We Love This

We Love This – Pimp My Bike

In the first days of July, the usually busy roads of Copenhagen were deserted – carved up with metal barriers and patrolled by high-vis attendants, under billowing canopies of yellow and green flags – ready for the Tour de France Grand Départ. The city held its breath. Crowds amassed on street corners, craning over metal and climbing up lampposts to catch a glimpse of the peloton on its lightning charge. When they came roaring down the tarmac, a ripple like a sonic boom swept through the feverish audience, swelling into ecstatic cheering as a flash of multicoloured deities whipped past. We love bikes in Scandinavia – and we love to accessorise them. Here are our top design picks to help you pimp your ride.

By Lena Hunter | Press photos

Classic Sögreni Bike Bell Danish label Sögreni was established by Søren Sögreni in 1981 and has evolved to become the Nordic high priest of artful bikes. In the 1990s, Sögreni designed a bicycle for Denmark’s leading museum of modern art Louisiana, which become part of the permanent collection. You can ride around with your own slice of modern art on your handlebars with the classic Sögreni Bell. It’s easily mounted with elegant cast fittings, and even comes in a sleek wooden box with the Sögreni logo – perfect as a gift. www.sogreni.com €45

Hövding 3 Helmet The Swedish ‘airbag for urban cyclists’ is worn like a collar around the neck and registers the cyclist’s movements 200 times per second, inflating around the head on collision. Research published in The Journal of the Biomedical Engineering Society in 2016 concluded that the Hövding 3’s airbag technology protects up to eight times better than traditional bicycle helmets. Tech credentials aside, the neckpiece has rocketed in popularity in Scandinavia as a compact, foldable alternative to hard helmets that doesn’t mess up your hair. www.hovding.com €349

Swytch eBike Kit eBike conversion kits turn a regular bike into an electric bike. Crowd-funded in 2017, Swytch’s eBike Kit is uniquely simple, consisting of just four parts that can be fixed to any bike. Swytch’s complete wheel in any size replaces an existing wheel, and contains a compact, high-torque hub motor. The removable power pack fits in your hand and out-performs most eBikes on the market – charging in just three hours and lasting up to 50 kilometres on one charge. Sign up to the waiting list at: www.swytchbike.com

Velosphy x Sandqvist Cycle Bag Swedish label Vélosophy is the only bicycle brand that supports schoolgirls in developing countries with a one-for-one promise to donate as many bikes as they sell. In collaboration with compatriot urban bag label Sandqvist, they have launched a functional, water-resistant cycling bag that can be carried as a backpack, briefcase or shoulder bag. The fully-lined interior features a padded laptop compartment, zipper pocket and two slip pockets, in addition to three quick-access exterior pockets. It’s Scandinavian utility-chic with a conscience. www.velosophy.cc €298

Pas Normal Studios Musette If you’re a bike freak in the know, you may already have found yourself drooling over Copenhagen-based Pas Normal Studios’ “technically perfect apparel, combined with visionary aesthetics”. This cycling musette – a collaboration with Porter-Yoshida & Co. – is a casual take on the classic messenger bag. Boasting a padded shell, Velcro fastening and a durable nylon exterior, it naturally repels water and dirt – and looks slick in the process. Pair with the Pas Normal Studios escapism bandana for the full outlaw vibe. www.pasnormalstudios.com Musette: €185 Bandana:€25

Nova Bike Light Nova, by Aarhus-based design label Reelight, is a battery-free bike light system. It’s powered by a contactless ‘rim dynamo’, which works by generating a current via a magnetic field in the bike’s aluminium rim. Nova lights deliver up to 60 lumens – the brightest Reelight bike lights to date – and the back-up system makes the lights flash for two minutes at a standstill. www.reelight.com €87

Elvira Eriksson, founder of Mockberg.

The perfect women’s watch to complete your outfit

Mockberg’s beautiful handmade watches for women perfectly suit the female wrist. On her journey from emerging designer to social media hit and international success, award-winning founder Elvira Eriksson has kept the focus on creating watches and jewellery in precisely that perfect fit.

By Malin Norman | Photos: Natacha Uljanic

Swedish brand Mockberg was established in 2014 by Elvira Eriksson. She wanted to expand the Scandinavian fashion aesthetic to classic and timeless watches – in particular watches for women. Since then, Eriksson’s collections have been named in Vogue, Elle and Kinfolk, and the company has grown steadily every year.

Only 20 years old at the time, Eriksson was looking for a classic, feminine watch for herself – but couldn’t find anything on the market. She decided to take matters into her own hands and design a watch herself. “At that time, watches were boring and old-fashioned, especially watches for women, which were just a version of a male watch but with a different face. The whole industry felt outdated, actually; nobody had made an effort to design great women’s watches.”

With a keen interest in US fashion, Eriksson had an eye for design and the watch that she intended just for herself created a bit of a stir. The watch was designed like a bracelet to fit comfortably on the wrist, and ultimately to complete an outfit. “People literally stopped me on the street and asked me where I got the watch from. So, I decided to set up a brand, contacted potential suppliers and started selling my watches to others.”

The first watch becomes a viral success Eriksson’s vision was to create the first watch brand for women and to challenge an otherwise traditionally male-dominated industry. The first collection of 100 watches sold out instantly, and people were enthusiastically sharing images on social media. “It’s really fascinating how Mockberg’s first watch became viral on social media, without any PR or marketing from our side,” says Eriks-

son. In the first year, Mockberg achieved an impressive ten million in sales online – without marketing. It was all down to social media.

Together with her brother as co-owner, Eriksson expanded the successful business. A few intense years followed with launches in many markets around the world. Today, Mockberg focuses mainly on Scandinavia, with its range of watches in different designs, and beautiful jewellery. The idea is to offer feminine designs that feel luxurious but at an affordable price. “We want to help women find elegant watches that fit comfortably on the wrist, and that can easily work with different outfits and jewellery.”

Awards and collaboration with Lars Wallin Despite its massive growth, the pandemic hit retailers hard and Eriksson had to rethink the strategy for her brand. She also had a serious horse-riding accident and broke her neck in late 2020. “I was incredibly lucky, my doctor was amazed and told me to buy a lottery ticket.” Eriksson has thankfully recovered and so too has her brand; in fact, Mockberg is stronger than ever.

Eriksson certainly has an entrepreneurial spirit. In 2020, she was named the winner of Young Founder of the Year by Founders Alliance. The jury’s motivation: “The winner saw a need in a mature market and has built an international brand without external capital. The founder has shown that she is prepared to do what is necessary to take her company forward in times of adversity.”

One of Mockberg’s recent collaborations is with internationally renowned fashion designer Lars Wallin. Together, they have designed an exclusive watch for a limited run. “It is an honour to have been able to create a watch together with Lars and follow the whole process from idea to reality,” says Eriksson. “I am sure that together we have created something completely unique, where high couture meets Scandinavian minimalism in a unique and sophisticated way.”

Upcoming news from Mockberg includes a collection of waterproof jewellery, that you can wear when swimming, and designs made with recycled silver.

www.mockberg.com Facebook: Mockberg Instagram: @mockberg

Mockberg designs, manufactures and sells high-quality watches and jewellery for women through its own e-commerce retailers and shops across Scandinavia.

Elvira Eriksson and Lars Wallin. Collaboration with Lars Wallin.

Kelp Chair – see the collection at Stockholm Design Week between 5-11 September.

Interesting times for interesting design

When does design come full circle? That’s an interesting question, and perhaps one best posed to Swedish design firm, Interesting Times Gang. “The design business is on its way, but it’s still a challenge,” says co-founder Alexander Westerlund.

By John Sempill | Photos: ITG

You might call the core quartet at Interesting Times Gang somewhat of a motley crew; their diverse professional backgrounds are what make them unique. They knew each other prior to the founding of the company, and decided to combine forces. “We felt that we were a good team and that we could accomplish bigger things together,” Westerlund says. “We didn’t want to be restricted by anyone else’s vision or plan.”

Design doesn’t have to be safe, solely functional and lacking in personality. The proof is in the pudding. Or in this case, the Michelin-starred meal. When two Michelin-star chefs, Niclas Jönsson and Daniel Höglander, were looking for furniture for their new sushi restaurant, Black Milk Sushi, they had a few specific requirements. Principally, they were looking for something out of the ordinary. This led to interesting times for the gang, who were immediately up to the challenge.

Inspiration came from the picturesque archipelago on the west coast of Sweden. The flowing seaweed, or kelp, beneath the surface, ultimately led to the Kelp Collection – chairs made of materials sourced from maritime gear, such as old ropes and fishing nets. The chair’s design gives an impression of life on the ocean floor. “Thanks to 3D printing techniques we were able to create shapes that would otherwise be difficult to produce,” Westerlund says.

Conscious design Kelp Collection isn’t just a striking furniture collection; it also brings attention to the loss of kelp forests due to unsustainable fishing and rising ocean temperatures. In turn, this led to the creation of the computer game No Time To Waste for the non-profit recycling organisation Håll Sverige Rent – a digital escape room designed to raise awareness of the global plastic crisis, which demoed at the United Nations Ocean Conference 2022. “How do we help

countries, politicians and companies make the important decisions to make a difference here?” they ask. “We have a broad reach for a small group, and we always want to deliver.”

Apart from making a difference in the world, they are changing the game when it comes to design, as well. How about the idea that artificial intelligence could design your next coffee table, for example? This actually isn’t science fiction. “This was our first furniture project,” Westerlund explains. “We were looking into generative design and AI for furniture development. A coffee table is a good starting point because it is so basic – you need a table top, and underneath that, you are pretty free as a designer.”

“More organic than you might imagine” The starting point here was to work with an AI that maximises durability, yet minimises the amount of material necessary. From this, it generates design options; and the fascinating thing is that AI design is a lot more organic and ‘living’ than you might imagine. “Based on how you tweak the parameters, it will generate hundreds of options,” Westerlund reveals. “From those you can pick out the most aesthetically appealing, or those that are most practical for the task.”

The resulting furniture was Aibio – ‘a vision of a more renewable future’, according to their website. “You might imagine the results being very science fiction, with hard lines,” they say. “But the shapes the AI creates are surprisingly soft, and resemble biological patterns, skeletal patterns. Looking at this table, it almost looks like a bone – a collarbone. Gaudi used similar methods – a primitive version of this.”

You might say we’re living in interesting times. And you wouldn’t be wrong. That’s also in part a reason behind the brand name. “It started with a Scottish science fiction author, Iain Banks,” the gang reveal. “He wrote a book called Excession. It’s deep in a lot of ways and travels through time. In the book there is a hive mind, a group of AI brains, which contributes in developing culture and community. The hive mind is called Interesting Times Gang.”

The saying ‘we’re living in interesting times’ has a duality, depending on the language and culture it is used within. “In English, it’s something good,” Westerlund says. “But in Chinese, for example, it’s a curse. And that duality is very representative for the time we live in now.”

