to craft traditions and appreciation for natural materials. This seems an inevitable fate; as we become more digital, mobile and international, our appreciation for the roots and the handmade increases.
Supporting up-and-coming talent is also a key part of the organisation’s work, including awards such as Ung Svensk Form, supporting young designers un-
Sweden is a country of inventors and pioneers. Backed up by a profound democratic foundation and an abundance of playfulness, we offer a unique breeding
14 | Issue 89 | June 2016
As is the case across most sectors, sustainability is a recurring theme. During Stockholm Design Week, while Swedish furniture companies will continue to showcase their typical functional, practical and accessible quality designs, you will find a new and growing responsibility for sustainability, circular economy and the life cycle of each product.
ground for innovation. As a small country, we always have been and will continue to be open to international influences. We are a country where hierarchies, money and material success are not celebrated as much as humanism and entrepreneurship. Read on to find examples of some of the finest designs from Sweden at the moment.
Svensk Form, founded in 1845, is a Swedish design society working to stimulate the design development and promote Swedish design internationally, including encouraging Swedish designers and architects in every field. The organisation has its own magazine, Form, founded in 1905, which has been published in both English and Swedish six times a year, and runs the national design award Design S and Ung Svensk Form (Young Swedish Design).
For more information, please visit: svenskform.se, www.design-s.se, and www.ungsvenskform.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
Left: LAZOSCHMIDL is a Swedish-German menswear label uniting disciplines of fashion design and humanist arts. The designs are characterised by recontextualised masculine tailoring and hand-embellished feminine show pieces targeted at a gender-neutral audience. Think watercolour prints, paisley embroidery, sparkly lurex and fake leather. Middle: NAND is a Stockholm-based label founded in 2014 by Nette Sandström. The designs are characterised by graphic shapes, pleats and layers and heavily inspired by architecture. Sandström has previously worked for both H&M and Weekday and also co-founded the brand Lagom. Right: Louise Körner founded the women’s wear label by the same name in 2012, creating garments with unique statement prints on innovative, rich textures and materials. Her prints are inspired by architectural perspectives to the natural environment and her designs have been worn by celebrities and featured in big fashion magazines and fashion films alike.
Swedish fashion:
bold and brave
It is a time of change and fast-paced development at the Swedish Fashion Council. Erica Blomberg has just joined the organisation as its marketing coordinator, and this year’s talent programme Swedish Fashion Talents is breaking new ground with an emphasis on menswear, no gender and a tech-meets-fashion trend. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Peter Håkansson
“Values of high quality and innovation are deeply rooted in Swedish society and as such also in the fashion industry and culture more generally,” says Blomberg. “This means that we’re quick to act on new exciting innovations and adopt mindsets – when we’re not the ones leading the way, of course.” As part of the crucial sustainability trend, which she insists is here to stay, a focus on functionality and physical performance has developed of late, partly in relation to the wearables trend. “The development in cross-fertilisation of fashion and technology is used to try to solve a lot of modern society’s problems:
Smarteyes has produced compostable spectacles, for instance, and at our fashion hackathon shoes that could help guide the visually impaired were created,” Blomberg explains. “What we see now with wearables is just the tip of the iceberg.” With a mission to promote and strengthen the Swedish fashion scene, the Swedish Fashion Talents (four examples pictured) will over the next few months be part of a brand new travelling fashion exhibition. Coordinated by the Swedish Institute, it provides yet another opportunity to spread the word about the bold and brave nature of Swedish fashion.
FESWA is a jewellery brand based between Stockholm and London. Through her work, Felicia Swartling questions words, lines and rules between different artefacts and strikes an emotional chord of alluring magic.
For more information, please visit: www.swedishfashioncouncil.se
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 15
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
Paul Rösth, head designer and founder of Kattvik.
Keeping your light shining “I’ve always had a strong sense for lighting. Ever since I was a young child I’ve found it incredibly important to adapt the lighting to suit the occasion. I was born under the Libra star sign, so I’m sensitive to it,” laughs Paul Rösth, head designer and founder of Kattvik. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Kattvik Design
A keen problem solver with an eye for aesthetics, Rösth naturally was not impressed when, during a perfect summer evening of chilled wine, fresh seafood and great company, the wind kept blowing out the candle. That night, the idea for the Kattvik candlestick was born. “I’m as much an inventor as I am a designer,” says Rösth, who took his father, Paul Rösth Snr’s, initial candlestick idea and tweaked it to become perfectly suited to long evenings on the terrace of his home in Kattvik in western Sweden; or equally to any occasion in need of that cosiness factor. “Design is all about finding solutions to problems, and people have 16 | Issue 89 | June 2016
been overwhelmingly positive about the Kattvik candlestick,” he says. “They’re often initially apprehensive, thinking the glass will soot, but it doesn’t. The foot I designed, with the holes, makes sure that oxygen gets around so that the glass remains perfectly clear and the light won’t go out.” Rösth has a varied background, having started out with door-to-door sales at Husqvarna in 1984. After years in the restaurant industry, as an environmental consultant, a media sales man, advertising executive and sales teacher, he settled for life as an entrepreneur and small business owner. Now the plan is
to stay put, he says. “The idea is to enjoy that freedom of being able to work when and from wherever you want. Of course the freedom comes with responsibility; you may be able to determine your own hours, but as another business owner put it, ‘you can work just as much as you like’. You can always improve things.” Indeed, improvement is part and parcel of the business idea behind Kattvik. “You have to constantly keep evolving,” says Rösth about the behind-the-scenes work of marketing, logistics and strategy. “The product is just the first step.” So how will the brand evolve next? All going to plan, an advent candle holder will be unveiled at Swedish design fair Formex in August – a product sure to strike a chord with many a cosiness-conscious Swede. For more information, please visit: www.kattvikdesign.se
Glory to the gardens When Linda Brattlöf found her first house it was charming, inviting and picture perfect – except for that garden hose. What she did not know when she stepped into that house was that she had found her home in more ways than one. The urge to replace the dark green, dull hose with something appropriate for a beautiful, lovely home took her on a quest that resulted in a brand new business.
people out there to help realise my vision – with handmade drafts and creative mood boards you can go far,” she says. “We are working with some of the best producers in Scandinavia in order to deliver premium quality and design.”
By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Garden Glory
“All my inspiration comes from the world of fashion, and when I tell people that they usually see where my ideas come from,” says Brattlöf, founder of Garden Glory. Indeed, the website looks more like a Gucci advert in a glossy magazine than the online shop for horticulture fans. “I might be a bit mad, but the ideas always just come to me. I might be sitting reading a book and suddenly I just see it: the idea for the lion pot or the letterbox that looks like a Chanel bag,” she explains. “But this in itself has opened a lot of doors, including to boutiques that would never have considered stocking a garden hose before; we’ve been very specific about stockists and daring to say no when it wasn’t right.”
Brattlöf spent most of her life in the restaurant industry, also working as a flight attendant and living in Dubai working on cruise ships. “It gave me thicker skin and a lot of courage, which has helped me a lot,” she says. During a course at IHM Business School, she did all the research and lined up the production for what was to become Garden Glory and, in 2012, just after the youngest of her two children was born, she launched her business.
Now her couture gardening vision has come full circle, as big Italian fashion houses are contacting Garden Glory asking for permission to use their products as part of their showrooms. “We get overwhelmingly positive reactions everywhere we go, despite the fact that we’re changing the industry,” says Brattlöf. “All it takes is an audience that’s ready, and ours clearly is. Nothing’s impossible – we’re just enjoying testing the boundaries.”
Couture garden accessories To her, the idea of a white luxury garden hose never seemed that strange, nor did she let her lack of design qualifications hold her back. “There are plenty of
For more information, please visit: www.gardenglory.com
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 17
Evolving craft for the feet and the eye Combining expertise honed over 125 years with the innovative spirit of some of Sweden’s most creative thinkers, Kasthall has become one of the biggest and mostloved design brands within rugs and flooring solutions in Europe. Scan Magazine set out to learn more about the secrets behind the brand. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Kasthall
“The town of Kinna is situated within easy access of water in a region lacking in fertile land,” explains Eva Boding, CEO of Kasthall. “As the area wasn’t good enough for agriculture, it naturally became a textile district. Yarn was dyed in the river and Kinna became a major producer of clothes and curtains.” Kasthall was founded in 1889, when electricity was first introduced, by entrepreneur and designer Ludvig Andersson. The factory was the first of its kind in the country, and it has been nothing but a rug factory from day one and up until today. Word spread quickly about the high-quality, beautiful rugs and the 18 | Issue 89 | June 2016
factory started working with prominent designers including Ingrid Dessau, Viola Gråsten and Astrid Sampe.
Change and innovation “When Gunilla Lagerhem Ullberg was recruited to the post of chief designer 30 years ago, the idea was to help the business make the transition from industrial to design brand,” says Boding. “She came on board, bringing along her own unique design expression, and created some real design classics, which also won a number of awards.” As the legendary chief designer passed away late last year, Kasthall found itself facing a crossroads.
The CEO, on the other hand, had only joined the company a few months earlier in February 2015. With a background in the fashion industry, fast-paced innovation was in her DNA. “Fashion is very much driven by trends, and it moves quickly with four collections a year. Change and innovation really drive the fashion scene on, and I feel that drive in Kasthall as well,” she says. As such, continuing on the path of design innovation seemed like the obvious choice for the brand, which ended up taking on a new creative design advisor, Ola Rune, one of Sweden’s leading architects. “In addition to a strong design team, we need to constantly top up on impressions and keep an eye on trends. Design never stops, it must keep evolving,” says Boding. “The idea behind our collaboration with Ola is that he will be able to challenge us and bring in an outside, often global, perspective. The de-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
sign discipline, at the same time, is always rock solid in our studio.”
Sustainable and durable Kasthall works with private as well as public customers, but all rugs are made to order and tailored to the client’s specific needs. Moreover, they all meet the highest of standards in regards to sustainability and durability. “It’s our job to work with architects and interior designers to interpret the visions they have for their clients, be it for an office or hotel or a private home,” explains Boding. “We know this world inside out – and, of course, we’re very good at designing rugs.” While Sweden is still Kasthall’s largest individual market, 70 per cent of the business goes to export, and markets including America, the Middle East and other parts of Europe are also large and growing. Major headquarters including those for Twitter, Google and SEB have recently had Kasthall rugs tailor made. “The requirements when working with public spaces are very specific in terms of environmental friendliness and durability, and our rugs meet all these official standards,” says Boding. “So when you buy a Kasthall rug, you automatically get that guarantee that
it will be of a very high quality. It’s an investment; many of our customers have had their rugs for more than 15 years and pass them on to their kids – unless they sell them at Bukowskis, of course.”
Another 125 years
with one foot in the past, in the craft and tradition, and one in a new, innovative architecture and design scene. The skill and expertise have been passed down through generations of weaving and tufting apprentices, and we’re now writing the story of the next 125 years.”
This year, the CEO notes, the trend is moving away from the pure, clean and white to embrace earthier colours and a bold expression. As a result, the rug gets a more central place in the home and, Boding says, “people dare more”. This suits the old Swedish rug producer like a hand in a glove, experts in dyeing as they are, always keen on trying something new. “We’ve got a 125-year-old legacy to protect,” says Boding, “and we do so
What makes a Kasthall rug unique is perhaps difficult to pin-point, but Boding’s former colleague, Filippa Knutsson of Filippa K, said: “Take your shoes off and walk barefoot on the rug and you’ll know the difference.” Perhaps really high-quality and perfectly handpicked materials really do feel different. Plus, the distinctive Kasthall leather tag will complete the sense of luxury. For more information, please visit: www.kasthall.se
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 19
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
Above: Founder and CEO Nina Ottosson with her dogs Nisse and Thea. Top right: The Dog Casino is a perfect game for hot summer days; just mix the dog food with water before popping the whole game into the freezer. Below right: The Toller Thea looks for treats in the Dog Treat Fighter.
The woman who changed the dog world It is not always easy to find the time – or ideas – to exercise your dog, but man’s best friend needs mental exercise as much as daily walks. Nina Ottosson’s puzzle games and toys are here to help. By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: Nina Ottosson
“A dog has four legs and one brain and all five need activity, but in different ways,” says Ottosson, founder and CEO of the Swedish company. It all started in 1990, when Ottosson wanted to find new ways to exercise her dogs. She was used to training and competing with them, but being a mother of two small children meant it was hard to find the time. “All animals search for food naturally and that inspired me,” she says
and adds: “I want the dogs to act more natural and not always just get their food in a bowl and gulp it down.” The games are available in all levels of difficulty to suit dogs, and other pets, of all ages, sizes and breeds. “Dogs are like people that way. It is like a crossword puzzle, you have to start at the right level to make it challenging and fun,” she says.
Mental activation is here to stay Ottosson has won numerous awards and reached widespread recognition for her inventions in mental activity for dogs. But because the concept was something completely new, the first ten years involved a great deal of hard work. “Some people thought I was crazy to think I could sell games for dogs,” she says. “Games were something meant for
20 | Issue 89 | June 2016
people and children, not dogs. But I knew I was onto something good.” Ottosson is proud to have established the category of mental activation, and the products are in great demand around the world. The games are made of plastic or wood, always in non-toxic, sustainable and durable materials. Last year, the US-based pet product company Outward Hound acquired Nina Ottosson Puzzle Games & Toys. But Ottosson is still designing and developing new products in Sweden, and she has a loyal test panel by her side: Nisse, a Bouvier des Flandres, and Thea, a Toller. “The best part is to see a dog try a game for the first time. Some use the nose, others the paw; they all have different approaches. It is such fun to see how they figure it out – and to see the joy when they find the treat,” says Ottosson. For more information, please visit: www.nina-ottosson.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
A journey of jewellery She has an hour before she heads off to London. The following week it will be Paris, and then she is heading back to Sweden for a big presentation. Lotta Andersson may be based in Malmö, but her jewellery brand, Lotta Jewellery, still comes with a cosmopolitan lifestyle. “No two days are ever the same,” she says. “I love it – I love contrasts and I love the freedom. That’s why I’m still going.” By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Lotta Jewellery
It was when escaping a seemingly narrow-minded Sweden a couple of decades ago that she discovered jewellery making for the first time. “Three days after graduating from secondary school I bought a one-way ticket to Kuala Lumpur. It all happened more or less by chance; I ended up living in Tokyo and started buying aluminium and glass to create jewellery and sell it in Shibuya. Very hippie,” she laughs. “But I made a living selling jewellery. I didn’t have any qualifications or a design degree or anything, but I had an eye for it.” Lotta moved around a bit, including a stint in Paris where she opened a shop, gained distributors all over the world and won numerous awards. But it was about ten years ago, when she returned to Sweden with her husband, that things got, as she puts it, really serious. “Things had really taken off and we went for it
with more drive and passion than ever,” she recalls.
Back to nature
of my life abroad, so I guess I’m not that Swedish after all,” she reflects. “I don’t want to be put in a box.” From the Swedish woods to the beaches of Bali and the streets of New York, Lotta Jewellery is all about the journey; inner and outer, symbolic as well as worldly. With yet another collection with that vintage aesthetic now ready to go, embraced by stars including Laleh, the journey is far from over.
While a lifestyle of freedom and endless travel has been at the heart of her work from day one, Lotta finds a peaceful constant in nature. “Wherever I live in the world, I’ll always get back to nature and find inspiration there,” she says. “That’s my thing and I’ll always hold onto it; I can spend three or four weeks on an island in south-east Asia sketching and putting together collections – it’s a way of working that suits me.” As such, the jewellery is far from typically Scandinavian, though motifs such as acorns bear witness of her heritage. She describes her pieces more as miniature works of art, timeless and delicate in their expression and popular with women all over the world. “I’ve spent 17 years
For more information, please visit: www.lottajewellery.com
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 21
Above left and top right: The Focus de Luxe range, designed in 1955 by Folke Arström, was listed by the New York Times amongst the 100 best designed products of modern time. Right: A brand new range, designed by celebrated Italian designer Paola Navone, will be launched this summer.
160 years of timeless design Award-winning, popular, and appointed a Royal Warrant, Gense is not just one of the largest producers of silver and stainless steel cutlery in the Nordic countries, but also the brand behind Sweden’s much-loved Focus de Luxe cutlery range. A respect for the craft and a tradition of carefully selected design collaborations are behind the company’s recipe for success. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Gense
If you enter a big Swedish country house or old Stockholm apartment from the 1800s and look closely at the fireplace doors, chances are that you will see the name Gustav Eriksson engraved. He was a smith apprentice from Lerdala in western Sweden practising at a forge in Eskilstuna, and his work was so outstanding that he ended up travelling the length of the country selling his wares. Eriksson founded Gense in 1856, initially working with brass as well as nickel silver, pro22 | Issue 89 | June 2016
ducing everything from trays and valves to safety deposit boxes. Decades later, under the helm of Lars Hedlund, investments into machinery for cutlery production were made and the seed was sown for what was to become one of the largest manufacturers of cutlery in the Nordics. In 1929, Gense started a design collaboration with Viking Göransson, thus becoming the first company in Sweden to work with a designer in the produc-
tion of stainless steel products for the home. As women increasingly started to work outside the home, the demand for low-maintenance, stylish products grew; in just two years the sales of stainless steel products surpassed that of nickel silver products. The Focus de Luxe cutlery range, designed in 1955 by Folke Arström, became an instant hit that is still today one of Gense’s most popular ranges, now considered a real retro classic and listed by the New York Times amongst the 100 best designed products of modern time.
Detailed design expertise “Scandinavians often want slightly shorter cutlery than people on the continent, with a fork of around 200 millimetres and a knife at 220 millimetres. Down on the
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
continent a knife can be upwards of 250 millimetres; we’re quite traditional here in the Nordic countries,” says marketing and product manager Monica Törnqvist, who cannot even go out for lunch without analysing the cutlery. “They shouldn’t be too heavy, they must suit a small as well as a larger hand, and there has to be a good balance,” she continues, laughing for a moment at the detail of her own geekery. “Forks and spoons are the only items of a foreign material you voluntarily put in your mouth. They must be designed in such a way that they suit their purpose.”
of the brand’s ranges are still in production, so complementing with a few more pieces is never a problem. “Our design collaborations make up the backbone of the company, and this means that the products we bring to the market have a really long life cycle,” Törnqvist explains. “In addition, the silver cutlery is almost like pieces of cultural heritage, design items that speak of the fantastic craft that is being passed down at our forge.”
A royal stamp of approval
Törnqvist makes the ins and outs of cutlery product design sound absolutely fascinating, and her expertise is unquestionable. Gense’s 160-year heritage comprises plenty of lessons, so it is no surprise that the kitchen drawers of so many Scandinavian homes host cutlery courtesy of the Swedish manufacturer. Moreover, with a commitment to sustainability and design that lasts, the huge majority
Since 1982, the cultural heritage has yet another dimension as Gense holds a Royal Warrant of Appointment, supplying cutlery to the House of Bernadotte. “We’re of course very proud of this,” says Törnqvist. “It gives a certain clout. It’s not like you can just send them a box of cutlery and call yourself a Royal Warrant – it’s a product or service they choose and pay for, and then you apply to get the formal stamp of approval.” Not that Gense lacks in stamps of approval, having designed ranges in collaboration with everyone
The Dorotea Night range.
The Dorotea range.
from Prince Carl Philip to Monica Förster. This summer, a brand new design will be launched, developed by celebrated Italian designer Paola Navone. While Gense is, to most people, synonymous with beautifully designed cutlery, the company also produces and sells a number of other household products, from cast iron pots and pans to salt and pepper mills and kitchen knives. What brings it all together, according to the marketing and product manager, is the insistence on giving every product the time it needs to reach perfection: from the design brief to the negotiations with selected retailers. You can take a 100-year-old piece of cutlery or a brand new cast iron casserole dish, and at the end of the day what makes them both worth every penny is the design that draws on a respect for the craft and a dedication to usability. Gense may not be producing fireplace doors anymore, but it is a brand that Gustav Eriksson would surely be delighted to put his name to.
ABOUT GENSE Gense was founded by Gustav Eriksson in 1856 in Eskilstuna. Gense Group is today owned by Norwegian company K. A. Rasmussen. Gense is an acronym for Gustav Eriksson Nysilverfabrik Eskilstuna. The Nobel range.
Gense’s silver cutlery is still produced at the forge in Eskilstuna. The cutlery range Focus de Luxe is considered a collector’s item and was listed by the New York Times as one of the 100 best designed products of modern time. Gense today produces a wide range of cutlery collections as well as kitchen knives, salt and pepper mills, cast iron products and more. A brand new cutlery range, designed in collaboration with celebrated Italian designer Paola Navone, will be launched this summer.
For more information, please visit: www.gense.se
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 23
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
The new Julius chair and sofa.
The Hedwig armchair.
Hard-won expertise and fresh thinking With a love for true craftsmanship and long-lasting quality, Gärsnäs combines traditional techniques with experimental and contemporary processes when creating its much-praised wooden furniture.
chair, Madonna, won awards by Elle Decoration and Residence, and Åke Axelsson’s chair, Ferdinand, was named Icon of the Year by Residence.
By Malin Norman | Photos: Gärsnäs
Founded in 1893, Gärsnäs is one of Sweden’s most prominent design-led furniture manufacturers. The family-owned business keeps production locally in southern Skåne and also has a showroom in Stockholm. Since 2003, Anna and Dag Klockby have run the company together with renowned designer Åke Axelsson, who created his first chair for Gärsnäs in the 1960s. They took over a brand with a long tradition in making design classics, and have turned it into a modern success story with sought-after clients such as Google and Microsoft. “We wanted to preserve our heritage and craftsmanship, but also work in symbiosis with new technology,” says Dag Klockby. As part of its efforts for renewal, Gärsnäs initiated a number of exciting collaborations with talented designers such as Nina Jobs, Pierre Sindre, Märta 24 | Issue 89 | June 2016
Friman and Inga Sempé. “By doing so, we managed to introduce new knowledge and give the company a push in a more modern direction. We have shown that it’s possible to stay true to the heritage and also move forward, a combination that can give new life to the designs and be perceived as contemporary.”
