Scan Magazine | Issue 28 | April 2011

JO NESBØ: THE SCANDINAVIAN CRIME WAVE CONTINUESTURKU – EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2011TRAVEL GUIDE TO STOCKHOLMÅLESUND – ADVENTURE CAPITAL OF THE FJORDS PROMOTINGBRANDSCANDINAVIA

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SCANM A G A Z I N E

The Scandinavia Show will be the UK’s single most importantshowcase for Nordic tourism, food, fashion and design this year.

Design If you love the bright and airy Scandinavian design,then The Scandinavia Show will be a can’t-miss event.

Travel Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland aresome of the greatest travel destinations in the world.And The Scandinavia Show will be the UK’s singlemost important showcase for Nordic tourism this year.

Fashion The Scandinavia Show will be the place to go for thosewho want to experience the latest fashions in theleading Scandinavian designer clothes.

Food All the most mouth-watering specialities from theNordic culinary table will be handed out or sold at TheScandinavia Show.

8-9 October 2011 Earls Court, Brompton Hall, London

All the best of brand Scandinavia for you to taste, test and buy!

8-9 OCTOBER 2011

RESERVE THE DATE!

The Scandinavia Show will be returning on 8-9October 2011 to the Brompton Hall at Earls CourtLondon. Please reserve the date!

The Scandinavia Show is the only UK show dedicatedexclusively to showcase the best of Denmark, Sweden,Norway, Finland and Iceland. The show incorporatesScandinavian design, travel, lifestyle, fashion, culture andfood.

All our exhibitors will have well-stocked stalls. So the bestof Scandinavian fashion, food, furniture, design andholidays – everything can be purchased at TheScandinavia Show.

For further information, or to exhibit:

Call us on +44 (0)870 933 0423,email [email protected] visit www.scandinaviashow.co.uk

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Scan Magazine | Contents

Contents

REGULARS & COLUMNS12 We Love This | 13 Fashion Diary | 62 Hotels of the Month | 69 Attractions of the Month76 Bronte’s food column | 80 Restaurants of the Month | 86 Humour | 98 Scan News99 Music & Culture | 106 Culture Calendar

COVER FEATURE8 Jo Nesbø

Norwegian author of the Harry Hole series, JoNesbø is the Scandi crime writer of the mo-ment. In his newest novel The Leopard, Nesbøpushes his anti-hero further into dark despair,as another string of murders unsettles Norway.

DESIGN14 Competition: WIN a set of cushions by

ferm LIVING!ferm LIVING of Denmark, one of the hottestbrands in home furnishings, are proud to beworking with the world renowned Norwegiandesign duo “Darling Clementine”. Inspired bythe Marionette collection, they have conceived 4fantastic cotton cushions for all the family.

TRAVEL THEMES15 Odense

Denmark's third largest city Odense, with a his-tory dating back more than 1,000 years, is wellworth exploring. With its central location in theheart of Denmark, Odense is an obvious desti-nation for a city break or an outing.

21 SvendborgStanding on the shore of the spectacular SouthFunen archipelago, the town of Svendborg isonly a 30 minute drive away from Hans ChristianAndersen’s birthplace, or half-way betweenCopenhagen and Legoland.

24 VästmanlandVästmanland is Europe’s closest wilderness.Less than an hour from the city of Västerås andonly 90 minutes from Stockholm, vast land-scapes and deep unspoiled forests offer greatopportunities for visitors.

29 StockholmStockholm is widely celebrated as nothing lessthan one of the world’s most beautiful cities,built where lake meets sea, on fourteen islands,with nine centuries of history and culture.

42 Turku - European Capital of Culture 2011Dating back to the Middle Ages, Turku is todaythe oldest city in Finland. In 2011, Turku will ex-perience one of the biggest highlights of its en-tire history with the European Capital of Cultureyear celebrations.

48 Ålesund & SunnmøreThe art nouveau town of Ålesund could be takenright out of a fairy tale. The town’s unique loca-tion on the edge of the ocean, surrounded byfjords, islands and mountains, creates an al-most unbeatable combination of culture and na-ture.

TRAVEL FEATURE74 Flor & Fjære

On an island, located 20 minutes northeast ofStavanger, lies a garden oasis and restaurant,where visitors can marvel at the colours of therainbow reflected in the plants and flowers thatsurround them.

FOOD FEATURE78 North Road

Danish chef Christoffer Hruskova opened thedoors to his new restaurant North Road on StJohn Street, in London, in November 2010. ScanMagazine ventured to test it out a few weeks ago.

Scan BusinessREGULARS & COLUMNS

89 Is there still a bridge to growth forforeign companies in the UK?Key Note by Gunnar P. Larsen, Managing Direc-tor, The Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce

90 More Women on Boards and in SeniorManagement: Why it mattersBy Annika Åman-Goodwille

90 Dealing with the big boys....By Paul Corren, Corren Troen Law Firm

91 Conferences of the MonthThe best conference venues, events and con-gresses of the month.

95 Chamber NewsNews from the Swedish, Norwegian, Finnishand Danish Chambers of Commerce for the UK.

Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note

Dear Reader,

SCANM A G A Z I N E

Scan MagazineIssue 28 | April 2011

Published 07.04.2011ISSN 1757-9589

Published byScan Magazine Limited

Design & PrintLiquid Graphic Limited

Executive EditorThomas Winther

Creative DirectorMads E. Petersen

EditorNia Kajastie

Copy-editorMark Rogers

ContributorsJulie GuldbrandsenSigne HansenYane ChristensenStine DaugaardSamantha WongAnne Line KaxrudEmelie KruglyUlrika OsterlundAnna LindgrenInna HakalaAnni SahalaKarin ModigDyveke NilssenIngrid Marie HolmeideCharlotte KanyLykke Fabricius PortBronte AurellMette LisbyMaria SmedstadAnnika Åman-Goodwille

Camilla WaadenKarl BatterbeeSara Schedin

Sales & Key Account ManagersCecilia VarricchioEmma Fabritius NørregaardAnne Line KaxrudKaroliina Virta

Graphic DesignerSvetlana Slizova

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This magazine containsadvertorials/promotional articles

4 | Issue 28 | April 2011

The UK has recently embraced Scandinaviancrime fiction, TV series and movies whole-heartedly. When I say recently, I mean prettymuch ever since the Stieg Larsson phenome-non spread like wildfire. It did all seem a littlesudden and out of nowhere. Don’t get mewrong, I’m hugely proud of the success of myfellow Scandies, but it does make me wonder:what makes us so special?

The same question came to mind while I was interviewing Jo Nesbø forthis month’s cover story. The Norwegian crime author of the Harry Holeseries is the next big thing to come out of the Nordic region. His novelsare immensely captivating – his newest release, The Leopard, is a brickof a book, but you will be surprised at how quickly you get through it. Ithink the success has a lot to do with realistic characterisation andhigh-quality prose, but surely that’s not all. Nesbø makes a good point,when he says that people are probably fascinated by Scandi crime,whether in writing or on telly, because the crimes are so much moreshocking and out of the ordinary when taking place in such seeminglywell-adjusted societies. So perhaps it’s a mix of great storytelling with afascination with the “unknown”. Find out more about Nesbø, the story-teller, and his writing ethos in our cover feature.

To step away frommurder andmayhem (trust me, Scandinavia really isn’tthat dark, gloomy or scary – especially in the summertime), we’ve put to-gether another inspiring package of must-see attractions and top-notchholiday tips. In this issue, read more about the Danish destinations ofOdense and Svendborg, the Swedish region of Västmanland and the

capital Stockholm, Ålesundmunicipality in Norway, as well as Turku, theEuropean Capital of Culture 2011, in Finland.

We also had the chance to test the new Nordic inspired restaurant in Lon-don, North Road. Please read our review for more details, but in short:it’s definitely worth a visit. In addition, Lars Tharp delights us with anothercolumn, and this time he’s educating us about Viking history.

With Easter coming up soon, it’s a good time to remind you about theEaster Fair (15-17 April) at the Finnish Church in London. More detailscan be found in this issue’s profile of the church. You will definitely findme there, munching on cinnamon buns and perhaps also sipping on a“lonkero” (a gin long drink). Don’t worry if “mämmi” (a traditional FinnishEaster dessert, which often looks less than appetising) isn’t necessarilyyour thing, I can guarantee that many Finns agree with you on that one.

Last, but not least, if you haven’t found us on twitter yet, please do so nowto get all our latest cultural updates: http://twitter.com/scanmagazine

Enjoy the spring sunshine!

Nia Kajastie, Editor

18 jurisdictions, 100 countries,24 languages, 1 firm.

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Anders Grundberg +44 (0)20 7632 1600 [email protected]

Imperial House15-19 KingswayLondon WC2B 6UNUnited Kingdom

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Scan Magazine | Contributors

6 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Nia Kajastie (Editor) was born andraised in Helsinki, Finland, andmoved to London in 2005 to studywriting.With aBA in Journalism&Creative Writing, she now de-scribesherself as a full-timewriterand grammar stickler.

Emelie Krugly Hill has worked ona number of Swedish newspa-pers. After travelling extensively,she has been based in Londonsince 2006. Her particular inter-ests are news and current affairswithin Sweden and the export of

Scandinavian culture to the UK.

Mette Lisby is Denmark’s lead-ing female comedian. She invitesyou to laugh along with hermonthly humour columns. Sinceher stand-up debut in 1992,Mette has hosted the Danish ver-sions of “Have I Got News For

You” and “Room 101”.

Julie Guldbrandsen is ScanMag-azine’s fashion and design expert;she has worked in the fashion in-dustry for more than 10 years,and advised various Scandinaviandesign and fashion companies.Besides, Julie has a BA in busi-

ness and philosophy and has lived in Copenhagen,Singapore and Beijing before settling down in London.

Lykke Fabricius Port is a Danishjournalist, who lost her heart toLondonwhile finishing her degreeat City University. Now she is aproud Scandinavian expat workingas a freelance journalist, whenshe’s not busy blogging, cooking or

experimenting with her camera.

Norwegian KarinModig has livedin London since 1998: she arrivedwith the intention of staying justfour months. She currentlyworks as a freelance journalistand PR consultant, and is a keenhandball player.

Bronte Aurell runs ScandiKitchen in London, a Scandina-vian deli/cafe. Bronte, who hasstudied in Edinburgh and has abackground in investment bank-ing, has lived in London for 9years.

Swedish Sara Schedin has livedin London for four years. She iscurrently studying Journalism inher third year at City Universityand is covering Scandinavian cul-ture in the UK.

Maria Smedstad moved to theUK from Sweden in 1994. She re-ceived a degree in Illustration in2001, before settling in the capi-tal as a freelance cartoonist, cre-ating the autobiographical car-toon Em. She writes a column on

the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.

Karl Batterbee is devoted toScandinavian music and knowsexactly what is coming up in theUK. Apart from writing a monthlymusic update for Scan MagazineKarl has also started the Scan-dipop Club Night and its corre-

sponding website: www.scandipop.co.uk.

Dyveke Nilssen from Norway fellin love with London in 2007. Shehas since finished her BA inJournalism at City University,and now works as a freelancejournalist and photographer.

Danish Yane Christensen haslived in London half her life.She's a designer, illustrator andmother of twin girls. She alsohas an on-line shop www.flea-marketfloozy.com and writes toexercise her brain.

Stine Daugaard is a Danish jour-nalist living in Copenhagen. Shehas a degree in journalism fromthe Danish School of Media andJournalism and City Universityand has been freelancing since2007. Travel and tourism are

close to her heart, and she is happiest when the nextplane ticket is booked.

Anna Lindgren is a freelancewriter, actress and director withher roots firmly planted in Got-land, Sweden. Travel and newchallenges are high on Anna’slist in life, and she writes aboutanything and everything from

volunteering in Guatemala to taking part in Triathlons.

CharlotteKany hails fromCopen-hagen, Denmark, and has beenresiding in London since 2010. Shehas an MA in Communication &Rhetoric from the University ofCopenhagen. She has gainedyears of experiencewithin theme-

dia industry, and loves to travel and keep updated on allthings cultural.

Ingrid Marie Holmeide came toLondon from Norway to studycreative writing. She is currentlyworking as a freelance writer andtranslator, while publishing herfirst novel.

Samantha Wong is a freelancejournalist, who studied IcelandicLiterature as part of her LiteratureandMyth degreewhich ignited herpassion for Scandinavian culture.She’s also a keen surfer, snow-boarder and horse rider.

Swedish entrepreneur AnnikaÅman-Goodwille Chartered Sec-retary (FCIS), and a multi-lin-guist, is the Chairman of Good-wille. She is a born businessnetworker with a multinationalacademic and professional track

record spanning the globe from the Swedish Foreignoffice to diplomatic postings in the Middle East.

Regular Contributors

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Issue 28 | April 2011 | 9

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Jo Nesbø

Already a household name back in Nor-way, the UK did not seem to clock on tohis take of a darker Oslo and Norway, withits twisted underbelly of crime and mur-der, as well as his tormented sleuth,Harry Hole, until The Snowman hit thebookshelves back in August 2010. Theseventh book in the series, but only thefifth to be published in the UK so far, TheSnowman throws you right in the middleof Harry Hole’s life and troubles, but allbooks in the series can easily be read asstandalone novels (as can be deducedfrom how big a splash the book made).However, now the back catalogue of theseries has also been given a new lease oflife, as readers want to discover firsthand

the evolution of the complex man that isHarry Hole.

The Leopard, published in January, is an-other nail-biting experience, with a seem-ingly sadistic killer on the loose, and HarryHole still traumatised by his last case.The deaths are gruesome, the mood isoften bleak and tense (especially for ourever-suffering protagonist), but at theforefront is the engaging story.

“What I found out after writing my firstnovel was that the crime novel is a greatvehicle for storytelling,” says Nesbø, whenI enquire about his choice of genre and theimpetus behind it. With a smile in his eyes,

Jo Nesbø- A storyteller inspired by the essence of fearIn his newest novel The Leopard, Norwegian crime (and, believe it or not, children’s book) authorJo Nesbø pushes his anti-hero Harry Hole further into dark despair, as another string of murdersunsettles Norway. With his seventh novel in the Hole series, The Snowman, having created a lotof fuss and somewhat inevitable, yet superfluous, Stieg Larsson comparisons, Nesbø is the Scandicrime author of the moment.

By Nia Kajastie | Cover photo: Håkon Eikesdal

10 | Issue 28 | April 2011

he continues: “You do need a format fortelling stories; even people who write‘proper’ literature have a format.”

For Nesbø, first and foremost comes thestory. He is interested in storytelling, notso much crime writing specifically. Ac-cordingly, this good story can come in theshape of a series of crime novels, a chil-dren’s book, a collection of short stories,or even his standalone thriller Head-hunters.

Early success

Journalist, economist and musician:these are some of the different guises thatNesbø has previously taken upon himself– and now a crime writer. He was not in-spired by any iconic crime authors to godown this route; instead he has been in-fluenced more by films and the graphicnovels of Frank Miller.

“The reason I chose to write crime fictionwas kind of a coincidence. I’d been askedto write a novel by a girl I knew, whoworked at a publishing house. Probablybecause I was writing lyrics for my band,she had the idea that I could write anovel,” says Nesbø.

“I’d probably been thinking about writinga novel for some time before she askedme. At the time I was taking a break fromthe band, and I was going to Australia, soI decided to take a laptop with me. I hadlimited time, only about five weeks, so I re-alised I’d have to write something simple,something that had a head and a tail. Myexperience was that most of my friendswho started writing were never able tofinish their work, because they started outwriting this big European novel that was tobe their masterwork at the first attempt.So my idea was to just to take a simpleplot and write an entertaining story.”

This was to become the first book in theline of the Hole series, The Bat Man,which went on the win the Glass KeyAward for best Nordic crime novel (previ-ous winners include Henning Mankell andStieg Larsson).

The Scandinavian frightener

The dark themes and imagery in the HarryHole series are often almost nightmare-inducing: the thought of ingenious serialkillers and gruesome torture devicesmight indeed keep you up at night.

“When I was a kid, I was easily scared,and I think I can still revisit that fear thatyou outgrow at some age,” says Nesbø. “Idon’t have any fear of the dark any longer,but I can recall it. And if I’m lucky, I can bescared of something. But I think fear is thefuel that you need to write a (crime) novel.So the ideas come from my own fears.”

The current success of Scandinaviancrime fiction might not be directly linkedto this dark subject matter, but perhapsthere is something a bit more spine-chill-ing about murders in the cold north.

“Hopefully it has got something to do withthe quality of the writing,” adds Nesbø. “Itis difficult for us Scandinavian writers tosee exactly what it is that attracts all theattention. It may be the atmosphere, andthey might find the Scandinavian land-scape exotic. But it may also have to dowith crime being more shocking in thesewell organised societies.”

From hardback to big screen

Following the path of popular adaptationsof Scandinavian crime writing, from Wal-lander to the Millennium trilogy, there hasbeen a lot of interest in continuing thetrend with Harry Hole.

“For many years I turned down the offersfor TV series and movies, simply becauseI was still writing on the series and didn’twant anything to interfere with theprocess. But now I’m probably comingcloser to the end of the series, so I ac-cepted an offer from Working Title to doThe Snowman. I don’t know what theprogress is, but hopefully it’ll take a longtime before I see the first Harry Holemovie,” Nesbø says with a smile.

Already on the way to the big screen isNesbø’s Headunters, which has been pro-duced by Swedish company Yellow Bird. Ithas already been sold for distribution inthe US, the UK, Australia and many Euro-pean countries. The film is expected topremiere in August 2011.

For more information, please visit:www.jonesbo.co.uk

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Jo Nesbø

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Distinction conferred by Euromoney, a reference publicationon international fi nancial and banking markets.

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Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This

We love this... By Julie Guldbrandsen. Email: [email protected]

Warming sunlight and the blossoming of nature are what April is all about. We have found a bunch of loveable itemsthat will underpin the spring sensation in the home.

Pastel ThrowsLuxurious throws in mood-liftingspring colours by Klippan. Made frommerino and lamb’s wool. Prices from£55, www.northlightdesign.co.uk

Tine K HomeA pretty and versatile bunch of glazedceramic pots with grooves. Use forflowers, fruit, kitchen utensils etc.Prices from £18 for a set of two,Tine K Home, +44 7867507664

Hästens Proferia BedThe Proferia offers supreme natural comfort for the very best night’s sleep. Handcraftedfrom entirely natural materials, including hypoallergenic horsehair. Model (as pictured) ispriced at £13,270, Hästens, Kings Road.

Granny-chic Bicycle BasketIt is time to get the bicycle out. Be bothchic and practical with this bike basketthat also works as a shopping or picnichamper. Available in green, white andblack. £79.70, Design HouseStockholm, 205 Kings Road.

12 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Kaiku MugWoodsy and leafy porcelain mug by Finnish designcompany Marimekko. £13, www.marimekko.com

Wall StickersOrange mushroom wall stickers forthe kids’ room by ferm LIVING. Alsoavailable in red, green and blue.£34.95, www.95percentdanish.com

Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary

Fashion Diary... April Style RevampSpringtime and renewal go hand in hand, not least when it comes to the catwalk. Here are a couple of ideas on whatto change into now. By Julie Guldbrandsen. Email: [email protected]

Lux sweatshirt with feather printand fold up sleeves by Heartmade.£140, www.heartmade.dk

An elegant high waist skirt in bright redby Acne. Wear it with a lace top for analluring evening look or a tee for a morecasual cool-girl expression. £270,www.acnestudios.com

A light-weight slouchy cream jumperis a super functional yet stylish springstyle item. This one by Vila comes in alovely cashmere mix. £45,www.asos.com

Cross-body bags are a big hit thisseason. This tasselled blackleather version by Vero Moda Veryis a great buy. £45, Vero Moda.

Add a touch of A-list glamourwith these cat-eye sunglasses byCheap Monday. £22,www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

Spring dressing is made effortlesswith a floral-print jumpsuit like this70s inspired version by H&M Divided.£14.99, H&M.

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 13

STYLE our new contemporary furniture design complete with smart storage compartments, mirrors, lights and taps. Available from our showrooms throughout the UK. Call us or visit our home page for

more inspiration on how to create your dream bathroom. www.svedbergs.com tel: 0808 234 2493

Scan Magazine | Design | Competition

ferm LIVING of Denmark, one of thehottest brands in home furnishings, areproud to be working with the worldrenowned Norwegian design duo “Dar-ling Clementine”.

Inspired by the Marionette collection, theyhave conceived 4 fantastic cotton cushionsfor all the family, kids and grownups alike- featuring Elle Elephant, Posey Panda,Aristo Katt and Frank Fox. Simply answerthe question below to enter our draw: allentries will receive a 10% Discount Shop-ping Voucher.

Question:What is the capital of Denmark?

Email your answer and contact details [email protected], andScan Magazine will draw one lucky win-ner.

We must receive your answer by 1 May 2011.The winner will be announced around 9 May.

Competition: WIN a set of cushions by ferm LIVING!

£19.95 per cushion x 4 = Prize Value £79.80Available from www.95percentdanish.co.uk

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 15

Denmark's third largest city Odense, witha history dating back more than 1,000years, is well worth exploring. With itscentral location in the heart of Denmark,Odense is an obvious destination for acity break or an outing.

Wander around the narrow streets ofOdense's picturesque city centre, explorethe side streets’ interesting shops withunique design and art, and then choose oneof the many cafes with outdoor tables andenjoy the spring sun. If you prefer a deliciousgourmet dinner, you will find both OlufBagers Gaard and Under Lindetræet closeby the Hans Christian Andersen House.

Meet Hans Christian Andersen

In the centre of Odense, you will hear theechoes of the city's famous writer, not

just in terms of the pronounced 19th cen-tury atmosphere in the old quarter, butalso concretely in the form of Hans Chris-tian Andersen's House and the Children’sCultural House - The Tinderbox.

Green oases

Odense is known for its many green oasesin the city centre. The river meandersthrough the city and creates an attractiveframework for local activities and natureexperiences. When you are full of impres-sions and your legs need a rest, find yourown green spot and bring a picnic basketor let the river cruise carry you further onyour trip around town.

World art and museums

Art and past times come to life in the city'smany museums and exhibitions. Brandt'ssports three floors of art exhibits of highinternational level. The Time Collectionprovides a fun and lively insight into Dan-ish daily lives over the last 100 years, whileOdense City Museum and The Iron AgeVillage take you back even further in time.

Child-friendly city break

Bring your children along: Odense is agreat place to find fun for the whole fam-ily. Throughout the summer you can seethe Hans Christian Andersen Parade inLotze's Garden, and on 1 June OdenseZOO opens a new Africa exhibit, Kiwara,where the youngest can try feeding agiraffe by hand.

Odense- go city, go shopping, go nature, go Hans Christian Andersen

By Visit Odense | Photos: Joan Jensen

For more information, please visit:www.visitodense.com

From top down: Odense Flower FestivalHans Christian Andersen’s House

Munke MoseLeft: The Woman with Eggs

SPECIAL THEME:

ODENSE

16 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Odense Symphony Orchestra is a contin-uously developing and expandingmodernsymphony orchestra with 73 highlyskilled musicians from 17 nations. It isconducted by the Russian maestroAlexander Vedernikov, a former musicdirector of the Bolshoi Theatre inMoscow.

The orchestra is based at Odense ConcertHall (five minutes from the main station),and most of the orchestra’s concerts aregiven in the Carl Nielsen Hall, which hasexcellent acoustics and a seating capac-ity of 1,212. The orchestra performs con-certs in company with soloists, repre-senting the best of both Danish andinternational artists. Concerts and pro-ductions vary in terms of size and genre:from symphony concerts, opera andchamber music to children's concertsand contemporary collaborations. TheOrchestra’s busy schedule comprises ap-proximately 100 productions per year, in-cluding symphonic and opera perform-ances, recordings and tours.

One of the most popular events is theyearly Opera på Engen, where 20,000 peo-ple gather on the lawn to enjoy a free con-cert. The audience bring their own picnicand even white tablecloths and candel-abras. “This is a hugely popular event,and most people leave whistling happily,”says Finn Schumacker, CEO. The eventwill take place on August 14, and this yearthe audience can expect an unforgettableconcert to mark the 10th anniversary.

Another popular event is the VegetableConcert, which takes place throughoutAugust. Just outside the concert hall, you

will find a biweekly food market, sellinglocal produce. Shoppers are invited to en-joy a free concert. Could shopping be anymore civilised?

The annual Carl Nielsen InternationalCompetition takes place in May/June. Thisyear the chosen instrument is the organ,and participants from all over the worldwill play on the orchestra's large 46-stopsorgan built byMarcussen&Son, competingfor the first prize of DKK 125,000.

Odense Symphony Orchestra is dedicatednot only to preserving and presentinggreat classical music by great composers,but also to providing an exquisite experi-ence for a broader audience. For more in-formation visit the website below, whereyou can also purchase recordings by theorchestra.

Bringing classical music to a broader audienceBy Yane Christensen | Photos: Odense Symphony Orchestra

For more information, please visit:www.odensesymfoni.dk

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 17

Scan Magazine | Special theme | Odense

Hans Christian Andersen's home cityOdense has changed a lot since hischildhood. But there are buildings and ar-eas in the city that look exactly as theywere during the poet’s childhood, andthese can be discovered easily. In the citycentre, you can find 13 granite squares,decorated with his paper cutting The sunas a face and set in the pavement, mark-ing places connected to Hans ChristianAndersen.

Pay a visit to the writer’s birthplace at theHans Christian Andersen Museum andsee the exhibition on his fantastic life. Themuseum is located in the old quarter ofOdense and presents exhibitions aboutthe world-renowned author.

A step back in time

Follow Hans Christian Andersen’s lifefrom the difficult years as a son of a poorshoemaker to becoming the most recog-

nised author of the century. The exhibitstake you back to the time when thewriter’s works were created, and you willlearn about the world in which HansChristian Andersen lived.

Then make your way to the old precinct ofthe city to his small childhood home inMunkemøllestræde, and on to the placeswhere Hans Christian Andersen found in-spiration for his writing.

Also pay a visit to the open-air museumDenFynske Landsby (Funen Village), whereyou can experience a Danish village as itwas at the time ofHansChristian Andersen.

Den Fynske Opera is a small opera com-pany located right in the heart of Odense.Its aim is to give the audience a uniqueopera experience, and the company isrenowned for its contemporary operaproductions as well as chamber inter-pretations of classic operas.

Den Fynske Opera uses young emergingtalent mixed with more establishedsingers and musicians. It is a Black Boxtheatre, whichmeans that nothing is fixed,the space is completely flexible.

Den Fynske Opera has developed a con-cept called The Opera Cafe, which is lit-erally that: a cafe with opera perform-ances. Due to limited capacity, ratherthan performing a whole opera, 5-6singers and a piano player perform anhour-long medley of extracts from fa-mous operas, such as La Traviata or The

Rose Cavalier.Often the op-eras are cho-sen on the ba-sis of audiencerequests. Thisregular eventwas originallyheld in thefoyer, but hassince becomevery popular,

and is now in the main theatre, but thecafe concept remains the same.

Another concept is Total Theatre, wherethe audience is seated within the set, andthe performers wander among the audi-ence. From 29 April - 14 May, there will beten Total Theatre performances ofMadame Butterfly, where the theatre istransformed into a hotel lobby, completewith reception etc.

The current performance is Sigurd theDragon Slayer, a contemporary opera forchildren. “We're bringing opera to thepeople,” says Jesper Buhl, CEO. “After all,the operas are just like the old folk songs,preoccupied with love and passion.”

Contemporary opera with a classical twistBy Yane Christensen | Photos: Den Fynske Opera

For more information, please visit:www.denfynskeopera.dk

Walk in the footsteps of H.C. AndersenExplore the life of famous writer H.C. Andersen through 13 marked places in Odense.

By Stine Daugaard | Photos: Odense City Museums

For more information, please visit:www.museum.odense.dk

18 | Issue 28 | April 2011

The Tinderbox is an active cultural experience for children of allages. Through theatre, storytelling, music and art, The Tinderboxtakes you on a magical journey through the famous fairy tales ofHans Christian Andersen, one of the most famous Danes of alltime.

Visiting The Tinderbox is fairy tale fun for the entire family. Here youcan enter a world of magic tales at your own pace. You can listento the story of the Little Mermaid and find yourself transformed inthe Magic Closet, where make-up, costumes, wigs, weapons andwands are ready for you. Parents are encouraged to interact withtheir children, and you can find costumes for adults as well as forchildren.

Go on an expedition through the enchanting Land of Fairy Tales,where the scenery lets you enter the story you have just heard orthe ones you make up as you go along. Along the way the largescenographic landscape invites you to enjoy different types of play-ing that children of all ages will enjoy – for instance cooking in thegalley of the large full-scale ship or trading fish at the Fisherman'sWharf. This is an opportunity to experience the universe of HansChristian Andersen in a completely different way.

As an extra treat, everything you have seen, heard, felt and donecan be relived and expressed through your own paintings, whichyou can create in the bright studio. And do not forget to bring yourcreations home, as something to remember the day by.

