SCANDINAVIAN monthly │ Issue No.8 │ January 2022

SCANDINAVIAN Monthly 1

JANUARY 2022 | SCANDINAVIAN MONTHLY

Issue No.8 │January 2022

FOOD Special

CHERVIL IN SCANDINAVIA

HUNTING THE BLACK GOLD IN SWEDEN and more...

FOOD AND DRINK IN SWEDEN

THE FOODIE PARADISE IN THE CAPITALOF NORWAY

FOOD ● SOCIETY ● ACCOMODATION ● BUSINESS ● SPORTS ARCHITECTURE ● FINE ART/MUSIC ● FASHION ● DESIGN

SCANDINAVIAN MONTHLY CONTENT

Food Chervil in Scandinavia .......................................................................... 4 Hunting The Black Gold In Sweden ....................................................... 6 The Foodie Paradise In The Capital Of Norway ..................................... 8 You Find Three Of The World’s Best Restaurants In Scandinavia ......... 10 Food and Drink in Sweden .................................................................... 11 Food and Drink In Denmark ................................................................. 12 Society Top 5 Research Areas in Scandinavia .................................................. 12 Swedish Nobel Laureates and Investors ............................................. 14 Examining The Gender Pay Gap In Scandinavian Countries ................ 16 Making and Circulation of Nordic Models, Ideas and Images ............... 19 Accommodation An Extraordinary Swedish Spa Hotel ................................................... 21 Business Norway – The World’s Fourth Largest Shipping Nation ....................... 23 Navigating A Norwegian Luxury Hotel Chain During The Pandemic ... 25 World’s Longest Undersea Power Cable Linking Norway And UK ....... 28 People The Norwegian Knitting Guys ............................................................. 29 Sports A Guide To Outdoor Sports ................................................................. 30 Architecture Nordic Architecture In High Demand In China .................................... 33 Fine Art/Music Norwegian World-Famous Playwright’s Very First Drama .................. 36 Unsolved Swedish True Crime Series With An Unlikely Murderer ....... 38 Fashion Interesting Up And Coming Norwegian Fashion Designer .................. 41 Design Flexible Norwegian Daybed ................................................................ 43

EDITOR’S NOTE Dear reader, The past year emerged as a notorious reminder of just how quickly circumstances can change. And if change is the watchword for 2022, then at Scandinavian Monthly Magazine we aim to change things too. We endavour to take Brand Scandinavia to new heights.

We are all a team of dedicated Scandinavian lovers, of all ages, and backgrounds, and we go about our job with a key winning ingredient. Passion!

We are proud to kick off the first issue of 2022 with a cover story about Huning The Black Gold In Sweden. All Swedish lobster fishermen have their ideas about lobster pot sizes, fishing spots and bait. Wherever you go, there is endless discussion about bait tips, water temperature and fishing spots. Lobsters found along the Swedish coast are known as Black Gold due to their black color in the wild. Cooked and served at the table it is delicate red.

On page 21 we take you on a lovely winter-break in Grisslehamn in Sweden, which is home to the wonderful Havsbaden Spa Hotel. The first version of today’s version was built already in 1903. 122 rooms still make the hotel an intimate facility.

Next in line is an exclusive interview with the CEO of Classic Norway Hotels, the luxury hotel chain with 21 of Norway’s most charming hotels and cabins. We follow how he navigated through the hard times of the pandemic.

We continue to see a rapid increase in editorial requests and I want to encourage you, please keep them coming. You can send me an email personally to editor@ dailyscandinavian.com. We are truly interested to know what you want to rea and it is great that you take the time to get involved.

Enjoy the issue and see you next month.

Tor

Tor Kjolberg

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Food Special

Chervil in Scandinavia Tor Kjolberg

Chervil is a very old herb in Nordic cuisine, but almost impossible to buy.

People who love it and know how to use it are almost gone, and young cooks have yet to discover its virtues – so even in Scandinavia you have to grow your own. Learn more about chervil in Scandinavia.

How it grows Chervil is a winter annual, so it can

be sown in autumn and be the first plentiful herb to appear in spring. Sow it again in early spring and you can enjoy a supply of chervil all summer long.

Related: Scandinavian Herbs Appearance and taste Chervil has light green, fern-like leaves that are not dissimilar to parsley in

appearance, and clusters of tiny white flowers from spring to summer. The leaves are the subtlest of the aniseedflavored herbs; the mild anise flavor is never overwhelming, as tarragon, for example, can be.

Related: Tarragon in Scandinavia Culinary uses The classic use of chervil is with eggs,

Feature image (on top): Photo by Wikipedia

JANUARY 2022 | SCANDINAVIAN MONTHLY

and it goes perfectly with ramsons in an omelet. Alternatively, try mixing it with almonds, new garlic, olive oil, salt and lemon juice to make an unusual pesto to go with fish, salted meats or new vegetables.

Sweet cicely (an easily grown and beautiful perennial herb) is a good alternative to chervil, even if it’s not quite as delicate.

Related: Scandinavian Poor Man’s Asparagus

Chervil cream

Chervil cream The easiest and most versatile sauce of all, chervil cream, will add a spring-like lightheartedness to all fried, grilled and baked fish, shellfish and new vegetables.

1 large bunch of chervil 250ml crème fraîche Salt and pepper Serves 6 Simply chop the chervil very finely, almost to a mush, and then mix with the crème fraiche. Season with some salt and a little pepper, to taste. The result is an incredibly flavorful, light green cream sauce.

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Hunting The Black Gold in Sweden Text Tor Kjolberg

Autumn’s lobster premiere is like an early Christmas Eve on the Swedish west coast. Join us in the hunt of the sea’s black gold in Bohuslän.

On the first Monday after September 20, it’s lobster premiere in Bohuslän on the Swedish west coast. This is a genuine premiere because it is a statutory one – unlike the crayfish or surströmming (“sour herring”) premieres that are now only based on traditions. The last day of the season is April 30th. After the close of lobster season, lobsters may not be fished or held in any form.

The beautiful Swedish west coast The Swedish west coast is beautiful in the autumn, painted with a palette of orange, red and yellow trees, blustery clouds and blue skies. Bohuslän has received considerable attention in recent years in international media.

Among other things, Bohuslän has been named the world’s seventh most beautiful wilderness area by ​​CNN. The region has also been written about in The Times, Lonely Planet Traveller Magazine, and National Geographic Traveller.

Related: Shellfish Safaris in West Sweden The reddish-brown boathouses and shiny slopes of naked rocks combined with seagulls’ screams and crashing waves create a magical atmosphere – not to forget, the intoxicating smell of one-year-old fermented mackerel – regarded as a recipe for success to

attract the ocean’s black gold into their pots.

The fishermen are ready to start in the early hours. All lobster fishermen have their ideas about lobster pot sizes, fishing spots and bait. Wherever you go, there is endless discussion about bait tips, water temperature and fishing spots. In particular, tension is linked to weather conditions.

Perfect conditions for rich and tasty lobster stocks Bohuslän is mostly ice-free coastline.

Here salty Atlantic water comes in with the Gulf Stream. The clean and warm water creates perfect conditions for rich and tasty lobster stocks – it’s one of the reasons that Bohuslän has become a real lobster paradise. Eating your own catch at the end of the day paired with a special release of lobster beer from the Grebbestadsbryggeri brewery, you feel you’re in paradise.

much as 90 per cent of all oysters.

Related: Scandinavian Shellfish & Molluscs A thriving livelihood for lobster and shellfish The seabed In this part of Bohuslän is hard and rich in hiding places making it a thriving livelihood for lobster and shellfish. Along large parts of the Swedish coast, sediments from agriculture have been washed out into the sea and made the seabed soft, but it is not the case in this area.

According to traditional recipes lobsters are often cooked in dark beer to produce a savory flavor and lift the flavors of the seafood. Lobsters are luxury goods. At Gothenburg’s fish auction the first lobsters are usually sold for approximately SEK 7,000/kg

Lobsters found along the Swedish coast are known as Black Gold due to their black color in the wild.

Grönemad is an idyllic row of piers and boathouses two kilometers north of Grebbestad center. Almost half of the lobster caught in Sweden is hauled up by this archipelago. The same applies to 70 per cent of caged crayfish and as

The reddish-brown boathouses and shiny slopes of naked rocks combined with seagulls’ screams and crashing waves create a magical atmosphere . Here, from Smogen. Photo: Bohuslanguide

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during the first week of the season. In 2010 the first lobsters came in at 7,300 kronor per kilogram. 2012 was a peak of 102,000 SEK! The Swedish Lobster Academy The locals are so serious about lobster that in 1996 they established the Swedish Lobster Academy in Hunnebostrand. The academy promotes knowledge about lobsters’ living conditions, distribution, movement patterns, and reproduction.

Members focus on sustainability and they collaborate with fishermen to address issues such as trapping and farming opportunities. The academy promotes quality assurance of lobster with respect to size, breed, and appearance.

The lobster premiere draws visitors from all over Europe. The first lobster safaris, on the other hand, do not start until the pots have been on the seabed for at least 24 hours. From September to December, many fishermen offer lobster safaris for tourists.

Professional fishermen are allowed to release maximum 40 lobster pots only.

However, the vast majority of lobster pots you see in the Bohuslän archipelago belong to private individuals, and not just local residents. People throw their boats at trailers and pilgrimages from all over Sweden to hunt for the black gold.

Commercial fishermen make up only a small part.

