DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE 119 PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA

ANJA PÄRSON AND FILIPPA RÅDIN: SKI SLOPES AND CATWALKS NORDIC DESIGN SPECIAL YOUR GUIDE TO A SWEDISH WINTER WONDERLAND FINNISH SAUNA AND WELLNESS CULTURE

Scan Magazine | Contents

Contents COVER FEATURE 44

Anja Pärson & Filippa Rådin – Ski Slopes and Catwalks Six years have passed since world-renowned Alpine skier and national sports icon Anja Pärson announced on radio that she was having a baby – with fashionista Filippa Rådin. Scan Magazine spoke to the couple about being role models, the reality of running a business with your wife, and their new ELLOS party and loungewear collections

From an inspiring museum dedicated to the legends that are the Moomins, to a circus with a social heart, Tampere makes the perfect destination for an entertaining, well-designed Scandinavian weekend getaway. Here is our guide.

Treat yourself There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes, or at least so the Swedish saying goes. We show you how to stay warm and dry in style this winter, and share some tips on how to treat yourself during a season that can sometimes be stressful and overwhelming for some.

SPECIAL THEMES 16

Nordic Design Special

A Swedish Winter Wonderland Dog sledding, northern lights and off-piste skiing – this and much more can be enjoyed during a winter trip to Sweden, where you can also learn more about Sami culture or spend a night in a suite made entirely of ice. Here is our guide to your Swedish winter wonderland.

Sauna and Wellness in Finland Some say that the way to a Finn’s heart is through their sauna. True or not, sauna culture and Finnish culture certainly are deeply intertwined. Come with Scan Magazine on an exploration of this sometimes-sweaty, always-fascinating pastime, which may well be a secret to happiness.

Swedish Schools Abroad Take a renowned school curriculum and bring it to an expat community, and what you get, Scan Magazine discovered, is a tight-knit community and academic excellence. We spoke to the people behind some of the best Swedish schools abroad, as well as one of the very best boarding schools.

BUSINESS 97

Noble Ideas and Nobel Perspectives House construction by numbers, sustainable LED combustion and the theory of time inconsistency – these ideas and more are what we explore in this month’s business section.

CULTURE 128 A Lady Pioneering in Hollywood We spoke to the first ever woman to score a liveaction DC Comics film, Icelandic composer and cellist Hildur Guðnadóttir. If you missed her at Union Chapel recently, check out the culture calendar for the hottest Nordic gigs this festive season.

4 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Danish Culture: Our Top Picks

REGULARS & COLUMNS 8 114 118 123

What do gourmet salt and migratory birds have in common? They are both at the heart of seaside tourist attractions in Denmark. Add a rich artistic heritage, and you have a must-see trio to keep you spoilt for choice if you are thinking of a visit to Denmark this spring.

Just when you think that you have discovered your favourite Scandinavian design brand, another stunner comes along. We cannot get enough of these sophisticated pieces of jewellery, snug mittens, powerful paintings, sustainable wool garments and intricate interiors items from Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Destination Bodø Bodø may be small, but as the biggest town in its region in northern Norway, it boasts a disproportionate amount of cultural heritage and activities. We list three things not to miss when visiting this naturally stunning area.

DESIGN 8

Visit Tampere

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Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note

Dear Reader, Do you know what the best thing about being a Swedish expat is? That you do not have to spend every morning for four or five months every winter wrapping your child up in 15 layers to get out the door, only to have to peel off said layers two minutes later when they need the toilet – yet you can visit when you feel like it, and really appreciate the sparkling beauty that is a Swedish winter wonderland. I have never been a fan of winter and snow, but when I read through this issue and look at the stunning landscapes in our Swedish winter special, I feel nostalgic, and I want to go home. If you, too, want a taste of that crisp, pristine beauty, read on for inspiration on where to go.

What else? Well, while I grew up enjoying saunas in the nip after swimming in the pool, this issue has taught me that perhaps, after all, we Swedes still have some way to go when it comes to making the most of sauna culture. This festive season, I am staying put – think something more along the lines of that wonderfully cosy vibe that cover stars Anja Pärson and Filippa Rådin give off – so there will be no sauna for me. That said, I may well have to plan a trip to Tampere for 2019.

Among other things that trigger a twinge of homesickness in me is great, simple design, another thing we have plenty of in this issue. We do not limit it to Swedish design here, but I will argue that, different as the traditions can sometimes be, the Nordic design expressions have a lot in common: that admirable refusal to compromise on functionality, an unmistakable minimalist streak, and a tireless commitment to sustainability. Just look at those light-as-a-feather geometric earrings from Valona. So Scandinavian, and so perfect.

Linnea Dunne, Editor

Happy reading, and I will see you on the other side!

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6 | Issue 119 | December 2018

This magazine contains

WHALE & BIRD WATCHING IN SPRING AND SUMMER The waters of Andenes are highly productive, attracting a great diversity of both baleen and toothed whales! The most common sightings in Summer are Sperm whales. It is the largest toothed whale in the world, growing up to 20 m and 60 tons! Get your camera ready to take outstanding shots of the Sperm whale fluke before they dive! You have also a great chance to see Pilot whales, Orca´s, Minke whales, dolphins and Fin whales. BIRD WATCHING ACTIVITIES AND SNORKELLING! Join our bird safari trips to watch white tailed eagles, gannets and puffins among other from our RIB! if you are lucky, we might also encounter harbour seals, harbour porpoises, otters or minks. During the trip we stop at one of the most famous bird colonies in Norway, with about 20.000 pairs of nesting puffins, auks and guillemots. Also we meet a colony of nesting gannets, seagulls and cormorants. We follow our code of conduct when we approach whales & birds. BOOK YOUR TOUR HERE! https://www.seasafariandenes.no/ or call for more information: 004791674960 post@seasafariandenes.no Follow us on Facebook or Instagram: @sea_safari_andenes

Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary

Fashion Diary… With the popular saying ‘there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing’ in mind, Scandinavians are experts in how to dress the part to stay warm in wintertime. This season, look to the Nordics for inspiration, both to be trendy and for weather appropriate items to add to your wardrobe. By Ingrid Opstad | Press photos

Get ready for winter with this soft and cosy knitted unisex jumper from Norwegian fashion brand Holzweiler. It has a printed polar bear motif as well as the phrase ‘save the winter’, and all surplus revenue from this jumper is donated to WWF. Holzweiler, ‘Ted’ knit, approx. £277 www.holzweiler.no

A scarf is a must in the colder months. Why not go for this classic with a braided pattern and knitted from a soft lambswool yarn? Style it around the neck in a variety of ways, accompanied by your favourite coat or jacket. Filippa K, braided scarf, £120 www.filippa-k.com

This reversible print jacket is part of a new collaboration full of colourful unisex pieces. As an homage from one Swedish brand to another, Acne Studios has reinterpreted some of Fjällräven’s most iconic and best-loved items. Updated with luxury finishes, this oversized, cropped version of the classic Expedition jacket is a perfect winter warmer. Acne Studios X Fjällräven, reversible down jacket, £900 www.acnestudios.com

Keep your feet warm with these winter boots from Filippa K. Crafted from cosy lambskin shearling and with a furry inside that features a removable comfort insole, they look cool and feel oh so comfortable. Also available in black. Filippa K, ‘Bonny’ shearling boot, £270 www.filippa-k.com

8 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary

Inspired by an iconic fisherman’s fairisle, known as the Norwegian birdseye pattern, this knitted beanie from Danish brand Norse Projects is constructed from 100 per cent pure new wool. A true product of the cold, cold north. Norse Projects, Norwegian birdseye beanie, £75 www.norseprojects.com

We love this new take on the classic Kånken bag in a messenger style, designed to fit a laptop. Also part of the collaboration between Fjällräven and Acne Studios, this updated bag comes in four bright colours: blue, olive green, sunflower yellow and deep orange. Acne Studios X Fjällräven, messenger bag, £180 www.acnestudios.com

The Commuter parka is a technical style developed by Scandinavian Edition to make your commuting life in Scandinavian weather easier and more comfortable. It is light, but still warm and provides comfort whether you are running to the metro or on your bike. Available in black and navy. Scandinavian Edition, the ‘Commuter’ parka, £584 www.scandinavianedition.com

10 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Soft, fluffy, cosy and warm. We all have that one favourite jumper we love, and this one from NN07 looks like it could well be a new staple. Knitted in a fancy yarn with a blend of cashmere, wool and viscose, it is great both out and about and for lazy days at home. NN07, ‘Teddy’ half zip 6299 jumper, approx. £198 www.nn07.com

Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This

We love this… In the sometimes-stressful build-up to Christmas, we can all use a bit of time to relax and kick back. Advent always goes by so fast, so make sure to take a moment to appreciate the little things, like a new pair of slippers or a warming coffee from your new favourite mug. Take a moment to treat yourself – you deserve it! By Ingrid Opstad | Press photos

This December, treat yourself to a beautiful new necklace by BJØRG JEWELLERY. We think this silver-plated Portal necklace is a great choice with its minimal look and hidden message inside saying ‘deep inside you know the truth’. BJØRG JEWELLERY, the ‘Portal’ necklace, £105 www.bjorgjewellery.com

Danish brand Glerups knows all about keeping your feet cosy. These comfortable felt shoes come in a range of styles and colours, and are made of 100 per cent pure natural wool. The shape of the shoe follows the contours of the foot, ensuring that it stays on. It is flexible while keeping your feet warm and dry, thanks to the characteristics of the wool and its capacity to absorb moisture. Glerups, felt shoe, approx. £60 www.glerups.com

Another great reason to do more baking: The Nordic Baking Book by acclaimed chef Magnus Nilsson. Packed full of 450 tempting recipes for home bakers, including everything from breads and pastries to cakes, cookies and holiday treats, this book explores the rich baking tradition of the Nordic region. A real treat. Phaidon, The Nordic Baking Book by Magnus Nilsson, £29.95 www.phaidon.com

Indulge by getting yourself a personalised new mug to enjoy all your favourite hot drinks from this winter. The Royal Copenhagen alphabet mugs take inspiration from the first hand-painted line, Blue Fluted Plain from 1775. Each of these iconic mugs has a single letter painted on one side. Very decorative, and something to cherish for years to come. Royal Copenhagen, alphabet mug, £60 www.royalcopenhagen.com

Can we tempt you with some soft liquorice with dark chocolate and small flakes of sea salt? If you are a liquorice lover, these balls of deliciousness are a lovely treat to keep at hand. Johan Bülow created the brand Lakrids to bring attention to liquorice, a Scandinavian favourite that he felt was under-appreciated and deserved to be taken more seriously. Lakrids, dark & sea salt, small, £9.50 Lakrids, dark & sea salt, large, £14.50 www.lakridsbybulow.co.uk

12 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Denmark

Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects’ new facade for the iconic Illum department store has dramatically changed the previously anonymous, dark building.

Pushing the limits of prefabricated luxury Transforming an iconic building in the heart of Copenhagen is a dream job for many architects, but it also involves nightmarish restrictions and challenges. When creating a new facade for the historical Illum department store, Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects needed a plan that could be realised within a restricted time and space frame, and without renewing the municipal district plan. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Rasmus Hjortshøj

“The Marching Band of the Royal Life Guards defined our work space,” says partner Simon Svensson with a smile, but he is actually quite serious. A challenging condition of the new Illum facade project was a set safety distance from the Band of the Royal Life Guards marching by Amagertorv every week. A strict time plan posed another challenge, as the owner of Illum needed to realise the new facade without renewing the municipal 14 | Issue 119 | December 2018

district plan. “There was simply no room for mistakes,” Svensson stresses. “Basically, we had to make a new facade with specific requirements at a building site that couldn’t exist.” Modern, yet respectfully integrated into the surroundings of the old city of Copenhagen, Illum’s exterior was radically transformed from what was previously an anonymous dark facade. The

result, however, shows little evidence of these challenges.

Pushing the limits of prefabrication So, how was it done? By pushing the physical limits of prefabricated facade elements. Placed on top of a light limestone cladding, large, prefabricated dark bronze boxes now add depth and texture to a previously smooth facade. “The most important thing was that the facade did not appear as an offsite prefab construction. So, we had to ask ourselves how to work with something of this scope and simultaneously challenge the perception of a prefabricated facade,” says Svensson. “We had to go bigger, heavier and wider than ever. When we talked to manufacturers, they were initially con-

Scan Magazine | Architecture Profile | Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects

cerned about the size of the elements, but we found a solution. My approach is that everything can always be done in collaboration.” The prefabricated elements were installed on the corner of Illum and by adding a relief effect, the building was integrated with the elaborate facades of the surrounding blocks.

Respectfully uniting centuries of design While the restructured facade of Illum’s corner has radically altered the department store, it is not the only part of the transformation. Illum consists of a cluster of properties built from 1890 to 1970 and all were given a unifying base, middle, and roof structure. Originally, the corner of Illum was not part of the block, meaning it was taller than the adjacent buildings,” explains Svensson. “We pro-

posed to the client the advantage of actually removing an entire floor and they were up for it as they could see the benefits. We’re pretty proud of that. When a client agrees to reduce commercial square metres, your design works.” Reducing the height of the corner building unlocked the possibility of connecting the roofs of the adjoining houses, hence expanding Illum’s much loved rooftop terrace, a hot spot for tourists and locals alike. Combined with large open-window sections on all floors, this has opened up a previously rather closed building to the city around it, to the satisfaction of both wandering visitors and super brands, like Prada. “In Denmark, we’re known to work with and utilise daylight to create bright, open and inviting environments, whereas the Prada stores located in Illum’s corner building tend to be a bit more reserved and secretive. It was im-

portant for us to create and challenge the encounter between Italian fashion and Danish modernism, but they were very excited when we presented the concept. I think that’s when we knew we hit the spot – when people like Prada are happy, you know you’ve got it right.” Web: www.vla.dk Instagram: @vilhelmlauritzenarchitects LinkedIn: vilhelm-lauritzen-architects

Facts: Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects is one of Denmark’s largest and oldest architecture firms, employing 150 architects, construction engineers and specialists. The firm was founded in 1922 by leading modernist architect Vilhelm Theodor Lauritzen. He was born in 1894 and accepted at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1912. Lauritzen and his associates, among others the internationally renowned Finn Juhl, went on to create a string of the most recognised and famous works of Danish modernism, including DR’s Radiohuset, the equivalent of BBC’s broadcasting house, the concert hall VEGA and the original Copenhagen Airport, today known as the Vilhelm Lauritzen Terminal. Later in life, he came to receive the Order of Dannebrog – the Danish equivalent to the OBE. Among the recent projects of Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects are the airports of Copenhagen and Oslo, the national broadcasting house of DR, metro- and train stations, university campus extensions, large headquarters, laboratories and Denmark’s new embassy in India. Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects’ headquarters are is located in Nordhavn, Copenhagen.

Left, top and bottom: Prada store. ‘When people like Prada are happy, you know you’ve got it right,’ says partner Simon Svensson. Top right: Old corner building facade. Bottom right: Partner at Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, Simon Svensson. Photo: VLA.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 15

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Nordic Design Christmas Special Gift– Special Swedish Design :

N IG S e DE L Sp C I CIA D R PE NO S l cia

e Th

Photo: Lea Josephine Becker.

A jewellery journey She is just back from Spain. After Christmas, Thailand and Cambodia await. Lotta may be based in the south of Sweden, but her jewellery brand, Lotta Jewellery, still comes with an internationally cosmopolitan lifestyle. “No two days are ever the same,” she says. “I love it – I love contrasts and I love the freedom.” By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Lotta Jewellery

It was during her travels that the adventure first began, 20 years ago, resulting in jewellery made from aluminium and glass in Bali, sold at the Shibuya crossing in the streets of Tokyo. Lotta had zero qualifications to her name, yet managed to get distributors all over the world after opening up shop in Paris – and back in Sweden, years later, she was counting numerous awards, brand ambassadors and loyal customers, in addition to a very healthy business indeed. “But then, a couple of years ago, I realised that I’d lost that core, that real 16 | Issue 119 | December 2018

reason why I’m doing all this,” she says. “There are plenty of people who want to fight to have the most shops and the best collections – but I’ve been there, done that. I’d ticked the box of 30 international fairs and fashion shows a year and agents and distributors in 26 countries. But what’s the point in being the best if that’s not what I want?”

Back to basics You could say that Lotta’s turning point was very of its time, a not too rare realisation at a time when more and more

Lotta. Photo: Malin Andersson.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Swedish Design

people are looking to slow down and aim for quality over quantity. “I felt like things had started spinning too quickly, and I wanted to get back to the core, back to the human being and the people who I make all this jewellery for,” she reflects. “Back in Paris, I’d been designing wedding bands for couples and worked quite closely with them, and I missed that. I missed the relationships.” Lotta decided to leave the business to do its thing, with existing distributors selling to their hearts’ desires but without her actively trying to reach more people or sell more. Instead, she set about designing a new wedding collection, Misty Forest, and took her best-sellers from 15 years ago and reinterpreted them using frosted silver and sapphires for the new Renaissance Collection. “I’ve always been inspired by nature, and that element is still there: I’ve kept the acorns and swallows, and my loyal customers will recognise the designs. It’s been a very positive experience,” she explains.

Designing people’s dreams In addition, the designer has found the perfect balance between her two favourite things: people and travel. She now regularly welcomes customers from all over the world into her workshop to brainstorm new, unique designs for them, or takes them out to dinner to help them find the custom-made wedding bands that express their individual personalities and relationship. “With customers from abroad, we can start the process via email or phone. I’ll listen to them, come up with a proposal and create the parts in wax before they decide what metal they want. Some might want to take inspiration from Misty Forest but change diamond for emerald or similar,” Lotta explains. “Sometimes, I personally deliver the rings to the customers. I was in South Africa and Dubai delivering diamond rings recently, and soon I’m off to London! It’s an amazing way to work.” The beauty of a slower pace is that the designer can spend even more time

working on her designs in her favourite locations around the world. Often, she will take pieces of Swedish nature with her – like acorns, which are dried and used to create wax moulds, or oak leaves for the popular Mighty Oak bracelet. “I can spend three days just making sure that the outcome is exactly what I want it to be. There’s something lovely about being able to give creativity the time it takes,” says Lotta, stressing that it is her way of working that has changed – but her fans and ambassadors are still there, all over the world. “I’ve returned to that core of putting the person and their dreams first. That’s what it’s all about: creating something from scratch, giving them something made of love, something unique that lasts. A moment, a memory and a piece of jewellery that will last for an eternity.”

Renaissance Collection.

Web: www.lottajewellery.com Facebook: LottaJewelleryBoutique Instagram: @lottajewellery Flagship Shop: Boutique Lotta Jewellery, Hamngatan 3, Malmö

Photo: Lea Josephine Becker.

Misty Collection.

Misty Forest.

Wedding.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 17

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Swedish Design

Happy and playful art for a better world Charlotte Olsson’s art is created using recycled materials such as old crafts and plastic items collected from the ocean, which provides endless inspiration for her colourful designs – and they carry an important message to protect our world. By Malin Norman | Photos: Charlotte Olsson

The recycling artist Charlotte Olsson is no doubt a creative spirit. Established in 1980, her business consists of three key pillars: first of all, her art; secondly, her own designs, such as silk patterns; and finally, her designs for other companies with a sustainability focus. With sustainability as a driving force and key to everything she does, Olsson is taking care of the resources available and giving them new life. The playful and colourful designs are exclusive pieces, created in one original version only, and motifs include cakes, hearts, animals 18 | Issue 119 | December 2018

and plants. “In my art, the greatest inspiration is joy, originality and quality,” explains Olsson. Her Happy Cake silk scarf pattern was launched in 2015 and nominated for the Swedish Design Award the same year. The motif has also been featured on American Vogue’s list of 15 fresh ideas for covering up at the beach this summer. “I’m overwhelmed,” she admits, and elaborates on the positive attention: “Nobody else does what I do, and I can stand for my products. I guess that makes it easier to get through to people.”

Mindful art with a message Behind the art and design hides an important, positive message. Highlighting the significance of the earth’s resources, Olsson uses what already exists and turns it into something new and beautiful. For example, she uses handmade lace, embroidery and fabric and creates new designs. “Ten years ago, I became a mother for the first time,” says the designer. “This made me stop and think. I became more aware of what I was consuming.” Olsson’s clients include both private and public collections around the world. For instance, Ronald McDonald House has a number of paintings of which two are special orders by NHL ice-hockey player Henrik Lundqvist. The department store Nordiska Kompaniet (NK) sells her silk

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Swedish Design

products and pens, and other clients include Michelin-star restaurant Kock & Vin and the Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, both in Gothenburg. Furthermore, Olsson has previously exhibited her art at the European Council for Human Rights in Strasbourg, the Cathrine Miller Gallery at Hollywood Road, London, the Decorative Art Fair in London and The Gallery at Gothia Towers in Gothenburg to name a few. Impressively, the artist has done more than 80 exhibitions in the past seven years.

Save the oceans from plastic For the Perfect World Foundation’s gala Save the Ocean in 2017, Olsson created an almost four-metre-tall heart sculpture made of plastic waste found in the ocean. The Plastic Heart aimed to raise awareness of waste in our seas and celebrities such as Sir Richard Branson and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, helped collect waste for the project. The massive sculpture has previously been shown in the arrivals hall at Landvetter Airport.

inspiration,” says Olsson. “The fact that the ocean will soon contain more plastic than fish makes me terrified! Almost half the oxygen we breathe is produced in the ocean. Is this what we want to pass on to future generations?” Another important charity for Olsson is Project Playground, a non-profit organisation founded by Frida Vesterberg and Princess Sofia of Sweden. For the project, Olsson created the painting Dancing in the Street, which consists of a heart of recycled craft on a background of corrugated metal with bullet holes from South Africa. The message is that you can have a tough face, but it is the inside that counts. “Helping others is an important part of my life and my art,” Olsson adds.

Ballograf Champagne and hearts Recently, Olsson did a unique collaboration with Sweden’s only pen manufacturer, Ballograf, a company founded in 1945. Its classic model of a desk-set pen is now carrying two beautiful new motifs. Both designs, Champagne and Heart, are now available in Japan, and this spring, Olsson will launch a third design of the classic desk-set. “Over the years, Ballograf has continuously developed and improved its products, and they give a lifetime warranty on every pen and bullet pen that leaves the factory – sustainable thinking for a sustainable future, which fits very well with my own personal values,” confirms Olsson, and adds: “This is what I’m looking for in any future design collaborations.”

On the same theme, the organisation Världens Vackraste Skärgård (The World’s Most Beautiful Archipelago) has ordered a sculpture made of waste from 101 islands in the Bohuslän archipelago. “The ocean is our biggest source of life, and for me the greatest source of

Web: www.charlotteolsson.se Facebook: CharlotteOlssonArt Instagram: @CharlotteOlssonArt

Charlotte Olsson.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 19

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Swedish Design

Dovima with Sacha, cloche and suit by Balenciaga, Café des Deux Magots, Paris, 1955. Photo: © The Richard Avedon Foundation.

Silk taffeta evening dress, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Paris, 1955.Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Balenciaga — Master of Couture at Textilmuseet In the next four months, visitors at Textilmuseet in Borås have the opportunity to see the works of praised fashion designer Balenciaga. Opening in December, the exhibition not only presents his amazing designs but also includes other designers who were inspired by the master. Do not miss this! By Malin Norman

On 15 December, Textilmuseet in Borås will open its new international exhibition, Balenciaga: Master of Couture, which highlights the Spanish fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, also referred to as the master of haute couture. Presented for the first time in Sweden, the display focuses on the 1950s and 1960s, but also includes designers who have been inspired by Balenciaga, such as Hubert de Givenchy, Yohij Yamamoto, Iris van Herpen and Hussein Chalayan. The exhibition was produced by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, where it has been seen by more 20 | Issue 119 | December 2018

than 270,000 visitors. It has, since its opening, been highly praised in international press and, as of March this year, is on a worldwide tour – from London to Canada and then Borås, which is the only European stop along the tour, and later on to Australia. “This is a dream come true,” curator Eva Blomqvist enthuses. “We have been looking for a collaboration with the V&A in London for a long time, and now all the pieces fell into place. Balenciaga has had such great impact on the world of fashion, and this era is particularly popular amongst our visitors. I’m

so happy that more people will get the chance see Balenciaga’s masterpieces here in Scandinavia now. What he created is not just fashion, it’s art!” Textilmuseet in Borås will show Balenciaga: Master of Couture from 15 December 2018 until 21 April 2019. In addition to a display of the fashion designs, the programme will include a number of lectures and discussions as well as guided tours. Extended opening hours for the exhibition: Monday-Wednesday 10am-5pm Thursday 10am-7pm Friday-Sunday 10am-5pm

Web: www.textilmuseet.se Facebook: Textilmuseet Instagram: @textilmuseet

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Swedish Design

A bed for your buddy When living in the US with his dog Shiro, Mats Bengtsson noticed the different role that dogs had in many families, and he had an idea. He teamed up with Ida Nilsson, and together they founded Shiro&Malou with the vision of changing the dog’s place in the home.

“We see the dog as a part of the family and want to create products where functionality and design meet. There is something for all dogs, regardless of their breed or size.”

By Hanna Stjernström | Photos: Shiro&Malou

The first cornerstone was set during a dog walk in Gothenburg. The initial idea that Mats brought from the other side of the Atlantic was introduced to the marketing expert Ida Nilsson, and with their different backgrounds and perspectives, they laid the foundation for Shiro&Malou. A few years later, what started as an idea has turned into a growing business with man’s best friend in focus. “Dogs usually want to sleep on the couch and in the bed, so we thought that we would transfer that feeling of what dogs love to sleep on into a dog’s bed that is both comfortable and fits in with the interior in the home,” says Ida Nilsson, partner marketing manager at Shiro&Malou. “We want the products to be sustainable, offer great quality at a good price, and make the design available to everyone.” 22 | Issue 119 | December 2018

The thought about sustainability appears to be a key theme, as Ida Nilsson further describes what drives her and Mats in their work: “The keywords that we continuously work with are design, functionality, quality and sustainability,” she says, and adds: “I think it is different for all businesses, but for us, it is important to have consideration for the earth we live on, to have a clear purpose in everything we do and think green as far as we can.” Today, the business sells to 14 countries, and what started as a Scandinavianinspired dog bed has now evolved into a range of products that all link in with the modern, Swedish interior style. By working with the dog’s sleeping place as a starting point, the duo designs products that they like in colour schemes that fit in many homes and will last many years.

Web: www.shiromalou.se Facebook: shiromalou

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Swedish Design

Knitwear with a story to tell Åse Öjbro worked as an artist for many years before turning her hand to traditional woollen clothing with her company Öjbro Vantfabrik. With her collection of mittens, socks and knitted caps, she aims to not only produce sustainable, natural products of the highest quality, but also to celebrate Swedish culture and identity. By Liz Longden | Photos: Öjbro Vantfabrik

The aesthetics of traditional Nordic knitwear have seen a revival in recent years. However, for Öjbro Vantfabrik (meaning ‘mitten factory’), which produces knitwear inspired by traditional designs, looking nice is only part of the picture. In fact, taking inspiration from Scandinavian nature and history, Öjbro’s creations resemble pieces of folk art, which are rich with symbolic meaning. “We really immerse ourselves in our patterns and each one tells a story, connected to a place or an element of Swedish culture,” Öjbro explains. Sharing these cultural stories is an important part of the company’s ethos and, on its website, visitors can read, for example, how the Lycksele pattern is inspired by a distinctive local weave and incorporates traditional Sami colours, or how the Yggdrasil pattern is an homage

to the Överhagdal tapestries, a late Viking cultural treasure that links Sweden’s pagan and Christian traditions. “I’ve always felt that our Scandinavian landscape and wildlife are something to be proud of, so incorporating these motifs into our designs is a way of celebrating these things as a part of our identity,” says Öjbro. “As an artist, I also love that I have a personal connection to the patterns, which I’m able to share with others in a way that brings joy.” Woollen mittens have been produced in Scandinavia since at least the 13th century; however, Öjbro says that working with wool was a decision also made with an eye on the future. Not only is the material warm, naturally water-repellent and long-lasting, but it is also 100 per cent natural and renewable, and requires over 200 times less water for its production

than cotton. Öjbro Vantfabrik’s wool is also organic and certified by OEKO-TEX as being free from harmful substances. For these reasons, Öjbro Vantfabrik aligns itself with the ‘slow fashion’ movement, which aims to promote sustainable production and responsible consumption. “More and more people are realising that it’s smarter to buy quality goods that last longer,” Öjbro adds. “So we feel that in making beautiful, high-quality, long-lasting products in a sustainable way, we’re not only preserving a tradition but also doing something that is very much in the spirit of our time.” Åse Öjbro. Photo: Emma Ekstrand.

Web: www.ojbrovantfabrik.se

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 23

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Swedish Design

Make a statement with vegan fashion accessories Gabrielle BY P is a brand inspired by owner Pauline Längbo’s sister Gabrielle, a young woman whom Pauline describes as having the courage to express herself through her own personal style and to be true to herself. Producing a range of vegan bag straps, accessories and soon handbags too, the brand hopes to empower its customers to do the same.

from the internationally renowned jewellery designer Efva Attling, whom she has always looked up to. “It’s fantastic to have such an inspirational and powerful woman wearing my designs,” she says. “I still can’t believe it.”

