Pulse Daybed is designed by the Norwegian design studio Noidoi. “Pulse derives from the expression taking the pulse of something,” says Kathrine Lønstad (36) who together with Cosmin Cioroiu has designed the flexible Norwegian daybed.
Noidoi Design Studio was founded in Norway in 2013 by Kathrine Lønstad & Cosmin Cioroiu, who met while studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Denmark. Inspired by the differing cultural and professional backgrounds of the founders, Noidoi works across a broad spectrum of design, placing an emphasize on usability, materiality and craftsmanship.
Pulse adapts to different situations, as you can fold up the mattress with a woolen upholstery and access the hatch and magazine holder.
A study of the modern home
Pulse daybed has its origins in a study of the modern home – and how it is changing. It interprets our growing need for flexible environments and private spaces in an innovative and multifunctional construction that brings new and traditional materials together. Pulse adapts to different situations, as you can fold up the mattress with a woolen upholstery and access the hatch and magazine holder.
«We saw a multifunctional trend. The activities took place across the traditional rooms. Many of the homes also contained fewer but larger multifunctional rooms,” said Lønstad.
The lid covering the hatch of the Pulse daybed can be used independently as a serving tray, and the magazine holder in a molded spot – a material made from recycled plastic – is also removable. If necessary, you can take of the woolen upholstery and send it for dry cleaning.
Noidoi Design Studio was founded in Norway in 2013 by Kathrine Lønstad & Cosmin Cioroiu
Noidoi Design Studio
Nojdoi studio is situated at Kapp in Østre Toten, two hours north of Oslo, in the beautiful surroundings of Mjøsa, the biggest lake in Norway.
The fact that the duo ended up on Toten is no coincidence. “We have made a conscious decision to live outside the big cities, with a short distance to Oslo. This way we can rather invest in machines and equipment. On Kapp, we have a large room with a view of Lake Mjøsa – and peace to immerse ourselves,” says Lønstad.
Flexible Norwegian Daybed, written by Tor Kjolberg
The shut-downs around the world may actually have been an advantage for Scandinavia at this year’s award ceremony,” says Bent Christensen, editor of the Danish Dining Guide, to news agency Ritzau. The reason? You find three of the world’s best restaurants in Scandinavia.
“Scandinavia has benefited from the fact that the judges for a very large part of the time have had the opportunity to visit restaurants”, says Bent Christensen, who has previously been among the judges whose votes the list is based on.
The Danish restaurant Noma takes back the place as number one in the award The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.. Photo: Irina Boersma
Noma has taken first place on the list four times before – in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
The list of the best restaurants has been made since 2002. Over 1000 judges from around the world – chefs, journalists and gastronomes – have each had ten votes.
Are you passionate about reading? Find out more about the top 7 best Swedish writers and find something new to read. Meet the best today’s Swedish writers.
While it would be an exaggeration to say that Scandinavia in general and Sweden, in particular, occupy any kind of dominant position in terms of literature, writers from this region certainly have been under the spotlight over the last few years.
Scandinavian literature is in vogue – older works get republished, and many contemporary authors get translated into English and other languages, finding their international readers for the first time. Even high school and college students often have to deal with them in their homework these days – it is not uncommon to see students Googling something like “Can someone do my essay on…”, following it with a traditionally unpronounceable Nordic name.
So, if you are still unfamiliar with modern Swedish literature, it is probably high time to jump on the bandwagon and join in the fun, whether your goal is to write a paper on this topic or just to find something to read.
So, do you ask yourself, “What authors should I start my inroad into Swedish literature with? Where will I find writing that will suit me?” Here we have collected some of the most interesting contemporary Swedish writers that await your attention.
Linda Boström Knausgård. Press photo
Linda Boström Knausgård Linda Boström Knausgård is a master of dark and complex narrative verging on the stream of consciousness. For example, her second novel, Welcome to America, tells the story of Ellen, a child suffering from severe trauma after the death of her father, to the point that she possibly can never talk again. With her contact with the outside world cut off, the reader is literally plunged into her dark inner world where she has to navigate a complex labyrinth of feelings of grief and shame as she tries to do something about her situation. It is not an easy book to read by any approximation, but if you like narratives that make you think, it is well worth your money.