The Tinderbox is located in the centre of Odense, next door to theHans Christian Andersen Museum and also the house that was hisbirthplace. Your entry ticket to The Tinderbox will give you a dis-count on the entry to the museum. Also, in the adjacent park, thereis a daily Hans Christian Andersen parade during the summer sea-son, where local children in costume re-enact scenes from the fairytales. So why not visit Odense and spend a fun day immersed in themagical world of Hans Christian Andersen?

For more information, please visit:www.fyrtoejet.com

Once upon a time...By Yane Christensen | Photos: The Tinderbox

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Odense

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 19

A visit to the Danish Railway Museum isa ride back in time, back to when im-pressive steam engines, conductors inblack uniform, and polished wooden in-teriors were still part of a regular trainride. However, it is not all nostalgia: forthe younger generation the museumpresents an interactive and entertainingapproach to history, using among otherthings voice controlled model trains.

The convenience of the railway

Just a twominute stroll from Odense rail-way station and close to the highway, theRailway Museum is easily accessible fromalmost everywhere in Denmark. FromCopenhagen a 75 minute train ride, withbeautiful views across the Great BeltBridge, will give you the best of modernrailways.

At the museum, the history of the Danishrailways, all the way back to 1847 and upto modern times, is told through authen-

tic pieces, models and recreations. “Weare a unique museum - the only one ofthis kind in Denmark and the largest rail-way museum in Scandinavia,” explainsJørgen Larsen, the museum’s curator.“You can get very close to all the originalitems we have on display. In many casesyou can even enter the vehicles, try thewooden seats and investigate the engineroom.”

Visit from a British legend

The museum’s 90,000 yearly visitors con-sist of a broad mix of Danes and foreign-ers, families, singles and groups. “Be-cause these magnificent machines havebeen part of everybody’s life, they mean alot to ordinary people, and many peopleare fascinated by the technology,” explainsLarsen. Some of the most popular attrac-tions are the vintage train ride, which isrun during high seasons, and the specialexhibition on the Danish Royal family’scarriages. But during the high season and

holidays there are even more to choosefrom. An event that has proven very pop-ular with the kids is the visit from the leg-endary British steam engine Thomas theTank. This year, he will be visiting the mu-seum from May 19-22.

The Danish Railway Museum– a ride back in time By Signe Hansen | Photos: The Danish Railway Musem

For opening times, events anddirections visit:www.jernbanemuseet.dk

20 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Steeped in history, First Hotel Grand inOdense is an impressive hotel that hasrecently been renovated to provide a styl-ish but comfortable stay for visitors tothe region. The hotel retains the charm ofthe building’s 19th century structural de-sign and yet fuses it withmodern interiordesign, offering an inviting place to rest.

Dating back to 1897, First Hotel Grand hasbeen part of the Odense scenery for over100 years. Situated just over 500 metresfrom the train station and 11km fromOdense airport, First Hotel Grand is ideallypositioned for any travellers looking to stopoff in Denmark’s third largest city. Part ofthe Nordic Hotel chain First Hotels, FirstHotel Grand is one of Scandinavia’s moststylish classic hotels. “Our level of serviceis very high, and we are always trying veryhard to combine our visitors’ stay with abunch of surprising experiences,” explainsgeneral manager Jens Priegel.

First Hotel Grand is also part of the GlobalHotel Alliance which includes 11 other in-

dependent hotel brands. First Hotel has itsown loyalty scheme called First Memberthat looks to pass on benefits to its cus-tomers, including free roomupgradeswhenavailable, discounted rates in participatinghotels’ restaurants and special offers.

“Here at First Hotel Grand we are alwaystrying to offer unique moments for ourguests,” adds Priegel. There are 137rooms, all elegantly decked out with con-temporary furnishings, including a luxuryJensen bed, flat screen TVs and free ac-cess to wireless Internet. Additionallythere are Grand Suites which are individ-ually decorated for those special occa-

sions, and they can be booked throughthe hotel. First Hotel Grand also hostsweddings and conferences, with 10charming conference rooms equipped tomeet any business’s needs.

Thanks to the recent renovation, First HotelGrand now offers a delightful restaurantthat serves classical bistro cuisine, and acosy Salon bar that also houses a privatelibrary, in keepingwith the hotel’s 19th cen-tury roots. A new cocktail bar is set to open,and the hotel recently hosted an intimategig by Danish dance act Infernal.

Combining Classical with ContemporaryBy Samantha Wong | Photos: First Hotel Grand

For more information, please visit:www.firsthotels.com/grandodense

Address:First Hotel Grand,Jernbanegade 18, 5000, Odense

Contact:Phone: +45 66 11 71 71Email: [email protected]

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 21

When travelling, we often get the bestexperiences whenmaking little side tripsinto the unknown.

Standing on the shore of the spectacularSouth Funen archipelago, the town ofSvendborg is only a 30 minute drive awayfrom Hans Christian Andersen’s birth-place, or half-way between Copenhagenand Legoland. So why not veer off thebeaten path between the conventionaltourist destinations and go get some veryspecial holiday memories?

Exceptional landscape and maritimecharm

Ask any Dane what he thinks of Svendborgand the South Funen archipelago, and witha distant look in his eyes hewill start tellingyou about its beauty. To the Danes, Svend-borg and the islands stand for somethingvery special – and for very good reasons.

Svendborg is a charming port set in abeautiful landscape which is perfect for

hiking or biking holidays or for sea kayakcruising. All through the summer it isbustling with yachts and picturesque oldschooners, and from Svendborg you cango island hopping to the small and uniqueislands by ferry or by boarding one of theclassic sailing ships.

Much more than just the village idyll

Svendborg itself is a fine old trading towncomplete with crooked streets, half-tim-bered houses, shops, art, cultural andmusical activities, and exciting little local

restaurants. Every year, people from faraway gravitate towards Svendborg to par-ticipate in annual events such as thebiggest slow food festival in Scandinavia inJune, the classic ships regatta in July andthe Svendborg Festival days in August.

SPECIAL THEME:

SVENDBORG

Svendborg – off the beaten trackPhotos and Text by Visit Sydfyn

Do you feel like getting off the beatentrack? Go to www.visitsydfyn.dk to learnmore about the experiences theSvendborg area may have in store for you.

22 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Svendborg

As a thriving port for more than 1,000years, Svendborg Harbour remains acentre for tourism as well as merchan-dise in southern Fyn. With seven portsthey can offer ‘port-hopping’ in one ofDenmark’s most scenic areas.

Svendborg is one of the most importantmaritime cities in Denmark, where thewater remains a vital aspect of everydaylife. “The city has a maritime identity,which is particularly visible by the har-bour. It’s a unique atmosphere, and weoften say we are the St. Tropez of theNordic and Stockholm Light,” says har-bour master Hans Soeby. In the harboursof Svendborg, you will find something foreveryone: unique small islands and at-mosphere, areas of natural beauty, shop-ping, gastronomy, and, of course, the trueDanish ‘hygge’.

As well as harbouring more than 10,000visiting boats a year, they can offer a ferryservice and the tourist boat M/V Helge,which take visitors to the surrounding is-lands, all influenced by the lively environ-ment during the summer months.

These islands have 100 all-year inhabi-tants and are transformedwhen the touristseason sets in from early May until lateSeptember. “The small islands create aspecial atmosphere you will not find else-where. One island is inhabited by just four

people,” says Soeby. The area can thereforeoffer a holiday in relaxing surroundings,as well as a joyous life by the harbour. “Theharbour is so full of life during the sum-mer, with many music and culture activi-ties around the different ports,” Soeby con-tinues, and welcomes you to a goodexperience – in the middle of culture.

Have you ever dreamt about swingingthrough the treetops like Tarzan? If so,Gorilla Park Svendborg, with more than1,600 metres of high wire obstaclecourses, some 16 metres above theground, is a must try.

Aburningdesire for the extreme, however, isnot essential to make a visit to the parkworth it. Situated 100metres above sea level,Gorilla Park presents some breathtakingviews of Funen and the LangelandBelt. “It’sreally for everybodywho likes outdoor activ-ities,” says co-founder and director AndersChristian Ulrich. “One of the most popularcourses is one which goes through a beau-tiful beech forest, a large open area andpineforest as well. It has three very scenic andexhilarating zip glides.”

The courses vary in difficulty with activitiesincluding snowboarding, bicycling, base

jumps and Tarzan swings in the canopies.For those who need a rest afterwards, acharming forest cafe offers refreshments.At the moment the park has five adult’s

courses (from eight years and up) and onechildren’s course, adding up to around fourhours of exhilarating fun. On top of this anew extreme course will open this June.“At the same time our new hammock ac-commodation will be ready, so visitors canspend the night here,” adds Anders.

Apart from being an obvious attraction forfamilies and schools, the park can also bebooked for teambuilding days and bache-lor parties.

The park is open from 1 April to 23 Octo-ber on weekends, holidays and school va-cations. Special opening hours by ap-pointment.

Gorilla Park – an exhilarating day in Funen’s forestsBy Signe Hansen | Photos: Gorilla Park

For more information, please visit:www.gorillapark.dkor call: +45 2916 7475

For more information, please visit:www.svendborg-havn.dk

Svendborg Harbour – The Nordic St.TropezBy Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: Svendborg Harbour

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 23

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Svendborg

“We try to tell the story of the Cold War notonly as a military conflict but also as a so-cial event, a political struggle and an ideo-logical battle between ideas - a struggle forthe people’s soul,” says museum curatorand Cold War expert Peer Henrik Hansen.

A vital location

Because of Denmark’s vital location, whichenabled it to control the Baltic Sea, thefortress became the gatekeeper betweenEast and West during the Cold War. It wasfrom this fortress that the Soviet ships car-rying the rockets which led to the CubanMissile crisis were discovered. After theCold War, the fortress was turned into amuseum on the initiative of the local sol-diers who served there. “Today you can seeall the original fortress buildings, under-ground bunker facilities, submarines andmine sweeperswhichwere part of the con-flict on both sides,” says Peer, who is re-

sponsible for two upcoming exhibitions. “Inthe new exhibitions, we try to tell a broaderstory about the Cold War, to make the his-tory more alive and interesting by present-ing things that people can relate to in theireveryday life.”

History and natural beauty

The island of Langeland is known for itsbeautiful coastal stretches, andwith a large

preserved area around themuseum, there are plentyof paths towalk around andfrom which to enjoy thestunning views. “A visit toLangelandsfort is a uniquecombination of a good dayout in the country and an in-teresting way to acquirenew knowledge about theColdWar,” says Peer. “Peo-ple can get very close to the

history; they can play with the guns and goonboard on the minesweeper and subma-rine. Instead of watching the exhibition be-hind a rope, you can walk around inside it.”

The fortress is open1 April – 31 October, 10am - 5pm.For more information, please visit:www.langelandsfortet.dk

Langelandsfort – see the Cold War from a new perspective

In amazing natural surroundings lies one of the most important military monuments in Denmark’s history, Langelandsfort. The

fortress, which is located at the southern tip of Langeland, became a vital part of not only Danish, but world history during the

Cold War; today it offers visitors a unique insight into all aspects of the Cold War.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Langelandsfort

24 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Västmanland is Europe’s closest wilder-ness. Less than an hour from the city ofVästerås and only 90 minutes from Stock-holm, vast landscapes and deep unspoiledforests offer great opportunities for visi-tors. The region is particularly attractivefor active holidaymakers. With hundredsof lakes and scores of nature reservesand national parks, beavers, moose, lynxand wolves can be found, and there areseveral companies offering safaris andcanoe rentals. The Black River Valley areais famous for its wealth of bird speciesand offers great photo opportunities. Theindustrial heritage of the region also pro-vides fascinating excursions. Visitors tothe old silver mine in Sala, once known as"Sweden's treasure trove", can explorethe mine 155 metres underground. En-gelsbergs Bruk is listed on UNESCO’s

World Heritage List, and the Lancashireforge at Karmansbo Manor is anothergood example of well-preserved historyin the region.

Popular Strömsholms Canal is 100 kmlong with 26 locks – the rise through a se-ries of locks at Hallstahammar is an im-pressive 50 metres!

Västerås, set on the shores of LakeMälaren, is the county capital and is apopular summer destination in its ownright. This is where you can test your lim-its at the Vertical Run adventure, visitcastles or become a Viking for a day innearby Frösåkers Brygga. Each year inJuly, the city attracts people from all overthe world when the Power Big Meet festi-val with over 10,000 American cars cre-ates a carnival atmosphere.

To experience the essence of Swedenmake Västmanland your next holiday des-tination! We look forward to seeing you.

Västmanland – The Essence of SwedenVästmanland is a region that is not very well known by name, but perhaps you have heard of the award-winning wolf howlingsafaris, the unusual hotel room 155metres underground or the famous artist that built a hotel under water and in the trees – andis now planning to build a little Swedish cottage on the moon? Our region offers a lot of unusual and high-quality experiences, aswell as the deep forests and beautiful lakes Sweden is so famous for.

Intro by Västmanland Association ofLocal Authorities and County Council (VKL)

SPECIAL

THEME:

VÄSTMANLAN

D

For more information, please visit:www.vkl.sewww.vastmanland.se

Suite at Sala Silvermine, 155 metres underground. Photo: Pappilabild Become a Viking for a day. Photo: Kim Lill

Pho

to:

Skog

ens

Kon

ung

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 25

In the county of Västmanland, 180 kilo-metres north of Stockholm and close tothe town of Norberg, you will find Klack-bergsgården, a small resort by the beau-tiful lake Noren. This peaceful oasis withits exotic wildlife often presents the op-portunity to spot the local fauna: owls,deer, moose, bears and even wolves haveall been spotted in the area.

Klackbergsgården consists of a hotel,hostel, restaurant with conference facilitiesand a full-size sports hall, catering for awide range of activities. The large sportshall is suitable for basketball, handball,and hockey, and is also used for teambuilding.

A stone’s throw from the facility, you canfind hiking trails and a small beach with

the possibility of fishing or enjoying a bar-beque, for example.

The restaurant at Klackbergsgårdenserves traditional Swedish dishes, andthere is a small pub near the reception.Owner Mats Nilsson took over the prem-ises four years ago. He enjoys the peace-ful surroundings as well as meeting andgreeting his guests from all over the world.

"The area in particular is well known forits former mining industries. For hun-dreds of years it was the lifeblood of Swe-den, providing rich minerals and work forthe locals," says Nilsson.

The mines of Norberg and Skinnskatte-berg were set up in the 14th century, andthe mine of Lindesberg was cultivated in

Klackbergsgården– a peaceful and relaxing oasisThree-star resort Klackbergsgården in Norberg offers great quality at an affordablerate and is well located for you to discover an exciting region of Sweden.

By Emelie Krugly Hill | Photos: Klackbergsgården

For more information, please visit:www.klackbergsgarden.se

the early 16th century. You can even ex-plore the caves and holes inside theKlackberg mountain, a relic of this earlyindustry.

The hotel has 30 double rooms, all withshowers and toilet facilities, and the com-bined hostel and hotel has 25 double andtriple rooms. In addition, there are oppor-tunities for youth camps and sports teamsto stay in the hostel and stables; in totalthe facility has about 200 beds.

If you prefer bringing your tent or caravan- not a problem, there is also a campingsite on the premises.

26 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Västmandland

“From a cultural and natural historicalperspective, there is forward thinkingabout how to be able to receive tourists ina good way,” says Mari Högkvist, touristconsultant.

Destination Strömsholm

Along the canal that runs through themu-nicipality lies the jewel in the crown ofStrömsholm, the castle, which dates backto the mid 1550s when King Gustav Vasahad a fort built at the site. In 1669, QueenHedvig Eleonora had the edifice recon-structed into a Baroque castle. Almost300 years later, the castle was turned intoa museum. Traditionally, horse racesknown as the Grand National take placeannually on the grounds of the castle.

This comes as no surprise as Strömsholmis Sweden’s national centre of equestriansports and training. The riding school hasorigins dating back 500 years. Today,trainers and riding instructors are edu-

cated there. And the horses are aplenty; itis impossible to visit Strömsholm withoutrunning into a horse.

A hop, skip and a jump away, you will findthe famous Jazz Museum, the only one ofits kind in Europe. It boasts a collection ofover 10,000 objects, ranging from pic-tures, posters and autographs to instru-ments, clothes and other memorabilia.The museum organises and holds morethan 50 outside concerts every summer.You can enjoy them while taking in someLouisiana-style fare from the Royal Gar-den Café & Restaurant.

Åsby-Skantzen Region

Further up the Strömsholm canal is Väst-manland’s most visited tourist destina-tion, Åsby-Skantzen, a nature and activityexperience rolled into one.

“The great thing about this area is thegeographical proximity of everything. It

For more information, please visit:www.hallstahammar.sewww.destinationstromsholm.sewww.asby.nu

Hallstahammar– Popular tourist destination in the Mälardal RegionThemunicipality of Hallstahammar is a region where a combination of cultural heritage, history and nature attracts half a million

visitors each year.

By Ulrika Osterlund

makes the locality very attractive to visi-tors who can just park their car and walkaround,” adds Högkvist.

Åsby Home & Garden is not only popularwith tourists; locals also flock here forflowers, plants and home interiors or totake a walk through the lush surround-ings. For those with children, a great visitis the Mini zoo. The local hotel is SkantzenBrukshotel, where you can eat good food,enjoy a show, attend a conference or sim-ply relax in the spa.

If you still have the energy, there areplenty of activities left on offer. Why not gohorseback riding, rent a canoe or bicycleor play a spot of golf.

Above: Strömsholm Castle. Photo: Per Eriksson. Top right: Grand National. Photo: Kim Lill. Below: Concert at the Jazz Museum. Photo: Patrik Hedvall

Västerås, located in central Sweden onthe shore of Lake Mälaren, is one of theoldest cities in Sweden. Västerås offers aperfect mixture of medieval, industrialand modern sights, including theVästerås Cathedral from the 13th cen-tury, which has been awarded three starsby Guide Michelin.

However, if you are looking for somethinga bit more out of the ordinary, then whynot try the world’s first permanent Zipline,the Västerås CityZip. The 530-metre longride starts from the roof of an 81-metretall skyscraper and runs through the city’smost central squares – 40 metres abovethem, of course.

To create an even more “unusual” holidayfor yourself, why not stay in Hotel OtterInn, the underwater hotel, or Hotel Wood-pecker, set in a tree house, both createdby local artist Mikael Genberg.

Lake Mälaren and the Västerås Archipel-ago offer a lot of great opportunities fornature experiences, so why not take a boatout to one of the surrounding 300 islands,or enjoy some swimming or water sports.20 km outside of Västerås, you can alsofind a Viking village, which will take you ona trip back in time.

“Both the old and new parts of Västeråsoffer interesting things to see and do,”says tourismmanager Pernilla Törngren.“Everything is really close by, and we’reonly an hour away from Stockholm bytrain. It is much cheaper to stay here, soyou can just plan a trip to Stockholm fromVästerås.”

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Västmandland

Västerås – a mix of old, new and the unusualBy Nia Kajastie | Photos: Västerås

For more information, please visit:www.vasterasmalarstaden.se

Hotel Otter Inn. Photo: Michael Genberg

About two hours’ drive north of Stock-holm, far into the woods and past nu-merous lakes, you find SkinnskattebergsKommun.

The area is known for its outstandingwildlife opportunities, but recently its cul-ture offerings have challenged the naturalattractions as the area’s tourist magnet.“We have a lot of nature, but with a world-renowned art centre, Gallery Astley, andseveral new cultural institutions, we havemore to offer,” says Marlene Carlsson,manager of tourism in SkinnskattebergsKommun.

The municipality’s history as a mine andiron area still influences the surroundings,although the industry ended in the 18thcentury. Ekomuseum Bergslagen showsthe history and culture of iron, while Kar-

mansbo Bruksmiljö, a well-preserved in-dustrial area with amansion, is today a ho-tel. “Although the industry has been down

for 300 years, there are many traces leftover from the past,” says Carlsson. Morevisible nowadays is the blooming culturallife, where Gallery Astley is their pride.Moreover, they offer a permanent culture

park, with various exhibitions, while con-certs and plays take place all year long. “Itis close to Stockholm, so we have day vis-itors, as well as families and business peo-ple coming to experience something dif-ferent,” says Carlsson.

While many choose to have a wanderthrough history and culture, otherschoose to make the most out of nature.Fishing enthusiasts have a brilliantchance of catching a big one in one of thearea’s 244 lakes, whereas themore daringmay want to join a wolf or moose safari.“We have something for all tastes,” saysCarlsson.

For further information, please visit:www.skinnskatteberg.se

Skinnskattebergs Kommun– blossoming cultural life in the middle of the woods

Text by Anne Line KaxrudPhoto: Skinnskattebergs Kommun

Gallery Astley

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 27

28 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Västra Mälardalen is a region full of na-ture reserves, beautiful lakes and inter-esting museums. The towns of Köping,Arboga and Kungsör have all this in com-mon, but still differ in history, townscapeand character. Each municipality offerstravellers distinctive experiences.

The municipality of Köping has beenstrongly affected by its industrial historyas well as the big city fire of 1889, whichchanged the face of the town completely.Architect Theodor Dahl designed many ofthe magnificent buildings that now oc-cupy the townscape. Köping is also well-known for its collections of famous carsand motorcycles (Automobile and techni-cal-historical collections), which attract alot of visitors on their own merit. A fa-mous contributor to the cultural land-scape of the town is Carl Wilhelm Scheele,a pharmaceutical chemist who discovered

oxygen and also called Köping home forthe latter part of his life.

Arboga was a very influential town duringthe Middle Ages, and it has still preservedparts of its medieval character. It alsohosts the exciting Medieval Days in August(10-14 August 2011). Hjälmare Canal, con-necting Lake Hjälmaren and Arboga River,is Sweden’s oldest man-made waterway –learn more about its history at the mu-seum at Hjälmare docks.

Kungsör has a long and interesting historyas a retreat for Swedish kings; the foun-dations of the community were laid byKing Gustav Vasa in the 1500s. Like therest of the region, Kungsör is surroundedby pastoral nature that invites visitors toexplore it with a picnic basket in hand onfoot or by bike, or why not go horse ridingthrough the area, and you can always

For more information, please visit:www.koping.sewww.arboga.sewww.kungsor.se

plunge into Lake Mälaren for a cool downon a warm summer’s day.

“People visit the region for its history,whether it is industrial, medieval or centredaround kings, as well as the available na-ture experiences: canoeing, fishing, hikingand evenmushroompicking,” says PernillaRönnlund, tourism advisor for Köping'sTourist Bureau. “We’ve also got really goodconnections to and from Stockholm; it onlytakes around 1.5 hours to travel to the re-gion by train. For accommodation in VästraMälardalen, you can choose from a largevariety of hotels, youth hostels, B&Bs, farmstays and cottages for rent.”

Kungsör, a former retreat of Swedish kings. Arboga, a town full of medieval character. Köping, a former cradle of industry, rebuiltafter a large fire in 1889.

Famous pharmaceutical chemistCarl Wilhelm Scheele

The region of Västra Mälardalen combines three picturesque municipalities:

Köping, Arboga & KungsörText by Nia Kajastie | Photos: Courtesy of Köping, Arboga & Kungsör Tourist Bureaus

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 29

SPECIAL THEME:

STOCKHOLM

Stockholm iswidely celebrated as nothingless than one of the world’s most beauti-ful cities, built where lake meets sea, onfourteen islands, with nine centuries ofhistory and culture.

Stockholm is a city of contrasts – a cutting-edgemetropolis that often comes across asstunningly contemporary. Still, its strikingmodernity coexists happily with ancientcustoms and traditions that many visitorsfind unique and exotic. Another quality thatmakes Stockholm so special is the city’sability to live on nature’s terms. Vast greenareas do not just surround the city, theypermeate it. Few other places let you expe-rience the pleasures and allures of nature,urban sophistication and cultural history, allin a single day.

Stockholm’s old town, Gamla Stan, is oneof the largest and best preservedmedievalcity centres in Europe. Here, you will alsofind The Royal Palace, the official resi-dence of His Majesty the King of Sweden,and four additional museums: the Treas-

ury, Tre Kronor Museum, Gustav III's Mu-seum of Antiquities and The Royal Ar-moury. A city built on 14 islands must beseen from the water. So why not do someboat sightseeing in the city or in the ar-chipelago, which comprises 30,000 is-lands and islets. There are some 80 mu-

seums and attractions in Stockholm: theVasa Museum; the only preserved seven-teenth century ship in the world; the livinghistory open air museum Skansen, with150 cultural-historic buildings from allover Sweden; and a zoo with wild and tame

Nordic animals, amongst others – are allmust-sees. They are situated on the islandof Djurgården in the National City Park. Ifyou are interested in art you cannot missthe Modern Museum, which is one of Eu-rope’s finest, and the Nationalmuseum,with a large collection of older paintingsand permanent design exhibitions. Thelatest addition is the Fotografiska, which isone of the world’s largest meeting placesfor contemporary photography. One ofStockholm’s landmarks is the City Hall,where the Nobel Prize Banquet takesplace every year in December.

Stockholm has three sites on Unesco’sWorld Heritage list: the remarkableWood-land Cemetary “Skogskyrkogården”, theexcavated Viking city Birka and theDrottningholm Palace, home of the Royalfamily, with a unique Palace Theatre, gar-den and Chinese Pavilion.

Stockholm – the Capital of ScandinaviaIntro by Visit Stockholm

For more information, please visit:www.visitstockholm.com

Photo: imagebank.sweden.se © Lena Granefelt

Photo:SBR-StockholmVisitorsBoard©JeppeWikström/Johnér

The name of the hotel, J, derives from atype of sailing boat used in the America’sCup and is considered to be amongst thebest constructed boats in the world. Thename was appropriately chosen when thefounder opened theNewport-inspired hotelin 2000, and it has since remained one of themost design focused hotels in Stockholm.

The sea as an inspiration

Due to its location, the sea influencesmore than just the design of the hotel.Restaurant J’s (the hotel restaurant)menu is inspired by the fruits of the sea,and the guests can take a sightseeing tripout in the archipelago, hire a canoe or acatamaran, or a 15 minutes boat trip intoStockholm city centre. “The area has a lotto offer, whether you like walks in nature,sailing or just relaxing by the sea side.We therefore attract many different typesof guests, but what they have in commonis that they would all like a special hotelexperience,” says Barberis.

Internationally recognisedHotel J is a member of Design HotelsTM, ahandpicked collection of hotels from over40 countries. The unique hotels are indi-vidually designed and popular amonglifestyle travellers, guests that look fordistinctive hotels rather than chains. Ho-tel J has thus attracted international at-tention, with The Sunday Times voting itone of the Top 100 hotels in Europe, whileThe Independent voted it one of the Big Six

Seaside retreats in Scandinavia and one ofthe Big Six Chic nautical hotels in theworld. “We are of course very happy andproud about these recognitions, and theconcept has turned out to be hugely pop-ular,” says Barberis.

Hotel J brings an American sailingparadise to StockholmLocated next to the Stockholm archipelago, Hotel J’s image holds true to its location. The maritime style reminds guests of an

American sailing paradise and has put the hotel on the map of Design HotelsTM. “We have a very strong profile, where the design

and name of the hotel, the food we serve and the activities offered are all influenced by the maritime style,” says managing

director Maurizio Barberis. By Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: Hotel J

For more information, please visit:www.hotelj.com

30 | Issue 28 | April 2011

PRIZE-W

INNIN

GVILL

AFO

R

SWED

EN'S

MOST

BEAUTIF

UL HOME

Hello, my name is Pål Ross.

In the last decade I have designed and planned more than 185 unique, top-quality Scandinavian homes – each in harmonywith their surroundings, and all environmentally sound.

Because my aim is to exceed your expectations, I accept only ten commissions per year. It takes time, expertise, and dedicationto create a personal and worthy home.My colleagues and I are involved in any or all of the stages of production, from choosingthe perfect plot to designing your interiors, making sure that the end result is an excellent investment, and a home that willenhance your life. For more inspiration and information visit our website, www.ross.se

All the best,

Pål Ross, architect SAR/MSA

Tel: +46 8 84 84 82 | E-mail: [email protected] | www.ross.se

PRIZE-W

INNIN

GVILL

AFO

R

SWED

EN'S

MOST

BEAUTIF

UL HOME

32 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Stockholm

“The forte of Profilrestauranger is that wecan offer guests a wide selection and havethe possibility to take care of our guests ina professional manner regardless ofwhether it is a banquet for 1,200 people ora dinner for two,” explains JennyLagström, director of marketing.

Dine like a king

Fancy tasting the Nobel Banquet menu inits original setting? At Stadshuskällaren(The City Hall Cellar Restaurant), you donot have to be a Bernadotte or a visitingdignitary to experience this culinary feast,that is, unless it is 10 December, the dayon which the annual gala has been heldfor well over the past century. Swedishdishes are also served in this beautifullocale, as well as a traditional Christmasbuffet and other party menus.

At Haga Forum, located in Haga Park, justnorth of the city border, a glimpse ofCrown Princess Victoria and Prince Danielmay be had, en route to their new home,the Haga Palace. Formerly a bus terminal,

Haga Forum is now a modern conferencecentre and restaurant, well-known for itsweekend brunches.