Experimenting with wood tailoring “We have been proactive in searching for new designers who work more with emotions to get the sensuality and flair back into our collection.” Klockby continues. With the ambition to stay true to the company’s own DNA instead of looking at what others are doing, collaborations have evolved naturally and the reactions have been incredibly positive. 2015 was a fantastic year, with a number of prestigious awards and heaps of attention in the press. David Ericsson’s
The design process at Gärsnäs is dynamic and fast, with classic pieces and a number of new launches usually presented at the annual Stockholm Furniture Fair. Amongst new standout pieces this year are a chair and sofa called Julius, by design duo Färg & Blanche. The designers have used an innovative wood tailoring technique, attaching the upholstery directly to the chair. Not only a creative and decorative element, the revolutionary solution also reduces the use of glue to keep in line with the company’s sustainability values. Gärsnäs will showcase its collection at Orgatech in Cologne, Germany, 25-29 October this year and at Stockholm Furniture Fair, Sweden, 7-11 February 2017. For more information, please visit: www.garsnas.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
20 years of timelessness A herniated disc forced Jasmin Zivaljic to leave her job at Malmö Airport and take up yoga. Working half the time, she was able to spend the winters in south-east Asia where her interest in designing clothes, textiles and jewellery grew stronger, eventually solidifying into the brand KumKum. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Johan Kalén
20 years on, what was meant to become her Resort collection turned out too expensive, too heavy and full of wonderfully crazy stone combinations, and she dropped the idea just as retailers started asking for something new. Zivaljic went with it and, inspired by the goddess of light and beauty, created a collection combining sterling silver, rhodium plating and 18-carat gold with silver balls, sparkling zircon and freshwater pearls. ‘Once in a Blue Moon’, the name hinting at the rarity of her trying a new look, became an instant hit with old KumKum devotees and new customers alike. Call it coincidence – or perhaps fate? Zivaljic herself would likely choose the
word trust. “Yes, I trust the universe!” she smiles. “Perhaps I’m blessed, or I’m just capable of seeing it that way, but I trust that things will always fall into place. If something clearly isn’t working, I stop and take a break. Letting go is an art.”
Global acclaim, ethnic inspiration If letting go is an art, taking a jewellery brand from inception to global acclaim is about a great deal of hard work, no doubt. From the very first collection that sold out in no time at the exclusive NK in Stockholm, to a Hollywood agent sourcing jewellery for stars including Anne Hathaway, Kelly Osbourne and Selena Gomez, Zivaljic certainly has much to celebrate. But the designer remains hum-
ble. “Everything has been done before in one way or another,” she says. “The long earrings from the new collection, which you thread through the ears – women have been doing that for centuries. But I like it – I like tapping into that collective consciousness, the ethnicity and the primitive.” ‘Once in a Blue Moon’ may have a certain modern shine to it, yet that timeless, worldly signature KumKum look is still present – and not by coincidence: no one will be surprised to hear that Zivaljic has little time for trends. “I have a thing about timelessness – it’s not a trend or a moment; it’s a state. It’s something that will always be there.”
For more information, please visit: www.kumkumjewelry.com
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 25
The perfect shirt since 1883 It started in 1883 as a general store with a tailor workshop out the back. But word quickly spread, both near and far, about the reputable tailor who created the best, most fashionable shirts around. By 1899, August Stenström was overwhelmed; there was no end to the orders.
that you can turn the shirt inside out and it looks the same; the bottom seam is concave, which involves a lot more work but adds a sophisticated touch.”
By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Stenströms, Freddy Billqvist and JKF Photo
Attention to detail is the backbone of the brand. Everything is done for a reason, including the sourcing of materials for the buttons from Australia, most made from mother of pearl. Each button is handcrafted, the holes made manually before the button is polished and surface-coated. “It’s a case of value for money,” says Ramberg, “in the lasting quality sense.”
In 1899, a fully fledged shirt factory became the inevitable solution, located in the heart of Helsingborg and working to the very same standards and principles first set out by Stenström himself. By 1912, with 140 employees, Stenströms was Scandinavia’s largest shirt factory – one that is still leading the way in the world of shirts and tailoring today, still doing most of the sewing by hand and still putting quality first. “I was on a flight to Munich the other day, and I sat there spotting the Stenströms 26 | Issue 89 | June 2016
shirts,” laughs Marie Ramberg, marketing manager at Stenströms. Unwavering insistence on the very best quality is still their hallmark. Ramberg maintains that each shirt goes through 60 separate production steps, 25 focusing on the collar alone. “From day one, Stenströms has been about the best in stitching, the best-quality fabrics… In recent years we’ve invested in the details of each and every shirt: each button is secured with a special thread to make sure that they won’t come off; we’ve added more seams, including a French seam which means
That the business is family-owned, as it always has been, means that there is a long-term perspective and commitment to the founder’s vision, giving the quality of the end product as much importance
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
as the figures coming out of the sales sheets. Moreover, it has shaped the brand’s approach to trend watching. “You have to move with the times and adapt to consumers’ needs, but we do it in our own way with quality and fit setting the terms,” Ramberg explains. “The world of suits and shirts has changed a lot in recent years in that the classic suit look is still very much there, but there’s a growing need for a shirt that goes with chinos and a casual blazer. We want to be a part of showing the way in this field.” Today, Stenströms designs collections for both men and women and has the honour of delivering shirts to both His and Her Royal Highness as a Royal Warrant of Appointment since 1973. This season brings a bold expression with colourful prints on classic cuts for men and silk and paisley textures for ladies. In true Stenström spirit, Ramberg highlights her favourite way to make a statement: “Think a plain shirt with a coloured cross in the button or a coloured button hole. It adds that bit of excitement but remains sophisticated enough to work as a business shirt as well.” Five steps towards the perfect shirt, according to Peter Jüriado, creative director of Stenströms: 1. The fabric Comfortable, low-maintenance and free from chemicals – those are the keywords behind shirt fabric that makes you look the part and feel it too. For Stenströms, this means working with world-class millers in northern Italy and almost always a two-fold twill quality.
Peter Jüriado, creative director at Stenströms.
For more information, please visit: www.stenstroms.com, follow @stenstroms_official on Instagram or like Stenströms on Facebook
2. The pattern Be it a business or a casual shirt, quality and texture are key. While Stenströms’ twill quality with diagonal woven threads add texture regardless of the pattern, bolder, louder stripes are making waves on the fashion scene this season and Stenströms promises to offer everything from the denim staple to the daring look. 3. The construction “I would say that measuring for a shirt is more advanced than constructing a suit,”
Jüriado insists. It must be correct – yet it cannot be too stiff. Stenströms prides itself on creating fits for all body types, including of course the popular made-tomeasure shirt. 4. The details Nothing ruins a great shirt like a cheap plastic button. Stenströms works with exclusive materials delivered from Australia, sometimes 100 times more expensive than plastic but worth every penny. Add thoroughly stitched button holes, a perfectly measured distance between each button and options when it comes to collar stays – Stenströms takes details very seriously indeed. 5. The look Much has changed since the days of wearing a suit to work regardless of profession. A shirt is the perfect companion to bridge the gap between casual and tailored. Dress it up or dress it down – add an exclusive suit or smart sneakers. The sky is the limit.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
Fashion with plenty of attitude Olars Ulla offers a cool mix of romantic and rock chic, stylish and rustic, feminine and comfortable. The clothing line is made from natural materials, to last over the years and to be loved even more as time goes by.
ing together towards a common goal still remains, with clothes instead of crops as the end result.
By Malin Norman | Photos: Olars Ulla
Before her entrance into the fashion world, Simonsson worked as a silversmith with her own design studio for almost 15 years. “This is when I started to play around with different shapes and styles, and to express my creativity,” she says. She travelled extensively to visit different craft fairs and meet retailers, and eventually started designing her own
The company’s founder, Ulla Simonsson, was born at Olarsgården in southern Dalarna, a family estate dating back to the 17th century. She was raised in a farming culture with strong work ethics and a loyal community. Simonsson still lives at the peaceful farm and the company is 28 | Issue 89 | June 2016
very much run as a family business. “My husband and my sons are all involved in the company,” she explains. “For example, my husband is building our new shops and one of my sons is taking photographs of the collections.” The spirit of the traditional farming culture and work-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
clothes. The Olars Ulla brand was set up in 1993 and has since grown with its own boutiques in Stockholm, Göteborg, Malmö, Visby and Strömstad, as well as selected retailers in Sweden and abroad.
Inspiration from within Designer Simonsson is driven by intuition in her creative process. “I don’t follow trends; instead I let the ideas come from within,” she says. “I believe in listening to my own voice instead of looking at what’s in fashion.” Her source of inspiration has not changed much over the years and can usually be found in the small things in life, from an early morning walk in the woods to having a cup of coffee on the veranda or hearing a certain song on the radio. She also loves old and worn things with a history. “When I get some peace and quiet, time for myself, the ideas tend to come at their own will.” So what is the characteristic Olars Ulla style? The easy answer is that it depends on how you combine the pieces. The collection is a balanced mix of casual rustic
and stylish clothes, blending romantic and rock chic attitude with a comfortable yet feminine fit. Olars Ulla stands out from the mainstream and gives customers the opportunity to mix and match pieces in order to express their own personality and style. “Our customers share stories with us about how they’ve been stopped by people on the street or on the underground, and asked where they bought their outfit,” the designer says.
New autumn collection The distinct collections are made from natural materials and of the highest quality, often with organic textiles. New this autumn is a set of wool coats and jumpers in warm shades of brown, green, red and yellow in addition to the more neutral grey, black and natural beige. The outerwear and jumpers are particularly popular, as are the clothes made from recycled materials such as denim. Simonsson also designs her own flower prints. “I want people to be able to use our clothes for many years, and love them more as time goes by,” she says.
Olars Ulla is experiencing exciting times with fast growth and changes in the company. Next year a new website and webshop will be launched, and the team is working to find new trusted retailers across Europe and further afield. In the future, Simonsson would also like to take up her jewellery design again and bring it into the Olars Ulla brand. “My dream is to design jewellery to combine with my collections of clothes,” she says. “It’s so much fun, but tricky to fit it in with everything else that’s going on right now.” Olars Ulla will showcase new designs at Formex on 24-27 August in Stockholm and in its showroom during Fashion Week Stockholm on 29-31 August. Products are also available in the six shops in Sweden, at selected retailers across Europe and in the webshop. For more information, please visit: www.olarsulla.se and facebook.com/ olarsulla, or follow @olarsulla on Instagram.
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 29
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
Transforming the industry of watches, Scandi-style The rise of the smartphone has made the watch redundant, right? Wrong. Forget the old tale about watchmakers in dimly lit basements fiddling with tiny pieces of clockwork. TRIWA presents a classic-contemporary take on watches that are all about style.
brand embodies the effortless yet chic timelessness that Scandinavian fashion is known for. If you ask us, there is no better brand to keep track of time in the capital.
By Linnea Dunne | Photos: TRIWA
“We love classic watches but with a modern twist,” says Ludvig Scheja, co-founder and creative director of TRIWA. “We take the old invention, remove anything that’s unnecessary and create a contemporary design. There’s something inherently Scandinavian about that, taking a product and remodelling it to export it again, an improved version.” It started with four friends who were unimpressed by the way the watch industry was marketing itself. “It was conservative and very status-driven,” says Scheja, “all about old watchmakers with loupes and John Travolta posing in front of airplanes. It felt incredibly outdated.” It was a learning curve for the creative director who had previously worked in PR
and marketing for a variety of brands; but the team quickly found their style and started hiring staff with specialist knowledge. Almost ten years on, a team of 30 watch lovers work together at TRIWA’s creative studios in central Stockholm and, as the creative director points out, the Swedish capital is close to their hearts. “We’re now visible in 33 places in Stockholm as TRIWA has been selected as the new city clock, with big clocks mounted on top of billboard displays throughout the city.” Founded with the mission to transform the industry of watches (which is also what the acronym TRIWA stands for), demystify watches and produce an accessory that is stylish without being status-focused, the
Left: TRIWA's new Blue Eye Falken watch. Right: Stockholm’s city clock, courtesy of TRIWA.
For more information, please visit: www.triwa.com
Exclusive designs inspired by nature’s forces The solid, deep black diabase rock is challenging glass as one of Sweden’s preferred materials for artists. Kullaro is one of its main advocates, with a range of sleek furniture, decorative pieces for the home and jewellery inspired by volcanic forces. By Malin Norman | Photos: Kullaro
Diabase is a fascinating type of rock from north-east Skåne, exclusive and sought after across the world. So much more than just a normal piece of rock, it is a deep black, fine-grained form of granite that is extremely hard. For instance, diabase is often used for art, memorials and buildings such as the Ground Zero monument in New York and the Washington War Memorial. Originating in Skåne, Kullaro set up business ten years ago and the owners are pretty much self-taught in the art of designing and manufacturing. Their designs are made of rock excavated from quarries in Lönsboda, Duvhult, Gylsboda and Hägghult, later combined with other materials for extraordinary pieces of jewellery and furniture. Founder Jenni Thomasson ex30 | Issue 89 | June 2016
plains the uniqueness of diabase: “Only five per cent of the rock is used, and often for something very special.” Kullaro has a global audience with customers from as far away as the Middle East and the US. The current bestseller is the fruit bowl, but Kullaro has also received plenty of attention for its most recent collaboration with designer Lisa Hilland. She is one of Sweden’s hottest and currently most talked about designers. The partnership has resulted in a sophisticated candelabra design with cubes and a range of draped art deco tables, both launched in February. The team has also been invited to take part at the London Design Biennale 2016 at Somerset House, 7-27 September. This is a utopia-themed collection with exhibitors
from more than 30 countries showcasing a variety of designs and materials. “We have noticed that diabase is growing in popularity and becoming a more obvious choice for buyers searching for something exclusive, for instance as a gift,” says Thomasson.
Design by Lisa Hilland
For more information, please visit: www.kullaro.se Customers in the UK, please visit: www.origin-sweden.com
Mixing trendy and classic for homes and gardens Wikholm Form is one of Scandinavia’s leading suppliers of home décor and garden products for florists and interior design stores. With its mix of contemporary and classic pieces, there is something for every season and mood. By Malin Norman | Photos: Wikholm Form
Over the past nine years, the company has offered a wide assortment of home décor and outdoor goods including pots and baskets, ceramics and glassware, lanterns and chandeliers and garden furniture at selected florists, garden centres and interior stores. Based in Borås, with a team of around 30 staff, Wikholm Form also has dedicated sales teams and a network of trusted distributors and agents across Europe and the US. Peter Westlander took over as CEO in 2009 and talks about the company’s successful concept, which has resulted in a growth rate of around 25-30 per cent per year. “Many florists have become lifestyle shops, also selling home décor and interior design items,” he says. “And similarly, interior boutiques are adding plants and garden products to their assortment. This fits us perfectly, as we have a wide range of lifestyle products for both the home and the garden.”
Dedicated in-house designer The style has a typical Scandinavian touch, with decorative and functional pieces that
are easy to mix and match. Unlike most other wholesalers, Wikholm Form has its own in-house designer: Eva Vänskä. She designs mostly glassware and ceramics, adding classic pieces to the collection as well as more trendy and season-bound one-offs. All products created by Eva Vänskä carry the ‘Form by Wikholm’ logo. The extensive Wikholm Form product catalogue has over 1,500 pieces, of which around 500-700 are new each season. In
the coming season’s edition, the themes are Nordic, Traditional Christmas and Penthouse. In addition to its range of products, there is also a much-appreciated section with inspiration and advice on how the shops can style their window displays according to the seasonal themes. Currently, the focus is on the European markets and Wikholm Form participates in several tradeshows abroad to showcase their range of products. It is also available in Interflora stores and at around 2,500 selected retailers across Europe. For more information, please visit: www.wikholmform.com
TRADESHOWS: 9-11 July – TrendSet Munich, Germany 18-20 August – Öppet Hus Jönköping, Sweden 24-27 August – FORMEX Stockholm, Sweden 1-4 September – Oslo Design Fair Oslo, Norway 5-6 October – Elmia Garden Jönköping, Sweden 27-31 January – Christmas World Frankfurt, Germany
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 31
Scan Magazine | Culinary Profile | Restaurant Teglværksskoven
Local produce with a playful twist In the middle of the woods, with an up-close view of the ocean, you will enjoy the homely feel as you are served delicious food straight from the neighbour’s fields. Restaurant Teglværksskoven feeds both eyes and tummy, delivering the ultimate tranquil dining experience – in an inventive way if you are up for putting a spin on your favourite dish. By Mette Hindkjær Madsen | Photos: Restaurant Teglværksskoven
Let the serenity of the forest and fresh breeze from the sea fill your lungs and mind before digging into a culinary experience only found in the southern part of Fyn. Just a stone’s throw from the water you will find Restaurant Teglværksskoven, surrounded by tall beech trees. “We’re a Danish restaurant with a focus on local produce. Our cooking style is French and we give our food, including the sauces, a lot of time and flavour, using primarily Danish produce, which is really important to us,” explains Rasmus Kirk Henriksen, who owns Restaurant Teglværksskoven with his girlfriend Kristina Hedegaard. 32 | Issue 89 | June 2016
25 local partners carefully chosen to deliver certain produce, such as potatoes, make the basis of what you will cut through on your plate. “We believe simplicity is the way forward, being able to taste exactly which potatoes you’re being served. It’s amazing to be able to point out exactly where the potato comes from, and people like passing by the field where the carrots on their plate were grown on the way to the restaurant,” says Henriksen. The restaurant is not afraid to experiment in the kitchen either. On the first Wednesday of every month, they host a special dining club with three to five courses for around £25, each time with
a different theme. “People usually have an idea of what they like to eat, which we accommodate with our à la carte menu. At our events we can challenge our guests’ taste buds a bit, which both we and the guests find very enjoyable,” says Henriksen and continues: “At our last dining club the theme was potatoes, and the breeder stopped by to talk about the product. All four dishes on the menu were created around the theme of potatoes – even the dessert.” Restaurant Teglværksskoven has room for 70 dining guests, and the restaurant can be divided up into three soundproof rooms for parties and special events. On top of and next to the restaurant are three apartments overlooking the water available for rent for weekends or weeks at a time.
For more information, please visit: www.teglvaerksskoven.dk
Scan Magazine | Culture Profile | Ájtte
Meet the Sami people and the high mountains Explore the past and present at Ájtte – the Swedish Mountain and Sami Museum in Jokkmokk, with no less than 13 exhibitions this summer. The new additions focus on emerging talents in handicraft, arts and the everyday life of modern reindeer keepers. By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: Maria Klang
“The main reason to come here is to learn about Sami culture and the nature here. You will get great insight into the culture of the old days and until today,” says Åsa Sundqvist, marketing officer at Ájtte in north Sweden. With ten permanent and three temporary exhibitions, an alpine garden, a restaurant and a shop, this is a complete destination for diving into the local culture and history. Ájtte is located ten kilometres north of the Arctic Circle and is the gateway to Laponia, the UNESCO World Heritage site that has been the home of nomadic hunters and reindeer keepers since time immemorial. One of the oldest exhibitions at the museum, exploring the region, is called Laponia. “You are guided through 11,000 years of history and the landscape of the UNESCO
world heritage site, Laponia. You get to meet the people who live there today and those who were there before,” Sundqvist says, adding that her personal favourite is the virtual flight across Laponia in the modern exhibition Laponia Mania, which is aimed at children but indeed fun for all ages. “Our visitors think that we have a fantastic museum and one they never expected to find here in Jokkmokk,” she says. “We tell the story of Sami culture and the landscape of the north. Come and see for yourself!”
The interior of a typical local tent.
For more information, please visit: www.ajtte.com/english A Sami woman from Luleå.
Scan Magazine | Culinary Profile | Hos Walter
Quality products with a story to tell On a little road off the main shopping street of Ebeltoft in Jutland you will find an overwhelming selection of specialties, from locally grown strawberries and Errazuriz wine to Summerbird chocolate and rum created by the shop itself: Hos Walter.
liquorice and so much more will make your gourmet-loving mouth water as you walk around the cosy shop in Ebeltoft.
By Mette Hindkjær Madsen | Photos: Lars Clement BusinessFilm
In 2014, Hos Walter opened their own wine bar in an extension of the shop, so you can take a shopping break and relax with glass of Zenato or attend one of their many tasting events either inside or outside the shop, depending on the weather. “We host a lot of different tastings of wine, whiskey, goat’s cheese and more to give our customers a special experience, like our wine festival during the first weekend of November,” Busk ends.
Taking over the shop back in 2004 was not initially part of the plan for the couple Karina and Kristian Busk, who have owned and managed the 25-year-old shop for 11 years now. But shortly after moving to Ebeltoft with their first baby on the way, they were asked the right question at the right time. “We were at our new neighbour’s birthday party and they asked us ‘what do you young people dream of doing?’ and we told them that we’d been thinking about opening a shop and had looked at Hos Walter in particular,” says co-owner Kristian Busk. “Incidentally, the people at the party knew Walter, and a week later he called us as he’d been thinking of selling. At first it was just a fun thought, but then we be34 | Issue 89 | June 2016
gan crunching numbers and decided to take the chance and buy the shop.”
Taking time with every customer While respecting the original Hos Walter, the couple has made their own mark on the shop. “We focus on local produce, and within wine we spot tendencies from Copenhagen and abroad. We always look for a combination of what people know and something out of the ordinary, and we greatly value taking our time to serve each and every customer for a great experience in our shop,” explains Busk. A wide selection of wines from the majority of wine producing countries, speciality cheeses and beers, liquor and
.
For more information, please visit: www.hos-walter.dk or find them on TripAdvisor, follow @hoswalter on Instagram or search for Hos Walter on Facebook.
Craft Spirits from Sweden www.hven.com
Press photo
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Julie Zangenberg
Julie Zangenberg: Burning the midnight oil Actress, model, celebrity cook, businesswoman – Julie Zangenberg has done it all. This June, however, she will be doing something new: taking time off. Scan Magazine spoke to the Frederiksberg-born all-rounder about being a child star, working 80hour weeks, and how she is finally learning to unwind.
Zangenberg initially told them she did not think she was right for the part, but she got it anyway and the movie won a Crystal Bear at the Berlinale of 2002 and ended up travelling around the world.
By Paula Hammond
Julie Zangenberg is in the UK to talk about the launch of Heartless on Channel 4’s new foreign language showcase, All 4. The supernatural mini-series was created by the writer of The Bridge and the director of The Killing. Set in an elite Danish boarding school, Heartless blends the best elements of Nordic drama with a dark, edgy storyline that has led many to dub it ‘Twilight for grown-ups’. Zangenberg and co-star Sebastian Jessen play orphaned twins who are cursed to suck the life energy out of others in order to live. Desperate to unravel the mystery of their origins, the siblings also have to contend with life at a new school, and the challenges this presents. Zangenberg plays Sofie, a woman who is comfortable with who she is and the fact that people are her food. All that changes when she falls in love with Emilie (Julie Christiansen), the headmaster’s daughter, who has secret powers of her own. “When we first meet Sofie,” Zangenberg says, “she’s come to terms with what she is. She feels like she’s an animal – what she does, how she lives; she didn’t chose it, she just deals with it. She’s very tough whereas her brother, Sebastian, feels guilty. But then, Sofie falls in love and finds out that she can’t be
close to the one she loves because of this curse. That makes her want to change for the better. She wants to figure out what their curse is and fix it. So she goes from being very, very tough to more soft and human, which is fun for an actress.”