According to the quartet, design is more than creating something beautiful, or practical. It’s as much about creating something that can be disposed of when it comes to the end of its shelf life. “How do you design something that can be disposed of, and create sustainable processes?” says Westerlund. “This is an area that hasn’t really been in focus in the design trade. It’s on its way. And as we like to say: ‘Make things better. Make better things.’”

A screenshot from the game, No Time To Waste –A Digital Escape Room.

www.itg.studio Twitter: @itg_studio Instagram: @itg.studio

Aibio Table – the result of AI design and 3D printing. Founded in 2020, this is the Interesting Times Gang core team – Alexander Westerlund (Head of Design), Sean Barrett (Head of Innovation), Anna Eliasson (Head of Business Development) and Pinar Metin (Head of customer Experience and Service Design).

Guðrun & Guðrun: Modern designs suffused with tradition

When ‘that sweater’ which featured in a renowned Danish TV-series reached near cult-status, the Faroese designers behind it suddenly found the attention of the world turned on their products. The sweater became an iconic best-seller for a business that is synonymous with exquisite and conscientious products.

By Trine Jensen-Martin | Photos: Beinta á Torkisheyggi

Founded in 2000 by Guðrun Rógvadóttir and Guðrun Ludvig, Guðrun & Guðrun use old knitting traditions from their native Faroe Islands. The story behind the creation of Sarah Lund’s famous ‘vón’ sweater is close to their core. When Ludvig found one of her father’s old fisherman’s jumpers – knitted in Faroese wool with traditional plural patterns and multiple colours – she imagined designing a modern version that kept the essence of the original. The pattern was stripped down, using only two colours, and the shape was adapted to suit different curves. Thus, a softer and more feminine version of a classic, masculine sweater was created.

An absence of fashion “We are inspired by our immediate surroundings,” says Rógvadóttir. “There is an absence of fashion, so our inspiration comes from all around.” As such, you sense the expressions of the landscapes and the culture in each hand-knitted piece. Ludvig once said that “the sky is a new painting each day, so how can you not feel inspired?”

The latest collection is no exception, and the inspiration taken from the light and colour of the Faroe Islands is evident in each piece. The shades and textures express the changing skies, landscapes and seasons, and whilst the style feels undeniably Scandinavian, it is undoubtedly Faroese.

“We use waste materials like wool and lambskin,” Rógvadóttir says. They strive to source raw materials locally, and always use natural fibres – so the company was born sustainable and all production meets European standards. Another important focus is on supporting women’s empowerment. From the outset, the idea was to employ women to knit the designs, to give them an opportunity to earn an income.

There are exciting plans in the pipeline, including creating a resale platform, and eventually to replicate their wonderful Torshavn flagship store elsewhere. And with a striking new AW collection of beautiful handmade pieces, they continue to champion a very old tradition, whilst staying current, relevant and exciting.

www.gudrungudrun.com Instagram: gudrungudrun_ Facebook: Guðrun&Guðrun

Guðrun & Guðrun flagship store Niels Finsens Gøta 13 100 Tórshavn Faroe Islands

Own your own leisure village in the wilderness

Gammalstorp is a new, high-end village in the south of Sweden, offering a more social, sustainable and flexible approach to having a summerhouse.

By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Gammalstorp

“I was on the lookout for a summerhouse. Not a traditional one with a fence in a summerhouse area. I wanted something with truly wild nature – preferably large enough to get lost in. After many trips around Denmark, it was obvious that that kind of plot was nearly impossible to find. I started looking towards Sweden and Scania and found this massive forest, with rich nature and a stream – that we will expand to a swimming lake. It was too big for my friends and I, so I came up with the idea to create a whole village with several co-owners, so we could preserve the nature, and have a shared budget to hire our favourite architects for high-quality builds in wood and a lot of glass,” says Jonas Halfter, brand director and partner at Almenr.

Since then, more than 70 people have joined the project, becoming part owners of a unique village in the middle of the Scanian nature – like a modern Astrid Lindgren story. The name of the village is Gammalstorp, and owners will be able to move in by late spring 2023. But why not just buy a regular summerhouse? “A large survey showed that summerhouses a typically empty for around 300 days a year. That’s not sustainable. We aim to work with nature and not against it,” says Halfter.

Sharing is caring To avoid empty summerhouses, they considered a timeshare model, but found it inflexible. “Often, you have specific weeks booked during a year, which limits spontaneous trips. In Gammalstorp you’re not just an owner of a summerhouse, but an entire village, so there is always a house ready for you. I have a background in design and innovation, so everything is designed from scratch, even our booking app. You can use the house the same day or book an extra hut, for extra guests,” says Halfter. Another advantage of sharing the village is that caretakers are employed to ensure the upkeep. There are wilderness baths, a communal house, small huts in the deep forest, a workshop and saunas. “Gammalstorp is a social way of enjoying your free time. The kids run outside and play and there are regular social events. That said, no one is forced to take part in the activities if they don’t want to. All houses are private, so the ones looking for calmness are more than welcome, as well,” says Halfter.

Gammalstorp is now open for more people to apply for a co-ownership of the village.

www.almenr.dk/gammalstorp Facebook: fritidslandsbyen Instagram: @fritidslandsbyen

The timber-straw panels are solid, structural and super-insulating.

EcoCocon: the voice of change in the construction sector

EcoCocon is on a mission to change the way we build. Its modular, straw-based construction system offers a healthy, energy-efficient and climate-neutral alternative to conventional building materials. Whether you’re an architect, developer, builder or private homeowner, EcoCocon can make your dream project a reality in as little as a few days.

By Lena Hunter | Photos: EcoCocon

When EcoCocon was founded in Lithuania in 2008, the demand for straw and bio-based houses was already growing fast. “Straw-bale buildings are incredibly energy-efficient, comfortable and resilient – but also very time consuming to erect. They are not an obvious choice for most people,” explains Paul Lynch, director of EcoCocon Nordic.

“The CEO Bjørn Kierulf is an architect and Passive House expert with decades of experience. His idea was to make straw go mainstream with a prefab modular system that simplifies the process and meets all the highest quality standards and certifications.” Fast forward to today: Eco-

Cocon’s unique straw-panel construction system makes creating healthy and sustainable buildings easier than ever before.

Designed by nature EcoCocon’s green credentials are impressive: the panels comprise on average 89 per cent straw – a by-product of local wheat production – and just ten per cent FSC-certified wood. In the face of resource scarcity, straw is an ideal construction material. It’s rapidly renewable, largely available, and mostly has no other use.

“According to research, the amount of straw that’s produced here in Finland

The technical panel project serves as a mounting guide showing the position of each panel.

every year could build 400,000 threebedroom homes,” says Lynch. In fact, even accounting for delivery and logistics, the construction of EcoCocon homes is largely carbon negative thanks to the CO2 absorbed by straw during its growth. To date, more than 38,000 square-metres of EcoCocon walls have sequestered over 3,700 metrics tons of CO2.

“Building with EcoCocon impacts not only the health of the building and the environment, but the health of the inhabitants,” continues Lynch. “Indoor air quality is hugely affected by conventional building materials like acrylic paint, plastics and other synthetics that release volatile organic compounds. Using natural materials such as straw and clay is not only healthier, but regulates indoor air-moisture levels, heat and acoustics, for a safer and more comfortable living environment.”

Indeed, the panels insulate sound levels of up to 54 decibels – far exceeding the standard requirements. An airtight membrane on the outside of the panels minimises heat loss and draughts. In addition, the system is surprisingly fire-resistant: together with an interior clay plaster, the system is certified to withstand intense fire for 120 minutes. As such, straw buildings are made to last. Though an entire EcoCocon building can be erected, with the roof on, in just two or three days, its life expectancy can be measured in centuries, and requires no special maintenance.

“We can build houses very quickly because of the modular system. You simply place the panels according to the panel project and screw them in place. The builders call it big boys’ Lego,” says Paul. But this breed of Lego is remarkably strong, able to build up to six storeys load-bearing. “Now, we have designs for hotels and conference centres. Here in Finland, we’re working on five-storey buildings.”

Making Passive Houses easy EcoCocon’s modular construction system makes it easy for architects to design

The panels are very easy to install - basic carpentry tools are all that’s required.

The first Swedish EcoCocon house was built in 2016.

projects that attain Passive House standard – a blessing in today’s fast-evolving energy crisis. The energy-efficiency standard results in ultra-low energy buildings that require next to no energy for heating or cooling. The EcoCocon system has been certified by the Passive House Institute since 2016.

“Passive Houses are created via intelligent design: the house is south facing, catches the sun in the winter and has good eaves to block the sun in the summer, has fewer windows at the back of the house, and uses thicker, better insulated walls,” explains Lynch. “The temperature and moisture levels in the house remain constant. It reduces the risk of mould and other health problems in the building, resulting in a comfortable, energy-efficient home, and a beautiful living environment.”

“Energy savings aren’t hundreds of Euros a year, but thousands upon thousands a year,” he continues. The first Passive Houses were built in Germany in the 1990s. Other European countries caught on in the 2000s, and the first US Passive House was constructed in 2003. Commercial, industrial and healthcare projects around the world, built to Passive House standard, followed in the 2010s. Passive Houses were initially made from concrete, but EcoCocon is producing the first Passive Houses made from 100 per cent natural materials.

Simplified planning process with qualified support So how does it work in practice? For developers at the project-planning stage, EcoCocon can calculate the external wall surface and offer a detailed price estimate, including all materials and accessories. The panels are made to measure allowing for almost any kind of architectural design.

Once delivered, the modular system offers unrivalled speed of construction, accelerating projects and saving costs. Panels are colour-coded and numbered, and installation can be done as quickly as 22 minutes per square-metre, per person. Three carpenters with standard tools can build 60 square-metres of wall per day – or double with a crane on-site. “Using these materials is not difficult. Any carpenter can do it. Building companies’ feedback is usually very positive: it’s not only simple, but inspiring to do things differently,” says Lynch. For architects, EcoCocon offers guidance in the form of detailed, technical panel projects by qualified engineers, as well as professional technical advice.

27 countries, three continents and counting To date, EcoCocon buildings can be found in 27 countries on three continents and its portfolio ranges from private homes to sports halls and even entire eco-villages. In 2020, they collaborated with the prestigious Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen on an entirely bio-based school extension: an EcoCocon project outside Aarhus, Denmark.

“There are a few big projects evolving in Europe now. Switzerland and the Netherlands have some fabulous projects coming up, and there’s a beautiful hotel planned for Portugal. Here in the Nordics we’re building smart villages. In Finland, we’re building 34 EcoCocon houses next year – all designed to be off-grid Passive

Once the foundation is ready, the EcoCocon panels are shipped directly to the building site.

Houses,” says Lynch. “We’ve built all the way from Kazakhstan to Canada.”

EcoCocon’s goal is to gradually set up local production in every market “to be as close to our clients as possible, support the local economy and minimise transport-related emissions,” says Lynch. This will start with the new automated production facility due to open in Slovakia next year, with future production planned for Scandinavia, France, the British Isles, the US and other strategic areas.