Fredrik Backman. Press photo
Fredrik Backman Fredrik Backman is a New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and numerous other books. As a writer, Backman somehow manages to find ways to combine poignant observations about life, hilarious black comedy, and unexpected twists and turns of the plot that you just have to experience first-hand. His latest novel, Anxious People, tells a story of a bank robbery gone wrong, a robber who somehow completely disappears, and a set of entertaining (and true to the name, anxious) characters who suddenly realize that they have much more in common than they care to admit.
Johnm Ajvide Lindquist. Photo: Wikipedia
John Ajvide Lindqvist John Ajvide Lindqvist is best known for the 2004 vampire fiction book Let the Right One In. However, if you take a look at the genre and dismiss it as one that probably is built on cheap scares, you will make a mistake. Lindqvist is someone who, in this day and age, can write a book about vampires that still manages to surprise and make your blood run cold without resorting to any typical tricks of the genre.
Leif G. W. Persson Press photo
Leif G.W. Persson Detective literature is probably the most well-known genre of Swedish literature, and Leif G.W. Persson is one of its most notable representatives. As a real criminologist who did a lot of research in his line of work, he knows all ins and outs of how police actually works and makes full use of this knowledge in his books.
Margareta Mahnusson. Photo: YouTube
Margareta Magnusson Margareta Magnusson is not a fiction writer, but it does not make her work any less fascinating. Over the last few years, her name has been regularly mentioned on a variety of websites dedicated to the concepts of decluttering and tidying up. Even if you have read the books by the likes of Kon Mari and Marla Cilley, you will still find a lot of interesting ideas in Margareta Magnusson’s book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. In it, she researches the uniquely Swedish concept of döstädning, or “death cleaning” – in other words, the process of getting rid of unnecessary clutter one has to carry out at some point of life so that others do not have to do it after his/her death. Those who do it do not necessarily intend to die anytime soon – they simply look through their possessions trying to get rid of everything that is not essential. Even if it is not the first book on decluttering you read, if you pay attention to the tips it offers, you can certainly add a bit of Scandinavian style to your living space.
Lisa Marklund. Press photo
Liza Marklund Liza Marklund is another popular author of Swedish crime fiction, known for her “Annika Bengtzon” series of novels. It is centered around the eponymous Annika Bengtzon, a woman juggling her journalistic career and relationships with her spouse and children while regularly getting involved in criminal cases. Liza Marklund combines a gripping narrative with vivid language that allows her readers to virtually see the landscapes of the frozen Swedish north as they follow the intricacies of yet another complex plot.
Stig Larsson. Press photo
Stieg Larsson Stieg Larsson with his Millennium Series is probably the author who did most to bring about the rise of Swedish detective and criminal literature over the last two decades. His books combine elements of family sagas, murder mysteries, high-scale financial intrigues, and many other things, creating a gripping narrative that forces readers to go on until they turn the last page. It is not all about cheap thrills, however – Larsson’s prose is not just suspenseful and fascinating, but also intelligent and beautiful in and of itself. If you want to choose a single author to get acquainted with contemporary Swedish literature, you should probably choose Stieg Larsson.
Whether you are looking for an unusual topic to write an essay about, or are genuinely interested in learning more about the literature of Sweden in particular and Scandinavia in general, these authors are a good starting point. You can find plenty of essays about them both online and offline if you want to find out more about their writing.
Meet the Best Today’s Swedish Writers! Written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Kimberly Austin. Kimberly is a contributing ghostwriter at DoMyPapers.com. She finds great pleasure in teaching English and helping students across the globe adopt creative approach to essay writing.
West of Ransäter, on the eastern shore of Mellan-Fryken, is Märbacka, the manor home of Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf, the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize for literature, in 1909. Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) was fluent in several languages, and wrote poetry and drama. Nobel was also very interested in social and peace-related issues, and held views that were considered radical during his time. Alfred Nobel’s interests are reflected in the prize he established. Learn more about theSwedish Nobel laureates and inventors.
Through her books, Selma Lagerlöf made famous the Fryk Valley and lakes. On the western side of the lake is Rottneros Park, whose elegant manor-house appears as Ekeby in Lagerlöf’s The Story of Gösta Berling. This beautiful park has an arboretum and works by Scandinavian sculptors, including Milles, Eriksson and Vigeland.