By Liz Longden

25-year-old designer Pauline takes much of her inspiration from her travels, and not least from the colour and vibrancy of her most recent love, Rio De Janeiro. Yet, although Pauline laughs when she describes her designs as “not typically Swedish design”, since they feature vibrant colors and shapes, she is happily surprised that her Rainbow Black Bag Strap has come to be the most popular accessory among her Swedish customers. Indeed, little over a year after its launch, Gabrielle BY P’s products are stocked in over 20 retailers worldwide and the brand is growing rapidly, although Pauline stresses that the company’s core values are para-

mount, and that she is therefore very selective about which partners she collaborates with. Chief among these values are Pauline’s love for animals and the environment, and the importance she places on sustainability. For this reason, Gabrielle BY P’s products are 100 per cent vegan. “I want to prove that ethics and fashion can go hand in hand,” she explains. “I love my products as much as I love my animal friends; therefore, production is friendly to all involved in the process.” As a young businesswoman, Pauline also stresses the importance of support from other women, and she is especially grateful for the encouragement she has received

Top left: Rainbow bag strap and vegan handbag. Photo: André Tuvberg. Top right: Blue strap. Photo: Joanna Swica. Left: Pauline Längbo and Efva Attling. Photo: Axel Strömberg.

Explore the collection: www.gabriellebyp.com

A new generation of high-performance sleepwear There is a growing awareness of the importance of getting enough sleep, yet few stop to think about the influence of clothing. It is something which Dagsmejan is hoping to change, with a range of sleepwear that employs cutting edge design and innovative natural fibres to improve sleep quality. By Liz Longden | Photos: Dagsmejan

“If you look at sportswear, there’s been a revolution in terms of understanding how fabric technology can improve performance,” says Catarina Dahlin, managing director of Dagsmejan. “Yet we spend eight hours a day sleeping and we don’t think about how what we wear can really impact on how well we sleep.” Working with Empa, the Swiss federal laboratories for innovation in materials and science, Dagsmejan has developed two collections of lightweight, ultra-comfortable sleepwear. Using the latest technology and sleep science, the garments help to maintain optimal body temperature and aid restful sleep. ‘Stay Warm’ is made from a light and 24 | Issue 119 | December 2018

breathable blend of merino wool and Tencel, which is especially effective at retaining body heat in cooler conditions, while the ‘Balance’ collection is crafted from a ground-breaking, eco-friendly fabric extracted from beech wood, with exceptional moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating qualities. Both fabrics are extremely soft to the touch, and all garments have been designed with flat seams, no tags, and waistbands engineered to prevent itches and rubbing. Raglan sleeves and inbuilt stretch also ensure unrestricted freedom of movement. The result is the ultimate high- performance nightwear, which not only promotes better sleep, but is also stylish and sustainable — truly the stuff of sweet dreams.

Web: www.dagsmejan.com

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Norwegian Craft and Art

Detail, Murmuri. By Eve Ariza.

Kunsthall 3.14 — questioning the present, for the future By stimulating dialogue and fuelling dynamic meetings between spectators and art, Kunsthall 3.14 is a champion of contemporary expressions. Over the past 30 years, this non-profit institution has been instrumental in placing Norway on the map of contemporary art homes – bringing forth the unknown, and challenging established discourse. By Julie Linden | Photos: Kunsthall 3.14

“Our programme is based on creating dialogue through art, and nurturing a process of interpretation and understanding,” says Malin Barth, director of Kunsthall 3.14. “We hope to accomplish this in a way that facilitates and validates both individual experiences and collective dialogue and analysis. In doing so, I think we can challenge preconceived ideas and fixed narratives.”

Diverging from established narratives Kunsthall 3.14, located in the heart of Bergen, has a long-standing history of breaking the mould and branching out 26 | Issue 119 | December 2018

from the mainstream. From the very beginning, the institution has aimed to achieve a diverse and inclusive profile, diverging from the typically western narrative of contemporary art – acknowledging that, while contemporary art has traditionally sprung from the west, the best art is not necessarily created with a western perspective. “Contemporary art emerged as a western phenomenon, but the new geography of contemporary art production is in an exciting process of erasing the previous monopoly held by the west. It is within this expanded field that we primarily engage,” says Barth.

Embracing the political The institution is indeed one with a global perspective, incorporating important contributions by artists from around the world. Part of this approach is never shying away from the political, says Barth. “Art is expression and reflection, and it encourages forms of exchange and critical thinking. It also holds the ability to mobilise action. The aim is that the art exhibited at Kunsthall 3.14 should be relevant; the projects are often closely linked to current and pressing social issues. We work with artists who question the present for the future.” The institution actively pursues emerging artists and their developing portfolios, while also featuring leading artists and their important contributions to the art scene. The result is an art scene that always breaks new ground and implements cross-cultural and transnational understandings. “The contributions by artists from around the world encour-

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Norwegian Craft and Art

age a greater range of artistic practices to become instrumental in developing an artistic discourse. As such, a much wider spectrum of artwork can be experienced by new audiences,” says Barth.

Transcending local discourse Recently, Kunsthall 3.14 has been encouraging its audiences to challenge themselves by engaging with topics of genetic engineering and ethical constraints. The hope is that the exhibits encourage critical thinking when relating to emerging trends in technology and life sciences. Kunsthall 3.14’s next exhibition, an installation by Eve Ariza entitled Murmuri, will comprise close to 10,000 ceramic bowls mounted on the walls. This exhibit explores the origins of form and sound, as modelled by the first form made by man with intent. The wide scope of contemporary art presented at the institution makes for intriguing and thought-provoking visits, no matter when you choose to stop by. “I think I have been exceptionally privileged to have worked with so many fantastic artists from all corners of the

globe and through different stages of their career,” says Barth, explaining how global art can bear fruit in local communities. “International art is fuel for any local art scene. It serves the important purpose of widening horizons by allowing a transgression beyond local discourse – and in that, it provides the possibility to recognise the urgen-

cy of elsewhere. It is fundamental to the growth of a smaller city scene that wants to function within a greater social and cultural context.” Web: www.kunsthall314.art Facebook: Kunsthall 3.14 Instagram: @Kunsthall3.14

Ghost. By Kader Attia.

Becoming Chelsea. By Heather Dewey-Hagborg.

Tatiana Blass.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 27

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Norwegian Craft and Art

Galleri Würth, just outside of Oslo, showcases part of the 18,000-piece Sammlung Würth collection. Photo: Markus Bratlie.

Galleri Würth — the international, personal gallery Comprised of more than 18,000 individual pieces, Sammlung Würth is one of the world’s most impressive private collections of art. In Nittedal, just outside of Oslo, part of this collection is available at the esteemed Galleri Würth – offering a dynamic experience for every art lover. By Julie Linden | Photos: Galleri Würth

“Sammlung Würth is a private art collection owned by Reinhold Würth, a collection he wishes to share with the world. We’re proud to be able to offer part of the collection here in our gallery,” says gallery director Anne-Birte Rasmussen Snilsberg, adding: “The collection has been built and added to since the 1960s, so it’s highly dynamic and comprises different types of art – from paintings and prints to sculptures and etchings.” The gallery, which is admission-free and open to the public Sundays through Thursdays, offers two different exhibitions each year and has something to offer everyone. The gallery is one of 14 locations where Sammlung Würth can be viewed and experienced. Artists represented at the gallery range from Munch and Picasso to Anselm 28 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Kiefer, the latter currently represented in the exhibition entitled Tilbake til maleriet (Back to painting), asserting the gallery’s German connection. “It’s a powerful exhibition which makes a point out of challenging your perceptions. It centres on politics and history expressed through the art form of painting,” says Rasmussen Snilsberg. In addition to celebrated artists and thought-provoking oeuvres, the gallery offers events and activities for all ages, where one may engage with the stunning gallery grounds in new, innovative ways. “There are opera nights and wine tastings,” Rasmussen Snilsberg says. “We offer Christmas arts and crafts workshops for kids, and host several events throughout the year that are open to everyone. We encourage prospective visitors to sign up to our newsletter so as

not to miss out,” she adds, mentioning that the gallery also provides spaces for meetings and conferences. You may also book a private tour of the gallery and its exhibition, or plan a visit for the 1pm public tour on Sundays. “The exhibitions all hold a high, international standard. At the same time, the fact that the gallery houses a private collection gives the space a personal touch,” she concludes.

Galleri Würth is housed in a separate building next to the Würth Norway headquarters.

Web: galleri.wuerth.no Contact for newsletter listing: galleri.wurth@wuerth.no Facebook: Galleri Würth Instagram: @galleriwurth

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Norwegian Craft and Art

Modern gallery in idyllic surroundings

By Synne Johnsson

After painting for 50 years, Einar Furre thought it was time to open a gallery. At a farm surrounded by tall, Arctic mountains, with a spectacular view over the fjord, he now exhibits his art at Galleri Furre in Saltstraumen, northern Norway. It was only when Furre realised that he had way too many paintings lying around, that he decided to open up a gallery to showcase and sell his art. What makes it all so impressive is that he is entirely self-taught. “I don’t have a fine-art education; I have just taught myself, but I have many years of experience,” he smiles. “I think it all started with a teacher showing a slideshow of Edward Munch’s paintings. The teacher was very into art, and he was the one who got me hooked too.” The gallery is located at an idyllic farm, Straum Gård at Straumøya, not too far from Bodø. Furre paints on location at the gallery, and visitors can find anything from drawings to watercolour paintings. It is

also possible to buy his work online in the artist’s own web shop. “There’s a lot of variation in both techniques and motifs. My biggest inspiration is people, so there are a lot of paintings of different people; however, there is something for every taste,” promises Furre. Among his paintings, you can find anything from black and white to bright colours, from abstract to detailed motifs, from landscapes to people. However, he does not want to say anything too specific about the paintings. “I don’t feel the need to speak about them. They speak for themselves, I think – it’s up to the viewer how they see it,” he smiles.

Web: www.efurre.carbonmade.com Facebook: einarfurre

Beauty and intention — meaningful jewellery from Norway When optometrist Camilla Furuvald went on maternity leave, she decided to pick up on her passion for creating jewellery. Having always been creative, and with a knack for handmade crafts, she combined her hobby with her love and fascination for crystals and beads. The result is exquisite bracelets, necklaces and pendants with a deeper meaning. “Everything in my jewellery box has a meaning,” she says, “whether they are heirlooms, gifts or memories. I wanted to use that in my jewellery making, and create something that is not only beautiful to look at and that you’ll want to wear, but that also has a deeper personal connection.” Mala yoga jewellery was the perfect way to combine these things. Mala beads are used by Buddhists and Hindus as a helpful tool in prayers or meditation, each bead turned between your fingers to keep track of mantras or intentions repeated over and over. But, as Furuvald points out, a mala is for everybody, whether used as a tool, a decorative piece of jewellery or merely a

comforting artefact to keep close. It can be a reminder of an intention chosen by yourself, or used to receive healing vibrations from the crystals. What started out merely as a hobby has grown exponentially, and she is now one of the leading producers of yoga and mala jewellery in Norway.

By Alyssa Nilsen | Photos: Bergamott.

Camilla Furuvald ships her Bergamott jewellery nationwide.

Web: www.bergamott.no Facebook: bergamott.no Instagram: @bergamottno

Bergamott’s mala jewellery combines beauty with intention.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 29

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Norwegian Craft and Art

Chunky Brioche Sweater and shopping bag.

Urban Nordic knits — by you Combining an ancient craft and modern silhouettes with the concept of ‘slow fashion’, Witre Design offers its customers a sustainable and relaxing way of creating their own wardrobe. Offering tried and tested, hassle-free knitting patterns for the fashionable urbanite, the brand has emerged as a new take on eco-friendly quality fashion. By Julie Linden | Photos: Helena Krekling

“It started quite randomly – or, I didn’t think it would amount to much,” says founder Ida Wirak Trettevik humbly, discussing the initial phases of creating her own brand. “I’ve always been a knitter, learning the craft from my mother and aunt at a very young age. Then, when I was pregnant with one of my sons and the doctor ordered me to rest, I picked up more advanced knitting,” she explains. “I had to do something to be productive while resting – I’m not too good at just sitting around!” she laughs. 30 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Eco-conscious patterns – helping the client create Like many other designers, she wanted to create what she could not find on the racks. And, as the increasingly ecoconscious Norwegian clientele would come to appreciate, she wanted to fill the gaps in a sustainable way. “I wanted to create fairly basic patterns that would be traditional in nature, but with a modern silhouette. The idea is that the end product will look ‘just as good’ as a store-bought item, but it’s been cre-

ated with quality and longevity in mind. And, it’s been created by yourself,” says Wirak Trettevik. Despite having started only six months ago, Witre Design has proven that there is room on the market for brands that help the customer create – instead of selling a finished product. “The response has been only positive,” Wirak Trettevik says, adding that she has found social media to be the easiest way of establishing herself on today’s Scandinavian fashion scene. “It was really on Instagram that I started making those first connections with like-minded designers and suppliers, and getting inspiration for what my clientele wanted. Today, clients will upload photos of garments they’ve created with my patterns, and I have to pinch myself every time,” she says, smiling.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Norwegian Craft and Art

Real clothes for real lives The connection with reality, seeing what is needed in the everyday life of her clients, is important to her. As a wife and mother of three small children, and working full-time as a nurse when she is not managing her brand, Wirak Trettevik knows the importance of bridging the gap between utility and style. “Everyday wear shouldn’t have to sacrifice style just because it needs to be durable,” she affirms. “I really wanted it to be possible for my clients to piece together a wardrobe of clothing from my patterns – a group of items that would be stylish but also stand the test of time. And, knitting your own garments, you have the power to choose your own aesthetics – the yarn, the accents, the colours. It’s a very versatile way of making your own fashion.”

Slow fashion for the fast-paced Versatility, durability and sustainability all go hand in hand with the slow fash-

Grüner Jacket (Grünerjakka).

Urban Polar Sweater (Urban Polargenser).

ion movement, which Witre Design positions itself within. Committing itself to quality and renouncing the ‘wear it once’ culture, the brand is taking an increasingly popular stance. And, even for the fast-paced lives of people in the brand’s native Oslo, slow fashion seems to have – slowly – become ‘the new black’. “People are becoming more and more environmentally aware – that’s almost a given in Scandinavia these days. It’s showing more and more in second-hand culture, but also in the will to create, or re-purpose, one’s own clothing – and letting this take some time. Knitting a sweater is seen as an investment, an investment in terms of time and money, but also in oneself,” Wirak Trettevik explains. “Our main customer is definitely female, but as opposed to earlier generations, these women tend to knit for themselves – not necessarily just for their children and husbands.” She pauses, and laughs: “Although my

sons do watch me intently when working on new projects, asking ‘is that for us, mum?’”

Simple and approachable For those wanting to knit their first garment but lacking faith in their own knitting skills, the designer has one piece of advice: “Just try it! A couple of years ago I didn’t know how to knit a sweater, and now I’m constantly working on new patterns. I’ve deliberately created patterns that are simple and approachable, on several levels, so that even beginners can discover their creative side.” Witre Design patterns are available in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, English and German, and can be purchased online through the channels below. Web: www.witredesign.no Facebook: witredesign Instagram: @witredesign

Chunky Brioche Sweater and Tundra Scarf (Chunky Patentgenser, Tundraskjerfet).

Urban Polar Sweater and Grüner Beanie (Urban Polargenser, Grünerlua).

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 31

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Norwegian Wool

Aclima Woolnet garments are made from wool mesh fabric and keep you warm while allowing breathability.

Aclima

— engineering warm excellence from the inside out For generations, Aclima has provided Norwegians with the warmest of layers for work, service and adventures. Boasting unmistakable expertise in engineering wool garments for everyone’s needs – be it police officers, military members, skiers or kindergarteners – this brand has earned its place as one of Norway’s most respected textile manufacturers. By Julie Linden | Photos: Aclima

“We make clothes for active outdoorsy people, with an emphasis on supremequality wool and natural fibres that stand the test of weather, wear and time,” says Lars Eivind Johansen, head of sales and grandson of Aclima’s founder, Eivind Johansen. It was in 1939 that the young and inventive Eivind Johansen found that he could manufacture wool soles from felt that had been discarded from factories along the river in Drammen, Norway. Upon purchasing his first knitting machine after the Second World War, his business expanded to include wool jumpers and ski suits, among other products. In the ‘70s, his son would take over the family business and present wool garments to the Norwegian 32 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Armed Forces. Today, Aclima uses its long history and unmatchable expertise to its advantage, having full control and oversight over the entire production process. “I think our long history as producer and manufacturer is pivotal to what the brand represents today,” says Johansen. “We know how yarn is spun, how different wool fibres turn out in different knits and garments, and how to optimally engineer a garment to accommodate both heat maximisation and breathability. We’re also very proud of our sustainable profile and traceable production line,” says Johansen. Aclima products are created with highquality merino wool from Marlborough,

New Zealand, and production happens at the brand’s own production facility in Estonia. Aclima takes due care to visit farms where its wool is sourced, to ensure animal welfare and quality of the wool. For instance, Aclima only uses wool from farms that do not practice mulesing, and where wool is cut from the sheep only once a year. This ensures long, stable fibres and, in turn, strong yarn. Furthermore, the factory in Estonia is visited on a regular basis, ensuring a high level of quality control and good relationships with employees. “It’s very important to us that we’re in continuous contact with suppliers and employees at our factory. Not only does this ensure the great quality of our products, but also of our relationships – and that is equally essential,” says Johansen. Web: www.aclima.no Facebook: aclima Instagram: @aclima_norway

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Norwegian Wool

Polarull provides people with special needs with job opportunities.

Wool clothing with a social touch Near the Polar Circle, beneath the northern lights or the midnight sun, the people at Polarull design, sew and knit beautiful and practical wool products as well as providing career opportunities to those who need it. By Synne Johnsson | Photos: TV Klipp

Located in Mo i Rana, Polarull is part of the social service Driv Karriere, which creates workplaces for people with special needs. “There are many different people working here. We have people with a range of special needs, among them people who are visually impaired and wheelchair users. There’s something to do for everyone here. We want to give those who need it a chance to participate in the working life, by giving them extra assistance,” says Siv Mosling, department manager of Polarull. “At a time when most things are mass produced, we wanted to make something more special, something of quality. We started with the knitting machines and started producing 100 per cent handmade quality wool products.” The result? Beautiful skirts, ponchos, hats and more, all made of highquality wool. The people at Polarull do

everything themselves: the designing, the knitting, and the sewing, and all the wool they use is Norwegian. They also sell wool capes that go with the traditional clothing from Nordland, northern Norway. Complementing the winter clothes, Mosling had the idea to let the Middle Ages inspire women’s clothing, which turned into her design of Eddadrakten, with a feminine touch.

opened up a web shop so that people from all over the world can buy their products. It is in English and customers can pay in euros. They also ship worldwide. “I think what’s so great with our products is that not only do you buy quality wool products handmade in Norway; you also play a part in providing people with special needs new career opportunities,” Mosling smiles. Web: www.polarull.no Facebook: polarull Instagram: @polarull.no

All the products can be found in their workshop in Mo i Rana, and they recently

Eddadrakten, inspired by the Middle Ages.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 33

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Finnish Art, Craft & Design

Left painting: How can I make pictures like this? 180 x 200cm, 2011. Middle painting: Photo montage on plex, Elise in Monet’s garden, 50 x 60 cm, 2018. Right painting: Play begins, curtains down!, 180 x 200cm, 2011.

A castle of art Bonga castle is a piece of art itself. Today, it is filled with vibrant colours and different textures as it functions as professor and artist Riitta Nelimarkka’s art studio and gallery.

“I work intuitively, and the strong colours inspire me, and I want to experiment with new colour scales.”

By Mari Koskinen | Photos: Bonga Gallery RN

Nelimarkka has had numerous large exhibitions around the world. She has studied painting in Paris, film in Stockholm and music theory and pi-

Nelimarkka and her husband Jaakko Seeck found the castle when they were looking for a work space in many different places, including France and Italy. “Bonga was originally an Art Nouveau castle, but it was transformed by the second owners to the current Neoclassical style,” explains Nelimarkka. “The castle has always been privately owned, and we are the third owners. It was in bad shape and resembled more of a ghost house than a castle.” The couple bought the 2,000-squaremetre castle to use as an artistic work 34 | Issue 119 | December 2018

space, but the project grew to now also include a large art gallery, which is home to a unique collection of Nelimarkka’s art.

Strong views and colours As an artist, Riitta Nelimarkka, 70, has always chosen her own path. She is known for her wild and independent vision and energetic colours. She combines her classical skills with a zest for life. “My art emerges from real life, reflecting its joys and sorrows, conflicts and shocks, its normality and its chain of coincidences,” Nelimarkka explains.

Riitta Nelimarkka.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Finnish Art, Craft & Design

ano performance in Helsinki. She has a doctorate degree in the arts and has received numerous prizes and honorary mentions for her work. In 2008, she received the honorary title of professor from the Finnish president. Nelimarkka has used many different techniques during her long career, starting with drawings and paintings and moving later to textiles and glass. She has also created animation films and written and co-authored several books.

Bonga collection Art is everywhere in Bonga. The collection consists of more than 200 pieces, each with their individual spark of light and love, and yet all remain parts of a greater whole. Visitors are surprised by vibrant colours and different

forms and textures that seem to fit in perfectly in the beautiful spaces of the carefully restored castle. There is art in many forms: the collection includes water colour, collage, wool and linen reliefs, drawings, graphics, textile pieces, painting, photography and animation, and there is also a large collection of art and poetry books. Some of the newest pieces are small statues made of wool and wood. “The first one, The New World’s Girl was born when I was asked to create the prize for the International Day of the Girl by the Embassy of France in Finland. I felt this was a great honour,” Nelimarkka explains. On the tables, there are magical glass boxes and towers, some lit from the inside. They are more recent additions to the collection, showcasing yet another aspect of the artist’s versatility.

As a whole, Bonga leaves the visitor fulfilled, with inspiration from both old times with its beautiful walls and interiors, and glimpses of the future with its stunning and diverse art collection that leaves no one untouched by its power and insight.

Bonga is situated in the town of Loviisa, less than an hour’s drive from Helsinki. The art gallery and shop are open by appointment all year round. Regular opening times apply for summer weekends as well as local events. Guided tours also take visitors to see the artist’s studio and works in progress.

Web: www.bonga.fi www.nelimarkka.com Facebook: riitta.nelimarkka.9

Top left: Wool relief, Country people in a tower block, 200 x 220 cm, 2000. On the table, there are some art and poetry books that the artist has created from different series. Top middle: Framed velvet weave, Sabina & Fatima, 1990. Top right: Bonga Castle garden. The pool is in its original Art Nouveau style. Bottom left: New world’s girl blue, photo montage on plex from series The melodious, 110 x 160 cm, 2018. Bottom middle: New world’s girl tres melodieuse et jolie, unique photo montage on plex, 110 x 160 cm, 2018. The glass tower in back: Charlie Chaplin in the garden of Claude Monet, 2018. Bottom right: Glass tower, The little girl with faces of varying colours, from series The melodious.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 35

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Finnish Art, Craft & Design

Bringing together foreign and Finnish contemporary artists Kohta might be modest in size, but not in ambition. The Kunsthalle features artistic thinking in its many forms and showcases artists from different generations and media. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Jussi Tiainen

Three years ago, five artists begun talking, as they each felt something was missing from the Finnish art scene. Martti Aiha, Magdalena Åberg, Thomas Nyqvist, Nina Roos and Hans Rosenström all thought that Helsinki and Finland needed an exhibition space with a curated public programme of exhibitions. The result was Kohta – a gallery, or ‘kunsthalle’, where the exhibitions could reflect the complexity and capacity of visual art today and its future-orientated potential. “We are a bit smaller than a traditional kunsthalle, but we call ourselves a kunsthalle, because we function as one. We are an artist-initiated organisation with the ambition of putting our exhibitions into a larger context, where they might be individual exhibitions, but they all fit in to the programme and the topics we want to focus on,” says Anders Kreuger, curator at Kohta. 36 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Locating Finland in the wider world Kohta opened its doors in November 2017 and features five to six exhibitions each year with free entry. The current exhibition, which runs until 20 January, is called Luontokuva, which loosely translates as ‘images of nature’. “In Finland, we are very aware of climate change, perhaps even more so than the rest of the world, as nature is such a big part of our surroundings. Our exhibition programme is also affected by this, which is why we often focus on topics relating to nature and will continue to do so in the future,” says Kreuger. Kohta has hosted exhibitions by both foreign and Finnish contemporary artists at the Kunsthalle, consciously seeking a great variety in their programme. “We want to send out the message that we put Finland on the map of the wider world and context. You will see work

by artists from our neighboring countries, but we’ve also had artists from as far away as Malaysia and South Africa. We also consciously want to create a programme that is gender-balanced – over the next few years, at least 50 per cent of the artists we showcase will be women, with inclusion of non-binary artists,” says Kreuger. “We also want to present a programme that not only focuses on painting, video or sculpture, but a mix of different media and techniques. The programme should be a reflection of how we as a group see art today, its potential, and why it is so important.”

Web: www.kohta.fi Facebook: kohtaartspace Instagram: @kohtaartspace

Main image: Martti Aiha, Omakuva, installation view at Kohta, 2018. Top right: Astrid Svangren, From Searching: Mirroring/Metamorphosis/ The Last Rinsing Water/ A Yellow Room/ Perpetual Movement/A Kind of Thorough Rinse/Artificial Colour, installation view at Kohta, 2018. Bottom right: Merja Salo, Musta kasvisto, Early 1980s, Silver gelatin print. Courtesy of The Finnish Museum of Photography.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Finnish Art, Craft & Design

The Finnish look Tolola farm is passionate about animal wellbeing and sustainability, making unique, all-natural clothes and interior design products from its rare livestock breed. By Sunniva Davies-Rommetveit | Photos: Tololan tila

Nestled in eastern Finland, the 30hectare spread is home to a very rare breed of Finnish sheep called the Kainuu Gray. With only 2,000 ewes left in Finland, farmer and product designer Outi Honkapuro explains that saving the sheep and becoming more sustainable was a big motivator for the farm. “We have been farmers for 15 years, and raised beef cattle for a long time. Then we decided to specialise in raising the Kainuu sheep, because they are a very unusual Finnish breed with beautiful wool, and we wanted a part in securing their future.” The resulting Harmas fur products and yarn exude originality while protecting against the harsh Finnish winters. Selling everything from fur coats and woolly hats to yoga mats and cosy rugs,

Honkapuro explains that the impressive variety of products is also all completely natural. “The sheep have wonderfully diverse colours − a mixture of whites, greys and black, so we take these different shades and combine them to make stylish, eye-catching products, without using any harsh chemicals.”

To maintain the quality of the fur and yarn products, Tolola farm prides itself on keeping the flock size relatively small, with 50 ewes giving around 120 lambs each year. “Our main aim is to raise the sheep well, so that they have a nice life and, as a result, produce really great-quality fleeces and yarn,” Honkapuro explains, adding: “The result is beautiful products made from a completely unique and very rare breed of Finnish sheep.” Web: www.tololantila.fi Facebook: Harmastuotteet

Tolola farm takes its sustainability philosophy as far as possible, working with local partners to minimise its environmental impact. The meat is butchered locally, while the Harmas fur products are made by local furrier and business partner Anu Muttilainen. “Our ethos is to be environmentally conscious; we know each sheep individually, and we make sure to use the whole animal when the time comes,” Honkapuro explains. Issue 119 | December 2018 | 37

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Finnish Art, Craft & Design

The knits are designed with simplicity and timelessness in mind.

Woollen treasures from Peru via Finland The youthful and innovative Finnish knitwear company Alpa turns South American alpaca fleece into timeless Nordic designs. The company came to be thanks to a daring idea, skillful family members and a passion for quality – and enough conviction to trade living comfortably for buying yarn. By Hanna Heiskanen | Photos: AlpaFinlandia Oy

The story of Alpa begins in Peru, where the founder of the company, Heikki Timlin, was on a backpacking trip in 2012. Timlin, who had only just left school, had always disliked the thickness and itchiness of traditional wool sweaters. When he came across a local sweater made of alpaca wool – thin and warm but not sweaty, comfortable and definitely not itchy – he knew that he had found something special. “There is very little alpaca wool available in Finland,” says Lauri Hilliaho, one of 38 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Alpa’s co-entrepreneurs. “Heikki immediately saw an opportunity in introducing Finns to alpaca sweaters. Our first designs literally took shape in a South American hammock.” Since then, the company has grown to a team of nine, all with a passion for producing a variety of alpaca wool products, from sweaters to accessories for both men and women. The products are designed by Heikki’s sister Ainomaria Haataja, who conveniently happened

to have graduated after studying fashion design at the prestigious University of Art and Design Helsinki. Though the material itself is South American, the feel of the products is decidedly Nordic: timeless, minimalist, earthy. “Sustainability and longevity are hugely important to us. We want people to be able to

Heikki Timlin founded the company in 2012, right after leaving school.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Finnish Art, Craft & Design

wear our products year after year, and we also offer a mending service to give a new lease of life to worn and frayed items,” Hilliaho explains.

A fibre of wonder The wool used by Alpa continues to be imported from Peru, where the alpaca was first domesticated thousands of years ago. Grazing high on the Andean hillsides, the animal grows a thick layer of hair to protect it from the elements. The hair is sheared annually before being spun into wool that resembles lambswool but is finer and softer. It also lacks lanolin, a type of oil that causes an allergic reaction in some. There are fewer than ten million alpacas in the world, making it a rare source of wool despite its excellent suitability for colder climes. Alpa collaborates with local Peruvian producers that have a track record of sustainable practices, before sending the yarn to Lithuania, where the final products are made. “Our products are knit fully fashioned, which means it’s less likely they will unravel. It’s also a way of minimising the amount of yarn wasted,” says Hilliaho.

own strengths to the table. “We like to think that we are making products we ourselves like to wear every day: we know where all the materials come from and that the products are as good as they can possibly be.” The learning curve has been steep, as none of them knew much about alpacas or sweaters before joining the company – but they were all convinced by Timlin’s enthusiasm. “When I joined Alpa three years ago, I asked Heikki where he lives. ‘On a camping site in a caravan,’ he said. The Christmas season was approaching, and he preferred to invest his money into buying more yarn!”

sustainability is viable in the fashion industry, too. In the beginning, many might have called Heikki crazy for diving head first into this, but it goes to show that sometimes even the unexpected works out beautifully.” Web: Finnish: Alpa.fi Swedish: Alpaknitwear.se International: Alpaknitwear.com Facebook: alpaknitwearcom Instagram: @alpaknitwear

Since the first products were sold in 2014, Alpa has grown rapidly without external funding. Last year, the company sold over 9,000 garments. Many consumers are actively looking for new alternatives to oil-based, synthetic fibres such as acrylic and polyamide, which insulate poorly and wear out quickly. Hilliaho attributes the company’s success to excellent word of mouth; marketing is easier when the products themselves are so great.