Early start Although Zangenberg has had a successful modelling career – formerly the face of Adidas – acting has always been her first love. Starting her acting career at 12, the now 27-year-old has been acting for over half her life. “I actually started by accident,” she explains. “I loved theatre and I loved movies but I thought that acting was something that the big grown-ups with all the talent were doing. I didn’t think it was for me. But I wanted to see movies, up close, so looked into being an extra. I just wanted to be the girl walking by in the background with a soda in her hand.” Zangenberg then wrote a letter asking if she could be an extra and was called out for a test. “I remember thinking that it was a bit weird that I needed to do a test to be the girl drinking the soda,” she says. “Then, after my third call back, they realised that I didn’t understand what was going on and they told me that they were casting for the lead in the biggest children’s movie ever made in Denmark.”
The movie was the children’s crime caper Klatretøsen (Catch That Girl), which made Zangenberg into a household name. However, along with the opportunities, fame made it hard for her to be an ordinary child. “My school days were two extremes,” she says. “At first, I went to a normal public school, but I was getting beaten up, stuff like that. Then my parents put me in a private school, kind of like a boarding school. So I’ve tried both and I think that it was difficult for me to be in school because I’m a bit of a nerd. “I love knowledge and I’m very competitive. That part of school worked for me: getting nice grades… But the whole environment – you couldn’t be creative, you had to do everything in a very specific way and that didn’t work as well for me. I wanted to be my own boss and acting’s perfect for that.” The award-winning Fakiren fra Bilbao (The Fakir from Bilbao) followed, with Zangenberg playing a young teenager who moves to the country with her twin brother and widowed mother. There, the trio discover that their new house may be haunted. Is she drawn to spooky tales? “I’m not a horror fan,” she says, “but I’m definitely a genre fan. I love time pieces and everything from Twilight to Harry Potter. Issue 89 | June 2016 | 37
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Julie Zangenberg
I’m a big Harry Potter geek! When Nicklas [Bendtner, her ex-boyfriend] and I lived in London, near Bushy, we lived in a place where they shot some of the Harry Potter films, which was a really big deal for me. I love long-running series, movies, theatre. I’m very geeky about it all.”
Photo: Kanal 4
Late nights In 2012, Zangenberg took the leap from the world of children’s features to adult drama with a movie by Danish stage director Katrine Wiedemann called A Caretaker’s Tale (Viceværten). The film centred around the brutish custodian of a housing complex who discovers a mute, naked woman in an empty apartment. Despite the fact that her character was given no name and no dialogue, Variety magazine praised Zangenberg’s performance, writing: “Zangenberg is extraordinary and fully exposed in a difficult, wordless role.” Television followed, with the actress demonstrating a natural talent for comedy with appearances in shows such as Live from Bremen and Danish Dynamite. In fact, in the last eight years, she has barely paused to catch her breath. “I work, like, 70 to 80 hours a week,” she smiles, “and it was just recently that I found out that wasn’t normal! I was watching the news and they spoke about how a normal working week in Denmark is 37 hours and I was like ‘Noooo’!” Despite this, Zangenberg says she knows she is fortunate to be kept so busy with the acting and she does not like to complain. To relax, Zangenberg likes to cook – and has now made that into a business with her first cooking show, Julies madselskaber (Julie’s Dinners). “So I’ve made that something I don’t just relax with but work with,” she says. “I’m also doing Hairspray. A lot of work has gone into that because I’m not a singer and I’m not a dancer and this is the largest musical production in Denmark ever. So it requires focus.” Does she ever relax? She laughs: “When Hairspray finishes, for the first time in eight years I’m taking a break. We end in 38 | Issue 89 | June 2016
Zangenberg and co-star Sebastian Jessen in Heartless. Photo: Kanal 4
June and I’m taking June and July off.” However, it is clear that acting – and the next challenge – is never fully off her mind. “One night in London,” she recalls, “Nicklas took me to see the Billy Elliot musical and it was amazing. But, like Billy says when he’s dancing, you can’t deny the thirst in you, what makes you electric. And that’s the feeling I get when I’m acting. When I saw that, it really struck a chord with me. To be true to yourself and fight for your dreams and what you love – that’s the most important thing ever.” For Zangenberg, it seems that burning the midnight oil is not a chore – it is just how she unwinds. For more information, please visit: www.juliezangenbergblog.dk or follow @juliezangenberg on Instagram or Twitter.
Photo: Kanal 4
The forces of nature are dominant in the Arctic. The ocean also provides us with what to offer our customers at any given time. Similar to the ocean, our menu is constantly changing, always offering something fresh and new.
Killengrens gate. 9007 Tromsø. Norway fiskekompaniet.no | bord@fiskekompani.no
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Get your hands dirty in a natural nirvana Wolves, sled dogs and lynxes, or cows, regular dogs and pigs? Whatever tickles your farm fancy, rest assured that you can familiarise yourself with it in Norway. All you need to do is pick your farm destination and go, go, go! By Mette Hindkjær Madsen | Photos: Visit Norway
A truly fresh breath of air is not always easy to come by, but there is no better place to fill up your lungs than in the astonishing natural scenery of Norway. Even if you are already familiar with wandering the fjords, this type of vacation allows you to dig even deeper into nature’s roots and be a part of the peaceful idyll. Switch your two hiking boots for four hooves and explore Norway by horseback, fish your own dinner and get up close and personal in ways you did not think possible with some extraordinary wildlife animals. In this special, we present you with a selection of Norway’s most 40 | Issue 89 | June 2016
beautiful and exciting farm destinations that are just a simple booking away.
Forget about emails Norway’s visitor’s farms can accommodate you and your entire family in a hotel or your very own cabin for a fun getaway with an abundance of activities for relaxation lovers and sports enthusiasts alike. Shut down your computer, tablet, phone and other electronical devices and immerse yourself in some seriously fun family time. Sip on a chilled glass of wine while your kids attempt their first milking of a cow, gather the pack and go hiking in
the mountains with spectacular views, and try munching on meat from a great moose or deliciously fresh salmon with sweet and sour berries for dessert – all found in the surrounding landscape. From toddlers to grandparents, the whole family is guaranteed to be entertained during an enjoyable farm holiday, allowing you to leave behind the stresses of your everyday life to completely engage with your family in a picturesque setting that harks back to a simpler time. Do not miss out – read on!
Lofoten
For more information, please visit: www.visitnorway.no
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norway’s Best Farm Experiences Photo: 4H Troms
Photo: 4H Oppland
Social, active, fun – you decide! 4H seeks to inspire and educate young people to become active and socially responsible citizens with a respect for nature and fellow humans alike. By 4H Norge
4H Norge is a nationwide volunteer-based children’s and youth organisation that is politically and religiously neutral.
What are the aims of 4H? The main idea behind 4H is to teach children and young people the value and importance of taking responsibility for themselves, through making their own decisions and evaluating their own work. Learning to understand and appreciate the importance of nature and the environment, and to respect the value of primary industries, are also basic aims for 4H.
14,000 members and alumni. 4H is open to all youths between the ages of ten and 25, with the actual 4H programme for those between the ages of ten and 18, focusing on the subjects of nature, culture, society and health. Each member must complete one project each year in order to receive an engraved bronze 4H plaque as a sign of seven years of 4H work.
The unique quality of 4H
The organisation
4H is a member-led organisation where the members themselves decide what to explore and study. We are dedicated to positive youth development and believe in the power of young people.
4H Norge is organised at local, regional and national levels. There are 600 4H clubs in Norway today, representing
We have a national programme that includes 4H camps and different board and
organisational courses where members from all over the country meet and learn from each other and make friendships for life. Our international programme gives our alumi the opportunity to travel abroad to learn and exchange cultural experiences.
The 4H motto: Learning by doing. The 4H pledge: I promise to work towards becoming a youngster with a clear head, a warm heart, clever hands and good health. The four h’s stand for head, heart, hands and health. 4H’s core values: clear head, warm heart, clever hands and good health.
For more information, please visit: www.4h.no
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 41
Snerting Ranch is located in Inderøy and hosts 4H meetings and summer camps, also providing a place for couples looking for a romantic getaway. Total silence and the charming wonders of nature give joy and peace of mind. Photos: Jon Leira.
Living the ranch life Snerting Ranch is located in central Norway and is one of the exclusive farms recognised by youth organisation 4H. Welcoming youngsters from all over the country, the ranch provides them with camps, activities and a place to meet in a picturesque landscape. By Line Elise Svanevik
Together with his wife Lene, Jon Leira bought Snerting Ranch in the stunning scenery of Inderøy in 2006, having worked on a cattle ranch in Australia in 1997 where he greatly enjoyed the flexible lifestyle and comfortable pace of work. “It was a completely new arena for us both, and we had to do a lot of work on it to get it up and running,” says Leira. 42 | Issue 89 | June 2016
“We both wanted to make it somewhere people could come for a nice experience, so we turned it into a visitor farm where youngsters could come and take part in activities.” In 2008, the visitor farm was running smoothly and it was important to both Leira and his wife to become a 4H farm
and welcome the young members as they had both been part of the movement throughout their childhoods. 4H is a democratic organisation where people aged ten to 18 get to play a central role in the decision making, as well as learning a range of fun skills. The youth organisation has a global reach and the activities normally take place in the local or surrounding districts. Seven to 18-year-olds of any gender are welcome to the farm, which provides a comfortable and secure environment where the youngsters can enjoy playing with a variety of animal species
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norway’s Best 4H Farm
and socialise with the other visitors. Additionally, they can take part in a range of activities, such as horseback riding and canoeing. Leira and his wife are particularly keen to give back to the 4H community, which they came to enjoy in their earlier years. There are horses, beef cattle, goats, rabbits, hens, dogs and cats on the ranch, and each animal, apart from the hens, has been chosen carefully to add value to the experience of the people visiting. Though ranch life is particularly appealing to Leira, due to the fact that there is action when you want it and also peace when you want to relax, the couple is still aiming for that work-life balance. “Our ultimate goal is to have a relaxed ranch life, and that’s something we’re aiming for in the next few years,” he says.
A tourist destination Inderøy, where the ranch is located, is situated in a peaceful landscape along the north shores of the Trondheim fjord. There are breathtaking views to be enjoyed and several places to practise mindfulness in the tranquil
surroundings; but, equally, there are exclusive art galleries, restaurants and breweries in the area. The ranch itself is suited for youngsters to enjoy a summer camp, but it is also perfect for couples wanting an intimate and relaxed stay at the hotel – or a chance to take part in the local activities and go swimming in the nearby lake or sea. The modern timber hotel on the premises, delivered by the Finnish company Kuusamo, features three gorgeous rooms – the Dolly Parton, the John Wayne and the Sitting Bull. These can be rented out separately, or the whole house can be rented by a family or a group of friends. There are several local facilities around Inderøy, including local beer brewing and aquavit (a popular Scandinavian flavoured spirit) distilling and highquality local food. Breakfast or brunch can be provided at the hotel on request, and for those who enjoy cooking there is a fully functional kitchen that can be used by the guests, as well as barbecuing facilities on the porch.
“It is a truly calming place – so quiet that it is good for the soul,” according to Leira. If you are lucky you might spot some wild animals, including moose, deer, eagles, pigeons, owls, foxes and more. For a different kind of evening, try the astronomy binoculars that are available to rent or head to the nearby Gapahuk, where you can enjoy a barbecue and an incredible view. Snerting Ranch is also a producer of organic, grass-fed beef cattle, which will have to be requested as early as possible due to the relatively small production. HOW TO GET TO SNERTING RANCH The ranch can be accessed by flying to Trondheim Airport, followed by one and a half hours’ drive to the ranch. Alternatively, take the train to Røra and Leira can pick you up there. “We speak good English, and we love tourists!” he says.
For more information, please visit: www.snerting.no or find them on facebook.com/SnertingRanchHotel
Top left: The stunning views in Inderøy can be enjoyed all throughout the year. Photo: Steinar Johansen. Below left: The hotel has been built as a modern timber house. Photo: Jon Leira. Bottom right: Ranch owners Jon and Lene Leira mustering cattle. Photo: Johan Arnt Nesgaard.
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 43
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norway’s Best Farm Experiences
Adrenaline kick outside, accompanied by great food Maarud Gaard Opplevelser AS is a unique conference and activity centre located just a few miles from Oslo in Finnholt, which focuses on offering groups a break from the everyday routine with unmatched nature experiences, challenging outdoor activities and great food and wine. By Marte Eide | Photos: Tina Meldahl/Maarud Gård
The activities range from horseback riding and fishing to those even less ordinary. “The most popular activities are those that challenge the guests mentally and physically, either individually with activities high up in the air or competing against each other in teams in what we call ‘femkamp’ (pentathlon), which involves using five different types of armour. During some of the activities, such as the activity obstacle course, the group has to collaborate in order to complete it successfully, and that builds up the team spirit,” says co-founder Einar Martinsen, the host alongside Lykke Martinsen.
Custom-made programme With their personal and individual approach to looking after customers, the 44 | Issue 89 | June 2016
centre will happily put together a custommade programme for the guests, catering to their particular needs and wishes. “We are like an events agency – we organise everything,” Martinsen explains. “We can arrange and accommodate everything from groups of colleagues to weddings, confirmations and parties for groups from ten up to 80 people.” The guests have the option of spending the night indoors in the main building or in one of the four lavvos outside, each with space for up to ten people. The three-course meal can be served inside the restaurant or outside in the lavvo, which boosts an experience close to nature. Martinsen insists that the food is an exquisite experience full of taste. “The food we serve is locally sourced. We are
specialists in moose and deer meat and have excellent local access to it.” With more than ten years of experience and specialisation the centre has become a pioneer in its field. “Of course we are proud,” says Martinsen, explaining that they have no plans on stopping yet. “We have plans to expand, but we want to do it carefully in order not to ruin the special atmosphere of the place. We want to offer our guests an experience out of the ordinary and give them an adrenaline kick in natural surroundings that they can thrive on and remember for a long time.”
For more information, please visit: www.maarudgaard.no
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norway’s Best Farm Experiences
A taste of traditional Norway Far into the mountains and next to Rondane National Park, you will find the mountain farm Brekkeseter. Originally built in 1772, the farm has kept its rustic charm even after opening up for visitors in the 1920s. Idyllically located by one of Norway’s main national parks, the farm offers a whole-heartedly Norwegian experience of wildlife and hiking on its doorstep, alongside top-notch healthy dining and comfortable living under its roof. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Brekkeseter
Brekkeseter mountain farm lives up to all the national romantic characteristics; its wooden farm houses are covered with grass on the roofs, and it is situated on the border of Rondane National Park, which offers excellent hiking and fishing opportunities. “It is a little piece of Norway in one farm,” says owner Bjørn Setsaas, who greets visitors from around the world all year round. The farm has a hotel with 12 rooms and 25 traditional wooden houses and cabins, most dating back to the 1700s. “We have kept the charming exterior, but visitors
enjoy modern kitchen and bathroom facilities in each cabin,” Setsaas notes. “Many guests prefer dining with us, however, as we have specialised in a green, healthy menu inspired by a mix of the Mediterranean diet and traditional Norwegian cuisine of fish and game.” A quick online search shows that visitors have indeed taken to the scenic surroundings and rustic accommodation. With a five-star rating on TripAdvisor and recurrent comments along the lines of “step back to nature” and “something very special”, you will quickly understand
why people come here. “People continue to come back for the mix of nature experiences on the doorstep, good food and a relaxing atmosphere,” says Setsaas. Brekkeseter is located in Høvringen in Rondane National Park, around four hours north of Oslo. While it is possible to travel here by public transport, it is convenient to go by car.
For more information, please visit: www.brekkeseter.no
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 45
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norway’s Best Farm Experiences
Photo: Eystein Opdøl
The valley of beauty Considered the most beautiful mountain valley in Norway, Innerdalen is the oldest established nature reserve in the country. Nestled on the slope of the valley, and a mere hour’s walk from the main road, visitors will find the charming Renndølsetra summer pasture farm that offers accommodation in the most pristine setting. Where better to plan your next summer holiday than in an old farm among the mountains and animals? By Maria Lanza Knudsen
Few families can boast ownership of such a natural wonder like Innerdalen. The Opdøls can. The family has owned the valley since 1740 and, for the past 300 years, the farm’s animals have made the trek to graze on the valley’s slopes every summer. “We are a popular destination for families with children,” Eystein Opdøl, the manager of Renndølsetra, explains. “With so many animals there for the 46 | Issue 89 | June 2016
summer, visitors can participate in the various farm activities, such as milking the cows. But it goes without saying that the beautiful scenery is the main draw!” In the 1960s, when the search was on for steep rivers to build hydroelectric power plants, the then owner, Øystein Opdøl, declined the offer to use Innerdalen. Instead, he wished to protect the
natural environment and, with the help of the Norwegian Mountain Touring Association, managed to establish Norway’s first protected nature area in 1967. As the valley lies within the Trollheimen mountain range, the purpose was to conserve the beautiful natural environment that has significant recreational and scientific value as a result of the valley’s topography, waterways and vegetation. To this day, the area stretches 25 kilometres from the village of Ålvundeid in the west to Innerdalsporten in the east. Similar to a cathedral, the nave of the valley is towered by the rugged peaks of the mountains with the sharp peak of the Innerdalstårnet Mountain acting as the
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norway’s Best Farm Experiences
spire. In the valley, numerous mountain streams descend from the glaciers above to meet the crystal clear water of the valley lake.
Sleeping among the animals “As Innerdalen is a nature reserve, cars are not permitted into the area,” Opdøl says. “But it is less than an hour’s walk on the marked path along beautiful scenery before you arrive at Renndølsetra summer pasture farm.” Giving a warm welcome to visitors, the establishment offers comfortable accommodation adjacent to its other guests, the farm animals. The establishment’s kitchen cooks up tasty, traditional fare using locally sourced produce when possible. During the day, the café sells drinks, snacks and waffles to hikers. During the long summer evenings with the comforting smell of the campfire, there are few locations that offer such breathtaking views. The old timber farm has 20 bedsteads across several charming rooms. The Eremitten and Kjøkkenloftet rooms have two beds each, the Tårnloftet and Vassloftet rooms have three each, Photo: Jan Håvard Knee
Stuoloftet has four beds and Kammerset six. In addition, the Raudhytta cabin, built in 1909, can accommodate four people while offering breathtaking views of the valley. “We try to accommodate everyone so there are even bunk beds for up to six people in the barn for those seeking the true farm experience,” Opdøl says. “Visitors may equally set up camp with their tents by the farm and we offer full access to facilities.”
Nature activities While the valley offers panoramic views looking up at the mountains, nothing beats the view of the valley and the surrounding landscape from the top of the iconic mountain Innerdalstårnet. Rising over 1,400 metres above sea level, the 4.2-kilometre hike up takes around seven hours and is well worth the climb. A lesser known trail, but also boasting impressive views, is the easier walk up Renndalskammen, the ridge across the valley from Innerdalstårnet. The locals consider the panoramic view even more spectacular as you face the iconic mountain. Mountain climbers have frequented the valley for years. Other mountains include
Store Trolla, the highest in the Trollheimen mountain range at 1,850 metres, and Skarfjellet which reaches 1,790 metres above sea level. Glacier hiking is also popular on Kongskrona mountain’s Vinnufonna glacier. Luckily, there are numerous other nature trails and hikes that suit all levels of experience, making the area a truly family-friendly destination. “The beauty of Innerdalen is special,” Opdøl concludes. “It is definitely a place that should be experienced.” Indeed, remain thankful to Øystein Opdøl’s foresight that made Innerdalen a nature reserve to be enjoyed by generations to come. Innerdalen is located in the western part of Norway in Møre og Romsdal. As Norway’s oldest nature reserve, covering over 73 square kilometres, the rugged mountains that frame this picturesque valley offer excellent hiking and mountain climbing.
For more information, please visit: www.innerdalen.com
Photo: Per Kvalvik
Photo: Lars Andreas Dybvik
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 47
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norway’s Best Farm Experiences
The farm of Søya is named after the female sheep (translating as ‘the Ewe’).
Living off the lamb Ever since the Iron Age, grazing sheep have shaped the cultural landscape of western Norway. At the open farm of Søya, a hard-working couple is dedicated to preserving this tradition for future generations. By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Knut Vindfallet, Søya
Close your eyes and picture a farm. What do you see? Probably a house with a barn, a few chickens strutting around the yard and cattle and sheep eating grass in the sun. At Søya, a farm located a mere half hour’s drive from Stavanger, this vision is a daily reality. “We are the eighth generation running the farm,” explains Anne-Karin Søyland. Together with her husband, Søyland has been welcoming visitors to Søya for almost two decades. She finds it essential to strike the right balance between farming and tourism. “The cattle and sheep are our livelihood. We want to share our experiences and traditions without threatening the sustainability of the farm itself,” she says. Every sunday and by request, young and old alike take part in the living farm, 48 | Issue 89 | June 2016
sitauted at an altitude of 300 metres above sea level. Guests are offered a variety of local delicacies, such as honey and coffee, as well as clothes, handicrafts and art. The local breed of sheep, Spælsau, is essential to many of the products. The breed, also called Jærnaldersuen (the Iron Age sheep), has been used in Norway since the Iron Age and still makes the basis for food, wool, sheepskin and decorations at Søya. “Jærnaldersauen gives delicious meat, since it’s raised both on pasture and out in the wild. Our animals have plenty of space and live free, happy lives,” Søyland points out. Because the ewe are so watchful and active, the lambs can be left outside the whole summer. “They are very good mothers, which is important since we’ve had some problems with hungry eagles catching lambs.”
The guest cabins connected to Søya are named after the eagles in the area. Ørnehuset (the Eagle’s House) is made up of four cabins, well suited for groups seeking peace and quiet. Within walking distance of both a fishing lake and a mountain top, Ørnehuset is a natural starting point for hiking in the open cultural landscape crafted by sheep and centuries of tradition.
For more information, please visit: www.soeya.no
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norway’s Best Farm Experiences
An animal lover’s dream With more than 130 cattle roaming the farm, in addition to mini pigs, ponies, goats, cats, rabbits and more, Snippen Gård is a visitor’s farm particularly for animal lovers. While many stick to cuddling the cute creatures, some head for the fishing pond where wild trout are known to have grown large. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Snippen Gård
Idyllically located about an hour and a half north of Oslo, Snippen Gård welcomes families who fancy a day off from stress and noise to be with the animals. “The only sound you will hear here are the pigs snorting,” says owner and farmer Ole Magnus Triumf. Together with his partner, Maria Louise Keskitalo, he has run the visitor’s farm for the past two years, during which they have transformed it into a child’s animal dream. While cattle occupy the main area, other animals such as rabbits, ponies and goats roam the farm yard. Here families can join in feeding the animals, riding those that can be ridden, and not least join the farmers on a ride on tractor Gråtassen. “That is a highlight for many a child, as well as the odd parent,” Triumf smiles.