Fisherman throwing a cage. Photo: Västsverige

Lobster fishing in perspective To give some perspective, remember that people have been fishing this coast since the Stone Age. Fishing has been a source of livelihood for generations. The sea and seafood have a culture all its own. To protect the species fishermen today are not allowed to catch small lobsters that have not yet reproduced itself. There is a minimum size to comply with: 8 centimeters measured from the rear edge of the eye cavity to the rear edge of the back. If the lobster is smaller, it has to be released back into the sea immediately. This also applies to females with external roe, according to the Swedish Board of Fisheries regulations.

The clean and warm water creates perfect conditions for a rich and tasty lobster stocks, Photo: Marstrand Event

Since 2011 hobby fishermen are no longer allowed to sell lobsters.

There have been many positive measures to safeguard and improve the lobster stock in Sweden, but it is still important to fish them with moderation.

A Swedish lobster is different from an American; it has clearer colors and larger claws. The water in northern Europe is colder, so the fish and shellfish grow less quickly, and therefore develop a richer flavor and better texture. The lobster season is based on protection of the species— making sure it is able to reproduce before being caught—and the time of year when it tastes the best.

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The Foodie Paradise in the Capital of Norway Text Tor Kjolberg

The Food Hall in Oslo is a food market which opened in 2012 in a former industrial hall by the Akers river, built in 1902.

Today, the hall contains 30 grocery stores, restaurants, specialty food shops and eateries, bakers, bars and more, all offering high-quality products from Norway and abroad. We met with the manager of development at Aspelin Ramm, Frode Rønne Malmo. Learn more about the foodie paradise in the capital of Norway.

Malmo tells us that this is a place for individuals, families or companies to sample and socialize. The staff are proud of their products and love to talk about food you cannot find elsewhere in the capital.

History Mathallen is located in the old hall on Vulkan with three floors with almost 3,500 square meters. In former times, iron elements were cast for railways and bridges here.

It is said that Scandinavia’s largest

silver mine was located in the area where the Vulkan (Volcano) site is now located. Legend has it that a terrible dragon guarded the area and that this is one of the reasons why Oslo is where it is. Furthermore, the area was extremely important for the industrial revolution, with water saws and bridge factories. “We have attempted to incorporate this energetic development into the area’s overall design,” says Frode Rønne Malmo.

He adds, «Today, this is an informal place for everyone. There are no

The manager of development at Aspelin Ramm, Frode Rønne Malmo tells us that this is a place for individuals, families or companies to sample and socialize.

All images © Tor Kjolberg/Daily Scandinavian, except photo of Scandic Vulkan Hotel © Scandic Hotels

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Oslo Food all is an informal place for everybody.

Several of the shops and eateries have their own serving areas

Probably the best fish and chips in Oslo

Scandic Vulkan Hotel

There are no chain stores in Oslo Food Hall

chain stores here, and the leases with the stores are from one to three years. They can be renewed, but it is important that our tenants fit in well with the environment. 3 of 30 leases are changed every year. 14 have been with us from the very beginning,” says Rønne Malmo.

The Food Hall Several of the shops and eateries have their own serving areas, but it is also possible to enjoy your food in the common serving area of the Market.

Although about 40% of visitors come from the local neighborhood, Mathallen has also become an attraction for all Oslo residents, particularly at the weekend. Before the corona, an increasingly number of foreign tourists found their way to Mathallen, and will probably be back again when the situation becomes more normal.

“Cooking classes and events are an important part of activities here,” explains Malmo. For example, Årets Kokk (Chef of the Year, i.e. Norway’s official selection for the international Bocuse d’Or cooking competition) takes often place at Mathallen. By the way, Norway is the most awarded country in Bocuse d’Or. Mathallen has also hosted a number of current affairs programs and TV series, not to mention the many festivals taking place throughout the year.”

A world of food in one place At present, visitors can enjoy Hungarian food at Bistro Budapest as well as a French creperie, Hopyard

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bar offers more than 200 different beers, French and Swedish founders at Le Pain have a pure passion and knowledge for bread and Via Italia is serving ecological food from Italy, just to mention a few. If you enjoy Fish & Ships, British visitors claim that the fish at Vulkanfisk is even better than at home.

You can find all the shops here.

If you’re in Oslo, be sure to check out Mathallen. You can get a great value meal at any one of the many food stalls, or mix and match your meals from different stalls the way we did.

There are also several restaurants and eateries at the adjoining areas.

Check out Mathallen food hall if you’re ever in Oslo – it’s not far out from the center of Oslo (nothing much is, it’s a very walkable city), and well worth the trip.

Mathallen is closed on Mondays.

Staying in the area If you want to stay in the area, Scandic Vulkan Hotel is a convenient design hotel. After the opening, the hotel was nominated for the European Design Awards for best lobby, lounge and public areas. “It was very important for both Scandic Hotel and the owner Aspelin Ramm that the city council took into account the site’s history,” said the creative director at the design agency Stylt Trampoli, who was responsible for the outline.

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The Danish restaurant Noma takes back the place as number one in the award The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.. Photo: Irina Boersma

Geranum in Copenhagen is he second on the list. Press photo

You Find Three Of the World’s Best Restaurants in Scandinavia Text Tor Kjolberg

The shut-downs around the world may actually have been an advantage for Scandinavia at this year’s award ceremony,” says Bent Christensen, editor of the Danish Dining Guide, to news agency Ritzau. The reason?

You find three of the world’s best restaurants in Scandinavia.

“Scandinavia has benefited from the fact that the judges for a very large part of the time have had the opportunity to visit restaurants”, says Bent Christensen, who has previously been among the judges whose votes the list is based on.

Noma has taken first place on the list

four times before – in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014.

the award The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Related: Sweden’s First Gastro Hotel

Related: Norwegian Crow’s Balls

The list of the best restaurants has been made since 2002. Over 1000 judges from around the world – chefs, journalists and gastronomes – have each had ten votes.

According to the people behind the list, the world’s 10 best restaurants are:

Related: Scandinavian Restaurants Rank Among the Best in Europe Here are the world’s 10 best restaurants The Danish restaurant Noma takes back the place as number one in

• • • • • • • • • •

Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain Central, Lima, Peru Disfrutar, Barcelona, ​​Spain Frantzén, Stockholm, Sweden Maido, Lima, Peru Odette, Singapore Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico The Chairman, Hongkong

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Food and Drink in Sweden Text Tor Kjolberg

Sweden has access to some of the freshest flavors un Europe, farmed in the mellow climate of the south, or hunted in the unspoilt north.

Dishes are generally gentle and unchallenging, but Sweden’s cuisine throws up a few surprises. There are complex notes in its reindeer, boar and grouse, and a love of “wild larder” ingredients like angelica, caraway and tart red lingonberries.

Husmannskost Traditional Swedish dishes (husmannskost) are often updated for modern palates at the country’s best restaurants. Found on the table on Thursdays, ärtsoppa is a hearty pea soup served with pork. Pytt i panna, a hash of fried diced meat, onions and potatoes, is another specialty.

Kåldolmar (stuffed cabbage rolls) are said to have been brought back from Turkey by King Karl XII in the 18th century. Alien to foreign tastebuds, sweet gloopy soups such as rosehip or blueberry soup are served hot or cold.

Swedes eat little pork links (prinskorv) at a smörgasbord. Another smörgasbord favourite is herring spiced with sandalwood (matjes), frequently eaten with boiled potatoes and sour cream.

In Skåne in southern Sweden, look out for spettkaka, a tower-shaped confectionary of sugar, eggs and potato flour baked over an open fire.

Also particular to Sweden is a delicious baked anchovy-potatocream casserole known as “Jansson’s

Celebrating the crayfish season in Sweden

Jansson’s Temptation

Pytt i panna

Making spettkaka. Photo: Ingrid Frii

Temptation”.

Expedia in Sweden has made an interactive map, ‘Tastes of Sweden’, which takes you on a gastronomic tour of Sweden’s more unknown dishes with this interactive map. Explore each region’s food culture by downloading the recipes.

An acquired taste A summertime favorite in northern Sweden is surströmming. Baltic herring that is salted and “soured”

or fermented, then canned. The surströmming tin bulges ominously with still-fermenting gases; and when it is opened (always outdoors), the resulting stench often causes yhe uninitiated to run for the hills Crayfish are eaten widely in Sweden in July and August, when they are boiled, peeled and served at outdoor parties, with plenty of singing and toasting.

Guests wear colorful bibs to shield them from crayfish drip.

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Food and Drink in Denmark Text Tor Kjolberg

In Denmark, model ships hang in every church, as if to remind parishioners to give thanks for the fruits of the sea. Fish, particularly herring, is still a mainstay, commonly smoked, salted or pickled.

Sandwiches and sausages Denmark us a synonymous with smørrebrød, for which it seems there are as many toppings as tastebuds.

Liver pâté, shrimp, herring, caviar, smoked salmon, roast pork and steak tartare are combined with pickles, jams, remoulade and herbs in a kaleidoscope of culinary deliciousness. Specialist smørrebrød restaurants usually open at lunchtime.

Danish herring

Traditional Danish food included lots of pork, butter and dairy products, but Danes today lean towards a lighter, healthier diet, inspired by modern Scandinavian cuisine.

Danish smørrebrød

Danish bacon

Bacon makes up over 5 percent of Denmark’s exports, but not all pork products are sent abroad.

Danes wisely keep the tastiest for themselves; salami, crackling roast pork and frikadeller are national institutions. The last (perfect comfort food) are fried meatballs, usually

made from minced pork, served with potato salad and pickled red cabbage.

Sausages are popular, with each region having its own specialty – in south Jutland ølpølse (beer sausage) is a tasty snack at the local butcher.

Blood sausage, blodpølse, appears around Christmas time. The pølsevogn (sausage wagon) is a common sight around Danish towns, a cheap place to pick up a lurid rød pølse (red hotdog).