The team of Alpa is still small, and there is a feeling of intimacy in what the company does. Everyone brings their

“I think it’s important to continuously challenge yourself to be better at what you do. Everyone at Alpa is quite young and very motivated to make our mark in the industry, as well as to show that

Alpaca makes for finer sweaters than lambswool.

Alpacas are sheared for fine and soft wool.

Alpa’s designs are inspired by Nordic nature.

Alpa provides wool items for both men and women.

All in

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 39

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Finnish Art, Craft & Design

Alexander Rosenlew, CEO at Orthex Group.

Bio Kitchen.

Fantastic bio-plastic The Finnish manufacturer Orthex Group continuously innovates towards more environmentally friendly products for house and home. With sustainability, practicality and appealing design as the most important components, the company is constantly pushing the envelope and renewing the industry. “We aim for a brighter, more sustainable future by using recycled plastic and bio-plastic as raw material. From this, we create products that simplify everyday life for our consumers,” says Alexander Rosenlew, CEO at Orthex Group. By Kristine Olofsson | Photos: Orthex Group

they are true pioneers in their industry. “European consumers are becoming more and more interested in sustainability. By creating environmentally friendly solutions and new materials, we try to pull our weight when it comes to making sustainable products more accessible. This is also the reason behind our rapid growth and success,” Rosenlew says.

The products from Orthex Group are recognised via their typical Scandinavian design. They are visually appealing with clean, straight lines and functionality at heart. With daughter companies in the Nordic countries as well as in the UK, Germany and France, Orthex Group sells to over 40 countries and has its own inhouse production. “We manufacture over 90 per cent of our products ourselves, which allows us to ensure the quality and safety,” Rosenlew explains.

Pioneering kitchen line

The company makes everything from stylish flowerpots, completely made from recycled plastic, to bird feeders, tableware, boxes for home storage and much more. With their ever-evolving innovations,

Orthex Group’s focus on environmental factors and functionality is reflected in its latest, ground-breaking kitchen line made from bio-plastic. These products consist of 98 per cent bio-composite, which works as a replacement for ordi-

40 | Issue 119 | December 2018

nary plastic. The composite consists of spruce and sugarcane, and this renewable material reduces the carbon footprint from the production by 80 per cent. These fully recyclable products, such as utensils and different-sized cutting boards, will last you years, and even though they are bio-based, they are completely dishwasher safe. “The products are very pleasant to use, with a natural look and feel and a lingering scent of wood. We will introduce this material to other product groups as well. The goal is that 20 per cent of our products are made of recycled or bio-based materials by 2020,” Rosenlew explains. “Our products with Nordic quality and design enable consumers to live more functional and environmentally friendly lives.” Web: www.orthexgroup.com Facebook: orthexgroup Instagram: @orthexgroup Pinterest: orthexgroup YouTube: orthexgroup Twitter: @orthexgroup

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Finnish Art, Craft & Design

In this game, the players have to work together to manoeuvre the raft down the river.

Musical games are also included in the PlayFloor game selection.

PlayFloor captivates children and makes them move, just as it was designed to do.

Exercise – just fun and games “I wanted to create something that helps people to be active in their daily lives, in a simple and fun way,” explains Marke Rautiala, chief financial officer of Finnish start-up Marabas, which set out to develop a new kind of activity infrastructure.

to be able to endure heavy-duty use, and Marabas provides remote online support for the software so that the client does not need any designated staff for PlayFloor.

By Mari Koskinen | Photos: Marabas

“Video games are often considered as things that tend to keep us, and especially children, from exercising,” explains Marke Rautiala, herself a former professional athlete. Rautiala noticed how captivating video games are for children, who are spending more time playing and less being active. She set out to solve this problem in a positive way, and this led to the creation of PlayFloor, a smart, interactive exercise environment that combines video games, music and group exercise. Today, it is a joyful and social exercise solution for people of all ages and abilities. The player controls the game by standing on a motion sensitive platform and moving their body to interact with the game. “Just standing on the platform promotes

balance and muscle coordination, without any effort,” Rautiala explains. The PlayFloor games include solo games as well as multi-player games, where the players can either take a playful battle or work as a group. This helps them to develop not just their physical skills, but also social and interactive skills – and it is simply fun for all. Rautiala wants everyone to get to enjoy the benefits of PlayFloor, and as such it has been designed for public spaces such as schools and activity parks, and can easily be set up at any kind of event. “It has garnered interest in many countries across Europe and the Far East,” reveals Rautiala. The idea behind the concept is to offer a low-maintenance set-up; the robust platforms are made of steel in order

The future for PlayFloor certainly looks active, and Rautiala is happy to conclude what she and her team have achieved: “PlayFloor gets people up and moving – it is a new mode of movement!”

PlayFloor’s Lapland games boast graphic art by the famous Finnish artist Andreas Alariesto.

Web: www.playfloor.fi www.marabas.fi Facebook: Playfloor

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 41

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Finnish Art, Craft & Design

Antler-kaulakoru. Photo: Markus Kiili.

Wooden himmeli. Photo: Camilla Pohjolainen.

Wooden heart postcard. Photo: Maija Saukko.

Birch crystal earrings. Photo: Maija Saukko.

Light as a feather For over a decade now, Finnish designer Elina Mäntylä’s Valona has been known for its beautifully crafted Nordic jewellery and decorations. Scan Magazine spoke to the designer about what inspires this unique brand, whose creations are perfect as either a delicate treat for you or a loved one, or a precious souvenir from Finland. By Maria Pirkkalainen

Handmade in Finland from Finnish birch, the pieces made by artist and designer Elina Mäntylä are among the most alluring creations to have come out of Nordic design circles this past decade. Having started as a small artisan workshop in 2006, Valona makes products that can now be found at popular design fairs from London to Berlin and Tokyo.

necklace and earrings were awarded the FORM# prize at a design fair in Germany earlier this year. “There is always a touch of elegance and impressiveness to my jewellery, but at the same time, the very light Finnish material of birch makes them very natural,” Mäntylä says. Indeed, the jewellery is so incredibly light that it almost feels like you are not wearing any.

Mixing the core traditional values of Nordic craftsmanship with intricate and innovative design solutions, Valona focuses on jewellery and interior decorations, such as the famous chandelier-like wooden himmeli mobile. “After a long period of working with geometrical sharpness, I’ve been excited to experiment more with rounded and circular shapes in my latest pieces of jewellery,” the designer explains from her studio in seaside Helsinki.

Despite the designer’s work taking her around the world, it is still the same place that inspires Mäntylä the most. “No matter where I am, I always want to return to

The results are the prize-winning Halo and Korona lines, of which the Korona black circle earrings and the Halo chain 42 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Korona-korut. Photo: Keijo Taskinen.

the fells of Lapland for inspiration, whether it’s to hike or to ski,” she says. Alongside Finnish nature, it is her dedication to the local artisan tradition that motivates the designer and entrepreneur in her work. “One of my proudest achievements is that my brand has been able to bring jobs to Finland,” she asserts. “And I’m certain this is only the beginning.” On your next trip to Finland, why not bring back one of these perfected, skillfully made pieces of Nordic craftsmanship with you? Web: www.valona.fi Facebook: Valona.design Instagram: @valonadesign

Elina Mäntylä.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Design Special – Finnish Art, Craft & Design

Sweet and colourful “Originally, it was my late mother’s idea to start up a business together,” says Riikka Denby-Pettersson of the beginning of the journey. Today, she runs the shop on her own with the help of two shop assistants. By Mari Koskinen | Photos: Sami Saarenheimo

On route 5 through the scenic Finnish Lakeland, you can find Riikka-Piikka shop, a beautiful place to shop for Christmas gifts, toys, delicacies and a variety of craft materials for your own hand-made gifts. The shop is also famous for its unique XLsized knitted pieces, like an old Ferguson, totally covered in knitting. The local knitting group, which meets regularly at the shop, is behind the famous projects. “Right from the start, I wanted to include yarns in our selection,” says DenbyPettersson. “Customers travelling to their holiday destinations are often inspired by the colourful and soft yarns, and on their way back they often make a second stop at Riikka-Piikka to show what they have created from the yarn,” she smiles. “It is

great to share these moments with the customers.” She continues: “We have many organic and locally produced products. It is important for me to know where and how the products have been made.” The shop is open daily, 10am to 6pm, closed only on Christmas Day. Riikka-Piikka also has an online shop. “Our website and online shop are now also available in English, and we add new products all the time,” Denby-Pettersson adds. “As a small business, we can be flexible and listen to our customers to fulfil their wishes.” Web: www.riikkapiikka.fi Facebook: riikkapiikka

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 43

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Anja Pärson & Filippa Rådin

44 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Anja Pärson & Filippa Rådin

Anja Pärson & Filippa Rådin

Ski slopes, catwalks, and a simple family life One is a former world-class Alpine skier, a national heroine with 25 Olympic and World Championship medals to her name; the other, a celebrated fashion designer and boutique owner. Together, they make one of Sweden’s best-known couples. Scan Magazine spoke to Anja Pärson and Filippa Rådin about working together, being role models, and their exciting new ELLOS collaboration. By Linnea Dunne | Press photos

“We’re actually sitting at our kitchen table right now. It’s not ideal – it can be hard to draw the line between work and time off… but we’re going to create an office in the New Year, and the plan is to never bring the laptop out of there!” says Anja Pärson. Her wife, Filippa Rådin, laughs: “We’re pretty prestigeless in everything we do. We want to give each other the time and space to take on different projects, and we want to support each other to make the most of our strengths. We have different skills and complement each other well.” Pärson continues: “Right now, Filippa is at a stage where she’s in a bit of a, shall we call it a creative bubble, and then she doesn’t have a lot of structure…” They both laugh again. “Then I can step in and say that maybe it’s not a good idea to do everything all in one day. Whereas for me, I’m giving a talk tomorrow, and I’m doing everything but preparing for the talk. Then Filippa can force me to sit down and give me a schedule to study for the presentation.”

Becoming role models They talk around each other in a way that sounds so natural you can almost tell they are at the kitchen table in their home in the north of Sweden. They are

not bickering, but certainly able to laugh with each other – perhaps like any couple that knows each other well. Except, of course, they were not always just any couple. Back in June 2012, when Pärson hosted the prestigious Sommar i P1 radio show, they were just Anja Pärson, world-renowned Alpine skier and national sports icon, and Filippa Rådin, fashionista and boutique owner – or at least that is all most people knew.

but I felt it wasn’t right that people would use my life and take advantage of it. At this point, we’re proud HBTQIA+ role models, we gave the Euro Pride inauguration speech, and just by living publicly the way we do, we help to make other people feel safe – but it’s important that we’re allowed to do it our way. At this stage, the whole fame thing is so normal for the kids, because they grew up with it, that they don’t even think about it.” She laughs. “To our youngest, fame isn’t something special and positive – he just wonders why mummy is on the cover of a magazine. He doesn’t know I was the world’s best Alpine skier!”

An all-women fashion project

“We met in her clothes shop. She always had clothes that fitted me. Tops and jumpers which were really me, but which I’d never before dared to put on,” Pärson started, on the show that had an entire nation hold its breath. She went on to describe that crash: how she fell, her legs giving way underneath her; how she was so scared that her entire body was shaking. And everyone in Sweden and many more beyond had seen it, watched it live on their TV screens from the 2010 Winter Olympics – but no, Pärson was not talking about that crash. She was talking about falling in love with a woman. And on the legendary Swedish radio show, she was coming out.

The couple may have been adamant to own their story, and to keep it a secret until they were sure they were ready to talk about it – but they are equally clear and confident when now, years later, they go about running a company together and bringing their kids along. Right now, they are seen as the faces and co-creators of a new ELLOS collection, with a range of sparkling festive wear that has gone down a storm with the Swedish fashion crowd. “It was an honour for us to be asked to do this, but ELLOS said from the get-go that they wanted the entire family on board, and of course that was something we had to think about,” says Rådin. “But it’s been an incredible thing to be a part of – for all of us, together, even if I’m the one with the fashion qualifications.”

“I wanted to own my own life,” she reflects now. “It was big news back then,

Indeed, the kids did not let their wishes go unheard. 12-year-old Emmi picked her Issue 119 | December 2018 | 45

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Anja Pärson & Filippa Rådin

Anja Pärson.

46 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Filippa Rådin.

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Anja Pärson & Filippa Rådin

own prints, six-year-old Elvis demanded soft, comfortable tracksuit bottoms, and little Maximilian wanted sequins and a tulle skirt similar to one his big sister picked out. Some of these made the party collection, while others are part of the new, luxurious loungewear collection, which has just hit the shelves. “We weren’t quite sure what to expect when we went in for that first meeting,” says Pärson. “Filippa had created some mood boards and everyone had ideas, but I guess you never know when you step into a big company like this what your role will be, how hands-on you’ll be able to be. But it turned out there was a shared vision right from the start. And even if I don’t know all the fashion terminology, I’ve felt very involved – it’s pretty much been a case of 20 power ladies having the time of our lives!” Rådin interjects, tongue in cheek: “There was one poor lad who got to come in there at the very end, but other than that it was all women.”

While the party collection caters to everything from staff Christmas parties to the festivities themselves as well as the most glamorous of New Year’s Eve parties, presenting glitter and gold and elegant fabrics, the loungewear range suits everything from a relaxed brunch gathering to a chilled-out Friday on the couch. “It’s functional, but also luxurious and feminine,” says Rådin. “It really does what it sets out to do: it looks good, and it feels good.”

Real-life lessons The collection press photos feature the whole family, oozing joy and what looks like an uncomplicated sort of love, at last. It is this honest, simple way of life, believes Rådin, that has made them relatable, and perhaps especially meaningful in HBTQIA+ circles. Pärson, a competitive spirit by nature, talks about a tireless determination to improve, to become a better speaker and improve the talks she gives; yet she admits that “real life”, as she calls it, came as a bit of a sucker

punch. “When I decided to quit skiing, I thought I had all these great ideas, which I could bring with me and talk about – but I’ve learnt a lot by living a normal life with three kids when it’s rainy and miserable and you’re not on an Alpine peak in the sunshine but your three-year-old keeps waking up in the middle of the night,” she says dryly, yet without a trace of regret in her voice. “Meanwhile, Filippa is in this creative process right now where, if there’s a funnel, well that narrow opening at the bottom doesn’t even exist yet…” And yet again, her wife laughs: “Well, yes, I do get giddy… I’m at the most enjoyable, most awful stage of the process right now – so I guess it can be a bit of a laugh to sit and work next to me.” Home office or no home office – it seems safe to say that the couple will manage just fine. If you can survive a free fall, land on your feet, and walk away with both love and pride intact – despite an entire nation watching – you might just be able for anything. Issue 119 | December 2018 | 47

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Swedish Winter Wonderland :

ER T l IN D cia W e N Sp SH RLA I ED DE W N S A WO e

e Th

Skiing in Åre. Photo: Henrik Trygg.

A winter wonderland that warms the heart Go north or south, to a city or the wilderness. Sweden boasts cold, stunning winters and knows how to make the most of them. Here is our guide to the best things to do and most amazing places to see during your next winter trip to Sweden. Sweden is exceptionally beautiful in winter. Woods appear to be covered in mini crystals as the sunshine breaks through the branches of snow-covered trees, and fields get a soft, thick, powdery white duvet. Add cosy cafés with candles aplenty and beautiful lighting in every window, and you will see why a visit to Sweden in the winter can be not just different but incredibly soothing for the soul. But the Swedish winter is about more than what first meets the eye. The weeklong mid-term school break in February is not called ‘sports break’ for nothing. Whether you are looking for a traditional skiing holiday or hoping for something 48 | Issue 119 | December 2018

a bit more unusual, you will find it in Sweden: think ice fishing, dog sledding and some of the most advanced and comfortable ski resorts around. Add the bucket-list item that is the northern lights, a night spent in a suite made entirely out of ice, and a rich cultural heritage – not least if you choose to visit the Sami people to learn more about reindeer husbandry and traditional craft and cooking – and you get an unforgettable winter experience that is beautifully ice-cold yet warms the heart. Web: www.visitsweden.com

Christmas Market. Photo: Ulf Lundin.

Sami culture. Photo: Anna Öhlund.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Swedish Winter Wonderland

ICEHOTEL, elephant ice sculpture. Photo: Asaf Kliger.

Advent star. Photo: Jens Gustafsson.

ICEHOTEL. Photo: Asaf Kliger.

Northern lights. Photo: Lola Akinmade Åkerström.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 49

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Swedish Winter Wonderland

Join the chef’s table at ICEHOTEL As of last year, the world-famous ICEHOTEL is now open 365 days per year, so that guests can come and stay the night in hand-sculpted ice suites, no matter the season. The recently launched Chef’s Table on the Veranda, an exclusive culinary experience, is in itself yet another reason to visit. By Malin Norman | Photos: Asaf Kliger

The spectacular ICEHOTEL welcomes around 50,000 visitors from 80 countries every year. It is included in TIME magazine’s 2018 World’s Greatest Places and is also at the very top of the list of tourist attractions on many Swedes’ bucket list of places to visit. The idea for the world-famous hotel and art exhibition made of ice and snow came about in 1989. The creation is reborn in a new guise every winter, in the Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi, located 50 | Issue 119 | December 2018

200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. On 14 December this year, the seasonal part of the hotel opens for the 29th year. ICEHOTEL is all about ice and creativity – with art as the result. Artists are invited to send proposals for designs, and each year, a jury selects 30 proposals to bring to life, half for the winter hotel and the rest for the 365 suites. “The jury looks at the concept. It needs to be something original, something not seen before,” says Beatrice Lind, PR manag-

er at ICEHOTEL. “We are striving to push the boundaries of what is considered ice art, and we love a challenge in terms of how a design can be realised tech-

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Swedish Winter Wonderland

nically.” ICEHOTEL also hosts one of Sweden’s largest private art exhibitions, which is open to the public.

Sustainable 365 structure Last year, the new ice experience ICEHOTEL 365 premiered. It is a permanent structure, open 365 days per year, with an ice bar, a gallery, and 20 handsculpted suites of ice and snow, of which nine are deluxe suites featuring a warm relax area. During the summer months, the building is cooled by solar panels – a sustainable way of keeping ICEHOTEL open all year, thanks to the rays of the sun. “We want to live in harmony with nature,” says Lind. “Thanks to solar energy, we can now cool the new building all year round. It’s great to be able to work with the seasons and, actually, the opportunities to see the northern lights, the big attraction here, are just as good, if not better in the autumn before the snow arrives.”

Chef’s Table on the Veranda The ICEHOTEL Restaurant is run by Michelin-trained head chef Alexander Meier, who mixes his own background and knowledge with local traditions and produce. Together with sommelier Sofie Nordefors, he presents a new meeting place. With Chef’s Table on the Veranda, guests are invited to a different kind of food event. They sit at the large, communal wooden table, which is shaped like a horse shoe and has room for 16 guests. Two chefs cook and serve an exclusive menu of eight to 12 courses with accompanying beverages, and while guests enjoy the food, the chefs talk about the produce and method of cooking. “Our guests love sitting at the table where everyone can see each other as well as the chefs, who are cooking the food on the other side of the table. The food perspective is exciting, of course, but also this type of social interaction,” Lind explains. “In fact, Jukkasjärvi is Sami for ‘meeting place by the water’.

At ICEHOTEL, it now also means meeting around food.” Another culinary adventure may be to go on a wilderness dinner or join a day tour with Sami women, where guests can pick herbs and plants not found elsewhere, and later bring them back to the chefs, who will prepare a meal with these ingredients. Web: www.icehotel.com Facebook: icehotel.sweden Instagram: @icehotelsweden Twitter: @ICEHOTEL_Sweden

Head chef Alexander Meier.

Photo: Paulina Holmgren.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 51

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Swedish Winter Wonderland

Photo: Peter Rosén.

STF Abisko Mountain Station is the world’s best place to experience the northern lights. Photo: Chad Blakley.

Photo: Gösta Fries.

Home of the dancing lights Experiencing the magical phenomenon that is the northern lights has in recent years become a given on most people’s bucket list, causing curious crowds to seek out the tiny village of Abisko in Sweden’s far north. Here lies the Swedish Tourist Association (STF) Abisko Mountain Station, home to the globally recognised Aurora Sky Station and a sanctuary for anyone who wishes to experience the region’s captivating nature.

of beds in response to the area’s increased popularity, and the station is often praised for its friendly hosting. “We constantly look at ways to improve our service, standard and offering for our guests,” concludes Johansson.

By Emma Rödin

Whether visitors wish to tick the northern lights off their bucket list or just soak up the crisp, clean air, there is something about Abisko’s wild beauty that keeps them coming back for more. Johansson describes it as “a special impression that stays with you forever”. As a wise person once said, “once Abisko, always Abisko.”

Although there has always been a general fascination with the rare northern lights that can sometimes be seen waltzing across the sky, interest soared to new heights when Lonely Planet named Abisko and its Aurora Sky Station as the world’s best spot from which to catch a glimpse. As a result, STF Abisko has seen a huge increase in international visitors in the last few years, with as much as 42 different nationalities visiting in January 2017 alone. “Historically, the station has had predominantly Swedish visitors who have come to breathe fresh air and experience the barren nature, but these days, the divide is more like 50/50, and a big reason for this is the northern lights,” comments Louise Johansson, finance and communication coordinator at STF Abisko. 52 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Abisko and the Aurora Sky Station are nestled into the middle of a valley surrounded by mountains, in a so-called ‘rain shadow’, with as little as 300 millimetres of rain per year. In other words, the area sees mostly clear, blue skies, which are ideal for spotting the northern lights. “Abisko has actually been nicknamed ‘the blue hole’, because often, despite the surrounding areas being cloudy, a patch of blue can be seen above the village,” says Johansson. The northern lights may be Abisko’s main attraction, but the area is also known for its great hiking trails, skiing, the midnight sun and locally sourced food, and is easily accessible by both train and car, with two airports only an hour away. Additionally, STF Abisko has, in recent years, expanded its offering

Photo: Peter Rosén.

Web: www.swedishtouristassociation.com Facebook: stfabisko Instagram: @stfabisko

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Swedish Winter Wonderland

Fall in love with winter in Lapland If the thought of winter fills you with dread, then perhaps you are doing it wrong. Ditch the rainy nights and the grubby slush and head up north to Brändön Lodge and Pine Bay Lodge on the Swedish Lapland coast. Here, ice fishing, dog sleds and the northern lights await you, in a setting of unparalleled natural beauty.

And while guests can opt for a ‘winter package’ option, Widén says that visitors are equally welcome to put together their own programme of activities.

By Liz Longden

“We’re big enough to offer fantastic experiences, but also small enough to offer a very personal service,” he says. “So everything can be tailored to individual needs and preferences to ensure that every group of guests gets the most out of their stay.”

Situated 20 kilometres north of Luleå, looking out onto the Luleå Archipelago, Brändön Lodge and Pine Bay Lodge make the perfect base from which to explore the wonder of the Nordic winter. Here, you will find accommodation with half or full-board service in individual cabins and a cosy hotel, with a vast range of activities guaranteed to forge unforgettable memories. Imagine, for example, speeding across the frozen archipelago in a hovercraft. Or how about a spot of ice fishing, or a snowmobile safari? Or how about enjoying a three-course candle-lit dinner in a teepee on the ice, by the warmth of a crackling fire? Or a reindeer sled tour, led by a Sami guide? All this is possible and much more besides. At the top of many people’s bucket list, of course, are the northern lights. Göran

Widén, co-owner and co-founder of Brändön Lodge and Pine Bay Lodge, says that guests have an excellent chance of seeing the lights from August through to April. “But because it’s something that can’t be guaranteed, with any of our activities, we always make sure that the northern lights are only one part of the experience,” he explains. “So even if you don’t see them, we can promise that the activity will still be something special.” If guests’ reviews are anything to go by, Widén and his colleagues do not disappoint — the TripAdvisor website gives Brändön Lodge and Pine Bay Lodge an exemplary five out of five rating. All information and activities are available in English, and everything can be booked online, although potential customers are welcome to call if they have questions or prefer to book over the phone. Winter clothing is also provided free of charge.

Brandön Lodge’s cosy but stylish lounge area is the perfect place to relax after an action-packed day on the ice. Top left: Northern lights. Photo: Graeme Richardson. Below left: Hovercraft. Photo: Graeme Richardson. Right: Cottages. Photo: Andreas Wälitalo.

Web: www.pinebaylodge.se

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 53

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Swedish Winter Wonderland

The last wilderness in Europe Based near Kiruna, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, the experienced guides at Kiruna Sleddog Tours will ensure an unforgettable experience in Swedish Lapland. Come join them for spectacular outdoor adventures in Europe’s last wilderness. By Malin Norman | Photos: Kiruna Sleddog Tours

When visiting Kiruna in the north of Sweden, take the opportunity to try winter adventures such as snowmobile tours, ice-fishing or an aurora lights trip, but also make sure not to miss the sled dog tours, from just three-hour to up to ten-day expeditions with some of the best trained sled dogs in the world. This and much more is offered by Kiruna Sleddog Tours. For around 20 years, owner Mats Pettersson has been guiding visitors in the wonders of the wilderness. Born and raised in Kiruna, Pettersson has always worked close to nature. “I have a passion for nature tourism, and key in our business is making sure that we look for nature’s best, not leaving anything behind during our tours. Our guests want to feel that they are part of the wilderness and they appreciate simplicity, but it needs to be on nature’s terms.” Pettersson is certainly an experienced guide and, impressively, he is also the 54 | Issue 119 | December 2018

only Nordic musher to have completed the world’s longest sled dog race, The Iditarod, also called the Last Great Race on Earth. It is a tribute to Alaska’s history and the role of sled dogs, and the race covers 1,000 miles from Anchorage in south central Alaska to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast.

Aurora Dome and Aurora Yurt

Yurt, and the camp can now house 20 guests in total. The team is also enhancing the culinary experience further, with great chefs cooking tasty meals such as moose, reindeer and smoked fish over an open fire. “It brings another dimension and adds to the ‘glamping’ experience,” says Pettersson. “Here, our guests get the chance to explore the wilderness and take part in activities such as sled dog tours in beautiful surroundings, while also staying comfortably, enjoying the relaxing sauna and having a nice meal afterwards.”

New this season at Kiruna Sleddog Tours is a sauna and relaxation area in connection to the new accommodation alternatives Aurora Dome and Aurora

Mats Pettersson has completed the world’s longest sleddog race, The Iditarod.

Web: www.sleddog.se

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Swedish Winter Wonderland

Adventures for all

By Emma Rödin | Photos: Åre Nature Adventures

Swedish ski resort Åre has become famous for its great atmosphere, striking nature and great experiences, something the recently-launched Åre Nature Adventures (ÅNA) has made perfect sense of. By offering a range of adventures and unique package deals all year round, the company is attracting visitors from all over the world who leave with a genuine and unforgettable experience in the bag. ÅNA is the little sister of Explore Åre and focuses on offering memorable adventures in small groups led by knowledgeable guides. For the relaxed guest, there is ice fishing, moose safaris and northern lights, while the thrill seeker can opt for dog sledding, snow quad and snowshoe hikes. “There is something for everyone,” says CEO Marcus Airikka, and goes on to talk about the company’s unique approach: “It is important to us that our experiences are genuine and not a reflection of mass tourism. That is why we only allow eight people per group, because if you bring an urban environment to a quiet place, you will lose the feeling of nature.” Another thing that sets ÅNA apart is the package offering and partnership with Åre

Bed & Breakfast. One simple click on the company’s website gives guests transfer from Östersund or Trondheim airports; accommodation and top service at the cosy Åre Bed & Breakfast, a local pearl tucked away in the village centre; and great food and activities to last them a full weekend. “All you have to do yourself is to book your travel to and from the airport,” says Airikka. ÅNA’s personal and simple approach to great-quality experiences has already earned it recognition internationally. So, for your next holiday, why not head to Åre and let ÅNA guide you to your next adventure? Big or small, it will be one to remember.

Åre Nature Adventures offers unforgettable experiences all year round in the charming village of Åre.

Web: www.adventureare.com Facebook: arenatureadventures Instagram: @arenatureadventures

Catch the northern lights in Swedish Lapland Are the northern lights on your bucket list? “If you’re lucky, you might see them during dinner at our restaurant,” says Håkan Sundström, owner and manager of Stora Sjöfallet, the only hotel in the Laponian area of northern Sweden.

Stora Sjöfallet has a restaurant that serves locally sourced food, always with elk and reindeer-meat as well as veggie options and fish from local trawlers on the menu.