EcoCocon’s focus is on business-to-business growth, but a key goal is to raise awareness. “We need to familiarise the world with bio-based materials if we want to work collectively to achieve a more sustainable world. People still don’t know about these things – but there are other materials out there, and they work. They’ve always worked,” says Lynch. “We shouldn’t be afraid of them. They’re available, cost-effective, sustainable and incredibly easy to work with.”

www.ecococon.eu Instagram: @eco.cocon

Once the panels are mounted, the airtight but vapor-permeable membrane is installed. It also serves as temporary weather protection.

Certified Passive House in Little Birch, UK. Photo: Juraj Mikurcik

EcoCocon home with an integrated greenhouse in Uppsala, Sweden. Photo: Daniel Skott

The Feldballe Free School project designed by Henning Larsen architects. Photo: Lindskov Communication

Scandinavian Lifestyle

Tasting beer like a pro, easy as 1-2-3

Beer tasting can look serious with a lot of swirling and sniffing, sipping and swooshing, holding up beer glasses to the light, nodding or shaking heads, and – finally – some clever comment about the type of hops used. No need to feel intimidated though; it’s actually easy peasy. With three simple steps, you too can taste beer like a pro.

Step one, look at what’s in your glass. Colour and clarity will give you a hint of what it is. For example, a golden, hazy beer might be a New England IPA (although looks can be deceiving!). By the way, the best glassware for tasting beer is a stemmed glass such as a tulip glass, so you can hold it by the stem and don’t risk warming up the beer.

Next, swirl the glass to release aromas and take a sniff. Take care not too overswirl, if you keep on swirling and sniffing and swirling some more, you’ll swirl all the carbonation away and might think the beer is flat. When smelling the beer, think about what it reminds you of. The easiest is relating the scent to those in cooking or baking. Perhaps it smells of freshly baked baguette. Or does it remind you of coldbrewed coffee with a splash of vanilla?

Finally, taste the beer. There are only five basic tastes – sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami – and what comprises ‘beer flavour’ is actually a mix of a wide range aromas and these basic tastes. Consider the level of bitterness, mouthfeel (is it watery or syrupy?), and alcohol warmth when you swallow.

That’s how easy it is to taste beer: look, smell, taste. But how do you know if the beer is any good, you might ask? Well, that’s preferential. Would you have another?

By Malin Norman

Malin Norman is a certified beer sommelier, beer judge and member of the British Guild of Beer Writers. She writes about beer for Scan Magazine, beer magazines and beer suppliers.

Alejandra Cerda Ojensa is a Swedish sustainability blogger based in Copenhagen. She loves sustainable fashion, plant-based food, natural wines and music, and writes a column for Scan Magazine about sustainable lifestyle. Instagram: alejandracerda.co

Times of preparation

By Alejandra Cerda Ojensa

August always brings a feeling of starting afresh. It’s a month’s transition from the summer holidays to the new semester, with whatever that might entail. I remember the August feeling very vividly when I was at school as a kid: excitement was in the air. It felt like a new year... only the expectations weren’t nearly as high as on actual New Year’s Eve. I still get that feeling.

As a part of our preparations for the new school year, new work year, or maybe even a new job, I’ve noticed we tend to buy things. We have the urge to buy a new backpack, a new notebook, a set of new clothes, a new watch… Things that symbolise the new. It’s as if the purchase is part of the transitional ritual.

I find myself looking at knitted sweaters even though the sun is still shining bright, new shoes even though the ones I wore last year definitely will do for another season, and notebooks – ah! It might not be very surprising for a freelance writer, but I love notebooks and bullet journals. It’s as if I believe the book itself will make me a more structured and successful person – a better me.

According to the Old Farmers Almanac – a book intended to forecast the weather before today’s technology – August is a month for harvesting. The seeds have transformed into edibe crops, ready to be picked from the soil and fill us with energy before winter comes.

If you, like me, live a more urban lifestyle it might be wise to do things differently this year. Resources are not unlimited and inflation is noticeable. Instead of buying new, I will try to harvest whatever is already stored in my house and give it new life. After all, the most important preparation happens in the home, not the store.

The Danish ethos in Sri Lanka

From quiet coffee mornings to snuggling up with a book to summer nights spent with friends – how to explain hygge to foreigners.

By Heidi Kokborg

I know, I know. You probably don’t want to hear the Danish word ‘hygge’ anymore. But bear with me. I promise I will try to put a new spin on the Danish ethos of cosy living. Being a native Dane I have never given much thought to hygge. It’s a culture, a way of life – and all I have ever known.

Recently, I passed a hotel in Sri Lanka with my partner from New Zealand. A sign said ‘come inside for Danish hygge’. I tried – and failed – to explain the concept of hygge to him. But it got me thinking about what hygge truly means, and I realised that it is not just a concept. It is how Danish people live life. No matter where in the world I go, I bring hygge with me.

Hygge is much more than hot chocolate, fuzzy blankets, candles and cashmere cardigans. It is a year-round philosophy. Hygge is about slowing down just enough to live a rich, fulfilled life. It’s my quiet morning cup of coffee that I enjoy overlooking the mesmerising green landscape in Sri Lanka. It’s going to dinner with my friends and leaving my phone at home. It’s going to a jungle BBQ and watching the monkeys play. It’s curling up with a good book with a thunderstorm roaring outside, and drinking wine at a sidewalk café in Copenhagen with my friends during those long, light Scandinavian summer nights.

Heidi Kokborg is a journalist and health coach from Denmark. She runs her own online business and writes a column for Scan Magazine about health and wellness in Scandinavia. www.heidikokborg.com

A dance school worth crossing the border for

Surrounded by fields and forests, a short drive from the border between Norway and Sweden, you will find the small town of Mysen. This rural town is home to a dance school with classes that rival those of any bigger city. Everyone is welcome, from fouryear-olds to adults.

By Hanna Margrethe Enger | Photo: Marius Kristoffersen

Norway’s popular dance school Indre Østfold Dans og Ballet draws pupils from all over the local area, as well as from across the Swedish border. A testament to its community impact, when the school nearly closed, one of the ‘dance dads’ Frank Tangen decided to save it. He bought the school, and ran it for the next ten years.

In 2015, he got Selma Kristoffersen on board – an experienced dancer with a Bachelors in Jazz Dance with Pedagogy. “We teach ballet, jazz dance, hip-hop and contemporary,” Kristoffersen explains. “We also have classes just for boys, and a class called Girlstyle.”

Kristoffersen was the driving force behind the establishment of the school dance company in 2018, and took over management of the school in 2019. Today, she continues to teach, alongside the school’s great teaching staff, and also serves as the company’s artistic director. A junior company was added in 2022.

Many types of dance are competitive, but here, the focus is on performing arts and having fun. The school is inclusive: at the end of each semester, all the dancers take part in a show. “We notice their motivation improves after the shows. They want to dance more and even try another dance style,” says Kristoffersen. “The show is very important to many of our dancers.”

www.dansogballett.no Facebook: Indre-østfold-dans-ogballett-Mysen Instagram: indre_ostfold_dans_og_ballett

Dancers in tutu dresses, including one boy.

Gina Storm-Jensen, The Royal Ballet. Photo: ROH, by Alice Pennefather

Going global with Royal Ballet soloist Gina Storm-Jensen

Many little girls dream of becoming a ballerina – the pretty tutu, the pink satin ballet shoes, the sparkly headdress – it all looks so enchanting. The reality is, however, that you need the strength of a top athlete, huge determination and talent to even get into a ballet company, let alone rise through the ranks.

By Joy Sable

For Gina Storm-Jensen, the dream has come true. A soloist with the Royal Ballet in London, she is the company’s only Norwegian ballerina, trained at the National Ballet School in Oslo. The tri-lingual ballerina was born in London to a German mother and Norwegian father, where she spent the first two years of her life, before the family moved to Oslo.

She took her first steps in dance aged four, attending the Jorunn Kirkenær dance school. “I started ballet partly because all my friends were going to ballet school. My mum said I had bad posture and wanted the discipline. I still have bad posture,” she says. This is quite untrue – she has the ease and elegance of someone who has had years of grace drilled into her.

“The minute I started, I was hooked. Rewatching ballet videos of myself when I was young, I have to say I’m quite impressed with how disciplined I was at such a young age.”

A family of artists Perhaps it’s not surprising that StormJensen chose a career in performing arts. Her father was a trumpet teacher; her grandmother was the acclaimed Norwegian actress Vigdis Roising; and her great-grandparents were opera singers and piano players. “My dad’s side is very artistic, so maybe that’s why I enjoy classical music. I’m guessing my passion came from his side,” she says.

She describes her childhood in Norway as ‘amazing’ and credits her family with keeping her grounded during her not-so-ordinary early years. “I’m so blessed to have had a really solid foundation in Norway. I have an amazing family and friends and I’ve always felt supported and loved. My brother has been so supportive the whole way. I could not have done it without him being so patient with me, and obviously my parents’ help and guidance.

“We have a cottage up north in Hafjell, Lillehammer, and we would go there to ski and relax. During the summer holidays we would go to Spain and spend time with my grandparents at their house there. But most weekends, I would stay in Oslo

Gina as the Lilac Fairy taking a curtain call at the end of The Sleeping Beauty. Photo: ROH, Andrej Uspenski

to dance. I didn’t have a normal childhood because I was dancing so much.”

Gina’s obvious talent led her ballet teacher to recommend she attend the Norwegian National Ballet School for more intensive study. While there, she started entering international dance competitions, winning the Grasse competition in 2009 and reaching the finals of the prestigious Prix de Lausanne aged just 15. You can still see her entry in a few clips on YouTube, in which her star quality is already apparent.

“I’m leaving regardless, because this is my dream” Storm-Jensen had already attended summer schools at the Royal Ballet School in Richmond, but realised that, to progress, she had to consider leaving Norway to study abroad. The Prix de Lausanne, which was observed by top names in the ballet world, provided the ideal opportunity. She was picked out and offered sponsorship to attend the Royal Ballet Upper School – which meant moving to London for the three-year course.

“I said to my parents, ‘I’m leaving regardless, because this is my dream – and I’d rather be alone because I’m really independent’. Two months later, my dad got a job offer in London! He said, ‘look, we’re all coming over’.” “I was upset because I thought this was going to be my journey. But three weeks after school started, I was so grateful that I had that support, because the competition totally changed. It was nice to come home to my family at the weekends and feel normal, because you are in this competition bubble. You want to do well and being able to let go and switch off is really important.”

“It’s something I want to carry with me and tell younger people that are coming up: to have a normal life. The more life experience and outside perspective you get, the better you can emote on stage. The more adventures you have, the more people you meet, the more you feel you can relay those emotions and give it back to the audience.”

“Because my family came over, and because I so wanted this dream to come true, I wasn’t as homesick, but now when I see my friends back in Norway, I do miss them. When I go back, I usually go to my cottage and not Oslo. A lot of my dancer friends from Oslo are now also dancing abroad, spread around the world. If my parents go back to Norway, I will definitely be homesick!”