One of Stockholm’s most famous attrac-tions, the Skansen outdoor museum, hasthree very differently styled eateries, col-lectively known as the Skansens Restau-ranger. There is the 18th century themedTre Byttor (Three Firkins), the Sollidenwhich serves a traditional smorgåsbord inthe summer, and the Skansen Terrassen(Terrace). The location makes the restau-rants the ideal place for a get-together, beit with family, friends or for business.

Another attractive scene with views acrossNybroviken and Berzelii Park is Sweden’s

Royal Dramatic Theatre where Dramaten-Restaurangerna include Restaurant Pauli,Frippe and DramatenTerrassen: Swedishculture at its best, served up with classicalfare, in a building dating back to 1908.

The Art of Hotel Living Concept

“We have invested more in smaller hotelswith a special feel and service. Choice ofmaterial, design, sound and light are allfunctions to make the guest feel excep-tional,” adds Lagström. “The idea is torun comfortable and modern hotels forboth the business and pleasure traveller.”

Hotel Riddargatan is located in the up-scale Östermalm neighbourhood, nearthe financial district and shopping areas.Central Hotel, as the name suggests, is inthe centre of town, on Vasagatan, adjacentto the train station.

Profilrestauranger and ProfilHotels– Their strength lies not in numbers...The philosophy behind Profilrestauranger is to have a smaller, yet hugely distinctive, assortment of renowned restaurants in its

collection. The same way of thinking holds true for its partner firm, ProfilHotels, which, in Stockholm, specialises in just two

hotels. By Ulrika Osterlund | Photos: Profilrestauranger

For more information, please visit:www.profilrestauranger.sewww.profilhotels.se

Central Hotel Skansen Dramaten Terassen

Hotel Riddargatan. Photo: ProfilHotels

Pho

to:P

rofil

Hot

els

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 33


Elite Hotels unveils its newest addition inthe nation’s capital in June. Situated inthe upmarket district of Östermalmwithviews across Humlegården, the EliteEden Park Hotel aims to live up to itsname by offering guests a touch of para-dise.

“This will be a four-star premium hotelwith five-star service,” says SusanneKarlsson, director of the hotel. “We wantto deliver that little bit extra. Our guestsshould feel that they have our utmost at-tention.”

The converted building, built in 1958, ac-commodates the hotel’s 125 elegantrooms, which were designed by the highlyacclaimed Swedish architect and designerThomas Sandell. The interiors are exclu-sive without being flamboyant.

The Elite Eden Park Hotel endeavours tobe Stockholm’s first LEED (Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design) certi-fied hotel. A fitting feat indeed, as Stock-holm was the European Green Capital of2010. “The environment was kept in focus

throughout the planning process,” con-tinues Karlsson. “From the materialsused, to transportation, to energy con-sumption.”

Two restaurants are on offer, one fine din-ing, and while the head chef’s identity isstill kept under wraps, it is guaranteed toput the hotel firmly on the gastronomicmap. The other is Elite Hotels’ own gas-tropub the Bishop Arms, which has over200 whisky varieties to choose from.

The hotel also has a modern gym, com-plete with relaxation areas and saunas: allyou could need following a long day oftravel and meetings or after exploring thecity.

Elite Eden Park Hotel– Once you check in, you will never want to leaveBy Ulrika Osterlund | Photos: Elite Hotels

For more information, please visit:www.elite.sewww.elite.se/edenpark

Elite Hotel Stockholm PlazaLocated on the other side of Humlegården,with 143 rooms. Home to renownedrestaurant Vassa Eggen.

Elite Hotel ArcadiaThe first hotel in the Elite Hotels chain.The building formerly served as studenthousing in the 1950s.

Elite Palace HotelThe biggest of the Elite Hotels with 215rooms. Houses a vast conference centrecovering over 1,000 square metres.

Elite Hotel Marina TowerA full-service hotel in a fantastic locationon the waterfront opposite Djurgården,with its own spa, pool and boat. Boasts aconference capacity of 400 seats.

Owner and CEO of the Elite Hotels chain, Bicky Chakraborty, also has four other hotelsin Stockholm:

34 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Opened on 21 May 2010, Fotografiska isstill quite a new cultural hub in Stock-holm. Its creation can be seen as a reac-tion to the lack of museums presentinggreat photographic exhibitions in Scandi-navia. Fotografiska successfully combinesits exhibitions with food and beverage of-ferings, creating an accessible and wel-coming meeting place for visitors of all

ages and backgrounds. There can be up tofive temporary exhibitions running at thesame time, lasting between 1-4 months,with more than 30 different exhibitionsshown per year.

“We aim to have a good mix of interna-tional, emerging artists from all over theworld as well as many of the world's most

established and leading photographers,and, of course, the best of Swedish andScandinavian photography,” explains CEOCharlotte Wiking. “We show all kinds ofphotography, including documentary,fashion, nature etc. The only importantthing is that it’s the best of its kind. And wecombine this with our restaurant, bar &cafe, lectures, workshops and artist talks.Also, we don’t call ourselves a museum,just Fotografiska, a place for great pho-tography.”

Fotografiska aims to create a welcomingatmosphere and a meeting place for any-one interested in photography as well aslearning more about photography, digitalimage editing and visual communication

Fotografiska– bringing photography to the massesFotografiska, a centre for contemporary photography, is located in Stockholm by the seafront on Stadsgårdshamnen,between Birka Cruises and Viking Line boat terminals. Set in an industrial, art nouveau style building from 1906, thecentre comprises 5,500 square metres altogether and 2,500 square metres of exhibition space, making it one of theworld’s biggest forums of its kind. Fotografiska aims to awaken people’s interest in photography by exhibiting onlythe best contemporary work out there. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: © Fotografiska

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 35

with the help of the Fotografiska Academy,which hosts various workshops andcourses.

With practical and stylish facilities as wellas the latest technical equipment avail-able for conferences and special events,Fotografiska can accommodate up to 300people for a conference or around 200people for a seated dinner. And one of thebest things to experience on the side is thebreathtaking view of Stockholm from theirpanoramic windows, facing Old Town,Djurgården and Skeppsholmen.

Treat your friends to a cultural experi-ence

“We get a lot of foreign visitors, dependingon the season, of course; a lot of Stock-holmers introduce their foreign guestsfirst to the Vasa Museum and then to Fo-tografiska,” says Wiking. “It’s an easilyaccessible place with a good combinationof food, drink and content, of course. Soit’s a nice place to stay at and to bringwhoever you like with you.”

Fotografiska also offers guided tours; youcan take part in a public tour open foreveryone with the price of the entrance, oryou could book a guided tour in Swedish,English or Italian, with a personal guide.“The more knowledge you can gather, themore interesting your visit becomes,”adds Wiking.

For more information, please visit:www.fotografiska.eu

Sarah Moon (until 17 April 2011)Sarah Moon is one of France’s mostrenowned contemporary photographers,filmmakers, and artists. Over the past 35years, Moon has created a pictorial universecomprised of a constellation of figures,animals, structures and environments.Moon’s images reside in the mysteriousspace between waking and dreams, art andfashion.

Fotografiska is pleased to present Moon’sfirst exhibition in Sweden. The exhibitioncontains over 200 photographs and twovideo works entitled The Red Thread andContact. Today Moon works primarily withcreating her artwork and short films.

Albert Watson (until 12 June 2011)Albert Watson’s images encompass everyconceivable genre and technique and havemade him one of the greatest in history. Forthe first time in Sweden, Fotografiska is pre-senting a massive and intense retrospectiveof Watson’s oeuvre featuring 120 photo-graphs in an exhibition that is an intimateand grandiose presentation of this interna-tional photographer’s life and work. The ex-hibition presents unique images that havemoulded our perception of fashion, com-mercialism, celebrities, photography andmusic for four decades.

Current exhibitions:

Opening hours:Daily 10am - 9pmClosed on New Year’s Eve,Midsummer's Eve and Christmas Eve.

Address:FotografiskaStadsgårdshamnen 22116 45 Stockholm

Lennart Nilsson Exhibition

Work by fashion photographer Pauline Benthede

Burtynsky/Oil ExhibitionHighway #1 © Edward Burtynsky, courtesyStefan Röpke, Köln / Flowers, London /Nicholas Metivier, Toronto

Burtynsky/Oil ExhibitionJet Engines © Edward Burtynsky, courtesyStefan Röpke, Köln / Flowers, London /Nicholas Metivier, Toronto

Robert Mapplethorpe ExhibitionKen Moody and Robert Sherman, 1984 ©Robert Mapplethorpe

36 | Issue 28 | April 2011


In December last year, Hotel BemaStockholm was taken over by new man-agement withMats Karlsson at the helm.Since 7 January 2011, the hotel’s doorshave been openwith a newer and fresherlook, along with higher standards.

This charming little hotel offers perfect,price-worthy accommodation for anyonevisiting the Swedish capital of Stockholm.“We have guests from all over the worldhere, and our competitive prices mean weare very booked up throughout the sum-mer,” says Karlsson.

Bema has 12 rooms and 23 beds (onefamily room, one room with three beds,four twin rooms, one double bedroom andfive single rooms) all with en-suite lava-tory and shower, TV, radio and telephones.The hotel is situated in a truly desirablearea of Stockholm, eight minutes fromArlanda Airport Express trains and three

minutes from one of the main shoppingstreets, Drottninggatan.

Vasastan, the name of the immediate sur-rounding area, is full of interesting restau-rants, potential sightseeing, and also lieswithin walking distance of the Old Town(Gamla Stan), museums and, of course,the water - one of the things for whichStockholm is famous.

Breakfast is served in the room wheneverthe guests wish, and the staff will alwaysoffer warm and excellent service.

Previous guests have enjoyed the slightlytucked away yet convenient location ofHotel Bema. The welcoming and helpfulstaff members, as well as the very rea-sonable prices, make visitors come backagain and again.

Hotel Bema: an intimate hotel in the heart of StockholmBy Anna Lindgren | Photos: Hotel Bema

For more information, please visit:www.hotelbema.se

Located on Kungsholmen, an island inLake Mälaren, the Courtyard by MarriottStockholm is set in a residential area,only a short distance from bus stops,subway stations and the Stockholm cen-tral train station. With rooms among thelargest in the city, this modern hotel of-fers a great base for both families andbusiness travellers alike.

Opened in February 2010, the hotel wasplanned together with the surroundingresidential accommodation. Because ofthe setting as well as the nearby lake andRålambshov park, the atmosphere is dif-ferent from your standard city surround-ings, making the location very desirable.

The Courtyard by Marriott Stockholmcomprises 278 rooms, none smaller than26 square metres. The rooms have large

windows for plenty of natural light and of-fer all the modern services such as freeWiFi, a multimedia panel that lets youhook up your laptop to the television, tea &coffeemaking facilities and other conven-iences. The rooms are offered at affordableprices and families can choose connectingrooms formore space. The hotel’s two stu-dio rooms include large private balconiesoverlooking the park, a jacuzzi and greatviews (even from the bathroom). And toblow off some steam, you can always re-treat to the hotel’s own fitness centre, open24 hours and free of charge, of course.

“The standard of the hotel is very high ingeneral. We also have a very flexible con-ference floor with state-of-the-art facilities.Our popular restaurant, the BJORK Bar &Grill, is alsowell worth a visit. Herewe haveafterworks on Fridays with a DJ and brunch

on Sundays as well as the usual breakfast,lunch and dinner. What makes the atmos-phere so nice is that it is popular with thelocal clientele as well as our hotel guests,”says director of sales Emmelie Jonsson.

The hotel is easily reached from bothBromma and Arlanda airport and boasts50 secure underground parking places.

The Courtyard by Marriott Stockholm:Serene location and spacious accommodation

For more information, please visit:www.stockholmcourtyard.com

By Nia Kajastie

Photo: The Courtyard by Marriott Stockholm

S T O R Y H O T E L – R I D D A R G A T A N 6 , 1 1 4 2 5 S T O C K H O L M S W E D E N – I N F O @ S T O R Y H O T E L S . C O M

W W W . S T O R Y H O T E L S . C O M

38 | Issue 28 | April 2011


Connect Hotels is a five-year-old chain offour high-quality 3-star hotels that donot skimp when it comes to design andgood materials. The fresh feel of theirfacilities is far beyond your usual 3-starstandard, but the prices are still kept ac-cordingly low.

The newest addition to their ranks is theConnect Hotel City located in Kungshol-men in central Stockholm. There are twoother hotels in Stockholm, the ConnectHotel Arlanda Airport (which offers trans-fer services to and from the airport) andthe Connect Hotel Stockholm (Interna-tional Fairs), and one at Skavsta Airport,only 75 meters from the terminal, theConnect Hotel Skavsta.

Connect Hotel City comprises 86 stylishrooms in various sizes. The location is ex-cellent, with restaurants, shopping op-

portunities and cultural venues close by.Also included are a restaurant and bar,and a conference room for up to 14 peo-ple.

Each hotel includes a cosy public livingroom in the lobby, which is the heart ofeach establishment. And also available isa sauna in each property, which is free touse for overnight guests, as well as plentyof parking spaces. Connect Hotels havealso received the Green Key award, as atourism facility that takes measures tospare natural resources.

“At our hotels you get high-quality, lovelydesign at reasonable rates. We can offerrates 25% lower than our competitors. It’sdefinitely value for money,” says ownerFinn Andersen. “We put a lot of effort intodetail to make 3-star hotels with the qual-ity of a 4-star hotel.”

Connect Hotels By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Connect Hotels

– Stylish and affordable accommodation in prime locations

For more information, please visit:www.connecthotel.se

Dreamlocation on LidingöEASY - COMFORTABLE - CLOSE

Breakfast included - Free Parking

Stockholmsvägen 70, LidingöTel +46-8-54481300

www.aristonhotell.se

2

Welcome to Toyland Museum– a modern experience museum in

the heart of Stockholm city.

Wallingatan 12, 111 60 Stockholm, Sweden(at Drottninggatan near Norra Bantorget)

Phone: +46 (0)8 411 85 05www.leksaksland.se

A cool world of toys, fantasy, joy and nostalgia.

For all toy lovers - no matter what age!

2

Living room in Connect Hotel Arlanda

Living room in Connect Hotel City

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 39

The former Aldoria Hotel in centralStockholm has had a recent and verysuccessful makeover. Since the newmanagement (including Klas Nygren)took over the premises at the beginningof 2011, great changes have been madeto this establishment. All the rooms havebeen renovated and given a cool, uppereast feel with continental beds and ex-cellent amenities.

In April this year, the hotel will officiallychange its name from Aldoria Hotel toCity Hotel Kungsholmen. The place hasbecome more of a boutique hotel sincethe refurbishment with great breakfastand wonderful service being provided. It isnow a stylish place you can enjoy during abusiness trip, a weekend break or a ro-mantic getaway.

There are three suites available (the mostexclusive has its own sauna for your enjoy-ment), and 21 additional rooms for singleor double occupancy. All accommodation isequipped with flat screen TVs, DVD players

(with a rental service available at recep-tion), desks and Wi-Fi Internet access.

One of the main things this hotel has gotgoing for it is the location. Stockholm’stunnelbana (underground) is 5 metresaway from the front doorstep. Nearby youcan also find bus stops where you cancatch the airport buses, as well as otherlocal transportation and numerous

restaurants. Kungsholmen, the areawhere the hotel is situated, is a stunningpart of the city where parks and water arenever far away.

The newmanager explains: “We have de-cided to provide guests simply with whatwe believe to be necessary for a hotel stay,which enables us to keep our prices verycompetitive.” Staff will, of course, helpthose who are looking to obtain dis-counted entries to local health facilities aswell as organising bookings for goodrestaurants if desired.

Judging by the online reviews and com-ments, the hotel has definitely made asuccessful transformation. For your stayin Stockholm it comes highly recom-mended for its convenient location, itswelcoming service and excellent pricing.

City Hotel Kungsholmen:a three-star boutique hotel with four-star facilitiesBy Anna Lindgren | Photos: City Hotel Kungsholmen

For more information, please visit:www.city-hotel.se

40 | Issue 28 | April 2011

15 minutes south of central Stockholm,in the picturesque archipelago, you findVår Gård Saltsjöbaden. The conferencehotel has an extensive art collection,which now takes a central part in the vis-itors’ stay. “We believe that the art en-hances people’s creativity, which in termleads to more fruitful meetings,” saysmanaging director, Katarina Romell.

The hotel is idyllically located by the sea-side, and the relaxing atmosphere attracts

visitors who would like easy access to thecity, while also being able to retreat to theharmony in the surroundings of Vår Gård.While the location attracts many visitors,there is one distinguishing aspect that ap-peals to them: Vår Gård has brought artinto the world of conferences, and the ac-tivities connected with it have proved to bepopular among the guests. “People withan interest in meetings and art comehere,” explains Romell.

An art collection out of hiding

The hotel dates back to the early 20thcentury, and it was known amongst theemployees that it housed an extensive artcollection of well-recognised artists fromSweden and abroad. “The collection hasbeen hidden away, which was a greatshame. In the past few years, we havebrought it out for our guests, and peoplehave shown great interest in it,” saysRomell. The hotel offers courses wherethe visitors can learn to paint, while oth-ers choose to attend lessons from art ex-perts about the works of the painter

Grünewald and others. “Through art, peo-ple open up to different sides of them-selves, which has a positive impact ontheir meetings,” explains Romell.

Become a king or queen of the kitchen

Besides the art collection, Vår Gård offersa relaxing spa treatment at their ThannSanctuary, while you may also learn howto become king or queen of the kitchenduring their cooking courses at the BeachHouse. “Our hotel is a conference hotel,and somuchmore. We want it to be an ex-perience,” says Romell.

Vår Gård Saltsjöbaden:A conference hotel where the focus is art

By Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: Vår Gård Saltsjöbaden

For more information, please visit:www.vargard.se

Katarina Romell, Managing Director


With extensive experience within the ho-tel trade, Maude Ärnström establishedthe first of the two Maude’s Hotels in2000. It was soon a great success, andthe second onewas completed four yearslater. It was Maude’s love for hotels thatproduced these establishments, and herpassion is visible in the style and atmos-phere of both hotels.

The hotels are located on the outskirts ofStockholm, and while offering visitorseasy access to the city, they also providethe guests with a relaxed stay.

Maude’s Hotel Enskede

Located only five minutes from the con-cert hall Globe Arena and Stockholm In-ternational Fairs, and 12 minutes fromStockholm centre, this hotel is an excel-lent choice for visitors wanting to experi-ence the many internationally recognisedconcerts and fairs that are organised in

the area. “The hotel in Enskede is specialin the sense that it is close to the centre ofStockholm, as well as offering a quiet andrelaxed stay,” says hotel owner MaudeÄrnström. With the image of a typicalSwedish manor, it is popular among pri-vate guests as well as business travellers.

Maude’s Hotel Solna Business Park

Maude’s other hotel, Maude’s Hotel SolnaBusiness Park, is located only eight min-utes by train from the city centre. As a

business hotel, it offers a blend of Scan-dinavian and Asian-style design, and in-cludes the sort of lavish breakfast buffetthat the stomach desires in the morning.“The area is currently expanding, and weare excited about the future,” says Maude.

Maude’s Hotels: Where the atmosphere mattersBy Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: Maude’s Hotels

For more information, please visit:www.maudeshotel.se

LIKE ASWISS CLOCKBUT SCANDINAVIANWELCOME ONBOARD EUROPE’S MOST PUNCTUAL AIRLINE

Save time with SASMost departures from UKMost departures within ScandinaviaOnline check-inOnly primary airports

flysas.co.ukSource: Flightstats.com 2009 and 2010

42 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Turku's Capital of Culture year 2011 isone of Finland's most important culturalinvestments in decades. The programmefor the year comprises 155 projects in-volving a diverse group of Finnish and in-ternational participants. Thousands ofevents will be launched during the year.

The Capital of Culture concept is under-stood widely in Turku, where different cul-tural fields are boldly merged.

"It is important for the Turku 2011 pro-gramme to be easily accessible to the gen-eral public and to offer experiences: theprogramme crosses borders, enhancescommunality and cooperation, and attractsnew target groups to experience culture,"says programme director Suvi Innilä.

The programme seeks particularly tohighlight the role of culture in the wellbe-ing of people and the environment, a mes-sage Turku wishes to spread to the rest ofEurope.

"Our starting point is for the Capital ofCulture year's programme to have a pos-

itive effect on people. Culture not only in-creases mental wellbeing, but researchsuggests it also promotes physical wel-fare," states Cay Sevón, CEO of the Turku2011 Foundation, responsible for prepar-ing the Capital of Culture year.

Logomo is the home of culture every day

The spectacular new centre for the Capi-tal of Culture year activities is Logomo, anold railway engineering workshop reno-vated especially for this purpose. Locatedright next to the Turku Railway Station,Logomo hosts exhibitions that will beopen throughout the year as well as beinga venue for themajor performance events.

In addition to internationally acclaimed vi-sual arts, Logomo also hosts immersiveexhibitions for the entire family, wherevisitors are able to experience the worksin completely novel ways. The event rosterincludes dance, theatre and music rang-ing from jazz to opera.

Logomo, its café and shop are open everyday throughout the year, including Sun-days and holidays.

Welcome to Turku, the European Capital of CultureDating back to theMiddle Ages, Turku is today the oldest city in Finland. In 2011, Turku will experience one of the biggest highlights

of its entire history with the European Capital of Culture year celebrations. The year will be filled with great reasons – both ancient

and brand-new ones – to visit Turku. Intro by Turku 2011 Foundation

SPECIAL

THEME:

TURKU –

EUROPEAN

CAPITALOFCULTU

RE201

1

More information on Turku 2011 can befound at www.turku2011.fi/en

Cafe, exhibitions and music at Logomo. Photos, left: Bo Stranden, middle: Susse Määttänen, right: Arto Takala

Opening Ceremony Turku 2011. Photo: Olli Sulin

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 43

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Turku – European Capital of Culture

Established in 1839, Åbo Svenska Teater(The Swedish Theatre of Turku) is Fin-land’s oldest functioning theatre. Thisbeautiful old building hosts a varied pro-gramme for everyone, from musicals todrama and from opera to stand-up com-edy. Since September 2010, audienceshave been treated to one of themost suc-cessful and loved musicals of all times –Les Misérables.

It is the first time in Finland that Les Mis-érables is performed in Swedish. The pro-duction is massive, with ambitious set andcostume designs. Add to that a cast andcrew of top-quality professionals fromFinland, Sweden and Norway, and it is nowonder the success rate has been phe-nomenal; it is already the most popularproduction in the theatre’s 170-year his-tory. ”We did have high hopes, but it has

been wonderful to see the recognitionwe’ve received from Finland and abroad,”says PR manager Sanna Sarelius.

The entire musical is also subtitled in bothFinnish and Swedish, which is quite rare inFinland and a first for Åbo Svenska Teater.It encourages the Finnish-speaking andhearing impaired audiences to attend andadds a new depth to their experience.

Along with high praise from both pressand public, the Les Misérables produc-tion and Åbo Svenska Teater received theprestigious Turku Touring’s ”MatkailunOskari 2010” award for enhancing tourismin the Turku region. And with Turku beingthe European Capital of Culture 2011, LesMisérables will no doubt continue tomaintain sold-out performances for allthe drama lovers out there.

The idyllic seaside town of Naantali, insouth-western Finland, hosts its annualchambermusic festival for the 32nd timethis June.

Marking the start of the Finnish summerfestival season, the highly acclaimed andpersistently popular Naantali Music Fes-tival includes over 30 concerts, fromchamber music to orchestral and soloperformances. Along with the main con-cert venue – Naantali’s stunningmedievalconvent church – various concerts areheld all around the neighbouring island,parks and even restaurants. This year’sprogramme includes such world-classnames as Krzysztof Penderecki, OkkoKamu and Fine Arts Quartet.

Founded in 1980 by the festival’s artisticdirector and an internationally renownedcellist, Arto Noras, Naantali Music Festi-val has been considered one of Finland’smost significant festivals right from the

beginning. This year’s speciality is an out-door concert in the gardens of Kultaranta,the official summer residence of theFinnish President. This rare occasion,usually only experienced once in a presi-dent’s term, is held on Sunday 12 June at3pm local time. “We have organized a very

versatile programme for the day and canexpect beautiful performances amongothers from Monica Groop, Jaakko Kuu-sisto and our very own Arto Noras,” saysexecutive director Tiina Tunturi.

Another added bonus this year is the festi-val’s contribution to the Turku EuropeanCapital of Culture 2011 programme. On themidsummerweek, the festival takes amu-sical cruise to the island of Utö, the south-ernmost year-round inhabited island in Fin-land, where three more concerts are held.

This stunning sunshine town does not onlywow with its beautiful scenery, but alsowith the vast choice of high class servicesfrom accommodation to restaurants andattractions for anyone wanting to visit.

Sun and stars meet in Naantali

Naantali Music Festival 7.-19.6.2011For more information, please visit:www.naantalimusic.com

For more information, please visit:www.abosvenskateater.fi

Les Misérables at Åbo Svenska Teater– experience the phenomenon

By Inna Hakala | Photos: Naantali Music Festival

Photo: Esko Keski-Oja

Top: Naantali harbour. Below left: Krzysztof

Penderecki. Right: The gardens of Kultaranta

By Inna Hakala | Photos: Åbo Svenska Teater

Photo: Stefan Bremer

44 | Issue 28 | April 2011


Uma Familia Portuguesa, an award-win-ning and melancholic story by FilomenaOliveira and Miguel Real that exploresthe life of one Portuguese family througha culture-historical lens and fado-mu-sic; Lenin Love. Stalin Love., a touchingand gruesome display of the Holodomorin the Ukrainian SSR in the 1930s; thefamiliar yet fascinating life of AnnaKarenina with a contemporary twist; anda dance rendition of Juha, the classicnovel on the heart-rending yearning of aFinnish man.

These are just a few examples of theshows that are part of Esittävän TaiteenToukokuu (Performing Arts in May) – athree-week long theatre event at TurkuCity Theatre that kicks off on 2 May, as a

part of the Turku European Capital of Cul-ture 2011 theme. 16 different perform-ances are crammed into the programmeof shows that vary from traditional theatreto the celebration of different forms ofperformance through drama, dance,street and modern theatre.

Turku City Theatre will host guest per-formers from all over Finland and coun-tries from near and far, such as Ukraine,Portugal, Turkey, Russia, Sweden andNorway. The topical performances areheld on the theatre’s three stages, foyersand vicinity. Most shows touch uponthemes familiar to the areas around theBaltic Sea, and Minna Jääskeläinen, in-formation officer for Turku City Theatre,says the stories are what makes the fes-

tival distinct from similar happenings inEurope: “Esittävän Taiteen Toukokuu is aunique event that derives from the ideathat Finland’s borders define Europe, andtherefore we wanted to provide an avenueof expression for top performances fromother border countries that are often over-looked in central European festivals.”

Raija-Liisa Seilo, the general director ofTurku City Theatre and the artistic direc-tor of the event, has travelled around Eu-rope to select shows most in line with theethos of the festival. “We wanted to makesure Esittävän Taiteen Toukokuu only in-cludes performances of utmost qualitythat together form a programme un-precedented in Turku and the whole ofFinland,” continues Jääskeläinen.

Performing Arts in May– Turku, the European Capital of Culture 2011, invites visitors to experiencedrama, dance and theatre By Anni-Maria Sahala

Left: Lenin Love. Stalin Love. Photo: VladimirLopuvskoy; Top: Anna Karenina. Photo:Robert Seger; Below: Dance Theatre Minimi.Photo: Petra Tiihonen/Studio AtlasOpposite page: Mormors svarta ögon(Granny’s black eyes). Photo: Roger Stenberg

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 45


The festival is a huge undertaking for Fin-land’s oldest municipal theatre – the tightprogramme fits in up to five different per-formances a day. On the whole, all formsandmethods of contemporary theatre arepresent, as the extensive programme in-cludes theatre and dance shows, streetperformances and modern theatre, all ofwhich comment on Europe from their ownindividual perspectives. The shows areacted out in different languages, depend-ing on their origin, and subtitled inFinnish. Some performances communi-cate through universal body language, ex-pressions and movement. For the mostactive visitors, interactive seminars anddiscussion groups are also available.

Jääskeläinen assures that the spectrumof the shows is so wide that no visitor willbe left disappointed: “We offer everythingincluding the world premiere of Norwe-gian dance group Carte Blanche’s newchoreography to Genco Erkal’s intimateinterpretation of Nazim Hikmet’s poetry.All forms andmethods of theatre and per-forming arts are covered, and we are ex-pecting a lot of visitors, especially from allover Scandinavia and the Baltic countries,and the programme reflects this.”

In addition to the aforementioned shows,the highlights of this unique performingarts festival include two different mono-logue interpretations of Fyodor Dos-toyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, oneperformed by an actress, the other by anactor. The critically acclaimed Mormorssvarta ögon (Granny’s black eyes) isSwedish actress Tanja Lorentzon’s per-sonal and humorous exploration into be-ing a Finnish immigrant in Sweden. DanceTheatre Minimi presents a comprehen-sive marketing pitch for Finland throughAbsolut Finland and provides a dancingstyle guide to passers-by in Manners ofSuccess. Naturally, another must-seeshow is the theatre’s own production ofAnna Karenina, a harrowing renditionabout young love that is destroyed by des-peration.