While visitors are important to Triumf, the main purpose of the farm remains the actual farming. Thus visitors get a true experience of an operational farm in action. “We want to give everyone the opportunity to spend time with animals and see what life on a farm is really like. As people increasingly move into towns and cities, many have never been around a cow or a goat before,” Triumf says.
One of the main attractions, however, is undoubtedly the fishing pond, where rumour has it more than a few big fish have been caught. “Some have definitely had their fishing luck certified in this pond,” Triumf asserts. Snippen Gård is open to the public all through the summer, with weekend opening hours during autumn. It is easily accessible by car from both Oslo and Oslo Airport, and only 40 minutes from the popular ski resort Trysil. For more information and to book, please visit: www.snippen.no
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 49
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norway’s Best Guest Farm
Main image: The lambs are very cuddly. Top right: Baking bread the old way. Below right: How to cross bridges in the Tarzan Park.
Learn to take on the world with a farm holiday Sometimes a holiday can be the best time to learn, particularly when it involves feeding animals, cutting sheep wool and ziplining. Families come to Aarholt-tunet Gjestegård for relaxing farm holidays, but often leave feeling ready to take on any challenge. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Aarholt-tunet Gjestegård
Over five weeks every summer Aarholttunet Gjestegård, a holiday farm in southern Norway, welcomes families from more metropolitan areas to enjoy a week as a farmer. While life on a farm was perfectly normal for most Norwegians generations ago, today farm holidays have shot through the roof as the preferred way to relax. “At the farm the family doesn’t just spend time together, but they actually see each other. Most put away their phones and computers and simply take in the experience together,” says owner and 13th generation farmer Svein Aarholt.
activities are organised for all to join in on, be it cutting sheep wool, baking bread or climbing.”
“Many come back year after year, as the children want to go back to ‘their farm’,” he continues. “Families come here to escape the stress of the city, and not least to be together as a family. All
The recurrent theme is creating a feeling of mastering a skill, whether through feeding the animals, climbing or, at a more personal level, learning how to maintain and nurture a personal rela-
50 | Issue 89 | June 2016
tionship. “We offer couple’s workshops during the winter, supporting couples in learning to listen and communicate better, and not least to handle conflicts and arguments in a better way,” Aarholt explains. “It is by no means couple’s therapy, but a far more humorous alternative.” Aarholt-tunet Gjestegård is idyllically located about one and a half hours southwest of Oslo, and is easily reachable by car.
The farm takes up to 14 families at a time, creating an intimate atmosphere where they eat and play together. Every family has a self-serviced flat or room, but most time is spent together outdoors. “There are plenty of activities all day every day, and we wish to teach adults as well as children that they ‘can do it’,” Aarholt says, adding that each family is responsible for looking after an animal throughout the week. The families live in old timber buildings.
For more information and to book, please visit: www.aarholt-tunet.no
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Sport, adrenaline and heavenly nature Located in an area renowned for its beautiful forests and beaches, Idrætshøjskolen in Sønderborg (IHS) is the ideal folk high school for anyone looking for exhilarating experiences in blissful surroundings. The school, which offers a diverse range of courses in sports, such as kite surfing, adventure racing and beach volleyball, attracts young athletes of all levels and interests. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Idrætshøjskolen in Sønderborg
Situated on approximately 13 hectares of beautiful parkland on the Sønderborg Bay, IHS is just a short walk from the beach where the school’s many aquatic activities such as surfing, sailing and 52 | Issue 89 | June 2016
kayaking take place. Sønderskoven, a large forest where students can take part in cross training, triathlon training and running, is also just one kilometre away. “Close to the sea, the forest and
the town of Sønderborg, IHS is probably Denmark’s most beautifully located folk high school,” says school principal Michael Willemar. It is not just the school’s fortunate location that attracts students from all over Denmark. Founded as a traditional folk high school in 1952, IHS is built on strong values and ambitions. The school aims not only to develop and further students’ skills within their chosen sport but also, through the sport and
IHS offers both long courses, lasting between nine and 42 weeks, and short one-week courses. The long courses, which include adventure, ski and snowboarding, and team building, are typically attended by young adults aged 18-25 and also include an international class. The week-long courses typically appeal to a more mature audience.
Thrills and chills IHS offers an unmatched range of outdoor sports for those who love the thrill of working with and against nature’s forces. Among the school’s most popular subjects is kite surfing, and with 200 kilometres of coastline and a nearby cable park the conditions for this awe-inspiring sport are perfect. With Denmark’s largest beach volleyball compound, IHS also provides excellent settings for students who want to develop their skills within this sport no matter what level they are starting at. “With our beach volley instructor, Peter Lyø, a former player on the Danish national team and one of the country’s best trainers, students are guaranteed a strong team experience and room for everyone to improve and progress,” says Willemar.
Main image: Situated on approximately 13 hectares of beautiful parkland on the Sønderborg Bay, Idrætshøjskolen in Sønderborg (IHS) is one of the most ideally located Danish schools for outdoor sports. Bottom right: IHS offers an array of aquatic activities such as kayaking, diving and kite surfing.
the school’s strong sense of community, to allow the individual student to grow and develop as a person. Teamwork, friendship and personal development have been at the heart of the school since the beginning. “Sports are used as a platform for personal growth and professional development as well as an aid in developing your social relationships. Through our coaching tactics, we develop the students’ drive, and with the use of focused sports and training we compel the students to foresee, judge, decide and determine who they wish to be and become,” explains the principal. Issue 89 | June 2016 | 53
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | A Danish Educational Top Three
Adventure racing is another sport that has increased in popularity over the last year and for which IHS offers top-notch facilities including a brand new highrope trail. “The combination of multiple disciplines such as mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, running, orienteering and not least team building has attributed to making adventure racing very popular,” explains Willemar, adding: “It’s all about teamwork, optimising your skills as a group and unique outdoor experiences.”
An international perspective Even though IHS has spectacular surroundings and settings for outdoor sports, there are some experiences that can only be fully explored by travelling abroad. One of them is skiing and, every spring, IHS takes all students on a threeweek skiing and snowboarding course at a top European skiing destination. This is not the only international experience offered. Every year all students also visit Zanzibar and Tanzania for a twoweek formative trip where they explore the African culture, nature and society. The trip, just as the rest of the school 54 | Issue 89 | June 2016
experience, is all about giving students a chance to develop and mature while creating memories for life, explains Willemar. “Our strong focus on solidarity and teamwork gives each student the chance to develop individually while strengthening their social relationships and skills. It’s a chance to develop life-long friendships and get to know yourself better.” School reunions and
FACTS ABOUT THE SCHOOL: Location: IHS is located on the Sønderborg Bay, close to the beach and forest and a 15-minute walk from the town of Sønderborg. Accommodation: Students live in shared rooms – two and two together – on the school campus. Number of students: Approximately 130 Age group: 18-25 Long courses: Teambuilding, sports and events, skiing and snowboarding. Subjects: Adventure, kite surfing, IHS 360, fitness instructor, volleyball, aerobics, beach volley, sailing, triathlon, diving, sports massage, shoot and eat, street art,
annual gatherings contribute to helping students maintain the friendships they form during their time at IHS. Above: Every spring all students at IHS travel to a top European ski destination for a three-week ski and snowboard course.
For more information, please visit: www.ihs.dk
creative workshop, Strictly Come Dancing, musicals, handball, windsurfing, street performance, in the water, fitness performance, high intensity, football, beach games, MTB, sports manager, coaching and personal development, life values, around politics, body and culture. Short courses: Dance, golf and family courses. Special facilities: Aerobics and gymnastics hall, beach, beach volley, mountain bike track, football field, convention hall, park golf and Frisbee golf course, sports hall, creative workshop, indoor and outdoor climbing walls, music room, petanque court, surfing and sailing facilities, swimming pool, fitness centre.
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | A Danish Educational Top Three
A modern school for ambitious students Professionalism, curiosity and unity are the keywords of the high school based in the heart of Jutland. Whether you are interested in science, language, agriculture or drawing, you will find exactly what suits you at Viborg Gymnasium & HF. By Mette Hindkjær Madsen | Photos: Niclas Jessen
15 might seem like a tender age in terms of choosing a subject of specialisation for your studies, but the decision is paramount in setting you off on the right path and determining what you will be able to do after you put that mortarboard hat on when you graduate. Viborg Gymnasium & HF offers a range of subjects to focus on while going through your upper secondary school education (gymnasium and higher preparatory studies), with a particular pedagogical approach throughout it all. “We care about creating an inspiring community committed to learning. The students are aware that we have expectations of them while they’re also allowed to expect something from us,” explains principal Mads Bendix Fjendsbo. “Working towards making the students as skilled as they can possibly be, we focus on their work process by giving them open and honest feedback through written and oral evaluations, rather than grading every paper they
hand in. With this approach, we’re trying to create a safe learning environment – sort of like on a football pitch where you need to dare to make mistakes to figure out what works.” The school works in close cooperation with local partners and institutions. The school also offers a unique ‘Visual HF’ for students who want to combine an exam with an interest in drawing and being creative. The aim is to prepare them for further education within creative fields, through in-depth animation workshops, for instance. With a great span of interests comes an even greater span of people, making the environment at Viborg Gymnasium & HF as open and vibrant as any student could hope for to make amazing memories during some of the most important years of their life. “We have worked with and enabled excellent students over the years, and it is our aim to do exactly that,” ends Fjendsbo.
Viborg Gymnasium & HF offers four different study options: STX, EUX, HF and Visual HF. The school houses over a thousand students who have the pleasure of working in a modern architectural piece courtesy of Friis & Moltke.
For more information, please visit: www.vghf.dk
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 55
Scan Magazine | Educational profile | Grenaa Gymnasium
Meet and study the world in safe, familiar settings Located on the very tip of Djursland, the protruding middle part of Jutland, Grenaa Gymnasium has made a defining decision to look outwards rather than inwards. Offering an International Baccalaureate (IB) and a small and inclusive boarding milieu as well as a number of global initiatives, the school attracts students with international ambitions from both home and abroad. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Grenaa Gymnasium
Headed by principal Helene Bendorff Kristensen, a former IB coordinator, there is no doubt that Grenaa Gymnasium is serious about its international initiatives. Since initiating its IB course in 2003, the school has also become a member of Globale Gymnasier (Global High Schools), a Danish network of schools 56 | Issue 89 | June 2016
that cooperate to empower students to become active learners with a global horizon. This means that both the school’s day students, who typically live in the local area, and the boarding students, many of whom are expat Danes or international students, are encouraged to engage in global activities and courses. “Our IB
programme was founded by our previous principal, who was very keen to explore how we could bring the surrounding world into our small provincial hometown and encourage our students to gain a broader outlook,” says Kristensen. “The school had already incorporated a number of international initiatives before then, but in 2003 we got the full IB and, since then, the international focus has grown stronger and stronger.” Grenaa Gymnasium has now become a member of Globale Gymnasier, which means they have a range of international activities not just on the IB course but also on the Danish courses.
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | A Danish Educational Top Three
Out of Grenaa Gymnasium’s 650 students, 140 are enrolled on the IB programme, where all subjects are taught in English. Another line of study on the Danish STX programme specialises in global studies, a social sciences course taught in Danish but focusing on global relations.
Different cultures One of the advantages of attending a school such as Grenaa Gymnasium, which attracts students from all over the world, is that it provides not only a theoretical but also a practical understanding of international relations. Students get first-hand experience of the meeting of different cultures and the connection between global and local issues. “We have boarding students from all over the world. A lot of young expat Danes choose to return to Denmark to get an international education, which they can use all over the world and, at the same
time, get reacquainted with Denmark and Danish culture. But we also have international students from other European countries who come here to do their IB – many because they’ve heard that Denmark is a country with a good educational system,” explains Kristensen and adds: “Finally, there are also many locals who choose our regular STX programmes because of the school’s global focus and extra-curricular courses.” Students also get to explore different cultures and societies through regular trips to, and visits from, schools in the US, Kenya, Spain and China. International politics is studied via enactments of reallife situations such as debates and model UN roleplays based on the procedures of international institutions.
A safe, healthy base to explore from The majority of Grenaa Gymnasium’s international students live in the school’s
boarding halls, which house around 110 students in total. “During the last few years more and more schools have chosen to establish an IB programme, but what gives us an edge is that we have a great boarding school, where students are given the possibility of taking an active part in the decision making through a boarding school council. Also, Grenaa Gymnasium is a relatively small school, and that means that everybody knows everybody – it’s a safe setting in which everyone is noticed and no one feels neglected,” stresses Kristensen. Another essential aspect of life at the school is the focus on physical health and wellbeing, which manifests itself on the IB programme especially in the sports science course but also saturates the rest of the school. Grenaa Gymnasium can thus provide a both safe and healthy base from which to explore, meet and study the rest of the world.
GRENAA GYMNASIUM AT A GLANCE Location: Grenaa Gymnasium is located in Grenaa, a seaside town of around 15,000 inhabitants on the tip of Djursland, about 60 kilometres from Aarhus and 20 kilometres from Aarhus Airport in Tirstrup. Number of students: 650 (110 boarding students) Courses: HTX, HF and IB Accommodation: Boarding students live in their own private rooms Founded in: 1961
For more information, please visit: www.grenaa-gym.dk
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 57
Scan Magazine | Attractiones of the Month | Denmark
Attraction of the Month, Denmark
The best campsite in Denmark Hasmark Strand Camping has something for everyone. Depending on the weather, you can enjoy either the indoor or outdoor pool, one of the most child-friendly beaches on Funen or just relax in Valhalla, the campsite’s assembly hall. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Hasmark Strand Camping
If you are planning this year’s summer holiday and want to take your family to a place with endless activities for the children as well as a cosy atmosphere, you should consider Hasmark Strand Camping, which has twice been voted the best campsite in Denmark. “The fact that it is our campers who have voted for us means everything. It doesn’t matter whether you are a five-star camping site or not if the guests aren’t satisfied with their stay. That’s why we try to do everything to make sure that the people who come here have a time worth 58 | Issue 89 | June 2016
remembering,” says Mette Skifter who, together with her husband Lars, owns Hasmark Strand Camping. The site can host over 2,000 guests per night, and last year they had over 100,000 overnight stays. The guests are mainly from Denmark but come from all of Scandinavia as well as Germany and the Netherlands. “I think what makes us so popular is the fact that we are more than just a huge camping site. Both Lars and I like to be very involved in what’s going on at the site, so if we have a party we will eat together with the guests or help out
in the bar. When we have a bonfire, Lars will sit down and play the guitar. During the summer time, we never go to bed before we have walked around the site to make sure that everybody is having a good time,” says Skifter.
The guests keep coming back Even though there are countless campsites all over Denmark, many of the guests at Hasmark Strand Camping return to the site year after year. According to Skifter, it has something to do with the relaxed and easy-going atmosphere at the site. “I remember once meeting a parent who I knew had been here with his family for the last four years, and I asked him: ‘Why do you keep coming back?’ He said: ‘Mette, I only have one holiday a year, and I’ve only got so much money to spend on it. If we have a bad holiday,
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
we can’t have another go. Here, I know we are guaranteed a good experience.’ That’s the greatest recognition you can get,” Skifter says. With the often unreliable Danish summer weather, Hasmark Strand Camping also benefits from the possibility to host all its activities indoor. The magician shows and karaoke contests can be held inside, and even though the weather prevents you from going to the beach, you can still enjoy your everyday swim. “We are one of the only sites in Denmark with both an indoor and an outdoor heated pool. So whenever it’s pouring down or just a bit cloudy, you have the option to go to our indoor water park, where the temperature is always 31 degrees,” Skifter explains.
Room for everyone Hasmark Strand Camping is also a good place to bring your best friend. All cabins and other accommodation options allow dogs, and there is plenty of space for your dog to run around. The site is located next to Otterup, a city where numerous Viking remnants have been discovered, and as such it was only natural to give the campsite a Viking theme. For instance, the large playground was built as a Viking ship and Nordic mythology has also inspired the wellness department, Norne. “It was a way to make it a bit authentic and also make us stand out from the crowd,” says Skifter, adding: “But don’t worry, just because we have a Viking theme, that doesn’t mean you have to wear Viking clothes and turn off your mobile. All our activities take place near the reception and common area, so if you want a break from all the fun and games, you have the opportunity to escape. We understand that people come here for different reasons, and we just want to do our best to make sure that they all have a good time and want to come back again.”
For more information, please visit: www.hasmark.dk
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 59
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Finland
Attraction of the Month, Finland By Ndéla Faye
The enchanted forest
Rokua UNESCO Global Geopark showcases Finland’s nature at its best. From swimming in kettle holes shaped by the last Ice Age, to exploring unique geology and untouched forests, the park offers visitors a one-of-a-kind experience. Located in the province of North Ostrobothnia, Rokua Geopark is part of a larger area comprising of Oulujokilaakso, Oulujärvi and Rokua, included in UNESCO’s global Geopark network. The aim of geoparks is to showcase and preserve geological and cultural heritage sites around the world. “Sustainable development is extremely important to us: we promote local services and products offered by the businesses located in the Geopark,” says Vesa Krökki, Rokua Geopark’s executive director. The park is suitable for the whole family, and there are a number of family-friendly walking trails and activities on offer: from swimming, mountain biking, canoeing and hiking in the summertime to diving under ice, dog sledding, ice fishing and crosscountry skiing in the winter. “Diving under
ice is a special experience that we offer: the water in Rokua’s lakes is so clear that the conditions are ideal for diving in the summer and even more so in the winter,” adds Krökki. The park is also home to a range of wildlife, including golden eagles that visitors can go photograph on guided tours. “We’re primarily an Ice Age Geopark, but the area also has amongst the oldest bedrock in Europe, some of it dating as far back as 2.7 billion years,” Krökki explains. Rokua bears the remnants of a prehistoric time – and the area’s unique flora and fauna, long summers and winters and Finnish traditions only add to the park’s charm.
Photo: Visit Oulu
Photo: Hannu Kivelä
Photo: Henri Luoma
For more information, please visit: www.rokuageopark.fi
Everyone deserves to enjoy the journey. Our two Superferries sail by day or overnight from Harwich to the Hook of Holland - the most direct route to Holland by ferry from the south of England. Enjoy superb onboard facilities including two stylish restaurants and bars, a blockbuster cinema, luxurious en-suite cabins and our first class Stena Plus lounge.
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Book at stenaline.co.uk or call 08447 70 70 70 *£10 service fee applies to all bookings made by telephone. Subject to availability and restricted space. For full terms and conditions visit www.stenaline.co.uk
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
Attraction of the Month, Norway
A theatre travelling to a stage near you While touring theatres have been around a lifetime or two, few have travelled to the nooks and corners in the same way as Nord-Trøndelag Teater. Touring the Trøndelag Region, they play at culture houses and gymnastic halls with equal focus on good stories and strong performances. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Nord-Trøndelag Teater
With the mantra that they will go where the people are, Nord-Trøndelag Teater plays in villages of 500 people as well as at big venues. Whether playing at culture houses or in a school, they always bring innovative and entertaining plays, often reflecting the society in which they perform. “We play what and where people want us to. Throughout a year we have a range of plays that cater to most interests and ages,” says market manager Jorunn Verstad Vodahl. The winter season sees two striking performances, starting with Snåsamannens sang in October. A collaboration with Riksteatret and Teater Ibsen, it is based on the true story of the phenomenon
Nord Trøndelag is conveniently located close to Trondheim airport in Værnes, with numerous international flights to London, Amsterdam and Copenhagen as well as flights to other parts of Norway. For the drivers, it takes about an hour and a half to drive from central Trondheim.
Snåsamannen, a man widely known for his supposed psychic powers. The second show is Snøhula, a brand new family musical that premieres in November. “These are very different performances, in terms of both topic and target audience, but both illustrate how creative this industry is while also touching on real-life societal issues,” Verstad Vodahl says. While the theatre will continue its travels, they are happy to announce the opening of a permanent theatre in Verdal from 2017. “It is a very welcomed addition, which allows the theatre to maintain the quantity and quality of the productions – but we will of course continue touring,” Verstad Vodahl smiles.
For inspiration and to see where the theatre is performing next, please visit: www.nordtrondelagteater.no
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 61
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N O I G l T : LA A cia E e Y IN A ND Sp T S RW RØ E D NO E T m
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Photo: Petra Sestak
Photo: Sigbjørn Frengen
Photo: Marius Rua
Trøndelag – the historic centre of Norway Trøndelag is a perfect base for experiencing nature, culture and Norway’s exciting history. Let the fishing villages and local delicacies sweep you off your feet. By Trøndelag Reiseliv
A visit to Trøndelag is not complete without a visit to Røros, a UNESCO World Heritage. Røros is well known for its vibrant arts environment and cosy restaurants. Join one of the local food safaris where you can look behind the scenes, meet locals and taste local specialties.
Sleeping next to the bears At Namsskogan Wildlife Park you get close to more than 30 species that are native to the Nordic countries. Enjoy studying bears, wolves and lynx, as well as moose. Sleeping next to the bears is an unquestionably unique experience.
On safari in Trøndelag Safaris offer wonderful natural spectacles and close encounters with ani62 | Issue 89 | June 2016
food festival welcomes you to a festive weekend from 31 July to 2 August, coinciding with the St. Olav’s Festival.
Foodie haven mals. On safari in Trøndelag you may see everything from eagles and seals, to musk oxen and elk.
Coastal culture Fishing villages, fresh seafood and various excursions make for an active holiday adventure. Join a RIB boat safari or a kayak excursion. Do not miss the coolest beach bar of the region: Stokkøya Sjøsenter. Top tip: get to know the Norwegian coastal culture through a historic walk around the museum of Norveg in Rørvik.
What is on in Trondheim Whether you like rock, classical music, jazz or blues, you will find something to suit your taste in Trøndelag. Trøndersk Food Festival, Norway’s biggest local
There has been an explosion in smallscale food producers in the region who specialise in conjuring up delicacies provided by both sea and land. There are also several local breweries, each lovingly producing local craft beers. Top tip: visit local farms on the Golden Road north of Trondheim.
How to get there Trøndelag is easy to get to whether you travel by plane, car, bus, train or boat. Trondheim is the ideal starting point – you can easily reach most of the attractions within two and a half hours. For more information, please visit: www.trondelag.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Destination Norway: Experience Trøndelag
Top left: The iconic Strandbaren (the Beach bar). Photo: CH. Below left: You have not had mussels unless you have tried the mussels at Stokkøya. Photo: Stokkøya Sjøsenter. Right: Stokkøya Sjøsenter is a lovely place also during winter, here with the dancing northern lights above. Photo: Arve Svenning.