Sweet treats Danish pastry (wienerbrød) is famous for a reason. Visit a bakery and try rich, chewy “chocolate snail” pastries, layered cream cakes or a waffle cone filled with ice cream, marshmallow topping and marmalade.

Scandinavians have a peculiar love of salty liquorice, found in its strongest form in Denmark.

Danish pastry

JANUARY 2022 | SCANDINAVIAN MONTHLY

Society

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Top 5 Research Areas in Scandinavia Text Enimee Ejaaz

Scandinavian countries house some of the most prestigious universities with so many benefits that if you want to study abroad, it is a must to apply to one of the institutes there. Learn more about the top 5 research areas in Scandinavia.

If one word could describe the Scandinavian nations, ‘innovation’ would undoubtedly be a strong contender. All these Northern European countries, as well as Finland and Iceland, routinely do highly in worldwide polls designed to assess how inventive and innovationfriendly countries are. Sweden, for example, was rated second (losing only by Switzerland) in INSEAD’s Global Innovation Index 2017, with Denmark sixth, Norway 19th, Finland eighth, and Iceland 13th.

Scandinavian universities Scandinavian universities provide their best for students interested in

research. Sweden, the origin of the Nobel Prize, Volvo, ABBA, and IKEA, provides students with the opportunity to connect with a distinctive culture of forward-thinking and creativity.

However, three notable study alternatives should be considered while applying to study due to the country’s innovative brilliance, inventiveness, and progressive social attitudes.

Related: An Introduction To Studying In Scandinavia Academic courses equip students with the knowledge and abilities they need to succeed in their chosen fields. Courses in Scandinavia cover a wide range of subjects, including design, management, psychology, and business, to mention a few. The innovative programs in Scandinavia include unique learning techniques such as group work, practical applications, interactive sessions,

and technology integration, and study possibilities may consist of a regular classroom environment, distance learning, or online.

Here are the top 5 research areas if you are considering applying to one of the Scandinavian institutes.

Engineering Engineering is one of the most rising fields all over the world, so in the Scandinavian institutes. Students interested in primary vs secondary Research or creative mindsets can look for their field of interest in universities like Lund and Stockholm.

Graduates gain knowledge on how to manage and repair equipment.

Their problem-solving and pragmatic analytical thinking abilities are strengthened through traditional classrooms and lab exercises.

Students also learn verbal and written communication skills necessary for

Feature image (on top): Photo © Lucas Vasques / Unsplash

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following job instructions and reading engineering drawings. The usage of standard safety equipment and best practices in the workplace are also taught.

Related: How To Apply To Top 5 Swedish Universities Technology Scandinavia is a technical powerhouse, having invented the adjustable wrench, dynamite, and the controversial filesharing site The Pirate Bay. Swedish inventions include Soundcloud, Skype, Spotify, and Ericsson, as well as a slew of cool devices like Zaplox, a smartphone app that allows you to electrically open doors, and hövding, an inflated collar that functions as an airbag if you’re ever in a bike crash.

With a couple of crucial international investors flocking to Scandinavia searching for the next Spotify, opportunities, and advancements in the technology sector are only poised to expand. That is a piece of great news for students studying Technology and General Engineering and other related Engineering, Computer Programming, and IT fields.

Social sciences Scandinavia has the most significant wealth equality globally, thanks to its socially progressive stance and egalitarian cultural ideals. Sweden was recently named the world’s most advanced and tolerant country by the Social Progress Index, a title mirrored in its high-caliber academic programs: four Swedish universities rank among

Scandinavia is a technical powerhouse. Photo: thisisengineering Raeng/Unsplash

Engineering is one of the most rising fields all over the world. Photo: Shane Rounce/Unsplash

Four Swedish universities rank among the top 200 in the world for Politics and Internal Studies.

Photo: Ross Findon/Unsplash

Universities in Scandinavia provide the world’s best finance courses for students.

Photo: Carlos Muza/Unsplash

the top 200 in the world for Politics and International Studies.

Designing Scandinavians are not just innovative in technology; everybody can recognize Swedish design’s clean, practical style. Pieces from Swedish furniture giant IKEA and apparel company H&M have caught the globe by storm for their innovative take on combining simplicity with functionality. The possibilities for new paths in Scandinavian design are limitless, thanks to a broad creative focus on the potential of resources, contemporary technology, and sustainable development.

Analytical finance Financial analytics is the process of developing ad hoc analysis to address particular business problems and

Top 5 Research Areas in Scandinavia, written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Enimee Ejaaz. Enimee has been a Content Manager at his prestigious organization, assisting students for a long time. Since its inception, Enimee have been part of Essays.uk provide in depth details about custom essays uk and have seen all the ups and downs it has faced in all those years.

anticipate probable future economic scenarios. Financial analytics’ objective is to shape corporate strategy through dependable, factual knowledge rather than intuition.

Universities in Scandinavia provide the world’s best finance courses for students. The Bachelor of Science in Analytical Finance degree prepares you for a rewarding career in the worldwide world of finance. By providing you with a solid mathematical basis, you will be able to do quantitative analyses of financial markets and effectively manage financial portfolios.

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Swedish Nobel Laureates and Investors Text Tor Kjolberg

West of Ransäter, on the eastern shore of Mellan-Fryken, is Märbacka, the manor home of Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf, the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize for literature, in 1909. Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) was fluent in several languages, and wrote poetry and drama. Nobel was also very interested in social and peace-related issues, and held views that were considered radical during his time. Alfred Nobel’s interests are reflected in the prize he established.

Learn more about the Swedish Nobel laureates and inventors.

Through her books, Selma Lagerlöf made famous the Fryk Valley and lakes. On the western side of the lake is Rottneros Park, whose elegant manor-house appears as Ekeby in Lagerlöf’s The Story of Gösta Berling.

This beautiful park has an arboretum and works by Scandinavian sculptors, including Milles, Eriksson and Vigeland.

North of Lake Vänern, the bedrock is rich in minerals, and this area has long been associated with Sweden’s early industrial development. Many Americans make the pilgrimage to Filipstad, which has the mausoleum of John Ericsson, the gifted inventor and engineer.

Björkborn Herrgård, near Karlskoga, was the home of Alfred Nobel. The manor house is now a museum, Nobel Prize Museum (Nobelmuséet).

At Kristinehamn, west of Karlskoga,

Selma Lagerl f 1923 Photo: Atelje Jaeger, Stockholm

The gifted inventor and engineer John Ericsson. Photo: Britannica

The Picasso statue in Kristinehamn. Photo: Wikipedia

Örebro, is a dramatic, 17th century lakeside castle.

Photo: Wikipedia

a 15-meter (49ft) high sculpture by Picasso is the most striking feature on Lake Vänern.

Discover forgotten areas of the castle and listen to new and fascinating stories from the past about nobles, prisoners and serving folk, and about some of the well-known and less familiar episodes from the castle’s rich and eventful history. Join a guided tour, follow the mystery trail or help your children with the challenges in the Children’s Castle Tower.

In the east, in the province of Närke, is Örebro, with a dramatic, 17thcentury lakeside castle. Next summer, the Örebro Castle uncovers rooms, cellar vaults and towers that have not previously been open to the public.

Feature image (on top): Björkborn Herrgård, near Karlskoga, was the home of Alfred Nobel and is today the Nobel Prize Museum.

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Examining the Gender Pay Gap in Scandinavian Countries Text Ainsley Lawrence

The gender wage gap is one of the top ways of measuring economic gender inequality worldwide. Although countries globally have made great strides toward eliminating the gender pay gap, the World Economic Forum estimated in 2019 that “it will take more than 200 years for economic gender equality to emerge.” That was before a global pandemic that set progress back by nearly an entire generation. Our writer Ainsey Lawrence has been examining the gender pay gap in Scandinavian countries. Read on.

America has still got a long road ahead in the fight for gender equality, and that’s not to mention countries with high gender pay gaps like Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Oman. Fortunately, the rest of the world can take heed from countries with low gaps, including Norway and Sweden. These Scandinavian countries routinely top the list for

closing the gap between men and women in terms of education, politics, health, and opportunity.

Let’s take a look at what Scandinavia is doing right, how they can close the final gap, and some emerging careers for women in the workplace.

Analyzing the gender pay gap in Sweden

What Scandinavia is Doing Right Time and time again, Scandinavian countries win on gender equality. But all that progress hasn’t come without hard work and dedication. As far back as 1863, Norway has practiced income

and tax transparency for all of its citizens.

Sweden has a history of doing the same, making it possible for anyone to view anyone else’s income and taxes online, year after year. There are no exceptions for politicians, sports hotshots, or movie stars. As a result, there’s no hiding any genderbased pay gap, and the Swedish gender pay gap has shrunk since the introduction of this system. In fact, Swedish businesses with more than 25 employees are required to have an equality action plan in place. They face big fines for failing to take action against gender inequality.

Literacy correlate with highly egalitarian societies Research also shows that high degrees of literacy correlate with highly egalitarian societies. Christian missionaries in Scandinavia taught everyone to read the Bible, and Feature image (on top): Illustration by Freepic-Vector

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While Scandinavia’s egalitarian history crowns the region as a leader in gender enlightenment, it’s clear that a variety of socio-political factors are involved. Photo: Martin Fjellanger/Tdelenor

compulsory education was mandated in Sweden by 1842. Scandinavian Lutherans took equality concerns to heart early on, and Norway has had female priests since the mid1900s. Scandinavian countries also aren’t big on military funding, leaving more money available to fund public education programs and efficient social systems. Education is free through university, and abortion is considered a universal right rather than a political controversy.