The complexity of the programme meansthat keen theatregoers should plan theirschedule well in advance as some of the

productions will only be performed onceduring the three-week period. Tickets forall performances in Turku City Theatre’sown programme are sold through Lippu-palvelu (www.lippupalvelu.fi), tickets forthe rest of the shows can be purchasedthrough Lippupiste and Turku 2011 Kulmasales office. The Turku City website(www.teatteri.turku.fi) offers a compre-hensive guide on each show and provideslinks to relevant online ticket stores. Someof the open air performances are free ofcharge.

Esittävän Taiteen Toukokuu will be a trulyunforgettable three weeks, also acting asthe sixth International Baltic Cities Festi-val. Combined with the Turku EuropeanCapital of Culture 2011 theme, it genuinelyis a once in a lifetime opportunity for anyculture lover – no similar event will be or-ganised in Turku or anywhere else in Fin-land in the near future.

For more information, please visit:www.teatteri.turku.fi

46 | Issue 28 | April 2011


Founded in 1790, Turku Philharmonic Or-chestra is the oldest orchestra in Finlandand in fact one of the oldest still perform-ing orchestras in theworld. The orchestra,whichplayedHaydn,Mozart andBeethovenwhile the composerswere still alive,was aprivate organisation throughoutmost of itsexistence until 1927, when it became aservice of themunicipal government.

One of the most highly regarded sym-phony orchestras in Finland, Turku Phil-harmonic Orchestra consists of 74 mem-bers fronted by chief conductor PetriSakari. Next year will see Leif Segerstam– the renowned Finnish conductor andcomposer – taking charge as the orches-tra’s artistic director.

Turku Philharmonic Orchestra performsmost of its concerts at the Turku ConcertHall. Designed by architect Risto Luukko-nen and built in 1952, it was the first con-cert hall in Finland and contains one au-

ditorium with 1,002 seats. Along with theusual symphony concerts, the orchestra’sprogramme includes anything from op-eras to film soundtracks and children’smusic. Since 1979, they have also recordedseveral award-winning classical albums.

Although the best way to get to know theorchestra is to attend its concerts, you cannow enjoy the musical experience also ina very advanced, virtual way. The orches-tra’s homepage contains a web link thattransports you directly to the auditorium.“You can watch concerts live in HD-quality

and even chat about them via Facebook,”says chief executive Marja-Liisa Lieppinen.“There are also virtual video postcards tosend to your friends and family.”

This fabulous new service is all part ofthe Turku European Capital of Culture2011 programme and will definitely at-tract a lot of music lovers to enjoy con-certs, both in person and in cyberspace.

The 52nd TurkuMusic Festival, the oldestof its kind in Finland, will be celebratedfrom 5-18 August with a versatile pro-gramme of over 50 concerts that ex-plores themes of light and shadow. Thebig finale to the events, the new Finnishopera Eerik XIV, will premiere 22 No-vember 2011.

The Turku Music Festival is known for itsimpressive repertoire of internationalstars, with a programme including every-thing from major orchestral concerts tochamber music, jazz, concerts for chil-dren and other styles of performing arts,such as opera and dance.

“The festival’s current artistic director,tenor Topi Lehtipuu, is a renownedFinnish export, and he created this year’sexciting programme,” says executive di-rector Emilie Gardberg. “He will also be

performing at the opening and closingconcerts, the latter together with cele-brated soprano Soile Isokoski. Lehtipuu’svision for the festival was inspired by therelationship between light and shadow,which works well with the culture capitaltheme of fire and light.”

For further information, please visit:www.tfo.fi

TurkuMusic Festival lights up the European Capital of CultureBy Nia Kajastie | Photos: Seilo Ristimäki

For further information, please visit:www.tmj.fi

Classical music meets modern technology By Inna Hakala

Photos:SeiloRistim

äki

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTSThe Giacomo Variations, Turku Concert Hall,6 & 7 AugustJohn Malkovich becomes Casanova in The Gi-acomo Variations, designed by the duo direc-tor-screenwriterMichael Sturminger and con-ductor Martin Haselböck.

Mariinsky & Valery Gergijev, Turku ConcertHall, 11 & 12 AugustThe world-renownMariinsky theatre orchestraand director Valery Gergijev from St. Peters-burg will give two magnificent concerts.

Eerik XIV, Logomo Hall, 22, 24, 26 & 29NovemberThe Cultural Capital year will culminate in aworld premiere of a new Finnish opera, EerikXIV, written by the celebrated Finnish com-poser Mikko Heiniö. The opera, telling thehaunting story of King Eric XIV of Sweden, isproduced by Turku Music Festival.

Top: John Malkovich in Infernal Comedy (2010)Bottom: Mariinsky theatre orchestra (2009)

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 47


CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

Otto Mäkilä – A Red Restless Spark, untilMay 2011The exhibition features all of Otto Mäkilä’s(1904–1955) iconic pieces, such as Poésie(1938) and They See What We Do Not See(1939), but the 120 or so works on displayalso include paintings which have not beenshown to the public for decades.

Crème de la Crème – Masterpieces fromthe Collection of Turku Art Museum, until 5Feb 2012Crème de la Crème presents masterpiecesfrom the Golden Age of Finnish art (ca. 1880–1910) in the collections of the Turku Art Mu-seum. More than a hundred of the mostfamous and most cherished masterpiecesare presented in the upstairs galleries.

STUDIO: Elliina Peltoniemi, degree exhibitionof Turku Arts Academy, until May 2011

DARKROOM/ANIMATE: Turku Anikists:Tommi Juutilainen, Niina Suominen and TaruVarpumaa, until May 2011

The Turku European Capital of Cultureyear has given the Turku Art Museum anew impetus to display the best pieces ofFinnish art from its own collection, in theCrème de la Crème exhibit. Also proudlyon show is the extensive exhibition OttoMäkilä – A Red Restless Spark, withMäk-ilä being a part of the ‘Turku School’ ofart that stood for a distinctive brand ofmodernism.

The national romantic style granite build-ing, located on a parkland hilltop and vis-ible when exploring the city below, wasdesigned by Professor Gustaf Nyströmand was completed in 1904. As a result,the Turku Art Society finally had a place todisplay their art collection, while Turkugained an important and influential addi-tion to its cultural landscape.

The exhibitions are shown on two floorswith different thematic exhibitions of theirown art collection shown upstairs andthree changing individual exhibitions peryear downstairs. In the Darkroom, whichhas been in use for three years now, themuseum explores video and media arts,while the Studio displays contemporaryart exhibits.

Also part of the Turku European Capital ofCulture programme is the Animate exhi-bition series shown in the Darkroomgallery at the museum in 2011. It exploresthe role of animation as an independentcontemporary art form and as part of thevisual arts.

Turku Art MuseumAurakatu 2620100 TurkuFinland

For more information, please visit:www.turkuartmuseum.fi

Turku Art Museum turns its focus on belovedFinnish masterpieces and influential artistsBy Nia Kajastie | Photos: Turku Art Museum

Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931); The Defence of theSampo, 1896. From the Crème de la Crème exhibition.Photo: Kari Lehtinen

Taru Varpumaa; Edith, 2010. From the Animate exhibition

Left: Otto Mäkilä; They See WhatWe Do Not See, 1939, Oil on can-vas.

Right: Otto Mäkilä; Self-portrait,1929, Oil on canvas.Photos: Vesa Aaltonen

Above: Otto Mäkilä 1904–1955,Photo: Taito

Destroyed by fire in 1904, the charmingcoastal town of Ålesund rose from theashes and was built according to a singu-lar art nouveau vision by a string of ambi-tious Norwegian designers and architects.A century later, it remains picture postcardperfect as one of the world’s finest con-centrations of art nouveau architecture. Ifyou look up as you explore the town, youwill discover an abundance of decorativeornamentation on the fronts of the build-ings. Walk up the 418 steps to the top ofMount Aksla and you will be rewarded withunforgettable panoramic views.

Natural highlights

Experience the teeming birdlife on the is-land of Runde and admire the picturesqueAlnes Lighthouse. Experience the magicof the wild Norangsdalen valley and sailup the dramatic Hjørundfjord surroundedby the magnificent Sunnmøre Alps. TheGeirangerfjord is so outstanding that ithas been included on UNESCO’s World

Heritage List - join one of the many sight-seeing trips and see why for yourself! Thesparkling blue glacier of Briksdalen anddramatic roads such as Trollstigen andThe Atlantic Ocean Road, are just a shorttrip away.

Adventure capital of the fjords

Put on your walking boots and experiencethe seasons in the Sunnmøre Alps.

For booking and more informationabout activities and accommodationvisit: www.visitalesund.com

Ålesund – Adventure capital of the fjordsThe art nouveau town of Ålesund could be taken right out of a fairy tale. A myriad of turrets, spires and imaginative ornamenta-tion is just waiting to bowl you over. The town’s unique location on the edge of the ocean, surrounded by legendary fjords, count-less islands and toweringmountains, creates an almost unbeatable combination of culture and nature. Seize the moment and anadventure awaits you! Intro by Marit Giske-Nilsen, Destination Ålesund & Sunnmøre

Jagged mountain peakstower up from the fjord toheights of up to 2,000 me-tres, but there are alsogentle trails that are suit-able for families. In winter,skiing enthusiasts will findwhat they are looking for,whether it is the slopes of apleasant ski centre orsummit trips up snow-cladmountainsides. Enjoy thetranquillity of a kayakingtrip and try your hand at

fishing in the bountiful sea. Get youradrenaline going on fantastic surfingwaves, on a bike or on a sea safari. Youradventure starts here!

Fishing and diving at Ålesund and Sunnmøre. Photo, left: Terje Rakke/NordicLife/Ålesund Reiselivslag/Fjord Norway. Photo, right: Per Eide/Destination Ålesund& Sunnmøre

SPECIAL

THEME:

ÅLESUND

& SUNNMØRE

Boat trip on the Brosundet Canal in Ålesund Photo: Frithjof Fure/Destination Ålesund & Sunnmøre

48 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 49

Enjoy a bustrip from Ålesund and a cruise along UNESCO World Heritage Site, Geirangerfjord. Very steep mountains and wild waterfalls never fail to mesmerise visitors. The roundtrip also includes bus via the steep Eagle Road, which has amazing views of the Geirangerfjord.

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50 | Issue 28 | April 2011

The centre, which opened in the autumnof 2009, is dedicated to the environment,both in terms of research and information,and is popular with tourists and scien-tists alike.

“First and foremost we are a researchcentre dedicated to environmental re-search,” says communication managerMay Britt Haukås. The centre has got itsown laboratory, and several scientistswork there on a fulltime basis. “We arealso a research centre for wave energy,and our goal is to become the nationalleader in this field.”

“Secondly, we are also an informationcentre,” she says. “Our aim is to educatepeople about the amazing sea life in Nor-way, spreading information that is not very

well-known, and highlighting the impor-tance of the sea life on the coast here.”

Using the importance of the Norwegianspring-spawning herring as an example ofthe sort of not very well-known informa-tion she is talking about, she says: “Thelargest herring stock in the world residesoff the coast of Norway. It is in fact solarge that when the spring-spawning her-ring come to spawn, the combined weightof their eggs is around three to five timesthe weight of the Norwegian population.”The island is also where you can find themost southerly bird cliff in Norway, and ishome to around half a million birds. It iseasy to reach, and its most famous in-habitants are a flock of the Atlantic Puffin,often referred to as the “parrot of the sea”.As well as the Atlantic Puffin, the cliff is

home to 70 different nesting species, withas many as 240 species having been ob-served there.

Documenting the importance of balancein nature, Haukås says that you can tellwhether the herring spawning in one par-ticular year has been normal by looking atthe bird cliff. “The biological process ofthe herring is incredibly important,” shesays. “The herring provide food for otherfish and for sea birds, from when they areeggs until they die, and as such they are akey component of life in and around thesea.”

March saw the opening of an exciting tem-porary exhibition at the centre, “Run-deskatten” (The Runde Treasure). In 1725,the Dutch ship Akerendam set sail for In-

RundeMiljøsenter – A research centre with a differenceDid you know that the world’s largest stock of herring spawn off the coast of Norway? Or that the bird cliff of Runde is home to a

staggering 70 different nesting species? These are just some of the facts you can explore further when visiting the Runde

Miljøsenter (Runde Environmental Centre), a research, information and conference centre situated in beautiful surroundings on

the island of Runde in Møre og Romsdal. By Karin Modig | Photos: Knut Werner Alsén

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Ålesund & Sunnmøre

Photo:KatharinaSchultz

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 51

For more information, please visit:www.rundecentre.no

donesia to purchase spices, and wasloaded with gold and silver coins. Tragi-cally, it came across a hurricane and sankalongside the coast of Runde. The wreck-age was found in the early 1970s, and thecoins and other artefacts found have beenkept at Bergen Sjøfartsmuseum (BergenMaritime Museum) since 1972. Recentlyreturned to Runde, the gold and silvercoins form the backbone of this exhibition.

With a large auditorium and a restaurant,Runde Miljøsenter can also cater for cour-ses and conferences for up to 100 people.

Guests who want to stay overnight canhire one of eight new modern, self-con-tained flats. Each flat can accommodatefive people, and is equipped with TV, fridge

and dishwasher. The location also meansthat they all have beautiful views of thesea and the surrounding area.

All buildings at the centre are built withenvironmental solutions at the forefront.In the autumn of 2010, Runde Miljøsenterscooped the VVS award, a bi-annual awardgiven by the heat, ventilation and sanita-tion industries in Norway.

The centre was awarded the prize for itsenvironmental solutions, which includesolar panels, heat pumps, CO2 controlledair conditioning and the reuse of water.“We want to inspire others to use envi-ronmentally friendly solutions,” saysHaukås, “and to prove that it is possibleto have fully functional and modern ven-

ues that do not damage the environ-ment.”

Runde is popular with tourists, particularlyin the summer months, and has between30,000 and 50,000 people visiting the islandeach year. The centre is open for visitorsevery day from 1 June. Staff are available tohold talks and do tours for visitors, butthese must be booked in advance.

The island of Runde is connected to themainland by bridges and is around 25 kilo-metres southwest of Ålesund. The closestairports are Ålesund and Ørsta-Volda.

Photo:MayBrittHaukas

Photo:MayBrittHaukas

Left: View from the auditorium. Top right: The entrance. Bottom right: Sitting on the bird cliff is a magical experience.

Left: A model of the sunken ship Akerendam. Middle: Interior of one of the flats. Right: Bathroom in one of the flats.

52 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Located in this picturesque seaside townis the Stiftinga Sunnmøre Museum – thebase for a foundation, consisting of 13museums in the Sunnmøre region. High-lighted here are three of the foundation’smost beloved attractions.

Sunnmøre Museum

Sunnmøre Museum – the largest in thefoundation – is a beautiful open airmuseumwith over 50 distinctive character housesand a vast collection of boats that truly sendyou back in time. The main building’s exhi-bition on archaeology and culture provides areal insight into the area’s history. The sur-roundings are ideal for afternoonwalks, andin the summer you can jump aboard theViking shipBorgundknarren for a trip on thesea. “We always really look forward to thesummer season, as the entire area offers somany outdoor activities and really bringsthat bit of added extra to the experience,”says marketingmanager Siw Solvang.

Ålesund Museum

Beautifully situated right in the middle ofthe Ålesund town centre, the Ålesund Mu-seum presents the town history in an ex-

citing way through artefacts, photographsand paintings. A visit here will tell youabout the devastating fire of 1904 whichdestroyed almost the entire town centre,while the impressive large-scale modelof the town shows how it looked before itsreconstruction in the art nouveau style ithas today. In fact, a whole room is de-voted to the central features of this highlydecorative architectural style.

Fisheries Museum

One building that escaped the great TownFire is the restored old warehouse, out-standingly located at the old harbour. Atrue landmark of the town, Holmbua (TheHolm Shed) now hosts the Fisheries Mu-seum. The museum’s exhibitions educate

about the town’s production of dried codand other fish products, and you can evenlearn about old trades such as barrelmaking that are practically extinct today.

With its colourful 18th century woodenbuildings, historic churches and muse-ums, and scenery that dazzles the eye, it iseasy to see why Ålesund and the entireSunnmøre area are such popular touristdestinations. Here you can escape the hec-tic modern lifestyle and jump back in timein the calming Norwegian environment.

Museum-hopping in the Sunnmøre regionWith fjords, mountains and waterfalls, the Sunnmøre district, located in the south-western part of Norway hosts some of the

most stunning views in the world. The area’smain town, Ålesund, famous for its unique concentration of art nouveau architecture,

is often called Norway’s most beautiful city. By Inna Hakala | Photos: Stiftinga Sunnmøre Museum

For more information, please visit:www.sunnmore.museum.no

Sunnmøre Museum

Ålesund Museum Fisheries Museum

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 53

Nordic Choice Hotels is one of the lead-ing hotel chains in the Nordic region, andin and around Ålesund no less than threeChoice hotels are waiting to welcomeyou.

Clarion Collection Hotel Bryggen

A “different type of first-class hotel”, Ho-tel Bryggen, set in an old converted ware-house, lies right next to Ålesundet, thecanal running through Ålesund. “Our citycentre location means that coffee shops,bars and restaurants are all on yourdoorstep,” says general manager Jan ErikSyversen.

Appealing particularly to frequent trav-ellers, their “Feel at home” concept laysan emphasis on a homely, informal at-

mosphere. “As well as breakfast, we offercustomers coffee and tea 24/7, Norwe-gian waffles in the afternoon, as well as alate evening meal,” says Syversen. Thehotel has 85 rooms, meeting rooms, anda relaxation area with steam room andsauna.

Quality Hotel Waterfront

Opening in July is the 196-room QualityHotel Waterfront. The hotel benefits froma location that is in the city centre, yetmoments away from nature. “We have theperfect location both for experiencing citylife and for relaxing walks in nature,” saysgeneral manager Eva Hole. With a water-front location, al fresco wining and diningwill be possible, and Hole promises “foodand service to match the view.”

The modern hotel is built with environ-mentally friendly solutions in mind, andtakes inspiration from the traditional artnouveau style and from the sea. Meetingrooms will be available, with a larger con-ference area opening in November.

Quality Hotel Ulstein

A short ferry trip from Ålesund is thesmall town of Ulsteinvik, home to QualityHotel Ulstein. Only a few years old, the ho-tel has a modern, maritime style and liesright by the water. Taking full advantage ofhaving the sea on its doorstep, the hotel’srestaurant offers freshly caught fish andseafood.

The popular conference hotel benefitsfrom their close ties with Ulsteinvik’s new“house of culture” that works closely withthe hotel’s events team.

Quality Hotel Ulstein is also ideally situ-ated for anyone wanting to visit Runde,home to Norway’s southernmost bird cliff.

Choice Hotels in Ålesund and Ulsteinvik– in the region of Sunnmøre, in Møre & Romsdal

By Karin Modig | Photos: Choice Hotels

For more information, please visit:www.choicehotels.no

Clarion Collection Hotel Bryggen Quality Hotel Ulstein. Photo: Lasse Fløde

Quality Hotel Waterfront


54 | Issue 28 | April 2011


Coastal Odyssey is a specialist in seakayaking adventures located on the pic-turesque Geiranger fjord. Since the 90sthey have worked hard to reach their goal– to provide their customers with experi-ences beyond expectations.

It is more than 10 years ago that sea kayakspecialist Jonathan Bendiksen first pad-dled the world’s most photographed fjord.Returning from his trip, he instantly knewthat he had to show the spectacularcoastline adventure to others, and startedwhat is now a ‘classic’ among interna-tional sea kayaking destinations.

“I had already been sea kayak guiding inthe USA and Canada since the 80s, and af-ter paddling the Norwegian coast, I foundthat the Geiranger fjord was the perfectspot for a European base. There wereloads of tourists but few ways to reallyexperience the fjord,” says Bendiksen.

He set up the Coastal Odyssey sea kayakcentre in Geiranger to offer beginners andmore advanced kayakers the opportunityto view the fjord from a close and per-sonal level by paddling their way throughthe dramatic scenery on a guided tour.

“We have over 25 years of experience andwe are one of the best sea kayak tour op-erators in the world. We are experts inkayaking and know the fjord intimately;we have chosen the best places to go,”says the specialist.

“When you come to us you have an ex-pectation of how it will be, and our targetis to exceed this in every way, whether itbe through customer service, the profes-sionalism of our guides or the best possi-ble equipment.”

Coastal Odyssey also offers a six-day pad-dling trip during July and August fromÅlesund through Norway’s western fjords.This is an all-inclusive catered sea kayakcamping trip, for 8-10 people, suitable forall levels of paddlers.

The kayaking season starts in May andgoes on through to September. Trips sellout quickly so check the website for avail-ability.

At Radisson Blu Hotel in Ålesund, you findnot only high-quality accommodation onthe very shorelineononeofNorway’s stun-ning fjords, youalso findadventures: on thesea, in the town or on the city’s mountainAksla. You find history, architecture andfresh air. And you find Brain Food.

“Our hotel is chosen as the site for con-ferences andmeetings because of its sur-roundings; there is so much to see and doin Ålesund,” director of sales Nina Viddalsays. “And now we’re introducing BrainFood: food that helps the brain stay awakeand alert during the whole day, as op-posed to the after lunch drop of attentionlecturers usually see.”

Brain Food is something the Radisson BluHotels are investing in and which will highlybenefit their guests. Fresh raw materials,fish and meat with a low percentage of fat,

with vegetables and fruitwill offer the energythe brain needs to stay alert and healthy.

“At Radisson, we assist our guests in ar-ranging everything from bicycle rides totrips out on the fjord. The city-walk is alsoa very popular activity, both for our inter-national and Norwegian guests,” Viddalexplains. Ålesund suffered a catastrophicfire in 1904 and was rebuilt with distinctivearchitecture: turrets, spires and orna-mentation can be seen everywhere,Radisson Blu Hotel included.

“Our surroundings make us fortunateenough to be able to guarantee our guestsa special experience, be that as a touristor a participant in our many conferences.Our beautiful pier, where you can enjoysome food, a drink or just the fjord and themountains, provides a perfect end for theday when the sun sets.”

“At Radisson Blu Hotel, the competentand friendly staff strive to offer each guesta fantastic experience, and we aim fornothing but the best!” Viddal concludes.Let the hotel and its wonderful collabora-tors welcome you to join them in Ålesund,to explore their city, to experience theirfjords and mountains, and to have energyfor it all through their Brain Food.

Stay awake on the coast of SunnmøreBy Ingrid Marie Holmeide | Photo: Radisson Blu

For more information, please visit:www.radissonblu.com/hotel-alesund

Paddle the fjord

For more information, please visit:www.coastalodyssey.com

By Dyveke Nilssen | Photo: Coastal Odyssey

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 55


With three boats of high standard, eachaccommodating twelve people, Fjordguid-ing is ready to show you some of the mostspectacular sights in the Geirangerfjord.“We are open from May 1 to 31 Octoberthis year, with the high peak season be-tween June 1 and 31 August,” owner KjetilHantveit says. Booking can be done asclose as one or two days ahead. “Ourboats depart roughly once per hour be-tween 9 and 5.”

Fjordguiding works closely with the largecruise ships and smaller ships that stopby the Geirangerfjord on their voyagesalong the Norwegian coast. “Most of ourpassengers are people coming off the bigships to take a closer look at the water-falls, farms and beautiful nature of theGeirangerfjord,” Hantveit says. “But wemake sure one boat is free for touriststravelling by other means, meaning wealways have two boats on the fjord andone docked.”

Along the fjord are a number of historicaland beautiful farms, some of which aretourist attractions in themselves. As a partof the Geirangerfjord Safari, passengersare given the opportunity to disembarkand make their way to the farms or sightson their own, and then be picked up at alater stage, or walk back across themountain. “We try our very best to fit ourpassengers’ needs and are flexible on thetours we offer. We even plan individualtrips for companies and larger groups;we cooperate with local restaurants andoffer the possibility of bringing a chef outon a trip, should our passengers wishthat, and we can also journey to some ofthe biggest cities in the nearby area.”

Yet should you not wish to participate inthe larger packages, there is plenty to seeand experience on the 90 minute tripthrough the Geirangerfjord. The two mostfamous waterfalls in the fjord are TheSeven Sisters and The Suitor. The water-falls face each other across the fjord and

The Suitor is said to be wooing the Sisterson the other side.

Should you be the exploring type, ready toembark on an experience of a lifetime, donot let Fjordguiding and the Geiranger-fjord pass you by. Ready yourself for roughnature, steep mountains, roaring water-falls and myths of old. And do not forgetyour camera!

Be overwhelmed in the magical GeirangerfjordBeautiful, stunning, breathtaking: words become small when the sun sparkles on the steep mountains and plunging waterfallsof the Geirangerfjord in north-western Norway. This 15km long arm of the Storfjord was in 2005 included on UNESCO’s WorldHeritage list and was later described by National Geographic Magazine as one of the two best preserved sites on UNESCO’s list,along with another Norwegian fjord in Sogn. Fjordguiding will take you there.

By Ingrid Marie Holmeide | Photos: Fjordguiding

For more information, please visit:www.fjordguiding.com

56 | Issue 28 | April 2011


A devastating city fire in 1904, that leftthe city of Ålesund in ruins, came to de-fine it, as the subsequent rebuilding cre-ated one of the most homogenous artnouveau style areas in Europe.

Paying homage to the city’s unique style isthe Jugendstilsenteret (The Art NouveauCentre). “Jugendstilsenteret is a nationalcentre for the art nouveau style in Nor-way,” says director Nils Anker. “Inside,you can explore the interiors of the early1900s, such as a dining room with seatingfor 20 people, complete with ornateJapanese wallpaper, hugely popular inthat era.”Several multimedia shows are also on

the programme, with Art Nouveau andSociety showing the extent of the stylethroughout Europe. “This exhibition isavailable with commentary in 11 lan-guages,” adds Anker.As well as the permanent exhibitions,

two special exhibitions are on the pro-

gramme for 2011. Until the end of Au-gust, you can catch an exhibition of Nor-wegian and international art nouveaupostcards.Anker is also director of Kunstmuseet

KUBE, a regional art museum. “KUBE hasa wide range of modern art, coupled withsome retrospective exhibitions,” he says.“Most of the exhibitions are temporary,but we also have a permanent exhibition ofworks from the national romantic period.”The museum boasts exhibitions rang-

ing from modern furniture design to ar-chitecture. Onemajor event over the sum-

mermonths will be Nor-wegian Wood, an exhibi-tion showcasing modernNorwegian, environ-mentally viable buildingtechniques, using wood.In addition, there will bean exhibition on Norwe-gian contemporary art.“We are very proud of

both buildings and their varied art andculture programmes,” says Anker. “Wealso have a cosy café with amazing cakes,including a chocolate cake heralded inLonely Planet’s guidebook.”Jugendstilsenteret and KUBE Kunst-

museum are located in Ålesund city cen-tre, and a joint ticket gives you admissionto both.

Located in the heart of Ålesund, First Ho-tel Atlantica offers magnificent views ofthe surrounding fjords and SunnmøreAlps, which are covered with snow evenin summertime. A cosy and familiar ho-tel with a modern and inviting designlook, First Hotel Atlantica will cater toyour every need.

Facing the Brosundet Canal, which partsthe town in two, the hotel is only a twominute walk away from the centre for artnouveau and Jugendstil - as well ashouses built according to this style. Themain bus station is located behind the ho-tel, and a shuttle bus to the airport onlytakes 20 minutes.

First Hotel Atlantica comprises 73 roomsin total, 17 already existing design roomsrenovated in 2008, and in 3-4 weeks’ time

all of the rooms will be freshly redone.The look is fashionable, but still keeps toan intimate and cosy feel over all. The topfloor has balconies with splendid views.The hotel offers two conference roomswith capacity for up to 18-35 participants,as well as a third smaller room than canbe included for extra space. The roomshave modern equipment and offer freewireless Internet, which is availablethroughout the hotel for all guests.

The hotel’s restaurant and bar (closed onSundays) are both very popular. Therestaurant can seat up to 65 people andoffers a high standard of food, while thecocktail bar gets very busy on weekends.

“At our hotel, our guests are ‘family mem-bers’,” says Gertrud Furnes, who is one ofthe front desk personnel. “We say ‘nothing

is impossible’, as we can always do whatthe customers ask from us, it might justtake a little longer.”

“Your second home is FIRST - We lookforward to seeing you in Ålesund.”

First Hotel Atlantica:Design inspired hotel where ‘nothing is impossible’

For more information, please visit:www.firsthotels.com/en/Our-hotels/Norway/Alesund/First-Hotel-Atlantica

Art nouveau, modern art and cake

For further information, please visit:www.jugendstilsenteret.no andwww.kunstmuseetkube.no

By Karin Modig | Photos: KUBE

By Nia KajastiePhoto: First Hotel Atlantica

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 57


“Our philosophy is to offer the absolutehighest standard when it comes to thefood we serve. We mix Nordic raw mate-rials with food from our local suppliers.This enables us to call ourselves a ‘cleancompany’, meaning our food travels shortdistances only,” Adolfsson explains.