When dreams come true Most people react the same way when experiencing Stokkøya Sjøsenter for the first time – with a big gasp and wide eyes as they dive into the fantastic seafood on offer and open the doors to the stunning huts. By Helene Toftner
As the saying famously goes, a picture says more than a thousand words. While that is often times an exaggeration, it certainly is not in regards to Stokkøya Sjøsenter. The venue is idyllically located on an island west of Trondheim, next to a white sandy beach reminiscent of the Caribbean. However, what will first catch your attention is the distinctive, colourful architecture that smoothly blends into the environment. “Everything we do has its base in nature, be it design, food or activities,” says owner Torild Langklopp. Together with her husband she opened the doors to the establishment ten years ago, to much celebration from the local community as well as international travel magazines. For as much as this is an architectural pearl, it is also a foodie’s dream. As some people say, if you have not had mussels at Stokkøya you have
not really had mussels at all. “We serve mussels from morning to evening at the beach bar,” Langklopp explains. Stokkøya Sjøsenter offers an impressive mix that suits all tastes and budgets, including camping spaces, hotel rooms and more luxurious huts. “We want it to be a place for everyone who appreciates food and design, regardless of budget,” says Langklopp. While a popular destination for leisure travellers, the destination also caters to the events and meetings industry and organisations looking for a venue out of the ordinary. With the opening of the large conference facility Bygdeboksen just down the road, they can cater to small as well as large groups. “It’s a stunning building,” says Langklopp, “with a continuing focus on interesting architecture.”
It is easy to be blinded by the fantastic photos and smell of fresh seafood, but do not miss the wide offering of concerts hosted at the venue. “This summer we even have Trondheim Symphony Orchestra playing,” says Langklopp excitedly. Stokkøya Sjøsenter is located around one hour west of Trondheim and is best reached by car.
UPCOMING EVENTS: 26 August: Oakland Rain at the Beach Bar. 27 August: Trondheim Symphony Orchestra in Bygdeboksen. 23-24 September: Ida Jenshus at the Beach Bar. 15 October: Rasmus Rohde at the Beach Bar.
For more information and enquiries, please visit: www.stokkoy.no
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 63
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Destination Norway: Experience Trøndelag
Photo: Steinar Johansen
Salmon at the centre of history Gaula Nature Centre, located at Støren by Gaula river, opened in 1996 and acts as a one-stop shop for all tourists wanting to plan a holiday in the area. This includes fishing, accommodation and guided tours. By Pernille Johnsen
The centre provides tourist information for the district while also supporting development for the villages. Most prominently, it manages the salmon in Gaula and houses an exhibition about life alongside the river, displaying 60 kinds of wild species in their element. The exhibition also hosts a screen room displaying salmon in different stages of their life cycle, a source of interest for all age groups. Another fascinating aspect of the exhibition is the historical explanation of old fishing equipment from Gaula, a visual demonstration of how times have changed.
A rich cultural history Gaula is arguably one of the most fruitful salmon rivers in Norway, with 20 to 50 tonnes of salmon being fished in and 64 | Issue 89 | June 2016
around Gaula every year. It was an important source of income and sustenance for the population until the 1800s. Around 1820, wealthy Englishmen arrived to take advantage of the useful waters, as Gaula had reached acclaim abroad as a premier destination for salmon. This resulted in an economic upswing for the district as the Englishmen hired local staff to aid with the salmon acquisition, while local landowners rented out fishing lots. This time was later referred to as the golden age for Gaula, and the economic advantage resulted in farms being expanded and overall growth in the village society. The official summer season launched on 31 May and Gaula Nature Centre is open all summer to cater to visitors’ needs and requests. Extensive information about the rules applying to visiting fishermen is
available online, as are advice and suggestions for the best fishing experiences. A popular tour of the area is the combination of salmon fishing with a visit to the Forollhogna National Park where reindeer roam free. Atlantic salmon, in the rivers in and around Gaula, is available for fishing from 1 June until 31 August. Photo: Trønderbladet
For more information, please visit: www.gaula.no
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Destination Norway: Experience Trøndelag
Fascination for design and decorative arts The Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum (National Museum of Decorative Arts and Design) in Trondheim has much to offer those curious about the development of Scandinavian design, displaying national and international decorative arts and design across three floors. By Marte Eide
“Our collection covers a broad spectrum,” says director Åshild Adsen. “The museum is always expanding and developing the collections.” Founded in 1893, the museum has a rich history and an authentic feel to it, with some of the room interior designed by one of the founders of Art Nouveau, Henry van de Velde. Two of the floors have permanent exhibitions, amongst them a collection of art from Japan, design furniture from the 1600s and the development of the increasingly popular genre of Scandinavian design. “We also focus heavily on sustainable design,” says Adsen. “We have a lot of faith in Norwegian design and craft.” This summer the work of textile artist Hannah Ryggen, recognised as one of the
most important Scandinavian artists of the 20th century, is back at the museum after being on loan to several international institutions. The museum owns the world’s biggest collection of her work. The museum’s most important objective is to ensure that guests enjoy their visit, “and maybe learn a thing or two while digesting the aesthetic and artistic impressions,” Adsen adds. With a variety of tours, seminars, workshops, poetry nights, book releases and concerts, Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum have several legs to stand on. “We are interested in seeing what our audience has seen and experienced, which is often expressed through social media,” says Adsen. Visitors of all ages appreciate the variety of the museum’s collections, containing
Photo: Harald Solberg
about 30,000 pieces. “We wish to welcome the whole family, which is why all children under 18 will go for free,” says Adsen.
For more information, please visit: www.nkim.no/en
Explore the ocean your way At Einvika Accommodation and Ocean Fishing, you can create the fishing trip of your dreams with the help of local expertise. And, if you are lucky, you might even spot eagles and whales. By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Einvika Accommodation and Ocean Fishing
Einvika Accommodation and Ocean Fishing, located in Flatanger municipality on the western coast of Norway, was once a local commercial centre consisting of a general store and fish depot. Newly renovated to accommodate tourists, Einvika is adapting to new realities to keep the local connection with the sea alive. “We tailor ocean fishing to the customers’ needs and take them to the best fishing spots,” says owner Reidar Einvik. He wants everyone to explore the ocean in their own way and highlights that there are many ways of doing it. “You can hire your own boat and sail around, or join us on our 37-foot fishing boat on a guided tour to the unique lighthouse Villa Fyr,” he explains enthusiastically.
In addition to helping you with ocean fishing, Einvik can take you scuba diving, ocean rafting, or to various beaches on islands off the coast. If you are lucky, you might see some spectacular animals too. “It’s possible to encounter both sea eagles and whales in the area,” Einvik says. If you want to throw a party or host a conference for your company, that is also possible. Einvika Accommodation and Ocean Fishing can provide accommodation for up to 55 guests in apartments with wellequipped kitchens, showers and toilets. For more information, please visit: www.einvika.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Destination Norway: Experience Trøndelag
Left: Visitors can try lasso throwing. Above right: Antlers and other artefacts are on display at the museum. Below right: Kids can interact with a wooden replica.
The people of eight seasons Saemien Sijte, the Southern Sami Museum and Culture Centre is an important meeting place for anyone interested in Sami life and culture. By Pernille Johnsen | Photos: The Southern Sami Museum and Culture Centre
The Sami are the only indigenous people of Scandinavia and thus the northernmost indigenous people of Europe. Strengthening the understanding of Sami culture and history, which is a significant part of Norwegian identity, is the primary objective for the museum in Snåsa. The museum covers four counties and has the national responsibility for the south Sami cultural heritage.
Eight seasons The museum is open all summer and is a great destination for visitors of all ages, including families with children. Activities range from a Sami wood shop exhibition to lasso throwing, and visitors can test drive a wooden snowmobile. “Sami culture is passed on by oral tradition, so every visitor will have ample time with a knowledgeable guide on a tour with the chance to ask questions,” explains Susanne Lyngman, curator of the museum. 66 | Issue 89 | June 2016
The museum hosts screenings of Åtte årstidenes folk (The People of Eight Seasons), an animated film serving as an introduction to Sami life. “The work involved in keeping reindeer is divided into eight distinct sections of the year,” Lyngman continues. The film is screened in a traditional ‘Gamme’, a type of hut complete with a fire, daily at the museum. Reindeer make an important part of Sami culture and the animals roam free throughout the year. The reindeer meat is one of the healthiest meats, proteinpacked and low in fat, containing plenty of vitamin C as well as minerals and far less heavy metals than other types of meat.
celebration is already well underway in terms of planning, and visitors can expect a wide range of events. Saemien Sijte will arrange a festival, Tjaktjen Tjåanghkoe, in September 2017 in Snåsa. The Centre hosts a number of events, ranging from an annual celebration of the Sami people on 6 February, to meetings, courses and several theatre productions. For every new exhibition there is an opening ceremony, and the museum continuously reinvents itself by putting on four or five new exhibitions every year. There is a great deal to show and tell about Sami culture, so the exhibitions cover a wide range of fascinating subjects.
100th anniversary 2017 is an important year in Sami and Norwegian history. It is the 100th anniversary of the first Sami gathering, which took place in Trondheim. The
For more information, please visit: saemiensijte.no
Guided Tours TRONDHEIM Discover the local nature experience
DAY HIKES | SLEEP-OUTS | CUSTOM TOURS www.naturetours.no
info@naturetours.no | +47 936 32 950
Scan Magazine | Business | Keynote
Scan Business Keynote 68 | Business Profile 69 | Meet Carl Waldekranz 70 | Business Calendar 72 | Enterprise Spotlight - Denmark & Finland 74
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Your other CV By Steve Flinders
While French students demonstrate in Paris to maintain the bureaucratic and over-regulated system that stops them from getting jobs (unemployment in France is over ten per cent; the labour code is longer than the Bible), an old American friend of mine in Paris is now volunteering to help unemployed people write their CVs. He tells his clients not to go over one side of paper, and tries to find out what really makes them different from everyone else. Since this is rarely evident in a conventional CV, he asks them what other jobs they’ve done and what they learnt from these. He says that people then often reveal qualities of leadership, courage and initiative that are completely absent from their official CVs. This chimes with my own experience as a recruiter. During one memorable job interview we discovered that our candidate wrote poetry. Asked to recite something of his, we were treated to a spellbinding performance and gave him the job without further ado. In another, I learnt that my applicant liked reading philosophy. Asked to explain a problem I didn’t understand, he did so with a clarity that revealed another special talent. I never regretted either appointment. 68 | Issue 89 | June 2016
My American friend’s advice led me to think about my own alternative CV and I ended up with a list of around 20 other jobs, including newspaper boy, baby sitter, car cleaner, postal worker, betting shop assistant, migrant and ex-offender literacy teacher, removals man, waiter, fisherman, farm worker, construction worker, tea trolley assistant and book cataloguer. The activity made me think about what I had learnt from these experiences, including the awful and em-
barrassing mistakes I learnt from. I am going to try to put my real story into a one-page, cliché-free CV. You might find it an interesting exercise too.
Steve Flinders is a freelance trainer, writer and coach, based in Malta, who helps people develop their communication and leadership skills for working internationally: steveflind@aol.com.
Scan Magazine | Business Profile | SCA Hygiene Products AS
Revolutionising care for increased quality of life Revolutionising the charting of urine incontinence, TENA Identifi launched in 2014, developed to outline the frequency and proportion of urine void by the use of 3G technology to further help increase the quality of care and individual support. By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: SCA Hygiene
The diaper technology was developed by SCA Hygiene Products with technological help from the Norwegian-based company Simpro. It is equipped with electronic sensors connected to the internet via 3G, and accordingly creates information regarding the exact time and amount of leakage. The information is subsequently gathered in a report which in detail outlines the person’s help requirements, contributing to the provision of better individual care for the person and furthermore helping to improve elderly care and routines in nursing homes. “Our innovation will make the care process significantly less time consuming as well as less resource demanding by simplifying the everyday aspects for care takers, nurses and people with urine incontinence,” says Gisle Christensen, commercial director at SCA Hygiene
Products AS in Norway. “The use of welfare technology can enhance the quality of future elderly care and improve the quality of life for many people.” Implemented in order to better handle the demographic challenges, considering the increasing number of the elderly in the population, SCA’s innovation is groundbreaking in its focus on welfare technology within urinary incontinence. The results of trial launches in Denmark and Canada have shown important improvements in several areas, most significantly the improved and personally customised care, leading to increased quality of life, better toilet routines and better utilisation of resources. By March this year, customers were using TENA Identifi across Norway. Several tests have been carried out in and around the Oslo area that are being evaluated right now.
“Our main aim is to continue to explore the possibilities of technological aid to help our clients provide much better care for people in need of incontinence treatment. This product will help identify specific needs and consequently help people struggling with incontinence to receive a more adapted protection and be able to go to the toilet when needed, which, successively, will affect the person’s quality of life in a positive way,” Christensen explains. “Furthermore, the working environment for the care takers and administrators in the health sector will be boosted as well, producing less waste and experiencing decreased financial cost, which will provide them with the opportunity to use their resources in a better and more efficient way,” says Christensen.
For more information, please visit: www.sca.com
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 69
Take first things first and make every day count Living in New York City with your girlfriend and Boston terrier puppy and seeing your very own business thrive as you have just turned the corner to age 30, probably sounds like a dream come true to most. For the young Swede Carl Waldekranz, CEO and co-founder of Tictail, that is exactly the case. But getting there took an incredible amount of work. Scan Magazine got an exclusive look into the tireless work ethic and positive spirit that brought said Swede onto the prestigious Forbes’ 30 under 30 list. By Mette Hindkjær Madsen | Photos: Tictail
Tell us about your usual day-to-day schedule.
nalists and so on. When I’m in New York my schedule tends to be fairly routine.
“I’m based in Manhattan, but usually travelling outside of New York City about a third of the month: working out of our Stockholm office, travelling to speaking events, meeting with investors and jour-
“I spend my mornings answering emails from co-workers and other contacts working on Stockholm time, usually 6am to 7am. I try to swing by the gym before taking the 20-minute walk from my
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apartment to the office, usually bringing Blue with me – my Boston Terrier puppy. I like to be in before 9am and spend the first half of my day focused on meetings with the Stockholm team, grab lunch with someone from the office followed by three hours of uninterrupted work time before New York meetings begin. “After work I like to grab a drink with a co-worker or cook dinner at home with my girlfriend. Then after dinner I’m usually back to work on the couch for an hour or two.” ‘My mum reminds me that age is never an obstacle’
Scan Magazine | Business Feature | Carl Waldekranz
Why do you think you have accomplished so much this early in your life? “I started early and I work hard. But more importantly I’ve been lucky to be surrounded and supported by amazing friends. I’ve had many ideas, but it is the amazingly brilliant people around me who have helped these ideas come to fruition. One of the Tictail co-founders, Kaj Drobin, has been integral to my entrepreneurial success. We started our first company together at the age of 18. When all our friends were taking a gap year to travel through Thailand or Europe, we instead decided to start a company. One company turned into founding a second, our third being Tictail.
the self-made entrepreneur to build a global business. When I see that there are over 125,000 small business owners using Tictail to take charge of their own destiny and pursue their passion projects, that is the most rewarding feeling I could ever dream of. Empowering entrepreneurs from around the world will never get old. I look forward to working tirelessly for years to come to build a community of unique, engaged, brilliant people – building companies with amazing stories to tell.” ‘To contribute to people’s lives and to the world around me through my work makes every day matter’
What motivates you in your work? “My mother has been another huge inspiration to me. She has taught me that life can morph drastically at any period in one’s life. She, for example, decided four years ago to quit her day job to pursue her passion project of making ceramics. My mum reminds me that age is never an obstacle – whether it’s trusting an 18-year-old, like Kaj and I were a decade ago, or reinventing your career at 60 like my mother did.”
What is it about your work that makes you want to spend so much time doing it? “Tictail, at its core, was created and is constantly being improved to empower
“I think the greatest motivation is the idea of making an impact. To think that I’m able to contribute to people’s lives and to the world around me through my work makes every day matter because it’s not just about me anymore.”
What has it taken for you to get to where you are today? “I’ve missed my fair share of events and nights out and I’ve certainly disappointed friends and family with my absence more than once, but I don’t think of it as having given up on anyone or anything because the flipside would also be true; if I’d been
on all those nights out I might very well have given up on Tictail. For each thing that any of us do, we refrain from doing something else. The only thing we can control is whether or not those decisions will be conscious or not.”
If you had to give your younger self a piece of advice, what would that be and why? “Manage your time. “It’s the only thing that, no matter what you do or who you are, is the limiting factor to what you can accomplish in one day, yet most of us don’t account for our time. As a result, we often prioritise the urgent over the important and end up context switching or spreading ourselves thin. Take first things first and make every day count!”
Carl Waldekranz, co-founder and CEO of Tictail, is Swedish, just turned 30 and lives in New York City, where Tictail’s offices and physical store are located. Tictail is a free-to-use online market platform that allows individuals and retailers to set up their own virtual store. It was founded in 2011 by Waldekranz along with Kaj Drobin, Siavash Ghorbani and Birk Nilsson, and launched in 2012. Today more than 125,000 stores can be found on Tictail.
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Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Minusun
Enjoy the shade! Ten years ago, Minusun became one of the first Danish suppliers of Glatz Parasols. Glatz creates high-quality parasols that are customisable and made to order, and with Minusun’s exquisite customer service you are guaranteed the perfect parasol. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Glatz AG Minusun was started because of a need for quality parasols that would last. The Glatz parasols are renowned for their high quality and durability while at the same time being completely customisable. “You can choose the colour and quality of the fabric, there are hundreds of combinations,” explains Jesper Krogh, founder of Minusun. The range of parasols is presented on Minusun’s website, but to buy one of these exclusive parasols you need to give Minusun a call. “We often find a better solution once the customer has spoken to us, as we help them realise both what they want and need, rather than just what they want.” Minusun has recently opened a showroom in beautiful natural surroundings near Brædstrup, Denmark,
where you can book an appointment to view a selection of the parasols. “We have parasols to suit everyone, whether you’re looking to kit out a restaurant or simply need some shade on a balcony,” says Krogh. The Glatz parasols are also extremely durable. “The first thing that may need to be replaced is
the fabric, and that’s only about ten or 12 years after you’ve bought it.” Minusun delivers quality parasols that are made to fit perfectly in your garden, on your balcony or outside your restaurant, ultimately creating an enjoyable and liveable outdoor space.
Contact Minusun: Website: www.minusun.dk Phone: +45 2075 9146 Email: mail@minusun.dk
Scandinavian Business Calendar Relate Live, a Zendesk conference
NBCC summer drinks
Relate Live is a place to explore the complicated relationships we have with customers, companies and each other. Interact with other industry experts, customer service executives and engagement leaders and take part in interactive presentations and workshops – and an open bar. Date and time: 14 June, 8.30am-4pm Venue: Kings Place, 90 York Way, N1 9AG London, United Kingdom www.ducc.co.uk
Members and friends of the NorwegianBritish Chamber should not miss this year’s summer drinks at Fraser Hospitality Ltd. It will be an informal evening with a raffle and cash bar. Date and time: 15 June, 6pm-9pm Venue: Fraser Hospitality Ltd, 81 Cromwell Road, SW7 5BW London www.nbccuk.com
FBCC summer reception The Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce and the Ambassador of Finland welcome you to join their summer reception. Network with your peers and entertain clients and colleagues while enjoying a fresh summer buffet in the stunning Finnish Ambassador’s residence. Music and some light entertainment will be provided, and guests will be treated to a goodie bag with Finnish delicacies. Date and time: 14 June, 5pm-8pm Venue: The Finnish Ambassador’s Residence, 14 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QP www.fbcc.co.uk 72 | Issue 89 | June 2016
End of season drinks at KuPP Join the Swedish Chamber at KuPP for a final networking reception before summer officially kicks off! The KuPP concept is based on Scandinavian design and the greatness of Nordic cuisine, making use of the wonderful ingredients of the region. Come and embrace
By Mette Hindkjær Madsen the Swedish Midsummer vibes and a taster of the season to come. Date and time: 15 June, 6.30pm–9.30pm Venue: KuPP, Unit 53, 5 Merchant Square, Paddington W2 1AS www.scc.org.uk
Nordic Drinks Every last Thursday of the month, members and friends of the Finnish, Danish and Norwegian Chambers of Commerce in the UK gather for Nordic Networking Drinks in London. June’s networking event is the last one of the spring season, so make your way to St. Ermin’s Luxury Hotel in Westminster. This event is hugely popular and tends to fill up quickly, so book in advance if you can. Date and time: 30 June, 6pm-8pm Venue: St. Ermin’s Hotel, 2 Caxton Street, London SW1H 0QW www.nbccuk.com
Scan Magazine | Business Feature | Jacob Knobel
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Where the sky is the limit Herning Kommune, or municipality, is based in the Midtjylland region on the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark. With its central location, Herning Kommune is becoming a hub where businesses grow and world-renowned artists and athletes perform. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Herning Kommune
“We always try to turn a ‘no’ into a ‘yes’, and we try to turn ideas into reality,” says Lars Krarup, mayor of Herning Kommune. The municipality is working hard to create a safe, innovative and inclusive environment both for its 87,500 inhabitants and for the numerous companies who have based themselves in Herning Kommune.
Businesses in Herning Kommune Herning Kommune is very proud and takes good care of the businesses in the municipality. “We score really highly on 74 | Issue 89 | June 2016
business satisfaction – we’re actually a leader in Denmark. I, as well as other civil servants, frequently go out and talk to the companies to ensure they have everything they need. We are willing to change things if there’s something they’re not happy with,” explains Krarup. Much of the Danish textile industry is based in Herning Kommune and neighbouring Ikast-Brande, so there are numerous jobs in the design and development sides of the fashion industry. In addition to the creative industries, there
are also plenty of businesses focusing on metal, who produce parts for robots, as an example. Green technology is also high on the agenda, with companies working in the famous Danish wind power industry.
Airbus and education Herning Kommune recently landed a deal with Airbus, thanks to which companies from Herning Municipality will be producing parts for their planes. “This is a really exciting deal as it opens up a new industry for us and means that more jobs will be created,” Krarup reveals. There is also a continuing focus on educating the next generation to ensure that the best talent is available for the businesses. Herning houses Aarhus University’s Institute of Business Development and Technology as well as Via University College, which specialises in educating young people to prepare them for work in the municipality’s companies.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Spotlight - Denmark
Event city Herning Kommune hosts a constant stream of exciting events throughout the year, for both business and leisure. MCH is the company that arranges most of the events, as well as being in charge of the four large event spaces in Herning Kommune. This year Formland, a trade exhibition for the design and interior design industry, Agromek, northern Europe’s largest agriculture exhibition, and FoodTech, a fair for the food industry, will all be coming in the autumn. “When we have a big sporting or cultural event, we also arrange business events so that people can network and socialise,” says Krarup. As for leisure events, June is booked up with concerts ranging from Iron Maiden to Paul McCartney, while Nickelback will be taking to the stage in September. Herning Kommune also frequently hosts big sporting events, such as the Challenge Denmark triathlon in June and the start of Denmark’s largest bicycle race, PostNord Danmark Rundt, in July. In 2018, the municipality will host the Danish National Ice Hockey team when the World Championships come to Denmark. Many of the matches will be played in Jyske Bank Boxen, the multipurpose arena where Adele recently performed. The Ice Hockey World Championships is set to be the largest sporting event ever in Denmark, based on its TV audience, which is only fitting for a municipality that has produced five NHL players.