While Scandinavia’s egalitarian history crowns the region as a leader in gender enlightenment, it’s clear that a variety of socio-political factors are involved.

Not all countries would function well under a Scandinavian model. Cultural and governmental differences between countries mean that each nation must take an individual approach to targeting the gender pay gap.

Room for Improvement Of course, Scandinavia’s work to narrow the equality gap is far from over. The World Economic Forum ranks nations on a scale from 0 to 1, with 1 signifying complete parity. In 2018, Norway and Sweden were close to the top, coming in at 0.84 and 0.82, respectively. The final gap may prove the most difficult to bridge yet. The quick fixes are over, and any future progress will run up against stagnancy in the fight for gender equality.

What’s more, is that even the most egalitarian nations display signs of inequality. Although the Scandinavian

region has cultivated a stellar reputation for gender equality due to its strong welfare state and cultural support for the issue, the sentiment of gender equality is far from the realization of gender equality.

While progress in the public sector seems promising, in the private sector, there is a different story emerging. Only “28% of managers in Denmark are female,” for instance. A 2018 report from the Nordic Council of Ministers revealed that although Nordic society feels more egalitarian, society isn’t always held accountable to these ideals. The more highranking a position is, the less likely it is to be filled by a woman. Business investments are also problematic, with only 1% of investments in the Nordic Tech List database going to companies run by female founders.

The Future for Women in the Workplace Female adaptability and perseverance could prove deciding factors in the fight against gender pay inequality.

When women aim high with their professional trajectories, they’re more likely to attain the high-paying, high-prestige jobs that will elevate the standing of women in their own countries and beyond.

Working in real estate is one lucrative career path for women that can offer a flexible schedule and plenty of networking opportunities. Another option is breaking into information systems careers, which are among

the most high-paying jobs for women today. Tech spaces are traditionally male-dominated, but studies show that organizations that hire women tend to be more financially efficient and customer-centric.

That’s especially important in fields like healthcare and air travel, where there is ample room for growth as an information systems professional.

The future for women in the workplace is bright While many obstacles lie ahead, the future for women in the workplace is bright. Increased access to education allows women to build competitive resumes. New career opportunities are opening up that allow females to obtain prestigious titles and high-paying positions. But most importantly, it’s the hard work of the women themselves that promises to once and for all solve the gender pay gap problem in Scandinavia and beyond.

Examining the Gender Pay Gap in Scandinavian Countries, written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian

by Ainsley Lawrence. Ainsley is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest. She is interested in better living through technology and education. She is frequently lost in a good book.

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Making and Circulation of Nordic Models, Ideas and Images Text Tor Kjolberg

The first book in the series “Nordic Studies in a Global Context” is a critical and empirically based volume in which the multiple existing Nordic models provide analytically innovative attention to the multitude of circulating ideas, images and experiences referred to as ‘Nordic’.

The book ‘Making and Circulation of Nordic Models, Ideas and Images’ addresses related paradoxes as well as patterns of circulation, claims about the exceptionality of Nordic models, and the diffusion and impact of Nordic experiences and ideas.

The vision of the book The introduction explains the vision of the book: In its original meaning, the Nordic model refers to a middle way between market society and welfare society or capitalism and communism.

Since the 1990s, the meaning of the term has moved toward referring to societies that successfully combine competition and cooperation, and efficiency and equality.

Although originally associated with developments in the sphere of socioeconomics, labor, and welfare, the Nordic model has expanded into labeling a diversity of experiences and perspectives in spheres like gender equality, education, daycare, prisons, design, food, and culture.

Using original case studies, the chapters examine how the Nordic models, policy ideas, and cultural images have been constructed, transformed, and circulated in time and space.

Related: Are Scandinavians the Happiest People in the World?

Original case studies examining the Nordic models

Using original case studies, the chapters examine how the Nordic models, policy ideas, and cultural images have been constructed, transformed, and circulated in time

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Lars Mjøset is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Oslo Summer School for Comparative Social Science Studies at the Social Science Faculty, University of Oslo, Norway.

the book shows that Nordic models, perspectives, or ideas do not always originate in the Nordic region.

and space. Historically there has been both positive and negative images and views associated with the terms Swedish, Nordic, or Scandinavian.

The authors’ answer to the question ‘what is the Nordic model?’ is fairly simple: It is an empirical question that need to be explained through historical-empirical investigations.

Happy Scandinavian Countries?

The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis. com has been made available under a Creative Commons AttributionNon Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

The authors:

Mads Mordhorst

Mads Mordhorst is Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School (CBS), and the Director of the Centre for Business History, Denmark.

Related: The Nearly Almost Perfect People The book investigates the actors and channels that have been involved in circulating models: journalists and media, bureaucrats and policy-makers, international organizations, national politicians and institutions, scholars, public diplomats and analyses where and why models have travelled.

Not always Nordic originality Finally, the book shows that Nordic models, perspectives, or ideas do not always originate in the Nordic region, nor do they always develop as deliberate efforts to promote Nordic interests.

Klaus Petersen Haldor Byrkjeflot

Haldor Byrkjeflot is a Professor at the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at University of Oslo, Norway.

Making and Circulation of Nordic Models, Ideas and Images, based on a newsletter from UiO: Nordic

This book will be of key interest to Nordic and Scandinavian studies, European studies, and more broadly to history, sociology, political science, marketing, social policy, organizational theory and public management.

Related: What’s the Secret Behind the

Klaus Petersen is Professor of Welfare State History at the Danish Centre for Welfare Studies, and Chair of Humanities at the Danish Centre for Advanced Study, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.

Lars Mjøseth

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Accommodation

An Extraordinary Swedish Spa Hotel Text Tor Kjolberg

Admire the stunning view of the magnificent Sea of Åland while you let yourself relax in a traditional spa at hotel Havsbaden in Grisslehamn. This is indeed an extraordinary Swedish spa hotel.

Exquisitely located in Grisslehamn with gupping waves and splashing plankton below lies this charming conference facility. Already 200 years ago, Grisslehamn was a popular destination, and in 1903 Havsbaden was built as a first version of today’s facility.

Related: Spa Well-Being – the Swedish Way

Recover from hectic everyday life Here you will achieve complete relaxation and you will be able to rest and recover from hectic everyday life.

Located 110 km north of Stockholm, this spa hotel has got a new life. After two years long renovation, Hotel Havsbaden opened its doors again in July 2018. New rooms and programs have created a place that’s rather a destination than just a hotel.

122 rooms still make the hotel an intimate facility. The bedrooms are furnished in turn of the century and welcome into a time capsule back in time. All double rooms have views of waves and rocks while the single

rooms offer 120 cm wide beds for a comfortable rest.

Related: Excellent Swedish Massage 7 conference rooms and 3 group rooms The location could not be better for a spa hotel. During the weekdays, the hotel mostly hosts conferences, and there’s room for up to 350 participants per conference. There are 7 conference rooms and 3 group rooms.

The Roslagen is the largest, with space for up to 120 people in charismatic warm interior with carpet and soft green walls. Kobben, Svartklubben and Klippan are suitable for 14-60 people

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and are also flexible for different seats, all with their own style and color chart.

New rooms and programs have created a place that’s rather a destination than just a hotel.

Swimmingpool at Havsbaden hotel

At Havsbaden you will be able to rest and recover from hectic everyday life

In Loskäret and Albert Engström, smaller groups meet in a richly surrounded environment. Last (but not least) is Udkiken, a round facility located at the top of one of the towers, where 8 people combine together with extensive views of the archipelago.

Indulge in a chocolate massage The hotel is equipped with large panorama windows to fully benefit from the fantastic view. Hotel Havsbaden is not a massive spa hotel, but has an intimate and personal vibe and guests can benefit from the small size of the hotel and spa. One of the specialties on the spa menu is the chocolate massage, which is effective for both body and mind.

Related: The New Swedish Yoga Enjoy plenty of fresh seafood Food is something really special at Havsbaden, very much influenced by proximity to the sea. Guests can take delight in their evenings with plenty of fresh seafood locally sourced. A particular focus is in fact given to the use of local ingredients both for freshness and environmental impact.

In the dining room visitors will enjoy fantastic dishes while admiring the

A trip to Åland is just 4 ½ hours by boat, here M/S Eckerö

view to the fishing harbor. Beaches and cliffs are located close to the hotel, and make it ideal for those who love sunbathing.

During the weekends, the hotel welcomes individuals who want to relax from their everyday routine.

There are many cozy options at Hotell Havsbaden.

Popular weekend-packages “We offer a large range of weekend packages. There’s one that we simply call ‘Just Be’, that includes spa, a nice dinner, breakfast, a robe, and slippers.

This has become a popular package,” says Anton Lukeniuk, who is in charge of marketing at the hotel and who’s worked with developing the new concept.

Another popular activity that can be combined with a stay at Hotel Havsbaden is a trip to Åland which is just 4 ½ hours by boat. The spa hotel greets guests all year around with special offerings every season.

From Gisslehamn

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Business

Norway – The World’s Fourth Largest Shipping Nation Text Tor Kjolberg

Norway is currently the world’s fourth largest shipping nation measured by value with almost a tenth of the total global trading tonnage. Norway is also one of the nations with the highest share of its fleet under its own flag. Norwegian shipowners are particularly active in the international tanker, bulk-carrier, chemical-carrier, gas-carrier, car-ferry and cruise markets.

Norway’s coastline is embraced by the sea from the northernmost point to the southernmost tip. The sea has

shaped the country’s history as well as its economy. Seamarks have a long history in Norway. As early as the year 869, Vikings on their way home were able to steer their ships towards the mouth of the Hardangerfjord guided by a bonfire built on a clifftop cairn.