C&C Restaurant have more to offer thanjust in-house lunching and dining. Theyhost and cater for parties and confer-ences, offer catering and delivery serv-ices, including waitresses and waiters ifthat is required. They also offer foodclasses, tapas being the most popular,and a fantastic experience in their ownwine cellar. “In the wine cellar, our guestscan pre-book an evening, choosing be-tween a buffet, or a 3, 5 or 7-course mealthat is served for them while they them-

selves wander among the shelves to pickthe wine they wish to try.”

One of the most important goals C&CRestaurant are working towards is estab-lishing a restaurant where the food is themain focus and the absolute best fromthe Nordic kitchen, a place with a wel-coming and happy atmosphere wherepeople feel at home, and to manage allthis within a reasonable price limit. “Wewant our restaurant to be a place peoplechoose because of our great menu, but wealso want them to afford coming here: ex-cellent food at reasonable prices!”

In a bustling seaside town like Ålesund, aconference, a dining experience, a cookingclass or a party can be combined withother interesting activities. C&C Restau-

Dine in traditionWould you like to embark on a journey where your palate is the main guest? Whereyou will discover history and tradition in the food you eat? Would you like to see theplace where words like playful, seductive, cold and calculating all describe themenu?Then let Anders Adolfsson and his staff invite you to C&C Restaurant in Ålesund.

By Ingrid Marie Holmeide | Photos: C&C Restaurant

rant has its own history to tell as one ofthe city’s most well-known food-historicalhouses. Having been a brewery, a slaugh-ter house and a delicacy store, the build-ing is perfect for keeping alive traditionsand history.

Offering lighter lunch food during the day,C&C transforms to an à la carte restau-rant at night. “We want to give our guestsan experience where they notice that thedishes and quality of the food we serve isimportant to us. I think we succeed inthat,” Adolfsson says.

So should you want to treat yourself to thebest that Nordic food has to offer, an ad-venture in the wine cellar, laughs in thetapas class, a distinctive conference orjust a lovely evening with fantastic food ina homely atmosphere, then C&C Restau-rant is the place for you. “And should youwant to arrange something more specificor a special occasion, don’t be afraid tothrow us a challenge,” Adolfsson con-cludes.

For more information, please visit:www.cateringogconsulting.no

58 | Issue 28 | April 2011


With Norway’s beautiful mountains asbackdrop, Cylindra objects materialize inthe picture almost as a part of a mythicallandscape. And in a way they are: many ofthe pieces are inspired by the stunningwild nature in western Norway and Åle-sund in particular.

“Mountain Peak - chair, table and cup-board, are inspired by the landscape ofthis area. They look like sharp, craggymountain peaks. As with the other piecesin the series, the top of the cupboard rep-resents a majestic range of mountainpeaks, which in this case rises up to twometres in height,” says its renowned cre-ator Peter Opsvik.

The gallery

At Cylindra Gallery in Ålesund, visitors canexperience not only the objects, but alsothe landscape they are inspired by. “Even

if these objects are meant for indoor use,I like to bring them out into nature be-cause it creates some very beautiful pho-tos,” says Kjellbjørn Tusvik, owner andcabinetmaker, who founded CylindraGallery in Ålesund, four years ago. “Peterand I have been working together for al-most 23 years now - the best period of mylife. Not everybody gets the chance to

work with the most famous designer inScandinavia, so I feel very privileged,” saysTusvik, who also owns Cylindra workshopand gallery in the village of Tusvik, wherethe objects are made. At the 100-year-oldworkshop, inherited by Tusvik from hisgrandfather, cabinets and other objectsdesigned by Opsvik are handcrafted insolid wood by skilled workers. And withthe beautiful setting between the moun-tains and the fjord, Tusvik says “inspira-tion comes easily”.

From barrel to furniture

Cylindra was founded to produce thewooden barrel inspired furniture by PeterOpsvik in 1989. The idea for the unique de-sign came about when Opsvik was exper-imenting with the cylindrical shape in thebeginning of the 1980s. “When I worked ingraphic art and paintings on paper or can-vas with only two dimensions, I often

Cylindra Gallery– experience the function, beauty and inspiration of Cylindra furniture objects

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Cylindra Gallery

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 59


For more information, please visit:www.cylindra.net or www.cylindra.no

Cylindra Gallery in Ålesund is openMonday – Friday 9am - 6pm andSaturday - Sunday 12 - 4pm

Cylindra workshop and galleryin Tusvik is openMonday - Friday 10 am - 4pm

wished to have a basic form which couldbe shaped freely and yet be functional,”says the artist. “The solid wood-cylindermade my wish come true. If we roll up asheet of paper or a canvas, we get a cylin-der. The surface has no end horizontally,only vertically.”

In 1984, Opsvik’s desire was fulfilled whena Norwegian barrel maker contacted himabout a furniture venture. Instead of usingthe barrel shape, Opsvik crafted thestraight cylinders that are still the foun-dation for his playful, slightly provoking,yet functional designs. “Most of the thingswe surround ourselves with, should bedesigned for use. But in a hall, for in-stance, where you sit down and tie yourshoelaces every day, you don’t need anergonomic chair. It is more important thatthis chair bids you welcome home, likethe Embracement chair,” stresses Opsvik.

In 1989, Opsvik teamed up with Tusvik andthe development of 30 objects, such aschairs, tables, cupboards and wardrobes,started. Today the cylindrical furniture’scombination of artistic expression andpractical function is renowned all over theworld, with objects exhibited at museumsand art shows in cities such as Chicago,New York and London.

An extraordinary experience

At both the gallery in Ålesund and Tusvik,visitors can buy many of the pieces on ex-hibition, for instance the Two Servants -a wardrobe that consists of two verticalboards, taking the form of the humanbody. But the galleries are not just aboutbuying objects, stresses KjellbjornTusvik: “We have always had a dreamabout having our own galleries. A placewhere we could meet people with an in-terest in our furniture objects, listen totheir opinions and test our theories onhow to work with our pieces. You see,working with objects that are both artand furniture is something special. Weare not offering just an object; we arealso selling a story.” Another popularitem for tourists to bring back home isthe Keybox, a unique piece which you canuse for hiding your keys or just as aneye-catcher on the wall.

To complement the stories of the furnitureobjects, Tusvik arranges many differenthappenings at the workshop and gallery.On 1 April, the gallery has a retro dinnerparty with live music for 120 guests, andlater in the year a jazz concert with PeterOpsvik, who is also a jazz musician, willtake off. “Combining a tour around my

workshop with short mountain hikes, livemusic and dinner at the gallery has alsobeen very popular,” says the galleryowner. So whether you are looking for anew unique furniture object, an inspira-tional art exhibition or a different eveningout, Cylindra Gallery might be just theplace.

60 | Issue 28 | April 2011


Opened in 2000, in the small town of Hov-debygda, in Norway’s south-western dis-trict of Sunnmøre, the Ivar Aasen Centreis a national centre for documenting andexperiencing the Nynorsk (New Norwe-gian) written language. It is also the onlymuseum in the country devoted to itsfounder, Ivar Aasen's life and work.

Consisting of five buildings spanning fourcenturies, the centre is situated on thefarm where Ivar Aasen (1813-1896) wasborn and raised. Aasen, a language re-searcher, rewrote Norwegian history andlaid the foundations for the New Norwe-gian language based on a variety of di-alects. He also wrote some of Norway'smost popular folksongs.

The spectacular main building on the dra-matically steep hillside, designed by Nor-way's leading architect Sverre Fehn andboasting Norway’s most prestigious ar-chitectural award, holds a large perma-

nent exhibition on Ivar Aasen and the NewNorwegian literature along with other lan-guages. “We are a museum that workswith language in a broad sense. The Nor-wegian language is the basis for our workbut our exhibition presents languagesfrom other parts of the world as well,”says administration manager Gaute Øv-ereng.

Presenting a varied cultural programmeall year round, the centre offers lots tosee, from an indoor amphitheatre to acomputer-based Dialect Game, all show-

casing the foundationsof the language that hasbecome a natural part ofeveryday Norwegian lifeand is today the first lan-guage of at least 600,000Norwegians.

The centre also hosts anannual celebration with

guest authors, live music and unexpectedworks of art. The Festival of New Norwe-gian Literature, Art and Music is held overthe last weekend of June.

With stunning views over the valley, in-genious Scandinavian architecture andplenty of information on Norway’s impor-tant piece of history, this place does notfail to impress.

Located in the heart of Sunnmøre be-tween themountains and fjords, Borgundfolkehøgskole is a school with a differ-ence: its objective is to expand students’experiences by teaching them about per-sonal development, social interactionand a travel destination of their choice,which they will also journey to for a pe-riod of 3-4 weeks.

Originally based on the educational con-cept of Danish pastor and philosopher N.F. S. Grundtvig, this Norwegian “folk high

school” offers 19-20 year old students in-valuable practical knowledge and socialexperiences, without being tied down by astrict curriculum or grades.

“The school will have its 100th anniversaryin three years’ time, and for the last 10years we have profiled it as a ‘travel school’.Our principal slogan is ‘give yourself a jour-ney of a lifetime’,” explains teacher OttarMyrseth. “We take this into consideration inthree different ways: firstly, through a per-sonal journey of finding yourself; secondly,

through a year-long social journey, as youwill be living in a dormitory, socialising withall the other students; and thirdly, by trav-elling out into the world, as all studentshave chosen one of six travel target classesfrom all continents.”

While the students learn about the cultureand history of their chosen travel destina-tion, they can also choose differentclasses to further fulfil their experience,such as sports, outdoor life, music, crafts,theatre and so forth.

For two months of the year, in June andJuly, the complex turns into a B&B, per-fect for families looking for a place closeto Ålesund and with loads of opportunitiesfor outdoor activities.

For more information, please visit:www.borgfhs.no

The Ivar Aasen Centre – a language lover’s dream

For further information, please visit:www.aasentunet.no

By Inna Hakala

Borgund folkehøgskole – an adventure of a lifetime By Nia KajastiePhotos: Borgund folkehøgskole

Photos: Ivar Aasen Centre

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 61


Norddal, with its 140 inhabitants, is hometo a rather extraordinary project thatproves just how far you can get with a lit-tle bit of cooperation and joined-up think-ing.

“The tourist industry is a secondary in-dustry for the majority of our local busi-nesses, most work full-time in the farm-ing sector,” says Petter Melchior, a farmerhimself, who is currently at the helm ofthe project. “The Happy End was born outof a desire to utilize the possibilities andthe people within the area.”

The organisation started out as a devel-opment project connected to the millen-nium celebrations. Norddal arranged a

three-day festival, Midtsommer Dagene(Midsummer Days), that has gone on tobecome an annual event with dancing,concerts, food stalls and theatre per-formances. “The festival really made usrealise the potential of our little village,and what we have to offer,” says Melchior.For a place with so few permanent resi-dents, having 15 thriving businesses co-operating must be considered an achieve-ment. “There is a strong network betweenthe people here, enabling us to offer ac-tivities and experiences involving severalbusinesses. It’s a win-win situation,” hesays.

“For a few years now, we have offeredpackage deals that include B&B, guided

walks, tasting of local delicacies, and anintroduction to local, traditional arts andcrafts techniques.”

“Visitors can choose between a number ofdifferent accommodation options, fromthe local guest house with all its modcons, to back-to-basic traditional cottagesin the mountains, where animals go tograze in the summer.”

The Melchior farm is one of three goatfarms in the area, and tours are arrangedto see the goats roam among the steepmountains and impressive waterfalls.Other offerings for visitors include a gour-met tour, where you get a chance to visitthe local farms to sample and buy localproduce, such as honey, jams and the fa-mous dry cured meats.

The Happy End – Only the beginning

The community spirit is alive and kicking in the small village of Norddal, where a num-

ber of businesses have joined forces to create local jobs, whilst offering visitors an au-

thentic slice of village life.

By Karin Modig | Photos: The Happy End

For more information, please visit:www.thehappyend.no

Norddal is easily accessible fromÅlesund and Vigra, and with its activemountain summer farms andKallskaret nature reserve, it is animportant part of UNESCO WorldHeritage site the Geiranger Fjord.

62 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Recently Sankt Jörgen Park Resort cele-brated three years of operation. Since itsambitious conception, this unique venuehas become the talk of the town. SanktJörgen Park Resort has already won nu-merous awards, last year "Spa of theyear".

The resort is considered to house one ofthe most luxurious spa hotels one canfind in Sweden. The 2,000 square metrespa includes indoor and outdoor pools,saunas, hot springs, snowmachines, andoffers a wide range of activities, cures andtreatments. At Jos Bar, you can enjoyfreshly pressed juice and wholesome food.Put simply, Sankt Jörgen Park is a spa forall the senses, and for you to regain en-ergy and find peace.

”We have introduced new thinking to ourspa rituals. Each one has its own pur-pose: relaxation, vitalisation or a pure en-ergy boost. We promote the Indian so-called Ayurvedian way of thinking, which isa concept of a balanced life creating pos-itive energy, and we blend the Nordic spaphilosophy into this," says Lisa Thoren,head of the press department.

A tempting array of warm and cool poolsand saunas await you with different heat-ing zones and fragrances, so that you cancustomize your own spa experience fromthe treatments and activities available, orchoose a standard package.

"Sankt Jörgen Park Spa is an adult spa,where guests are guaranteed a peaceful

Hotel of the Month, Sweden:

Sankt Jörgen Park Resort, GothenburgSurrounded by enchanting forest, a golf course and a magnificent view over the Gothenburg skyline, Sankt JörgenPark Resort is more than just a place to stay, it is a place to relax.

By Emelie Krugly | Photos: Sankt Jörgen Park Resort

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 63

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Sweden

experience. Children between 13 and 18years of age must be accompanied by anadult," says Thoren.

The resort is situated on Hisingen, thefourth largest island of Sweden, just 10minutes from the Central Station andGothenburg City Airport. Flights to LondonStansted are frequent, as they depart fromGothenburg's international airport, a fur-ther 15 minutes away by car or bus.

The hotel has a total of 82 rooms andsuites; the interior design is stylish andproudly Scandinavian. There is also a re-freshing and well thought out meetingvenue with a creative meeting room, aboardroom and a Prisma Cinema for pre-sentations, TV broadcasts and launches.This makes it the perfect setting for con-ferences. The resort also offers facilitiesperfect for exhibitions, fairs and customerevents.

Sankt Jörgen Park Resort is also a popu-lar wedding venue and offers a high levelof catering.

Restaurant Garden Café and the Restau-rant Greenhouse at the golf club bothserve delicious fare. The lobby bar, calledBula Bar, serves lighter snacks anddrinks.

"Our hotel restaurant offers fine dining or‘fun dining’, as we call it. We create inno-vative dishes with flare; all made using thefinest locally producedmeat, fish and veg-etables. The result is a diverse range ofbeautifully presented contemporary, in-ternational dishes. The club house restau-rant at the golf course offers more of aclassic range of Scandinavian cuisine,"says Thoren.

Guests at Sankt Jörgen Park Resort re-ceive free access to the spa and sportsclub, offering gym facilities and varioustreatments. Hotel guests can also takeadvantage of the various discounted golf-ing offers and packages. The highlypraised 18-hole course, known locally asthe Sankt Jörgen Golf Club, is only a threeminute walk from the hotel, known in par-ticular for its fine finish and exciting

greens. Standard benefits for guests are areduced green fee and the possibility tobook your tee off when you check in.

Guests travel from all over the country toexperience a dose of this extraordinaryresort, and many of them return. Thorenstresses that customer service is some-thing they take very seriously, offeringtheir clients a top-quality experience fromcheck in to check out. The greatest proofand a compliment to the level of service istime and time again seeing familiar facesreturning through the doors.

For more information, please visit:www.sanktjorgenpark.se

64 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Despite the historic feel, SchackenborgSlotskro is also a modern conferencevenue with all the latest technical facili-ties. It is run by husband and wife teamHenning Kohl and Lise Overgaard Laurit-sen, who both have several years of expe-rience working in large conference cen-tres. They have brought their expertise toSchackenborg Slotskro, where they putthe emphasis on personal service andflexibility. Clients often book the wholevenue, in order to create a completely tai-lor-made conference.

The one common thread is the gourmetexperience: whichever package youchoose, you can expect to be impressed bythe cooking. “We always spoil our guests,”says Kohl. The cuisine is a fusion betweenmodern Scandinavian cooking and Frenchand Italian, using seasonal, local produce,whenever possible.

Schackenborg Slotskro is situated byVadehavet, a protected nature reserve ofoutstanding beauty and rich wildlife. This

marshland is the largest bird sanctuary inDenmark, and it is an internationally im-portant site for migrating waterfowl andwaders. The low waters are also a breed-ing area for many fish species, and thearea is hugely popular among fishing en-thusiasts. The inn's management organ-ises guided trips to the marshland, bothfor private guests and as well as part of aconference event.

The local area is steeped in history. Due toits proximity to the German border, thearea has been fought over on numerousoccasions and has alternatively belongedto Germany and Denmark. This fascinat-ing history can be examined in the localmuseums. Visitors interested in the Vikingperiod, will also find plenty of interest inlocal museums, and, of course, there isSouth Jutland's Museumof Art which fo-cuses on Nordic art from the 20th century.

Schackenborg Slotskro's nearest neigh-bour is Schackenborg Castle, the resi-dence of His Royal Highness PrinceJoachim, who happens to be part-ownerof the inn. The beautiful castle garden isopen to the public and guided tours areavailable.

So, for a right royal treat – why not visitSchackenborg Slotskro?

Hotel of the Month, Denmark:

Schackenborg Slotskro – a right royal treatSchackenborg Slotskro is a charming 300-year-old inn, situated in the southernmost part of Denmark, close to theGerman border. It is a small, historic inn with 25 individually designed and elegantly appointed rooms, spread overfour listed buildings. By Yane Christensen | Photos: Schackenborg Slotskro

For more information, please visit:www.slotskro.dk

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 65

Gjáargarður offers a range of accommo-dation to suit everyone’s needs. The mainbuilding offers charming en suite doublerooms, and the top floor contains 10 dis-tinctive Viking-style alcoves, serving as bedand breakfast rooms with shared bath-room facilities. In the recent extension toGjáargarður, there are 12 luxurious flatseach with combined bedroom and livingspace along with a private bathroom andinternet access. Despite being spread overseveral storeys, Gjáargarður is wheelchair-friendly with disabled access available toevery floor and throughout the building.

“Gjáargarður has a cosy, friendly and re-laxing atmosphere giving guests the feel-ing of home, despite being far away,” saysmanager Eirik Suni Danielsen. The guest-house is an ideal starting point for ex-ploring the stunning landscape of theFaroe Islands, and the hotel also offers bi-cycles for hire to guests. Visitors staying atGjáargarður are also treated to traditionalFaroese cuisine, often comprising locallysourced fish and lamb.

Businesses can alsomake good use of theguesthouse’s conference and seminar fa-cilities, which include use of AV equipment,buffet, and tea and coffee. Catering for bothsmall and large groups, Gjáargarður is a

unique location, set in the relaxing but in-spiring environment of the Faroe Islands,for companies to negotiate business plansor for team building sessions.

The Faroe Islands offer stunning country-side for nature lovers to explore. And beingthe first Faroese hotel to be awarded theGreen Key, an international eco label fortourism facilities, Gjáargarður is passion-ate about nature and the environment. Asguests stay in the guesthouse and explorethe country’s striking landscape, they willalso be supporting eco-tourism.

Hotel of the Month, Faroe Islands:

Escape to the CountrysideTucked away in the Faroe Islands in Gjógv is Gjáargarður, a charming guesthouse. Operating with just 10 membersof staff in the summer, Gjáargarður offers a friendly and personal service to guests staying on the island, looking toexperience the stunning countryside. By Samantha Wong | Photos: Gjáargarður

For more information, please visit:www.gjaargardur.fo

Contact:

Gjáargarður, FO-476, GjógvFaroe IslandsPhone +298 42 31 71Email: [email protected]

66 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Built in 1891, the hotel was originally built inwood and in a style closely related to artnouveau architecture.Having beenextendedand rebuilt several times over the years, thehotel today has just under 200 rooms, in-cludinganewpenthouse floorwith 13 suites.

With an on-site spa, a kitchen serving upgreat Norwegian produce, and plenty ofspace for tailor-made conferences, it ishardly any wonder they are busy.

Situated in Geiranger, a UNESCO WorldHeritage site, and often named ‘the mostbeautiful fjord in the world,’ the influenceof the location and surrounding nature

can be seen and felt throughout the hotel,and plays a big part in both the food andactivities on offer.

A contemporary kitchen creates local foodwith a modern twist. “The kitchen’s phi-

losophy is to make everything fromscratch, using local produce,” says MonjaMjelva. “We have relationships with manylocal meat producers, and the meat weuse comes from animals that have beengrazing in Geiranger,” she says. “We alsohave our very own smoker, where wesmoke salmon, and an in-house pastrychef.”The main restaurant is a buffet eatery,and in addition, there is an à la carterestaurant, a café, and places to have lightbites. “We can also offer some pretty spe-cial experiences to our guests, like cater-ing outdoors on one of the many farms bythe fjord, or cooking according to local

Hotel of the Month, Norway:

Hotel Union– Nature experiences and spa pampering in GeirangerThe family-owned Hotel Union has been run by the Mjelva family since 1899. Currently at the helm are Monja and Sindre Mjelva,

hosts and managing directors, and fourth generation proprietors. By Karin Modig | Photos: Damian Heinisch

Breakfast at the Union Spa. Photo: Rune Hagen

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 67

historical traditions on an open fire,” saysMjelva.

There are also several bars in the hotel,the nightclub has a band and dancing sixdays a week, and the Saloon Bar is theperfect place to enjoy a cup of tea whilelooking out at the fjord.

Breathtaking views are also on offer inthe spa. Built in 2008, it is “1,500 squaremetres of bliss”, and the large windowsallow you to fully take in the view of thesurroundings. “With our location and withan on-site spa, we can offer visitors thechance to combine activities out in naturewith a visit to an international spa,” saysMjelva, “and I think that is something a bitdifferent and special.”

“We have several different pool and bathoptions,” she says, “with both an indoor andan all-year heated, outdoor pool. Guestscan also visit the sauna, have a Japanesebath or a steam bath with eucalyptus.”

“Our guests can also indulge in treat-ments like massages, manicures or fa-cials.” Treatments have both been in-spired by, and named after the local area.On the menu is both Brudesløret (TheBridal Veil), a 55-minute facial named af-ter one of Geiranger’s most famous wa-

terfalls, and the Fjellvandrerdraumen (Themountain hiker’s dream) body wrap.

For those who really just want to ‘get awayfrom it all’, rest and relaxation is of highimportance here. A relaxation area and alibrary are part of the experience, and sois a small café where you can enjoy sal-ads, drinks and light bites in yourbathrobe and slippers. “The whole con-cept of our spa is that it is meant to be anoasis of peace and quiet,” says Mjelva,“and provide people with an opportunity toget their energy levels back.”

The spa is built according to feng shuiprinciples, optimizing the natural energythat exists in Geiranger. And with anothernod to the local area, building materialsinclude both local stone and wood fromold farm buildings, with outdoor plantsand flowers used for decorations.

Hotel Union is one of the largest providersof courses and conferences in the region.With smaller meeting rooms suitable foranything from two people and an audito-rium that seats 600, they can cater for awide variety of events, from informal busi-ness meetings to big weddings. “All con-ferences are tailor-made to that particu-lar client’s requests and needs,” saysMjelva, “and we employ event plannersthat plan the clients’ experience with usfrom beginning to end.”

Individually planned conferences and eventsare often combinedwith activities on offer inand around Geiranger. “We do a lot of teambuilding activities, where nature and cul-ture play an important part,” says Mjelva.

“Groups can start their experience assoon as they step off the plane, with thetwo-hour boat journey here. Once here,we can offer walks in the mountains or bythe fjord, abseiling, Nordic walking tours,fishing competitions, climbing and manyother activities.”

Hotel Union and all its facilities are opento visitors all year round.

For further information and onlinebooking, please go to: www.hotelunion.no

Spa Suite. Photo: Terje Rakke, Nordic Life

The reception. Photo: Damian Heinisch Nordic Walking in Geiranger. Photo: Rune Hagen

The Spa. Photo: Terje Rakke, Nordic Life

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway

68 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel andSokos Hotel Hamburger Börs (as well asthe hotels Sokos Hotel City Börs andSokos Hotel Seurahuone) are workingtogether with different venues in Turku tocreate the perfect holiday package andEuropean Capital of Culture 2011 experi-ence. With various hotel and ticket pack-ages on offer, there is something for allbudgets and tastes.

Sokos Hotel Hamburger Börs is locatedright in the centre of Turku, by the MarketSquare and comprises 346 stylish rooms,meeting facilities and a great selection ofrestaurants. This popular hotel has beena legend among city hotels since 1904,

with its latest renovation in 2006-2007.The establishment is part of a largeFinnish hotel chain, which adheres to highinternational standards. Rooms are de-signed by local architects and the fur-nishings partly originate from local de-sign companies.

Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel, as allRadisson Blu Hotels, has a 100% GuestSatisfaction Guarantee, together with amultitude of other benefits. Beautifullysituated on the banks of the Aura River,the hotel includes 184 baroque-stylerooms, two restaurants, a bar, and a con-ference and banqueting department forevents of up to1,000 people.

Turku, the former capital of Finland, isbursting with events, happenings and ex-hibitions, just waiting to be explored andexperienced by culture lovers from all overthe world. Among other things, new Cul-ture Centre LOGOMO (an old train engi-neering workshop) is holding an interac-tive exhibition on fire that also touchesupon the Great Fire of Turku in 1827. It ex-plores the element from different anglesand reveals how the destructive firechanged Turku as a city.

Hotels of the Month, Finland:

Sokos Hotel Hamburger Börs& Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel– Your base for enjoying Turku, the European Capital of Culture 2011By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Sokos Hotel Hamburger Börs / Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel

For more information, please visit:www.sokoshotels.fi/en/leisure/turkuwww.sokoshotels.fi/en/hotels/turkuwww.radissonblu.com/hotel-turkuwww.turku2011.fi/en/travellers/hotel-packages

Logomo Exhibitions16 Jan – 18 Dec 2011, every day 11am – 7pm(including Fire! Fire! – step into the world offlames)

Cirque Dracula23 June – 14 Aug 2011, Mannerheim ParkMagical variety show of a vampire crazy in love. In-ternational circus performerswill passionately pres-ent theCount’s story using spectacular somersaults,acrobatics and kung-fu.

Eerik XIV22 – 29 Nov 2011, LogomoAn opera about a young king, his headstrongqueen, imprisonment and madness. This three-act opera has been commissioned by the City ofTurku from composer Mikko Heiniö and librettistJuha Siltanen in honour of the Capital of Cultureyear.

Here is a very small sample of all the things the European Capital of Culture 2011programme in Turku has to offer:

For reservations, please contact:Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel,TurkuTel. +358 (0)20 1234 [email protected]

Sokos Hotels in TurkuTel. +358 (0)2 337 [email protected]

Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel Sokos Hotel Hamburger Börs Restaurant YläBörs (in Sokos HotelHamburger Börs)

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 69

Spread over 20 acres, the GothenburgBotanical Garden is the largest in north-ern Europe and houses 16,000 differentplant species and hybrids. In the green-houses, you will find the largest collec-tion of tropical orchids and a fantasticenvironment in which to relax and whileaway the hours.

Founded in 1923, the garden is not farfrom Gothenburg's city centre and is amust-see for all lovers of the naturalworld. This extraordinary park features akitchen garden, a bulb garden, a herb gar-den, a Japanese valley, and a famous rockgarden with 5,000 species and an impres-sive waterfall. The greenhouses includethe largest collection of orchids in Swedenwith 1,500 species.

"During the spring, and particularly inApril, large quantities of wild bulbs and tu-bers will bloom; they are collected by thebotanical staff during expeditions aroundthe world. This season, the spectaculardove tree (Davidia) is in bloom. It attractsthousands of visitors every year," sayspublic relations officer Agneta Green.

Every year or so, the organisers invite anacclaimed landscape architect or gar-dener to create their own and unique gar-den. This year English-born gardener anddesigner, Simon Irvine has built a three-metre high hall at the entrance to the gar-den, where a network of wires carries amix of useful plants and ornamentals.Irvine has named his garden Lövkapellet("The Leaf Chapel"), which will open tothe public in June and will stay open un-til the end of 2012.Next to the Botanical Garden, you will findÄngårdsbergen's nature reserve with itsheather moor land, which is impressivegiven the large number of unusual trees

on show, trees not normally found in Swe-den.

The Botanical Garden is open all yearround, and the best time to visit is, ofcourse, from early spring to autumn, al-though, according to Green: "All seasonshave a charm of their own." In May andJune, the Rhododendron valley is an at-traction at which to marvel. “Autumn is abeautiful time in the Botanical Garden;the perennial and annual borders are inbloom, and we organise exhibitions offungi and fruit. The Christmas exhibitionis also another popular occasion," Greenadds.