Gina as the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty. Photo: ROH, Andrej Uspenski

Dancing for the Royal Ballet In 2013, after just two years on the course, she was offered a contract with the Royal Ballet Company, with a

Photo: Courtesy of ROH A young Gina in the Norwegian National Ballet’s Nutcracker.

promotion to soloist last year. A great challenge during her years in the Corps de Ballet was staying motivated. “I have so much respect for the people in the Corps because it is so demanding; the hours are long and it is very repetitive. If you’re injured or not feeling well, you just have to keep going and show everyone that you’re capable. Now that I am a soloist, there is more pressure but also more time to focus on yourself, your roles and what you want to portray – without this Corps de Ballet life as well, in which you do so much in every show.”

Tall, with blonde hair and bright blue eyes, Storm-Jensen stands out easily on the stage. Favourite works so far have included Danse a Grande Vitesse, a neo-classical piece by Christopher Wheeldon in which she danced a pas de deux with Matthew Ball. “It was my first pas de deux experience and he is solid and strong and made me feel as comfortable as possible. I’m usually on my own which is also lovely, but it was nice to share the stage with someone and have this ‘let’s do this together as a team’ mindset, and not ‘oh God, Gina, you’re on your own, here we go!’ Having someone really experienced helped.”

She has also danced the evil Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis in Giselle, and a benevolent Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, in a cinema performance which was relayed around the world. In the coming season at Covent Garden in London, Storm-Jensen will be dancing the role of Empress Elisabeth in Mayerling, a role which will test her dramatic as well as dancing skills.

When she eventually hangs up her pointe shoes, Storm-Jensen thinks a career as a coach helping dancers and athletes achieve their maximum potential is a possibility. She is already planning to do an online psychology degree in preparation. In the meantime, she will continue to delight audiences with her beautiful dancing. The little girl from Oslo has come a long way.

For details of the Royal Ballet’s performances, visit www.roh.org.uk

Gina with dancer Lucas Lima (far right) and Thomas Wilhelmsen (centre), the chairman of the board of the Tom Wilhelmsen Foundation, when she was awarded the 2021 Tom Wilhelmsen Opera and Ballet Prize.

Gina as Myrtha in Giselle. Photo: Andrej Uspenski

TOP 10 AUTUMN EXPERIENCES IN SWEDENSpecial Theme:

Photo: Henrik Trygg

Take a dream trip to Sweden this autumn

This August, we’re looking to the season ahead with our pick of Sweden’s Top 10 autumn experiences.

By Lena Hunter

There’s a rich offering of cultural diversions to explore this season, starting with the much-anticipated Stockholm Design Week. Back from its hiatus, the event will showcase the brightest innovations in industrial, home and product design from 5 to 11 September. It’ll be closely followed by an unmissable exhibition of rare images by the legendary Swedish photographer Christer Strömholm – on metre lighting-art trail through the picturesque, river-riddled town.

All throughout the autumn, Stockholm’s immersive Viking Museum will be putting on interactive exhibitions, while Malmö’s wildly-popular Sherlock Holmes-inspired escape room and its upcoming expansion – a new adventure into the underworld pegged as ‘Scandinavia’s greatest horror experience’ – are must-visits for thrill-seekers.

For tips on where to stay, look no further. Our hotels range from a remote outpost in

display from 10 September at Wanås Konst gallery in southern Sweden.

26 September marks the beginning of lobster season, and the chance to set sail with Fiskahummer off the coast of Gothenburg, on a fishing tour to catch your own dinner. A few days later, we’ll be off to Alingsås for the celebrated annual festival Lights in Alingsås – a three-kilo-

Lapland with guided hikes in the Taiga Forest, to a 300-year-old luxury lakeside spa hotel, and a five-star waterfront retreat in the heart of the capital. Finally, in ‘Sweden’s Lake District’, we’ve picked out a private fishing, hunting and conference venue that combines an off-grid experience with contemporary professional resources for an adventurous company getaway.

Dive in and experience the best of Sweden, this season. For information about travel, accommodation, attractions and more, visit: www.visitsweden.com www.sweden.se

Photo: Hôtel Reisen Photo: Grythyttan

INTERACTIVE EXHIBITION GUIDED TOURS & ACTIVITIES ADVENTURE RIDE

The power of design returns to Stockholm

Stockholm Design Week is back. A week bursting with inspiration returns from 5 to 11 September, gathering the Scandinavian design industry in Stockholm once again. Professionals, as well as design enthusiasts, are invited for a week of talks, exhibitions and inspiring events, that demonstrate that the Nordic design hub has returned in full force.

By Nina Bressler | Photos: Stockholm Design Week

Stockholm Design Week is ready to open its doors, after two years of uncertainty, to showcase the best of Scandinavian design. Due to the extraordinary pandemic circumstances in recent years, the upcoming edition – which would normally coincide with Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair in February – is a special event for 2022.

Designers, brands and industry-insiders are gearing up to present exciting exhibitions, talks, open studios and events around the Swedish capital, mapped out on their free app, due to launch in August. “We’ve been waiting for this week for such a long time now and we, along with our exhibitors, are beyond thrilled to be back in a physical space and to meet design enthusiasts from around the world again. The city of Stockholm will be vibrating with energy from creators who are longing to show their craft to the world and to showcase why Scandinavian design continuously maintains its worldclass ranking,” says Hanna Nova Beatrice, area project manager.

A long list of events are on the agenda in which studios, institutions and shops will invite visitors into their marvellous worlds of ingenious design, promoting sustainability and creativity in new forms. Stockholm Design Week at NK, the famous department store in central Stockholm, will host a number of activities including the exhibition Moving Forward. The prestigious auction house Bukowskis will present the exhibition Made in Sweden, of objects symbolising Swedish tradition in design, art, sports, fashion and music. The Open Space programme will offer a rare glimpse inside designer studios by inviting curious guests to talks and tours.

Designer Fredrik Paulsen is one of the participants who will be opening up his colourful studio full of objects, treasures and immersive stories. The week is the perfect warm-up to the return of Stockholm Light & Furniture Fair in 2023 – during which the design fair at Stockholmsmässan, plus another design week, will flood Stockholm with enlightening creativity. It’s a return to normal: Scandinavian design as a force to be reckoned with.

www.stockholmdesignweek.com Instagram: @stockholmdesignweek Facebook: Stockholm Design Week

Open Studio with Fredrik Paulsen.

A newly renovated historical gem in Stockholm’s Old Town

Hôtel Reisen is Stockholm’s only five-star hotel in the Old Town. For more than 200 years, this fabulous hotel has welcomed guests from near and far. Recently, it has undergone a careful renovation, modernising rooms and facilities whilst keeping the historic charm.

By Malin Norman | Photos: Hôtel Reisen

Located on the scenic waterfront in the heart of the Old Town, Hôtel Reisen is one of Stockholm’s great landmarks, just around the corner from the Royal Palace and a short walk from the ferry to Djurgården. “The location is unbeatable, bang in the middle of Sweden’s most visited area, the Old Town,” says Tomas Tegfors, general manager of Hôtel Reisen. “In the mornings, you can have a coffee on our terrace, watch the sun rise and see the city come to life, with lots of locals passing by on their way to work.”

Since October 2021, five-star Hôtel Reisen has been part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, joining a collection of other unforgettable independent hotels with a unique story to tell, such as Hôtel du Louvre in Paris and Great Scotland Yard Hotel in London. As one of Stockholm’s oldest hotels, Hôtel Reisen certainly has an intriguing history.

Coffee house, guest house and drinking den The foundation of the hotel dates back to 1617, when Gustavus Adolphus was King of Sweden. But the building has served many functions since then, including being a coffee house run by Dutchman Fredrik Reiss (from whom the hotel’s name originates), and a guest house for more than 200 years. It has also been a popular drinking den and hangout for some of the most prominent poets and writers in European history, including Carl Michael Bellman and Fritiof Nilsson Piraten. Since 1819, it has been known as Hôtel Reisen.

The famous landmark is larger than the front façade suggests; it stretches further into the Old Town and includes no less than seven floors. In the basement, which houses a spa, you can see handmade bricks and cross vaults, part of the old city walls of Stockholm from the

1690s. Women used to work on the construction site, carrying the bricks, and one of the workers even left her footprint (size 37) in one of the stones.

There is more fascinating history on display. The meeting room Chambré Brahe features the original saloon interior from steamship S/S Per Brahe built in 1908, which was in service Stockholm-Åbo during the 1940s and 1950s. The hotel’s oldstyle cocktail bar, Bar Brahe, is named after this same steamship and pays tribute to its eclectic roots in its interior design, including sloping floorboards.

Careful renovation maintains historic charm You will certainly sense the past, but Hôtel Reisen is not just about history. The hotel has undergone a careful renovation – completed last year – of all guest rooms and public facilities. It offers a modern, comfortable setting for its guests, whilst maintaining some of the historic charm. The interior is welcoming and classic, not too extravagant, and brings in some of the colours of the picturesque Old Town.

In the rooms with a view over the inlet to Stockholm you will find binoculars and a map with illustrations of what you can see from the window – the National Museum or the cliffs of Södermalm, for instance. Other rooms overlook the charming narrow alleys in Old Town. Six of the rooms have a balcony with a view of the rooftops, giving a sense of being a character in the children’s books Karlsson-on-the-Roof (Karlsson På Taket) by Astrid Lindgren. And some rooms even have their own bathtub and sauna.

The spa in the basement has also had a facelift, now with a relaxing lounge area, a large sauna and a cold-water pool under the cross vaults, like a mysterious forest pond. Here you can have a real Swedish experience with a cold bath and warm up again afterwards in the sauna. There is also a gym open 24/7 and a room for massage treatments, perfect after a day spent discovering Stockholm.

Restaurant Reiss serves classic Swedish dishes with seasonal flavours and a modern twist. And Bar Reiss, with a view over Skeppsholmen, is a popular hangout amongst locals for a drink after work. Bar Brahe is also a must-visit, with craft cocktails, nibbles and elements of live music –slated to reopen in September with a fresh, new concept. “We’re always trying to offer something new and special to our guests, whether it’s in the form of nice details in the rooms or revamped cocktail menus in the bars,” concludes Tegfors. “Our motto is to enrich our guests’ experience with collectable memories, every day, every stay, always. Ultimately, we’re just an instrument in their discovery of the beautiful city of Stockholm.”

www.hotelreisenstockholm.com Facebook: hotelreisenstockholm Instagram: @hotelreisen

The ultimate escape game

Unlike traditional escape rooms, Sherlocked Escape Games and Adventures in Malmö invites you to fully commit to a story and participate in a mystery like no other. With live actors and a detailed concept, Sherlocked is the ultimate escape game and will keep surprising you – no matter how many times you visit their venue.

By Hanna Andersson | Photos: Sherlocked

“We are unique in our concept. Our experience is more than solving a puzzle and getting out of a room. It is an interactive experience where our guests move through flats or rooms to solve a mystery, whilst also enjoying a theatre performance by our dedicated actors,” explains Niklas Åkermyr, owner and founder of Sherlocked. He continues: “The excitement will stay with you through the whole event, and it will most definitely surprise you. We take you to a whole new world.”