Selma Lagerlf 1923 Photo: Atelje Jaeger, Stockholm
North of Lake Vänern, the bedrock is rich in minerals, and this area has long been associated with Sweden’s early industrial development. Many Americans make the pilgrimage to Filipstad, which has the mausoleum of John Ericsson, the gifted inventor and engineer.
The gifted inventor and engineer John Ericsson. Photo: Britannica
Björkborn Herrgård, near Karlskoga, was the home of Alfred Nobel. The manor house is now a museum, Nobel Prize Museum (Nobelmuséet).
The Picasso statue in Kristinehamn. Photo: Wikipedia
At Kristinehamn, west of Karlskoga, a 15-meter (49ft) high sculpture by Picasso is the most striking feature on Lake Vänern.
Örebro, is a dramatic, 17th century lakeside castle. Photo: Wikipedia
In the east, in the province of Närke, is Örebro, with a dramatic, 17th-century lakeside castle. Next summer, the Örebro Castle uncovers rooms, cellar vaults and towers that have not previously been open to the public. Discover forgotten areas of the castle and listen to new and fascinating stories from the past about nobles, prisoners and serving folk, and about some of the well-known and less familiar episodes from the castle’s rich and eventful history. Join a guided tour, follow the mystery trail or help your children with the challenges in the Children’s Castle Tower.
Swedish Nobel Laureates and Inventors, written by Tor Kjolberg
Feature image (on top): Björkborn Herrgård, near Karlskoga, was the home of Alfred Nobel and is today the Nobel Prize Museum.
Danish film director Bille August has directed a film based on a novel by Henrik Pontoppidan, first made into a screenplay by August and Anders Frithiof August. A Fortunate Man: A Danish Tragedy is available on Netflix and is well worth watching.
Lykke-Per (A Fortunate Man) is a drama from 2018 and was one of three films shortlisted to be the Danish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards. The nearly three hour-film is based on the eight-volume novel written by Danish Nobel Prize-winning author Henrik Pontoppidan (1857–1943). It was originally published between 1898 and 1904.
film is based on the eight-volume novel written by Danish Nobel Prize-winning author Henrik Pontoppidan (1857–1943). Photo: Wikipedia
The plot The title “A Fortunate Man” has a double edge, as the movie, whose characters rarely fail to explain their motives and circumstances. The film is set in the late 19th century when the main character Peter Sidenius gets accepted to study Engineering at the College of Advanced Technology in Copenhagen. He leaves rural Jutland for Copenhagen and breaks ties with his overbearing, pious father’s calvinist background. He hates his father and he rejects a gift of his father’s pocket watch. The self-confident Peter, free of family and Christian religion, is poor but studies hard. He befriends a waitress who teaches him the ways of the city and introduces him to the world of sex but is dismissed on his rise up in social status.
A Fortunate Man is a drama from 2018 and was one of three films shortlisted to be the Danish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards.
So, the movie asks whether it is possible to rise above humble origins or whether birth and character are destiny. Peter Andreas or Per, as he is increasingly called, believes that wind and water can be harnessed for energy — and that whoever controls the energy supply will have money and power. The title also apparently alludes to the Grimm Brothers’ fairytale, Lucky Hans (Hans im Glück), about a young man who keeps trading one item after another for one of lesser value and ends up empty-handed, but relieved.
The movie asks whether it is possible to rise above humble origins or whether birth and character are destiny.
The background clash
Peter meets Ivan Salomon, from a wealthy Jewish banking family. Ivan likes the ambitious, smart engineer and especially likes Peter’s revolutionary grand future project to harness water and wind power to develop the country with electricity. Ivan helps Peter adjust to free-thinking intellectuals, new political thought, monied-class businessmen, cultural rules and expectations, and the Salomon family.
Their daughter Jakobe was to marry Eybert, a little older, wealthy, and established Jewish man, but instead falls in love with Peter. Peter fails to win ministerial government approval for his plans. Phillip, the senior Salomon, decides to send Peter to Austria to further his engineering studies and get others’ review of his plans for canals, windmills, and water energy. Peter and Jakobe are separated by his travels.