There are always many reasons to visitthe garden, so why not bring coffee andsandwiches and have a picnic on one ofthe many lawns, or enjoy a wholesomelunch at the restaurant. In the shop, youwill find maps and information in English;alternatively you can download an audioguide from the website.

The garden is open all year round from9am until the sun goes down; admissionis free, but donations are welcomed.

Attraction of the Month, Sweden:

Gothenburg Botanical GardenBy Emelie Krugly Hill | Photos: Gothenburg Botanical Garden

For more information, please visit:www.gotbot.se

70 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway

Once at the top, you have plenty of oppor-tunities to experience the stunning views ofthe city from the comfort of the viewingplatform, or experience the beautiful natureof the area in a more active manner.

“Ulriken is the starting point formany greatwalks,” says Hokstad, “and from themiddleofMaywe offer guidedmountain tours withexperiencedwalkers in several languages.”

At Bergen Base Camp, Ulriken’s mountainshop, you can pick up suitable clothingfor your walk, get advice on the route, andfind out how to get involved with activitiessuch as paragliding, climbing and abseil-ing. A souvenir shop as well, this is theplace to buy bottled fresh Norwegianmountain air!

Restaurant sky:skraperen (“The SkyScraper”), the highest restaurant in

Bergen, offers unparalleled panoramicviews of the city, as well as locally pro-duced food. “All the produce we use atthe restaurant are from places you cansee fromUlriken,” says Hokstad, “so thereis most definitely a focus on local pro-duce.”

An à la carte menu is served until 5pmevery day, while the evening menu is a setthree-course dinner for 643 Norwegiankroner. The seasonal menu changes on aregular basis, and typically features a lotof fish and seafood in the summer, with anemphasis on game in the winter months.From the last weekend of April, eveningconcerts will be held in the restaurant.

Should you be in the mood for a more in-timate dining experience, you can hire oneof the cable cars for a three-course diningexperience for two.

The restaurant can also cater for largegroups and, not surprisingly, is a particu-larly popular spot for weddings.

Attraction of the Month, Norway:

Ulriken643 – A mountain experience in the cityWestern Norway’s Bergen is known as the city of sevenmountains. The tallest, Ulriken, at 643metres is easily accessible from thecity centre and well worth a visit. “From the famous Fisketorget (the FishMarket) you can catch a double-decker bus to a cable carthat will take you straight to the top,” says Eirik Hokstad, general manager of Ulriken643, a joint venture between the businessesof Ulriken.

By Karin Modig | Photos: Ulriken643

For further information, please visit:www.ulriken643.no

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 71

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark

In 2010, Horsens Museum acquired ahuge collection of objects from the firstprison in Denmark, built in the city ofHorsens in 1853. Formore than 100 years,the city was famous for holding one of thebiggest prisons in Denmark, and with itsclosing down in 2006, Horsens Museumwas given a collection ofmore than 10,000items, someofwhich are nowavailable forvisitors to explore in an innovative exhibi-tion opening 22 June 2011.

Horsens Museum brings into focus theconcept of prison life, giving guests aunique opportunity to find out what it islike to be an inmate in a world of crime.With the incredible story of the formerMinister of Justice, Peter Adler Alberti,who himself became a prisoner convictedof fraud and falsification, enriching him-self with millions of DKK, the museumwelcomes you to investigate a famouscrime adventure that made the headlinesin 1910, when Alberti was sentenced toeight years in prison.

For a man of justice, this was withoutdoubt a tremendous fall from grace. Iron-ically, whilst holding the position of Min-ister of Justice, Alberti had tightened upthe life of a prisoner, as well as imple-menting corporal punishment.

Grab the chance to explore Alberti almostas a living person in a stunning 3D holo-gram, where he will tell his unbelievablestory to you. Visitors will be able to seehundreds of fascinating and intriguing ob-jects that illustrate the life of a prisoner inthe year 1910. The death penalty was not

yet repealed and all sorts of punishmentmethods seem quite frightening com-pared to our modern conceptions.

“On two big touch screens, visitors canexplore the prison as it looked back inthose days and scoop out great stories inall the cells, corridors and yards of theformer prison,” explains curator AnneBjerrekær. Through the new portal(www.faengslet2.dk), this will withoutdoubt be an extraordinary experience;from 25 March you will be able to experi-ence this in your own living room.

Horsens Museum is located in a beautifulscenic park and boasts a range of othercaptivating exhibitions from ancient timesto the middle ages. There is a definiteguarantee of being entertained and in-formed whilst visiting this museum.

Attraction of the Month, Denmark:

Get locked up in Horsens MuseumBy Charlotte Kany | Photos: Horsens Museum

For more information, please visit:www.horsensmuseum.dk

Left: Horsens Museum. Middle: The formerMinister of Justice, Peter Adler Alberti, whowas prisoner no. 75. Right: Horsens prison asit looked like when Alberti was an inmate.

Below: The toy printing kit that Alberti used forhis fraud.

72 | Issue 28 | April 2011

To experience a hidden paradise is on topof most travellers’ wish list, and that is ex-actly what you get if you take a boat triparound the Faroe Islands in the heart of theAtlantic Ocean. With scheduled daily de-partures from the capital Tórshavn in thesummer period, there are plenty of oppor-tunities to enjoy a maritime adventure.

“The view of the islands from the boat istruly spectacular, and you see things youare not able to access from dry land. It’s anunforgettable experience to sail throughthe narrow caves and watch the light play-ing on the walls, and there’s a good chanceof spotting seals as well,” says SigmundSignarsson, manager of RIB62, who, be-

sides the prescheduled trips, designs spe-cial voyages for individuals and groups intothe ravishing Faroese nature.

The boat tours are, furthermore, perfect fora memorable teambuilding trip for com-panies, and RIB62 offers fully arrangedpackages with sailing, rappelling and culi-nary experiences outdoors.

“Safety is always our number one priority,but as long as that is taken care of we’ll doour best to meet people’s requests. Weprovide flotation suits, hard-hats, safetyglasses and gloves, so all you have tothink about is enjoying the trip,” says Sig-narsson.

There is a trip to satisfy everyone’s need,even for the more adventurous types whorevel in a short high-speed journey withloud music pouring out of the waterproofspeakers.

When asked, Signarsson has his favouritetour from Bursatangi in Tórshavn to theisland of Hestur.

“If the weather is good, we sail into thedeep caves in the south-western part ofthe island and move as near as possible tothe rich bird life. The trip is perfect in theevenings when you can enjoy the beautifulsunset as you exit on thewestern side of thecliff. If you can’t fall in love with one ofRIB62’s trips, you might consider thatyou’rewasting yourmoney travelling at all.”

The itineraries run from early May to theend of August 2011 and last from 10 min-utes up to a whole day.

Attraction of the Month, Faroe Islands:

RIB62 – discover the breath-taking Faroe Islands from the seaside

The Faroe Islands offer a spectacular experience in themselves, but discovering the Atlantic group of islands by boat adds a whole

new dimension and reveals places you cannot access from dry land. Whether you prefer a peaceful sail among seals and rare birds

or a roaring high-speed adventure, RIB62 does the planning and provides all the necessary equipment.

By Lykke Fabricius Port | Photos: RIB62

For further information, please visit:www.rib62.com

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 73

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Iceland

For a country with only300,000 inhabitants anda relatively young his-tory in classical music,the extraordinary qual-ity of the ISO keeps as-tonishing visitors andcritics from near andfar. Over the years, itscomplete cycle ofSibelius symphoniesunder the direction ofPetri Sakari has re-ceived praise all overthe world, and itsGrammy-nominatedrecordings of the worksof Vincent d’Indy havebeen widely recognised.However, the best ac-knowledgement for theorchestra’s quality isthe endless flow ofsome of the world’smost renowned musi-cians and conductorscollaborating with thesymphony orchestra –these big names in-clude Daniel Baren-boim, Joshua Bell andEvelyn Glennie.

Programme directorÁrni Heimir Ingólfssonsays the 2010/2011 sea-son has already been a huge success:“Both the artistic quality and the atten-dance have been tremendous, and theopening concert conducted by Ilan Volkoveven led to him agreeing to take on thepost of ISO’s music director.”

With just six weeks remaining in the cur-rent season, the 85-player ensemblestarts May with a big bang. The ISO willmove to its new home, the Harpa, and In-gólfsson says the opening of the new con-cert hall will all but transform Icelandic

music: “Audiences inIceland have never beenable to experience whatthis orchestra can reallydo, due to the poor facil-ities and dull acousticsin our current home inthe University Cinema.Harpa will be a concerthall for everyone and ourprogramme reflectsthat.”

The programme beginswith Welcome Harpa, byThorkell Sigurbjörnsson,followed by Grieg’s pianoconcerto. Beethoven’sNinth Symphony will beperformed by an out-standing cast of soloistsand choir – all underconductor laureateVladimir Ashkenazy’s di-rection. The grand finalewill see a concert to-gether with Iceland’sfavourite pop artist PállÓskar. The programmeproved so popular thatmost tickets were soldout within days – but In-gólfsson assures moreconcerts have beenadded to accommodatethe huge demand.

Attraction of the Month, Iceland:

Iceland Symphony Orchestra Hits The Right NoteThe Iceland Symphony Orchestra might not be on top of the shopping list for the ordinary tourist travelling toReykjavik. Yet something that might seem a relatively undiscovered gem to a visitor is in fact a well-established andcritically acclaimed institution and a must-visit attraction to any classical music lover. The ISO will hit a hugemilestone by moving to Iceland’s first full-scale concert hall, the Harpa, in May.

By Anni-Maria Sahala | Photo: The Iceland Symphony Orchestra

More information on the IcelandSymphony Orchestra programme andtickets can be found onwww.sinfonia.is/english.

74 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Sør-Hidle, a once barren and wind-sweptisle, is now home to an array of exoticplants as well as a cosy restaurant serv-ing food made from the freshest ingredi-ents possible. When Åsmund Bryn origi-nally bought the deserted farmstead onSør-Hidle in 1965, he was actually lookingfor a summer cottage for his family. Man-aging the family-owned nursery back inStavanger, he had an excellent grasp ofgardening knowledge, but he probably didnot imagine how much he would be ableto do with his new land. He had no priorplans to make it into a garden, but one ofthe first things he did on the wind-sweptisland was to plant 3,000 pine trees to actas a wind barrier. This would eventually

become the main secret behind the suc-cess of the garden oasis.

The garden has been open to guests since1995 and celebrated its 15th anniversarylast summer. And with a generation han-dover currently taking place at this familybusiness (Endre Bryn is taking over asgeneral manager from owner Siri LærdalBryn), Flor & Fjære are eager to empha-sise how much has changed over theyears.

“The property has grown and developed alot,” explains Siri. “The area is larger,and we are able to do more familiar, spe-cific-style gardens. Our newest section is

the Cloister Garden with scented rosesand herbs, inspired by the monasterygardens of the Middle Ages. We’ve alsoincluded focus areas like the bonsai area,for example. And a new spot that’s notquite ready yet will include rugged na-ture, a waterfall and sea views. A lot ofthings are happening here, and we wantpeople to realise that it is very differentcompared to the early days or even fiveyears ago.”

Why not take your work with you to the“Garden of Eden”?

While the island offers a memorablevenue for any celebration or social func-tion, Flor & Fjære can also make your

Flor & Fjære– Experience the colours of the rainbow in a garden sanctuaryOn an island, located 20 minutes northeast of Stavanger, lies a garden oasis, where visitors can marvel at the colours of the

rainbow reflected in the plants and flowers that surround them. It is an inspiring wonderland, creating the perfect backdrop for

relaxation, a special occasion or even a businessmeeting. So hop on the boat from Stavanger, take in the splendour of the garden

and then sit down for a mouth-watering buffet meal. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Flor & Fjære

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 75

For more information, please visit therevamped website: http://florogfjare.no

The 2011 season lasts from7 May - 20 September.

The garden is open Monday to Saturday,closed on Sundays.

All visits must be pre-booked by phone,e-mail or web booking.

Contact details:[email protected]. +47 51 11 00 00

business meeting, seminar or confer-ence extra special. If you are looking foran exceptional atmosphere for yourmeeting as well as an exciting day out inan inspiring sanctuary, then this is theperfect place for you. With improvedmeeting facilities and updated audiovi-sual equipment, Flor & Fjære are able tohost professional and tailor-made con-ferences for up to 100 people as well asevening events for up to 300 dinnerguests in their largest dining room. Thereis no doubt that a business meeting on

the island would be an occasion to re-member.

Pleasure, recreation and inspiration

This year, Flor & Fjære opens to the pub-lic on 7 May, and 50,000 newly-plantedflowers will be awaiting visitors, burstingwith colours and beautiful smells. Even ifyou have visited the island before, it isworth seeing how much things havechanged and expanded over the years.“Our guests come for two different rea-sons: some come to visit a restaurant in a

lovely setting, while others want to ad-mire the garden and have some food onthe side. We’re a restaurant with an exoticgarden, and we want to share it with ourguests,” explains Siri.

The Italian-inspiredmenu, created by chefAndré Mulder, will now also be enhancedby the herbs from the newCloister Garden.So the buffetmeal will be fresher andmorenatural than ever. At Flor & Fjære, yoursenses will be overwhelmed by the multi-tude of striking colours, aromas and tastes!

76 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Everybody’s “Mamma” makes the bestmeatballs. There is no doubt that some-where deep inside us, we have a genethat dictates that Mamma’s food is al-ways better than anyone else’s, even ifshe buys it ready-made from Aldi andcooks it in the microwave. Still, when itcomes to meatballs in Scandinavia,things get a bit more complicated: it canget political, and it isn’t always aboutMamma knowing best.

It’s highly unlikely that we can credit theNordics with inventing the humble meat-ball. Research shows (and yes, there aresuch people asmeatball researchers) thatwe need to head south to the Romans andthe Arabic countries to find the origins ofthe kofta (derived from Persian: meaningto grind and beat, or simply, meatball).Don’t even bother asking why they arecalled meatballs (it’s because they aremade of meat, and they are round). Trav-

elling back across the continents, we findthat most countries indeed have their ownversion of some form of meatball – fromthe Hungarian fasirt to the Spanish al-bóndigas to England, where traditionalmeatballs are known as faggots.

Meatballs differ not only according to thehands that make them, but also by coun-try – and you don’t have to travel acrosscontinents to see the cultural changesthat have shaped the humble meatball.Even between the Nordic countries, meat-balls vary enormously both in size,makeup and ambition to take over theworld.

Take Sweden, for example: a country ofunassuming, peaceful people. Not so theirmeatballs. There, the tiny Swedish meat-ball has been ambitious and has travelledsurprisingly far, despite its slight stature.There is hardly a country today where your

everyday man and woman do not knowwhat a Swedish meatball is. In fact, in theTV Series Babylon 5, all the aliens eatSwedish meatballs, and each alien racehas their own version.

The Swedish meatballs are tiny little ½inch balls made from ground beef andpork and heaps of ground allspice. Foryears, poor housewives slaved over a hotpan, frying hundreds of small meatballs tosatisfy the hunger of their broods, untilone day someone decided enough wasenough and introduced a company tomake them en masse. Hello to ready-made small meatballs, bye-bye to thenitty-gritty work. During the eighties andnineties, kids got used to the taste of theconvenient (and still excellent) meatball,and Agneta Svensson is no longer a slaveto her cooker. Homemade meatballs inSweden now are not as common - and alot of people now prefer the ready-made

Mamma Mia MeatballBy Bronte Aurell | Photo: Dreamstime

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 77

Scan Magazine | Scan Food | Bronte’s Column

taste, seeing as this is what a generationgrew up with. Yep, the Swedish meatballalways had big aspirations, big plans forworld domination and, with the love ofIKEA, it has certainly travelled far acrossthe world. Still, nothing beats a home-mademeatball, and next on the list for theSwedes is to re-introduce Mormor’smeatballs on a more regular basis.

In whatever shape or form the Swedishmeatball is made, it is always served witha good mashed potato, thick cream gravyand a dollop of lingonberry jam. Similar tothis, in Norway, the kottkaker are alsoserved with lingonberry jam – and boiledpotatoes. The Norwegian kottkake (liter-ally “meat cake”) couldn’t be further froma Swedish meatball. It’s a lot larger in sizeand is usually made from ground beef.While it is a nice daily dish, it hasn’t movedbeyond Kristiansand and has no plans toeven go on holiday. Its roots are Norwe-gian, and it isn’t about to shout or make afuss.

Back in Denmark, meanwhile, the Daneswere having none of this teeny meatballtrend either – and the Danish frikadellesit, as the Danes usually do, firmly in themiddle between Norway and Sweden witha good medium-sized meatball. Not toobig, not too small. In Denmark, meatballsare made from a mixture of minced porkand veal. Readymademeatballs are avail-able in Denmark, but most people stillmake their own, and it is a popular week-day dish. In Denmark, meatballs are en-joyed with boiled potatoes, good thickbrown gravy and not much else. It is hus-manskost at its most basic, although youmay well see some variations wheremeatballs are served with potato salad –and even once in a while on an open sand-wich. But that is about as exciting as itgets. It is doubtful that the Danish meat-ball will ever reach international acclaimor fame, but it is so good just the way it is:a simple meatball, with little aspirationto go international; it is happy to sit at theweekday dinner table and be appreciatedby Gitte, who works at the local bank, andPreben, who fixes cars. It’s a good, heartyeveryday meatball. It deserves a place inDanish food culture, and sometimes it de-

serves to be tarted up with a bit of pickledred cabbage.

Whatever way you like your meatballs, theessential bit when cooking them is thatyou start from a good basic recipe andthen add your own touch. This can be ex-tra spices, or it can be choosing a differ-ent meat altogether (venison meatballs,anyone?). Perhaps you love your salt, per-haps you prefer to use some extra butter.Below you will find a good basic recipe forSwedish meatballs. Try it out – when youhave made the meat mixture, fry a meat-ball or two in a pan and taste it – you can

then add your own touches from there.Hurdy-gurdying like the Swedish cheffrom the Muppets is entirely optional.

Swedish Meatballs with mash,cream gravy and lingonberryjam

Most would say that a dish of meatballs,mashed potato with cream gravy andlingonberry jam is about as Swedish asthings get. It’s up there with ABBA, Volvosand Wallander.

Serves 4-6For the meatballs:• 700 grams lean minced beef AND 500grams minced pork (min 10% fat)

• 1 onion, grated• 60 grams porridge oats• 2 eggs• 350 ml stock (chicken stock works well)• 2 ½ tbsp plain flour or corn flour• Spices: 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp groundallspice, ½ tsp ground black pepper, 2tsp ground white pepper

For the cream gravyA knob of butter (approx. 10g), a heapedtablespoon of plain flour (10 g), water fromthe potatoes, 50 ml of cream.

Lingonberry jam(we recommend Lingonsylt from eitherTillmans or Felix, both available atwww.ScandiKitchen.co.uk).

1. Soak the porridge oats in water forfifteen minutes. Whisk the eggstogether and mix with the oats. Addonion and spices and mix well.

2. Mix the meats together in a mixer toensure they’re thoroughly mixed. Addthe egg mix and flour. You should be leftwith a mouldable, but sticky, mixture.

3. Roll the individual meatballs in yourhands and leave ready to fry. It helps ifyour hands are damp. Each meatballshould be around 2 cm in diameter – orlarger if you cannot be bothered making80 meatballs.

4. Melt a knob of butter in a frying pan andonce hot, carefully add meatballs.Shake the pan gently to ensure theydon’t stick and keep them moving asthey fry – thus ensuring their“roundness”. You will most likely needto do two batches. Fry until done – foraround 5 minutes. Keep in a warm ovenuntil needed.

5. Add a knob of butter to the meatballpan over medium heat. Add flour toform a roux and whisk. Add the waterfrom the potatoes bit by bit and let itboil to thicken. Once at desired quantityand thickness, add the cream. Seasonwith salt and pepper.

6. Serve meatballs with mashed potatoes,seasonal vegetables and the gravy, withlingonberry jam on the side.

Notes:This is a base recipe for meatballs. Addstuff to make them “yours”, to taste. Youcan add chopped sprats (ABBASAnchovies), you can use water instead ofstock, and you can replace the oats withpotatoes or even breadcrumbs. No twohomemade recipes taste the same and norshould they. Once you find “yours”, you’llknow.

If you are scared of making cream gravy,we recommend Blaa Band’s version to buy.It’s very nice and takes only a minute tomake.

Bronte Aurell is the owner ofScandinavian Kitchen, a cafe andgrocery store for Scandinavian foodsin Central London and online. Here,all Nordic meatballs are equallyloved and appreciated.

For further information, please visit:scandikitchen.co.uk

78 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Danish chef Christoffer Hruskova openedthe doors to his new restaurant NorthRoad on St John Street, in London, in No-vember 2010. Having received his train-ing back home at renowned establish-ments, such as Michelin starred KingHans restaurant, Hruskova aims to cre-ate an innovative, northern influencedmenu put together from the best Britishproduce available. Scan Magazine ven-tured to test it out a few weeks ago.

Clean and crisp, like a clear winter’s dayin the cold North, the restaurant’s interiorradiates Scandinavian cool from the mo-ment you step inside. It is minimalistic, yethomely, and greets us with a warm andcalm atmosphere, as we enter the restau-rant on a Thursday evening. The servicefeels genuinely welcoming and does putus at ease straight away.

A first look at the à la carte menu in-trigues us, but you can clearly pick out theinfluence of Hruskova’s Danish cookingheritage blended in with the British, high-quality produce, from Norfolk venison toCornish squid. However, many dishessound almost experimental, as the em-phasis is often laid purely on Nordic cook-ing practices (burnt hay, slow cooking,and smoking are some examples), whichis not a usual treat when eating out. TheScandi kitchen might not have the samelong-lasting reputation as the French orMediterranean one, but more and morepeople seem to have recently found de-light in the light, earthy flavours of Nordiccuisine. Take for instance Noma in Den-mark, named the best restaurant in theworld.

For starters, we end up choosing the rawcured Scottish langoustines, with jelly,

mayo & crispy rye, and the warm springvegetable salad, with hay smoked cheese.After some tasty amuse-bouches (includ-ing pickled quails’ eggs) and bread with di-vine caramelised butter, we are presentedwith two beautifully constructed plates offood. My langoustines and crispy rye arestacked on top of each other, and I mustsay I have never had better “crisp bread”in my life. My dinner guest was especiallyfond of the flavours of the smoked cheesein his dish.

For my main, I decided on the Cornishmonkfish & alexander, with samphire,squid ink & winkles. My guest’s firstchoice, the wood pigeon, was unfortu-nately all out, but instead, as an infre-quent meat eater, he was offered a med-ley dish of root vegetables, which he wasvery happy with in the end. Although mychoice included some previously unknownflavours to me, the fish was lovely and al-together the dish worked well.

Perhaps a highlight of the whole experi-ence was the dessert. The buttermilk,carrot & liquorice, with ice cream sponge& jelly did originally sound like a daringchoice, but it was absolute melt-in-your-mouth bliss – the combination of flavoursworked (surprisingly) well.

If you are unfamiliar with Scandinaviancuisine, then Hruskova’s mix of Nordic in-spiration and excellent British produce isdefinitely a great place to start (your newobsession, perhaps?).

North Road– Nordic cool meets British produceBy Nia Kajastie | Photos: North Road

For further information, please visit:www.northroadrestaurant.co.uk

Danish chef Christoffer Hruskova

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80 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Finland

Located in the borough of Töölö, only ashort tram ride or walk from centralHelsinki, Restaurant Kuu has served as apopular eatery for locals since 1966.Serving authentic Finnish food withoutminimalistic tinkering, the establishmenthas also been able to attract travellers insearch of the pure taste of Finnish pro-duce.

“The restaurant has long traditions andhas always been serving classic Finnishdishes,” explains restaurant manager EijaTuohinen. “Although we’ve been doing itfor a long time already, it’s currently verypopular and ‘in’ to offer local food andtraditional Nordic cooking. We’ve alwaysworked along these lines, but we’ve alsomodernised our take on it over the years.It’s great to hear patrons tell us how theirgrandmothers or mothers have fre-quented us before, and now they’ve con-tinued the tradition.”

The food is cooked with produce sourcedfrom small, trustworthy local producers,and the main focus is always on pure, au-thentic tastes. “It’s honest Scandinavian

food without unnecessary trickery, andpeople really appreciate that. “

Restaurant Kuu's wine list brings a lot ofadded value to their offerings, as they im-port several of their own wines, allowingthe dining experience to be easier on thepocket and more varied. The wines rangefrom trendy, preferably always one stepahead, through to the main focus of thelist, the archetypical classics. RavintolaKuu's revolutionary pricing strategymeans you can enjoy a bottle of GrandCru Chablis or Grand Cru Bordeaux with-out the bitter aftertaste that so oftencomes with the bill. In March, Californiansommelier Elijah Nelson joined the team,bringing fresh ideas of a more excitingselection of wines.

With 60 seats, Restaurant Kuu is an inti-mate and homely place to visit, with car-ing service and Finnish design setting themood. Due to its long traditions, therestaurant is a popular choice for localsand tourists alike, as they can always relyon the high quality of food, wine and warmhospitality.

Restaurant of the Month, Finland:

Restaurant Kuu– serving honest Finnish food since 1966

By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Restaurant Kuu

For further information, please visit:www.ravintolakuu.info

Contact details:

Ravintola KuuTöölönkatu 2700260 HELSINKITel. +358 (0)9 2709 [email protected]

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 81

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Sweden

Established 1994, the restaurantintroduced the first open-airkitchen to an eatery in Stockholmand Sweden. With award-winningtimeless design, the establish-ment has a cool and minimalisticScandinavian feel to it. And to addto the coolness, you can enjoysome reggae music in the bararea with a glass of excellent rum.

“We have one of the largest rumcollections in the world. We haveaged rum that we sell and dotastings with, and you can also samplesome chocolate from Sweden’s only cocoafarmer’s Tobago plantation,” says man-aging director Hjalmar Litzén. “We offer400 kinds of rum, with everything fromregular pouring rum to 100-year-oldrum.”

The menu, on the other hand, includesclassic French cuisine with a Swedish or

Scandinavian twist. It is all about cleantastes (created from produce sourcedfrom local suppliers), and eye-catchingdishes that are not too heavy. “We’re try-ing to interpret old chef Karl Blunck’srecipes from the 30s and 40s by bringingthem to the 21st century,” adds Litzén.

The relaxed style of fine dining promotedby Sjögräs is emphasised by the cheerful

staff, who despite a more laid-back ap-proach have a vast knowledge when itcomes to food and drink. The restaurantand bar are not directly connected and of-ten attract different types of clientele;however, you can easily move from one tothe other. Whether you are looking for anight out in a stylish bar with a light menuand good music, or a pleasant evening ata relaxed restaurant with great rum andimaginative dishes, Sjögräs can provideyou with both.

Restaurant of the Month, Sweden:

Sjögräs– a place for gourmands and rum connoisseursSituated in Stockholm’s relaxed and eclectic district of Södermalm, Sjögräs is a high-end restaurant that exudes alaid-back and welcoming ambience. Recommended by the Michelin Guide (Bid Gourmand) as a restaurant offeringgood food at moderate prices, Sjögräs will introduce you to a blend of French and Scandinavian cooking as well anextensive collection of rums. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Anna Huerta

For further information, please visit:www.sjogras.com

Contact details:

SjögräsTimmermansgatan 24118 55 [email protected]. +46 (0)8 84 12 00

82 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark

Themany people enchanted by its flavoursinclude the famous Danish TV chef andfood critic John Price. In a review for theNational Danish newspaper Politiken hewrote: “We are here in the super league ofrestaurants in Denmark: that small, ex-clusive handful of eateries that maintain acompletely outstanding standard in thekitchen...”

A family business

Rudolf Mathis was founded in 1985 by itscurrent owner Puk Larsen, who is alsothe head of the skilled team of kitchenstaff. In the restaurant his wife, UrsulaPlato, is part of the efficient and serviceminded group of waiters responsible for

the uniquely friendly atmosphere, forwhich Rudolf Mathis is also well-known.“One of the reasons people come here isthat we always do our very best to provideoutstanding service,” says Larsen. “Welove it when people come to try ourrestaurant, but we make our living frompeople who come back, and that is why itis so important to us always to give peoplethe best possible experience.”

Larsen, who is from Kerteminde himself,started the restaurant after a three yearstint in Copenhagen working for the well-known Kong Hans Kælder. When return-ing to Kerteminde, the lack of goodrestaurants in the area convinced him to

Restaurant of the Month, Denmark:

Rudolf Mathis – Danish seafood at its very bestLocated at the water’s edge in Kerteminde Harbour, Rudolf Mathis, with its towering whitewashed walls and blackbeams, is the very epitome of sophisticated Danish seaside charm. However, it is not the building’s distinctive featuresbut the restaurant’s reputation for serving world-class seafood that entices people from far and near to visit.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Restaurant Rudolf Mathis

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 83

set up his own. He did so from the veryground having the unique white buildingconstructed on the base of an old fisher-man’s cottage. The cottage had belongedto Larsen’s grandfathers Niels Mathis andHans Rudolf Pedersen whom the restau-rant is named after. Since then more than25 years have gone by, and by now Larsenhas built a reputation as the chef andowner of one of Denmark’s best seafoodrestaurants.