By Sofia Scratton | Photo: Stora Sjöfallet

The Laponian area is inside the Arctic Circle and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts extraordinary natural beauty, with snow-covered mountains, lakes, rivers, marshes and primeval forests. It offers peace and relaxation and many adventures can be found in the pristine natural scenery. Stora Sjöfallet Mountain Centre is managed by Håkan and Petra, both outdoor enthusiasts who have spent their whole lives in the area. The mountains and wildlife have plenty to offer, such as hiking, fishing, guided boat tours, kayaking, ice climbing, and snowmobile safaris. To see the northern lights, you must visit in winter. “The northern lights in the Laponian area are very powerful due to be-

ing so close to the Arctic Circle. It is the same light that you see in Abisko, one of the well-known destinations for viewing the northern lights in Sweden. We’ve had groups of guests who have travelled here mainly to get a picture of the northern lights.” In the summer, which is also the season of the midnight sun, you can try icefishing on a frozen lake while wearing just a T-shirt. Another great once-in-a-lifetime experience is to hike over the mountains. There are many hiking and cycling trails nearby, and kayaks and canoes can be hired. The staff at Stora Sjöfallet can help arrange a helicopter tour, an increasingly popular option with guests, to visit untouched lakes and rivers.

Web: www.storasjofallet.com Facebook: StoraSjofallet

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 55

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Swedish Winter Wonderland

Award-winning hotel in the heart of northern Europe’s largest ski resort Hotel Fjällgården in Åre has a rich heritage and spectacular views, and is perfectly located next to the ski slopes while also being close to the mountain village and all amenities. By Sofia Scratton | Photos: Hotel Fjällgården

Åre, in the county of Jämtland, is the largest ski resort in northern Europe. Tourists began visiting in the late 1800s for the fresh air. Nowadays, it is one of the leading Scandinavian ski resorts. Hotel Fjällgården is situated in the middle of the ski slopes and is the only hotel in the area with a ski-in/ski-out location. “We are unique because of our fantastic location. Our guests can put their skis on right outside the front door, as we are right next to the slopes. Åre town, with all its amenities, is just seven minutes away with Åre Bergbana, the funicular railway that runs between Hotel Fjällgården and the town square. With the funicular, no other hotel is as close to both the slopes and the village,” says hotel manager Emil Magnusson. The funicular railway, like the hotel, is over 100 years old and was first built to 56 | Issue 119 | December 2018

bring guests from the capital up to the mountains. A century later, and hotel and resort are still very popular with visitors from all over Sweden as well as further afield, including Norway, the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark and many other countries. The funicular railway is free to use for all guests of the hotel. Voted Sweden’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2014, it lies 556 metres above sea level and offers spectacular views over Åre, the mountains, and lake Åresjön. The hotel has its own spa with steam rooms and saunas. Hot tubs may be booked, which come with private waiters serving snacks and drinks. To sit in a hot tub in minus-20 degrees while surrounded by snowcovered mountains is a truly unforgettable experience. Hotel Fjällgården is known for its signature après-ski party during the win-

ter season, with live music every day between 3pm and 5.30pm. At 6pm, the restaurant opens for dinner guests. In spring, the terrace on the fifth floor becomes an attractive place to lap up the sunshine while enjoying one of the many drink choices from the bar menu. Hotel Fjällgården is open all year round and will be hosting some of the main sponsor guests for the Alpine World Ski Championships, which takes place in Åre in 2019.

Web: www.fjallgarden.se Facebook: fjallgarden Instagram: @hotellfjallgarden

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Swedish Winter Wonderland

On the doorstep to wilderness Two of Sweden’s most well-known and spectacular winter destinations belong to the same family. Lapland Resorts offers great variety for the upcoming ski season, for families as well as more adventurous skiers. By Malin Norman | Photos: Lapland Resorts

Lapland Resorts runs two of Sweden’s best ski destinations, Björkliden and Riksgränsen, as well as the country’s highest mountain station, Låktatjåkko. According to marketing manager Per Jonsson, “with our variety, you will get a winter holiday out of the ordinary. People come here to see the mountains and their magnitude, for real and without the crowds.”

the whole family, with some 23 pistes of varying difficulty, a range of other exciting activities, and good food. For young skiers, there is a kids’ ski school and a popular mascot entertaining them on the slopes, and only nine kilometres away is Låktatjåkko mountain station, which is accessible with Cat ski. Here you can also check out Sweden’s highest-located restaurant and bar.

Björkliden is a beautiful resort located amongst mighty mountains, a true winter wonderland literally on the doorstep to wilderness. It offers great skiing for

Riksgränsen is the northernmost ski resort in the country, and with a long tradition of skiing, in particular off-piste, it attracts skiers from all over the world. It

constantly offers new challenges and is ideal for the more advanced skier. With heli-skiing and similar activities, you can add even more adrenaline to your holiday. “Travel in an eco-friendly way by train from Stockholm, which brings you to the centre of both villages,” says Jonsson. “And stay in one of our ski-in/ski-out accommodation alternatives right next to the ski slopes, so that you can step outside in the morning and hit the slopes straight away.” Web: www.laplandresorts.se Facebook: riksgransen, bjorkliden.fjallby Instagram: @riksgransen.se, @bjorkliden_fjallby

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 57

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Swedish Winter Wonderland

All you need for a great stay, under one roof Food is an important part of travelling these days. At SPiS Kiruna, the team has made sure that guests can stay comfortably for the night and enjoy a tasty meal in the restaurant, have a nice ‘fika’ in the café, or buy fresh bread and other goodies in the bakery – all under one roof. By Malin Norman | Photos: Rebecca Lundh

SPiS Kiruna is a hotel and hostel, a restaurant and café, and a bakery and deli. The team also runs a restaurant at the airport in Kiruna. Basically, they cater for all your needs when visiting the town or, of course, if you are one of the locals. “We are indeed committed to the mix of accommodation and food,” confirms owner Johan Stålnacke. “These days, food is such an important part of travelling, and we are adding our own twist to the experience.” It all started with the restaurant at the airport, and soon continued with another restaurant venue in the town centre of Kiruna. Stålnacke’s younger brother is a baker and, quite naturally, a bakery was added to the SPiS concept. From there 58 | Issue 119 | December 2018

on, the step to a café was not too big, and when the opportunity to offer accommodation in the same building appeared, there was no hesitation as to what to do next. “At SPiS, we love when things happen quickly,” smiles Stålnacke. “With our concept, we can deliver something that nobody else in the region can. It’s partly being in the right place at the right time, but we also have a true passion for hosting and for good food. When we opened, the locals were curious to experience something new, and soon after, the tourists started coming.” The location is also great, with no more than ten minutes by car taking you into

the wilderness. Winter tourism is big in the area, and many international visitors want to see as much as they can, including, of course, the northern lights. “Our strength is in adding to the complete experience, and we offer high-quality food as well as fantastic service, regardless of the season.” According to Stålnacke, guests give very positive feedback: some have been known to say, “I wish there was something like SPiS where I live!”

Web: www.spiskiruna.se Facebook: SpisMatDryck Instagram: @spiskiruna

SS E LN lT L a i E ec W ND Sp D A AN INL NA IN F U SA

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and Wellness in Finland :

m he

By the next morning, the boat sauna had escaped to the other side of the lake.

Souls of the sauna Finland, a country of just under five and a half million people, is home to more than two million official saunas – and another estimated million unofficial ones. Finnish sauna is more than an occasional treat or a luxury spa trip; it is a place to relax and reconnect with yourself and loved ones away from the bustle of everyday life, and it has been for millennia. As Scan Magazine discovered at the second World Sauna Forum, an increasingly globalised world brings both challenges and opportunities: how can you bring the benefits of the Finnish sauna to the rest of the world without losing its authenticity? By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: World Sauna Forum

Finnish iconography abounded before we even set foot in Jyväskylä, the centralFinnish city that hosted the 2018 World Sauna Forum. While the cabin crew was busy handing out delicious bilberry juice, the half-hour flight from Helsinki revealed a respectable number of the country’s famous 1,000 lakes twinkling up at us amidst pine forests, ski lanes and the odd speedway track. In the middle of the Finnish Lakelands, Jyväskylä Airport featured a single baggage carousel overlooked by a massive signed ice hockey jersey. Could things be any more 60 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Finnish? Yes. Yes, they could, as it turned out. The birch trees were beginning to yellow just in time for autumn, and we passed a few more massive, quietly misting lakes for good measure on the drive to Jyvälyskä, the regional capital known for its university, industry and architecture. After receiving our room keys and a set of white towels, bathrobes and slippers, it was politely suggested that we get changed and shower immediately in order to make the most of the pop-up

sauna village that had been set up for the Sauna Forum right by our delightful Hotel Alba – where each suite naturally featured its own sauna too. Clad in swimsuits and fluffy hotel slippers, a few of us foreign visitors shuffled our way through the freezing afternoon darkness past most of the world’s sauna experts over to a mysterious sauna boat on the shore of Lake Jyväsjärvi that we had spotted from our hotel suites. Climbing aboard the wooden vessel, we located a steamy door and hesitantly entered the dark, humid little sauna

Photo: Anu Kuikka.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and Wellness in Finland

room and sat down in blindness. “Hello there,” said a deep, friendly voice from the corner of the cosy, sweet-smelling room. Illka Länkinen, owner of Lapland’s SantaPark Arctic World, greeted us sweaty with a beer in hand: “Welcome to a proper Finnish sauna. Have you jumped in the lake yet?”

Sauna soul searching If you take anything away from reading this, let it be this: first, there probably is no better way to be exposed to Finnish culture than through their saunas; second, Finnish sauna is nothing like those dank, scorching and questionably hygienic swelter-boxes you might have experienced down at the gym. The pop-up sauna village revealed a whole new world of saunas and sauna experiences, from a little Christmas-decorated sauna whose walls played the somewhat startling shrieks and murmurs of Finnish forest animals to an easily constructible tent sauna that offered peat treatments in the dark.

Jyväskylä local, Alvar Aalto, the forum delved deep into the question of what sauna should entail, what should be allowed, and where the sauna institution should be going in the future. The sanctity of the Finnish sauna tradition faces global rivalry. Experts from as far away as Japan and Taiwan explained the rise in popularity of their own high-tech steam rooms. When a point was made that tens of millions of people enjoy the more showy, entertainment-focused central-European Aufguss sauna, the moderator’s reply that evidently, tens of millions of people could be wrong, received rapturous applause – by Finnish standards – only matched in volume by the boos when someone mentioned that many people believe sauna is Swedish.

Hotel Alba lakefront. Photo: Hanna Palosaari

Photo: Anu Kuikka.

The calming scents of the wood; the easy-going, disarming conversations with other semi-dressed people in the half-dark; and the hiss of the water hitting the scorching stones, creating the hot steam that relaxes your muscles to the core, make for a very special experience. The heat is intense, yes, but it is breathable and relaxing, and easily altered by adding more water or opening a door. It is not a toughness competition, and the cool breaks are an essential part of the experience, whether through a dip in the lake or a modern cold shower. “It can be a lot for first-timers to sit here semi-naked and see that it says 160 degrees on the thermometer,” Länkinen later admitted. “They might panic and think ‘that’s what I cook my chicken at!’. We need to convince non-sauna-going people that Finnish saunas really are relaxing, safe and worth a shot.” That became one of the main points of discussion raised at the next day’s World Sauna Forum. Held at the city’s old worker’s club-cum-conference centre, designed in the 1920s by Finland’s perhaps most famous architect and

A boat-style sauna in the pop-up village. Photo: Gitte Merrild.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 61

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and Wellness in Finland A brand-new, high-tech Harvia sauna enhances relaxation through calming lights.

Pop-up sauna. Photo: Hanna Palosaari.

Hotel Alba lakefront.

Somebody noted that Finns have taken the sauna lifestyle for granted for so long that it can be difficult to even begin to explain quite what it means to outsiders. Is it possible to export Finnish sauna at all? A lot of experts thought so, though they differ on what exactly that entails.

Exporting authenticity “Finland has 8,000 years of experience of how saunas should be done,” Jake Newport, managing director of Finnmark Ltd., remarked. “Finnish sauna means quality, entails a particular lifestyle and should be something to be enjoyed rathPhoto: Kati Pilli-Sihvola.

62 | Issue 119 | December 2018

er than endured. In places like the UK, we need to reboot our conceptions of the sauna – to learn and import high-quality saunas from Finland in order to get the mental and physical health benefits that it can bring.” Like other Fennophiles leading a quiet revolution at home, Newport believes the time for Finnish sauna abroad is coming – possibly aided by the recent growth of the mindfulness philosophy. “Proper sauna is about the full sensory experience,” says Katie Bracher, owner of Beach Box Brighton. “You should Inside a boat-shaped sauna. Photo: Kati Pilli-Sihvola.

hear the rain, feel the birch, smell the pine and so on. Go for a dip in the sea to cool down and have some sauna snacks. I think it’s possible to adapt the Finnish sauna to the local environment, but you need to have a guide and know how to do it properly. We need to spread the sauna message.” It was when Mika Meskanen, founder and president of the British Sauna Society, moved from Lapland to Berlin, then the UK, that he realised how big a role the sauna had in everyday life back in Finland. “I really missed it,” he says, The Christmas sauna. Photo: Kati Pilli-Sihvola.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and Wellness in Finland

“so I built my own sauna from an old greenhouse, a used Swedish engine and scraps off Ebay. Finnish saunas don’t have to be fancy,” he says. “It’s not about the latest model or the fanciest technology. They should be welcoming places and hot enough to be hygienic. Apart from that, it’s as much about the philosophy behind them: having an uncomplicated, accepting and natural relationship to your body, yourself, and others.” Heidi Säntti from Sauna from Finland agrees. “Going to the sauna is not seen as a luxury or a treat as such, it’s more of an essential weekly hygiene and relaxation ritual for a lot of Finns, almost like taking a social shower. Most of us have one in our house or a communal one in our apartment block.” The word ‘sauna’ is said to be the only word to enter the English language from Finnish, and Finland’s sauna culture is currently being considered for UNESCO heritage status in Finland. “It was an essential space for Finns – it could heat you up in winter and used to be the most hygienic place one owned,” Meskanen adds. “Throughout history, many Finnish women have actually given birth in the sauna. My father was one of the last people to be born like that – out in the forest after the war. The sauna had guaranteed hot water and was safe from bacteria thanks to the high temperatures. It’s difficult to encapsulate everything that the sauna means and has meant to Finns.”

Finnish-ing off in style Eight saunas and a sauna forum later, we leave Jyväskylä and Alvar Aalto’s many iconic buildings behind to travel northwards to try out the Northern Lights Sauna Trail at the Revontuli Resort, before going back to our tedious, sauna-less lives. Maaria Alén, a woman with extensive training in sauna history and rituals, treats each of us to ‘vihta’, branch whisking (it is both invigorating and relaxing, trust us), and guides us through the spiritual rituals connected to the oldest and heaviest type of sauna: the smoke sauna, which has been around in Finland for thousands of years. “The sauna was a spiritual place,” she reveals. “It connected you to your ancestors and to your inner self. The steam, or Loÿly, that rises up off the sizzling hot stones represented the spirit, breath or soul of the sauna; all that has gone before you and everything that you are.” No matter where you are in today’s busy, disruptive and overstimulated world, it seems like the ancient lessons of the authentic Finnish sauna are just as relevant as ever: relax, breathe, be present and let yourself be open and vulnerable to those around you. The Finns were recently, and a little surprisingly, perhaps, deemed the world’s happiest people. Unsurprisingly, an hour of social sweating; hot, deep, intense muscle relaxation; and mindfulness every once in a while, may play a part in their contentment. The lake at the Northern Lights Resort was refreshing to say the least. Photo: Gitte Merrild.

Conference staging. Photo: Kati Pilli-Sihvola.

Tips for mastering the Finnish sauna: Drink plenty of water and shower before and after the sauna. Take short breaks to cool down in the air, shower or a lake. Heat rises, so the top benches will be hottest. Remember to breathe and relax. As a rule of thumb, swimsuits in mixed-sex saunas; no swimsuits in same-sex saunas.

For more information, please visit: Sauna from Finland: www.saunafromfinland.com Visit Jyväskylä: www.visitjyvaskyla.fi/en Hotel Alba: www.hotellialba.fi/en/ The Northern Lights Resort: www.revontuli.fi/en/ Maaria Alén: www.travellamo.fi To find a proper sauna in the UK: The British Sauna Society on Facebook: BritishSaunaSociety Beach Box Brighton: www.beachboxspa.co.uk Embassy of Finland: www.finemb.org.uk

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Swedish Christmas Special Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and WellnessGift in Finland

Sauna from Finland — an important way of life In Finland, the sauna is a way of life and an important part of the Finnish culture. Sauna from Finland is an association and network of nearly 200 companies within the field, which strives to spread knowledge about sauna culture while helping to provide the best sauna experiences for you, no matter where in the world you are. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Sauna from Finland

With the aim to promote Finnish sauna culture, Sauna from Finland helps to support the development of services and execute new entrepreneurship within the field. “We are very enthusiastic about everything related to the sauna experience, and therefore happy to spread information about wellbeing and the health benefits of the sauna,” says Satu Freyberg of Sauna from Finland. The members of Sauna from Finland are developers, pioneers and visionaries in 64 | Issue 119 | December 2018

the field, including everything from stove manufacturers, consumer goods and service providers, accommodation and entertainment facilitators, to wellness and design companies as well as other associations.

The authentic Finnish experience There are 5.4 million people and more than three million saunas in Finland. More than 90 per cent of Finns visit the sauna at least once a week, and even if you have a very small apartment, it is

common to always make space for a sauna. It is safe to say that it is an important part of Finnish culture. “Life is very hectic. People are busy and they need to relax. The sauna is the best-known Finnish experience, and we believe it is one of the keys to a healthy

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and Wellness in Finland

and happy life,” Freyberg explains. She can see a clear link between Finland being the happiest nation of 2018 and their frequent use of the sauna. “I know from my own experience that when I am tired after a stressful day and go to the sauna, it makes me feel like a different person. It is really amazing how it can make you feel so much happier.”

A place to relax and take care of your health In the sauna, you can cleanse both your body and your mind. It is a place to find harmony, to relax, to take care of your health and to pamper yourself. An ideal, authentic Finnish sauna experience is created by seeing to all the senses, utilising scents, sensations and sounds while including the important elements of wood, water and living fire. It is not only the act of being in the sauna that is important, but also what happens before and after. “The process starts even before you go. Make sure you take your time – no mobile phone, drink plenty of water, wash yourself and get ready to relax. After the sauna, it is crucial to take it easy.” Freyberg advises using quality textiles, skin care and other products to boost the experience and make it even more beneficial for you.

Make time for the sauna “The researchers who have been studying the benefits of the sauna have said that if you don’t have time to exercise, at least make time for the sauna. Of course, there are multiple health benefits for your heart, your skin and your wellbeing, but it also makes you feel very good both physically and mentally,” says Freyberg. To get the maximum health benefits, it is advised to visit the sauna at least four times a week and to stay there for 20 minutes.

to strengthen the international markets of the Finnish sauna. In 2018, this annual event was held in Jyväskylä with a fun and diverse programme consisting of speakers, panel discussions, networking, experiences and, of course, saunas. “Here, you can discover the latest news and trends from the sauna and wellbeing markets, while meeting other enthusiasts,” Freyberg concludes.

As well as giving advice and helping hotels, public spas and private homeowners to build their own sauna, Sauna from Finland also wants to make sure that everyone can get the experience. “If you can’t get to a sauna, we are happy to advise you on how to create a relaxing and calm moment for yourself. For us, it is important to provide all the knowledge and tools you might need to get the same benefits as those of a sauna, no matter where in the world you are,” Freyberg smiles.

World Sauna Forum For the last two years, Sauna from Finland has organised World Sauna Forum, a big networking event for sauna businesses from all over the world,

How a Finnish sauna is good for your health It is good for your heart. It lowers the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. It considerably decreases the risk of fatal and cardiac illnesses. 20 to 30 minutes in the sauna reduces your blood pressure.

Unexpected Finnish sauna benefits Helps you sleep better and fight depression. Eliminates toxins and increases metabolism. Good for your skin. Helps against psoriasis. Promotion of social interaction - helps combat loneliness. Faster post-sport recovery and increase of heat tolerance.

Web: www.saunafromfinland.com Facebook: SaunafromFinland Instagram: @saunafromfinland

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 65

Swedish Christmas Special Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and WellnessGift in Finland

Swimming under the stars.

Bathing in light — stimulate your senses and enhance your sauna experience Cariitti is a Finnish family company specialising in different lighting solutions for saunas and spas. For Cariitti, a light switch is not just on or off, but a possibility to create amazing atmospheres. By Anne Koski-Wood | Photos: Cariitti

Light is one of those everyday phenomena we do not pay much attention to. When designing a bathroom, most of us spend a lot of time – and money – choosing beautiful tiles and taps, but hardly think about lighting. Yet the overall effect of a beautifully designed bathroom can be flattened with poor lighting. “If you shape the room by lighting the outer areas or illuminating certain elements, it is possible to make even cheap tiles look good and the space more inviting,” says Peter Ruokonen, managing director of Cariitti. 66 | Issue 119 | December 2018

He explains how the human eye naturally seeks light and beauty. A fine example of how to attract the eye is an illuminated bowl of water. It can be fitted either in a bathroom or recessed in wood in a sauna. A simple light source is delightful and beautiful; it pleases the eye, fills the mind with peace and joy, and makes the space special. “With light, you can tell a story and enrich the space,” says Ruokonen.

The latest trends: crystals Cariitti is a pioneering company when it

comes to new advances in sauna lighting systems. In the ‘80s, the company was the first in the world to use fibre optics. Nowadays, Cariitti uses a lot of LED and fibre-optic cables in its lighting systems, but is also adding new, exciting elements to the repertoire, including crystals. A crystal chandelier can be hung from a ceiling or act as a space divider, adding luxury to any spa area or rest room. Of course, wireless technology has spread into saunas and bathrooms too. You do not have to step out of the bath anymore to dim the lights or turn on the music. “By connecting the lights to your mobile, wireless device or an app, you just have to make commands,” explains Ruokonen.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and Wellness in Finland

Different sauna cultures demand different lighting Different sauna cultures present different demands for lighting. In Finland, people seek peace and harmony and like to choose traditional, dim lighting, whereas in southern Europe, people prefer to use colours. In Germany, saunas often have so-called sauna masters, who take charge of the sauna sessions by throwing water on the stove and fanning the visitors with towels. As they use white gloves and towels, UV-lighting makes the show more vivid and fun. Also, the heat presents its own demands. Saunas in southern Europe are more like warm rooms, whereas in Russia, the temperature rises to above 100 degrees Celsius, which sets special demands on lightning systems. You have

to choose the right technology for the specific temperature range.

Towards new visions Cariitti is widening its expertise from lighting to also include the building of sauna benches. The first collection, Taive, differs from traditional designs with its soft lines. The back rests and benches have soft bends and corners, making the overall appearance more harmonious. The look and feel very much follows a classic, Scandinavian, timeless design expression. The collection, which has been made entirely from Finnish materials such as birch, using local carpentry craftsmanship, has already attracted a great deal of positive interest from around the world. “Ideally, we would like to offer

You can visit the Cariitti Showroom in Niittyrinne 2, 02270 Espoo. The showroom has a wide range of illumination for saunas, steam rooms and bathrooms. There is also a wireless lighting control system on display.

Web: www.cariitti.fi Facebook: Cariitti Instagram: @Cariitti Pinterest: Cariitti

A softer way to enjoy a sauna: Cariitti’s new Taive collection of benches and backrests.

Cooling-down areas deserve their stars too.

Illuminated water basins and a chandelier feed the eye and mind.

customers everything they need for the sauna under one roof,” says Ruokonen, adding that his aim has always been to take the little pleasures in life one step further.

Shaping a bathroom with lighting.

Adding drama to a bathroom with Sade crystals.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 67

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and Wellness in Finland

A moment of calm in the city Founded in 2005, Helsinki Day Spa is one of the largest day spas in Finland, and the country’s first urban spa. The relaxing setting, along with many beauty treatments, allows guests to nourish their mind, body and soul and leave their daily grind behind. By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Riku Pihlanto

“The idea of the city spa is to bring a moment of peace and calm into the customers’ busy daily lives. Our mission is to bring wellbeing to the mind and body,” says Toomas Uibu, managing director of Helsinki Day Spa. “It is important that customers are able to relax and leave their everyday stresses behind.” The spa has been renovated throughout 2017 and 2018, and new treatment rooms have been added. Now, a total of 16 treatment rooms offer a number of the latest skincare therapies, along with pampering and relaxation. The spa lounge’s impressivelooking historical architecture, protected by Finland’s National Board of Antiquities, makes for a unique relaxation spot, and the perfect setting for guests to calm their mind while enjoying a cup of tea. Helsinki Day Spa employs over 20 68 | Issue 119 | December 2018

wellness professionals, including trained aestheticians and professional massage therapists providing a wide range of facial and body treatments. “As part of the Finnair loyalty programme, clients have the possibility of using their Finnair Plus points to enjoy the treatments,” says Uibu. Helsinki Day Spa works in partnership with Ihoakatemia, the leading clinic of aesthetic dermatology in Finland. “Collaborating with Ihoakatemia allows us to achieve great long-term results when working with customers with various different needs and skin conditions, and we always work closely with dermatologists. The latest trend for us is not to run a medical spa but to schedule a comprehensive beauty programme, including some annual effective medical treatments performed in the medical facility, and separate regular maintenance meso-

therapy, IPL-light and peeling treatments in the spa,” Uibu continues. “Our strength is in our unique expertise in skin care. Our highly qualified professional massage therapists and aestheticians are able to advise on the best treatments for each customer,” says the managing director. “Coupled with the spa’s luxurious setting, the experience is perfect for busy clients who would like to step away from the city’s bustle – we take them beyond the daily grind and warmly welcome all visitors!”

Web: www.dayspa.fi Phone: +358-9-685 0630

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and Wellness in Finland

The Rakka stove is known for its long-lasting and soft heat. Photo: Veli Lesell.

Photo: Petri Hulkkonen.

Photo: iStock.

The soul of the sauna The weather is usually a common small-talk subject, but the Finns also have another topic that can light up a conversation: the secrets of a good sauna stove. Juha Männistö, managing director of Mondex, a Finnish company making woodfired and electric stoves and stone radiators, shares his knowledge on just that.

A heart of stone Also, different stones create different types of heat. Mostly, Mondex uses soap stones for their stoves, because they provide a softer heat and have proved very

The sauna is ready when the temperature is 60 to 70 degrees. For the stove, use warm (to touch) water.

By Anne Koski-Wood

The world around us is changing, but the sauna experience stays the same. People go there to relax and to escape their busy lives and bad weather. The stove, arguably, is the most important element of a sauna. When choosing the right stove, one should take into account the size of the sauna and the wall-surface insulation properties. Then it is a question of taste, how hot, and what kind of heat one prefers. When asked about the difference between a wood-fired and electric stove, Männistö says that the heat is pretty similar, but saunas with wood-fired stoves seem to be more ‘airy’, because the wood burning process makes the air circulate. Despite common misconception, woodfired stoves are not slower to heat up, but quite the opposite.

Tips for heating up a perfect sauna

popular. The other option is to choose sauna stones, which create a sharper, hotter heat. The stones should be changed every now and then, because they tend to become brittle over time or move inside the stove, blocking the heating elements.

Stoves to fit any sauna The Mondex collection contains 13 different free-standing or wall-fitted models. In one of the free-standing stoves, Rakka, the stones are sitting on top of each other, reminding us of ancient times, when people used to gather around a fire. The mechanism whereby an iron rod has been drilled through the stones to secure them in place, has been patented. Männistö is proud of the fact that all the stoves are built by local people using Finnish materials, ensuring a very high standard of quality. In 2016, Mondex became part of Premec, a company specialising in sheet metal mechanics. Operating together, the stoves have a bright future ahead.

You can alternate the heat and quality of steam by throwing water on different spots on the stove. The top of the stove gives the hottest steam, while the bottom offers more gentle heat. Use a lot of water. Pour half a litre of water slowly on top of the stove. This way, you create a long-lasting heat. Afterwards, air the sauna by opening an air vent. Save energy by switching off the stove. The stones have enough stored heat to dry the space. Make sure to keep yourself hydrated by enjoying a glass (or two!) of your favourite drink afterwards.

Web: www.mondex.fi Facebook: Mondex Instagram: @mondexfinland Main image: In a land of thousands of lakes, there are approximately three million saunas. Photo: iStock. Bottom left: Mondex is the only company in Finland making stone radiators. The temperature is comfortable and lower than in ordinary radiators. Stone radiators are also quiet and safe, while adding a beautiful touch to your home.

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and Wellness in Finland

Kastee® can also work in lower temperatures, making it an ideal system for exercise rooms specialised in hot yoga or pilates. Photo: Tulikivi.

Kastee System — leading the way in the sauna revolution ®

Five years ago, Dan Mertalehto, a pioneering inventor, was admiring the perfect combination of the warmth and humidity of a greenhouse, and wondered if it might be possible to create the same effect in a sauna. After some more thinking and prototyping, he successfully invented a system that takes away the hard edge from a sauna’s dry and hot heat. By Anne Koski-Wood

Kastee® System is a new, revolutionary, smart air humidifier, which upgrades any dry sauna into a well-being oasis with rich and abundant steam. As a result, the heat is soft, moist and easy to breathe. The secret lies in a water spray nozzle installed inside the stove. The nozzle, which is connected to a water supply, sprays water on the stones at regular intervals, giving the atmosphere the 70 | Issue 119 | December 2018

feel of an ancient smoke sauna. Hygro and thermometer sensors, placed on a sauna wall, measure the humidity and temperature levels. The levels can be adjusted in a control unit, which is placed outside the sauna. The Kastee® System is electronically driven, automatic, self- adjustable and completely safe. A sauna expert, a long-standing member of the Finnish Sauna Society and

founder of the British Sauna Society, Mika Meskanen, says: “Everyone’s journey into the pleasures of a sauna is unique, but most connoisseurs agree that the soft humidity and enveloping warmth of a traditional wood-fired smoke sauna is the ultimate experience.” The Kastee® technology helps recreate this climate in modern commercial and domestic saunas and makes it accessible to everyone.