However, their backgrounds clash: She has a high social standing and is Jewish. He is poor and, despite his desire to reject his father, inwardly conflicted about his strict Christian upbringing – and he is also too headstrong to bootlick.
From a Jewish perspective
At the 2019 New York Jewish Film Festival, Elisebeth Dyssegaard said about the film:
“A gifted but self-destructive young man leaves his suffocating Lutheran upbringing in the country for the metropolitan Copenhagen of the 1880s. An engineer with progressive ideas, he is welcomed by a wealthy Jewish family and insinuates himself into their opulent milieu, embarking on a journey of personal and professional ambition that teeters on the razor’s edge between triumph and catastrophe. A sprawling story of grand scope and high romance from the Academy Award–winning director of ‘Pelle the Conqueror’, ‘A Fortunate Man’ is a rare kind of film—beautifully realized, full of exceptional performances, and with a dramatic sweep on par with the great classics of cinema.”
“A Fortunate Man” is a great advertisement for the book.
The best of Bille August
The sprawling narrative sometimes gets the best of August. For instance, is the waitress Per rejects forgotten by him, or just by the movie? His habit of over-explaining each new development also appears to have removed nuance from a much more textured story. “A Fortunate Man” is a great advertisement for the book.
Enjoy a Christmas party with a twist of Cornelius on a Winter Islet Wonderland outside Bergen, Norway.
Choose from the season’s best seafood, traditional lutefisk or pinnekjøtt as you dine on the islet of Bjornøy, just outside Bergen. If you would like a different experience for your Christmas party, why not celebrate in a maritime, warm and cozy environment on this little islet?
Now in its 18th successful year, beautiful reception rooms and modern conference facilities make this restaurant a real treat. The head chef and his team will prepare a meteorological Christmas menu a little out of the ordinary, in addition to traditional Norwegian Christmas food.
Choose from the season’s best seafood, traditional lutefisk og pinnekjøtt as you dine on the islet of Bjornøy, just outside Bergen
Cornelius’ famous Meteorological Menu
Cornelius’ famous Meteorological Menu is inspired by the weather of the day and consists of exquisite seafood and trimmings, prepared using innovative culinary techniques and with a genuine passion for seafood.
Cornelius uses the freshest seasonal raw materials and add to the flavor with a touch of Christmas. Additionally, Cornelius serves samples from the restaurant’s own smoke-oven and clams a la minute from the shellfish tower.
The head chef and his team will prepare a meteorological Christmas menu a little out of the ordinary
One of the most exotic attractions in the whole of Western Norway’s archipelago
Cornelius is one of the most exotic attractions in the whole of Western Norway’s archipelago and one of Norway’s best seafood restaurants. A Christmas party with a twist will undoubtedly be unforgettable.
Cornelius’ famous Meteorological Menu is inspired by the weather of the day
Cornelius Seafood Restaurant is situated right by the sea on a small island with spectacular views of the fjord, mountains, skerries, passing boats, and ships
The shuttle ferry giving you a scenic boat ride leaves from Bryggen in Bergen
The shuttle ferry giving you a scenic boat ride leaves from Bryggen in Bergen at 6pm and transportation is included in menu prices. Both private and business groups are welcome.
Christmas Party With A Twist in Norway, written by Tor Kjolberg
As a 17-year-old, Bror August Vestbø juggled the sewing line at Kuben Videregående skole with an internship with the Norwegian design collective Haik W. As an 18-year-old, his debut collection «Orange» was hailed in international online magazines and ended up at the fashion week in New York. Learn more about theinteresting up and coming Norwegian fashion designer.
His debut collection from 2016 presented at the New York Fashion Week consisted of sheer garments in nuances of orange worn by dancing models and immortalized on screen by Ori Hay Bachke.
Bror August Vestbø.Photo: Metal Magazine
His Spring 2022 collection consists of a series of Cinderella-like transformations and Bror August in collaboration with Benjamin Barron have made new looks from existing materials. Bror August and Benjamin Barron spent the Covid-19 lockdown in Bror August’s hometown of Oslo to look for existing materials with which they could assemble their new collection. Their mantra was to see potential in something that to begin with they didn’t really like, or in other words, seemingly a bit ugly at first and then something they liked.