Some of the best seafood in Denmark

The dishes on the restaurant’s mainlyseafood-based menu are, Larsen says, aresult of cooperation with all of the kitchenstaff. “The dishes we serve are typicalFrench kitchen but with Danish produce.Obviously Kerteminde is a harbour town sowe get much of our seafood from here andmost else from the rest of Denmark.”

For lunch, there is a set menu of two tofour delicious dishes which can, as withthe dinner menu’s four to seven courses,be accompanied by a wine menu speciallypicked out by Larsen and the staff. “Just aswith the food menu, we all get together todo tastings and pickings for the winemenu. Being able to have just one glass ofwine that is specifically chosen for thecourse instead of having to go for a wholebottle is very important to many of ourguests,” explains Larsen.

The menu consists of mouth wateringdishes such as clams on grilled celeryand artichoke betony in consommé withtruffle; and caviar and lightly salted codback with limemarinated stem turnip andavocado. Though most guests come forthe whole menu of four or more courses,it is also possible to scale down a bit andhave just the main courses.

Summertime charm

With the Danish sea next door and a beau-tifully located, spacious terrace just onthe water’s edge, summertime is theliveliest season at Rudolf Mathis. “Wehave guests coming from all over theworld; some come after a visit to one ofthe nearby attractions in Odense, andmany combine a visit to our restaurantwith a visit to Kerteminde’s art museum,”

says Larsen. “We also have many sailorswho harbour here as a part of a triparound Funen. Sometimes, when it is verybusy, and if people like to, we can servethe food directly to people in their boats.”

While the restaurant has many seasonalvisitors, it also has a great share of loyalregulars. “After 25 years in business, wehave worked up a good reputation thatconvinces people to give us a try, andmany come back. We have people drivingall the way from Sealand and back just fora visit to our restaurant.”

Rudolf Mathis is open Monday to Saturday(closed in January and February).

For further information, please visit:www.rudolf-mathis.dk

84 | Issue 28 | April 2011

In the little town of Tvøroyri, on the mostsouthern island of the Faroes, you findT.F. Thomsen. The history of the pub andcafé dates back to 1856, and it has beena vital place for shipping and merchan-dise. Today, the owner Anna KirstinThomsen welcomes guests from nearand far to an authentic taste of the FaroeIslands.

T.F.Thomsen is situated at the harbour ofTvøroyri and is the first place visitors cometo upon arrival, as you have to access theisland by boat. “It is a little difficult to getto our island, but we have small boatsfrom all over northern Europe visiting dur-ing the summer,” says Thomsen. Theplace has been in the hands of her familysince the 19th century, and while it used tobe a centre for shipping, it is now a placewhere visitors and locals alike go for arelaxing time or meal.

Specialities you cannot get anywhereelse

“I make anything our guests want. I like toshow them our local food though, whichoften contains fish. You may say I’m a fishwoman,” says Thomsen cheerfully. TheFaroese cuisine is influenced by the close-ness to the sea, although lamb is partic-ularly popular. If sheep’s head is not yourcup of tea, however, Thomsen also offersfish’n’chips. “We try to show foreigners

what we eat, but many are a bit afraid,”says Thomsen.

“A Live Museum”

While T.F.Thomsen takes pleasure in of-fering the best of the Faroese kitchen, youhave to notify them about your visit. “Onthe Faroe Islands, there is no tradition ofgoing out for a meal, hence we do notknow howmany to cook for. But we love tocook for people, and in the summer timethe restaurant is full,” Thomsen contin-ues. Beyond the food, Thomsen empha-sises the atmosphere of the place.“T.F.Thomsen consists of six buildings,and we have saved all the old things fromour ancestors, so many guests have awander around. The place is full of historyand is in a way like a live museum,”Thomsen concludes.

Restaurant of the Month, Faroe Islands:

T.F.Thomsen – Local flavours in historical surroundingsBy Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: T.F.Thomsen

For further information, please visit:www.tfthomsen.com

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 85

Við fjöruborðið is renowned for its high-quality lobster menu and attractingtourists as well as Icelandic inhabitantsto the charming seaside village ofStokkseyri. Starting out as a small coffeeshop 15 years ago, the restaurant can to-day host 270 guests in three halls.

About 45 minutes drive from Reykjavik,you will find the cosy village of Stokkseyri.Although the village itself is known for itsstunning scenery, most visitors come forthe famous lobster restaurant Viðfjöruborðið. Meaning by the seaside, therestaurant is true to its name, whichmeans that the produce is fresh from theocean just off the village coast.

Secret recipeInitially, the restaurant started out as acoffee shop 15 years ago. However, with alobster factory next door, they soon beganto serve simple lobster dishes that be-came hugely popular with the visitors.“The restaurant was the first of its kind inIceland, where you could buy lobsters bythe pound. It has since grown to triple thesize and has become popular with touristsand companies from all over the world,”says general manager and owner RóbertÓlafsson. He has been in charge for sixyears and remains loyal to the initialmenu. “The concept was brilliant and onlyneeded some polishing. The menu hasotherwise been the same, which cannot

really go wrong, as we are only dealingwith top-quality products,” Ólafsson con-tinues. However, there is a secret recipebehind the success, involving garlic, but-ter, herbs and their own mix of spices. “Itremains a company secret,” Ólafsson sayscheerfully.

Part of the Golden Circle

While the restaurant attracts visitors fromnear and far, Við fjöruborðið is located onthe path of the Icelandic Golden Circle, apopular tourist route covering about 300km from Reykjavík into central Icelandand back. The three primary stops on theroute are the national park Þingvellir, thewaterfall Gullfoss and the geothermallyactive valley of Haukadalur, which con-tains the one and only Geysir. The lob-sters at Við fjöruborðið have thus becomea part of the Icelandic experience.

Restaurant of the Month, Iceland:

Við fjöruborðið – A lobster experience to rememberBy Anne Line Kaxrud | Photos: Við fjöruborðið

For further information, please visit:www.fjorubordid.is

Scan Magazine | Columns | Humour

I just find it hilarious when a grown man,equipped with both a mortgage and a re-ceding hairline refers to himself as “Web-master”.It sounds like something out of Star

Wars. A job that as a bare minimum re-quires a cape.Despite what you would think Webmas-

ters are not running around fighting lightsabre battles on a daily basis. Instead theyspendALL their time sitting in front of com-puters, and “Webmaster” is a pretty flashyname for an occupation that is 100%seden-tary and physically undemanding.This urge to make their activities sound

a lot more adventurous than they are ischaracteristic of the computer industry. It isobvious that the IT-landscape is filled withpotential daredevils - guys who would havehad much more adventurous jobs - had it

not been for the asthma and general lack ofsocial skills holding them back.For instance, “IT support” gives “over-ur-

gency” to a title that might as well havebeen “guy who fixes your computer whenthe hard disc is jammed”.Like the phrase “surfing the Internet”

which totally oversells the activity of brows-ing yourway through page after page on theInternet.How did that occur? Was it sometime

around 1995, that two bespectacled geeksgot each other worked up? Having spentthe greater part of their lives in front of theircomputers, stimulated only by Coke (thedrink) and an occasional glimpse of femalebreasts, one of them looked around the darkbasement and exclaimed: “MyGod, Timmy,this is fun!” and Timmy, elated by yet an-other Coke yelled “Yeah! It’s almost like

we’re doing something real. Like surfing.”Even theword “Cyberspace” sounds a lot

more interesting than it really is.In reality surfing in cyberspace is a tad

less action-packed than being a librarian. Or“Bookmaster”, as the appropriate titlewould be, should itmatch the hype of the ITworld.

Mette Lisby is Denmark’s leading femalecomedian. She invites you to laugh alongwith her monthly humour columns. Sinceher stand-up debut in 1992, Mette hashosted the Danish versions of “Have I GotNews For You” and “Room 101”. Mettecurrently lives in London.

IS IT JUST ME... By Mette Lisby

Who can’t resist giggling when IT-industry employees present their overlypompous job-titles?

Unless you’re dead you’ve probably no-ticed that this is the month of the weddingbetween Prince William and Kate Mid-dleton. I live in the centre of a small townthat most definitely has noticed. In fact,not long after the wedding date was madepublic, a neatly folded green slip of paperwas passed through our letter box, an-

nouncing that on the happy day arrange-ments have been made to shut off ourstreet. Yes, that’s right, it’s a busy throughroad and we’re shutting it off. To have aroyal wedding party, complete with afancy dress competition, live music and afull buffet. For this buffet the organisersof the event have been scouting the streetfor volunteer cooks. I don’t know if you’veever come across the kind of people whojump at the chance to organise some-thing like this, but if you have you mayrecognise the following: it’s not so muchthat you can’t say no to these people, butmore a case that you somehow say yeswithout noticing. Loaded with Britishcharm and what appears to be idlechitchat about the weather, these naturalborn persuaders gently lead you to thepoint of no return, where suddenly you’vesigned up for tombola duty, or you’rehead of bunting, or in charge of charring500 frozen burgers beyond recognition ina feeble attempt to feed the masses. A

few years ago, I innocently went along toa charity wine tasting evening, only to findmyself being recruited – high heels andall – by the church gardening team. Thistime round I’m keeping a low profile. Sofor now, here’s a discreet cheer forWilliam and Kate from behind closed cur-tains. I won’t be leaving my house untilMay.

Maria Smedstad moved to the UK fromSweden in 1994. She received a degree inIllustration in 2001, before settling in thecapital as a freelance cartoonist, creatingthe autobiographical cartoon Em. Shewrites a column on the trials andtribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.

Organisers By Maria Smedstad

86 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Hotel Apartments | Conference Hall | Health Club | Café

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National and international taxation is changing. Are you changing with it?Having the right investment strategy in times of market turbulence is not always all it takes to preserve and grow wealth. Have you ever considered that inadequate wealth planning, from a taxation point of view, could result in you losing some, or even all, of the gains that you have earned from your investments? From a wealth management perspective, proper planning requires knowledge and expertise in complex, international cross-border tax legislation, not only to be in line with current legislation, but also to avoid paying more than you are obliged to. We have these competencies, and are considered the best among our Nordic and Baltic peers for providing a service of this calibre for you.*

Roberth Josefsson, Wealth Planning, Nordea International Private Banking

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Issue 28 | April 2011 | 89

Scan Business | Key Note | A bridge to growth for foreign companies in the UK?

What do you do when you as a Danishbusiness come to the UK for the first timeand want to set up and sell your productsto the Brits?Historically, the Danes have seen Great

Britain as great opportunity for trade, andvoluntarily or not the Brits have embracedit. Bacon is pretty synonymous with Dan-ish, and you can hardly say butter withoutasking for Lurpak, and when the kids wanttoys LEGO is still much sought after.Britain is still the third largest export mar-ket for Danish companies and, vice versa,Denmark ranks high as an export desti-nation for the UK.It is encouraging to see that despite the

hardship that has faced companies overthe last couple of years, investments andexports are still moving. Cases such asCarlsberg outperforming market trends,jewellery company Pandora expandingacross the UK, and home furnishing re-tailer JYSK recently opening its fifth store innorth-west England and planning onmore,are just some of the visible signs.Many companies and business people

find their own ways across the North Sea.Many seek business networks like theDanish-UK Chamber of Commerce forpeople that can help open the right doorsand to understand how to do business in

the UK or in Denmark. Many seek adviceand assistance from government agen-cies like UK Trade & Investment and theDanish Trade Council.It was a blow to see the scrapping of

the regional development programmesand agencies across the UK. For many, in-cluding Danish exporters and businessessetting up in the UK, there were pro-grammes that made the transition easierand indeed possible in the first place. Formany regions of Britain it made it possibleto attract much needed jobs and growth(technological and economic).As a bilateral business chamber be-

tween the United Kingdom and Denmark,it is close to our hearts to think about howbusiness can grow international trade inboth directions. For the SMEs in particular,business support can be the start for ex-port and can potentially make a big differ-ence between success and failure. Throughthe collective knowledge and experienceof the chamber members it is possible toprofit from this. This spring, amongst oth-ers, we are focusing on how you do busi-ness in the Danish-UK business sphere.Together with The Chancery Partnerships,we look at how you pitch for contracts inthe UK and prepare yourself as a foreignbusiness in the UK. Together with EBS Ltd,

DELACOURDANIA and The British Cham-ber of Commerce in Denmark, we are look-ing at the UK Market Access Programmeand howDanish companies can profit fromthat. The UK is often one of the first busi-ness destinations for Danish companies. Itwill remain so for the foreseeable future, Ibelieve, much due to its proximity, but alsoindeed because it represents a bridge toglobal markets.

Scan BusinessUllevi - a conference centre with unlimited potential 91 | The Nordic House 92 | Schur Conference Centre 94

Is there still a bridge to growth for foreign companies in the UK?By Gunnar P. Larsen, Managing Director, The Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce | Photo: Courtesy of DUCC

91 92 94

Gunnar P. Larsen, Managing Director, DUCC.Photo: Magnus Arrevad

www.ducc.co.uk

90 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Scan Business | Column | Annika Åman Goodwille

In recent weeks, news reports and on-airdiscussions have been increasingly filled withthe debate about why the boards of majorcompanies still have so few women. And whythe percentage of women in seniormanagerialpositions can vary somuch internationally. Didyou know that Thailand tops the list? There,45% of senior managerial positions are filledby women. Themost common senior companyposition for a woman is CFO.

According to the Davies report released inFebruary it will take over 70 years at thecurrent rate of change to achieve gender-balanced boardrooms in the UK!

This is alarming when one looks at thegrowing body of evidence. It is reported thatcompanies with more women on their boardswere found to outperform their rivals with a42% higher return on sales, 66% higher returnon invested capital and 53% higher return ontotal capital. This surely illustrates the positiveimpact a woman’s contribution can make to a

company’s financial bottom line.Studies clearly indicate that companies with

30% or more women at board level or in seniormanagement produce the best financial re-sults. Women now form 51% of the UK popula-tion and 46% of the economically active workforce. They are estimated to be responsible forabout 70% of household purchasing decisionsand to hold almost half of the UK’s wealth.With this background, it is quite staggering thatonly 12.5% of the board members of the FTSE100 companies are women.

The two key issues the report points out are:the lack of flexibility around work/life balance –particularly around maternity leave and youngfamilies; and the general acceptance of a tradi-tional male-based cultural environment, theold boys’ network, and the lack of networkingopportunities for women. Interestingly enoughonly 11% of the women interviewed in the reportrecommended that quotas be introduced.

With this background, it is obvious that theUK economy is missing out in a big way. Per-

sonally, I have al-ways felt thatwomen should beelected to theboard on theirmerits rather thangetting therethrough enforcedquotas. But canwe really wait 70years? NO! So,maybe quotas will be the only way to propel thenecessary changes. Will attitudes and practicechange quickly enough otherwise?

Blog: godigitalordie.blogspot.comTwitter: @agoodwilleEmail: [email protected]: Annika Aman-GoodwilleFacebook: Annika Åman Goodwille

More Women on Boards and in Senior Management:Why it matters By Annika Åman-Goodwille

In a series of articles Paul Corren, managingpartner and head of the corporate team atCorren Troen, talks about managing the saleof a private owner/managed company or busi-ness to a very large listed buyer. The articleswill follow a recent case that the team hasdealt with over many months, and this is thefirst in the series.

We often say in the office that if the splitting upof two business partners is more like workingon a ‘divorce’ then bringing two business part-ners together in the form of a sale and acqui-sition is very much like a ‘marriage’. In thebusiness world the statistics for a successful‘marriage’ hover below 50% or, put anotherway, over half of all Merger & Acquisition ac-tivity ends in failure.

I read a recent survey carried out by a ratherwell respected business school and noted thatthe primary reason for these failures was notthe legal agreements reached or indeed thecommercial tapestry that had been woven be-tween the two parties – no, the primary reasonwas cultural differences manifesting them-selves not only in difficulties with communica-

tion but also permeating the expectations of theparties at the outset and on signing. Some-thing that even the most skilled lawyer cannotcapture!

It follows therefore that the most success-ful Seller/Buyer unions are those that sharesimilar philosophies, outlooks and values, inother words there is a cultural or at least anideological connection that speaks to the suc-cess of the marriage. One of the key issuesthat we like to address early is the question ofhow the transaction will operate in practice.This is to ensure that both parties have a clearunderstanding of the decision-making processon both sides and the steps that need to betaken in order for a point to be dealt with oragreed on. Typically, private managed/ownercompanies have less formal steps, and indeedoften the ability to agree on an issue in terms ofdecision making can be very quick with rela-tively few reporting requirements. Contrast thatwith a FTSE 100 company, and you may as wellbe comparing a leisure craft with an oil tanker.The ability to do anything quickly may simplynot be possible. You might as well talk about itand deal with it, rather than ignore this most

obvious ‘cultural’difference be-tween ‘Mr AndMrs’.

In fact wehave recently in-vited the head oflegal of a FTSE100 company tocome into the of-fice just to explainhow the internal process actually works: why 25people will be on every conference call and whyeven a relatively small change in the agreementcan trigger a ‘ripple’ of enquiry right throughthe organisation.

So first rule in the ‘big boy’ play-ground:know who you are playing with and why theylook and act the way they do...

Dealing with the big boys.... By Paul Corren, Corren Troen Law Firm

Corren Troen has a number of Scandinavianclients with businesses in the UK andregularly advises on employment relatedissues. For more information pleasecontact Paul Corren on 020 7592 8900

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 91

Ullevi is so much more than an arena:the doors are open all year-round, and itprovides a perfect location for variousevents. With boundless potential, onlyyour imagination will limit your choices.

Located on the west coast of Sweden inthe second largest city, Gothenburg, this isa great place to enjoy not only what thearena and the surrounding facilities haveto offer, but also a chance to take in someof the beauty and architecture of thischarming city.

What makes Ullevi such a great venue forevents, business meetings and/or hap-penings is its versatility. The arena’s eventside is run by Rasta Group, and salesmanager Ola Nordlund tells me that thestaff will do everything and anything toaccommodate their clients’ wishes. Eachcompany will be welcomed and each oc-casion will be designed according to thecustomer’s needs.

With excitement in his voice Ola says that,“Helicopters have landed, filming hastaken place, tents have been set up in thearena area as part of occasions organ-ised by our team.”

Ullevi‘s capacity is currently 60,000, and itis soon to become Sweden’s largest multi-sport stadium. Following works startingthis summer, the arena will be able ac-commodate up to 75,000 audience mem-bers frommid 2012, making it the biggestof its kind in the country to date.

There are 14 high-tech conference spacesat Ullevi with a top capacity of 400 audi-encemembers. Smaller group rooms areavailable for more intimate gatherings.And for complete convenience, RastaGroup can also help organise accommo-dation within the same group.

There are three different restaurants here(Pylonen, The Restaurant on the 3rd floorand Ullevi Lounge), serving anything from

snacks to exquisite, gourmet food. Tailor-made menus with a wide range of choiceto meet each client’s requirements are onoffer by all three venues.

Why not turn to Ullevi and Rasta Group tobook your next conference and add someexcitement to the event by letting the ex-perienced team organise a wine tasting, acompany soccer match or perhaps a con-cert with a megastar!

Scan Business | Conference of the Month | Ullevi

Conference of the Month, Sweden:

Ullevi - a conference centre with unlimited potentialBy Anna Lindgren | Photos: Ullevi & Rasta Group

For more information, please visit:www.rastagroup.se

92 | Issue 28 | April 2011

The mythical architecture of the NordicHouse in Torshavn and the amazingviews of its surroundingsmay be enoughto convince most that this would be theperfect location for their next conference– but there is so much more to be said.

In a review of the house British govern-ment advisor and writer Simon Anholtwrote: “The Nordic House has got to beone of the most spectacular conferenceand cultural spaces that I have ever visited.”

A unique location

The Nordic House is partly funded by theNordic Council of Ministers, and with

room for up to 650 guests and in-houseinterpretation systems, it is the largestand best equipped conference centre inthe Faroe Islands.

“The Faroe Islands are not a place wherepeople would typically go, so taking yourconference to Torshavn is a good oppor-tunity to go somewhere unique and some-where where you can totally focus on theconference,” says director of the NordicHouse Niels Halm. “And in any spare time,it is possible to enjoy the beautiful natureand the fact that you are in what is, withonly 22,000 inhabitants, probably thesmallest capital in the world. It is very

cosy, completely safe and has a great at-mosphere.”

The small scale of Torshavn means thateverything including restaurants, accom-modation and free outdoor sport facilitiesand hiking treks are within walking dis-tance.

However, conference guests need noteven leave the house to be diverted. As theFaroe Islands’ leading culture and con-ference centre, with more than 200 eventseach year, the Nordic House boasts greatexpertise when it comes to putting to-gether cultural programmes which they

Conference of the Month, Faroe Islands:

The Nordic House– A place for inspiration, beauty and professionalismBy Signe Hansen | Photos: The Nordic House

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 93

offer specially tailored for conferenceguests. Besides, the house also continu-ously hosts exhibitions with some of theleading artists from the Nordic countrieswhich all guests can enjoy.

Professionalism and that little extra

With eight different-sized and equippedconference rooms, the Nordic House iswell prepared to house any kind of con-ference, meeting or workshop. The cen-tre’s largest room is the Høllin hall; itseats 420 people and can be connectedwith the third largest room to make a to-tal of 550. The other six rooms seat from8 to 206 guests. “All the rooms have as-tonishing views with the sea just outside,and all have the relevant equipment,” saysHalm. The house’s unique setting andoutstanding services have in recent yearsbrought quite a few major internationalconferences to the centre. Some of itsmore prominent key note speakers havefor instance included Bill Clinton and AlGore.

Hosting major conferences, of course, in-cludes many challenges. But with nearly30 years of experience since its opening in1983, everything is taken care of profes-sionally in the Nordic House. “We havevery skilled employees who are completelyfocused on doing the best they can for theparticipants. For instance they help setup and operate all the equipment that isnecessary today for a conference to beheld in a professional atmosphere,”stresses Halm.

All facilities are up-to-date modern; fourof them part of an extension built fiveyears ago when the house celebrated its25th anniversary. “It was nice to do some-thing like that instead of just having aparty, something which will last after theanniversary and after my time here aswell,” explains Halm.

Beyond the usual

Built with stone, tree and glass materials,and covered in lush grass, the NordicHouse, which was designed by the Nor-wegian architect Ola Steen and IcelandicKollbrún Ragnarsdóttir, is definitelyamong the most beautiful buildings in the

north. It blends perfectly into the Faroeselandscape almost so as to entice itsguests to further explore the wonders ofthe islands, something which Halm highlyrecommends. “Hiking here is astonish-ing. You have 18 islands, and when youhike around to some of the highest places,you can see six or seven of the other is-lands; it is extremely beautiful,” saysHalm.

If guests feel like a real rush after a longday indoors, there is also the possibility ofexploring nature in more challenging wayslike rock climbing and rappelling downcliffs 200 metres above the sea. One thingis for sure: if you want your guests tomake the most of a conference visit to the

Nordic House, remember to remind themto pack wisely. The Faroese weather is,says Halm, as unique as everything elseon the Faroese Islands. “In one day we canhave the most beautiful sunshine, windand rain; the sudden shifts in the weatherare very inspiring.”

Inspiring weather, amazing architecture,unique landscape and the highest profes-sional standards, there is really only onemore thing to say – try it!

For more information, please visitwww.nlh.fo

Scan Business | Conference of the Month | Faroe islands

94 | Issue 28 | April 2011

All food is made from scratch and flexi-bility is paramount at Schur ConferenceCentre.

Situated close to Horsens Fjord on thepeninsula Borre Knob by the easterncoast of Jutland, Schur Conference Cen-tre offers a rare combination of an elegantand professional setting with a cosy andpersonal touch.

“We are a small place, which gives us theopportunity to offer great flexibility andclose, personal contact,” says managingdirector Søren Mandrup.

Gorgeous gourmet food and an impres-sive wine card

Amain focal point is the kitchen, as SchurConference Centre places a great em-

phasis on offering only the best. The teamis dedicated and works hard to cater to theguests’ every need.“We only buy the best ingredients, and wecook everything from scratch. We evenbake our own bread and do our own mar-malades,” Mandrup explains.

To accompany the gourmet fare, SchurConference Centre has assembled an im-pressive wine card with wines far beyondthe range usually found at a conferencecentre.

“We even offer a Flor de Pingus on ourshelves,” Mandrup says proudly.

Broad range of teambuilding events

The conference centre offers 26 roomsand is available for both day meetings for

up to 100 people and smaller overnightarrangements.

”We can cater for a range of differentneeds. We even offer a broad variety ofteambuilding activities,” Mandrup sayslisting off-road go-carts, archery, moun-tain biking, water sports and many otheropportunities. “We arrange everythingourselves which makes it more flexible –and cheaper as well.”

It is not only business people who can en-joy the gorgeous setting and top-notchfood, as Schur Conference Centre alsohappily arranges weddings, birthdays andany other kind of parties.

The setting close to thewater and the beau-tiful fireplace lounge with floor-to-ceilingwindows showcasing the view overHorsensFjord is a real attraction alongwith the foodand personal touches which imbue allarrangements at Schur Conference Centre.

Conference of the Month, Denmark:

Schur Conference Centre– Personal conferences with a gourmet twistBy Stine Daugaard | Photos: Schur Conference Centre

For further information and inspiration,visit www.schurconferencecenter.com

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 95

Scan Business | News | Chambers of Commerce

The Danish-UK Chamber of Commerceis hosting its AGM & Annual Dinner on 12May 2011 in the beautiful surroundings atMerchant Taylors’ Hall in London, and weare pleased to announce the guestspeaker for the evening: Jørgen Buhl Ras-mussen, president and CEO of CarlsbergGroup.

The CEO of Carlsberg UK, Dr. Isaac Shepscomments:

“Ever since it was founded, Carlsberg hasbeen committed to improving the qualityof its products and this is still just as im-portant. Our extensive research and de-velopment facilities, based in Copenhagenand Strasbourg, allow us both to improveour existing portfolio and ensure that wehave a pipeline of exciting new innova-tions to launch across our markets.

You will hear more of this on 12 May 2011when I am delighted that Jørgen BuhlRasmussen, president and CEO of Carls-berg Group, will be the guest speaker atthe Annual Dinner.

It goes without saying that Carlsberg UKwill sponsor the event and promise to

serve the best beer in the world...well,probably.”

The DUCC welcomes all members andfriends of the chamber to join the AnnualDinner. Please go to our website to readmore and buy tickets: www.ducc.co.uk

UPCOMING EVENTS

7 April Pitching for work in Britain byChancery Partnership LLP

12 May AGM & Annual Dinner at Mer-chant Taylors’ Hall

26 May Investor Seminar (IT) at theRoyal Danish Embassy

26 May Nordic Thursday Drinks

Join us on 11 May for our Offshore Con-ference: Operational Challenges in theNorth Sea.

The offshore industry is not only key toNorway; it is also an industry which bringsmany Norwegian and British companiestogether. At our May conference we willdiscuss challenges and lessons learnt inrelation to topics like safety, regulation, oilrecovery and the handling of maturefields. We will present high level speakersrepresenting operators, drilling compa-nies, regulators and others. Frank Kete-laars, associate director and head of Lon-don Solutions at DNV, will moderate thediscussions. The conference is open tomembers and contacts of all the NordicChambers of Commerce and you can signup on our website.

17 May is a familiar date to all Norwe-gians. Otherwise known as “ConstitutionDay”, “National Day” or simply as “Seven-teenth of May”, the day is celebrated byNorwegians all over the world.

In London, the celebration will take placein Southwark Park where between 2,000and 3,000 Norwegians are expected to at-tend, many wearing the traditional na-

tional costume the ‘bunad’. Representa-tives from the Norwegian-British Cham-ber will of course be present!

On 18 May, the Chamber will host net-working drinks in conjunction with the Ab-erdeen event ‘All Energy’. Visit our websitewww.nbccuk.com for more informationabout this and other events.

UPCOMING EVENTS

11 May Offshore Seminar at Radis-son BLU Portman Hotel

18-19 May NBCC at All Energy in Ab-erdeen

25 May Annual General Meeting26 May Nordic Thursday Drinks

(venue: TBC)16 June Thames River Cruise

Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce

Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce

Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce | Phone: +44 (0) 20 7259 6795 | Email: [email protected] | www.ducc.co.uk

Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce | Phone: +44 (0) 20 7930 0181 | Email: [email protected] | www.nbccuk.com

Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen, president and CEOof Carlsberg Group

Photo: Øyvind Hagen / Statoil

96 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Scan Business | News | Chambers of Commerce

Taking an interest in larger structural andcultural changes in society, those that in-fluence the way we live, consume, and in-novate, now and in the future, can changeyour business radically. Sofia Ulver-Sneistrup holds a PhD in Business Man-agement and Consumer Research and isa senior lecturer at Lund University, Swe-den, and will speak about 11 mega trendsin consumer society at a chamber eventon 7 April. These mega trends alreadyare, or are increasingly becoming, impor-tant for most industries to contemplateand take into consideration when thinkingnew or rethinking old.