Without seamarks and lighthouses, safe travel along the coast or through narrow coastal channels would be impossible. A total of 21 000 lighthouses and seamarks safeguard navigation along the Norwegian coast.

Related: Sustainable Shipping In

Norway Norway – The World’s Fourth Largest Shipping Nation Measured by value, China, Japan and Greece are by far the three largest shipping nations, followed by Norway and the United States. International shipping is characterized by free competition and few restrictions. To improve the competitive situation for ships operating abroad under Norwegian flag, the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) was formed in 1987. In January 2021, the

Feature image (on top): Battery driven ships.

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fleet consisted of 1783 ships totaling 51.1 million deadweight tons.

The Norwegians carry with them a long and rich history of living from and with the sea – from the seafarers of the medieval Saga Age to the present international shipping companies. For centuries, the shipping route along the coast was Norwegians’ lifeline. The Norwegian shipping adventure is the sailors’ adventure.

Related: World’s Largest Electric Ferry Now Operational In Norway The Norwegian Shipping Adventure In a book from 2015, «The shipping adventure. A photographic story 1875-1975 » (Original title “Skipsfartseventyret. En fotografisk fortelling 1875-1975”) the authors Silje Een de Amoriza and Ingrid Myrstad have collected photographs from the heyday of Norwegian international maritime history. The book is not about the shipowners and the ships, but the sailors, deck boys, electricians, sailors, helmsmen and cooks who went to sea. The interest in life at sea has been growing in recent years. The author Jon Michelet’s novel series “The Hero of the Sea” (Sjøens helt) is about Norwegian war sailors during World War II. The 100-year period 1875-1975 is often

called the golden age of Norwegian maritime history. Seamen became one of Norway’s largest occupational groups in the second half of the 19th century. In one of the first large censuses of Norwegian seafarers in 1878, 63,000 men, about every sixth man between the ages of 15 and 55, were employed in the merchant navy.

Related: Norwegian Zero Emissions Ship Without Crew Shipping generates more business Shipping is important both to the Norwegian transport industry and for transporting export products.

Shipping is also a key part of Norway’s wide-ranging maritime environment.

A broad range of companies in areas such as shipbuilding, the equipment industry, shipbroking, ship financing and insurance, etc, has grown up around the shipping companies. The annual export revenues from the shipping industry are around NOK 52 billion.

“For several years, we have seen a positive trend in the NIS register, which is very gratifying. This is important, not only to us, but to the entire Norwegian maritime cluster.

We all benefit from the fact that more ships are flying the Norwegian flag, as this implies a higher level

of competence and increased international influence,” says Acting Director General of Navigation and Shipping, Lars Alvestad. He explains that increased tonnage gives Norway the opportunity of flexing its muscles when promoting a cause, and especially when legislative amendments are ratified, in the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO).

A thousand years history For over a thousand years, the sea has been the source of Norwegian wealth and the basis of Norwegians contact with the rest of the world. New industries and new technology are redefining the coastal and maritime economy. When the Norwegian economy has been hit by waves, the country has used the force of those waves to move forward. And Norwegians will continue to do so in the years ahead.

The shipping industry is one of the world’s most advanced in terms of developing energy-efficient vessels.

The pharmaceutical industry is conducting research into the effect of marine-derived products on a variety of diseases. Wind and wave power will be sources of clean and renewable energy.

Crew. Photo: Norsk maritimt museum Measured by value, China, Japan and Greece are by far the three largest shipping nations, followed by Norway and the United States. Photo: Norsk digitalt museum SS Norway. Photo: Norsk maritimt museum

Photo: DNV – Det norske Veritas

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Navigating a Norwegian Luxury Hotel Chain During The Pandemic Text Tor Kjolberg

Stephen Meinich-Bache (48) was appointed CEO of the Norwegian hotel chain Classic NORWAY Hotels in February 2020. Five weeks later the Corona virus reached Norway.

Travel restrictions and regional lockdowns had far-reaching effects on the hotel industry. However, there were opportunities too. Learn more about the CEO who was navigating a Norwegian luxury hotel chain during the pandemic.

Classic Norway Hotels consists of 21 of Norway’s most charming hotels and cabins from Fevik in southern Norway to Lofoten in the north. Phrases like “personal hosting”, “quality conscious” or “tailoring” are not only phrases, but a blueprint, at Classic Norway Hotels.

Meinich-Bache is proudly telling us that that all their hotels and cabins are situated in beautiful surroundings and creating great experiences for their guests through local culture and food traditions which is the chain’s main objective. His background as naval officer might have been helpful when the pandemic attacked the world.

Related: Majestic Luxury in Norway: A Hotel With Fascinating History and Top-Class Food and Wine Why did you start in the hospitality

Hotel Refsnes Gods by Classic NORWAY Hotels. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

business?

It was a pure coincidence. An old friend of mine in the industry told me they needed ‘a good man’, and I was offered a position as General Manager at Breiseth hotel in Lillehammer. After that, I worked in Copenhagen for two years before moving back to Norway.

It turned out that the chairman and owner of First Hotels, Asmund Haare, and I had coincident opinions and he wanted me to take charge.

Later on, I had the pleasure of meeting Erik Berg, owner and founder of

Classic Norway Hotels. He invited me to be CEO of Classic Norway Hotels and after that, I never looked back!

How did you navigate your business through the COVID-19 crisis?

“Never shy away from a crisis,” says Meinich-Bache and adds, “The pandemic was of course critical for the finances, but the owners never panicked. We have managed well through the crises with the help of our own means and compensations from the Norwegian government.

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lighthouse. It’s such a breath-taking place, an experience completely out of the ordinary. Here you stay on a small islet in the open ocean. «Flesa» means cliff. This cliff has all the facilities you need to have a comfortable stay. It is also very safe, even in all kinds of weather. Here the houses have stood safe and sound for 116 years.

Related: A Summer Promise From A Norwegian Hotel Group Any crazy guest demands?

Haustadvika Gjestegård by Classic NORWAY Hotels

Our owners are long term thinkers.

Our strategy is built on three pillars; nature, culture and history. We have a short history, and we focus on the future.”

Of the 21 hotels and cabins in the hotel chain, 3 are leased, 1 is franchised and the rest is owned properties.

Related: The Significant Story of a Norwegian Beach Hotel Where does your passion come from?

“There has always been an inner fire in me that gets me early up in the morning. I’ve always wanted to contribute and I am triggered by results. My military background has been an atypical journey into the hospitality business. It’s a discipline I’m using, consciously or unconsciously.

“Magic moments! Good memories.

It’s always different. Classic NORWAY Hotels are great because they have so much to offer – wherever you go it’s really quite unique. Whether you’re coming in the summertime for amazing beaches, in the autumn for woodland walks, or even in the winter to gaze across the dramatic coastlines, there is always something to experience.

There are great differences.”

Which would you recommend as the ‘must-see’ place for anyone visiting one of your facilities?

“There’s so many to choose! If I had to pick one, it would have to be Flatflesa

“Well, some ‘rich and famous’ guests might sometimes be demanding – in a different way. One guest wanted to give a ‘homely’ party to his friends, and we had to move a used sofa, resembling his own, to and from his room. That being said, no demand from any of our guests is crazy.”

Stephen Meinich-Backe says he is pleased leaving a very good summer behind. More and more guests are visiting their hotels for weekends and stay more nights. And even if vacation guests are the main target group, many conferences and business meetings take place at Classic NORWAY Hotels.

My passion is driven by the amazing team members that surround me.

We’re allowed to carry through our ideas, and there is no other way than teamwork to achieve it. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing you’ve put a smile on your guests’ faces and that we’ve made their stay memorable.”

How would you describe a stay at one of Classic NORWAY Hotels’ facilities?

Grand Hotel Bellevue

All images © Classic NORWAY Hotels, except where otherwise stated.

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World’s Longest Undersea Power Cable Linking Norway And UK Text Tor Kjolberg

The world’s longest undersea power connection was switched on last month, allowing Norway and the UK to share renewable energy. Read more about the world’s longest undersea power cable linking Norway and UK. National Grid is a joint venture with Norwegian system operator Statnett.

The €1.6 billion ($1.86 billion) project is a major contribution to UK’s journey to net zero. British National Grid has dubbed the North Sea Link “the world’s longest subsea electricity interconnector.”

Related: Norwegian Zero Emissions Ship Without Crew

The North Sea Link connects Blyth in Northumberland with the Norwegian village of Kvilldal, near Stavanger

The North Sea Link should see the UK reduce its carbon emissions by 23 million tons by 2030. The 450-milelong 720 kilometer) cable, which connects Blyth in Northumberland with the Norwegian village of Kvilldal, near Stavanger, opened with a maximum capacity of 700MW and will increase to the link’s full capacity of 1400MW over a three-month period.

According to National Grid, when

The world’s longest undersea power cable

Britain’s wind production is high and demand for electricity is low, the system will facilitate exports to Norway. This will in turn help to conserve water in the latter’s reservoirs. The North Sea Link should provide enough clean electricity to power 1.4 million homes.

Related: Norway – The Poster Child For Electric Vehicle Adoption Norwegian power generation is sourced from hydropower plants connected to large reservoirs, which can respond faster to fluctuations in demand compared to other major generation technologies. However, as the water level in reservoirs is subject to weather conditions, production varies throughout seasons and years.

National Grid has previously described interconnectors as “high voltage cables that are used to connect the electricity systems of neighboring countries,” facilitating the trade of surplus power.

“North Sea Link is a truly remarkable feat of engineering. We had to go through mountains, fjords and across

the North Sea to make this happen.