Experience this escape game with all your senses Sherlocked’s events are, as the name suggests, inspired by the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. The theme runs through each and every escape game, as well as the décor and the ambience. “We want you to enjoy this experience with all your senses. The rooms are designed to look like they did in the Sherlock Holmes stories back in the 1800s. The lighting reflects the mood, and the food and drink available at our sites are inspired by flavours from this time,” says Åkermyr.

The experience is interactive, fun and thrilling, and will involve every single participant – no one will end up standing passively in a corner.

“This is one of the reasons it works so well for team-building purposes. It forces everyone to participate and work together to solve the mystery or go through

to the next stage. Above all, you will feel everything together. The excitement, the stress, the thrill of it all. It brings people together in a very effective way. However, it works just as well for friend groups or families,” explains Åkermyr.

Baker Street and the Sherlocked restaurant The Sherlocked concept has evolved since its opening in 2014, and today consists of two venues: Baker Street and the Sherlocked Restaurant. The venues feature a variety of different escape games, two bars, and an exciting food menu – all of which are in line with the Sherlock Holmes theme. In their bars you can try a variety of absinths, enjoy the sweet cocktail A Study in Scarlet, or the unusual Léstrade Nightcap, which is served in a bong.

Åkermyr explains: “We realised that our guests never wanted to leave. They wanted to make the experience last longer. We therefore expanded our business and opened a restaurant as well as two bars where everyone can stay and talk about their experience. People want to discuss the games and the adventure they have just been on. And it’s perfect to do this whilst also enjoying one of our signature cocktails or some food.”

Up next – Scandinavia’s greatest horror experience Sherlocked is included in Visit Sweden’s ‘Top 10 Things to do in Sweden’ and won the HSMAI Guest Experience Award in 2018. Now, Åkermyr wants to take the experience to another level. In 2022 he will open Scandinavia’s greatest horror experience.

“We are so excited to introduce our next site. We have acquired an old cellar located under the oldest area in Malmö where we will invite our guests to take a trip down to the underworld. Down there, they will experience the ultimate horror experience. In teams of three to five, the participants will take a lift down to the underground where your challenge is to move from one place to another. This will also include actors that you interact with throughout the event,” Åkermyr says excitedly. The new experience will open up between November and December this year, and Åkermyr explains that while Sherlocked’s games are for ages 12 and above, this new and thrilling challenge is for over 18s only.

“It is not for the faint-hearted. I won’t say too much, but it won’t be like any old, haunted house. This will definitely be an experience you won’t forget. And if you do, you can just come back again, because we will keep serving you the unexpected,” he says.

www.sherlocked.se Instagram: sherlockedmalmo Facebook: Sherlocked

A gem of relaxation, nestled in serene nature

For centuries, guests have retreated to Loka Brunn – now one of Sweden’s foremost contemporary spas – a place for leisure, adventure and recreation.

By Åsa H. Aaberge | Photos: Loka Brunn

“People come to Loka to savour the spa, hold conferences, experience the fantastic surrounding nature and enjoy wonderful food,” says Mia Spendrup, the manager of Loka Brunn Hotel and Spa.

Venture into Sweden’s fairytale-like surroundings in the Bergslagen area, where Loka Brunn is located, with its serene nature, mighty lakes and magic forests. Go on excursions and hikes, before unwinding at the spa. Then, indulge in a gourmet meal and stay the night in Loka Brunn’s sister hideaway, Grythyttans Gästgivaregård, just over a kilometre away.

“At Gästgivaregården, we entice guests with one of the most exciting wine cellars in the Nordics, as well as some outstanding gourmet cuisine. Our food is made primarily from Swedish produce, much of it from the local area. We make all bread, cakes and cookies in our in-house bakery,” says Spendrup.

The peaceful spirit of the premises and surroundings create its relaxing atmosphere. Guests can sleep like royalty in the high-quality beds, in thoughtfully designed hotel rooms with uniquely decorated interiors. That’s why, during summer, Loka Brunn and Gästivaregården are firm favourites for the hosting of weddings. “Our welcoming environment, our church at Loka and the opportunity for guests to enjoy great food and stay over make us a popular choice for the big day,” says Spendrup.

Strong historic ties “The Loka community was built in the 18th century and is today a unique site with all 54 buildings on the Lokarna lake. Loka is also home to Sweden’s only spa museum, illustrating both the Swedish and the broader global history of spas,” says Spendrup.

“Gästgivargården itself dates from the 17th century and consists of 21 houses. All houses have had careful renovations, and now make up the village of Grythyttan, with cobblestone streets, narrow alleys and charming wooden houses.” Spendrup and her team take great pride in preserving the centuries-old traditions of relaxation and calm, and emphasise that the nature itself makes for a memorable, soothing stay. “There are ponds and waterfalls to swim in. In winter, if you are lucky, you can see wolf packs running past on the ice while you take a bath in our warm outdoor pools,” says Spendrup. It sounds like a Swedish fairytale, and it certainly feels like one, too.

www.lokabrunn.se www.grythyttansgastgivaregard.se Instagram: @LokaBrunn.se

Dinner prepatations at Grythyttan. Photo: Grythyttan

Henrik Plenge Jakobsen, If the people have no bread – let them eat cake, 2017. Photo: Mattias Givell

Contemporary art, nature and history meet in Wanås

On the beautiful Wanås estate, site-specific contemporary sculptures and installations are displayed among old beech and oak trees. The leading international sculpture park is a centre for art and knowledge, aiming to be accessible to everyone.

By Malin Norman

Wanås Konst is one of the foremost destinations in the region of Skåne. The international sculpture park is a centre for art and knowledge, where the medieval castle, surrounding park, and forest of old beech and oak trees provide a stunning backdrop.

In this magical setting, visitors can experience around 75 site-specific artworks by artists such as Yoko Ono, Rana Begum and Nathalie Djurberg & Hans Berg. In addition to the permanent collection, comprehensive temporary exhibitions also offers accompanying programmes including tours, workshops and artist talks for a broad audience.

“The first time I came to Wanås in 2000, I had a bit of a ‘wow’ moment,” admits Mattias Givell, co-director of Wanås Konst. “Instead of a standard gallery with all-white rooms, art is displayed in relation to the surrounding greenery, in an open-air environment with sun, rain and wind, and in a historical context. It’s a completely different setting, which opens up for a lot of opportunities and interpretations.”

and site-specific projects are displayed both outdoors and indoors in farm buildings from the 18th century. Wanås Konst

Wanås Konst’s visions for the future The art activities at Wanås were initiated in 1987 by founder Marika Wachtmeister. Since 1995, Wanås Konst has been run

by the non-profit Wanås Art Foundation, and Mattias Givell became director in 2011, together with Elisabeth Millqvist. Over 300 artists have participated in exhibitions and projects over the years.

The sculpture park is open all year round, and around 80,000 visitors come to experience the sculptures and installations, annually. “Our goal is contemporary art and culture for all. Everyone, regardless of background and age, should be able to access and experience art,” says Givell.

Every year, up to 10,000 children take part in educational activities such as tours and workshops at Wanås. “It’s important to connect art to what is happening in the world. Our aim is to be a hub for artists and progressive learning, and to connect the two. Here, you’ll encounter different art expressions, and we embrace artists that invite participation and co-creation.”

Peter Linde Busk and Numen/For Use From May to November, Wanås Konst presents two exciting new projects with artists who are driving change and pushing material development from a sustainability perspective. Contemporary Danish artist Peter Linde Busk is best known for his paintings, but also works with other techniques and materials, such as ceramics. Recycling is part of his approach, and at Wanås Konst, his first outdoor artwork is on display: a sculpture made with a method he developed himself – a giant pumpkin that visitors can walk inside.

Industrial design collective Numen/ For Use also explores sustainable alternatives in their works. The group created an intricate construction and cocoon-like shapes made out of biodegradable tape that fills up and spreads out from the 50-metre-long and 14-metre-tall building. Visitors are invited to view or physically explore the installation, take a closer look and discover cavities in the structure.

In September, Wanås Konst will premiere Where does anything actually begin?, a collection of lesser-known images by Swedish photographer Christer Strömholm (1918-2002), displayed in the park together with works by international artists Annika von Hausswolff, Aziz Hazara, Gosette Lubondo, Eric Magassa, and Eiko Otake with William Johnston. “This exhibition tells the story of Strömholm’s fascinating work but in a very different setting,” explains Givell. “By pairing his images with contemporary artists, we show the link between the past and the present, and how modern his approach really was.”

Wanås is located in north-eastern Skåne, approximately 1.5 hours from Malmö and two hours from Kastrup. On site, visitors will find Wanås Konst with a design shop, a local food deli and a lunch café. If you want to stay longer, you can book dinner and stay overnight at Wanås Restaurant Hotel.

www.wanaskonst.se Facebook: Wanås-Konst Instagram: @wanaskonst

Peter Linde Busk, The Generous Gambler.

Christer Strömholm.

Christer Strömholm. Eric Magassa.

Lobster o’clock

By Nina Bressler | Photos: Fiskahummer.nu

What does 26 September mean to you? Maybe it’s the first day back at work, beginning of a school year or just nother ordinary day. For Fiskahummer.nu, it’s a special date: the beginning of the year’s busy lobster season, when visitors will be invited to join the adventure on the salty seas of Kattegat, to catch the treasured crustacean.

Lobster season starts on the first Monday after 20 September every year, but there are plenty of fishing tours and packages available all year round: mackerel, cod, crab and crayfish are popular drafts during the other seasons.

Fiskahummer.nu is a family business located in Marstrand, an idyllic town on the west coast of Sweden. “Entrepreneurship runs through our veins and we set up this business because we love the sea, fishing and people. We own two boats and can easily expand our fleet if we have a larger booking. We welcome group sizes from one to 60 plus,” says co-founder Jan Kollberg.

Fiskahummer.nu arranges anything from fishing tours to sumptuous dinners afterwards, with a personal chef who prepares the day’s catch in a private sea cabin with a majestic view over the soothing waters. Thanks to close connections with hotels and businesses in the area, they put together uniquely tailored packages to suit each individual party perfectly. So, head over to the Swedish west coast to enjoy autumn as you should – indulging in the fresh coastal breeze and the treasures of the sea.

www.fiskahummer.nu Instagram: @fiskahummer.nu

An exclusive escape to the woods

Lars Sallström, one of the owners of Brokamåla Estate, is passionate about meeting new people and creating experiences – but it was a coincidence that he and his wife Maria Sallström ended up owning the old farmyard. Today, the pair have been running it for 30 years. Now, they want to share their pride and joy with an even wider audience.

By Alejandra Cerda Ojensa | Photos: Brokamåla

Brokamåla is located outside the small city of Olofström in Blekinge in southern Sweden. It was built traditionally, as it would have been 200 years ago. Today, the estate is a place where people come to enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking and exclusive dining. Surrounded by over 200 lakes, 40 of them within 15 kilometres, Brokamåla could arguably be described as the Swedish Lake District.