Visiting Herning Kommune More than one million people come to Herning Kommune every year, in association with one of the business, sport or cultural events. This means that there are plenty of shops, restaurants, cafés and pubs to enjoy. But it is not all about the events. In Birk, one area of the city that is in itself beautiful, there are two art museums, HEART and Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Ahfelts Museum, as well as an enormous fire-spewing statue, Elia. “All of our museums, theatres and events help give
the city life, and also create a fantastic atmosphere where the sky really is the limit,” says Krarup.
Living in Herning Kommune Creating a comfortable and safe environment where families and other inhabitants can thrive is a top priority. “We’re especially focused on healthy, active lifestyles. We are constantly renewing and improving our sports facilities,” says Krarup. Recently, Denmark’s largest swimming center, its first indoor BMX park and a cable park for wakeboarding and water-skiing were opened. Herning Kommune has an impressive
attitude, which makes it an exciting place to live, work and visit. The municipality is not afraid to be ambitious, progressive and innovative. With its central and easily accessible location, it is an ideal place if you are looking to experience one of the biggest artists around, an international sporting event or simply to network. “In Herning Kommune we make things happen and keep dreams alive,” Krarup concludes with a smile. For more information, please visit: www.herning.dk
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Engineering all your needs To make your business run smoothly and efficiently you sometimes need a big idea – yet it can be extremely difficult to go from a sketch on a piece of paper to a fully functioning piece of equipment. DAVINCI development’s wide range of engineers can help with all aspects of the product development to make your idea become a reality.
Boasting an impressive client list, including some well-known Danish companies, DAVINCI has time and time again proven its worth on a variety of engineering projects. “We can do 76 | Issue 89 | June 2016
Complete process
A comprehensive engineering team
“We cover the complete product development process from A to Z,” Reza continues. “We don’t stop until we’re satisfied with what we’ve produced.” Because of the range of engineers, DAVINCI can help in any industry. This also means that the engineers can work together across different fields to achieve the best possible solution.
“Importantly, our team has a wide range of backgrounds within engineering,” says Reza. This means that no engineering problem or project is too big. All the details will be considered, from the mechanics through the electronics and down to the final design. We take great care to ensure that everything is perfect.”
Working with DAVINCI means having someone for project management, development of the concept and products, and extensive testing and analysis of the final product. They even produce designs, animations and drawings to help create innovative and engaging displays of the final concepts. DAVINCI also
By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: DAVINCI
The Danish engineering company DAVINCI development was founded in April 2000 by Lars Pedersen and Ole Lykke Jensen, and has since then gone from strength to strength. Today they have four offices across Denmark, with the head office in Billund, and have in the last four years grown from 30 employees to 75.
Throughout the development process there are frequent meetings between the client and DAVINCI in their relaxed environment, where everything can be discussed. “We want it to feel like the client has a close colleague that they can easily talk to and discuss with,” says Reza.
everything from quick fixes to big all-encompassing projects,” explains sales manager Reza Larsen.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Spotlight - Denmark
DAVINCI offers engineering services and 3D printing.
boasts exceptional knowledge of composite materials, with state-of-the-art testing facilities and thorough knowledge of the process of working with composite materials.
3D printing To visualise the plans, both for the client and for the engineers, DAVINCI uses 3D printing. “Being able to see and play with our models ultimately helps us loads. We suddenly realise what works and what doesn’t, and it allows the client to get a feel for the product they’ll end up getting,” says Reza. 3D printing also helps speed up the development process. The fact that you can print the product overnight, and then very soon after discover what stays and what goes, can save days, if not weeks, of further development. DAVINCI offers Denmark’s largest 3D printing facilities, with 14 printers and seven different technologies. 3D printing with DAVINCI does not have to be in conjunction with engineering services,
as numerous clients use them for their printing services only.
Big plans With an already impressive growth rate, DAVINCI is looking outwards for the future. “Most of what we work on at the moment is in Denmark, although we have a few international clients. However, in the very near future we will be working more on an international basis, and ultimately expanding outside of Denmark.” DAVINCI development is therefore also always looking for competent engineers to join the fast-paced and rapidly growing company. Just like the company’s namesake, they are always looking for the newest, most innovative ideas to bring the best possible solutions to their clients.
Quick and efficient quality DAVINCI development is always aiming to achieve the best solution in the most efficient way. By using 3D printing they save time on product development and
they also always use the newest technologies to not only make the development process quicker, but also create a more efficient end product. The employees at DAVINCI are all keen to better themselves and learn about the latest technologies to allow them to be at the forefront of their respective fields. “We find that we work exceptionally well in our teams, because everyone has something that they’re an expert in and that they can contribute with,” explains Reza. By using DAVINCI you gain an integrated partner who can contribute to your company’s competitiveness by ensuring the newest technologies quickly and efficiently. With their relaxed yet professional atmosphere, DAVINCI are the perfect engineers for all your projects.
To find out more, please visit: www.davinci.dk
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 77
Understand society through data Using data effectively is about more than just gathering large amounts of information about a customer. It is first and foremost about looking at the person behind all the data. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: The Geomatic image library
Digitalisation connects us and helps us share data that contributes to more relevant communication. Companies are collecting more data than ever on potential customers in an attempt to target their advertisements to the right audiences. However, companies often do not know how to use the data correctly, thus forgetting that cultural and personal diversities exist. “To truly understand the real person behind the data, it is crucial that we embrace the differences arising from our individual circumstances, abilities and preferences in life,” says Martin K. Glarvig, president 78 | Issue 89 | June 2016
and founder of Geomatic, a development and knowledge centre specialising in consumer insight analytics. “If you are not critical of the data you gather, you will probably end up getting it all wrong. Just because you see some patterns in the data, it does not necessarily mean that you can act on them promptly without human interpretation. You have to understand what and who is behind the data. If not, the data remains noise.”
Bringing online data to the next level To reach that understanding of a consumer, Geomatic combines their digital
behaviour with a matching demographic profile from the physical world. They look at where the consumers live and what they do for a living in order to identify who is behind the data, and thereby avoid what they call mass marketing. Data is collected from national census bureaus and combined with survey data. By then linking these offline data-sets with the online behaviour, Geomatic can segment consumers into different categories. For instance, studies show that families with kids often order food online in the late afternoon, while students usually place their orders after eight o’clock. By being aware of these habits, Geomatic is able to apply online data for bringing communication to the next level. “If a car company wants to sell their newest premium model, they start looking
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Spotlight - Denmark
at digital platforms and try to approach someone with an interest in cars and business, based on the belief that they are employed at a high level and have a good income,” says Glarvig. “But what they don’t think about is the fact that students at a business school often have a free log-in to all online business sections, yet most likely can only dream of buying a car. Thus, their digital behaviour resembles that of a CEO with a much higher purchasing power and perhaps with more than one car in the driveway. But these two consumer segments have a differing potential and should certainly not receive the same communication.”
Never compromising on privacy Geomatic has clients in all of the Nordic countries, and their way of collecting and interpreting data makes them rather unique. They aim to have a 360-degree understanding of the consumers, not only to help their clients’ communication, but also to respect the individuals. “If we don’t understand why some people have the same or a different behaviour and what triggers that particular behaviour, we might as well stand on a beer crate at the central station and yell out our message. It would practically have the same effect. The more we know about the consumer the better we can customise the communication so it fits their demographic profile,” the founder explains. “Too much communication is considered spam, and we definitely want to avoid that. It is important to treat the consumers with respect.”
don’t track information on specific websites you visit or what you fill out in a form. That is far beyond our code of conduct. Like I said, we just want to know the general demographic profile behind the device, so companies and even the public sector can communicate the right information to the right consumer segments at the right time,” says Glarvig. ABOUT GEOMATIC: - Geomatic does not hold information on individuals. All their information is collected in statistical ‘clusters’, which contain at least three families or seven adult individuals. - Geomatic plays an active part in developing national legislation as well as the new EU General Data Protection Regulation, which will take effect in the spring of 2018. - Geomatic always advocates good data ethics, also among its clients. - All data collection is regulated by the EU cookie directive, national personal data protection acts and marketing legislations. - Geomatic does not store information on the specific web pages you visit. Web pages are divided into general categories such as sports, business, entertainment or travel.
For more information, please visit: www.geomatic.dk or da.conzoom.eu/digital_en
For many people it might sound a bit frightening that digital traces are collected by companies, but Geomatic is acutely aware of privacy. During the development of the new data legislation for the European Union, the company proactively advocated for the pseudonymisation and anonymisation of personal data, thus safeguarding the privacy of the individual. “We often say that it is about knowing a lot about many people, but not knowing anything specific about the individual. It is all about relevant communication without compromising on privacy. We Issue 89 | June 2016 | 79
Hjørring’s town hall administration aims to ‘never say no’ to businesses.
A town to be proud of With a string of improvements to its administration, infrastructure and job training, Hjørring is increasingly becoming a place that businesses move to rather than from. But the North Jutland municipality is not just acting through typical practical improvements. Ambitious projects – such as a new 180 million DKK theatre venue, a visionary circular economy scheme, and renewable energy sources – are also at the core of the strategy to make Hjørring a town to be proud of for businesses and their employees alike. Scan Magazine spoke to the town’s mayor, Arne Boelt. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Hjørring Kommune
Located in the region of Northern Jutland, half an hour from Aalborg, Hjørring is one of the towns in Denmark that cannot expect to be businesses’ most obvious first choice. However, with innovative energy and recycling solutions, an expanding cultural scene and a municipality that is determined to “never say no”, the town is well on its way to changing this. The success is based on three core strategies: making business easier for companies, making life better for their employees and making both proud of Hjørring. 80 | Issue 89 | June 2016
“Having a well-functioning town hall administration is so important for the companies to feel that they can rely on us. If a company is having trouble with their VAT, we need to be able to assist them straight away, not in 14 days, and we need to be determined never to say no unless we’re legally obliged to,” stresses Mayor Arne Boelt and adds: “We are located at the top of Denmark, and that means we have to work a little harder to ensure that our businesses can attract the talent they need.” When someone is
invited to a job interview in Hjørring, it makes a huge difference if they get the impression that this is a place where things happen. While Mayor Arne Boelt acknowledges that Hjørring will never be Paris or Copenhagen, the town can still provide that ‘wow-a-lot-is-going-onhere’ feeling. “That’s the alfa and omega when it comes to being attractive for newcomers,” he says.
Sustainable innovation The industry in Hjørring is more or less equally divided between three sectors: industry, tourism and agriculture. When it comes to tourism, the town is naturally privileged with many natural landmarks, beaches and family attractions nearby. Farming too has been an integral part of the area for centuries, but that does not mean that the agricultural industry is just left to do its own thing, stresses Boelt. “The agricultural industry is about
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Spotlight - Denmark
Top left: Mayor of Hjørring, Arne Boelt. Top right: Vendsyssel Theatre: In the beginning of 2017 an impressive new theatre venue will open its doors in Hjørring. Bottom left: Sand dunes. Bottom right: Dana Cup, one of the world’s largest youth football tournaments, takes place in Hjørring.
much more than just pigs; it involves many industries – engineering, construction, transport and, as something entirely new, energy. We have started to develop energy from agricultural waste products and, this June, one of the most innovative bio-gas plants in Europe will be inaugurated in our municipality.” The focus on sustainability also saturates Hjørring’s other sectors, but rather than turning it into a heavy burden the municipality has created a string of highly innovative, financially advantageous and super utilitarian solutions. “An important part of our role is to assist companies to become more sustainable. One of the ways in which we do this is by facilitating a circular economy – this means that we help companies that have a waste product pair up with other companies that regard that product as a resource,” explains Boelt, and he has plenty of examples to prove how successful this strategy has been. For instance, a local rug cleaning company is giving away its warm waste water to a pipe cleaning company, saving
both companies expenses and utilising cleaning products, energy and water to their fullest.
A lovely place to live Without competent co-workers, businesses will not thrive and Boelt and his colleagues have put bettering the quality of life in Hjørring at the top of their list of priorities. Hence a string of cultural facilities, such as a new professional football stadium, a top-notch athletic stadium and the town’s newest investment, a 180 million DKK theatre, have been created (the theatre is set to open in January 2017). “Our biggest challenge is to be able to provide businesses with the right competences, and to be able to do that we both need to educate ourselves and attract new people,” says Boelt and rounds off: “In the end it is about making both the employees and the businesses proud of Hjørring. It also makes my job a pleasure because I get both happy citizens and increased tax revenues; I’ve just been to Copenhagen to talk to other municipalities about our initiatives and many are astonished at how
we do it. What I tell them is that it is all about prioritising. You have to dare to do it because even though Hjørring has always been a lovely place to live, we have to keep working hard if we want to ensure that it will also be so in 2020.” ABOUT HJØRRING Location: Hjørring is located in the region North Jutland, half an hour’s drive from Aalborg, Aalborg University and Aalborg Airport, and just two and a half hours from Norway. Hjørring has a unique geographical location with ferry connections to Europe, Norway and the North Atlantic. Population: 65,308 Dana Cup, one of the world’s largest youth football tournaments, takes place in Hjørring at the end of July each year. 1,100 teams from 45 countries participate.
For more information, please visit: www.hjoerring.dk
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 81
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Spotlight - Denmark
New glove system reduces the risk of skin disease GloVac has created an intelligent glove system, which not only helps reduce the risk of skin disease; it is also an environmentally friendly solution. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: GloVac
Everyone who uses one-time latex or nitrile gloves during a workday knows just how difficult it is to put the gloves on and take them off. It is time-consuming and the gloves often break. As a consequence, the cleaning staff either wear the gloves all the time or not at all. Both options increase the risk of getting eczema or allergies on their hands. “We can see that cleaning staff often wear their gloves up to 80 per cent of an average work day, and that is far too much. Their fingers will be constantly damp and that can lead to developing eczema on their fingers. That’s why we have come up with our intelligent system,” says Klaus Juel Pedersen, CEO of GloVac. 82 | Issue 89 | June 2016
The GloVac gloves are attached to the cleaning trolley. They are stored in a vacuumiser when not in use and by pushing the valve with a finger, the pressure is equalised to release the glove. This way, the gloves are always dry when needed. “With this technique you can put the gloves on and take them off in just two seconds,” says Juel Pedersen. “By making it so easy we hope that people will stop wearing the gloves 80 per cent of the time. The effective time shouldn’t be more than 20 per cent.” Due to the quality of the GloVac gloves, one single pair can last a whole week. In comparison, the one-time gloves often break, so cleaners tend to go through several pairs every week.
Moved on to the industries GloVac has cooperated with cleaning company ISS for years, and now they are implementing their solution fully in the industry. The glove system can be mounted directly on the machines with magnets, on the wall or placed in its own stand. “It’s the same issue,” says Juel Pedersen. “The employees should avoid getting in contact with all kinds of chemicals.” Each year, 1,400 users report cases of eczema and 600 users report cases of allergies on their hands. The damage reports lead to 150 million DKK being paid in compensation each year. “The demand has been there for a long time, but it’s only now that we have the solution for it,” says the CEO. “This way we can protect both the employees and the machines.” For more information, please visit: www.glovac.dk
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Spotlight - Denmark
Tailoring your software for the perfect fit Just like a good suit, some software solutions need to be made to measure to fit the individual company or task perfectly. That is why VeTech Software Solutions, a Danish software developer, specialises in tailoring software specifically to their customers’ requirements. By Signe Hansen | Photos: VeTech Software Solutions
Founded by CEO Johnny Hansen in 2004, VeTech Software Solutions has extensive experience when it comes to tailoring software for a wide range of businesses. One of the places where the attention to detail and absolute accuracy are crucial is in air traffic and, over many years, VeTech Software Solutions has developed systems for use in monitoring and controlling the landing systems at international and national airports. “There is an increasing consensus that there are some areas where the kind of software that can be purchased readymade is not suitable, or only suitable for a minor part of the job,” says Hansen and
adds: “If you compare our way of creating a solution to that of the bigger standard software systems, you could say that what they do is like building something in DUPLO or, for the ones that work with more adaptable systems, LEGO. But what we can do is create our own bricks; if we need a green, round brick, we will make it.” This is why VeTech can always create the optimal solution – there are no compromises. Price-wise it is also competitive: “It’s like going to the tailor, of course it’s slightly more expensive but you also get a different quality.” Since 2004, the demand for VeTech Software Solutions’ tailor-made products
CEO Johnny Hansen founded VeTech Software Solutions in 2004, and since then the company has created tailor-made systems for a wide range of clients including large international companies such as Maersk and Melin Medical AB.
has grown steadily, and today the company, which consists of Hansen, his development manager Michael Andersen, and ten programmers, creates tailor-made systems for a wide range of clients, from small start-ups to large international companies such as Maersk and Melin Medical AB. “Typically, it’s the kind of organisations that have a lot of data coming from external sources, machines, production units and so on, and wish to integrate that into one system to monitor, collect and control the different units.” VeTech Software Solutions is located in Esbjerg, which means that, unlike the many companies that offer the service from abroad, clients have the possibility of discussing complex issues in person to avoid cultural and linguistic misunderstandings. For more information, please visit: www.vetech.dk
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 83
An app to increase efficiency in the pig house Danish agriculture has taken a huge step towards being more streamlined with the launch of the app FARMlog. It is a tool to help farmers get a better overview, improve the health situation and increase their efficiency. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Mariann Rundstrøm
For many years, Margit Skovbjerg was a breeder of furbearing animals. She had a few farms herself, but she often lacked an overview when she was not present at the farms – especially regarding the health and medication use. “You have to register all the medicine you use due to European legislation. It is often quite a time-consuming process and it can be difficult to keep track of, so I thought why not make a platform to provide a better overview,” Skovbjerg explains. 84 | Issue 89 | June 2016
The result was the app FARMlog, a tool where all registrations are made the moment they take place, thus providing an instantaneous overview of all health aspects. “The app can be downloaded to all your devices and is really simple to use. The idea was to create a tool that wasn’t too complicated and is easily integrated into your workflow. It provides you with an overview of the health situation at your farm, and when you have that overview you are able to optimise
your medication use, thereby securing a more efficient way of doing things,” says Skovbjerg, whose invention earned her a nomination as entrepreneur of the year in Denmark.
Moving on to pigs The app quickly became a success. In fact, not only breeders of furbearing animals could see the potential in the invention. Soon Skovbjerg was getting calls from pig farmers who told her that they needed a tool exactly like hers. There were already management systems on the market, but they often had to be used with terminals or a computer. The pig farmers wanted an app that could make their everyday lives easier.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Spotlight - Denmark
“After overwhelming interest, I started creating FARMlog for pigs. But since I’m not a pig farmer, I didn’t know much about pigs to be honest. So I decided to visit a lot of pig houses and pig farmers in order to really understand what they wanted and needed from this app,” says Skovbjerg. “I came up with a beta version that they could test out, and they were really great at providing feedback to improve the product. In fact, you could say that the app was actually developed by the pig farmers themselves.” After a few test runs, the final version is now ready to be launched in August. For the remainder of the year the app can be downloaded for free, and from 2017 on you will be able to sign up for a free trial period of a few months before deciding if you want to invest in it.
6,000 pigs and you reduce the mortality rate with four per cent, then you’ll be able to make 16,000 euros [around £12,500] more a year. In addition to that, you can reduce the medication use and save time on the registration, which is why FARMlog is not only a great tool to keep track of all the registrations you have to do; it also helps make your business more efficient,” says Skovbjerg. Even though FARMlog for pigs is still not officially on the market, Skovbjerg receives many calls from people who want to know more about the app – and not just pig farmers, not just from Danes.
“We have received enquiries from farmers with beef cattle and chickens and even from farmers in other countries, so in 2017 our ambition is to launch the app to the international market. Countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and France have all shown great interest in FARMlog,” Skovbjerg says. “I always wanted to use my creativity to make a difference and create solutions for others, and now I have the opportunity.”
For more information, please visit: www.farmlogsvin.dk
Going global One of the biggest advantages of the FARMlog is the fact that it provides the farmer with real-time data from the pig house. The farmers are able to see online what is going on in the pig house, which can contribute to what was the primary intention when FARMlog was first created: ensuring that the animals will not get sick. “By having a better overview, we expect that you’ll be able to lower the mortality rate significantly. Say you have
Margit Skovbjerg's app earned her a nomination as entrepreneur of the year in Denmark.
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 85
E AND S I lT cia PR INL e p R S E -F T T EN IGH TL O SP e:
m he
The Kalasatama Centre. Photo:Helin & Co
Expanding horizons With over 40 awards and prizes to its name, Helin & Co is one of Finland’s leading architect firms. Armed with genuine passion and a string of ambitious projects at home and abroad, no challenge is too big for these architectural giants who are making a notable mark on Helsinki’s cityscape and skyline. By Ndéla Faye
From Nokia’s and Finnair’s headquarters to the Finnish government, Helin & Co are no strangers to large-scale projects and high-profile clients. The architect firm’s creative work can be seen throughout Helsinki’s most notable buildings and the headquarters of some of the country’s biggest companies. In 2004, the company completed works on Little Parliament, an additional annexe to the parliament building in Helsinki, and 86 | Issue 89 | June 2016
they are currently renovating the entire parliament buildings, set to be completed next year. Many of Helsinki’s iconic buildings are the result of Helin & Co’s creative thinking and ambitious architectural projects. The firm currently employs 78 people, whose expertise covers architectural and interior design, urban planning, and specialised conceptual design.
Making a mark Authenticity and clarity are at the core of each of Helin & Co’s creations. “It’s all about poetic tectonics,” says Pekka Helin, founder of Helin & Co Architects. Paying homage to the British architect and historian, Kenneth Frampton, Helin continues: “The architect always sees the world from within their own context: our experiences, background and way of viewing the world shape our work.” Simplicity and clarity are both imperative to Helin & Co, and wood is an important feature in many of their designs. “Architecture cannot be separated from the architect. We don’t do ready-made projects: each project is designed in the context of an existing space and we carefully consider the client’s needs, designing accordingly. Scenographic thinking is
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Spotlight - Finland
an alien concept to us: we always make our fit within the existing context,” Helin explains.