April marks another event in the NextGeneration and JCC Management Forumseries with recently appointed President &CEO of Tele 2, Mats Granryd, as keynotespeaker, most welcome to this event. Aprilalso marks the return of the annual taxseminar: hosted in cooperation with Erik

Penser, Bankaktiebolag, Staffan Anders-son, senior tax advisor, and a tax managerfrom PwC in London, it will address “vol-untary disclosure and updates on the UKtax regime for Swedes living in the UK”,claimed still to be favourable but gettingtougher. On the other hand, for those in-terested in British culture and sports in-stead, why not join us for the rugby eventin Richmond, hosted in association withMcGuireWoods on 16 April.

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce wasfounded in 1906 and has around 400Member companies, representing not onlySwedish companies but also British andEuropean companies interested instrengthening their existing ties with Swe-den and the UK or expanding into newmarkets.

UPCOMING EVENTS

7 April Mega trends thriving in con-sumer society

13 April Voluntary disclosure and up-dates on the UK tax regime forSwedes living in the UK

14 April Mats Granryd, president & CEO,Tele2

16 April Rugby event with McGuireWoods– Richmond FC vs Henley Hawks

More events will be listed onwww.scc.org.uk

Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK | Phone: +44 (0) 20 7224 8001 | Email: [email protected] | www.scc.org.uk

It is already April and summer is gettingcloser. FBCC has some very intriguingevents to offer over the following fewweeks.April is an exceptional month for the

FBCC. Finland will hold parliamentaryelections on 17 April. The Finnish-BritishChamber of Commerce and the Embassyof Finland will organise a joint electionevening on 7 April. The theme will be“Finland Elections 2011 –Will Finland Fol-low the European Trend?” We are pleasedto present well-established speakers in-cluding Markku Mantila, currently edi-tor-in-chief of Finland’s fourth largestnewspaper Kaleva. The speakers willbring up all the facts, analysis and fore-casts regarding the parliamentary elec-tions and the current political situation inFinland. The European political situation,especially in regard to the recent suc-

cesses of the populist parties, will alsobe discussed.FBCC will also host an event regarding

an extremely burning topic, online secu-rity, on 13 April. FBCC is delighted tohave Mikko Hyppönen, the chief researchofficer at F-Secure Corp speaking aboutvarious online security threats and prob-lems including smart phones. Mikko Hyp-pönen has analysed viruses since 1991and consulted several high-profile organ-

izations on computer security issues, in-cluding IBM, Microsoft, FBI, US SecretService, Interpol and Scotland Yard. Mr.Hyppönen and his team have also beenprofiled by Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair,New York Times and Newsweek.To find out how FBCC can make a dif-

ference to your business please contact usat [email protected].

UPCOMING EVENTS7 April “Finland Elections 2011 –Will

Finland Follow the Europeantrend?”

13 April Online Security with Mikko Hyp-pönen

18 April FBCC Annual General Meeting& results of the Finnish Busi-ness Survey 2010/2011 by Ac-tiveInspire

Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce | Phone: +44 (0) 20 8741 6352 | Email: [email protected] | www.fbcc.co.uk

Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK

Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 97

“It’s a great relief to be in control of inheritance

planning – we set up a family trust that will

secure the wealth for future generations”

John, 65, retired Doctor,International Private Banking client

International Private Banking is a service for clients withhigh income or wealth, who have chosen to live outsidethe Nordic countries. You and your family are assigned anExecutive Wealth Manager – a financial specialist – whocan guide you on your overall private finances.

Your Executive Wealth Manager is available for meetingsoutside normal opening hours and can draw upon expertswithin the Group or our network of external specialists onareas such as domiciliation, insurances and audit.

We can tailor solutions to bridge your worlds, whereveryou are. We call this solutions beyond the ordinary.

To become an International Private Banking client, visit ourweb site www.danskebank.lu or call us in Luxembourg attelephone +352 46 12 751.

Needs beyond the ordinary?

Scan Magazine seeksFreelance JournalistsWe are currently looking for qualified journalists on afreelance basis. We are looking for journalists withDanish, Swedish, Norwegian or Finnish background. Youneed to be confident in English as well as at least one ofthe Nordic languages.

To apply, please email your CV to Thomas Winther [email protected] or call 0870 933 0423

2

Scan Magazine | News | Scandilicious

Secrets of Scandinavian food – ScandiliciousWhen people think of Scandinavian cui-sine, they often think of Danish pastries,herring and meatballs. However, Nordiccuisine is so much more, with seasonalfood and good local quality ingredients.The food is relatively simple and stress-free to prepare which goes perfectly withScandinavians’ love of spontaneous get-togethers.

Signe Johansen has written a fresh andinspiring introduction to Scandinaviancooking. Scandilicious brings you mouth-watering recipes for healthy breakfasts,lazy brunches, light lunches and delec-table dinners.

This Norwegian cook grew up in Norwaybut now lives in Bloomsbury, London. Sheis a talented young food writer and an-thropologist who trained at Leith’s andhas worked in kitchens, including HestonBlumenthal’s Fat Duck in Bray. Signe isalso a co-writer of The Ultimate Student

Cookbook and her blog, signejo-hansen.com, specialises in modernScandinavian cooking and baking.

Scandilicious is made up of over 100recipes using fuss-free ingredients.It hosts some traditional recipes,such as smoked trout salad andhome-made gravlaks, but it alsohas the unexpected – roast allspicechicken and macaroni and cheesewith a Scandilicious twist. Bakingenthusiasts will also discover sometreats – cinnamon chestnut bread, Jarls-berg and fennel muffins, and there is awhole chapter on the queen of comfortfood – cake.

Signe’s cookbook is beautifully pho-tographed, and it is a book no kitchenshould be without. Scandinavian cuisine iscurrently enjoying some overdue aware-ness as the Danish restaurant Noma inCopenhagen was recently crowned the

World’s Best Restaurant. Scandilicious is,then, the perfect cookbook for homecooks who want to learn more aboutScandinavian cuisine. The book is a cele-bration of the pleasure of sharing goodfood with friends around the kitchen table.

GRAPHIC DESIGN PRINT MANAGEMENT

Liquid Graphic Ltd. London | Phone 08709 330 324 | E-mail [email protected] | www.liquid-graphic.com

At Liquid Graphic we are specialistsin the design and print of:

• Corporate Identity

• Conference documentation

• Reports

• Magazines

• Brochures

• Books

2

By Camilla Waaden

Saltyard Books ~ an imprint of Hodder& Stoughton, Hardback, £20Publication date: 12 May 2011

Signe Johansen. Photo: Debi Treloar

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 99

Scan Magazine | Culture | Graceland Randers

Somemight struggle to realise theconnection between Randers orJutland and “the King”. But to trueElvis fans the town has beenknown for quite some time as thehome of one of the world’s mostextensive Elvis museums. Themu-seum was founded by fulltime fanHenrik Knudsen, who started col-lecting the Elvis memorabilia onexhibition at the age of 13.

Graceland Randers started out asone of Knudsen’s extreme ideas ata museum meeting in 2005.Though the idea was, admits Knudsen,laughed at quite a bit in the beginning,things got a lot more serious when hewas granted a 26 million DKK loan tocarry out the project. “Attention becamecompletely crazy after we officially an-nounced the project. People have sent usTV-cuts about us from countries likeJapan and Australia,” says Knudsen. “Ofcourse, we have had some press coverage

before, but this is extreme. I think it’s be-cause it’s sort of on the borderline ofcrazy, quite kitsch and in a way a bitfunny,” he admits.

The house now stands almost ready withthe original museum in the basement, ahuge merchandise shop and an Ameri-can diner on the ground floor, and a ball-room upstairs. And with the ballroom al-

ready booked as far ahead as 2017,and Visit Randers estimating thatGraceland Randers will have morethan 75,000 annual visitors,prospects are looking good. “Thisis going to be huge for the wholetown,” says tourist director Anne-Mette Knattrup. But what wouldthe King himself think? “I will tellyou what Priscilla [Presley] said,”says Knudsen. “When I met herprivately in Memphis, I told herabout the project; she confided tome that Elvis would have beenvery, very proud to see that some-

one was doing something like this.”Though Knudsen has a lot at stake, heseems calm: surely with the blessing ofthe King (or as close as it gets) it cannotgo wrong.

Graceland Randers – the King moves to JutlandThe word has spread like wildfire: the Guardian, the New York Times andmost Scandinavianmedia have all carried the story. And

now it is just about to become reality; on 15 April, the first ever replica of Elvis’s home in Memphis is to open in the Danish town

of Randers. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Visit Randers

For more information, please visit:www.gracelandranders.dk orwww.visitranders.com

Legendary radio presenter Jørgen de Mylius is handed the GracelandRanders Legacy Protector diploma by Henrik Knudsen (right).

100 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Last year, whilst recording an AntiquesRoadshow on the forecourt of the BritishMuseum, my producer asked me to nom-inate an object which had changed theworld, my personal pick inspired by NeilMacGregor’s BBC radio series A History ofthe World in One Hundred Objects. He al-lowed me to select something from out-side the BM: “Choose something mod-ern,” he said. As a former student of theOld Stone Age, for me anything from thelast three hundred years is “modern”. So

I went back 190 years – barely yesterdayfrom the stone age perspective – andnominated Michael Faraday’s InductionCoil (1821)1, an unpromising iron ring,wrapped in wire, with which Faradaydemonstrated the mutual influence ofmagnetism and electric fields, a relation-ship which led directly to the harnessingof electricity.

And the Scandinavian link? Before Fara-day, a Danish physicist, H. C. Ørsted (1777

– 1851), described how a compass needle(i.e. a magnet) is deflected by an electriccurrent; it was this and the subsequentexperiments of Michael Faraday (1791 –1867) moving observation into concreteformulae, which form the basis of the en-tire electrical world, including TV’s Wal-lander, Forbrydelsen and The AntiquesRoadshow.

These men were still unknown to mewhen, as a young lad growing up in

Ships, currents and compassBy Lars Tharp

Scan Magazine | Culture | Lars Tharp Column

The Gokstad Ship. Photo: Johan Berge/Innovation Norway

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 101

Scan Magazine | Culture | Lars Tharp Column

1950s/60s Copenhagen, my grandfather,archaeologist H. C. Broholm (yet anotherHans Christian) dragged me around allthe capital’s museums, including his ownNationalmuseum. The day he gave me hisown boyhood’s pocket compass was whenhe told me about a fellow Fynbo2, H. C.Ørsted.

At the time, the artefact which most cap-tivated me, however, was the Viking Ship.Morfar and I visited the Ladby ship burial(circa 950AD, also on Fyn) several times.Among its flattened timbers lay the bonesof the deceased chief’s dogs and his teamof horses, sacrificed for his use in the af-terlife. Years later, in a newly createdViking Ship Museum in Roskilde, I waspresent when the first preserved planksfrom the six ships were carefully fixed ontoelegant, ship-shapedmetal frames; theseelliptical skeletons traced the outlines ofsix Viking ships scuttled one thousandyears ago further up the fjord.

Several years later still, when I firststarted giving talks on cruises, I finallygot to see the great Viking ships familiarto me from boyhood through books andphotographs: the Oseberg and Gokstadships. They are housed in a wonderful,custom-built museum (1927) on Bygdøj, a

villa suburb on the Oslo fjord, a tenminuteboat-hop from the city centre quay.

These high-prowed ships, sleek curvescutting through open seas, so feared bythe monks of Lindisfarne, are amongScandinavia’s most breathtakingly beauti-ful artefacts. These are the vessels inwhich inhabitants of the Nordic countriesreached and linked the British Isles, theFaroes, Iceland, Greenland and the north-ern shores of America; these are the shipswhich headed northward along Norway’sAtlantic seaboard, over North Cape andon into the White Sea; these are the ves-sels which penetrated inland, upstreamalong the rivers of the Baltic, reachingNovgorod, Kiev and even beyond (via land)to the Caspian and the Black Sea, andsouth to Byzantium (Istanbul). Here theyjoined up with Mediterranean Vikingtraders and converged with another greathuman trade route, the Silk Road, bringinggoods from China and her satellites. Andhere, surely, is the answer to the riddle ofthe so-called “Buddha-bucket” from theOseberg ship-burial, dating to the mid830s. When you next visit Oslo’s VikingShip Museum, take a close look: the over-head handle swings from a pair of metalescutcheons cast with identical cross-legged figures wearing jackets enamelled

with a cross within corners containing fourmirrored swastikas. There can be no doubtthat the image is that of Buddha, seatedcross-legged; the swastika motif, thoughfound in many parts of the world, in Chinahas a long association with Buddhism, de-noting the Numberless, the Infinite – andthe Heart of Buddha. Though we may notyet know where this group of enamelledbronzes were made (one possibility beingIreland, another part of the Viking world),the fact that the younger of two femaleskeletons buried on board has yieldedDNA pointing to the Black Sea/Iran, fur-ther demonstrates how cultures and peo-ples were conducted by remarkable ships,ships leading directly to the creation ofWilliam the Conqueror’s fleet – and allachieved without the aid of a compass…

Lars Tharp is the BBC Antiques Roadshow’sonly Dane. Some years ago he teamed upwith compatriot Sandi Toksvig on aCelebrity Great Antiques Hunt, beatingJune Whitfield and Tim Wonnacott bybribing the audience with Rød Aalborg(akvavit).

Lars was born in Copenhagen andeducated in England. Emulating his Danishgrandfather (Nordic Bronze Age Lurspecialist H C Broholm), he studied the OldStone Age at Cambridge University. Butjobs for Palaeolithic archaeologists arescarce, so he joined Sotheby’s to becomeas a specialist in Chinese works of art,becoming a director and auctioneer withthe firm and joining the Roadshow in 1986.Today, as well as broadcasting (and writingthe occasional column for Scan Magazine),he runs his own art consultancy business(www.tharp.co.uk).Lars Tharp

One of the two “Buddha”escutcheons on the Osebergbucket - linking Vikings and

China’s Tang Dynasty?

1 It can be seen, along with other Faraday material inthe Royal Institution Museum, Marlborough Street.

2 Ørsted was actually from Rudkøbing, on Lange-land, just south of Fyn.

The Oseberg ship. Photo: Johan Berge/Innovation Norway

102 | Issue 28 | April 2011

From 1875 onwards, the mission playedan important role in taking care of Finnishseamen, often posted at English ports formonths at a time. The church was first setin Hull, but was quickly relocated to Lon-don, which was the biggest port in theworld at the time. Although their first ob-jective was to take care and lend supportto the seamen, when more Finns startedmaking a home for themselves in the UK,the focus started slowly shifting onto theexpatriate communities.

The present building is the third one to beused as the Finnish church in London.Designed by architect Cyrill Mardall-Sjöström, it was purpose-built after thewar to house the Finnish church.

“It might not look like your typical churchfrom the outside, and you can also tell thatthe building was never solelymeant for ec-clesiastical use,” explains Rector TeemuHälli. “We’ve always had the cafe and li-brary, and downstairs we naturally haveour sauna, which is a normal part of anyFinnish seamen’s church around theworld. Of course, we have our own churchhall, but we try to be as versatile a meet-ing place as possible as well as a haven forthe Finnish language and religion. We’rehere to serve the Finnish community andany friends of Finland who visit us.”

Language, food and comfort

“I have a feeling that a lot of our visitorsjust enjoy coming by, having a seat in the

cafe, reading the Finnish daily papers witha cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun, whilemeeting other Finns,” says service man-ager Ismo Peltonen.

Of course, there are numerous differentchurch events, activities and groups avail-able as well. From toddlers to pensioners,

The Finnish Church in London– where Finnish language and culture live and breatheThe Finnish Seamen’s Mission was established in the UK over 130 years ago, and since 1958 the Finnish Church inLondon has been located in Rotherhithe. With its sauna, library, shop and cafe serving traditional Finnish food andsnacks, the church has created a comfortable living room, where Finns (and friends of Finland) can come and relaxand feel thoroughly at home. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Silje Glefjell

Issue 28 | April 2011 | 103

there is something for everyone. Amongother things, the church includes a choir,theatre group, Saturday school, art group,literature club and so forth.

“We offer people the opportunity to so-cialise with one another, and accordinglypromote the well-being of the community,so nobody feels alone. Of course, thesauna is very important; we have somevery active sauna-bathers. The shop is oneof the reasons many people visit us, asthis has for a long time been the only placewhere you could get Finnish rye bread,chocolate and ‘salmiakki’,” says Hälli.

“Our different fairs and bazaars also at-tract people from all over the country,”adds Peltonen.

With concerts, plays and art exhibits dot-ted throughout this year’s event calendar,the church is turned into a real culturalhub. “On top of all the events, the Finnishlanguage is also of great cultural signifi-cance for the church. We mainly speakFinnish here, which is especially importantfor families with children, who might feela bit alone with their language in London.Even though it is nowadays easy to accessFinnishmaterial online or keep in touch byphone or Skype, it is still very important formany people to be able to go to a place,where they can use the language in per-son. Mass and other services are mainlyconducted in Finnish here. It’s our duty tobemore Finnish than a church in Finland.”

Support the Finnish Church

Unlike its counterparts in Finland, theFinnish Church in London does not bene-fit from taxes and accordingly has to pro-cure its own funding.

“The best way to support the church is totake part in our activities. Come visit, jointhe events, buy from our shop and cafe, andwe are always delighted to receive dona-tions. We also have a £20membership fee,which gives you some small discounts forour services (in the shop, for example).”

The church also offers accommodationfor travellers at a very affordable price.Please see the website for more details.

For more information on events anddonations, please visit:www.finnishchurch.org.uk

Contact details:

Finnish Church in London33 Albion StreetLondon SE16 7HZUnited Kingdom

Telephone: +44 207 2371261E-mail: [email protected]/LontoonMerimieskirkko

UPCOMING EVENTS

Easter Fair, 15/4 – 17/4Fri noon-8pm, Sat 10am-8pm,Sun 10am-6pmPick up your favourite snacks anddrinks on the weekend before Easter.The shelves will be filled with“mämmi”, Easter eggs, Finnish ice-cream and many other treats. You canalso sample Finnish sausages, sautéedreindeer and a selection of alcoholicdrinks from “long drinks” to saltyliquorice vodka.

Election Night Party, 17/46pm onwardsMay Day/Labour Day Celebration, 30/45pm onwards

Scan Magazine | Culture | The Finnish Church

104 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Scan Magazine | Culture | Melodifestivalen 2011

After a critical panning in 2010, Swedishbroadcaster SVT brought out all of the bigguns for the 2011 contest. Amongst the 32competitors, we had songs composed byRed One (Lady Gaga, JLo, Enrique Igle-sias), Desmond Child (Aerosmith, BonJovi), and Alexander Bard (Army of Lovers,Alcazar). Although perhaps to demon-strate how contrary the Swedes are whenpresented with songs that SVT would likethem to vote for, none of these tracks pro-gressed to the grand finale! We also hadhugely successful artists like Melody Club,Dilba, Christian Walz, Le Kid, and LindaSundblad compete. But again, all of thesewere eliminated in their preliminary heats.Instead, the final was made up simply ofsongs that the Swedish people liked, withno particular concern afforded to whatthey thought would work best on the in-ternational stage of Eurovision.

That attitude has been a huge annoyanceto the Swedish press, but I like it that way.It makes Melodifestivalen what it is – agenuine song contest. And it’s also per-

haps why it’s now got such a big cult fol-lowing internationally too. Over the week-end, Stockholm was awash with interna-tional pop fans in town for the festival. AndSwedish pop stars were genuinely shocked

by how many people were speaking Eng-lish to them at the special signing ses-sions and shopping mall gigs. Even theiconic UK pop website Popjustice com-mented on the winner the following week,comparing it supportively against their lessfavoured choice for the UK – boyband Blue.

In the end, the contest turned into a twohorse race between Eric Saade and hissong Popular, and Danny Saucedo with In

The Club. And while there was only onewinner, it actually turned out that both gotwhat they wanted. Eric Saade toldme backin December when his participation wasfirst announced, that he wasn’t competingjust to win Melodifestivalen, but also to bevictorious for Sweden at Eurovision too. Sohe’ll have been happy with his triumphantfinish in first place. Danny Saucedo thusfinished as runner-up, but that was alsogenuinely the result that he’d wished for.With tour commitments and an album topromote in Sweden, Eurovision would havebeen an unwelcome distraction for him. AllDannywanted out ofMelodifestivalenwas ahit single, a hit album and a chance to re-establish himself as a solo artist after thelast few years spent in a band. And he gotall three. So clearly, like the viewers, DannyseesMelodifestivalen as something far big-ger than Eurovision too!

Melodifestivalen 2011Melodifestivalen 2011 took place lastmonth. Tomost people, this is the Swedish contest for finding the country’s entryto the Eurovision Song Contest every year; but any Swedes reading will know that Melodifestivalen is actually farbigger in Sweden than Eurovision itself. For a start, it gets far more viewers than Eurovision anyway, making it thebiggest music and television event in the country every year. By Karl Batterbee | Photos: Niklas Thorsell

[email protected]

Eric on stage with the dancers, after their win was announced. Eric holding the Melodifestivalen trophy, withthe song's composer, Fredrik Kempe.

All your favourite Scandinavianfoods now available on-line10% off your orders in April with code ScanMag4

SCANDINAVIAN KITCHEN DELI, GROCERIES & CAFE61 GREAT TITCHFIELD ST. LONDON W1W 7PPT: 020 7580 7161 WWW.SCANDIKITCHEN.CO.UKUSUAL TERMS + CONDITIONS APPLY TO THIS OFFER. SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS

Homesick?

Scan Magazine | Culture | Immanu El

IMMANU EL: Scandinavian post-rockmeets a UK audienceBy Emelie Krugly Hill

For more information, please visit:www.immanu-el.com

UK Tour dates 2011:08/04 - Southampton - Hamptons09/04 - Sunderland - Independent10/04 - Birmingham - Roadhouse11/04 - Bristol - The Tunnels12/04 - Leeds - The Well13/04 - London - Troubadour

"One of the biggest Swedish pop-hopesright now,” wrote Metro in a recent re-view. Experimental pop band IMMANUEL will soon to be touching down onBritish soil. The UK tour starts inSouthampton on 8 April.

It all began in a barn in southern Swedenin 2004, when twin brothers Per and ClaesSträngberg and three friends got togetherto experiment musically. The result, apost-rock band named IMMANU EL, hassince gone from strength to strength.Their first album They'll Come, TheyCome, released in 2007, and the followup Moen from 2009, caused a stir both inSweden and internationally."The big breakthrough for us was when

we got the chance to play a set on the'Rookie Stage' at the Hultsfred Festival in2005; it’s an opportunity for unsignedbands to perform at what used to be Swe-den's biggest music festival," says gui-tarist and vocalist Per Strängberg. "It gave

us a chance to reach a larger audience. Itopened up opportunities such as sup-porting bands as Logh and Loney Dear,and we also started touring extensively.”With more than 150 concerts in 23

countries over the last few years, the fivemembers, Claes and Per Strängberg,Jonatan Josefsson, Emil Karlsson andDavid Lillberg, have gained a growing rep-utation for being one the most promisingbands to emerge from Scandinavia today.Today, IMMANU EL are signed to inde-

pendent record label And the SoundRecords, and they are fully in control oftheir own brand and take many importantdecisions relating to their promotion.IMMANU EL’s third album will be re-

leased in the autumn of 2011, followed byanother big tour, including Europe, Asiaand, they hope, America."Touring has always been the foundation

for the band and absolutely the best way forus to find our audience. We are still un-known in some parts of Europe, in particu-

lar the UK,” says Per Strängberg. "It's ex-citing for us to explore new territories andwe are always looking for new opportunitiesto create new fans and getmore exposure."

Photo: Immanu El

106 | Issue 28 | April 2011

Scan Magazine | Culture | Music & Culture Calendar

Last month Iwrote about anelectropop duofrom Denmark,Electric LadyLab, and theirfantastic debutalbum Flash.This month,however, it’s theturn of Norwayto present theirelectropop pair-

ing: Eva & The Heartmaker have releasedtheir third album Dominoes. It’s short, atonly eight tracks, but very sweet! Instanthighlight is the current single Gone In AFlash. It sounds like early Madonna andmixes those obvious eighties influenceswith another forgotten trademark fromthat decade – the cheesy stadium rock

guitar solo during the middle-eight! It’ssimple, but actually borders on genius.You might not believe it (or want to be-

lieve it!), but nineties bubblegum pop leg-ends Aqua are back! The demented Danesreleased new single How R U Doin lastmonth, and you will actually be surprisedat what it sounds like. Barbie Girl hasbeen replaced by Ke$ha, and DoctorJones has been forgotten in favour ofDavid Guetta! Those new influences aside,though, they haven’t dropped their skillfor crafting a catchy chorus, but they reallyhave brought their sound right up to date.Staying with Denmark, a new star is

born with Oh Land (aka Nanna ØlandFabricius). Well, actually, that star wasborn quite some time ago, but it’s only nowthat it’s starting to finally shine with hersecond album. The self-titled LP has justbeen released in the US to gushing critical

acclaim, and the UK is now starting to situp and also take notice. She has the looksof a young Brigitte Bardot and the soundsof a more cinematic Björk. My favourite onthe album is the song Lean – a luxuriousexercise in merging heavy string sectionswith dreamy vocal sequences. But thewhole record is seriously lush.There’s no more room to elaborate on

them further here, but you must alsocheck out Margaret Berger’s In A Box(melodic pop from the quirky Norwegian),The Ark’s The Apocalypse Is Over (swan-song from the legendary Swedes) andStella Mwangi’s Haba Haba (Norway’sAfrican inspired (!!!) entry to the 2011 Eu-rovision Song Contest).

[email protected]

Scandinavian Music By Karl Batterbee

APRIL

Lykke Li (April)Swedish popster Lykke Li tours the UK with hernew albumWounded Rhymes. The 25-year-oldentered the world stage in 2008 with heracclaimed debut album Youth Novels.www.lykkeli.com

Teitur (April)Faroe Islands born singer-songwriter Teiturwill play his elegant, acoustic folk-pop atvenues in London, Leicester and Birminghamthis month. www.teitur.com

Rotten Sound (April)This Finnish grindcore four-piece has beenaround since 1993 and are now touring the UKwith their new album Cursed.www.myspace.com/rottensound

Oblivia: Entertainment Island 1, 2 and 3(14 and 15 April)The Finnish performance company Oblivia'strilogy explores the world of popular cultureand entertainment. The trilogy is shown over afull-length evening. Centre for ContemporaryArts, Glasgow, G2 3JD.www.cca-glasgow.com

Nina Stemme in Fidelio (Until 16 April)Swedish soprano Nina Stemme sings inBeethoven's only opera Fidelio at the RoyalOpera House. Stemme, who has sung at all theleading opera houses and concert halls in theworld, won an Olivier award for her appearancein Tristan und Isolde last year. The Royal OperaHouse, London, WC2E.www.roh.org.uk

Scandinavian Culture Calendar– Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! By Sara Schedin

Lykk

eLi

Rotten Sound © Mira Born

Nin

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Tanj

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ann

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Scan Magazine | Culture | Music & Culture Calendar

Morten Viskum at the Vegas Gallery (Un-

til 17 April)As part of the group exhibition RouletteNorwegian contemporary artist Viskumshowcases his “dead hand” paintings in EastLondon this month. The controversial artistactually owns several dead hands which heuses to paint with. The Vegas Gallery, E2,London.www.vegasgallery.co.uk

Beauty in the Beast by Anna Tham (Until

17 April)Swedish Anna Tham has lovingly restoredgems found at junk shops and turned them intocostume jewellery. Once forgotten objects havebeen transformed into necklaces and objetsd'art. Shepherd's Bush Library, London, W12.www.annatham.com

Friska Viljor (21 April)Swedish indie rock band Friska Viljor will playtunes from their new album the Beginning ofthe Beginning of the End at Bush Hall thismonth. Bush Hall, London, W12.www.friskaviljor.net

Bass Johann Tilli and the Northern

Lights Symphony Orchestra (23 April)A classical evening with the Northern LightsSymphony Orchestra and, among others,Finnish bass Johann Tilli. They will performMozart’s Requiem and Tuomas Kantelinen’sAdagio. St John's, London, SW1.www.nlso.org

Axel Antas (Until 30 April)At his exhibition at the Rokeby Gallery, Finnishartist Axel Antas explores the relationshipbetween man and nature. His major new workUntitled (Sketch of a Tree) is a long-termproject in which Antas investigates what is tobe considered the world's oldest tree. TheRokeby Gallery, London, EC1N.www.rokebygallery.com

Ludvig Löfgren (Until 21 May)Ludvig Löfgren, who is Kosta Boda's new glassstar, is exhibiting his vibrant and youthful workat the Vessel Gallery in London. He draws hisinfluences from the tattoo parlour, rock musicand horror films, creating a beautiful contrastbetween his material and subject matter. TheVessel Gallery, London, W11.www.vesselgallery.com

Friska

Viljo

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Christia

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Ludvig

Lofgren

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