Part of Brokamåla’s unique appeal is the friendships the owners have acquired over the years. “We got to know a man who lived in Paris, specialising in fine wines, Champagnes and cheeses. He’s now hosting tastings at Brokamåla. We love to create connections like that,” says Lars.

The entire estate can be privately booked for conferences, during which the couple focuses on their guests 110 per cent, serving memorable dinners of local wild duck, fallow deer and other delicacies, paired with exclusive wines, and hosted in a thoughtfully modernised space surrounded by magical nature. Brokamåla is for anyone seeking a luxurious yet relaxing secret escape to the woods.

www.brokamala.se Instagram: @brokamala Facebook: Brokamåla Gård

Lapland in winter – the true story

Head some 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle and you’ll find Rajamaa. Nestled in the deep Taiga Forest, on the border between Sweden and Finland, the team at this small, family-run hospitality hub will give you a taste of what life in Lapland is all about.

By Emma Rodin | Photos: Rajamaa

For over 40 years, Rajamaa has welcomed guests from all over the world to enjoy adventure and nature combined. Situated on the island of Pitkäsaari (meaning ‘long island’), Rajamaa is part of the Muonionalusta village which has seven inhabitants –of which Rajamaa owners Kaisu and Lars Malmström are two.

Indeed, it is unlikely that you will stumble upon crowds while at Rajamaa. It is just you, the guide, your fellow guests and the seemingly never-ending wilderness. “We only ever host a maximum of 30 people at once. That way we can make sure that each guest gets the best possible experience,” says Lars.

Rajamaa’s main building includes a reception, dining room and sauna. On the grounds, there are ten newly-renovated chalets for guests – five smaller, and five larger ones suited to families. All chalets are fully equipped with amenities.

Experience Lapland, for real Rajamaa’s winter adventures are all about enjoying Lapland’s nature with its endless forests, white snow and frozen

waters. Whenever you choose to visit and whatever you wish to do, nature is at the core of every experience at Rajamaa.

“We want to give our guests a genuine experience of Lapland and we do it by spending time outside. Up here, we are all part of nature and we want to share that special connection with visitors,” explains Lars.

A week-long stay at Rajamaa is filled to the brim with memorable adventures, but it’s also a rich learning experience. Rajamaa’s experienced guides are not only experts in their fields, but are often local residents, able to share with guests an in-depth understanding of the surrounding areas – be it tracking animals via paw prints in the snow, explaining the region’s rich plant life or sharing historical facts about the indigenous Saami people.

Adventure awaits There are plenty of adventures to explore at Rajamaa. For one, there is husky sledding – where guests will man the sleds themselves (after some instructions and meeting the dogs, of course). There is also a two-day forest ski tour, using traditional, wooden skis, to a wilderness lodge in the middle of nowhere. “The lodge has no running water or electricity. We collect water from the frozen river and use the fireplace to keep warm. It is very much back to basics,” says Lars. Being so far out in the wild and without any light pollution, this is also a great place to spot the Northern Lights.

Included in the standard winter package is also a visit to a local Saami family. Although they have adopted more modern practices, the Saami people still live the same way they have for centuries. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the indigenous way of life, including their role in the reindeer husbandry, and the challenges they face today.

An eco-labelled business Rajamaa is also part of the Swedish Ecotourism Society. This means that they follow several guidelines to achieve certain eco credentials. For one, they avoid transportation by motor. Likewise, they minimise plastic usage and sort waste at the source – something each visitor is also asked to take part in.

“We use as much local and regional produce as possible,” says Lars. That includes reindeer meat from local Saami herders, moose from local hunters and fish from local fishermen, as well as berries and mushrooms from the Taiga Forest. Rajamaa supports its community by hiring people from within it and supporting its economy. “It has become a cornerstone for us to work with likeminded people who have the same respect for nature and Lapland life as us,” concludes Lars.

Cold and dark yet warm and bright, there is something about Lapland that is hard to describe. Odds are you will travel here for the memories, but come back with much more.

www.rajamaa.com Instagram: @rajamaainlapland

Christinae Kyrka, design by Luciana Alanis.

Lilla Torget Bron, design by Craig Spring.

The Grove, design by Jackson Stigwood.

Only One Earth. 7.9 Billion Reflections

Lights in Alingsås is an international meeting place as well as an exciting opportunity for people to check out unexpected lighting designs along a trail in Alingsås. The theme for this year’s edition of the lighting festival is: Only One Earth. 7.9 Billion Reflections.

By Malin Norman | Photos: Patrik Gunnar Helin

The lighting festival Lights in Alingsås attracts around 70,000 visitors every year. Established in 1998 and now run by Alingsås Energi, the much-loved event is an important meeting place for professional lighting designers, aspiring students in lighting design and architecture, and businesses. The world-class event has been internationally recognised with a number of awards, such as the prestigious lighting design competition [d]arc awards.

During a one-week workshop, lighting installations are built by designers together with students, and the finished works are displayed around Alingsås for five weeks. Every year sees a new theme, and 2022’s will be Only One Earth. 7.9 Billion Reflections. “Reflections symbolise the origin of change. When light is reflected, it spreads and changes course,” explains Camilla Boström, event manager for Lights in Alingsås. “With this year’s theme, we want to illuminate the endless possibilities encapsulated in the reflections of 7.9 billion people.”

Each year, the theme changes and so too does the three-kilometre exhibition trail around Alingsås. The rout starts in the city centre and, on the way, people can see unexpected illuminations in old neighbourhoods and residential areas, in trees and parks, and along waterways. There are also guided tours to elevate the experience further, featuring a history of the city sights and reflections on the designs, plus lots of other activities around the city.

“Autumn is a great time of the year for lighting design,” smiles Boström. “As it gets dark and gloomy outside, the event really lights up the city and visitors can discover fascinating lighting designs along the trail – it’s particularly beautiful by the waterways. It’s a great experience, combined with some shopping in the city centre or a visit to one of Alingsås’ fabulous cafés or restaurants.”

www.lightsinalingsas.se Facebook: lightsinalingsas Instagram: @lightsinalingsas

Brunnsparken, design by Jessica Krometis.

Lights in Alingsås, presented by Alingsås Energi, takes place from 30 September to 6 November 2022. This year’s theme for the design workshop and trail around the city is Only One Earth. 7.9 Billion Reflections.

SWEDISH BLACK CAVIAR

THE ULTIMATE IN SUSTAINABLE LUXURY

Arctic Roe of Scandinavia is the pioneering producer of the world’s most unique delicacy, Black Caviar, produced without a single fish having to die. Sturgeons have become extinct and making Black Caviar without killing the fish aids in the recovery and survival of the world’s sturgeon population. A microchip is affixed to each sturgeon so its growth curve and harvests can be monitored over a decade or longer. Every second year, the females are milked for caviar, and on each caviar tin or jar sold, the name of the individual female sturgeon and the date of production are printed on a label. The female sturgeons occupy an abandoned paper mill in southern Sweden on the banks of the massive river Lagan that empties into the North Sea. The aqua system at Arctic Roe recycles more than 99% of the daily water consumption, and on-site wells provide water for the property.

Swedish Black Caviar can be found in several Guide Michelin restaurants, fish delicacies and retail stores. It can also be ordered directly from the company.

TOP TATTOO STUDIOS IN NORWAY Mini Theme:

“We give a piece of our soul to every one of our clients”

It’s a new work day and Christina Colour opens the doors to Carbon INK Tattoo. Colours, drawings and ideas are flying around the room as well as in her head. This is the place where art comes to life, and being a tattoo artist is not just a job, it’s a way of life.

By Andri Papanicolas | Photos: Katrix Media/ Katrine Ørbek Lund

Carbon INK Tattoo Studio is a unique tattoo shop, first opened ten years ago, which has continuously grown to become one of the best studios in Norway today.

Christina prepares for a new day. She gets up early, clears her station and meets the clients. The studio is modern and soulful with hints of humour. “The atmosphere in our shop is laid-back, professional and fun. We even have names for our plants,” Christina says.

At Carbon INK Tattoo you will meet eight tattoo artists with a variety of skills, who specialise in both black and grey, and colour tattoos. They draw custom designs according to any inspiration and desire. In addition, they offer expertise in cover-up and scar-covering.

“We have many guest artists throughout the year. They all have different styles, which means that we can offer even more diversity for our customers,” she says. The reason why this studio is so popular is that it was founded by diehard artists and has stayed true to the profession.

Christina Colour is the leader of the pack and her story started 11 years ago. “I went to the tattoo studio with a friend of mine and the artist got the crazy idea that I should try to tattoo him, right there on the spot.” she says. That day, she found her calling and the journey to becoming Christina Colour began. “It was a very spontaneous experience for him as well, but he definitely changed my life forever,” Christina says.

Carbon INK Tattoo is located in Brumumddal, Norway, around an hour and a half from Oslo. Christina recommends people keep updated on upcoming guest artists and book an appointment early. “A tattoo is something that will stay a lifetime. It’s humbling to be chosen by someone to do that. I don’t think most people realise that we give a small piece of our soul to each and every one of our clients,” she says.

www.carbonink.no Facebook: Carbon INK Tattoo Instagram: @carboninktattoo

Oslo Tattoo Ink offers designs in many different styles – from realistic works to traditional and Japanese tattoos.

A different kind of tattoo studio

Oslo Tattoo Ink is a female-run tattoo studio in the heart of Norway’s capital, where customers and their safety always take centre stage.

By Linda A. Thompson | Photos: Oslo Tattoo Ink

When Catherina Castro decided to create her own tattoo studio in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, she was determined to break with what many still see as the archetypal features of a tattoo shop – a dark room with heavy metal music playing in the background.

Having been in the tattoo business for over a decade and having worked in several countries, Castro – who goes by the artist’s name Mrs. Castro – envisioned a studio where artists and customers would feel safe and comfortable.

Oslo Tattoo Ink opened its doors in January of 2022 and has quickly built a name for itself. The tattoo studio currently hosts five artists – Mrs. Castro, Mor Eliezri, Therese Telle, Olga Kozlowska and Lise Gran Olsen. “The fact that all the artists are females and the fact that they are all from different countries was never part of any plan. But it’s a lovely coincidence that makes the name of the shop even more special,” Castro explains. She adds that she chose ‘Oslo Tattoo Ink’ because it’s simple, representative of the city, easy to remember and because it fits with different kinds of tattoo styles and personalities.

“We offer unique designs in many different styles. Even though we are known for realistic works, we also offer traditional, neo-traditional, Japanese, simple line works, black and grey, as well as colour tattoos,” she says.

Safety is a key concern at this leading Oslo tattoo studio and the team of tattoo artists keep themselves updated with new regulations so that a safe environment for customers is always guaranteed.