But as we look forward to COP26, North Sea Link is also a great example of two countries working together to maximize renewable energy resources for mutual benefit,” said Cordi O’Hara, President of National Grid Ventures.

Related: Norway – First Country in the World to Ban Use of Gas to Heat Buildings NSL is the fifth interconnector for National Grid, which also operates links to Belgium, France and the Netherlands. By 2030, 90% of electricity imported via National Grid’s interconnectors will be from zerocarbon sources, saving 100 million tons of carbon.

Statnett refers to the three first operational months as a “trial period”.

In a comment published by National Grid, Statnett’s CEO Hilde Tonne said: “As North Sea Link goes into trial operations, I am proud of the engineering feat produced by our joint team.”

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People some with scarves and hats. Many of them thrive extremely well in Christmas trees.

“We are very happy with the design we came up with, and in no way were we ever thinking of “hiding” the birds feet inside the body of the bird. Our version of the birds in the book is more of an abstract “designer bird” and we don’t want to copy anything from nature, but create our own version. We really love how the feet came out, although they do remind us a little bit of walkers for the elderly,” explains the duo.

The Norwegian Knitting Guys – In Love With Birds Text Tor Kjolberg

In the past, people knitted to make warm clothes. Some years ago, a Norwegian knitting duo started knitting Christmas balls. Arne & Carlos set no boundaries. They began knitting birds. The Norwegian knitting guys are now in love with birds.

Their book “A Field Guide to Knitted Birds” (Fugler – Fargerike og fantasifulle) has been translated into Danish, Dutch, German, English, French and Finnish – and probably some more. With their trademark style, clarity and humor, Arne & Carlos guides you on a journey into a delightfully knitted bird kingdom.

Inspired by the nature of their native Norway as well as far-off fantastic places, they’ve made an ideal guide for knitting bird lovers, whether creating with decorative purpose or just for fun.

Arne and Carlos don’t take themselves too seriously and are happiest when they see the light. “We like that ‘nerdy’ style, which is something that we have had throughout our career in fashion, and now in handknitting. When designing knit-wear we always focus more on the patterns and colorwork than the silhouettes. This comes from a Norwegian way of thinking that if you make something by hand it should have a longevity beyond fashion trends, so that it lasts for generations. So, we aim to design with simple, classic shapes that will still be beautiful in fifty years’ time.”

Related: The “Black Sheep” of Norway “I find it hard focusing on one thing at a time, I’m always all over the place and thinking about many projects at the same time, but then I lose control and I can’t finish any of them,” says Arne and adds, “so that’s why it’s good to work together, so we can edit each other and have a continuous discussion.”

Related: Faroese Knitting Festival

Their book “A Field Guide to Knitted Birds” (Fugler – Fargerike og fantasifulle) has been translated into Danish, Dutch, German, English, French and Finnish – and probably some more.

The creative duo from Etnedal in Valdres, Arne Nerjordet and Carlos Zachrison have knitted slippers, dolls and garden decorations. Their latest mission is birds – some adorned with sequins, others with feathers and Many of the birds thrive extremely well in Christmas trees.

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Sports

A Guide to Outdoor Sports In Scandinavia Text Casey Harward

The Scandinavian countries are home to some of the finest outdoor pursuits on Earth. The region’s outdoors and wilderness beckon many travelers and sports enthusiasts every year and, while there is never a shortage of things to do in Denmark, Norway, Sweden (the three countries that makeup Scandinavia), it can be hard to know where to start when choosing from such a vast range of activities. This guide is to help you get started with your outdoor pursuits in Scandinavia. Here’s your guide to outdoor sports in Scandinavia.

This guide will focus on major sports that are available throughout the region, like hiking, biking and some winter sports. You can find more information about each sport under its own heading at the end of the guide.

repellent. In the colder seasons, bring warm clothing, sturdy footwear and rain gear. If you plan well in advance, you might even want to try some of the winter sports that are on offer in Scandinavia.

While each country has its own unique culture and language, they are all relatively small in terms of area, meaning that it often makes sense to start your research for where to go with one particular Scandinavian country in mind. For many outdoor pursuits, though, you can do most activities just about anywhere in Scandinavia.

Sailing in Denmark One of the top priorities for most travellers coming to Copenhagen is finding somewhere close by to rent a

boat and explore the city’s surrounding canals. There are many rental companies dotted around the harbour front in the Nyhavn district, and most of these will rent you a traditional wooden ’17-footer’ style boat for an hour or two at a time (Rates start from about 500 Danish kroner.

Biking in Sweden Sweden’s extensive network of walking

The weather in the region can be a challenge for outdoor sports, but all Scandinavians are used to it. In warmer months, you will generally need lots of sunscreen and insect Sailing in the Aarhus Bay. Photo: Wikipedia Feature image (on top): Hiking at Higravtindan, Lofoten northern Norway Photo by Kristin Folsland Olsen / visitnorway.com

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and cycling paths makes it one of the best countries to explore by bike or on foot. You can hire bikes for anywhere between a couple of hours and several days; check out the rates at your accommodation, but expect to pay around 200 kroner (approx. AU$40) for a day’s hire. Read more Kayaking in Norway The fjords and lakes of Western Norway offer some of the most challenging and breathtaking kayaking routes on Earth. The Nidelva river is particularly popular, where you can paddle your way along past waterfalls, through narrow channels and into the heart of Norway’s fourth-largest city, Trondheim. Read more.

Photo by Simon Paulin

Campervan Hire in Denmark If you really want to explore the country and see its quiet corners and picturesque towns at your own pace, then campervan hire is one of the best ways to do it. There are many campervan companies dotted along the Danish coastline, so it’s easy enough to pick one up in Copenhagen or another major city and head out into nature at your leisure.

Kitesurfing in Denmark The shores of Greenland, Norway’s Lofoten Islands and the west coast of Sweden are some of the top spots in all of Scandinavia to learn to kitesurf.

Mountain Biking in Norway There is more than 1,000km worth of mountain bike trails throughout Norway that offers both scenic beauty and endless excitement. The country is also home to the world-famous Laerdal Global Routes, a 450km touring route through some of Norway’s most peaceful and spectacular scenery.

Read more.

Scuba Diving in Denmark The waters surrounding Denmark’s coastline are so clear that you can often see for up to 13m under the

Kayaking Reine in Lofoten. Photo by Mattias Fredriksson/VisitNorway

surface. There are plenty of diving centres dotted around the country that will teach you how to explore this underwater world.

Sailing in Sweden You can find boat rental companies all over Sweden, with most located close to the ferry ports of the southern and western coasts (e.g. Gothenburg, Trelleborg, Karlskrona). If you want to explore some of the country’s beautiful natural harbours, then this is one of the best ways to do it. Read more.

Snowboarding in Norway There are several ski resorts throughout northern Norway, but Norefjell Ski Resort near Lillehammer offers an incredibly scenic setting against the deep blue waters of the fjords.

Surfing in Norway There are plenty of surf schools throughout Norway that will teach you everything you need to know about conquering the waves. Some are even located close to incredibly picturesque

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beaches, such as Røstvik, where you can take a breather from surfing and admire the picturesque views of mountains and fishing boats. Read more.

Photo by Jeremy Bezanger/Unsplash

Mountain biking in Beia, Hallingdal.

Photo by Lars Storheim/Visit Norway Scuba diving in Æræsund.

Photo by Lars Kirkegaard/Visit Fyn

Snowboarding in Norway.

Photo by Fjord Norway

Surfinng in Ervik.

Waterskiing at Norsjø ferieland. Photo by Visit Norway

White water rafting at Sjoa rafting

Swimming in Denmark You can swim throughout Denmark – even in the sea – thanks to the water being so clean that it’s safe for swimming year-round. The clear, fresh waters are made up of melted glacial ice from Scandinavia’s countless glaciers, giving them their sparkling blue hue. Read more.

Snowmobiling in Norway You can hire a snowmobile for short periods of time from countless rental companies dotted throughout southern Norway, either at one of the larger resorts or amidst some truly spectacular scenery. If you want to explore beyond the resort lifts, then this is one of the best ways to do it.

Waterskiing in Norway This is a favourite activity for most Scandinavians, whether it’s just for fun or to show off their impressive skills to friends and family. You can find waterski centers all over southern Norway, including locations in Oslo, Kristiansand and Bergen.

White Water Rafting in Norway The glaciers of Norway are not only responsible for giving the country its stunning green landscapes but also the many raging rivers that flow down from them. You can experience this wild environment first-hand by taking part in one of Scandinavia’s many white-water rafting trips. Read more.

Your Guide to Outdoor Sports in Scandinavia is compiled by Casey Harward. Casey is an editor at Researchprospect and essay writing website. She manages a team of writers and editors, creates academic courses and provides thesis consultations.

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Architecture

Nordic Architecture in High Demand in China Text Tor Kjolberg

The Sustainable Solutions of the Future are Sought After in China.

Great opportunities lie ahead for Nordic architectural firms ready to explore the Chinese market. Nordic Architecture is in High Demand in China.

Nordic firms have proven to be excellent at creating high-quality, sustainable, and innovative architecture and city planning – something that is in high demand in rapidly developing China.

The five Nordic trade promotion organizations in China have interviewed three different Nordic firms with representation in China for their perspectives on the advantages of entering the Chinese market and their best advice for Nordic firms

With Polybo AS, Øivind Eftestøl has developed a sustainable, modular system for the construction industry.

When it comes to sustainability, in particular, China has a huge demand for new solutions – something worth noting as a Nordic firm looking for international adventures.

looking to get established abroad.