His Spring 2022 collection consists of a series of Cinderella-like transformations
Moving to New York
In 2015, Brother August was on a plane to New York where his mother had landed a job at the Norwegian embassy. He has been interested in clothing from an early age and recalls having the aim to be a designer since he was eight years old. Taking subway rides in New York, he always analyzed every detail of what people were wearing, all the way from the shape and the materials of the garments, down to every stitching detail.
Vestbø describes the Spring 2022 collection as “having the spirit of a little girl trying on her blanket and imagining it is a fancy gown”. The duo has been looking at the work of the great couturiers, which has inspired the pair to “create new structures and silhouettes.”
Bror August in collaboration with Benjamin Barron have made new looks from existing materials
“The fact that mom got a job in New York is the best coincidence that has happened to me and I am so grateful,” says Bror August. When he started out in New York it was important to him to let the brand develop with him personally. He didn’t want to force the concepts and the clothing to be beyond his age. “That’s why my clothing is going to be about things that obviously concerns me as a young person,” he said back then.
Vestbø was accepted as an intern at Eckhaus Latta, a designer who is at the forefront of innovative American fashion with leading stores such as Opening Ceremony, Assembly New York and LN-CC on his customer list.
Vestbø describes the Spring 2022 collection as “having the air of a little girl trying on her blanket and imagining it is a fancy gown”.
The Spring 2022 Collection
According to the designer, he has in his latest collection tried to create dresses that will be elegant although they’re made from just a bunch of pieces from flea markets and pieces left behind. This approach was put into practice on a color-blocked dress with an asymmetric hem, sheer front, and deeply draped back that played with the way Cristóbal Balenciaga worked “creating shape in between the body.”
According to the designer, he has in his latest collection tried to create dresses that will be elegant although they’re made from just a bunch of pieces from flea markets and pieces left behind. This
Hard to make it as a designer in Norway “There is a lot of good talent in Norway, but there is too much of old thinking, especially related to casting and models. I’m shocked that it’s always the same girl – tall, white and thin. It’s weird, we’re so forward thinking at a lot of other things», he says.
He adds that he really wants to be based in Oslo as well as New York. “I think it’s important to create our own platform and industry in Norway, which seems to be happening slowly. It’s very hard to make it as designer in Norway tough, especially because the Norwegian custumer has a very specific taste,” he explains.
The new collection, All-In, a collaboratin between Bror August and Benjamin Barron, is not only challenging the system but making us reevaluate what glamour and taste—good or bad—are.
Interesting Up And Coming Norwegian Fashion Designer, written by Tor Kjolberg
Feature image (on top): Debut collection ‘Orange’. Photo by Jacob Landvik
The unprecedented events of recent months have caused many of us to reevaluate our lives and make a completely fresh start. Every year, around 160,000 people choose to move to Scandinavia, and if you are deliberating where in the world to call home, you might just find our little corner of Europe ticking all the right boxes.Considering a New Start? Read why Scandinavia could be the perfect choice.
Easy communications What really defines a country, and indeed a region, is its people. Scandinavians have something of a reputation for being reserved, but don’t mistake that for unfriendliness. They might not be as demonstrative as those from, for example, the Mediterranean countries, but you’ll find the vast majority of Scandinavians to be welcoming and helpful towards new arrivals.
The vast majority of Scandinavians is welcoming and helpful towards new arrivals. Photo: Kevin Curtis/Unsplash
If you are coming from the UK or the US, you’ll be pleased to hear that you’ll be very unlikely to run up against any language barriers. Practically everyone speaks a little English and many are fluent. If you have children, you’ll find that the local kids will be delighted to practice their English and your youngsters will settle in all the more easily.
Amazing local food Swedish, Danish or Norwegian cuisine might not be as famous around the world as that of France or Italy, but that might just be because of that famous Scandinavian reserve we mentioned earlier. They don’t shout about it, but Scandinavian restaurants produce some incredible dishes.
Scandinavian restaurants produce some incredible dishes Photo: Brooke Lark/Unsplash
If you enjoy seafood, you’ve definitely come to the right place, and foods like prawns that are considered delicacies elsewhere are a staple. Then there’s the baked goods – let’s just say a Scandinavian bakery is like nothing else on earth.