Listening to customers is a key ethos at Oslo Tattoo Ink. “We listen to our clients’ ideas and we create unique, special designs for them,” Castro explains.

www.oslotattoo.ink Facebook: mrscastrotattoo Instagram: @oslotattoo.ink

NORWEGIAN FINTECH SPECIAL Mini Theme:

Left to right: Malin Christine Mjøs Lassen (CFO & Chief Compliance Officer), Stine Sofie Grindheim (CEO), Stephen Øyhovden (Head of Strategy & Business Development), Tine Harrison (Head of Marketing) and Jens-Petter Tonning (Head of Corporate Finance).

A matchmaking platform for investors and start-ups

Starting a new business can be hard: it’s often expensive and finding investors can be a challenge. But it does not have to be. More and more people are now interested in investing their money in shares and stocks instead of putting it into a savings account. Dealflow is here to make that process easier.

By Hanna Margrethe Enger | Photos: Opplett, by Siv-Elin Skoglund

The Dealflow platform was established in 2017 by Rune Brunborg and Petter Skulstad. They had noticed that there were very few opportunities for companies who wanted to raise less than 100 million Norwegian kroner in share issues, and they wanted to do something about it. They also wanted to democratise investing in early-stage companies and allow everyday Norwegians to be a part of the journey.

“A lot of the value creation and share-value increase takes place before the company is even listed on the stock exchange,” Stine Sofie Grindheim, CEO, explains. “But it’s not easy to come in as an investor before the company is listed, as that’s when the public gets access to buy shares.”

Making early-stage investments easier Typically, you had to know someone in the company or have the funds to invest a large amount of money if you wanted to invest before a company got listed on the stock exchange. Being able to take part in a share issue was therefore not available to most people. A share issue

is an increase in the company’s equity which, in turn, leads to an increase in the company’s share capital. For many businesses, this is vital to getting them off the ground.

“With new technology it is easier to make it accessible, and that is what Dealflow does,” Grindheim continues. “It’s a source of capital for businesses and an investment opportunity for bigger and smaller investors alike.”

On the regular stock exchange you can buy shares during trading hours, every day. On the Dealflow platform it is a little different. The companies are unlisted and there is a limited window for buying shares, often two weeks. Dealflow’s newsletter keeps potential investors updated on investment opportunities and when the companies open. Therefore, for those interested in investing at an early stage, it’s important to be proactive.

Thoroughly-vetted companies All companies listed on Dealflow have been thoroughly vetted, to ensure they have good investment potential. They do this by checking that the company can validate that they are the right team to make it happen. Validation can be in the form of good, solid investors, evidence of having landed some contracts with customers or partners, or of traction for their product. “What we see is that it is not the industry, or the product, that necessarily matters – it’s whether the company is run by talented people,” says Grindheim.

The platform has had a diverse range of companies, from fintech to baby cradles, software and physical products, consumer products, and business-to-business products. A common thread between all is that they have managed to create excitement around their products, and built the trust to make investors believe in them.

Promoting female entrepreneurs It is also important for Dealflow to promote female entrepreneurs. While it has been said that only two per cent of venture capital in Norway has gone to women, 22 per cent of the capital raised through Dealflow has gone to female entrepreneurs or co-founders. “Digital channels such as Dealflow simplify, open up and provide better opportunities for everyone, both companies and investors,” says Grindheim. “It democratises things.”

Norwegians have become better and better at investing in funds and stocks. Dealflow believe that the next step is investing in an asset class with high risk, at an early stage, and that asset class being a part of an investor’s portfolio. It is important to mention that while highrisk shares can provide a high return, they should only be a small part of the portfolio to reduce the overall risk. “Investors create the winners of the future and decide which companies will be given the right to life. There is a lot of power in investing at such an early stage.”

The last five years have been great for Dealflow. “Our ambition is further growth within Norway, where we see a lot of potential,” says Grindheim. “In the next few years, we want to expand across borders and we see Scandinavia as a relevant market.”

www.dealflow.no LinkedIn: dealflow-no Facebook: dealflow.no Instagram: @dealflow.no

Stine Sofie Grindheim (CEO).

CEO Marius Dybdahl and marketing manager Nora Staff.

Democratising real estate investment opportunities

In a time when the property market is getting increasingly difficult to get into, crowdlending platform Monio wants to democratise real estate investing. Since launching in 2018 it has already become Norway’s largest crowdlending platform in real estate investment opportunities and has no plans of slowing down.

By Synne Johnsson | Photos: Monio

Monio, previously called Monner, is a digital platform that puts businesses in touch with independent investors to finance their development projects. So far, more than 800 million Norwegian kroner has been invested on the platform across 400 loans.

Crowdlending, the most common type of crowdfunding, provides financing to various projects through a pool of investments from private individuals. Monio focuses on financing for small to medium-sized real estate projects that might struggle to secure traditional bank financing. The three other types of crowdfunding are equity-based crowdfunding, donation-based crowdfunding and rewards-based crowdfunding.

Marius Dybdahl, CEO at Monio, says: “Often, if you want to invest in property, you either buy a home for yourself or you buy a property to rent. With the deposit requirements from the banks, this is getting more and more difficult.”

“Investing in commercial property and projects with high returns is usually reserved for the more privileged people that already have a lot of capital. What we want to do is to democratise the opportunity to invest in loans to these types of real estate projects.”

Benefitting both investors and developers Investors on the platform benefit from a higher interest than the traditional savings account as well as the opportunity to invest in real estate projects across Norway. However, it is not only Monio’s investors that are benefiting from the service: newer and smaller businesses who face difficulty in getting financing from banks due to lack of finance history, also stand to gain.

Dybdahl says: “It’s difficult if you never get financing to develop a property before you have experience in doing so. It’s kind of like saying all leader positions require leader experience – it’s the best way to ensure that there will be no future leaders.”

That does not mean that they let anyone borrow through the platform though. Monio’s highly qualified professionals evaluate every company and project before it is released on the platform. They finance a range of developments across residential and commercial. However, today’s regu-

Monio’s top tips when investing in real estate loans You should never invest more than you can afford to lose, but even if you, in principle, can afford to, no one wants to lose money. Therefore, you should consider how to minimise the risk of loss. 1. Read up on the projects and evaluate the risk and security in each project 2. Spread the risk across several projects 3. Interest on interest: reinvest the returns regularly to increase the returns with interest on interest.

Since launching in 2018 Monio, has become Norway’s largest crowdlending platform in real estate investment opportunities.

lations make it difficult to finance the largest projects in Norway, as they cap crowdfunded investments at one million kroner per year.

This is about to change. The EU has introduced common rules for crowdfunding to be rolled out in the Nordics in the next year. The rules open up for companies to finance projects for up to five million euros annually. With the new rules, Monio will also be able to offer both loan-based crowdfunding and equity-based crowdfunding; allowing its investors to invest in loans for various real estate projects, or in direct ownership.

Putting your money to work Investing through Monio allows you to put your money to work with higher average returns than a standard savings account: Monio has had a historical return, after losses, of seven per cent. The investments have a one-year maturity, with interest paid monthly. When investing, investors are informed of both returns and maturity beforehand, what interest they will get and when the money will hit their account. “The reason we have specialised in property investments is that we think it offers the best balance between risk and returns. Your money is secured by a physical property, meaning that if the borrowers suddenly have difficulty repaying, investors can get back part of, or the full, investment by selling the project to someone else,” Dybdahl says.

Registering as an investor is free and only takes a couple of minutes. You can open a savings account with a competitive interest rate and invest that money when you find a suitable project. Monio only takes a small administration fee of the interest on the different projects.

“So far, 80,000 investments have been made by thousands of investors. We believe that the market for this type of project will grow by four to five times in the next few years,” Dybdahl says.

So, do you have to know anything about real estate or finance? Not really, according to Dybdahl. Anyone can start investing with Monio and the platform provides a range of different articles as well as an investment school to teach inexperienced investors about the market.

Dybdahl concludes: “You don’t have to know anything before starting, but if you read our articles and the information we publish on each project, there’s a greater chance of maximising the returns of your investments.”

www.monio.no

Five reasons to invest through Monio Monio’s philosophy is that even semi-professional investors can earn money by investing in real estate and by investing through crowdfunding. So why should you choose Monio? 1. High average interest 2. Low expected loss due to the security of the physical property 3. Monthly repayment of interest 4. Opportunity to spread the risk across several different projects 5. Low minimum limit for investments of only 1,000 Norwegian kroner

Reindeer roaming free.

TOP EXPERIENCES IN FINLANDMini Theme:

Autumn gives the best chance to see a double aurora. Autumn colours transform the landscape.

In the Finnish moutains, a whirlwind of colours and activities awaits

The magic season is returning to the Finnish mountains in Levi. In autumn, the colours turn, the air becomes crisp and the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights, reemerges on the evening sky. The area offers a unique combination of activities, accommodation and dining – perfect for nature lovers and adrenaline-junkies looking for unforgettable fun and relaxation.

By Nina Bressler | Photos: Visit Levi

Levi is unique in many ways. Despite its remote location, 170 kilometres above the Finland’s Arctic Circle, it’s easy to reach by daily flights to Kittilä Airport – just 15 minutes from the resort. This area – the home of the FIS World Cup (the women’s slalom cup), due to take place 19 and 20 November 2022 – is one that boasts a world-class range of restaurants and places to stay. From exclusive design hotels, to cabins and intimate glass igloos, it’s brimming with ideal spots to catch an unobstructed view of the Northern Lights from your bed. Autumn is when the majestic light shows its best side, and double auroras can be seen with remarkable clarity. “Many people come here to experience the world-famous phenomena and the chance of seeing the lights is always high. Autumn is a truly remarkable time when ‘ruska’ – when the colour of the trees and the ground changes to a bed of red, yellow and brown – is in full swing. This is the perfect time for a hike in our mountains or to enjoy our exciting range of activities in amazing surroundings – rafting, fishing, SUP, downhill biking, adventure parks, berry picking, golf and much more is readily available,” says Maija Palosaari, head of marketing at Visit Levi.

The newest addition to the vast hotel selection on offer to visitors is Design Hotel Levi, incorporating immaculate style and comfort. Meanwhile, there’s no shortage of places to eat: after-ski pubs and clubs, ski cafés, Lappish restaurants and fine-dining spots mean that there’s something for everyone. As Levi gears up for the busy winter season, when skiers gather to enjoy the slopes, autumn is the perfect time to enjoy a peaceful vacation away and watch the seasons turn. In Levi, stunning nature, world-class adventures and delicious food awaits.

www.levi.fi Instagram: @levilapland

Berry picking. There’s a great range of cycling paths to choose from. Coffee and relaxation in the wild.

The area on Finland’s eastern border around Kainuu, Kuhmo and Suomussalmi is called Wild Taiga. Photo: Lassi Rautiainen

Where untouched wilderness and authentic culture meet

Wild Taiga is an association of around 60 businesses located on Finland’s eastern border, in the Kainuu region. The Wild Taiga region is ideal for holiday-makers looking to embark on an adventure, and explore what the real Finnish wilderness has to offer.

By Ndéla Faye

In the heart of eastern Kainuu’s untouched forests, visitors get to experience Finland’s nature at its most authentic. “The area hasn’t been touched by mass-tourism, and our unspoiled nature is a breathtaking sight to see. We offer a range of activities; from some of the best hiking trails in the country, to various cultural events and seeing animals – bears, wolves, birds of prey and moose – in their natural habitat,” says Wild Taiga marketing representative, Kerttu Komulainen.