Demand for Nordic sustainability Nordic solutions are in demand on China’s growing markets, and that opens opportunities for architecture firms and innovative companies with an eye to the Asian market. Øivind Eftestøl, CEO at Polybo AS, a Norwegian construction technology firm, has experienced this first hand.

When he established his first contact with China in 2013, he felt very wellreceived, and he was quickly motivated by the possibilities in the large Chinese market.

“I highly recommend looking toward the great market in China,” Øivind Eftestøl says today.

“China has, as most markets in the world, a big goal for a greener construction industry and for new and innovative solutions. These are very important selling points to bring to China,” explains Øivind Eftestøl, adding that Nordic firms can benefit from this: “It’s a great help to Nordic companies that China is very open to Nordic architecture and Nordic solutions.”

Zhao Jinyan is the Executive President

Feature image (on top): Photo by Toby Yang on Unsplash

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of VELUX China, and he knows the Chinese market from within. When talking about the development China has experienced, Zhao Jinyan also emphasizes how crucial sustainable innovations are to the future of the country, and how this creates strong demand for Nordic solutions.

Jinyan, this demand for sustainable innovations combined with the sheer size of the Chinese market makes for great opportunities.

“There is, in many areas and in many industries, a wide scope of opportunities. I think many Nordic companies would benefit from starting in China; we have a population of 1.4 billion, and that makes for a huge potential,” he explains.

Related: Reclaiming China in Denmark High-quality solutions China’s rapid development has created not only strong demand for sustainable innovations, but also for high-quality solutions.

Øivind Eftestøl, CEO at Polybo AS

“China is a huge country, and we have experienced robust development over the past 40 years. But now the growth speed has slowed down, so we are reaching a turning point. Our focus for the future is changing from quantity to quality,” Zhao Jinyan explains.

According to Zhao Jinyan, one reason for the success of Velux in the Chinese market can be found in precisely this focus on both quality and sustainability when it comes to architecture and building components. The Danish firm has been active in China for more than 25 years, and throughout that time, the focus at Velux has been on offering high-quality products that improve quality of life in the built environment.

Zhao Jinyan, Executive President of VELUX China

“Nordic solutions are really good at being sustainable – in knowledge, in product, and in service. And especially knowledge and service are something that the Chinese market is looking for,” Zhao Jinyan says. According to Zhao

“At Velux we want to offer not only a better living environment, but also sustainable and environmental building solutions for the Chinese market,” explains Zhao Jinyan, adding: “China has huge potential in this area.”

In 2020 this demand in China for highquality, sustainable solutions secured Swedish architecture and engineering firm, Sweco, a contract to develop

a new sustainable urban district, the Hainan Future Industry Park, in southern China. Sweco has been working with sustainable projects in China for the last 20 years, and the Hainan project is no exception to the firm’s positive experiences working in a dynamic and quickly developing environment. According to Johannes Tüll, Chief Design Architect, Studio Director and International Director Stockholm at Sweco Architects, the opportunities in a forward-looking China actually motivated their work on the project.

“We want to be involved where the development in the world takes place.

Where we can make a good and sustainable impact,” says Johannes Tüll. “For me, personally, I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work on a project like this. It has a sustainability focus, we have a client that is forwardthinking, we have a location that is fantastic, and a chance to do a great project. As a company, and as a group of architects and engineers, we are very grateful to be a part of this,” he explains.

Related: How Individual Scandinavian Hotels Can Benefit from a Stream of Chinese Travelers Creating an international network Establishing your firm as a foreigner in China requires both cultural understanding and a Chinese network that can introduce you to the local market. Øivind Eftestøl explains that his firm, Polybo AS, benefitted greatly from the network offered by the Norwegian embassy to newcomers in China.

“Before entering the huge market in China, you need to do your homework,” says Øivind Eftestøl.

“Use the Nordic network, like the embassies and the Nordic trade

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China has, as most markets in the world, a big goal for a greener construction industry and for new and innovative solutions. Photo by Unsplash

councils, to get input. They can help with all kinds of questions relating to cultural understanding, language and pitfalls, and how to protect the intellectual property rights of your product. To develop our network, including both Nordic countries that are already in China and Chinese companies, and to gain an even better understanding of the Chinese market and funding instruments, Polybo participated in several conferences and networks, both in Norway and China, hosted by the Nordic countries,” he explains.

Related: Liveable Scandinavian Cities Nordic Sustainable Cities Through Nordic Sustainable Cities, Nordic Innovation is working on behalf of the five Nordic prime ministers to promote Nordic solutions for sustainable, livable and smart cities on a global scale. Part of the program is about showcasing and promoting export of Nordic solutions to urban sustainable development challenges in three major markets; North America, India and China.

Zhao Jinyan also emphasizes the importance of connecting with Chinese partners when entering the Chinese market as a Nordic firm.

“It’s a good idea to get a Chinese partner to help you in the beginning to gain a better understanding of this market more quickly,” Zhao Jinyan explains, continuing: “There are a lot of professional companies that can help new players to gain experience. Just be aware that for different companies and different industries, you will need to contact different market players.”

Learning from China An expanded international network can potentially lead to new inventions and fresh inspiration. This is what the architects at Sweco’s offices in

Hainan landscape. Photo: Sweco architects

China have experienced. For them, one key learning was the importance of teaming up with and learning from Chinese partners. Carlo Negri, Chief Design Architect and International Director at Sweco Architects, explains how the design process for the Hainan office project has been defined not only by interdisciplinary collaborations within Sweco, but also by a fruitful dialogue with local partners.

“Our process is very much about an integrated process. We work together with our experts here at Sweco; our energy experts, water experts, and building engineers who design together with the architects.

It is important that we don’t just do that from within Sweco, but that we also do it together with our local design institute and our partners on this project. This is key to ensuring that our unique design meets all the requirements of the project, but also merges the international mindset with

innovations that are already within China itself,” explains Carlo Negri.

Anders Neregård, Chief Design Architect, Studio Director and Chief Digital Officer at Sweco Architects, also stresses the benefits of working in an international milieu. He is convinced that working in China has expanded the team’s way of thinking – a learning they will bring back with them to Sweden.

“When we work in China, it’s an interesting and different kind of process than when we work in Europe or in Sweden. And for us, I think, that has been the most challenging part, and that has helped us. We will bring that mindset back to Europe as well,” Anders Neregård concludes.

Nordic Architecture in High Demand, written by Danish Architecture Center for Nordic Innovation. Republished by permission from Nordic Innovation.

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Fine Art/Music

Norwegian World-Famous Playwright’s Very First Drama Text Tor Kjolberg

In the idyllic town Grimstad in Norway you find the house where Henrik Ibsen worked as an apothecary’s assistant.

This is also the house in which the Norwegian world-famous playwright’s very first drama “Catalina” was written.

performed under Ibsen’s name at the Nya Teatern in Stockholm in 1881. The first performance in Norway under Ibsen’s pseudonym Brynjolf Bjarme was at Det Nye Teater in Oslo in 1935.

Related: Norwegian Playwright in Love with Youth

Forced to support himself after his father’s economic downfall, during a national economic crises, Ibsen went to Grimstad, an idyllic town located a half hour’s drive east of Kristiansand on Norway’s southern coast. He probably arrived in Grimstad as a 15-year-old around 1844 in order to start his education as a pharmaceutical assistant. He both prepared himself for university and experimented with various forms of poetry.

The less known drama of Henrik Ibsen (1828 – 1906), Catalina, was written during winter 1848-49) and first

While studying, he found himself passionately drawn into the Catiline Orations, famous speeches by Cicero

The Ibsen Museum in Grimstad opened in 1916 – only ten years after Ibsen’s death. Grimstad Town’s Museums (Grimstad Bys Museer) is a cultural and historical complex of museums conserving the history of the town.

It is the oldest museum of its kind in Norway.

against the elected questor Catiline and his conspiracy to overthrow the republic. In the prologue to the second edition (1875) Ibsen expresses that he was profoundly inspired by the contemporary political situation of Europe, and that he favoured the Magyar uprising against the Habsburg empire. So, Catiline can be read as one of Ibsen’s troubled heroes, alongside Brand.

Related: 150th Anniversary of Norway’s Peer Gynt The main character in this historical drama is the noble Roman Lucius Catilina, based on the historical figure of Catiline. He is torn between two women, his wife Aurelia and the Vestal virgin Furia.

Although Catiline may not be among

Feature image (on top): Henrik Ibsen in Grand Cafe, Oslo

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Henrik Ibsen, 1869 Photo: Wikipedia the Norwegian world-famous playwright Henrik Ibsen. Photo: Henrik Ibsen Museum, Grimstad

The Henrik Ibsen Museum in Grimstad

Ibsen’s best plays, it foreshadows many of the themes found in his later works and is a drama written in verse modeled after one of his great influences, William Shakespeare.

Ibsen worked in Grimstad until April 1850 when he was 22, using his limited free time to write poetry and paint. At the Ibsen Museum visitors will learn of his life prior to becoming famous, the harsh economic conditions in which he lived and the love stories.

Related: The World Celebrates a Fine Old Gentleman Unlike many other writers and poets, Ibsen had a long and seemingly happy marriage to Suzannah Daae Thoresen.

The couple wed in 1858 and welcomed their only child, son Sigurd, the following year. Ibsen also had a son from an earlier relationship. He had fathered a child with a maid in 1846 while working as an apprentice. While he provided some financial support, Ibsen never met the boy.

Henrik Ibsen’s collected works

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Unsolved Swedish True Crime Series With An Unlikely Murderer Text Tor Kjolberg

Netflix is now streaming ‘The Unlikely Murderer’ about the unsolved murder of Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986.