Challenges accepted “Our latest project is in the Kalasatama district, the old harbour area of Helsinki, where we’re working on a commercial centre and eight towers for commercial, private and public use,” says Helin. The project, set to transform Helsinki’s skyline, will comprise a commercial shopping centre, private housing, a hotel, offices and a health centre. Helin is proud of being involved in a project that has the potential to make a difference to people’s lives, with the opening of a new health and wellbeing facility within the centre. “We’ve reconfigured the way we approach healthcare services: the new wellbeing centre combines social services and healthcare facilities. If a person is feeling unwell, mentally or physically, they can get the help they need here. The focus is largely on preventative care,” he explains. It has been a long project and there are several aspects to take into consideration. “We’re incorporating an underground metro station, a tram and a bus terminal as well as a motorway, which runs below the centre,” says Helin. “Because of our extensive experience, longstanding team work and qualified team members, we’re able to undertake even the most complex projects.”
creasing trend of moving from individual work to team work, and this translates into the office spaces we design. At the same time, we have to come up with solutions that will allow spaces to have many functionalities and are easily adaptable for different kinds of work,” Helin states. Recently, the architects have been involved in projects in Norway, Russia, China and South Korea. “We’ve designed a winning concept for the reuse of a former airport area in Fornebu, Norway,” Helin
says, “and we’re also currently involved in a project to redesign the industrial belt of Saint Petersburg, as well as a housing project in China and South Korea.” With each project carefully designed with long-term sustainability in mind, all while staying true to Nordic simplicity, Helin & Co are set to dominate the capital’s cityscape for years to come. For more information, please visit: www.helinco.fi
Metsä Group headquarters. Photo: Mandi Halonen
Finnair headquarters. Photo: Marc Goodwin
Finnair headquarters. Photo: Marc Goodwin
UPM headquarters. Photo: Mikeal Linden
Reinventing routine Helin & Co also specialise in workplace consultancy, and their designs incorporate clean lines and the use of diverse high-quality materials, combining functionality with style. “Our designs are creative and carefully thought out with the companies involved, in order to assess their needs. We aim to make work places inspiring and positive spaces, steer clear of routine ways of thinking and focus on using light and organic shapes to create a comfortable place to work in,” Helin continues. The company also takes into account changes in work culture. “There’s an inIssue 89 | June 2016 | 87
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Spotlight - Finland
Revolutionising work culture A game-like app with cute animated characters that can help boost employee satisfaction and productivity? It is not something you would normally associate with business applications and big corporations – but Finnish start-up Apped has set its sights on creating exactly that. By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Apped
“We’ve set out to break the bureaucracy, complicated processes and rigid ways in which big corporations often work,” says Riikka Jakovuori, chief marketing officer at Apped. Launched in 2015, Apped Pulse is a real-time employee feedback, personnel survey and mood tool, where anyone can anonymously record their opinion or feelings on specific topics. “We wanted to break routines and topdown managing styles, so we created an app where the employees themselves, not only the management, can start surveys when they want to know, for example, what others think about a certain issue,” Jakovuori explains. Filling in traditional staff surveys can be dull and time-consuming, but with Apped Pulse, anyone can use it to rate their day, share their feelings on a particular topic or ask their colleagues to share their thoughts. 88 | Issue 89 | June 2016
“We believe that technology can be used to promote wellbeing and motivation. With Apped, we’ve made it quick and easy to see what new ideas employees might have, and what topics are being discussed within the organisation,” Jakovuori states. Where business apps typically require heavy technical integration with existing IT systems, anyone can download Apped’s apps from an app store. “All that’s needed is a work email, and the app directly and securely connects with corporate systems,” says Jakovuori. Apped has resonated with many organisations – from large corporations to medium-sized companies and public sector organisations – and is currently being piloted by 150 clients. “We’re always listening to client needs. We’ve got a few more apps launching this year that will focus on personal time management
and productivity. Apped’s philosophy is to make business more efficient and bring out the best in people,” Jakovuori says. “We believe that two-way real-time communication between management and staff is key to the smooth running of any organisation. With fun and exciting solutions, people can be engaged, motivated, creative and efficient individuals who enjoy coming to work – even on Mondays. We want to enable individuals to use their abilities to their maximum capacity, focus on what matters the most and bring their knowledge to the use of the organisation,” she concludes.
For more information, please visit: www.apped.com
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
Restaurant of the Month, Denmark
A taste of history Restaurant Grønttorvet does not only offer good, traditional Danish food. It has its roots in the local community, and everything is served with a taste of history. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Krebs Fotografi & Film
Stepping into Restaurant Grønttorvet is a bit like walking into a time warp. The corner where the restaurant is located can be dated back to the beginning of the 13th century, and for more than 250 years there has been an eatery on the premises. Inside the restaurant there are wooden floors and wainscots, and the waiters are dressed in black and white – just like in the old days. “We are a traditional restaurant with classic table service. We don’t pretend to be a fancy café, which is why almost all of our dishes are Danish,” says Søren Windell, who has been the host at Restaurant Grønttorvet since 2009. The restaurant got its name from the market place across the street – a market from where the restaurant buys most of its ingredients. “We have roots in the local
community and a lot of our guests are local. We buy the ingredients from the market; the fish is fresh from Kerteminde, and many of our beers are from local breweries,” says Windell. “We also co-organise music festivals, and in general we are very active in the cultural life of Funen.”
Something for everyone
the newspaper and just relax. Our prices are affordable for everyone, and we offer seasonal three-course meals alongside our traditional menu,” Windell explains. The restaurant also has seating on the pavement as well as a patio, where their guests can enjoy a good meal and soak up the sun. “We are an active restaurant,” says Windell. “Once a month we have jazz concerts at our place, and we recently hosted the annual patty shell festival. Like I said, there is something for everyone.”
The first Danish theatre outside Copenhagen was built in the market square outside the restaurant in 1795; it was the theatre where a certain Hans Christian Andersen made his debut as an actor. In fact, the famous author’s childhood home is only a stone’s throw away, which also means that many tourists come and eat at Restaurant Grønttorvet. “There is also a Radisson hotel nearby, so many business travellers come here to get a proper meal, use our Wi-Fi, read
For more information, please visit: xn--restaurantgrnttorvet-mcc.dk
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 89
Restaurant of the Month, Norway
Eating glocal in Trondheim To Rom & Kjøkken has become one of Norway’s most exciting dining experiences, with its strong dedication to local produce and sustainability along with world-class quality that has attracted the likes of Gordon Ramsay. Set up and managed by two food and drink pioneers, the restaurant is putting Trondheim firmly on the map of new Nordic dining.
we are situated, called Midt-Norge, is responsible for over 20 per cent of the food production in Norway, so you could say that we are really in the middle of the plate when it comes to variety and quality of produce.”
By Maya Acharya | Photos: To Rom & Kjøkken
Roar Hildonen, half of the two-man outfit that runs and oversees To Rom & Kjøkken, has had 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry and, incidentally, is also known for being both Norway’s and the world’s champion of cocktails. The second half of the outfit, Alexander Skjefte, an educated sommelier, impresses similarly by holding a Young Sommelier prize. Since the restaurant started in 2005, it has become widely recognised as one of Norway’s best 90 | Issue 89 | June 2016
restaurants, winning several awards and offering popular courses in food, wine and beer.
In the ‘middle of the plate’ Despite his long professional career, Hildonen says no other restaurant he has managed has been as unique as the project To Rom & Kjøkken. “Our strong focus on making use of local produce is definitely something that makes us stand out,” he explains. “The area where
On the menu you can find dishes that utilise some of the area’s best offerings, inspired by a Mediterranean style. These include a wealth of seafood and delicious organic produce cultivated from the forests and countryside, such as mushrooms, herbs, berries, fruit and vegetables. Beer, a well-known bounty of the region, is of course an integral part of this list. Trondheim is home to many microbreweries and To Rom & Kjøkken even organises a Beer Safari where participants are driven around the city,
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway
hopping on and off at local breweries to enjoy a tasting. “This area really has a lot of potential when it comes to food and drink, not least because locals are genuinely interested in this kind of produce. I think more and more people are opening their eyes to the importance of this region,” says Hildonen.
on the go, plans to expand to a new location and other projects such as arranging their second pop-up concept: a yearly event that donates its proceeds to charity. “It has really been an incredible journey, and it’s great to get so much positive feedback,” says Hildonen, who was just recently awarded the title Restaurateur
of the Year by the Norwegian Hospitality Association. “For us, running a restaurant is not just a job – it’s a lifestyle.” For more information and bookings, please visit: www.toromogkjokken.no
Taking responsibility Part of the reason for To Rom & Kjøkken’s interest in local is what Hildonen calls a “civic responsibility” towards sustainability. The restaurant is certified as an Eco-Lighthouse, an independent Norwegian certification that shows a company’s commitment to the environment in their day-to-day operation. “The certification means that we have become much more aware of how we work and have made changes, for example to the way that we use energy. Today we use 25 per cent less energy than we did ten years ago, yet our turnover has increased threefold – a formidable growth,” Hildonen asserts. The restaurant has also started a rooftop garden where they grow their own vegetables and herbs. “It’s good for the chef apprentices to see and be part of the process from seed to plate,” he explains.
Living the life The restaurant has seen quite a few milestones since it opened, one of the more amusing ones being a visit by Scottish-born British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. “He was nearby doing some filming in the area when we suddenly got a phone call to see if we could make dinner for a small group, so of course we agreed and made a threecourse meal at full speed. They were very happy with it, and all in all it was a fantastic experience that gave us a lot of positive attention. Gordon is really a nice guy,” Hildonen reveals. The restaurant still has no shortage of excitement, with numerous collaborations with known wine makers and chefs Issue 89 | June 2016 | 91
Scan Magazine | Activity of the Month | Denmark
Activity of the Month, Denmark
A family farm with an organic heart Behind the idyllic organic farm Johannesminde is the couple Tine and Jan Thybo. With animal welfare as their top priority, they offer meat from their own pigs and cattle as well as an organic range of poultry, lamb and vegetables from equally ambitious organic partners. By Mette Hindkjær Madsen | Photos: Johannesminde
A swing off the main concrete road, little pigs wagging their tails as they run around their mother and splash in muddy puddles on the giant fields will catch your eye as you drive down the avenue to Johannesminde. As you pull up at the farm shop, you will be greeted by a herd of bulls grazing and the butcher waiting to serve you inside. “From soil to table, our concept is really quick. We sell our own pork and beef, all bred here and butchered by someone carefully selected nearby, so the meat can be back here in one day. We have a butcher in our shop every day, so you can pick out the exact cut of the meat you prefer,” says Tine Thybo, co-owner of Johannesminde. 92 | Issue 89 | June 2016
The farm shop offers everything your organic heart desires as the Thybo family has handpicked partners who deliver organic vegetables, poultry, lamb, eggs, milk and cheese to the farm. Along with the home produce courtesy of Johannesminde, which the butcher uses for sausages and cold cuts alike, the farm has created its very own fully organic supermarket.
Award-winning animal welfare One of them a former building constructor and the other a Volvo fitter, the path as farmers was not naturally paved for the Thybo couple. In 2003 the family bought Johannesminde, a non-organic farm at the time, but though the farm was not fully certified organic until 2006,
the Thybos’ plan was clear from the beginning: “We are passionate about being organic. It’s common sense to us, due to health reasons and animal welfare. If we couldn’t run an organic farm, we wouldn’t run one at all,” Tine maintains. “The silver lining in our business is animal welfare. All of our animals live out in the fields, as closely as possible to how they would naturally live. A sow, for instance, has her own house where she can build a nest for her piglets.” In 2011, Johannesminde was awarded a prize recognising its high standards of animal welfare – something atypical for a farm that breeds its animals for butchery. Tine is unmistakably proud: “It’s a huge acknowledgement of what we do every day to receive such an award, praising the way we treat our animals.”
For more information, please visit: www.johannesminde.dk
Scan Magazine | Experience of the Month | Finland
Experience of the Month, Finland
Immerse yourself in Finland’s wilderness Ideal for nature lovers as well as amateur and professional photographers, Wildlife Safaris Finland is a unique way to spot three of Finland’s predators all at once. Staying in observation hides in the middle of the forest allows visitors to get a unique view of the region’s remarkable wildlife.
from a bear, or trying to capture a stunning shot of a wild wolf, delving into Finland’s wilderness will undoubtedly be a one-of-akind experience.
By Ndéla Faye | Photo: Lassi Rautiainen
“Our aim is to share an understanding of Finnish wilderness in general and of wolves and bears in particular, through wildlife photography and observation,” says Sami Rautiainen, CEO of Wildlife Safaris Finland. Rautiainen’s father Lassi, a wildlife photographer, is a pioneer of photo tourism and founder of Wildlife Safaris Finland. Since the early 1990s, photographers from all over the world have been coming to Lassi’s photo hides in Kuhmo, located in the Kainuu region in south-eastern Finland. The area’s forests are largely untouched, and with a population of less than 10,000 in the whole municipality, bears, wolves, wolverines and eagles, among others, are
free to roam the region. “Nowhere else in the world are people able to photograph the bear, the wolf and the wolverine at once. Thanks to our experience and observation hides, visitors have a unique chance of seeing all three animals,” explains Rautiainen. Fitting up to five people each, there are 14 observation hides in total, kitted with all the basic amenities. On the shores of lake Kuikka, the Kuikka base camp, run by Lassi Rautiainen and his family, offers accommodation as well as a number of activities, complete with a sauna and beach for some rest and relaxation. Whether you are looking for the adrenaline rush of being just a few steps away
For more information, please visit: www.wildfinland.org
Grid
Ingunn Bakke www.ingunnbakke.com
axGallery, Kirchstr. 25, 10557 Berlin www.axgallery-berlin.com OPENING Fr 24. 6, 18 - 20 Exhibition 24.6- 24.7 Tir - Fr 11 - 5 pm, Sa 2 - 6 pm
Main image: Denmark’s Largest Street Party will include a string of outdoor concerts arranged by Silkeborg Musik og Kultur Events, which is also behind the music festival NYE HEDE RYTMER. Top right: A string of Denmark’s biggest music names, including D-A-D, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, Laid Back, Gnags, Mads Langer, and Christopher (pictured) will perform at the event.
Experience of the Month, Denmark
Denmark’s largest street party Royalty, rock stars and a new motorway connection are set to take centre stage when Denmark’s Largest Street Party (Danmarks Største Vejfest) takes place in Silkeborg on 8-11 September. The event, the like of which has never been seen before in Denmark, will include a string of sports, culture and family events taking place all over the city and its famously beautiful surroundings. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Silkeborg Musik og Kultur Events/NYE HEDE RYTMER
Denmark’s Largest Street Party, which is arranged by Silkeborg Musik og Kultur Events (SMKE), looks set to become a road opening like no other. The event will stretch over four days and include some of Denmark’s biggest music names, such as D-A-D, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, Christopher, Laid Back, Gnags, and Mads Langer, as well as a number of children’s shows, cultural events, and runs on the new motorway. “The ambition is to take an otherwise rather mundane event – a road opening – and turn it into a gigantic party for young 94 | Issue 89 | June 2016
and old,” explains Oliver Zähringer from SMKE. “The opening of the last stretch of motorway is very significant for the entire region, from Herning in the west to Aarhus in the east. That’s why we want to invite all of the country to Denmark’s Largest Street Party and celebrate with a proper party bonanza.” For more than a year, Zähringer and SMKE, which are also the organisers of Silkeborg’s successful music festival NYE HEDE RYTMER, have been working
with Silkeborg municipality as well as sports and traffic organisations to make the event the biggest of its kind. 15,000 tickets have already been sold and a total of 20,000 people are expected are to participate.
The best of Silkeborg At midday on Sunday, a day crammed with family events, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark will stop by Silkeborg to perform the official opening of the motorway. The opening will signal the end of four days of celebrations, starting Thursday, with a large street sale and long opening hours in Silkeborg city centre. On the Friday the party continues with a string of events and competitions such as rafting, boating and natural obstacle races taking place in Silkeborg’s beautiful harbour and stunning natural
Scan Magazine | Experience of the Month | Denmark
surroundings. Later in the day, visitors can enjoy a number of free concerts, a large funland for children, special exhibitions at the city’s museums and galleries, and much more. “When we first started organising this big one-off event, we decided to focus on utilising and presenting all the things Silkeborg has to offer all year round – it’s going to be like a super compact showcase of the best of Silkeborg,” explains Zähringer. The Saturday will see a range of runs including half marathons and rollerskating on the new motorway. Finally, the day will culminate in a massive concert on Circuspladsen, a large market place next to the new motorway. “The concert programme is seriously intense – I think we’ve pretty much outdone most established Danish music festivals by
presenting all of this in just one day,” Zähringer says.
Take part For some participants, the party will start as early as August as school children in the area start preparing through a special course bridging sports, the history of the region and arts. “We are trying to educate the pupils in the most important parts of Silkeborg’s history as well as the cultural features the city is known for. Of course, we hope that they will take their new knowledge with them home, and in that way it is our aim to make all of the population more knowledgeable about their home region so that they too can become good ambassadors for Silkeborg,” says Zähringer. “The main idea behind this event is to create a platform through which everyone with
an initiative can take part, cooperate and help show the rest of the world how much Silkeborg has to offer.” Tickets are expected to be sold out by the beginning of August so do not wait too long to purchase yours.
ABOUT DENMARK’S LARGEST STREET PARTY Denmark’s Largest Street Party takes place in Silkeborg, 8-11 September 2016. Saturday’s concert programme will include: D-A-D, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, Gnags, Christopher and Mads Langer. Extra public transport will be running to and from Silkeborg. The event will include a number of races and runs arranged by DGI. On the Friday evening everyone is invited to free concerts with Page Four, Hasan Shah, Laid Back and a surprise act in Silkeborg Harbour. The event will include a number of special dinner and jazz cruises on the Silkeborg lakes.
To buy tickets for the above or other events, and for more information, please visit: www.danmarksstørstevejfest.dk
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The wallpaper in one of the rooms at Hjorten Hotell.
Hotel of the Month, Norway
A phoenix rises from the ashes in Hitra Visit Hjorten Hotell Hitra, and you can expect a combination of tradition and innovation, while being one hundred per cent cared for and attended to. The landmark hotel opens this month.
menu in the restaurant, in addition to the opportunity to view deer from the rooftop terrace.
By Pernille Johnsen | Photos: Vindfang
Innovation and tradition
Hitra is an idyllic island southwest of Trondheimsfjorden, Norway’s thirdlongest fjord. It is the seventh-largest island in Norway and hosts northern Europe’s largest population of deer, an animal present in many facets of life on the island of Hitra.
initial guesthouse came to mind. Hitra is, after all, a flourishing community and tourist destination. The industry of farmed fish is also growing and a larger commercial area is being developed, so Hjorten Hotell was built at a very opportune time.
Hjorten Hotell Hitra was originally a guest house, which burned to the ground in 2012. It only had ten rooms and was the only guest accommodation the town offered. When it burned down, the four owners got together to decide what to do next. The idea of a hotel larger than the
Hjorten, which means deer in Norwegian, focuses on a thoroughly local experience with the deer as its figurehead, as it is also featured in the council arms. When visiting Hjorten Hotell, you can have a ‘deer beer’ in the pub, produced at a nearby brewery, or try deer on the
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The hotel will have 45 rooms, three meeting rooms and a Skybar on the top floor with space for 100 guests. There will be a pub and restaurant with not only organic food, but food sourced from within Hitra. Signature dishes will revolve around what Hitra is already known for: salmon, seafood and deer. Hitra Gårdsmat, a local producer, will supply award-winning cheese, most prominently Brie and blue cheese. “The focus is on locally sourced food, but with a sincere wish to combine different pathways to a rich culinary experience using the resources we have available,
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway
but developing them further,” manager Rune Andrè Almo explains. The presence of the hotel adds a great deal to the centre of Hitra, located right next to a shopping centre with the aim to produce a comprehensive experience with a range of possibilities for exploration.
Creating a piece of history Hjorten Hotell’s target audience is wide and the objective is to offer accommodation and a great experience to everyone, ranging from families with small children to companies hosting a weekend seminar. At the heart of Hjorten Hotell is the ability to adapt to the guest’s wish and need. The target audience
Hitra is a beautiful destination all year round, even in the midst of winter.
is reflected in the exterior as well as the interior; it is the tallest building in Hitra with five floors, and is modern while also preserving key parts of local culture. This is evident through the use of the surrounding nature, crucially the coast and the ocean. Each room has local photographs as wallpaper, with a pamphlet explaining the history of each image. “Hjorten Hotell does not have a history yet, but we are creating our own as we go along,” says Almo. The art of hosting is taken very seriously at Hjorten Hotell. Each employee will undergo extensive training to make sure the guest is in focus throughout their stay. Hitra has a population of under 4,500, representing 35 nationalities.
Establishing a hotel of this size has meant contributing with employment opportunities, and Almo has meticulously chosen ten individuals to work at Hjorten. In the backyard of the hotel is a large stage, a much sought after cultural arena in Hitra. The aim is to have an open door policy for performers, especially if guests are visiting for training and seminars and wish to listen to something in particular. No request is too big or too small at Hjorten Hotell Hitra.
For more information, please visit: www.hjortenhotell.no
The ocean is an important part of Hitra and a source of inspiration in the design process at Hjorten Hotell.
Hitra houses the largest population of deer in northern Europe.
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Finland
Hotel of the Month, Finland
A piece of nature in the heart of the city With a history spanning four centuries, Lasaretinsaari Island in Oulu, Finland, is one of the most significant cultural and historical sites in Northern Ostrobothnia. With its picturesque landscapes, Hotel Lasaretti offers guests an ideal city retreat and countryside escape all at once. By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Hotel Lasaretti
The hotel is situated on the shores of the Oulujoki river and in the corner of Ainolan Puisto Park, and Lasaretti’s 49 rooms have views overlooking the river and the park-like yard of the historical building of the former county hospital, built in 1849. “Visitors could be fooled into thinking that we’re in a remote part of the countryside, but we’re only a short walk away from Oulu city centre,” says hotel manager Kaisu Peuralahti. Hotel Lasaretti offers an authentic feel of Finnish nature, and the island’s colourful past brings its own unique touch to the hotel’s charm. During its long history, Lasaretinsaari Island has served as a distillery and a military hospital and has hosted many distinguished guests from Finnish presidents to Swedish royalty. “Our location is perfect for those looking for a moment of peace and quiet,” 98 | Issue 89 | June 2016
Peuralahti says. “The park next to the hotel is ideal for long walks, and there is a beach opposite the hotel. The hotel’s swimming pool, gym, sauna and beauty treatments are also available to those in need of relaxation.”
our menu showcases the local cuisine of northern Ostrobothnia,” says Peuralahti. Whether it is spotting salmon climbing up the fishway to lay their eggs, or enjoying a spot of sunshine and a refreshing dip in the river, there is plenty to do in the hotel’s vicinity. “Our hotel is a hidden gem: the surrounding landscape offers a unique setting for couples, families and business people, and all our guests will undoubtedly find something interesting to do here,” Peuralahti concludes.