Wild Taiga operates in eastern Kainuu, in the areas of Suomussalmi and Kuhmo. The businesses operating under the Wild Taiga banner are mainly family-run, and showcase the local traditions, culture, knowledge and products. The main attraction in the eastern Kainuu area is the unspoiled nature and the richness of the fauna. In addition, the region is steeped in history; from the Winter War to the spirit of the Kalevala, which is still tangible in the local celebrations and culture.

Photo: Kerttu Komulainen

When it comes to the selection of accommodation in the region, visitors are spoilt for choice: there are luxurious spa hotels, cosy family-run B&Bs and hotels in the middle of the wilderness. Activities range from cross-country skiing hikes in the winter, to fishing, bear-spotting and rafting in the summer.

“Wild Taiga collates all the information about the region; its sights, products and services. The younger generations are taught to carry on the traditions and vibrant culture of the region. We are proud of the fact that there are no big-chain hotels to be found here. Our businesses want to offer visitors an authentic experience,” Komulainen says.

“Sustainable tourism is a matter of the heart for us” In the heart of eastern Kainuu’s untouched forests, visitors can experience Finland’s nature at its most authentic. The region is well-known among wildlife photographers, and there are plenty of opportunities to catch a glimpse of Finland’s best-known big predators, such as wolves, wolverines, lynx and bears. The fresh air and clear lakes can be admired in all their glory at the Hossa National Park, which is popular among campers and hikers. The National Park has 100 kilometres of marked trails, as well as 60 kilometres of canoeing trails. The park’s main attractions are Julma-Ölkky – Finland’s largest canyon lake –and the unique Hossa Värikallio rock paintings which are amongst the largest prehistoric rock paintings in Finland.

For the Wild Taiga region, sustainability and responsibility are paramount when it comes to tourism. From husky safaris to horse-riding tours, reindeer rides and camping, there are plenty of ecological travel experiences to choose from in the region. “In the Wild Taiga region, most of the tourism experiences are based on a combination of nature and culture. We feel it’s our duty to protect our rich fauna, and ensuring we provide tourism services in a responsible and sustainable way is a matter of the heart for us,” says Komulainen.

Being sustainable also means supporting local businesses and sourcing

Photo: Lassi Rautiainen Photo: Travel Dudes

produce and products locally whenever possible. “Wild Taiga companies work in close cooperation with local and nearby operators. The restaurants and cafés in

the area offer plenty of locally-produced cuisine, made from fresh, clean ingredients,” Komulainen says.

There are a number of unique restaurants and cafés; from lunch at a reindeer farm to dinner in a historic log cabin. “The restaurants serve fantastic food, sourced from the nearby forests and lakes. Berries, mushrooms, game and fish feature often on the menus,” she adds.

Dive into the region’s rich culture For an experience that combines both music and culture, the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival is a must-see in the summer. The festival has been organised annually in Kainuu since 1970, and it includes performances from professional musicians, as well as from promising young talent. The internationally-known festival draws in crowds from across the globe, and it has grown into one of the largest music festivals in Finland.

In addition, the region is culturally significant, home to the Songlands of the Kalevala – the Finnish national epic. Compiled of folk songs and stories from

Photo: Wild Taiga Photo: Wild Taiga

the Karelia region, visitors to the region can witness first-hand the places where the Karelian artists of the Kalevala found their inspiration. “Kuhmo brings the Kalevala to life, with history and modernity living side by side. Kuhmo is a UNESCO City of Literature because of the Kalevala,” Komulainen explains.

“Wild Taiga is for people who want to have an adventure, and enjoy an authentic experience of some of the best things Finland has to offer. We are very proud of the fact that the region is largely untouched by mass-tourism, and visitors get to enjoy the real history and stunning wilderness,” Komulainen concludes.

www.wildtaiga.fi Facebook: wildtaiga Instagram: @visitwildtaiga

Photo: Wild Taiga

Wild Taiga offers some of the best settings in Europe for bear-watching and wildlife photography. Photo: George Turner

CULINARY FINLAND Mini Theme:

Premium biodynamic honey from the woods of Finland

Located in the Finnish countryside, in a forest an hour north of Helsinki, you’ll find the family business Hikiän Biodynamic Honey, producing premium products for the health-conscious consumer who wants to do good for the environment. The name, Hikiän, is borrowed from the village Hikiä, where Reko Nieminen now runs the small business devoted to creating the cleanest raw honey, just as when it all started over 70 years ago.

By Hikiän Raw Honey | Photos: Hikiän

During the late 1940s, in the aftermath of the Second World War, Finland, like many countries in Europe, had a scarcity of food supplies. By setting up beehives, Hikiä’s founder Martti Nuotio, Reko Nieminen’s grandfather, not only supplied his own family with sweet honey, but also used it to trade with neighbours. In those humble times, honey was seen as a luxury. Surrounded by forest, far from cars and big roads that could contaminate the product, the bees could fly freely without much impact from the human world. “The best honey is produced with as little interference as possible from us,” says Reko Nieminen. Today, they continue to live up to their word.

To earn the right to put the Demeter logo on their products, an international third-party certificate for biodynamic

products, they must comply with a range of criteria. These include using only natural materials and honeycombs in the hives, and no use of pesticides. By frequently testing the honey for over 600 different substances, including pesticides that have previously been found to cause the deaths of many bees, the purity of the honey can be ensured.

Honey loses a lot of its health benefits when it’s heated over 40 degrees. To keep the nutrients and healing properties intact, Hikiän Biodynamic honey is never heated. To protect the honey on its way from the beehive to your home, Hikiän honey is packed in deep-purple glass jars that block UV light. The result is a sleek and elegant-looking premium product that does good for the environment. Bees are one of the most important pollinators we have on the planet. As they pollinate flowers and crops, they are crucial for our food supply, and the survival of the planet as we know it. Supporting your local beekeeper is an effective way to support the ecosystem and encourage bee populations, which have dwindled due to the overuse of pesticides.

Hikiän don’t only sell honey, they also produce propolis tincture. Propolis is a waxlike product that the Hikiän bees produce by collecting tree sap, mainly from pine and spruce trees in their surroundings, and mixing it with their enzymes. Humans have used propolis for thousands of years for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties – the same reasons why bees produce it. By producing propolis, the bees protect themselves from bacteria inside the hive, keeping it safe and clean. Hikiän produces the propolis tincture by extracting it with alcohol, and the result can be used both internally and externally, to heal everything from stomach issues to skin rashes.

Ever since Reko Nieminen’s grandfather founded the business, Hikiän has honoured Finnish nature. Combining sustainable beekeeping with quality is one of the founding pillars. By carefully using the forest to create the optimal environment for the bees to live and work their magic, they ensure their products are of the highest standard. By living up to the criteria of biodynamic farming, Hikiän Biodynamic Honey does good from the inside and out –for us, the bees and the planet.

As a part of their work on saving the bees, Hikiän also offers companies and private consumers the opportunity to adopt a hive. Depending on how much you invest, you can own a hive with your logo on it, and receive jars of honey from your adopted hive.

Those curious about adopting a beehive or purchasing Hikiän Biodynamic Honey and Hikiän Propolis can learn more on the Hikiän website.

Reko Nieminen. Photo: Hikian Pixoi www.hikian.com Instagram: @hikianofficial

Kouvola liquorice offsets their carbon emissions by fertilising forests in Finland.

Creating a meaningful impact… with liquorice

Helping people in need, sending liquorice into space and creating the world’s largest bag of sweets… these are just some of the ambitious ideas Timo Nisula has come up with for his liquorice factory. One thing is clear: everything at Kouvola Liquorice is rooted in meaning and pure love.

By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Ville Juurikkala

There are no long production lines or heavy machinery at the Kouvola liquorice factory. The liquorice is prepared by hand, using traditional methods. Kouvola Liquorice has been a first-mover many times: they were the first to produce liquorice beer, and were the first to send liquorice into the stratosphere. In 2016, Kouvola Liquorice teamed up with renowned Finnish designer Eero Aarnio – best known for the iconic Ball Chair he designed in the 1960s. As a result of the collaboration, the world’s first design sweet, christened Ghost due to its shape, was born.

When the war in Ukraine started in February 2022, Nisula decided to donate the proceeds from his online liquorice sales over five days to the relief efforts. “All the campaigns we run have a deep meaning and genuine care behind them,” the liquorice factory owner says. In the midst of the pandemic, Nisula felt he wanted to counterbalance the doom and gloom of the world. “I realised no one had ever made the world’s largest bag of sweets, so I decided we would make one,” he says. Kouvola Liquorice now holds a

Guinness World Record for the largest bag of sweets, filled with salty liquorice, weighing in at 829.1 kilogrammes.

So what happened to all the liquorice after the world record was achieved? A local sports team helped divide the liquorice into small bags, which were sold at a local supermarket. Kouvola Liquorice then used the profits to buy a one-bedroom apartment in Kouvola. “We bought the apartment and renovated it, and put out a call-out in a newspaper, looking for a person in need of ‘A New Start’, as we called the campaign. From over 300 applications, we picked one person who had fallen on hard times. They live in the apartment and work with us,” Nisula says.

“I have an active imagination, which is probably the result of reading too many comics as a child,” Nisula laughs.

Carbon-neutral liquorice The Kouvola liquorice factory’s story began in Vyborg in 1906, but after two world wars, the company was set up in Kouvola, where the factory has been producing sweets since 1945. Today, the factory employs 25 people and everything from beginning to end is done by hand. “Our liquorice is cooked on a stove, by real people,” Nisula says.

In addition to having a deep respect and commitment for the traditional way of making liquorice, Kouvola Liquorice also takes pride in being as environmentally sustainable as possible. In order to do their bit for the environment, the factory is offsetting their carbon footprint by fertilising forests in Finland. “Instead of offsetting our carbon emissions by planting trees somewhere halfway across the world, I wanted to do something that would have an impact right now and that can be certifiably tracked. So, we decided to focus on forests in Finland, and came up with something tangible that would have an immediate effect. We do things that really matter, and sustainability is very important to us,” Nisula explains.

“We are a small fish in a big pond, and we’re not even trying to compete with the big sweet manufacturers. However, the fact that we are a smaller company also means we can do a lot of things that bigger companies can’t. Having fun is important to me – and so is making a meaningful impact,” says Nisula. Kouvola Liquorice might be a small company, but they have big plans. The company is seeking to expand their sales across Europe, Asia and Australia, and they are opening a second factory in an old school building. “It’ll be a place where visitors can come and see what we do and buy our products,” Nisula explains.

“Making the best tasting liquorice possible is a matter of heart for us – and if we manage to make the world a better place while we’re at it, then that’s fantastic,” he concludes.

Owner Timo Nisula.

www.kouvolanlakritsi.fi Instagram: @kouvolanlakritsi Facebook: kouvolanlakritsi

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