Considering a New Start? Why Scandinavia Could Be the Perfect Choice – read on.
Healthy transportation Accustomed to driving everywhere? You’ll find you spend far less time behind the wheel in Scandinavia, especially if you settle in one of the major cities like Copenhagen or Stockholm. Here, bicycles are the transportation of choice – in fact, in Copenhagen, especially, they have practically reclaimed the streets!
Eløectric buses in Oslo. Photo: zero.no
Cycling is cheap, healthy and non-polluting, so there’s really no reason not to join in. Also, it makes the morning commute an absolute pleasure – just remember to put on some warm gloves in the winter months.
Considering a New Start? Why Scandinavia Could Be the Perfect Choice – read on.
Clean, natural living
The love of cycling is a clue towards what is, for many, Scandinavia’s biggest attraction of all. Sweden is ranked the greenest nation in the world, with Norway third and Denmark sixth. It’s a remarkable achievement and means that Scandinavia is by some margin the best place to live if sustainability, clean air and living in harmony with the environment are high on your agenda.
From Bodø, Norway. Photo: Guillaume Briard/Unsplash
There’s more to it than bicycles and EVs, however. Sustainability is truly a way of life here, and you will see it the moment you step into a Scandinavian home, from the materials used to the way the property is heated. Best of all, it doesn’t mean making compromises – in fact, stepping into a Scandinavian house feels a little like stepping into the future, so why not give it a try?
Karoline Gore
Considering a New Start? Why Scandinavia Could Be the Perfect Choice, written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Karoline Gore. Karoline is a freelance writer from Stoke on Trent in the UK who left the corporate grind when she started a family and has never looked back. She enjoys contributing to a range of online publications on the topics that are important to her.
Other articles written by Karoline Gore you might like to read:
The Food Hall in Oslo is a food market which opened in 2012 in a former industrial hall by the Akers river, built in 1902. Today, the hall contains 30 grocery stores, restaurants, specialty food shops and eateries, bakers, bars and more, all offering high-quality products from Norway and abroad. We met with the manager of development at Aspelin Ramm, Frode Rønne Malmo. Learn more about the foodie paradise in the capital of Norway.
Malmo tells us that this is a place for individuals, families or companies to sample and socialize. The staff are proud of their products and love to talk about food you cannot find elsewhere in the capital.
The manager of development at Aspelin Ramm, Frode Rønne Malmo tells us that this is a place for individuals, families or companies to sample and socialize.
History Mathallen is located in the old hall on Vulkan with three floors with almost 3,500 square meters. In former times, iron elements were cast for railways and bridges here.
It is said that Scandinavia’s largest silver mine was located in the area where the Vulkan (Volcano) site is now located. Legend has it that a terrible dragon guarded the area and that this is one of the reasons why Oslo is where it is. Furthermore, the area was extremely important for the industrial revolution, with water saws and bridge factories. “We have attempted to incorporate this energetic development into the area’s overall design,” says Frode Rønne Malmo.
Oslo Food all is an informal place for everybody.One of the entrances is located next to Dansens hus (House of Dance)
He adds, «Today, this is an informal place for everyone. There are no chain stores here, and the leases with the stores are from one to three years. They can be renewed, but it is important that our tenants fit in well with the environment. 3 of 30 leases are changed every year. 14 have been with us from the very beginning,” says Rønne Malmo.
Several of the shops and eateries have their own serving areasThere are no chain stores in Oslo Food Hall
The Food Hall
Several of the shops and eateries have their own serving areas, but it is also possible to enjoy your food in the common serving area of the Market. Although about 40% of visitors come from the local neighborhood, Mathallen has also become an attraction for all Oslo residents, particularly at the weekend. Before the corona, an increasingly number of foreign tourists found their way to Mathallen, and will probably be back again when the situation becomes more normal.