Hotel Lasaretti also boasts a range of meeting venues, including the impressive Aurora Hall, which seats 350 people. Lasaretti’s hotel rooms, restaurant, meeting rooms and even the yard area display a broad collection of visual art and sculpture, showcasing artists with northern Finnish roots. For those in search of new culinary experiences, the hotel’s Restaurant Virta and summer terrace serve dishes made from local, seasonal ingredients, as well as Finnish delicacies. “Our meals incorporate pure, organic ingredients and
Lasaretti’s rooms have views overlooking the river and the park-like yard of the former county hospital, built in 1849.
For more information, please visit: www.lasaretti.com
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Denmark
Main image: Most of Bandholm Hotel’s newly renovated, classic hotel rooms are located in the old manor’s main building built in 1886. Above: The beautiful, historic décor at Bandholm Hotel makes it the perfect venue for romantic events and getaways.
Hotel of the Month, Denmark
Historic elegance, present-day charm Intimate luxury, beautiful surroundings and a warm, open-hearted service have earned Bandholm Hotel a rating in the top-three of Denmark’s best hotels. With its romantic décor and countryside charm the four-star hotel, which is idyllically located on the north coast of Lolland, provides the perfect setting for a romantic wedding, a relaxing weekend or a delicious dinner. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Bandholm Hotel
Designated a royally privileged inn in 1692, the historic romance of Bandholm Hotel will transport you back to an era of grandeur and elegance. The hotel’s pristine white main building was built in 1886 when the Count of Knuthenborg owned the hotel. Having been gently and beautifully renovated, it now stands out as a well-preserved historic example of the elegant English manor house style, which was a favourite of the Count. But despite the grand setting, the hotel’s trademark and highest-rated quality is its countryside charm and warm, dedicated service, according to general manager Joseph Kristiansen. “We want to go that extra mile, and that’s why we get the best ratings for our service. We always aim to accommodate our guests with warm and
dedicated service to match the romantic classic style of the interior.”
experiences. The food can be enjoyed either in the cosy, classic Fireplace Dining Room or in the hotel’s versatile Glass Room, which is used both as a restaurant and for afternoon tea, parties and receptions. The Glass Room overlooks the sea and the hotel’s large terrace, where guests can also enjoy food and drinks during the summer.
To that purpose, the facilities of Bandholm Hotel are also continuously being improved and expanded. Most recently, a 100-metre-long sandy beach was established on the hotel’s waterfront. The hotel also offers a highly rated spa service with relaxing and beautifying treatments for those who are looking for a little extra pampering. The spa was rated among the ten best wellness destinations in Denmark by Trivago.
ABOUT BANDHOLM HOTEL: Bandholm Hotel comprises 40 hotel rooms. The hotel hosts a long string of events of all sizes. Its largest room, the elegant ballroom, can accommodate up to 150 people. The hotel’s newly constructed conference centre comprises seven meeting rooms. The hotel is located in Bandholm, a 90-minute drive from Copenhagen and just 15 minutes from Rødby.
In Bandholm’s beautiful à la carte restaurant, guests can enjoy a different kind of pampering with delicious, locally inspired dishes and exquisite gourmet
For more information, please visit: www.bandholmhotel.dk
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Scan Magazine | Humour | Columns
IS IT JUST ME… Who cannot help feeling spied on when on the internet every now and then? You know when you have been looking at buying reading glasses online and it results in two days of endless ads for reading glasses whenever you go on Facebook? By Mette Lisby The last time it happened to me was when my husband and I were about to book tickets from LA for our summer visit to Denmark. We had to get there for mid-May but decided that we could really go any day within the span of a week – whether we arrived Monday or Friday, we were flexible within that week and looked at various possible departures. Prices kept going up every time we searched – and at the same time ads for tickets LAX–CPH kept popping up in our feeds showing the everincreasing prices. They knew we were in dire need. Then I remembered reading somewhere that ticket prices change on Tuesday afternoons; that is when they release new offers and tickets that have been held back, so I told my husband to wait. The plan was clear. We would outsmart the system. For once, we would come out on top – we
would not be the hapless consumers playing along to the tune of multi-dollar businesses. We were going to change the matrix. Not only would we wait until Tuesday – we would con Big Brother. I would cunningly cheat the internet by conducting searches on flights to places I was not looking to go, on dates I did not intend to travel. Ha! I searched for tickets in the fall. Tickets to Timbuktu. I even looked up maps of Timbuktu just to mess the Google algorithm up. In total I spent more than ten hours covering my tracks online – cloak and dagger! I actually felt a slight rush as I sat there entering the completely wrong dates and places. I was messing the system up. Maybe this was how hackers felt when compromising big corporations? Finally, Tuesday came. We waited until after 3pm, then logged on. And it worked! The prices
had gotten cheaper! Okay, we were seated in the middle seat… in two different rows… and we are flying via Timbuktu. But, we beat the system! Sort of.
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 version of Have I Got News For You and Room 101.
Liberals By Maria Smedstad “I know I can tell you this…” people will say to me, “… because you’re Swedish”. This is then followed by a stream of lurid details from their personal lives, the likes of which they imagine I have heard a million times before and freely discuss over breakfast with my fellow countrymen. Because, as everyone knows, Swedes are a liberal bunch. Right? This was clearly spelt out to me soon after moving here. I was standing in a dingy school changing room, trying to work out how to tie a tie, when a girl several years younger than me marched up and demanded advice on all matters birds and bees. I looked around, uncertain as to whether she was talking to me. “You’re Swedish,” she explained. “You don’t mind talking about these things.” I had no advice to offer, but I politely listened to the girl’s concerns with what I hoped was a sympathetic and interested look on my face.
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Or to blame, whichever way you choose to look at it. It would be like a British person getting a job as a… I don’t know, a tea-taster, or an umbrella-mender? As far as stereotypes go, I do not think the Swedish one is bad. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being openminded and liberal. But then I would say that, wouldn’t I?
20 years have passed and this keeps happening to me. Possibly as a result of this, I have come to really enjoy talking about very personal things. It may even have led to my own chronic over-sharing, otherwise known as my career. So I guess in a sense I have my national stereotype to thank for my profession.
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 | Culture | Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
Photo: Jónatan Grétarsson
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson: The big friendly heartthrob The Icelandic television series Trapped was the Nordic Noir hit of last winter. The season finale had one million UK viewers glued to their screens, desperate to know ‘who dunnit’ while the big and bearded chief of police Andri, played by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, sent more shockwaves than Iceland’s most active volcanos. Scan Magazine caught up with Ólafsson and found out how fans can fill the Andri-sized gap in their lives as they eagerly await confirmation of a second season. By Stephanie Lovell
For a man so renowned for his size, Ólafsson somehow does not seem quite as big as you would expect as he sits sprawled out across a cosy corner of an unassuming café opposite the National Theatre of Iceland. He is also a great deal more talkative than you would imagine after seeing his perfect portrayal of the strong, silent type as Andri in Trapped. In between bites of egg, bacon and toast, he talks insightfully about why the most expensive series ever to be made in Iceland was so widely embraced by international audiences, shares some of the proudest moments of his career so far and discusses forthcoming projects that are sure to delight.
with Danish political drama Borgen, which is his favourite Nordic Noir series. “Of course, Trapped is a detective show and we’re all excited to find out who the murderer is, but by the end it’s almost as if you care more about what happens to the individual characters,” he says. “They’re just ordinary everyday people who are trying to do their jobs and want to go home in the evening, be with their children and watch TV.”
Not your typical leading man The series creator Baltasar Kormákur (Everest, 2 Guns) wrote the part of police chief Andri with Ólafsson in mind. “Sometimes it’s as if Balti knows me
better than I know myself, which is what makes him such a good director. He’s directed me many times and knows what my weaknesses are, what my strengths are,” says Ólafsson. “Although I’d never played a role like this for him before, he somehow saw that I could fit this part. It’s always nice when someone trusts you to take on any role.” Ólafsson’s portrayal of the taciturn and troubled police chief, who manages to investigate a murder in a raging blizzard without ever doing up his coat, has received widespread acclaim and earned him the label of ‘the hottest man in Iceland’ by The Guardian newspaper. When asked how it feels to be an Icelandic sex symbol, the 43-year-old actor rolls his eyes a little and says it is lucky this did not happen when he was in his twenties. “I don’t know how I would have coped with it then,” he laughs. “I mean, it’s fun, but I have a wife and I’m a family man, so I won’t get carried away. I can’t imagine that if this series had been
On a par with the best Nordic Noir “Our aim with Trapped was to make a series that was on the same level as the best that was coming from the Nordic countries, like The Killing, Borgen and The Bridge,” explains Ólafsson. “Of course, you do your best and try to make it as brilliant as possible, but the show’s success came as a pleasant surprise and exceeded our expectations. We have so far gained a following in Britain, Norway and France, where it has been aired, and it was great that people living in completely different surroundings could relate to this powerful story set in Iceland.” Part of the show’s success is down to the strong character development and gripping personal dramas. In that sense, Ólafsson feels it has most in common
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as chief of police Andri in Trapped. Photo: RVK Studios/ Lilja Jóns
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
From Trapped. Photos: RVK Studios/ Lilja Jóns
made anywhere else you would have a big fat guy in the leading role, so it’s great that Baltasar decided that it should be that way.”
‘Acting chose me’ Ólafsson’s career spans almost 20 years and includes work in theatre, film and television, both at home and abroad. “I feel like acting chose me, rather than the other way around,” he explains. “I’m the middle child, so maybe that has something to do with why I was drawn to it. Plus, I’ve always enjoyed stories and had a big imagination. There was a great drama group at my high school and then one day a friend dragged me along to the entrance audition for the Icelandic Drama School and I got in.” After graduating, Ólafsson and a few like-minded young actors went on to found Vesturport, a theatre and film company that has toured in London. In addition to acting, he has also worked as a co-producer on the critically acclaimed Icelandic films Children and Parents. “One of the proudest moments of my career was this monologue that I first performed in Reykjavik, where there were around 30 people in the audience, and then we took it to Akureyri [Iceland’s second-largest 104 | Issue 89 | June 2016
city], where only 11 people came to see it. But it didn’t matter that there were so few people; what mattered was that those people had come to see the show and that gave me the energy I needed to deliver my best performance,” he recalls.
Giant footprints on the international stage Although a second series of Trapped is yet to be confirmed, there will be plenty of opportunities to catch Ólafsson on the big and small screens in the coming months. First up is Lady Dynamite, a new Netflix comedy series that premiered last May. “I feature alongside a lot of comedy actors and stand-up comedians who are masters in comic timing, whereas I come from more of a classical acting background. In a way, it’s a lot easier to fake drama than comedy. In comedy, you’re either funny or you’re not,” says Ólafsson. “It was a really good learning experience for me. It was bit like a crash course in how to act in English, which isn’t my mother tongue. I had to concentrate on what was going on around me while at the same time translating everything in my head and preparing all my timings.” Without even having to audition, Ólafsson was offered a part of a giant in Steven
Spielberg’s adaptation of The BFG, which is set to be one of the biggest blockbusters this summer. “I have been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with some of the people who inspired me long before I decided to become an actor, people like Jonathan Demme, Charlie Kaufman and now Steven Spielberg. It’s a real privilege,” says Ólafsson. “I mean, Spielberg is the guy who made Jaws, E.T. and Raiders of the Lost Ark, and to get the chance to work with him was pretty incredible.” While Ólafsson continues to take the international stage by storm, he remains loyal to his local theatre roots. “It’s funny, people often think that it’s a totally different feeling to get a part in a Hollywood movie than in the National Theatre of Iceland, for example, but it isn’t like that at all. When people want to work with you and it’s something you want to do and everything goes well – the feeling is the same,” says Ólafsson. “The main thing is not the size of the stage, it’s being on the stage.” It is only when Ólafsson gets up to leave at the end of the interview that it becomes clear what an imposing figure he is. Yet, giant though his proportions may be, he is clearly a humble man at heart.
Scan Magazine | Culture | Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
Photo: Jónatan Grétarsson
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Scan Magazine | Culture Feature | Nationalpark Mols Bjerge
Photo: Sebastian Nils
Cycle through the history of man and nature With 180 square kilometres of captivating Ice Age landscape and stunning coastal areas, the Mols Bjerge National Park is a haven for nature lovers. One of the most popular and rewarding ways of exploring the park’s hilly landscape and charming historic towns is by bicycle. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Mols Bjerge National Park
Swerving around the distinct shape of an Ice Age hill to meet a stunning view of the open sea, a charming coastal town or a historic burial mound – cycling in the Mols Bjerge National Park presents an array of breathtaking moments. “I’ve cycled around Mols Bjerge and it’s a truly amazing experience criss-crossing through hills, open moors and panoramic views of the sea,” says project manager Nicole Wolter. “It’s not exaggerating to 106 | Issue 89 | June 2016
say that because of the way that the last Ice Age shaped the area, it’s one of the best places to go bicycling in Denmark.” The National Park is located exactly where the last ice glacier stopped its progress 18,000 years ago. When the ice started melting and moving, it created the mounds and craters that today make up the hilly landscape that has become so popular with bicyclists of all levels, from
families to professional cyclists. Furthermore, the park’s cycling network has recently been expanded so that visitors can navigate through the natural areas and on to the small villages on designated bicycle paths and gravel roads.
Nature’s playground Extending from the coast of Kattegat in the east to the forests of Kalø in the west, the Mols Bjerge National Park encompasses a surprisingly rich variety of landscapes. Moving from the winding inlets in the south to the magnificent moraine formations of the hills of Mols Bjerge and the outwash plains of the Ice Age, you will pass through forests, moors and open dry grasslands as well as
Scan Magazine | Culture Feature | Nationalpark Mols Bjerge
lakes and coastal areas. How to explore it is completely up to you, but there is a range of opportunities at hand. “We have a lot of visitors who hike and bike around the park,” explains Wolter. “During the summer, we have a number of National Park guides who are out and about in the landscape to give our visitors help, guidance and information where they are, and it’s completely free.” Another option is to join the three-hour National Park bus tour, guided by a trained biologist who points out and explains the special characteristics of the park. Visitors wishing to explore the park from the seaside can board the park’s veteran freighter, from which they can enjoy the shifting landscape and an amazing sunset.
Combining forces When Mols Bjerge became Denmark’s second national park in 2009, it was mainly because of the area’s unique landscape and rich biological variety. But while nature is indisputably the area’s greatest asset, there are also some spectacular man-made attractions to be explored. One of the most popular is the ruins of the old Kalø Castle, which was founded on a small island half a kilometre from the coast by King Erik Menved in the 14th century. King Erik was
also the king who granted Ebeltoft, an old port and market town, its municipal charter. With rustic cobblestoned streets and centuries-old half-timbered houses, the town oozes of history and has several times been dubbed one of Denmark’s best-preserved town centres. Ebeltoft is one of several small towns and villages in the area, offering accommodation in the form of hotels, B&Bs and campsites. Another possibility is to rent one of the numerous holiday houses, which the area is also known for, or set up camp at one of the park’s free shelters if you really want to get in touch with nature.
ABOUT MOLS BJERGE NATIONAL PARK: The Mols Bjerge National Park was founded in 2009 as the second of Denmark’s four national parks. The park covers an area of 180 square kilometres, located half an hour’s drive from Aarhus. Admission is free and the park is open 24/7 all year round.
For more information, please visit: www.nationalparkmolsbjerge.dk
The ruins of the old Kalø Castle is one of the most popular man-made attractions in the Mols Bjerge National Park. Photo: Ann Malmgren
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandipop
Scandinavian music Danish superstar MØ is back with a brand new single, Final Song. With a happy temperament and quirky production, it is an infectious listen that makes big use of as many drums as it can fit into the recording studio. If you loved her Major Lazer collaboration from last year, Lean On, which was streamed an impressive 750 million times, you will probably like this one even more. A Swedish pop legend before she had even reached the age of 18, it has been a while since we have heard from child star Amy Diamond. Now a 24-year-old, she is back – and releasing music under her real name, Amy Deasismont. Debut single One is a haunting synthpop track that finds Amy as mature as she needs to be, yet still very much a top-notch pop act. Sisters Anilde and Azilda, or NEW:NAME as we are to refer to them now, are the
By Karl Batterbee
most recent winners of the Danish X Factor. They have just released their first single, Don’t You Wait, a brilliant concoction of soul music merged with folk music (honestly – wait for the postchorus). As a result, it is unlike anything else out there at the moment. Chris Tall is a Swedish producer who has just unleashed a monster of a tune upon us. Roller Skater is a lusciously sugarcoated summer jam that sounds like Goldfrapp meets Scandipop. After previous singles Jupiter and Sunstruck (well worth checking out if you have yet to), Finnish newcomers Coska have returned with a brand new gem, Nightdrive. To call it ‘80s-inspired is putting it lightly – they have gone so far as to make it sound like it was recorded in the ‘80s, for real. And as such, it is a highly enchanting listen.
And finally onto something huge! French DJ and producer David Guetta has been tasked with producing the official theme for this year’s UEFA EURO football tournament. He has come up with This One’s For You, and has our very own Zara Larsson to front it. A jubilant dance track that is effortlessly uplifting – plus it exudes summer vibes, which is always a nice bonus going into the next few months. www.scandipop.co.uk scandipop@gmail.com
Danish String Quartet. Photo: Caroline Bittencourt
From the exhibition I cannot do it alone - want to join in? by Poul Gernes. Photo: Lea Nielsen
Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! Poul Gernes (Until 16 Oct) One of the greatest Danish artists of the post-war generation, Poul Gernes (1925-1996) was a pivotal figure in the Eks-Skolen in the ‘60s, contributing to 108 | Issue 89 | June 2016
a new direction in art history with a new conception of the role of art and artists in society. I cannot do it alone – want to join in? features a number of Gernes’ major works focusing on his unusual talent
By Linnea Dunne
for creating large, impactful images addressed to a new, optimistic age. Tue-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm, Louisiana, Gl. Strandvej 13, 3050 Humlebæk. www.louisiana.dk
Aften, interiør,1890 by Harriet Backer, Japanomania Norden exhibition. Photo: Nasjonalmuseet
Åge Aleksandersen and Sambandet (17 June) Performing hits including It’s a Long Way to Royal Albert Hall, the Norwegian national treasure celebrates a successful 40-year career at this legendary London venue. Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP. www.royalalberthall.com
and design around 1900. Tue, Wed, Fri 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-7pm, Sat-Sun 1216pm, The Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, St. Olavs Gate 1, Oslo. Also Tue, Wed, Fri 10am-6pm, Thu 10am7pm, Sat-Sun, 11am-5pm, The National Gallery, Universitetsgata 13, Oslo. www.nasjonalmuseet.no
The Tallest Man On Earth (21 June)
Japanomania Norden (17 Jun-17 Oct) An exhibition in two parts, one focusing on applied art and one with an emphasis on fine art, Japanomania Norden 18751918 is the first exhibition of its kind and demonstrates the wide-ranging influence of Japanese art on Nordic art
Kristian Matsson, better known as The Tallest Man On Earth, performs his popular folk-pop craft with guitar and banjo on one of London’s most prestigious stages. Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP. www.royalalberthall.com
The Tallest Man On Earth. Photo: Cameron Wittig
Issue 89 | June 2016 | 109
Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinavian Culture Calendar
with the Danish National Opera. Opera Holland Park, 37 Pembroke Road, London W8 6PW. www.operahollandpark.com
Bonnier Dahlin’s collected works (Until 28 Aug) For three decades now, the Maria Bonnier Dahlin Foundation has been supporting young artists. The group exhibition Collected Works! 30 years with the Maria Bonnier Dahlin Foundation features art from all 79 grant recipients, offering a comprehensive overview of Swedish modern art history. Wed, 12-8pm, Thu-Sun 12-5pm, Bonniers Konsthall, Torsgatan 19, 113 21 Stockholm. www.bonnierskonsthall.se
Ebbot Lundberg & The Indigo Children. Photo: Peter Nilsson
King Diamond (21 June)
Mezzo-soprano Aino Konkka (14 July)
The Danish heavy metal outfit will perform their 1987 album Abigail in its entirety. The O2 Forum Kentish Town, 9-17 Highgate Rd, London NW5 1JY. www.academymusicgroup.com
Free lunchtime recital by Finnish mezzosoprano Aino Konkka, accompanied by pianist Richard Black. Church of St. George the Martyr, Borough High St, London SE1 1JA. www.stgeorge-themartyr.co.uk
Of the Wand and the Moon (21 June) Ambient experimental folk and alternative sounds from Danish musician Kim Larsen. The Underworld, 174 Camden High St, London NW1 0NE. www.theunderworldcamden.co.uk
La Cenerentola with the Danish National Opera (Jul 14-30) Conducted by Dane Lam, with director Oliver Platt and featuring Victoria Simmonds as Angelina, this take on Rossini’s comic opera is a co-production
Ebbot Lundberg & The Indigo Children (24 June) The Swedish singer-songwriter, musician and frontman of The Soundtrack of Our Lives performs psychedelic rock at The Half Moon this month. Half Moon, Putney, 93 Lower Richmond Rd, London SW15 1EU. www.halfmoon.co.uk
Danish String Quartet (26 June) The Danish String Quartet will wow Wigmore Hall with Janáček’s String Quartet No. 2, Intimate Letters, and Beethoven’s String Quartet in E Minor No. 2, Razumovsky. Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore St, London W1U 2BP. www.halfmoon.co.uk 110 | Issue 89 | June 2016
Collected Works! 30 Years with the Maria Bonnier Dahlin Foundation. Photo: Per Kristiansen
Victoria Simmonds, starring in opera La Cenerentola with the Danish National Opera. Photo: Mat Smith Photography
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Nordfyns Museum The history of the town of Bogense and North Funen, in words, artifacts, paintings and pictures. Nordfyns Museum Vestergade 16, DK-5400 Bogense, Denmark Phone: +45 6481 1884 E-mail: nordmus@mail.tele.dk www.nordfynsmuseum.dk
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Spiseriet – listed by White Guide Nordic as one of the best 300 restaurants in the Nordics in both 2015 and 2016.
As of 1 June, Christoffer Ingebretsen brings extensive experience to the ambitious team at Spiseriet. As the new restaurant manager and sommelier, he will share his high level of wine expertise with all guests.
spiseriet.no I post@spiseriet.no I SandvigĂĽ 1. 4007 Stavanger. Norway