Still like a traditional sauna When asked about the difference between a steam room and a sauna with a Kastee® System, the CEO and partner, Ilkka Korhonen points out that steam rooms use a kettle to create hot and cold steam, whereas in the Kastee® System, the quality of warmth and temperature stays

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and Wellness in Finland

the same. He reassures that saunas can be used just like before: it is still possible to throw water on the stove, and the sauna will not be colder, because the intelligent system reacts according to the temperature. If the temperature rises above 85 degrees Celsius, the system switches itself off for safety reasons.

Kastee® saves energy too Kastee® is also very economical – exactly what hotel chains are looking for at the moment. In the long-run, Kastee® helps to preserve the wooden structure of saunas, especially in hotels and gyms, where saunas tend to be on for long periods of time, with the heat drying the panels and making them crack. At the moment, the Kastee® system is being used in hotel chains such as Sokos, the Holiday Club resort chain and, lately, at the Hilton Helsinki as well as in Forever Gyms. In the UK, the first Kastee®

experience can be savoured in the Barking Bath House Spa, an oasis for holistic sauna treatments and wellness services. Barking is another home base, along with the sauna of the Finnish Church in Rotherhithe, for meet-ups of the British Sauna Society, a fast- growing community of sauna lovers in London and across the country. “Closing my eyes, I can’t really tell the difference between my cottage sauna and the abundant pleasant steam at Barking,” assures Kimmo Raitio, principal steamer aka saunasherpa and partner at Kastee. Raitio is an explorer of sauna cultures in the Baltics, Europe, the US and Russia, and a sauna enthusiast for more than 40 years.

Health benefits The Kastee® System has also sparked an interest among many health professionals. Kastee® works in co-operation

with the Laurea University of Applied Sciences and the Asthma Federation, carrying out research about the sauna’s health benefits. So far, the results are encouraging. Because Kastee® System is gentler, it is possible to stay in the sauna for longer and burn more calories, handy for anyone wanting to slim down. While hot and dry saunas can be a health hazard for people with heart problems, Kastee® is a safe option, because it does not raise the blood pressure or create extra work for the heart.

The sauna tradition moves on Korhonen is excited about the fact that the traditional Finnish sauna is moving on to a new era. When in the old times a smoke sauna took hours to create soft and humid heat, the Kastee® System uses technology for the same effect, making everything possible at the press of a button. Web: www.kastee.fi www.bathhausspa.com Facebook: kasteerelax Alexander Lembke: www.thesaunaproject.net Top left: The Kastee® System, the 21st century Finnish wellbeing, innovation and engineering inspired by millennia of sauna tradition. The fitting is safe and easy to carry out – no plumber or electrician needed. Photo: Dan Mertalehto. Top right: Enjoying the soft heat. Photo: Shutterstock.

Left: Kastee® can be fitted in either wood or electric sauna stoves. Photo: Dan Mertalehto. Right: The latest innovation meets ancient tradition. Photo: Alexander Lembke.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 71

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sauna and Wellness in Finland

An event space with a twist Erottajan Kasino is a long-standing event space that offers versatility, style and a dash of art. The central location in the capital, Helsinki, as well as the option to customise the space to suit your needs, make it the space of choice for high-profile events. By Anne Koski-Wood | Photos: Mikke Pöyhönen

Throughout his many years working in the hospitality industry, Mani Tehrani, CEO of Erottajan Kasino, had been dreaming of running his own business. The opportunity to do just that presented itself unexpectedly when a friend of a friend contacted him about fixing the door of a sauna a customer had broken on the premises – at the time, Tehrani had changed careers and owned a construction company. “Before long, I became a partner in the business and was running the event space myself,” Tehrani recalls. Erottajan Kasino is located high over the rooftops of central Helsinki. The building dates back to 1912, and the event space itself, converted from flats, comes with slanted ceilings, arched windows and plenty of light. There is also a large balcony that allows patrons to take in the urban views, and, of course, a sauna. The space lends itself to organising many different types of events, from weddings to meetings, and can fit up 72 | Issue 119 | December 2018

to 70 people. “We are particularly accustomed to hosting high-profile customers, such as embassies and artists, and customers appreciate the option of bringing their own beverages,” Tehrani explains. Unlike at your regular event space, art is an important feature of Erottajan Kasino. The collaboration with artist Jaakko

Mattila also began through a personal connection with staff, and his paintings have adorned the walls ever since. What next? Tehrani hints at plans of redecorating. “I am motivated by being able to respond to the challenges that organising different events brings, and helping people make their dream events a reality. Running your own business means you have to be ready to learn and grow – but the freedom it gives you makes it worthwhile,” he concludes.

Web: www.erottajankasino.fi Facebook: erottajankasino

A sauna can fit in nearly any space Ever dreamt of transforming your bathroom or poolside into a spa by adding a sauna? It is not complicated. Just send your measurements to Saunastore and they will do a free 3D-plan of your space with a sauna. By Anne Koski-Wood

The ready-made sauna package will be delivered to your door and can be assembled in a couple of days. Sound easy? “We have over 20 years of experience in designing and delivering saunas,” says Saunastore’s CEO, Tapani Aho. “We look after our clients every step of the way, from design to assembly. We are Finns, and the sauna is part of who we are.” Saunastore only has its own designs in its sauna collection. Aura is the most popular, a traditional Finnish sauna with modern, spacious, Scandinavian design with a lot of glass. A new model Aho is specially proud of, is Northern Lights Sella. Sella is built around really comfortable sauna chairs and has both a traditional stove and infrared as a source of heat. “I think the

sensory impressions are very important for enjoying a sauna. You need to throw some water on the stove to see and hear how it sizzles,” he says. In some cases, the most suitable place for the sauna is in the back garden, on a patio or next to a swimming pool. “Very often, you don’t need planning permission for our saunas,” Aho says. You can also find sauna accessories from Saunastore, such as high-quality linen and sauna pillows.

Web: www.saunastore.fi Facebook: saunastore Instagram: @saunastore

Top: A plan of a sauna by the pool. Illustration: Saunastore. Bottom: Aura – compact, yet spacious. Photo: Tapani Aho.

Women’s Health Profile

Squeeze tight and baila!

By Anne Koski-Wood

Very often, women pay more attention to their triceps and biceps than to their pelvic floor muscles – even though those muscles keep the stomach flat and the posture straight, and can have a crucial effect on women’s sex lives. Scan Magazine spoke to Maija Kiljunen, co-ordinator of the Squeeze Tight campaign and creator of Bailamama®. The campaign, supported by Finnish midwives, gynaecologists and physiotherapists, encourages women to take part in a pelvic floor exercising challenge. By signing up, you get a free pelvic floor training programme and a weekly newsletter. The campaign also offers a seven-day online kick-start Venus programme. The campaign headline, ‘Squeeze tight when you see red traffic lights’, works as a memory technique. A few years ago, Kiljunen herself came up with a concept of fun group exercise classes called Bailamama®. After having two babies, she got fed up with the serious tone health professionals were using when encouraging women to train their pelvic floor muscles. She thought it would be much more fun to train in a group.

With Bailamama®, women can go ‘baila’, while training their pelvic floor muscles. The secret of the brand’s success is basically that the classes are a lot of fun. With Bailamama®, training becomes regular and part of a routine. Kiljunen is hoping that the Squeeze Tight campaign and Bailamama® will take the feeling of embarrassment away from the topic of pelvic floor muscles, so that women can enjoy their bodies fully.

Maija Kiljunen is a physiotherapist specialising in the pelvic floor area. Photo: Eero Joenrinne.

To take part in a challenge, go to: www.squeeze-tight.com You can also train at home. An online Venus programme is available on: www.uk.bailamama.com/venus_ training_plan To order Bailamama books, go to: www.bailamama.fi/kirjat (to be translated into English in the near future)

Bailamama works on stamina, speed and maximum strength. Photo: Sami Lamberg/Sebastian Rosenberg.

More information: www.bailamama.fi

RE E P M A T

h iT

T SI I V

Photo: Jari Kuusenaho.

Visiting a childhood favourite The Moomin family has taken the world by storm for over 60 years with their loving nature and fun adventures. In Tampere, Finland, the Moomin world comes alive at the Moomin Museum, which is home to the original Moomin illustrations and books. In spring 2019, the museum will open a new exhibition showcasing the history of the Moomin animations, as well as a Moomin Museum Midwinter one-day event. By Josefine Older Steffensen

The Moomin Museum is the only one of its kind in the world. Tove Jansson, the creator of the Moomins, donated the entire Moomin art collection to the museum in 1986, and it has been on display since the year after. In June 2017, a brand new museum opened to house the collection where visitors find themselves immersed in the permanent exhibition, Guess What Happens Next?, which tells the story of all the Moomin books written and illustrated by Jansson. “There are about 300 original Moomin illustrations on display in our permanent exhibition,” explains Minna Honkasalo, 74 | Issue 119 | December 2018

researcher at the Moomin Museum. “It’s always exciting to see people’s reactions and to see them discover the originals of the characters they’ve loved since childhood.”

A midwinter spectacular On 2 March 2019, the Moomin world will come alive in Tampere. Inspired by the book Moominland Midwinter, where Moomintroll wakes up from hibernation to discover a new world to enjoy with his friends, the Moomin Museum and Visit Tampere wanted to create the same adventure for the locals and visitors of Tampere. “The winters in Finland are

long, cold and dark, but that’s not to say they can’t be enjoyable!” This year, the event brought 10,000 visitors, and next year’s event is set to be even bigger. “There are many activities such as ice skating, snow-shoe walking, saunas, an outdoor hot tub, live music, tipis and Finnish food, as well as rolling in the snow after the sauna, as us Finns do,” says Honkasalo. Everything on the day is free, apart from food and drink, but it is possible to bring a picnic along and enjoy it by one of the many fires. “Because the days are so dark, we light up the park to create a real sense of magic and a wonderful atmosphere. It almost feels like you’re part of one of the Moomin stories,” Honkasalo explains.

Thrills and cuddles The first Moomin animation to premiere was a German series in 1959. Since then,

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Visit Tampere

Moomin animations have aired in over 120 countries. The new exhibition, Moomin Animations – Thrills and Cuddles, opening in spring 2019, is focused on the history of the numerous Moomin animations. The exhibition will showcase the different versions of the Moomin animations, focusing on the different techniques used in different periods. For anyone who is a fan of animation or the Moomins, or both, this is bound to be an exciting exhibition, with everything from the original animations being shown to hand-drawn sketches of the animations and three-dimensional models, sound samples and digital mock-ups. Particularly unique to the Moomins is their worldwide fame. This also means that there are many interpretations of the iconic stories, and in the exhibition, these are shown alongside each other to demonstrate the cultural interpretations of the original stories.

Encouraging grown-ups to play “On the day we opened the new museum, we had a queue of visitors outside from across the world,” says Honkasalo. “The visitors were mainly adults wanting to reconnect with their childhood favourites. It’s wonderful to see the impact the Moomins have had on people, and continue to have.” In the year since it opened, the museum has had 120,000 visitors. The museum is not only home to exciting exhibitions, but also to a studio and a reading room. The studio has different workshops for adults and children alike, where they can discover more about the Moomins and their adventures. Visitors can make their own interpretations of the Moomin stories, sometimes with the same drawing or painting techniques Jansson used, or, for example, with shadow play, music or animation. The reading room has Moomin books in over 30 languages and is open to every-

Photo: Laura Vanzo.

one. “In total, the stories have been translated into 52 languages, so we’re lacking a few, but there should be a language that everyone can understand. The reading room is a space where young and old can sit and enjoy the fantastic stories,” says Honkasalo. The Moomin Museum is much more than simply a museum showcasing the illustrations; it is an emotional museum where adults, children and families can reconnect with the Moomins and enjoy the thrilling stories and the many comforting messages behind them. “The Moomins are incredible and have taught many generations about taking care of each other and being kind and friendly. There’s something very magical about them,” concludes Honkasalo. Web: www.muumimuseo.fi Facebook: moominmuseum Instagram: @moominmuseum

Photo: Jari Kuusenaho.

Photo: Laura Vanzo.

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Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Visit Tampere

Soulful circus A small, local circus club was the start of Sorin Sirkus, which is today a thriving circus with its own manège, circus school and shows, visiting many countries worldwide. By Mari Koskinen | Photos: Kristian Wanvik, Copyright: Sorin Sirkus

“In 1985, it was just me and my husband, Jouni Kivimäki, who started a circus club for children,” says Taina Kopra, director of Sorin Sirkus, about the beginning of the journey. “We learnt the tricks first ourselves, and then taught them to the students.” With plenty of determination as well as experience of competing in gymnastics, Kopra was able to develop the once-aweek club into an active circus, and in 1993, they started teaching basic circus arts. “Today, we have over 500 students on our courses every week,” she says. “We also have a show group consisting of 20 of our most experienced circus artists. Many of them have continued their circus studies further, after leaving Sorin Sirkus, and are now working as circus professionals around the world.” But Kopra has not stopped there. Sorin Sirkus has also been a pioneer in the de76 | Issue 119 | December 2018

show celebrates the 250-year history of modern circus and will show unique versions of the traditional acts and tricks in the special Sorin Sirkus style!”

velopment of social circus, where the objective is the social inclusion of people with fewer opportunities, along with an aim to improve the skills of the participants and social circus trainers. “Here, circus arts are a tool for professionals who work, for example, in the mental health sector, with children with special needs and in prisons,” explains Kopra. Sorin Sirkus was one of the founding members of Caravan, an international non-profit network that focuses on promoting circus practices in youth education around the world.

Christmas Show Sorin Sirkus is well-known for its high-standard, unique performances. “Our artists often have several years and thousands of hours of rehearsals behind them,” says Kopra. The annual Christmas Show, offering thrilling and energetic performances and skilful circus tricks and acts, attracts as many as 10,000 spectators every year. “This year’s

The Christmas Show runs until 6 January 2019. Tickets: www.lippu.fi Web: www.sorinsirkus.fi Facebook: sorinsirkus Instagram: @sorinsirkusofficial

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Visit Tampere

Restaurant LiV — fine dining with a relaxed attitude Something delicious is cooking in Tampere. Restaurant LiV offers a mixture of Finnish and European-inspired food in a lively and friendly atmosphere, where a customer does not need to wear a tie in order to get five-star treatment. By Anne Koski-Wood | Photos: Jonna Lintula

Looking at the white tablecloths and silver service, LiV could be one of those fine restaurants where ever-so-serious waiters serve thumbnail-size portions. However, Mika Lintula, the headwaiter and one of the founders of LiV, wants his restaurant to be a place where customers can relax and enjoy the food and wine while being well looked after. You can simply pop in for a very nice three-course set menu lunch, or book a table for dinner. Inspired by French bistros and their lively atmosphere, Lintula and his founding partner Kalle Viljakainen like to spend time on the floor and be close to their customers. They know their wines and food, and carry a few tips and suggestions up their sleeves, sharing them with their customers with a dollop of humour.

LiV is for living and loving Just reading through the menu makes the mouth water. For starters, LiV serves duck-liver mousse, followed by beetroot

with an aim to exceed expectations. As Lintula says: “Why settle for just good?” Once the plate is placed in front of a hungry customer, the seriousness disappears and all there is left, is pure joy.

risotto with goat’s cheese. For pudding, there is a selection of French cheeses or a chocolate-hazelnut tart served with homemade cherry ice-cream. The impressive wine list contains classics such as Joseph Drouhin Mersault, or vintage 1987 and 1992 Sancerre, as well as 2001, 2014 and 2015. The wild card on the menu is reindeer sausage with Port wine sauce. The idea of homemade reindeer sausages is original and the dish has earned a lot of praise. Of course, there is also fish on the menu, which the local fisherman delivers to the restaurant twice a week.

Why settle for just ‘good’? The restaurant has become very popular and has earned its place at the top table of restaurants in Tampere. Maybe the secret lies in the kitchen. The creators, chef Juho Hänninen and his crew, take food seriously, where every mouthful comes with a lot of thought and attention to detail, but also

Top left: Beef brisket with pickled mushrooms and vegetables, globe artichoke puree and fried black salsify. Bottom left: Vegetarian gnocchi with baked Provolone cheese. Middle: LiV’s wine list contains 200 different wines. Right: LiV is open for lunch from Monday to Friday, 11am to 2pm. Above: LiV’s doors are open to everybody. Photo: Ronja Honko.

Address: Restaurant LiV Laukontori 6, 33200 Tampere, Finland +358 50 435 0082

Web: www.ravintolaliv.fi Facebook: ravintolaliv Instagram: @Ravintolaliv

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 77

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Visit Tampere

Wine and dine in Tampere A newcomer to the restaurant scene in the booming Finnish city of Tampere, Winebridge has quickly made its mark as a laid-back hub focusing on the synergy between wine and food. With the city’s largest wine selection, an ever-changing menu and a warm, relaxed atmosphere, Winebridge is a must for anyone exploring Tampere. Founded by Timo Jokinen in August 2018, Winebridge is a genuine family business that has Jokinen’s wife and daughter heading up the kitchen. Jokinen himself is a wine connoisseur who has been in the industry for over 30 years, and who launched the restaurant to share his love of wine and food and to educate guests about the natural bond between the two. “We sell most wines by the glass so that people can try different types of wine with the dish they are eating and really learn what they like and not,” he explains. The food at Winebridge draws inspiration from all corners of the world, and the diverse wine list is constantly growing, with Jokinen currently searching for small, family-owned wineries to add. Winebridge

78 | Issue 119 | December 2018

also regularly runs wine courses and hosts themed evenings based on food and wine from a chosen country. Guests who sign up for this experience will enjoy a five-course meal matched with wine, sometimes as many as three types per dish. With its casual setting and musical backdrop of jazz and blues, Winebridge

By Emma Rödin | Photos: Ronja Honko

encourages guests to simply enjoy themselves. “So many places are too pub or too fine-dining. We offer something that sits perfectly in between,” says Jokinen, and ends with an invitation: “Just come and relax!” Web: www.winebridge.fi Facebook: Winebridge.fi Instagram: @winebridge.fi Winebridge is a relaxed restaurant focusing on the relationship between wine and food.

DE M in ST iT IN he m AT e: IO N BO DØ

Norlandsmuseet Bymuseet Museum Norlandsmuseet.

Visit Nordlandsmuseet Nordlandsmuseet is a collection of 19 museums in the region of Salten. Join Scan Magazine in discovering the three largest museums in Bodø and learning about the history and culture of this fascinating northern part of Norway. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Nordlandsmuseet

Norwegian Jekt Trade Museum: A new historic attraction in Bodø In spectacular landscape near Bodøsjøen just outside the town centre, the new national Jekt Trade Museum is in the process of being built. Due for completion in 2019, the museum will tell the story of jekt vessels sailing with interactive experiences and exhibitions around the historic ship, Anna Karoline. “Anna Karoline is one of just a few of these types of boats that have been preserved. It has been in the museum collection for many years, and we are so proud to finally be able to display it properly to the audience next year,” says project manager Erika Søfting. She believes that

the museum will become a new attraction in Bodø, and an important part of the region’s culture offering. These impressive jekt vessels were historically used for sailing internationally, and along the Norwegian coast since the

The Norwegian Jekt Trade Museum. Architectural drawing of the café area.

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Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Destination Bodø

Anna Karoline was recently restored.

18th century. They would bring stockfish and cod liver oil between the middle part of Norway and Bergen. “The museum will tell the story of Anna Karoline and how important jekt vessel sailing was for this part of Norway. It was the main source of transport for several hundred years, and a way to connect the country,” Søfting explains. The boat will become the heart of the museum, and through an interactive display, visitors will be able to experience for themselves what it is like to lift the sail and be on board this impressive ship. As well as the exhibition halls telling the story of jekt vessel sailing, the museum will also house a number of unique objects from the cultural history of Nordland, which have never been shown before. You will also be able to visit a brand-new café with large panoramic windows overlooking the fjord, a museum shop and a conference hall with capacity for 180 people. 80 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Modern design meets historic charm The Norwegian Jekt Trade Museum will become the main facility of Nordlandsmuseet in Bodø. “I am sure it will become a stunning place to visit, and a museum for the whole family to enjoy,” says Søfting. Designed by the architects Rintala Eggertson, the large, modern

Architectural drawing of the new museum.

structure was based on the mountain profile in the area, the coastal settlement and the shape of boats turned upside down. Outside, the building will be cladded with brown panels, which will make it blend in with the surroundings. “The

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Destination Bodø

traditional houses in the area will contrast and complement the new, modern design structure in a charming way and help tell more of the local history,” the project manager continues.

Spectacular landscape With the spectacular, picturesque landscape surrounding the new building, Søfting explains that this entire area will be an important part of the museum itself. “In addition to the museum buildings, the beautiful area around will also be utilised. Here, we will facilitate

everything from outdoor concerts to fun events throughout the year to create a buzzing environment.” Situated in the heart of Bodøsjøen Open-Air Museum, with its traditional north Norwegian buildings and beautiful costal landscape, the area is already a popular excursion spot for locals and tourists alike. The Norwegian Jekt Trade Museum is set to open on 22 June 2019. “It will be a beautiful and exciting place, somewhere you can spend a long time and enjoy yourself both indoors and outdoors, all

year long,” Søfting smiles. “We have a lot of activities and happenings planned this summer for the opening, and look forward to unveiling our beautiful new museum and Anna Karoline in all her glory.” The museum opens on 22 June 2019. Follow the construction on YouTube by searching for Nordlandsmuseet. Location: Rorbuveien 3, 8070 Bodø, Norway Facebook: Jektefartsmuseet

Kjerringøy.

Kjerringøy Trading Post: Coastal heritage site set in magnificent scenery A visit to northern Norway’s best-preserved trading post on Kjerringøy is like a journey back in time. Here, at this unique coastal heritage site, set in magnificent scenery, you can really sense the past. It is the perfect place to experience and learn more about everything from fish trading and herring to the daily life in this coastal community in an authentic setting. Famous around the world as a backdrop used in a variety of films, this idyllic place will be recognised by many tourists. Consisting of 15 old houses retaining many of their original contents, Kjerringøy is one of the country’s most important collections of buildings from the 19th century. “It is 100 per cent authentic here, and that’s what is so unique about Kjerringøy,”

says Erika Søfting. As the best-preserved trading post of its kind, nothing has been changed; everything you see on the site, including buildings and inventory, was well preserved and kept. The impressive archive has been given UNESCO status as part of the memory of the world, and it contains 23 shelves of documents related to trade and settlers on the island.

“It is a very special place to visit. When arriving, it feels like you enter another era,” says Søfting. She recommends new guests to watch the slide show, Anna Elisabeth of Kjerringøy, which provides an excellent introduction. In addition, the guided tours give you an insight into the daily lives of the fishermen and smallholders on the coast, while telling you all about the competent merchants of the island. The golden age of the village was at the end of the 19th century, and in time it grew to become the wealthiest trading centre in northern Norway. Issue 119 | December 2018 | 81

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Destination Bodø

A visit to Kjerringøy is not complete until you enter Kramboden, a store full of nostalgia and charm, stocking everything from original goods to old-fashioned sweets and traditional mittens. “We also have a cosy cafe and a lovely garden, where you can enjoy refreshments and local specialties,” says Søfting, adding: “In the summer season, we have a group of performers who act out the history to create unique experiences and meetings with our guests.” Location: Fylkesveg 571, 8093 Kjerringøy, Norway Web: www.kjerringoyhandelssted.no Facebook: KjerringoyHandelssted Instagram: @kjerringoyhandelssted

Kjerringøy Trading Post is located in spectacular scenery.

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Kramboden, a shop with nostalgia.

Details of the original wallpaper from 1845.

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Destination Bodø

The dry aquarium was Norway’s first interactive exhibition, and is today protected.

Bodø City Museum: The city and its rich history Right in the middle of Bodø lies the City Museum, in one of the oldest and most charming buildings in town. Here, you can learn about the town and its history, discover a large silver collection and visit a significant dry aquarium. Built in 1903, the historic building started as a fishing museum. “Back then, it was possible to come here to discover and observe stuffed animals and sea creatures up close. We still have some of these on display, and our dry aquarium has become protected, as has the facade of the building itself,” museum educator and programme manager Hedi Fagervik explains. Nordlandmuseet was established in 1936, and afterwards, it received a cultural and historical profile. After a recent renovation, the museum now offers a great selection of temporary and permanent exhibitions as well as events throughout the year. The main exhibition offers guests a chance to get to know Bodø as far back as before it became a town – a place with a

rich and exciting past. Another must-see is the large collection of silver on display, a beautiful treasure that was recovered in 1919 and dates back to the Viking Age. To create a fun event for the locals, the museum has started a new lecture concept called Viten Avec. “This is a cosy evening where you can listen to interesting talks about different subjects while enjoying a drink as well as simple finger food. I highly recommend coming down to experience it,” Fagervik smiles. Location: Prinsens gate 116, 8005 Bodø, Norway Facebook: Nordlandsmuseet Instagram: @bymuseet_bodo

The silver treasure, with the largest ring needle found in the Viking era.

These models show the town’s development.

For more information about all the 19 museums that make up Nordlandsmuseet, as well as exhibitions and opening times, please visit: www.nordlandsmuseet.no

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Real adventures in the north If you are planning a visit to Bodø and want to experience real adventures in the north, the regional tour operator Stella Polaris can help make it a reality. The company largely provides activities as well as complete packages that consist of both transport and experience, often in connection with courses and conferences, so you can just sit back and enjoy the trip. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Stella Polaris

Stella Polaris was established in 1990 by Torbjørn Engen and Knut Westvig, with the aim to showcase the Bodø region as an attractive and exciting destination. “Before GPS and other navigation equipment, one would often use the northern star Stella Polaris to navigate. We like to look at ourselves as a modern navigation aid that will help and guide people to find their way north and to Bodø,” daily manager Knut Westvig explains. With their local knowledge, expertise and resources, the regional tour operator presents their own custom nature and culture-based activities as well as outsourced experiences through their network of suppliers to make sure they always meet the customers’ needs. With everything from boat trips, Arctic coastal walks and fishing to glacier hiking, northern lights tours, cave tours and mu84 | Issue 119 | December 2018

seums on the programme, for both individuals and groups, there is something for everyone to enjoy. “We focus on providing a broad spectrum of adventures on land and at sea, all with a dash of the typical northern Norwegian charm. We work informally and enthusiastically, bringing with us good stories that spice up the experience and make it more personal,” Westvig smiles. “It has been important for us to handpick guides and boat drivers over the years, making sure we have the best crew, who are good at interacting between themselves and the guests as well as making it the best experience possible. We also work closely with hotels in the area as well as Hurtigruten and cruise ships.” Stella Polaris is proud to offer RIB safari trips to Saltstraumen, an activity

unlike anything else. Saltstraumen is a small strait with one of the strongest tidal currents in the world, and with these special rigid inflatable boats accommodating 12 passengers, you are not only close to each other but also close to the magic. Another popular excursion is that of encompassing the experiences at Kjerringøy, an open-air museum where you get the chance to walk along the same paths that Knut Hamsun once went down. “A trip to Kjerringøy is like a journey back in time, and an insight into how modern coastal Norway developed.”

Web: www.stella-polaris.no Facebook: stellapolaris.no

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Destination Bodø

Top left: Sinus is the main stage and club scene for rhythmic music in Bodø, as well as the regional headquarters of the Northern Norwegian Jazz Center. Bottom left: The flexibility of the space makes it possible to arrange everything from concerts and performances to meetings and conferences. Right: Stormen cultural quarter was designed by DRDH Architects.

Taking Bodø by storm Stormen Concert Hall is a vibrant and innovative arena for art and culture events, with world-class acoustics that ensure optimal conditions for everything from classical masterpieces and concerts to theatre, dance shows and conferences. Ever since opening the doors to its brand-new building in November 2014, the popular venue has been taking Bodø by storm.

are very flexible and can be quickly rearranged, making the perfect foundation for an array of great cultural experiences all under one roof,” Raade smiles.

By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Stormen Konserthus

“The cultural quarter and Stormen have been in the making for the last 30 years, so it has been a long process. But we are thrilled to now have a prime location on the harbour, right in the heart of the city,” director Rolf-Cato Raade explains. “The name Stormen was a result of a local competition. It symbolises not only the long and stormy process but also a lot of what the building represents in terms of being robust, as well as the typical weather here in the north,” he says. Stormen has become an important part of Bodø and its thriving culture scene, featuring a state-of-the-art library and an award-winning concert hall. These two impressive new buildings offer a modern expression and an urban design. The culturally vibrant hub has seen a recent increase in popularity and record attendance this year.

“Our aim is to be one of Scandinavia’s most vibrant and innovative concert halls, with a diverse mix of local, national and international stars on the programme,” says sales and marketing manager Benedicte Kilvær Eilertsen. She believes that the excellent acoustics and the amazing atmosphere have a lot to do with their success. “Renowned artists like Leif Ove Andsnes, Eldbjørg Hemsing and Mahler Chamber Orchestra have performed several concerts here, and they are overwhelmed by the quality of Stormen Concert Hall. This makes us very proud!” Stormen consists of three halls, including the iconic club stage Sinus, the small hall and the main hall. The latter, a unique multi-purpose hall that can house more than 900 spectators, is used for everything from opera and theatre to concerts and other performances. “All of our rooms

Upcoming programme: - Datarock, 18 January - Juilliard String Quartet, 26 January - Dara O’Briain, 27 January - Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra, Christian Kluxen / Georgy Tchaidze, 28 February - Highasakite, 7 March

Web: www.stormen.no/konserthuset Facebook: Stormenkonserthus Instagram: @stormenkonserthus

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E: R TU KS cia L e Sp CU PIC H IS TOP N DA UR O m he

Photo: Nicolai Perjesi.