Netflix’s new five-part drama based on the book by Thomas Pettersson is well worth watching. The book and the series tell the story of how an unassuming graphic designer named Stig Engström not only killed Swedish prime minister Olof Palme in 1986, but also managed to elude being arrested for the assassination all the way up until his death in 2000. Read more about the unsolved Swedish true crime series with an unlikely murderer.

The opening statement announces that The Unlikely Murderer is based on an unsolved case.

Stig Engström, brilliantly played by Robert Gustavsson.

Who killed Olof Palme? Last year, the case was finally officially concluded and the blame was pinned on Stig Engström – an insurance company employee who killed himself in 2000.

All the way, there was hot debate in Sweden about whether he had actually carried out the crime.

Related: The Best of Bergman The Netflix synopsis The series opens with Stig Engström, brilliantly played by Robert Gustavsson, stumbling into the building where

Prime Minister Olof Palme. Press photo

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Arne Irvell, head of the national police’s homicide division, played by Peter Andersson

he works and coming home to his wife acting traumatized. The Netflix synopsis describes the five-part series as “a fictional interpretation adapted from a 2018 book written by Thomas Pettersson, who investigated the case thirty years later, leading him to pin the murder on Stig Engström.”

In The Unlikely Murderer, Engström puts himself forward as the first eyewitness at the scene of the killing, playing the press off against the police and using shards of publicly available information to bolster his story. He is portrayed as a chaotic fantasist whose plan shouldn’t have a chance of working – except that it’s going to, because the police are inept, too.

The assassination of Olof Palme Meanwhile, eyewitness accounts, including from Palme’s son Mårten, played by David Andersson, report a man fitting Stig’s description hanging near the Palmes as they left the theater that night. Arne Irvell, head of the national police’s homicide division, played by Peter Andersson, is irate at how casually his department has been handling this, not even securing the crime scene properly.

Related: Assassination Shockwaves in Sweden The assassination of Olof Palme is Sweden’s highest profile murder investigation in the nation’s history. In the first three episodes, Engström is an ensemble player in a drama about politics, the media and what happens

The real crime scene. Press photo

when blokes with enlarged opinions of themselves dominate positions of responsibility.

Confident and clueless new chief constable When it becomes apparent that the Stockholm police have an investigation on their hands that could not be more momentous, the county chief constable Hans Holmér, played

by Michael Persbrandt, swans in, confident and clueless, to take it over.

Even as the tips flow in and he gets more eyewitness accounts describing the same round, thin-lipped man with glasses, he thinks the assassination was a professional job, as does his “brain trust.” Meanwhile, Stig keeps speaking to the press and looking for stories that feature his “eyewitness account.”

The series shows how Engström keep changing his story after hearing the news or reading the papers, contacting the journalists himself to have his statement and photograph published, while Holmér is obsessed with uncovering an international conspiracy that will make for a sexier news story.

His bravado born of inadequacy causes harm, just as Engström’s does.

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Journalist Thomas Pettersson. Screenprint SVT

trial.

Related: Meet The Best Today’s Swedish Writers Journalist begins to reinvestigate the case What the series succeeds in showing is how botched the police investigation was. In the second half of the series, the focus shifts as we see journalist Thomas Pettersson begin to reinvestigate the case years after it’s gone cold.

The series ends solemnly, with Engström having ruined his own already benighted life, as well as taking Palme’s.

Despite being sinfully entertaining, The Unlikely Murderer can’t credibly be accused of taking the tragedy too lightly.

The five-part series, written by Wilhelm Behrman and Niklas Rockström is directed by Charlotte Brändström and Simon Kaijser. The Unlikely Murderer is an absorbing Scandinavian crime drama, that presents a thirty-year-old murder mystery as a solved case.

The Unlikely Murderer is not a wholly invented story. There’s a reason why Engström wasn’t named the prime suspect in Palme’s murder until 2020, 20 years after his death. And even then, authorities acknowledged that the evidence was circumstantial and wouldn’t have withstood scrutiny at

All images © Netflix if not otherwise stated

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SCANDINAVIAN MONTHLY | CATEGORY HERE

Fashion

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Interesting Up And Coming Norwegian Fashion Designer Text Tor Kjolberg

As a 17-year-old, Bror August Vestbø juggled the sewing line at Kuben Videregående skole with an internship with the Norwegian design collective Haik W. As an 18-year-old, his debut collection «Orange» was hailed in international online magazines and ended up at the fashion week in New York. Learn more about the interesting up and coming Norwegian fashion designer.

His debut collection from 2016 presented at the New York Fashion Week consisted of sheer garments in nuances of orange worn by dancing models and immortalized on screen by Ori Hay Bachke.

His Spring 2022 collection consists of a series of Cinderella-like transformations and Bror August in collaboration with Benjamin Barron have made new looks from existing materials. Bror August and Benjamin Barron spent the Covid-19 lockdown in Bror August’s hometown of Oslo to look for existing materials with which they could assemble their new collection.

Their mantra was to see potential in something that to begin with they didn’t really like, or in other words, seemingly a bit ugly at first and then

something they liked.

Related: Fashion From Norway Moving to New York In 2015, Brother August was on a plane to New York where his mother had landed a job at the Norwegian embassy. He has been interested in clothing from an early age and recalls having the aim to be a designer since he was eight years old. Taking subway rides in New York, he always analyzed every detail of what people were wearing, all the way from the shape and the materials of the garments, down to every stitching detail.

Vestbø describes the Spring 2022 collection as “having the spirit of a little girl trying on her blanket and imagining it is a fancy gown”. The duo has been looking at the work of the great couturiers, which has inspired the pair to “create new structures and silhouettes.”

“The fact that mom got a job in New York is the best coincidence that has happened to me and I am so grateful,” says Bror August. When he started out in New York it was important to him to let the brand develop with

him personally. He didn’t want to force the concepts and the clothing to be beyond his age. “That’s why my clothing is going to be about things that obviously concerns me as a young person,” he said back then.

Vestbø was accepted as an intern at Eckhaus Latta, a designer who is at the forefront of innovative American fashion with leading stores such as Opening Ceremony, Assembly New

Feature image (on top): Debut collection ‘Orange’. Photo by Jacob Landvik

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Bror August in collaboration with Benjamin Barron have made new looks from existing materials

Vestbø describes the Spring 2022 collection as “having the air of a little girl trying on her blanket and imagining it is a fancy gown”.

York and LN-CC on his customer list.

Related: New Luxury From Norway

Related: The Classic Norwegian Sweater That Became a Fashion Hit

Hard to make it as a designer in Norway “There is a lot of good talent in Norway, but there is too much of old thinking, especially related to casting and models. I’m shocked that it’s always the same girl – tall, white and thin. It’s weird, we’re so forward thinking at a lot of other things», he says.

The Spring 2022 Collection According to the designer, he has in his latest collection tried to create dresses that will be elegant although they’re made from just a bunch of pieces from flea markets and pieces left behind. This approach was put into practice on a color-blocked dress with an asymmetric hem, sheer front, and deeply draped back that played with the way Cristóbal Balenciaga worked “creating shape in between the body.”

He adds that he really wants to be based in Oslo as well as New York.

“I think it’s important to create our own platform and industry in Norway, which seems to be happening slowly.

According to the designer, he has in his latest collection tried to create dresses that will be elegant although they’re made from just a bunch of pieces from flea markets and pieces left behind. This

It’s very hard to make it as designer in Norway tough, especially because the Norwegian custumer has a very specific taste,” he explains.

The new collection, All-In, a collaboratin between Bror August and Benjamin Barron, is not only challenging the system but making us reevaluate what glamour and taste— good or bad—are.

Interesting Up And Coming Norwegian Fashion Designer, written by Tor Kjolberg

All Spring 2022 images © All-In

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Design Flexible Norwegian Daybed Text Tor Kjolberg

in the beautiful surroundings of Mjøsa, the biggest lake in Norway.

Related: Amazing Norwegian Furniture Designer Pulse Daybed is designed by the Norwegian design studio Noidoi.

“Pulse derives from the expression taking the pulse of something,” says Kathrine Lønstad (36) who together with Cosmin Cioroiu has designed the flexible Norwegian daybed.

Noidoi Design Studio was founded in Norway in 2013 by Kathrine Lønstad & Cosmin Cioroiu, who met while studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Inspired by the differing cultural and professional backgrounds of the founders, Noidoi works across a broad spectrum of design, placing an emphasize on usability, materiality and craftsmanship.

Related: A Pioneer Among Female Norwegian Designers A study of the modern home Pulse daybed has its origins in a study of the modern home – and how it is changing. It interprets our growing

need for flexible environments and private spaces in an innovative and multifunctional construction that brings new and traditional materials together. Pulse adapts to different situations, as you can fold up the mattress with a woolen upholstery and access the hatch and magazine holder.

«We saw a multifunctional trend.

The activities took place across the traditional rooms. Many of the homes also contained fewer but larger multifunctional rooms,” said Lønstad.

The lid covering the hatch of the Pulse daybed can be used independently as a serving tray, and the magazine holder in a molded spot – a material made from recycled plastic – is also removable. If necessary, you can take of the woolen upholstery and send it for dry cleaning.

Noidoi Design Studio Nojdoi studio is situated at Kapp in Østre Toten, two hours north of Oslo,

The fact that the duo ended up on Toten is no coincidence. “We have made a conscious decision to live outside the big cities, with a short distance to Oslo. This way we can rather invest in machines and equipment. On Kapp, we have a large room with a view of Lake Mjøsa – and peace to immerse ourselves,” says Lønstad.

Related: Portrait of a Norwegian Designer