Press photo.

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Danish Culture: Our Top Picks

Christmas at Tivoli. Photo: Kim Wyon.

From ‘hygge’ to classic art and gorgeous fruits of nature You will have read all about candles and smørrebrød recently, what with Denmark and the Nordics showing the way and becoming the go-to sources of inspiration for all things lifestyle and culture. But there is more to Denmark’s cultural heritage than modern comforts.

reaching natural park welcomes thousands of migratory birds, making it a dream destination for bird watchers and other nature enthusiasts alike.

But nowhere do the gifts of the sea play as crucial a role as on the island of Læsø. Here, the water is carefully heated and flakes skimmed off the top to produce pure quality salt. The leftover water is used for medicinal and wellness purposes at a local spa, and the product itself goes far and wide, including supplying gourmet restaurants such as Noma. On the complete opposite side of the Jutland peninsula, a flat, far-

Of course, the art heritage is alive and well in Denmark, not only when it comes to depicting the sea. Take Nivaagaards Malerisamling in northern Zealand, for example, where you can explore five centuries’ worth of art masterpieces – again, surrounded by breath-taking scenery. This much is certain: there is no shortage of beauty – natural, artistic and artificial – for culture vultures to soak up in Denmark.

The Skagen Painters knew all about it when they captured the special light of the ebbs and flows of their native home’s beautiful coastal scenery: the sea is one of Denmark’s greatest gifts. Indeed, not only does it provide countless visually stunning settings for everything from award-winning art museums to wildlife and nature experiences – it has also been serving the popular New Nordic Cuisine movement some delicious seafood.

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Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Danish Culture

The Nivaagaard Collection presents masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance, Dutch Baroque and Danish Golden Age.

Northern Zealand’s best-kept art secret Five centuries of art masterpieces gathered in an intimate exhibition space set by the coast – Nivaagaards Malerisamling (The Nivaagaard Collection) is arguably northern Zealand’s best-kept art secret. Surrounded by a beautiful garden, the museum presents work from the Italian Renaissance, Dutch Baroque and Danish Golden Age, as well as modern and contemporary special exhibitions. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Nivaagaards Malerisamling

Founded by Johannes Hage (1842-1923) in 1908, The Nivaagaard Collection is based on the impressive private art collection of Hage, a politician, landowner and local entrepreneur. The collection includes pieces by Danish and international masters such as Rembrandt and P.C. Skovgaard, but it is not just the impressive collection of art that surprises visitors, but also the museum’s beautiful setting, large romantic garden and special atmosphere, says museum director Andrea Rygg Karberg. “Our museum is still up and coming – it’s a bit of a secret, especially to tourists, and many are quite taken aback by the experience. It’s 500 years of art presented in an easily accessible manner and 88 | Issue 119 | December 2018

surrounded by beautiful settings, but it’s the special atmosphere of the place that people really love.” The museum is set by the coastline of Nivaa, a 30-minute drive from Copenhagen, and surrounded by a large garden full of old trees and beautifully abundant rhododendron.

A gift to the people In 1903, Hage asked the architect Johan Schrøder to erect a small temple for his beloved art collection. In 1908, he converted the art collection into an independent institution open to the public, and today, two extensions later, the temple is still

part of the building of The Nivaagaard Collection. “Hage was a socially enlightened man; he created health insurance for his workers and built a school, a hospital, a nursing home, a church and a harbour for the town. He was very aware of his privilege and the responsibility that came with that, and that’s also why he wanted everyone to be able to enjoy his art collection,” says Karberg. “That’s part of what makes the place special – that you can sense the person behind it and the significance he has had in this town. It’s an intimate and private atmosphere, and a place where you can find the time to relax and immerse yourself in the beauty of art.” The Nivaagaard Collection has expanded continuously over the years. Today, visitors are presented with a changing exhibition of 100 artworks from the museum’s own collection as well as two or three special exhibitions a year. On top of the exhibitions, the museum also com-

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prises an inviting café and museum shop as well as a packed programme of talks, concerts, tours and more. Together with the special exhibitions, the many events have brought about an explosive rise in visitor numbers, with almost 60,000 people visiting this year. “We have more than 300 special events drawing in new crowds every year, and everyone who visits comes back,” says Karberg. “We’re still a bit of a secret to most foreign visitors, but those who do discover us fall completely in love with the charm of the place.”

The Danish Golden Age Especially interesting to foreign visitors is the impressive collection of Danish Golden Age art. Adding to the experience is the fact that many of the works portray landscapes just like the one surrounding the museum. “A lot of the Danish landscape paintings resemble the museum’s surroundings very much, and that gives

a wonderful feeling of connection between the inside and the outside of the museum,” says Karberg. “On top of that, it’s a wonderful drive up along the coastline to get here, and when you arrive, you are greeted by the rhododendron garden, which is just amazing. When it’s in bloom, we have several buses stopping by every day just for that.” While the museum’s own collection covers art from 1500 to 1900, the special exhibitions often present art by modern and contemporary artists. Currently, the museum is presenting a large collection of political cartoons by Danish caricaturist Jens Hage, giving visitors a humorous interpretation of the major political events of the last 40 years. In 2019, this will be followed by an exhibition of works by the British designer and artist William Morris. Known for his nature-inspired, patterned fabrics and colourful wallpa-

Danish Culture: Our Top Picks

pers, Morris was also one of England’s first socialists and, through his work, aimed to make the world a better place by putting beauty front and centre. “The Morris exhibition will be one of the most prestigious special exhibitions we have had to date,” says Karberg. “It’s very exciting, because Morris is still very relevant today – H&M, for instance, just released a collection based on his prints. He’s a highly significant artist, designer, philosopher and poet.” Current and upcoming exhibitions at Nivaagaard Collection Until 27 January 2019: What Can Be Conceived Can Be Drawn, Jens Hage 13 February to 16 June 2019: Let Beauty Rule, William Morris

Web: www.nivaagaard.dk

Top left: P.C. Skovgaard, The Beach by Hellebæk, 1858. Top middle: Pieter Claesz, Breakfast Piece with Ham, 1625. Top right: J.Th. Lundbye’s Winter Landscape with Northern Zealand Character, 1841. Bottom left: William Morris, Strawberry Thief, 1883. Print on cotton fabric. In February 2019, The Nivaagaard Collection presents the special exhibition Let Beauty Rule with works by the British artist William Morris. Bottom middle: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, Portrait of a 39-year-old Woman, 1632. Bottom right: The founder of the museum, Johannes Hage, founded The Nivaagaard Collection to share his beloved art collection with the public.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 89

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Danish Culture: Our Top Three Destinations

Denmark’s hardcore high-fliers All kinds of visitors flock to the Wadden Sea World. Some of the most well-travelled of the guests stay for months at a time. Twice a year, migratory birds from as far away as South Africa descend upon the shallow waters of the western Jutland coast, in order to feast on a rich and opulent buffet of oysters, worms and snails. “Each year, we become the temporary home of 12 to 15 million birds travelling all the way between the Arctic and southern Africa. These birds need to eat to survive – and they really stuff themselves,” says the site’s leader and nature guide, Klaus Melbye. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Adam Mørk

“No matter how hard I try, I couldn’t ever manage to double my bodyweight in six weeks,” he continues. “Yet these little birds manage just that – they grow fat off our tide and sea floor.” The extra fat is needed in order for them to have the strength to make it onwards on their journey along the East Atlantic Flyway, which connects the northernmost parts of our planet with Africa’s south. The birds may look cute and a bit gangly and comical, but they are much tougher than any of us. “The little bar-tailed godwit, for example, flies the furthest of any bird in one go – it’s been observed to fly for six days straight 90 | Issue 119 | December 2018

without landing down, by New Zealand. When it takes off, the top-tuned, fat little thing weighs 560 grammes, but by the time it lands 11,600 kilometres later, it has burnt off the equivalent of a packet of butter – that’s half its bodyweight!” Stuffing yourself on the world’s biggest sea platter may sound like a dream for some, but think again. “The entirety of the bird has to expand to have enough space for the food,” Melbye explains. “In order to do that, all the innards and intestines have to stretch and double in size as well. Even their brain grows. Then,

when they set off, they have to fly up high enough for the air to be freezing cold in order to retain the water in the fat as it’s the only liquid they have available. That’s how some of the bigger birds like geese sometimes end up in airplane engines. It’s really fascinating stuff and there are plenty more facts to learn about them at our beautiful new exhibition house.”

UNESCO World Heritage Site The Danish Wadden Sea was made a national park in 2010 and finally joined the German and Dutch parts of the Wadden Sea as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. “As a heritage site and an educational centre, we have two distinct but interrelated duties that we take very seriously,” Melbye says. “On the one hand, we have to protect the area from natural and environmental dangers to ensure its survival and uniqueness. On the other, we have to educate; to aid people in discovering and exploring the wonders of the Wadden Sea – people have to care about

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme |

its preservation in order for it to continue to thrive. Part of our duty as a UNESCO site is to create sustainable tourism.” The wonderful new Wadden Sea Centre, designed by architect Dorthe Mandrup, masterfully ties together a pre-existing building with its wondrous surroundings through gentle but striking use of natural materials. Inside, architect Johan Carlsson has created a poetic and modern space, enticing young and old alike to experience the story of the migratory birds, soaring high above the earth to follow the birds on their nomadic travels across the globe and delving deep into the watery sea floor, which appears each day at low tide just outside the centre’s door. “The biodiversity that the seafloor here provides is so unique and wonderful,” Melbye says. “It’s a world that most people never see and few people think about, but it exists right here in little old Denmark.” Life and diversity is everywhere by the Wadden Sea, which is also home to countless seals and other non-fowl animals. A

Danish Culture: Our Top Picks

particularly popular biannual highlight is the black sun phenomenon, where millions of starlings from the entire Baltic Sea area meet above west Jutland’s marshes and swarm around like magic in groups big and dense enough to block out the sun from the many human visitors who come to witness the ritual. The migratory birds mostly frequent the Wadden Sea from March to May and from August to October, but there is plenty to do all year round. The site’s attendants are all biologists and offer guided tours in Danish, English and German, in addition to various scheduled exhibitions and events, such as seafloor exploration in summer and oyster safaris in the winter. “Once you’ve tasted an oyster fresh out of the sea, you’re hooked for life,” Melbye promises. “You’ll just have to come see for yourself.”

Web: www.vadehavscentret.dk and www.nationalparkvadehavet.dk Facebook: vadehavscentret Instagram: @vadehavscentret

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Danish Culture: Our Top Picks

Saline solutions

By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Læsø Salt

Back in 1991, the remnants of several medieval saltworks were discovered during archaeological digs on the idyllic Danish island of Læsø. With local help, the experimental archaeologist Jens Vellev and a local Læsø advocate reconstructed one of them as a historical workshop, aiming to investigate the past while educating people. The site took in local, unemployed youngsters and taught them industry skills. What started off as an experiment has become a highly profitable business, and today, Læsø Salt is in great demand. “The saltworks proved hugely popular from the get-go, although we hadn’t a clue what we were doing at first. Turns out extracting salt from the sea is pretty difficult,” Poul Christensen recalls. Known as Seething-Poul, the jovial Christensen is anything but angry: instead, his nickname refers to the salt-boiling process in which he has built up expertise. “Our first few batches came out very bitter. The key, we eventually learnt, to making high-quality, palatable salt is to only heat up the water to a certain degree, then skim off the flakes on top. Repeat the process a few times, but not too many – you only want the purest salt to garnish the

92 | Issue 119 | December 2018

dinner table. And, of course, you must taste each batch!” Læsø Salt remains a staunchly local business. “The leftover water is as salty and mineral-rich as the Dead Sea. We use it for medicinal and wellness treatments down the road at the Læsø Kur spa – it’s great for psoriasis therapy, for example,” says Christensen. Today, the saltworks welcome 75,000 visitors a year, who come to experience the ancient methods still in use today. Some of those ‘90s youngsters from the early days have become today’s experts that show them off. Though Læsø Salt has gone from producing two to 85 tonnes of salt a year

and supplied places like Restaurant Noma, Christensen remains humble. “I couldn’t say we have the best salt in the world – but we do make some pretty damn good salt.”

Web: www.laesoesalt.com Facebook: LaesoeSalt

SW M in ED iT he IS m H e: AB S C RO H AD OO LS

Photo: Ann-Sofi Rosenkvist.

A Swedish education – wherever you are Finland may be the pioneering education nation most people look to for clues as to how to keep school children happy and successful, but in fact, all of the Nordic countries keep scoring consistently well in different ratings over solid, wellperforming education systems. With free, compulsory primary and secondary school education, Sweden is one of the countries leading the way in this field. Did you know, for example, that the proportion of adults in Sweden holding a post-graduate qualification is among the highest in the OECD region? Moreover, the teacher-pupil ratio in Swedish schools is among the highest, and the country’s annual expenditure per student is among the highest as a percentage of GDP com-

Photo: Maskot, imagebank.sweden.se

pared to other OECD nations. It is clear that Sweden is doing something right. For this mini special, Scan Magazine spoke to some of the passionate people behind Swedish boarding schools and schools abroad – those who bring the Swedish curriculum to expat communi-

ties everywhere from Moscow to Maputo. In addition to a range of renowned, hugely popular boarding schools in Sweden, there are 18 schools in 11 other countries following the Swedish curriculum. With quality education and true community spirit at the heart of their schools, they help make Swedish schooling a possibility for those who go away for a year – and for those who end up staying… Read more about the Swedish school system at www.skolverket.se

Photo: Lena Granefelt.

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Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Swedish Schools Abroad

Scandinavian meeting place in Moscow A small oasis in a world metropolis, the Swedish school in Moscow has become somewhat of a meeting place for students and parents alike, adding further to their commitment to education and towards an international vibe. By Malin Norman | Photos: Swedish School in Moscow

Moscow is Europe’s largest city and offers both diversity and fantastic culture. “This is such a cool city, not at all what you might think,” says Maria Nord, headmaster at the Swedish school in Moscow. “It really is a world metropolis with anything you might want, be it cultural or culinary experiences, just around the corner.” In this big melting-pot, the Swedish school, close to the Leninskij Prospect in the south-west part of the city, has become a bit of an oasis for Swedes and other Scandinavians. “The school is a meeting place,” admits Nord. “Parents tend to meet up when they drop off or pick up their children. Many stay for a cup of coffee, and, of course, we also organise lots of popular events, such as Lucia and the Christmas party.”

Established in 1978, the school welcomes pupils aged from two up to 16 years of age, with links to Scandinavia. It follows the Swedish curriculum, and the teaching is conducted in small groups. With highly educated staff, there are great opportunities for the students to develop. The focus is on their creativity, independence and confidence, as well as on developing useful skills such as being able to speak in front of an audience. The building also houses the Finnish school, with plenty of opportunities to collaborate. For instance, the students have sports and music classes together. Moreover, the pre-schools often do excursions together. In addition, the Japanese and the Italian schools are located in the same building, further extending the international

opportunities. “At our school, the students get heaps of Russian and international experience, as well as a solid understanding of Swedish culture and traditions,” Nord concludes. “When they leave Moscow, they can rest assured that they will be able to continue their studies according to the Swedish curriculum without having missed out.”

Web: www.ssim.nu Facebook: svenskaskolanimoskva

Competence and dedication in Maputo The Scandinavian school in Maputo, Mozambique, is small with around 40 to 50 students of pre-school and compulsory school age. Here, a safe environment for students, high quality of education, and commitment from the teachers are important values.

school camp in the region. “It’s great to be able to offer classes in a different setting, and these excursions, where the students learn about African flora and fauna, are fantastic for the team spirit.”

By Malin Norman | Photos: Scandinavian School in Maputo

“Our greatest strength as a school is the teachers’ competence and dedication,” says Lovisa Larsson, chairman of the board at the school. “They have high expectations on the pupils but also adapt the classes to their individual needs. Every student should receive an education suitable to their level.” The school follows the Swedish curriculum but is also suitable for Danish and Norwegian students, including native language lessons. In fact, there is a strong emphasis at the school on learning languages. With smaller classes, the teachers can also dedicate more time to each pupil, and the children tend to become more active in class. 94 | Issue 119 | December 2018

In addition to the high level of teaching, the environment is fantastic. According to Larsson, “Maputo is a great place for families, small compared to some other cities in Africa and with a safe school. Many students live here permanently, but we also have some who come temporarily and even for just a few weeks. It’s important that both groups have a good knowledge of the country and feel at home.” In order to facilitate the understanding of life in Mozambique, classes make regular study trips and visits to local museums, churches and workplaces. Students learn about the local food tradition, and once a week, local food is served. Twice per year, they have the opportunity to attend a

Web: www.skandskol.com Facebook: SkandinaviskaSkolan-Maputo

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Swedish Schools Abroad

First-class education in an extraordinary setting PE on a tropical beach and nature walks in the rainforest are just two examples of what pupils at Sanuk, the Swedish School in Thailand, can enjoy during their school term. Yet, while the school offers unique experiences, it is also grounded on pedagogical excellence, with an emphasis on the personal development of every pupil at its heart. By Liz Longden | Photos: Sanuk — Svenska skolan Thailand

Sanuk was the first Swedish school to be established in Thailand and, since its founding in 2004, has grown to be the country’s largest, with sites in Koh Lanta, Phuket, Huay Yang, and Hua Hin, and classes ranging from pre-school to year nine. Despite its growth, however, the school continues to pride itself on the core values of community, personal development and, not least, quality. All teachers hold Swedish qualifications and have a minimum of five years’ experience, and both the pre-school and primary schools (‘grundskolor’) follow the Swedish curriculum. “Our aim is to recreate all the good things from the Swedish system here, in this very different setting,” says Monica Fernqvist, headteacher of the Hua Hin and Huay Yang schools. Parents

are invited to assess the school at the end of their children’s period of study, and, tellingly, over the past four years, the school’s overall average score has not dropped below 4.7/5. While some Sanuk pupils live in Thailand on a permanent basis, many are on extended holidays, and Fernqvist explains that the school strives to create a strong sense of community to ensure that pupils are able to settle in quickly. “Families come from different places, with children of different ages, and the groups change quite frequently. Creating a sense of togetherness is therefore really important, because it gives pupils the security they need,” she says. A strong emphasis on group work and collaborative projects helps pupils to forge friendships from the moment they arrive, while parents are

also invited in once a week for coffee to enable families to get to know each other. The settling-in process is also helped by small class sizes; with a maximum of just six pupils per group in pre-school and 12 in primary school classes, Sanuk teachers are able to give extra attention to pupils’ personal development. “It means that we have the time to see each child as an individual, to have discussions, read with them, and so on,” Fernqvist notes. “And that’s something that our pupils, teachers and parents all appreciate.”

Web: www.svenskaskolanthailand.se

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 95

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Swedish Schools – Top Boarding School

Photo: Mats Wallerstedt.

Education for life Sigtuna Humanistiska Läroverket (SSHL) is more than just an educational institution. This Swedish boarding school offers both International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes and Swedish curriculum programmes, and in combination with engaging extracurricular activities, SSHL becomes a second home. “This is a Swedish boarding school with an international outlook. Here, you learn for life and establish friendships that will last forever,” says Vilhelm Edgren, communications manager at SSHL. By Kristine Olofsson | Photos: Vilhelm Edgren

Located in leafy surroundings next to Lake Mälaren, SSHL houses 200 boarding pupils and has 500 additional day pupils, all in seventh to 12th grade. SSHL was one of the first Swedish schools ever to introduce the IB programme, opening many doors for those aiming to study at an international university. Taught entirely through English, it maintains very high standards and is an alternative to the equally well-renowned Swedish programmes. “We welcome pupils from all over the world, from both Sweden and abroad. Our teachers, boarding and extracurricular staff are extremely engaged, and there is always someone available 24/7. This is what makes us stand out,” says Edgren.

More than a school Many pupils consider SSHL their second home. They end up building very close 96 | Issue 119 | December 2018

friendships and extracurricular activities are a large part of life at the school. “There are endless possibilities when it comes to events and projects,” Edgren continues. “Someone with an idea for a project or an organisation is given the chance to present during the monthly school conference.”

with high-profile former pupils visiting the school for inspiring talks. Those interested in trying out boarding life can sign up for ‘try-boarding weekends’ via the school’s website and spend a few days at SSHL. “This is a great way to see what we are all about. The visitors get to try out classes and activities. The education has a holistic perspective of learning both in and out of the classroom, and the atmosphere is welcoming, safe and open-minded with a focus on everyone’s equal value,” Edgren sums up.

The different projects can range from building a 3D-printer to different volunteer projects. One example is a project with a school in Kenya, as well as an upcoming project in Laos. The school also offers countless sporting activities such as football, rowing, volleyball and pool, with possibilities to participate in international school tournaments for some of the sports. In addition to this, the school has an impressive and dedicated alumni network,

Web: www.sshl.se

Scan Business Keynote 97 | Business Profiles 98 | Business Column 103 | Business Calendar 103

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102

New narratives for Europe and its businesses By Nils Elmark, consulting futurist, Incepcion

Three years ago, not everyone knew of Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, and fewer still expected them to be elected as presidents. Four years ago, we started to hear about Uber and Airbnb. Now the two companies have disrupted transportation and hospitality industries all over the world. So if our current reality was created over the last four years, then a radically different future is not more than four years away either. How should business and political leaders deal with this uncertainty? How can they possibly make strategic decisions when all they can see is a chaotic future? They can start a new narrative. Look at what created the Nordic Noir wave. At the beginning of the millennium, a few unknown Nordic filmmakers created a new kind of simple, dark crime genre, including the likes of The Bridge, The Killing and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. It was not a deliberate initiative; one murderer simply inspired the next murderer to a new kill, and everybody

started to talk about it. For the first time, Scandinavian filmmakers began to believe they could compete with those of the British and American crime industries. Nordic Noir was the result of a narrative that grew loud. We move in the direction we talk.

make us believe in a future that is not an extension of the present we live in. They are storytellers, and their stories are basically all they have – and that is the stuff the future is made of.

We Europeans used to have our narrative too. Since the ‘50s, we have talked about what we want our community to be, and we have now reached the end of this narrative. We have realised everything we talked about. Europe has become one of the most attractive places on the planet to live and do business in, but for the first time in 70 years, we are without a vision for the future; our focus is on protecting what we have, while we listen to the narratives from Silicon Valley and China – and they have new ambitious stories to tell. But that does not mean we cannot have one too. Entrepreneurs such as Sir Richard Branson and Elon Musk achieve everything through their narratives. They are the movers and shakers who

Nils Elmark is a consulting futurist and the founder of Incepcion, a London-based consultancy that helps organisations develop new and braver dreams.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 97

Scan Magazine | Business Feature | Nobel Perspectives

Sustainability and the future Scan Magazine met with Norway’s Nobel Prize-awarded economist Finn Kydland to discuss sustainability and how to make world leaders commit to long-term change. By Sanne Wass | Photos: Sam Bowen

What does a sustainable future look like? That is a big question for any person to answer on a Tuesday morning at 9.30. But it is a particularly peculiar question to pose to a Nobel laureate whose timeinconsistency theory essentially presumes that everything is unpredictable. “I’m the last person you should ask to predict the future,” smiles Finn Kydland, a Norwegian economist and the receiver of the 2004 Nobel Prize in Economics. Scan Magazine met Kydland in early November in London, where he was invited to take part in the Nobel Perspectives Live event series. Hosted by UBS, the events bring together Nobel laureates in economics to share their 98 | Issue 119 | December 2018

prize-winning work and insights, and discuss some of the toughest challenges facing the world. On today’s agenda: sustainability and the future.

The time-inconsistency challenge The essence of Kydland’s award-winning theory is that governments’ economic policies are often plagued by problems of time inconsistency, because they are subject to change in the long run. On the face of it, the theory may sound a bit arcane, but Kydland’s down-to-earth explanation makes it clear why it is extremely relevant for today’s conversation. Kydland gives an example of why it is so hard for policy-makers to achieve

long-term success when tackling issues around sustainability and the environment: a tax on carbon emission that would rise exponentially over time would give businesses an incentive to change their production processes. “I am a great believer in incentives. That’s what economics is all about,” he says. “But there is a potential credibility problem with that solution, as with all good economic policy, and that goes back to one of the things for which I got the Nobel Prize: the finding that optimal government policy is time inconsistent. It means there will always be an incentive for future governments to reverse the original policy, especially if they find themselves in an emergency situation, such as a financial crisis. Then the important question is, is that something businesses would have anticipated from the get-go, in which case the policy wouldn’t have been as effective? So an important issue is how to

Scan Magazine | Business Feature | Nobel Perspectives

make such policy credible for the longrun, because only then would it have the intended effect.” A humble Norwegian, he emphasises that it is of course easier for him to point out problems than to come up with the solutions. Yet much of his work has been about the latter. Kydland has, for example, taken part in a number of Copenhagen Consensus panels, in which he and other economists were tasked with analysing and ranking world problems from a cost-benefit perspective, the aim being to help politicians better prioritise their efforts. He also sits on the committee for the Oslo Business Peace Award, an initiative to promote ethical and responsible business.

Norway leading the way A professor at the University of California in Santa Barbara, Kydland today lives in the United States, but he is not shy to take out his Norwegian passport when asked how important his upbringing is

to him. Born in 1943, he grew up on a farm in Søyland, 40 kilometres south of Stavanger, and became interested in economics as a young adult after he did some bookkeeping at a friend’s mink farm. “I’m very proud of being Norwegian,” he says, adding that, having moved across the Atlantic, he sees the contrasts between the two nations. From the economist’s point of view, there is much the world could learn from his native country. Norway’s lead on electric cars, for example, has to a large degree been driven by successful government policies, making plug-in electric vehicles exempt from a range of taxes, road tolls, ferry fees and city emissions charges. They can also park for free and drive in bus lanes. Another example is ‘handlingsregelen’, a budgetary rule that was introduced in Norway in 2001. It essentially limits how much of the country’s oil-sourced revenue the government can spend every year, meaning it will benefit future gen-

erations. “It’s hard to imagine many other countries where that would be possible,” Kydland says. Nine hours and a fully packed agenda later, he would find himself on a panel with three other Nobel laureates to, once again, discuss the million-dollar question of how to create a sustainable future. Nobel Perspectives Nobel Perspectives explores the life and work of Nobel Prize winners in economic science, with the aim of inspiring, educating and strengthening people’s understanding of important questions that shape our world. The latest event was hosted in London, inviting 500 people to an interactive session to discuss sustainability and the future. In addition to Kydland, the event’s panellists included Michael Spence, Nobel Laureate 2001; Christopher Pissarides, Nobel Laureate 2010; and Bengt R. Holmström, Nobel Laureate 2016.

Finn Kydland.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 99

Scan Magazine | Business Feature | Hybel

The building blocks to a happy home ‘Typehus’ house construction has been popular in Denmark since the 1950s, when variations of spacious, detached one-family houses made their way across the Danish suburbs. By mixing and matching features from a wide range of pre-existing options, rather than starting completely from scratch, buyers opting for a ‘typehus’ can get exactly the house that they want – easily, safely and affordably – in a similar way today. Thanks to modern typehus specialists like Hybel, clients are more financially secure than ever and will not have to compromise at all. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: InHouse Fotografi

“We’re a young company, founded in 2016, but we have decades of expertise behind us,” says Hybel’s CEO, Brian Langvad. “Our founder, Michael Mortensen, grew up in the construction industry and is the bright spark behind CASA, one of Denmark’s leading property developers. Like him, most of us have worked in the business for eons. Joining forces in Hybel was the perfect way for us to combine our skills and experiences to create an up-to-date, safe and flexible construction partner for our clients.” 100 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Once upon a time, typehus houses would come with a few different options for things like layout, sizing and choice of materials. Hybel offers five basic layouts, but these can be modified in any number of ways, and the company also offers a sixth tailor-made option. “We can mix and match styles, layouts, materials – you name it,” says Langvad. “Each house gets drawn up by us according to our client’s exact wishes, and it’s a back-andforth process that we really enjoy. The relationship we develop with the client

becomes quite personal: they’re making one of the biggest investments of their lives, and it’s on us to get it exactly right for them. Naturally, we spend a lot of time together.” Some private clients approach Hybel with a particular plot of land or house in mind, while others have not yet settled on a place or type of house at all. “We’re always happy to provide a consultation. We can do any size of single-floor house and are happy to look into any type of request,” the CEO explains. Despite the ever-increasing breadth and versatility of options for typehus houses, Hybel remains a much cheaper option than the architect-drawn option. “We aren’t the cheapest typehus option, but we don’t want to be: we aim for top quality in the process and result and want to make sure that our clients come out with a house that’ll sustain them and their needs for years to come.”

Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Hybel

Removing unnecessary stressors One of the biggest innovations at Hybel helps to cut through bureaucratic and financial hurdles for clients. “More than half of our clients take advantage of our financing offer: when they settle on a plot of land and the house that they’d like, we’ll finance it for them and deal with everything from authority regulations to insurance while the build is going on – without any added cost to them. We aren’t dependent on a single bank to do so, and the client only pays us back once we hand over the keys,” Langvad says, explaining that Hybel estimates that clients save between 30,000 and 60,000 DKK by doing so. “It obviously has financial benefits, but it’s just as important in terms of cutting out a lot of stress. We’re used to dealing with those things and know how to tackle them, and clients get to spend that time, money and stress on something more worthwhile.”

In addition to the technical, financial and bureaucratic challenges, Hybel is there to ensure that the human aspect of the build is taken care of too. “We look after all the technical things, of course, but the personal considerations are just as important,” Langvad explains. “No matter how exciting the prospect of building a house is, it’s crucial to think through absolutely everything. Perhaps a certain material looks great, but is the client willing to put in the extra effort it takes to clean it again and again? Is there wasted space in the house? One of the key things we’ve found is the importance of thinking two, five and ten years ahead: the house might be perfect for the present, but how do we make sure that it’ll adapt to children down the line or children moving out in ten years’ time?” In its first full year in business, Hybel was nominated for the Årets Husbygger

(Builder of the Year) prize at Denmark’s Årets Håndværker (Artisan of the Year) awards. Though it is barely two years since Hybel started, the company has already managed to construct more than 300 homes across central and northern Jutland. In addition to their Horsensbased office, they have just opened a department in Aalborg. “Our clients can be safe in the knowledge that we’ve done this many times before – but it is also paramount for us that we remember that our clients probably haven’t,” Langvad notes. “Witnessing and aiding our clients’ excitement in seeing their dreams come to life is the most enjoyable part of our jobs – it never gets old.”

Web: www.hybelhuse.dk Facebook: hybelhuse Instagram: @hybelhuse

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 101

Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Avimar ApS

The perfect combustion and energy partner Avimar has, over the past decade, become one of the biggest players on the Scandinavian market when it comes to products that ensure the safety of heliports, helidecks, airports, windfarms and the marine industry. Their focus on LED, sustainability and high-quality solutions has made them a trusted partner for both private and public organisations. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Avimar

Based in Denmark, and with an office in Norway, Avimar provides everything from lights to passenger stairs for airports across Scandinavia and the Middle East. “We consider ourselves a one-stop shop for small- and medium-sized airports and can deliver all the products they need. We have also become specialists in helidecks

and heliports, both in cities and offshore,” explains Viggo Dahm, chairman of Avimar. “We have worked everywhere from Greenland to Dubai, so we know that our products can withstand more extreme climates, and we’ve also developed them so that pilots can actually control the ground lights when they get closer. That way, there

doesn’t need to be people on the ground to ensure a safe landing – something that is very convenient for more remote areas.” Avimar is also working to create more sustainable solutions and now only works with LED lights, which not only last longer than normal lights, but also help to save money on maintenance and ensure safety. “We’re looking to the future, and not only do we want to continue to be one of the top partners in our field; we also want to help to make it a more sustainable sector,” concludes Dahm.

Web: www.avimar.dk

102 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Scan Magazine | Business | Column / Calendar

Banish work-life balance from your life ‘Work-life balance’ is such a daft expression, and yet it will not lie down. I find the suggestion of a simple polarity (or bipolarity?) between work and life really depressing. We need a more balanced and nuanced approach to the business of living; and we need to put work into a better perspective. Some coaches use a life wheel to encourage their clients to do this. Draw a circle and divide it into eight segments. Now you can think about more areas that are important in your life. Work will probably be one of them, and career is another candidate. Many working people do not think enough about their own professional and career development, and what is in it for them. There is family, and friends – you might want to separate these or put them together. And health: if we are not looking after our physical and mental wellbeing, then we are doing ourselves and possibly the wider society a disservice.

Fun is important: maybe both hobbies and leisure pursuits – two more segments for some. Our spiritual side is central for some, for others not. I hope everyone would think about their role in the community and the importance of giving something back. Finally, there is a stunningly simple idea from Nick Bate, a great trainer and business thinker: finance. We work for money, but if we do not spend time making our money work for us, we might as well burn the stuff. This is definitely in my life wheel. After labelling your segments, shade in the proportion of each to show how satisfied you are with the balance there. Then think about what you see. Then make some decisions.

Business Calendar

By Steve Flinders

Your list may be very different from the one I just brainstormed with myself. The main thing is to throw out the notion of ‘work-life balance’. Would not simply ‘life balance’ be better for everyone?

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.

By Sanne Wass

Scandinavian business events you do not want to miss this month Scandinavia Open Christmas Party Leave a bit of space in your busy diary this December for a Scandi-style office Christmas party. This Open Christmas event, brought to you by corporate event organiser Scandinavian Events, will take you and your colleagues through an evening of lots of ‘hygge’, cocktails, street food and live music. And, of course, a true party vibe, the Scandinavian way. Date: Until 21 December 2018 Venue: Elm Tree Farm, Thrupp Wharf, Milton Keynes, MK19 7BE, UK. www.scandinaviaevents.co.uk

Business Breakfast with Volvo’s brand experience manager If you are a marketing, communications or PR professional, this event is for you. Hosted by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK, this business breakfast roundtable will look at brand experiences and consumer journeys. The event’s guest speaker is Sara Eggert, global brand experience manager at Volvo Cars, who

will start the discussion by presenting Volvo’s work in the area. Date: 23 January 2019, 8-9.30am Venue: SEB London, 1 Carter Lane, London EC4V 5AN, UK. www.scc.org.uk

Global Woman Club breakfast Global Woman Club invites you to a business networking breakfast at the prestigious Grand Hotel in Stockholm. The event is a perfect place to meet like-minded, aspirational women, share your personal story, and talk about your business. Global Woman Club is a platform that connects professional women from all around the world, helping them to build their confidence. What started in an office in central London in March 2016 now spans 24 countries worldwide. Date: 25 January 2019, 8.30-11.30am Venue: Grand Hotel Södra, Blasieholmshamnen 8, 103 27 Stockholm, Sweden. www.globalwomanclub.com

Nordic Infrastructure Conference – Artificial Edition Artificial intelligence, machine learning and cloud technology are already transforming most areas of our lives. For IT decisionmakers, there is no way around these concepts. This edition of the Nordic Infrastructure Conference, a yearly event for IT professionals, will focus on these advanced technologies. The three-day event will be all about gaining practical knowledge, with the event organisers promising “fewer slides, more demos”. Date: 6-8 February 2019 Venue: Oslo Spektrum, Sonia Henies Plass 2, 0185 Oslo, Norway. www.nicconf.com

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 103

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway

Photo: Geir Mogen.

Photo: Elisabeth Hovde.

Restaurant of the Month, Norway

A relaxed eatery with a top chef, a rock’n’roll atmosphere and a secret menu The popular Top Chef winner Reneé Fagerhøi has realised a long-standing dream. In May 2017, she opened Bula Neobistro in Trondheim, a unique and relaxed eatery with high ambitions and a secret menu combining flavours from different countries. “Bula started as a description of all the cool things I planned on doing one day when I had my own restaurant. Now it has finally become reality.” By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Bula Neobistro

After winning the Norwegian version of the American reality TV programme Top Chef in 2016, Reneé Fagerhøi has been able to fulfil a number of dreams, including opening her very own restaurant. “My passion for food has always been at the forefront of everything I do, but everyone knows that working as a chef 104 | Issue 119 | December 2018

does not provide a high salary. However, I was very lucky to be able to ‘speed date’ potential investors after I won, having shown my skills to the whole of Norway,” the chef and restaurant owner recalls. Through these investors and supporters, Fagerhøi was able to secure a great spot right in the city centre of

Trondheim. “It was important for me to open Bula on my own terms, and one important part of this was the choice of location,” she explains.

A blissful mix of retro, kitsch, Art Deco and rock’n’roll The word ‘bula’ is common Norwegian slang for a low-key place to eat, drink, and socialise. With that in mind, the energetic and creative chef has well and truly succeeded in creating a place with a great atmosphere that complements the excellent food. This unique and fun spot has become an important part of Trondheim’s food scene.

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway

Decorated in a blissful mix of retro, kitsch and Art Deco, the vibrant look stands out from other restaurants in town. Even the toilets are an attraction in their own right. “I wanted to create somewhere people feel like home, and not a place that’s too stiff and uptight,” says Fagerhøi. “I like places that are a bit noisy and cluttered, places that have a rock’n’roll atmosphere where people can be themselves and enjoy their time. This was my aim for Bula.” Her interests in everything from interior design to music and culture shine through when you walk through the doors.

Genuine and honest The restaurant accommodates up to 50 seated guests, but the most exclusive and popular seats are directly in front of the kitchen island, with two round tables for groups to experience the magical energy oozing out from the kitchen. “Here, you can sit with the very best view into the kitchen to observe me and my team while we prepare your food,” says Fagerhøi. The kitchen itself is so open that you can see as far as into the very back, where the dishes are cleaned. “I simply did not want to hide anything. We are genuine and honest in everything we do,” the chef explains. And it is the sounds of the pots, those little moments of chaos behind the counter and the realness of the kitchen, that help to create a true and cherished

Chef and restaurant owner Reneé Fagerhøi. Photo: Jarle Hagen.

Chef Reneé Fagerhøi and chef Håvard Klempe. Photo: Stian Broch.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 105

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway

Photo: Elisabeth Hovde.

atmosphere, which the guests appreciate when they come to visit.

Junk food mixed with classic dishes Bula is a relaxed eatery with high ambitions. The food served is characterised by Fagerhøi as junk food mixed with classic dishes. “We collect inspiration from all over the world for our dishes, but I have a real soft spot for junk food,” she explains.

Originally from Tønsberg, Fagerhøi grew up on a biodynamic farm where they only ate natural food and no meat. “We were self-sufficient with vegetables and had a traditional soil basement, a bit like a ‘70s collective,” she says. Junk food, however, was something she would never be served at a young age, and now her aim is to recreate the food she dreamed of as a child, with her own twist. This has re-

Chef Reneé Fagerhøi and team. Photo: Lene Løkkhaug.

106 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Photo: Elisabeth Hovde.

sulted in dishes inspired by the fast-food culture but made with proper ingredients of quality, turning the food into pieces of craftsmanship. Together with the microbrewery Færder in Tønsberg, the enthusiastic chef has also been able to brew her own beer, served exclusively at her restaurant: Bulapilsen. “Bula is a very personal pro-

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway

Photo: Reneé Fagerhøi.

Cookbook cover. Photo: Geir Mogen.

ject for me, and I am so happy to be able to link it to my own heritage and where I grew up,” she says.

Hush hush You can enjoy the five or ten-course menu full of exceptional flavours and creative dishes along with drinks packages, or simply visit the bar to have a snack. The menu, however, is a secret for the guests. “We never reveal the menu. I like the element of surprise, and it is an important part of the Bula experience,” says Fagerhøi, adding: “Of course, we make sure to cater to any allergies or special wishes, but the menu will always remain secret. We don’t really publish many photos of our dishes either, and the menu is constantly changing with the seasonal and local produce available.” In line with the secret theme, Bula also offers a secret room, hidden at the back of the restaurant. If you are looking for a truly unique experience and your own part of the restaurant for an evening,

Photo: Elisabeth Hovde.

this can be booked out for groups of six to 12 people. The chef was inspired by the popular speakeasy concept of secret bar entrances through kebab shops and phone booths in New York, and wanted to bring this fun element to Trondheim. “We take you through the kitchen, behind the storage area and into the back, where the secret room is revealed. A bit like entering Narnia through the closet – it’s those little childish joys I want to recreate,” Fagerhøi smiles.

New cool and edgy cookbook In the new cookbook Fritter Shjiten, Fagerhøi connects her own childhood memories with music, film and travel experiences. With this nostalgic backdrop, the chef has created old-fashioned dishes with a personal twist, classic dishes with a new presentation and a range of unique, exciting recipes. Her desire was to steer clear of the often effeminate imagery typical of many cookbooks written by women. “I wanted to make a cool and edgy book that links together different

aspects of culture. Working in a kitchen is not all flowers and pink lipstick – it’s hard work!” Packed with small stories and delicious food, Fritter Shjiten is a tribute to an appetite for life. Along with the big success of her own restaurant concept, her own beer and now also the new cookbook, the young chef is always on the lookout for new, exciting adventures. In the near future, Fagerhøi plans on offering cooking courses to be able to share even more of her knowledge and passion.

Location: Prinsens gate 32, 7011 Trondheim, Norway Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm

Web: www.bulabistro.no Facebook: bulaneobistro Instagram: @bulabistro

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 107

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark

Restaurant of the Month, Denmark

Bon appétit, my deer Restaurant Wilhelm, located in the centre of Copenhagen, is bringing the forest into the city. Originally established and based close to Dyrehaven, a large deer park north of Copenhagen, the restaurant moved to the city centre in December 2017 and has since been satisfying the city with its focus on the animals and plants naturally found in Denmark and southern Sweden. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Restaurant Wilhelm

Everything served in the restaurant has been hunted, picked or foraged in Denmark or southern Sweden. “We work closely with our suppliers, they’re the experts in their field, and it helps us to ensure that what we’re serving is of the highest quality and in its best season. The menu naturally changes with the season as a type of bird, fish or vegetable isn’t going to maintain the same quality year-round,” explains restaurant owner and head chef Kristofer Josefsson. The menu changes every month, and every Sunday, guests can experience a set menu, where the chef tests recipes, making it slightly cheaper while the quality remains high. The focus on the wild makes Restaurant Wilhelm an exciting, different, Scandinavian experi108 | Issue 119 | December 2018

ence. “We have a lot of respect for our ingredients and do everything to make them taste as good as they possibly can. It’s a challenge to get everything we need, so we ensure that nothing goes to waste,” says Josefsson.

come back to try new dishes showcasing the best of Danish and Nordic cuisine. As well as amazing food, the restaurant offers a changing wine menu, where natural wines, in particular, play a big part. Restaurant Wilhelm is open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday, and it is a good idea to book in advance on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant also opens for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays. Kristofer Josefsson.

Friendly atmosphere Although the food is on an amazing gastronomic level, the restaurant is cosy and warm as soon as you step through the door. There is space for 40 guests across two floors, with a bar you can eat at and chairs designed by Finn Juhl, alongside a small quality team making the eating experience delightful. The laid-back atmosphere makes you appreciate the food even more, and the waiters are on hand to ensure it is a relaxing experience. There is a reason why guests frequently

Web: www.restaurantwilhelm.dk Facebook: restaurantwilhelm Instagram: @restaurantwilhelm

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Sweden

Restaurant of the Month, Sweden

Tapas with a taste of the world When visiting Stockholm, it is well recommended to drop by Sthlm Tapas to try the tasty dishes on offer along with some delicious cava, and take the opportunity to enjoy the friendly service. Go on, take a break from your everyday routine! By Malin Norman | Photos: Sthlm Tapas

The concept at Sthlm Tapas involves serving small dishes from all over the world. “It’s not a typical Spanish restaurant, although traditional tapas are also lovely,” explains owner Patrick Nendren. “Here, we do tapas our own way and serve a mix of dishes from all over the world, made of good-quality produce and with great flavours – perfect for sharing with family or friends.”

customer says about the experience. “The attention you get from the staff does not exist in other restaurants. They know exactly when you need a refill or want to order more, and the food kept on getting better as the dishes appeared. The squid, the dumplings and the goat’s cheese are safe cards! You feel seen and appreciated as a guest, and I will tell everyone I know about this place. Five plus!”

Sthlm Tapas started its first venue in Kungsholmen six years ago, and a year later, the second restaurant opened in Vasastan. Key at both venues is, of course, tasty food, but also fabulous customer service. As Nendren puts it, “we want to spread happiness through great service. In our restaurant, everyone is equal. Coming for a meal should be simple, frictionless. And lots of our customers have actually become good friends.”

Water for charity

“It’s not the first time I visit Sthlm Tapas and for sure not the last,” one recent 110 | Issue 119 | December 2018

In order to give back to the world, Sthlm Tapas has launched the project Water4Charity, where venues, together with their customers, raise money for charity. The restaurants charge two Swedish kronor per customer who drinks water, and match this with another two kronor per customer, and they have already raised over 250,000 kronor. In 2017, they raised money for Charity: Water, and this year for Hand in Hand. The team also organises events: for instance, customer takeovers in terms of entertainment,

where all money goes to charity. “We all have a responsibility, and life is too short not to help each other,” says Nendren. “If we can make the world a better place, we will.”

Sthlm Tapas has two venues in Stockholm: Sthlm Tapas Kungsholmen Pontonjärgatan 28 112 37 Stockholm Sthlm Tapas Vasastan Torsgatan 55 113 37 Stockholm

Web: www.sthlmtapas.se Facebook: sthlmtapasvasastan Instagram: @sthlmtapas

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Scan Magazine | Brewery of the Month | Denmark

Bryggeriet Vestfyen has created the Frejdahl range together with designer and creative soul Jim Lyngvild. The range takes inspiration from its Nordic Viking heritage.

Brewery of the Month, Denmark

The craft of returning to craft For more than 130 years, Bryggeriet Vestfyen has been brewing beer on Funen, Denmark. It still does, but today, the brewery is best-known for its selection of craft beer including the two popular brands Willemoes and Frejdahl. Scan Magazine talks to the brewery about its transition from mainstream to craft and what comes next. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Bryggeriet Vestfyen

Founded in 1885, Bryggeriet Vestfyen has a long history of producing mainstream beer and soft drinks in the small town of Assens. However, at the beginning of the new millennium, the old brewery changed its focus to craft beer, investing heavily in a new and more flexible set-up. Sales manager Rasmus Damsted Hansen explains: “Looking back, 15 years ago, the market for craft beer was very small. But together with one of the biggest retailers in Denmark, we created the brand Willemoes, and since then, our craft beer production has 112 | Issue 119 | December 2018

developed year by year. One of the reasons we have been able to do this is that we have invested heavily in equipment. We have created flexibility that makes us able to produce small volumes at a reasonable cost, while continuously developing and innovating new products.” While Bryggeriet Vestfyen is still brewing in its original facilities in Assens, the brewery has also just expanded with a smaller and more specialised brewing facility through the acquisition of Indslev brewery in Nørre Åby.

Special beer, special ingredients The man behind the successful taste experiences of Bryggeriet Vestfyen’s five craft beer brands is German brew master Christoph Behnke. “With his knowledge from Germany and his innovation and development competencies, Behnke has been a key figure in the development of Bryggeriet Vestfyen,” says Hansen, adding: “The biggest difference in the production of craft beer, compared to regular

Scan Magazine | Brewery of the Month | Denmark

beer, is the ingredients; they are much more specific and decisive for the direction of the beer. This means that a lot of the innovation and development of new beer is about finding the right raw materials, and we purchase ours from several places around the world.” Among the new products developed by Behnke are a number of ‘free from’ products, including alcohol- and gluten-free beer as well as organic beers.

Beer under the Christmas tree Since Bryggeriet Vestfyen first introduced Willemoes to the Danish market, the quality-conscious Danes’ thirst for craft beer has increased steadily. Today, many Danes look at beer in the same way they look at wine, valuing quality and taste over price and quantity. “Over the last decades, consumers have been introduced to a new world of beer. For many years, there were pretty much just two types of mainstream beer produced and supplied in Denmark,

whereas today, you’ll find stores with more than 100 different beers in their assortment,” Hansen explains.

Facts about Bryggeriet Vestfyen

Just like good wine, many of the new craft beers are developed to complement food experiences. “We work a lot with food pairing, which is becoming quite the buzz word in beer making; you don’t just make a dish and then add beer – no, you look into the taste of the beer and then make a dish to complement it,” says Hansen.

Willemoes and Frejdahl are two of the most-sold special-brew ranges in Denmark and include a string of award-winning beers.

Presented in stylish artisan bottles, Bryggeriet Vestfyen’s craft beers have also become popular gift items. Especially the larger 750-millilitre bottles frequently make an occurrence under the Christmas tree. “Beer is becoming much more like good wine,” says Hansen. In line with this, Bryggeriet Vestfyen – which has, up until now, mainly sold its products via retailers – is now starting to focus more on the café and restaurant sector as well as the export market.

Bryggeriet Vestfyen produces five brands of craft beer: Willemoes, Frejdahl, Refsvindinge, Indslev, and Ugly Duck.

Bryggeriet Vestfyen is Denmark’s fourth-largest brewery. In 2015, the brewery decided to minimise its carbon footprint by switching to C02 neutral biofuel. Bryggeriet Vestfyen is also behind a number of soft drinks, including the iconic and much-loved Danish cola, Jolly Cola, which has been produced by the brewery since 1959.

Web: www.bryggeriet-vestfyen.dk

Top left: Bryggeriet Vestfyen sources ingredients from all over the world to create its distinct taste experiences. Bottom left: German brew master Christoph Behnke has created a string of award-winning craft beers.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 113

Scan Magazine | Inn of the Month | Denmark

Left: With its beautiful location and romantic interior, Tambohus Kro is a popular venue for weddings and many other of life’s big events. Right: Since taking over the old inn in 2014, husband and wife Karsten and Kristina Pedersen have renewed the inn concept, adding, among others things, a gourmet menu.

Inn of the Month, Denmark

Unplug and kick back at the Limfjord Beautifully set at the Limfjord, Tambohus Kro offers guests a serene getaway in Northern Jutland. Recently renovated and refreshed, the old inn not only provides guests with scenic fjord views, but also newly refurbished rooms and a gourmet menu. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Tambohus Kro

Founded in 1842, Tambohus Kro has been a favoured destination for travellers looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life for centuries. In 2014, the inn was taken over by wife and husband Kristina and Karsten Pedersen, who have since worked to revive and renew the old inn’s charm. “We wanted to re-establish the kind of atmosphere that people connect with at an old inn like ours with high wall panels, wooden beams and flowery wallpaper,” says Kristina Pedersen. “At the same time, a lot of people visit the inn because of its location at the beach, so we have also worked to enhance its natural maritime atmosphere.” It is not just the inn’s interior that has received a facelift, but also the menu in 114 | Issue 119 | December 2018

the water-view restaurant. Headed by Karsten Pedersen, the restaurant now not only offers traditional inn dishes and a sumptuous seafood buffet (Sunday and Wednesday, June to August only), but also a three- or five-course gourmet dinner, which can be booked as part of a gourmet or wellness package, the latter of which also includes a visit to one of two local spas. “With our new gourmet and wellness packages, we have attracted a new audience of younger couples taking a weekend away from the kids,” says Pedersen. “They come to get some time together and a bit of pampering, and that’s exactly what we encourage people to do – unplug from phones and the internet and just relax and enjoy each other and the peace and beauty of the area.”

Facts: Tambohus Kro was founded by local fisherman Chresten Tambour in 1842. With its romantic décor and fjord views, Tambohus Kro is a popular venue for weddings. The inn has two event rooms, the largest of which seats up to 150 guests. The inn is located a 90-minute drive from Billund Airport and two hours from Aalborg Airport. Special packages include a gourmet package, a wellness package and, as a recent addition, an oyster package, which includes a guided oyster safari with owner and chef Karsten Pedersen. For more information, please see the website. Prices start at 599 DKK (around 70 GBP) per night.

Web: www.tambohus.dk

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway

Some of the silversmiths at the workshop at Sølvgarden.

Local cuisine is served at the restaurant.

The hotel building boasts distinctive architecture, like something from a fairy-tale.

Hotel of the Month, Norway

Experience a Norwegian fairy-tale Surrounded by mountains, waterfalls and lush nature, lies Setesdalen Valley, often called the Silversmith Valley of Norway. Here, ten years ago, Inger and Trygve Rysstad opened Sølvgarden Hotel and holiday centre, a unique holiday destination rooted in the area’s strong traditions and rich culture. By Åsa Hedvig Aaberge | Photos: Marit Simonstad Kvaale

Sølvgarden is Norwegian for ‘silver farm’. Both Inger and Trygve are silversmiths by profession, and for generations tracked 300 years back, their families have had hundreds of silversmiths amongst them. Sølvgarden is not a typical hotel, the building looking like something from a fairytale with a unique character. In addition to hosting guests from all over the world, Sølvgarden has its own silver workshop where silversmiths craft custom jewellery for the Norwegian national costume as well as made-to-order pieces and a selection of less formal jewellery. “The strong silversmith traditions are what make Sølvgarden so unique. Visitors are invited to experience how the jewellery is crafted, and we have a gift shop at the hotel where we sell pieces

made at Sølvgarden, as well as an exhibition of traditional silver jewellery,” Inger says. The Setesdal Valley is in the heart of Norway’s folk music region, and the folk music tradition is very much represented at Sølvgarden. “We aspire to maintain culture and traditions in every aspect of Sølvgarden. As a way to keep the folk music culture alive, we welcome local musicians to bring their instruments and come to play traditional folk music at our pub,” Inger says, adding that Sølvgarden also takes pride in maintaining Norway’s culinary traditions. The restaurant offers seasonal, local, traditional food. Sølvgarden is blessed with majestic surrounding nature with hiking and bike trails, ski slopes and unique rock and ice climbing routes nearby. The river Otra,

which runs through the area, is perfect for a swim or a canoeing trip. The hotel and holiday centre is situated within a two-hour drive from the city of Kristiansand to the south and Stavanger to the west, welcoming guests for a relaxing stay in the bright and modern hotel rooms, charming cottages or the outside camping area. “We offer a stay for every taste and need,” Inger smiles. A girl wearing the national Norwegian costume with jewellery made at Sølvgarden.

Web: www.solvgarden.no Facebook: solvgarden Instagram: @solvgarden

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 115

Scan Magazine | Mini Break of the Month | Denmark

Mini-Break of the Month, Denmark

Laid-back pampering in the heart of Fredericia As the days darken and the cold approaches, many dream themselves away to far-off locations on the other side of the world. For most of us, that is not quite possible. A relaxing mini-break away, however, is much easier to fit into most of our lives and can be just what is needed for a bit of a reboot. Hotel Fredericia offers luxurious facilities within easy reach of most of Denmark – and a host of deals and mini-breaks to accommodate almost all types of daydreaming, from spas to golf.

Putting and pampering

and two nights at the hotel. “One of our favourite deals is the Girls’ Weekend spa pampering package, where a small group of friends or family spend one or two nights in luxury here and with our neighbours at FIC,” Kring explains. Fredericia Idrætscenter (FIC), one of the largest indoor leisure facilities in the country, lies just 50 metres from the hotel. Access to the gym and indoor waterpark is free for guests of Hotel Fredericia, but the Girls’ Weekend deal also unlocks the wellness facilities at FIC, including the sauna and spa as well as treatments such as salt peeling and full-body massages.

For those looking for a bit of relaxation, the golfing weekend includes access to the three very different courses at Fredericia Golf Club, Golfklubben Lillebælt and Birkemose Golfklub, and also treats guests to breakfast, dinner

“People are sometimes surprised that Fredericia includes many cosy, old shopping streets and a beautiful rampart dating back to the 17th century,” Kring remarks. “Going out for a bit of exploration

By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Hotel Fredericia

“We’re lucky to have a lot of great partnerships with local businesses that allow us to offer all these great combination deals,” says Hotel Fredericia’s manager, Einar Kring. “There’s a lot to do in Fredericia itself and in the broader region – we’re close to Legoland and just down the road from Madsby Legepark, which will satisfy the needs of most young souls. Our theatre breaks are among our most popular – Fredericia Theatre is one of the biggest in Denmark and is current116 | Issue 119 | December 2018

ly premiering the new Beatles musical. We’ve got Michelin restaurant breaks, bridge-walking breaks and, of course, our relaxation breaks.”

Scan Magazine | Mini-Break of the Month | Denmark

makes for a very nice break amidst all the pampering – at least I think so – and there are plenty of good lunch spots to be hunted down around town too.” Among other treats, the one or twonight spa breaks also include the hotel’s lavish breakfast buffet and three-course dinners at the hotel’s excellent restaurant. “We have quite a lot of range in our restaurant, with the breakfast buffet, lunch tapas and an extensive dinner menu,” Kring explains, “so there’s something for everyone. And our chefs sometimes do themes too, like our fish and shellfish festival in March.”

Comfort and quality – with a bit of sparkle Hotel Fredericia’s current owners and management took over in 2011. “We’ve worked really hard to make the hotel as great as possible for our guests since then. We knew the hotel had a lot of potential and that it could be something special, so we’ve put a lot of resources into realising that.” Hotel Fredericia is

part of Best Western and is a four-star Best Western Plus hotel, which requires particularly high-quality service, rooms and amenities, down to details such as larger towels and a choice of pillow. Since 2011, the hotel has undergone both extensive renovation and expansion. The recent addition of a new wing resulted in the hotel offering a total of 118 spacious en-suites. Work has been done to most other areas as well. “The only thing we haven’t changed at all is this rather dope 1980s disco floor, which we just couldn’t bear to get rid of,” Kring admits. “It has a proper disco ball and everything.” The hotel’s newly renovated conference facilities hold up to 250 people and come equipped with all the latest technology. Several sizes of light and airy meeting rooms are also available for smaller get-togethers. Most importantly, perhaps, experienced staff are on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly on the day and to help with every stage of the planning process, to ensure that

every need for each particular event and client is met. The hotel is proud to hold the Green Key Certificate – proof of their commitment to environmentally friendly tourism. In order to be approved and to retain the certificate, Hotel Fredericia must make a considerable effort to reduce waste and implement initiatives to improve sustainability overall. “We like to challenge ourselves and keep developing with the times in order to keep pleasantly surprising our guests. The most important thing to us is their comfort and welfare,” Kring concludes. “We’ve just received Best Western’s quality award – it’s difficult to get and means a lot to us, because it’s based mainly on guest satisfaction and visitor feedback. It’s very gratifying and proof that we are managing to do what we set out to do!” Web: www.hotel-fredericia.dk Facebook: hotelfredericia Instagram: @hotelfredericia

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 117

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway

Stavanger Symphony Orchestra outside Stavanger Concert Hall. Photo: Tom Haga.

Attraction of the Month, Norway

Innovative symphonic silent theatre In 2015, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra brought the talented duo Christian Eriksen and Janove Ottesen together to work on a truly unique project – they were challenged to write a symphonic silent play, lasting 70 minutes. After four years in the making, The Mute is now ready for unveiling.

also have the right timing through 70 minutes, is the most demanding thing I’ve ever done, no question about it. But it has been incredibly fun and very educational!” says Ottesen.

By Alyssa Nilsen

The large-scale production The Mute is a collaboration between successful Norwegian composer Janove Ottesen and writer/actor Christian Eriksen. Initiated in 2015, The Mute will be a 70minute-long symphonic, silent theatre, detailing a love story told through music alone, with no words spoken throughout the entire piece – a first of its kind, ever.

A silent love story The Mute is a beautiful love story with music as the language. Spectators get to meet the elderly characters Tom and Jenny, who show snippets of their life together. Through these glimpses of the past, the audience gets to know their personalities, how their lives merged together, and what brought them to where they are today. 118 | Issue 119 | December 2018

The concept plays with the idea of what happens when you remove the ability to communicate through language, and how to fill that void. In The Mute, this void is filled with music, body language and scenography, as well as a complete symphony orchestra on stage. Janove Ottesen, known as the lead singer in one of Norway’s best-selling rock bands, Kaizers Orchestra, as well as through a successful solo career, is the composer behind The Mute. This is his first large-scale symphonic composition, and together with him, writer and actor Christian Eriksen has spent four years working to complete The Mute. “Writing symphonic music, which needs to correspond with the right mood but

Through this innovative process, the team has grown larger and stronger. The Norwegian contemporary composer, Gisle Kverndokk, arranged the music for the orchestra, and the role of Jenny is played by Nina Ellen Ødegård. Production designer Arne Nøst fills the entire airspace with transparent fabrics, cut into different shapes, placed throughout the stage, and the animations projected upon them. Reidar Richardsen is the video animator on the project, and the team also includes the Welsh conductor Nick Davies, who has conducted Stavanger Symphony Orchestra on many occasions. Davies has also conducted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert for several consecutive years. “No one has ever done what we’re about to do,” says Gaute Aadnesen of Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, the man behind the

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway

original idea and initiator of the collaboration. “The Mute is a love story told without words, the language being music. The show is difficult to explain in advance, but it’ll be magically self-explanatory when you experience it live.” “I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of what happens when you remove the most obvious tool of communication, the language,” says Christian Eriksen. “The void needs to be filled with something. Here we fill it with music, body language and scenography. I also believe that the absence of language challenges the audience to become more active in their own imagination and with their inner images.”

A merry, musical Christmas But before The Mute is revealed to the world, the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra is keeping busy with other projects. In a hectic run-up to Christmas, they will be performing Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, as well as three Christmas concerts complete with a choir, soloists and Tore Renberg as master of ceremonies. In addition, the orchestra will be inviting 6,000 children to a series of kindergarten concerts. In the New Year, the orchestra will perform their traditional New Year Concerts.

Christian Eriksen acting on stage. Photo: Pål Christensen

Stage set-up for The Mute. Photo: Pål Christensen.

Nina Ellen Ødegård, Christian Eriksen and Janove Ottesen. Photo: Pål Christensen.

Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is one of Scandinavia’s most successful orchestras and has 85 full-time musicians from 23 countries playing for 82,000 people throughout 150 productions each year, both in and beyond Norway. The orchestra tours regularly, having visited Europe, Japan and the US. In 2017, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra visited the Russian cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Finnish city of Lahti and the Dutch city of Amsterdam.

The Mute World premiere on 29 March 2019 at the Stavanger Concert Hall. Additional shows: 30 March and 5 and 6 April.

Photo: Andreas Kleiberg.

Web: www.sso.no Facebook: stavangersymfoniorkester Instagram: @symfonistavanger

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 119

Scan Magazine | Destination of the Month | Finland

Destination of the Month, Finland

A breath of fresh air Located only a short drive or train journey away from Helsinki and the airport, the municipality of Kirkkonummi will charm you with its gorgeous landscapes and offer you a breath of fresh Finnish air. By Maria Pirkkalainen | Photos: Kirkkonummi municipality

To experience the bliss of Finnish nature, you do not have to travel further than half an hour away from the capital, Helsinki. Often called ‘Finland in miniature,’ due to offering unique exploration opportunities of both the gorgeous coast and the inland lakes, it is no wonder that the area of Kirkkonummi has been favoured and made home by worldrenowned Finnish personalities such as ice-hockey legend Teemu Selänne, F1 world champion Kimi Räikkönen and designer Eero Aarnio. While offering treats for history and design buffs, such as the iconic Art Nouveau villa Hvitträsk, it is the nature of Kirkkonummi that truly takes your breath away. Some locations in particular are unmissable on your next trip to Finland, whether it is for a peaceful camping holiday, an adventure odyssey or a day trip to 120 | Issue 119 | December 2018

the wilderness to take you away from the everyday hustle.

Listen to the waves The gorgeous views of the Baltic Sea are all within reach at Kirkkonummi and its archipelago. Enjoy the mighty view of the Finnish national landscape from the tip of the Porkkalanniemi Cape, a popular visitor destination all year-round. The coastal outdoor recreation areas are also

ideal for biking, swimming, boating, paddling and fishing, or simply taking a day or two to enjoy the magnificent nature and scenery. There are great opportunities for camping as well. But how about exploring Kirkkonummi on your own boat? This is also a great option, as there are plenty of moorings for boats in charming locations. Just listen to the waves, refresh and recharge.

Go on an adventure Whether you are an independent traveller or in a group, Kirkkonummi has no shortage of activities and experiences for explorers. The winding country roads in

Scan Magazine | Destination of the Month | Finland

the rural areas are ideal for cycling, and there are also cycle paths in the vicinity of the urban areas too. An exciting new destination is the Porkkala Wreck Park, a unique dive site for dozens of 16th to 19th century historic wrecks. With the Porkkala peninsula reaching towards the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland and Estonia like no other place in Finland, the waters around the area have always been of significant strategic value and a route for many merchant vessels. To this day, there are dozens of historical wrecks in the small area, making it a once-in-a-lifetime destination for recreational divers. Or how about a day watching birds? There is no lack of opportunities for this either. Porkkala is one of the best bird-watching locations in Finland, especially for following the migration of Arctic birds. The area is also home to a thriving population of seabirds.

Enjoy the authentic charm of the wilderness What would a visit to Finland be without enjoying its forests and thousands of lakes? You can get all of this when you travel from the coast of Kirkkonummi to its inland areas. The northern parts of

Kirkkonummi give you access to some of the most breathtaking views of Finland’s lake district and the wilderness of its forests. It is hard to believe that all these lakes, hilly and rugged forests and traditional farmlands exist such a short trip away from Helsinki. One of the most beautiful conservation areas is Meiko, where you can admire lakes and ponds and enjoy the atmosphere of the wilderness. When you travel further north, you will also find Nuuksio National Park, as well as plenty of other forested areas with opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Photo: Mattias Roslund.

Whether travelling by car, motorbike or bike, the country roads will lead you to an unforgettable summertime road trip. Along the historical passageways, you can see old manors and villages, which, during the summertime, host a selection of fascinating local boutiques, exhibitions and artisan workshops. There are also plenty of accommodation options to choose from, whether you are looking for a hotel, cottage or apartment – or planning to camp outside in the fresh Finnish air. With Kirkkonummi as your travel destination, you can get everything at once.

Photo: TomiPohja.

Web: www.visitkirkkonummi.fi/en Facebook: visitkirkkonummi Twitter: @visitknummi Instagram: @visitkirkkonummi

Hvitträsk. Photo: Finnish Heritage Agency.

Photo: Markku Luoto.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 121

Scan Magazine | Museum of the Month | Denmark

Esbjerg Art Museum.

Installation view from Wunderkammer.

Museum of the Month, Denmark

An aesthetic experience to rouse your curiosity At Esbjerg Art Museum, the focus is on raising questions rather than on providing answers – especially in the current exhibition, Wunderkammer, which is dedicated to an investigation of how art may be reconnected with the realm of everyday experiences. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Torben E. Meyer

“Often times, art is exhibited as something unrelated to life itself. We, however, think of art as related to our very existence and everyday life!” Christiane Finsen is a curator at Esbjerg Art Museum, which has a long tradition of inserting art into a greater context. There, they often mix art with other knowledge areas, such as music and physics, in order to create an aesthetic experience for their guests.

possible thanks to the Bikuben Foundation’s Vision Prize, which rewards a particularly visionary idea. “The concept of a ‘wunderkammer’, loosely translated as ‘a chamber of wonder’, dates back to the Renaissance and is the forerunner of what we know as museums today. We came up with the concept because we want people to wonder, and we want to rouse their curiosity,” says Finsen.

“We like to think that it’s all connected, and we want to re-establish a connection between art and the rest of the world. We want people to leave the museum with a new approach to experiencing new phenomena, to see the world in a different way. That, for us, is an aesthetic experience,” says Finsen.

The project is divided into three parts, and the first part is arranged in cooperation with physics professor Tomas Bohr, grandchild of the famous Niels Bohr. It focuses on fluid dynamics and thus on everyday phenomena like a drop of water hitting a surface, or liquid being stirred in a pot. Bohr and his team have chosen to recreate and present five interactive experiments that everyone can relate to, according to Finsen. “For example, it is possible to follow Bohr’s liquid-drop dynamics in a laboratory set-up juxtaposed

A place to wonder The current exhibition at Esbjerg Art Museum is called Wunderkammer. It is an ambitious exhibition that was made 122 | Issue 119 | December 2018

with works of art. We all think we know what a water drop looks like, but it turns out to be something completely different. You can try the experiment, create your own drop, and see it projected onto the wall where it interacts with the surrounding artworks. It’s just one example of how we aim to generate new encounters and a new space, in which established and traditional categories and divides between art and natural science, sensing and thinking, subjective experiences and scientific objectivity, may be decomposed and allowed to cross-fertilise each other.”

The museum’s unique Open Stores.

The first part of the Wunderkammer exhibition can be seen until 17 March 2019.

Web: www.eskum.dk

Scan Magazine | Architect of the Month | Denmark

Faxe Ladeplads.

Veddinge Bakker.

Architect of the Month, Denmark

Playfully respectful buildings For the past ten years, Martin Kallesø Arkitekter has designed homes, summer houses and commercial buildings across Denmark. Though they have gained a great deal of experience and know-how over the years, the process has never become routine. “Each project is different, and that’s the way it should be,” says Martin Kallesø. “Every client is different and every setting is different. The fun lies in creating a unique building every time, which will fulfil the needs and exceed the expectations of the client.” By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Joshua Gross

“A well-designed building fits into the context it is in,” says Kallesø. “How do we make the locality part of the building? The result should be daring but respectful and, of course, suit the client. If we manage that, the building becomes sustainable long-term.” Kallesø is personally involved with each project and works closely with the client, from the first consulting call to the key handover. “For me, that close partnership with the client is crucial. I need to hear exactly what they want and what visions they have, in order to understand the building we’ll be mak-

ing together. Then collaboration hopefully results in something even they hadn’t imagined.” The respect for context and client, as well as the playfulness of Kallesø’s buildings, become apparent in two similar-sounding recent projects in Faxe and Veddinge. Both are black, modern summer houses, but their characters differ wildly. The house in Veddinge Bakker is unapologetically modern and luxurious, with windows facing the sea at every angle. At the same time, however, the building’s glass, angles and

grassy roof blend in with the stunning nature surrounding it. “As with every project, we spent a lot of time on location during the design stage,” Kallesø explains. “With Veddinge being as open as it is, we really had to pay close attention to make sure that consideration of factors like harsh winds, not obstructing the views of hikers and obtaining privacy had a positive, not negative, impact on the building.” The summer house in Faxe had a smaller budget and would be placed in a heavily populated summer house area. Almost all the area’s buildings were wooden, dark and had pitched roofs. “We had to stay within those constrictions, but that was also what made it fun. Overall, we maintained that classic summer house expression, but in a way that works for 2018 and which, most importantly, created the light, open and flexible modern home that the family wanted.” Martin Kallesø Arkitekter have competed in several international competitions and are open to clients both in Denmark and beyond.

Faxe Ladeplads.

Veddinge Bakker.

Web: www.kallesoearkitekt.dk Facebook: martinkallesoearkitekter Instagram: @kallesoearkitekt

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 123

Scan Magazine | Artist of the Month | Finland

Left: Connection. Right: Female portrait, Catherine, 2016.

Artist of the Month, Finland

Art meets design Finnish artist Jenni Emilia gravitated into the world of art after a career in fashion left her longing for more. The artist and designer is now making waves in both fields by focusing on the interplay of art and design as a duo that ultimately makes the sum greater than its parts.

Collaboration opens doors

As an artist and as a designer, Jenni Emilia finds this fascinating. She is working with Kouvolan Lakritsi to explore other ways to build on the brand’s key characteristics. “If you’ve got the vision, the doors that may appear locked may all of a sudden open.”

Through her design name, Jenni Emilia Design, the artist is currently collaborating with Kouvolan Lakritsi, a Finnish liquorice brand that has forayed into the

Yet the importance of working with others goes even deeper for Jenni Emilia. As a free-spirited artist, she sources a lot

By Jo Iivonen | Photos: Teemu Pyhäniemi Photography ja Ammari

Ever since finding her artistic path in 2012, Jenni Emilia has been stringing together art and design in search of synergies. In the last five years, the former fashion designer’s artistic work has won praise and international recognition. But despite her success as an artist, Jenni Emilia feels connected to her designer roots. “For me, art and design go hand in hand,” she explains. “Art can add depth to design, but design can also be an inspiration for art.” Taking the example of the fashion industry, she describes how product-led businesses often expand by adding some type of a sensory experience. “If you look at many fashion labels, you can see that the clothes come first, then the perfumes, for example,” she says. “My mission is to show how that flow can go both ways. Yet I’m still finding inspiration from my work as a freelance designer – especially in 124 | Issue 119 | December 2018

world of fashion with handbags that carry the brand’s DNA into an entirely new product category.

collaboration with brands looking to experiment with something deeper.”

Left and right: Me, myself and I, 2014.

Scan Magazine | Artist of the Month | Finland

of inspiration from the quiet of being by herself, but social interaction is also key. “I want to work with people, explore ideas and drive projects further by adding in an element of art,” she explains.

Return to the roots After design school and years spent in the fashion industry, Jenni Emilia gave up her design career in Finland to follow her husband’s work to Belgium. This turned out to be a key turning point. The move to Brussels in 2012 was when Jenni Emilia fully established herself as an artist. That journey has since led to exhibitions in many international galleries. After her international excursions, Jenni Emilia is now living in Helsinki. However, most of her work is based in her old hometown of Kouvola in south-eastern Finland. “I love being part of the active local community through my work,” the artist says. “There’s a strong positive vibe and a real drive to do things.” The regional hub of Kouvola is located at a railway crossroads between Helsinki and St Petersburg, as well as many other Finnish towns. Easy access to the international airport of Helsinki links the town to other international destinations as well.

Yet the closeness of nature is another key to Kouvola’s character. “Finnish nature is very important for me,” she explains. “The contrast between stunning landscapes and a whiff of melancholy is something that I sense in myself too.”

Piecing it together As a mother of three, the artist feels that the combination of having children and following her artistic path support each other. “You realise that time is limited, that you just have to make it all work together.” The desire to piece it all together is also evident in Trashionista, Jenni Emilia’s line of work that includes unique pieces created by materials sourced from her surroundings. She credits the starting point of this line to her roots in Kouvola, a place where many different influences meet, saying: “I love to collect all kinds of bric-a-brac, and then use it to create something new in my paintings.”

about how things fall into place when you open up to the world of possibilities.” It is perhaps no coincidence that her work includes a collection of visually striking world maps. The first one, the Connection painting, marks one of two career-defining moments. The other one is Me, Myself and I, the first of a series of female portraits that have emerged as her trademark style. “Art can help you define the core essence of anything,” she says. “For me, that can mean creating art inspired by my surroundings, the people or places that matter to me.” Web: www.jenniemiliadesign.com Facebook: jenniemiliadesign

A world of possibilities Jenni Emilia’s work has been exhibited in locations ranging from Brussels to Toronto, St Petersburg and China. However, she does not actively approach galleries. “I like to let the opportunities come to me; there’s something amazing

Left and above right: Female portrait. Bottom right: Jenni Emilia and Myrsky.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 125

Scan Magazine | Humour |

Columns

IS IT JUST ME…

By Mette Lisby

… who is puzzled by the stress epidemic that is sweeping the western world? Menial tasks have never been easier, we work fewer hours than previous generations, and we are protected from the stress our forefathers had to deal with, like, you know, cholera outbreaks and dying from black plague and such. So maybe people today are stressed out not because of the amount of things they have to do, but because modern life brings its own ailments. For instance, we spend hours each day staring into our phones to check out our friends on Snapchat and Facebook, yet we abandon the most obvious relationships that take place right in front of us – those where we are actually physically present. Take this situation in the average working day: you sit around a table waiting for a meeting to start – this is where you used to catch up with your colleagues and chit chat about their lives. But instead, everybody is staring into their phones, captivated by Instagram or Facebook updates about distant relatives in Australia.

‘Phone fever’ is contagious. It only takes one person in a room to start looking at their phone, and sure enough the rest follow. And when your colleagues all stare at their phones, you feel like an idiot trying to start a real conversation. By looking at your phone in the presence of others, you are sending a powerful message: there are things more important to me than being here. But unless your sister is about to give birth or you are a firefighter on call, why would any random update be more important to you than what you are doing right now? Contrary to common belief, it is not only hurtful to people around you – it is damaging you. Because what you are really saying is that you could spend your time better someplace else. It erodes the value of what you are doing, and the choice you have made to be there, whether that is lunching with friends, being with family, or attending a meeting. It is a constant reminder that you could be spending time differently – that there

Winter light This year, I will be spending Christmas in the north of Sweden. I grew up nearby; however, what once seemed normal now takes some getting used to again. The sun will only just about peek over the horizon for a few hours, then it is dark again. If you intend on leaving the house by car, say, for example, if fuelled by a sudden panic to get the shopping done while it is light, it is likely you will need to shovel your way to it first. Once in town, however, you may be in for a surprise. The north may present some challenges, but despite this, northerners remain a laid-back bunch. There may be precious few hours to reach the off-licence for the Christmas glögg (mulled wine), but that will not get in the way of a civilised sit in the coffee shop first. Kids get left outside in their buggies. Cold is good for babies. It also kills phone batteries, so when the light finally starts fading, it is easy to assume 126 | Issue 119 | December 2018

are a hundred other places you could be right now. That is phone fever, and that is stressful. 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.

By Maria Smedstad

sake of your own sanity. Time to go inside, light some candles and enjoy your warm glögg. And if you are lucky, you may be treated to a second piece of celestial illumination, one that makes the darkness seem worth it. If you have ever spent a Christmas Eve underneath a sky rippling with glorious northern lights, you will know what I am talking about.

it must be very late. Speeding home is no good though, because this is also precisely the hour when another native is on the move, and it is bigger than you (always give way to your local, friendly moose). Once back, you may find that everywhere that you shovelled is once again covered in snow, which tends to be the moment you embrace the attitude of the locals for the

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 Profile | Hildur Guðnadóttir

Hildur Guðnadóttir: Breaking the glass ceiling Hildur Guðnadóttir is just about to take the stage at London’s iconic Organ Reframed – a two-day international festival in the glorious surroundings of Islington’s Gothic Union Chapel. It is a surprisingly intimate venue for a musician currently making headlines in Hollywood but, then again, the Icelandic cellist has never been content to blindly follow the score. By Paula Hammond | Press photos

Although fans will have to wait until October 2019 to see Joaquin Phoenix in Joker, Hildur Guðnadóttir is already busy at work composing the soundtrack for the hottest comic book film of the year. While no stranger to the world 128 | Issue 119 | December 2018

of film, having worked on Sicario: Day of the Soldado and Mary Magdalene, Joker catapults Guðnadóttir firmly into the big league. It also makes her the first woman to score a live-action DC Comics film.

Growing up in a family of musicians – dad was a composer, mum an opera singer – may have ignited the spark, but it was curiosity that, she says, kept her music evolving. “I was trained classically, but I was never really comfortable with the idea that there is a right or a wrong way to do music. Those sorts of ideas stand in the way of musical expression for me. Luckily, I got an outlet for my curiosity and my need to experiment by joining bands. Then, in my late teens, I started to bring my cello into that setting, and everything started to make sense.”

Scan Magazine | Culture Profile | Hildur Guðnadóttir

Guðnadóttir’s music defies labels. She has written for TV and theatre and has four critically-acclaimed solo albums to her name. Many pieces have the reverential feel of church music. Others conjure images of machines and ships at sea. But beneath it all runs a very warm, human connection. “I always sang as a child, so my voice is important to me,” Guðnadóttir reflects. “The cello, too, is very close to the human voice range. When you play it, it lies on the chest and resonates with the heart and respiratory system. So I always feel that… there’s a sense of sound and breath in my music. But, the machinery… that’s harder to explain. A lot of my scores use amplified instruments. There are sounds that we perceive as cold, or even bad, and I’ve been working on ways of giving these things that don’t have breath – bringing them to life. That’s something that really interests me.”

I get so immersed in the characters, and when I get to the end, I always think ‘I’m going to miss this’. Working on a film is the same. You become very immersed in the world, but it’s just for a couple of hours. However, with something like DC, the universe has been created over decades. It has such a history and people feel so strongly about it – and that’s a very exciting thing to be involved in.” Diversity in Hollywood is a hot topic. According to the Centre for the Study of Women in Television and Film, in 2014, only seven per cent of directors and five per cent of cinematographers were women. The statistics were even more depressing for female composers. Over the past three years, only one to two per cent of composers working on the top 250 box office films were women.

“There is,” Guðnadóttir says, “an extreme need for more women in the industry, and I’m really grateful to be part of that movement. I think there’s been a lot of change in the year after #metoo and a growing awareness of women’s positions and how we’re treated in the film industry. I felt it myself when I went to LA recently. There’s a huge difference in people’s general approach now. It’s been so needed – it’s about time – and I think it is actually happening. Change is coming. It’s really coming and that’s fantastic.” Read more about Hildur Guðnadóttir and listen to her music at: Web: www.hildurness.com Facebook: Hildur Guðnadóttir Twitter: @hildurness

There is a tranquil centre to her work too. Guðnadóttir’s music exudes a wonderful sense of peace. When asked if it is hard to keep that calm in the frenetic world of Hollywood, she laughs. “This year, I’ve been very conscious of my caffeine intake and my alcohol consumption! To survive, it’s something you have to be extremely alert about. But I’m someone who has always done a lot of yoga, and I meditate every day.”

Onwards and upwards So far, Guðnadóttir’s experiences of working on Joker have been incredibly positive. “I’m having a wonderful dialogue with the director and the music editor,” she comments. “When you’re working on your own, things take longer – you’re floating in space with that empty white page in front of you. Working on a film is more complicated, but it’s also a more supportive, linear process. And from what I’ve seen of the shooting so far, it’s incredible material and a really exciting project.” Guðnadóttir says that “being European” meant that she did not fully appreciate how huge the DC universe was until the announcement was made. “I’m so interested in storytelling. When I read a book,

Top and bottom: Union Chapel is an award-winning music venue in Islington, north London. Events at Union Chapel support the conservation and development of the building. Photos: Daniela Sbrisny.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 129

Scan Magazine | Culture | Music

Scandinavian music If, while reading this, you are already at the point where you cannot quite take yet another play of Mariah Carey, Wham! or Slade, yet the end of the festive season is still a long way off, perhaps you need to mix things up a bit. Given the region’s notoriety for producing well-crafted, camped-up, sing-along pop music, it should come as no surprise that the Nordics have got you covered when it comes to Christmas songs too. Just last year, John Lundvik released the perfect soundtrack to those log-fire evenings. The succinctly titled Christmas sounds precisely how you would imagine a particularly beautiful John Legend ballad would, had it been specially written for the season of goodwill. This is probably best enjoyed if you have got a loved one to enjoy those aforementioned log fires with. Sarah Dawn Finer is a vocalist you should also most definitely be familiar with, should you not already be. Her Winter Song duet with Louise Hoffsten was released back in 2010,

By Karl Batterbee

but is a song that I have been coming back to every December since. Mariah struck gold when she penned her iconic festive up-tempo tune, and so there have been plenty of pop stars since, who have attempted to find success by going down the same route. Two of the better recent examples of that sound have come from Sweden. Former Idol winner, Lisa Ajax, breaks with tradition momentarily, calling upon dreamy synth-pop as her influence for Santa Bring My Baby To Me. Wiktoria, meanwhile, brings the classic ‘60s girl band sound bang up-todate with Not Just For Xmas. Spoiler alert: it most definitely is, on the contrary, just for Christmas. Finally, some options for those of you who really are cheesed off with cheesy Christmas tunes, and want to sneak something a little more satisfying onto the party playlist. Amanda Jensen’s Christmas Fool is perhaps the very definition of a bleak midwinter, and

will pack even more of a punch if played when you are five or six snowballs into your evening. Misery loves company though, so also check out North Star (Bloody Christmas) by Elliphant, which more than lives up to its title. Look beyond the ‘bah humbug’ novelty though, and you will be rewarded with an absolute beauty of a song. Web: www.scandipop.co.uk

Scandinavian simplicity Designed and handcrafted in Norway

www.freywood.no

130 | Issue 119 | December 2018

@freywood.no Freywood

Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar

Frame by Cecilia Xinyu. Nominated for Formex Nova Nordic Designer of the Year 2018. Photo: Chris Tonnesen

Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! Danish/Canadian Christmas Concert (13 December) Danish/Canadian music duo Reg & Andreas will get you into a true Christmas mood. In fact, the organisers of this concert note, you will almost be able to smell the fragrance of ‘chestnuts roasting on an open fire’ as they sing their Christmas ballads. Made up of Canadian singer Reg Downey and Danish singer/ pianist Andreas Flensted-Jensen, the duo will perform their own pieces as well as new versions of well-known Christmas

tunes. 2pm and 7.30pm. St. Andrew’s Church, 65 Waterloo Street, Hove, BN3 1AH, UK. www.eventbrite.co.uk

Landscapes of the Future (until 21 December) Helsinki Contemporary’s guest curator programme comes to London in December, showcasing work from both Finnish and English artists at Beaconsfield Gallery. Titled Landscapes of the

By Sanne Wass

Future, the exhibition explores the concept of landscape in diverse ways and sheds light upon the changing ways in which we relate to particular spaces. Beaconsfield Gallery Vauxhall, 22 Newport Street, London SE11 6AY, UK. www.helsinkicontemporary.com

Human Factors (until 6 January 2019) Human Factors is an exhibition that reflects on the human condition and human connections in current times. Issue 119 | December 2018 | 131

Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar

Poured Collection by Troels Flensted. Nominated for Formex Nova Nordic Designer of the Year 2018. Press photo.

Presenting works from Helsinki-based artists Hanna Haaslahti, Anna Estarriola and Yassine Khaled together with USbased Tyler Henry, the display explores relations of power and conflict, borders, individual and communal behaviour and representation. Watermans Art Centre, 40 High Street, Brentford TW8 0DS, UK. www.watermans.org.uk

Copenhagen Phil New Year’s Concert (11-19 January) The Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra will welcome 2019 with its annual New Year’s concert tour through Zealand in Denmark. Singers Signe Asmussen and Bobo Moreno will be joining the tour this year. The concerts will present a mix of classics, from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess to the Buena Vista Social Club to New Year’s highlights from the classical orchestral repertoire. Various locations, Zealand, Denmark. www.copenhagenphil.dk

Formex Design Arena (15-18 January 2019) Signe Asmussen. Photo: Camilla Schiøler.

132 | Issue 119 | December 2018

The Nordic region’s leading interior design fair, Formex, returns to Stockholm.

Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar

Bobo Moreno. Photo: Stephen Freiheit.

Issue 119 | December 2018 | 133

Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar

Bringing together 20,000 visitors and more than 800 exhibitors of interior design, fashion and accessories, the fair is the ideal place to stay updated on Scandinavia’s latest design trends and gain new inspiration. Stockholmsmässan, Mässvägen 1, Älvsjö, Sweden. www.formex.se

A Book at Lunchtime: Ibsen, Scandinavia and the Making of a World Drama (16 January) A Book at Lunchtime is a fortnightly series of bite-sized book discussions hosted in Oxford. On the agenda on this Wednesday is Ibsen, Scandinavia and the Making of a World Drama, a book that challenges standard accounts of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s career. It is written by two Norwegian professors, Narve Fulsås and Tore Rem, who will be joined by an expert panel of professors from Oxford University to debate the book and its themes. 12.30pm. Radcliffe Humanities, Woodstock Road, Oxford, UK. www.torch.ox.ac.uk

HPSCHD: Music for Electronics and Harpsichord (17 January 2019) Quadroforone, a new piece by Faroese composer Sunleif Rasmussen, will have its world premiere at Milton Court Concert Hall this winter. It will be performed by Iranian harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, who will also play pieces by John Cage, Luciano Berio, Iranian composer Anahita Abbasi, among others. 7.30pm. Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Silk Street, London EC2Y 9BH, UK. www.barbican.org

Ground Vase by Ragna Ragnarsdóttir. Winner of Formex Nova Nordic Designer of the Year 2018. Press photo

Ectoplasm Girls (19 January) Influenced by punk, industrial and minimal wave, sisters Nadine and Tanya Byrne have released several albums as part of an ongoing audio-visual project called Ectoplasm Girls. Appearing at Café Oto in East London in January, the Swedish duo will explore death and dreams through a multi-media performance. 7.30pm. Cafe OTO, 18-22 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL, UK. www.cafeoto.co.uk 134 | Issue 119 | December 2018

Sunleif Rasmussen. Photo: Lars Skaaning.

Hanna Haaslahti. Press photo.

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Scan Client Publishing

Published on Dec 2, 2018

Scan Magazine, Issue 119, December 2018

Promoting Brand Scandinavia! Including Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland.

Scan Magazine, Issue 119, December 2018

Published on Dec 2, 2018

Promoting Brand Scandinavia! Including Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland.

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