Oslo Food Hall contains 30 grocery stores, restaurants, specialty food shops and eateries, bakers bars and moreProbably the best fish and chips in Oslo
“Cooking classes and events are an important part of activities here,” explains Malmo. For example, Årets Kokk (Chef of the Year, i.e. Norway’s official selection for the international Bocuse d’Or cooking competition) takes often place at Mathallen. By the way, Norway is the most awarded country in Bocuse d’Or. Mathallen has also hosted a number of current affairs programs and TV series, not to mention the many festivals taking place throughout the year.”
Enjoy food and drinks you cannot find elsewhere in the capital40% of the visitors come from the local neighborhood
A world of food in one place
At present, visitors can enjoy Hungarian food at Bistro Budapest as well as a French creperie, Hopyard bar offers more than 200 different beers, French and Swedish founders at Le Pain have a pure passion and knowledge for bread and Via Italia is serving ecological food from Italy, just to mention a few. If you enjoy Fish & Ships, British visitors claim that the fish at Vulkanfisk is even better than at home.
If you’re in Oslo, be sure to check out Mathallen. You can get a great value meal at any one of the many food stalls, or mix and match your meals from different stalls the way we did. There are also several restaurants and eateries at the adjoining areas.
Check out Mathallen food hall if you’re ever in Oslo – it’s not far out from the center of Oslo (nothing much is, it’s a very walkable city), and well worth the trip.
Mathallen is closed on Mondays.
Scandic Vulkan Hotel
Staying in the area
If you want to stay in the area, Scandic Vulkan Hotel is a convenient design hotel. After the opening, the hotel was nominated for the European Design Awards for best lobby, lounge and public areas. “It was very important for both Scandic Hotel and the owner Aspelin Ramm that the city council took into account the site’s history,” said the creative director at the design agency Stylt Trampoli, who was responsible for the outline.
The Foodie Paradise in the Capital of Norway, written by Tor Kjolberg
In the idyllic town Grimstad in Norway you find the house where Henrik Ibsen worked as an apothecary’s assistant. This is also the house in which the Norwegian world-famous playwright’s very first drama “Catalina” was written.
The Ibsen Museum in Grimstad opened in 1916 – only ten years after Ibsen’s death. Grimstad Town’s Museums (Grimstad Bys Museer) is a cultural and historical complex of museums conserving the history of the town. It is the oldest museum of its kind in Norway.
The less known drama of Henrik Ibsen (1828 – 1906), Catalina, was written during winter 1848-49) and first performed under Ibsen’s name at the Nya Teatern in Stockholm in 1881. The first performance in Norway under Ibsen’s pseudonym Brynjolf Bjarme was at Det Nye Teater in Oslo in 1935.
Henrik Ibsen, 1869. Photo: Wikipedia
Forced to support himself after his father’s economic downfall, during a national economic crises, Ibsen went to Grimstad, an idyllic town located a half hour’s drive east of Kristiansand on Norway’s southern coast. He probably arrived in Grimstad as a 15-year-old around 1844 in order to start his education as a pharmaceutical assistant. He both prepared himself for university and experimented with various forms of poetry.
While studying, he found himself passionately drawn into the Catiline Orations, famous speeches by Cicero against the elected questor Catiline and his conspiracy to overthrow the republic. In the prologue to the second edition (1875) Ibsen expresses that he was profoundly inspired by the contemporary political situation of Europe, and that he favoured the Magyar uprising against the Habsburg empire. So, Catiline can be read as one of Ibsen’s troubled heroes, alongside Brand.
The main character in this historical drama is the noble Roman Lucius Catilina, based on the historical figure of Catiline. He is torn between two women, his wife Aurelia and the Vestal virgin Furia.
the Norwegian world-famous playwright Henrik Ibsen. Photo: Henrik Ibsen Museum, Grimstad
Although Catiline may not be among Ibsen’s best plays, it foreshadows many of the themes found in his later works and is a drama written in verse modeled after one of his great influences, William Shakespeare.
Ibsen worked in Grimstad until April 1850 when he was 22, using his limited free time to write poetry and paint. At the Ibsen Museum visitors will learn of his life prior to becoming famous, the harsh economic conditions in which he lived and the love stories.
Unlike many other writers and poets, Ibsen had a long and seemingly happy marriage to Suzannah Daae Thoresen. The couple wed in 1858 and welcomed their only child, son Sigurd, the following year. Ibsen also had a son from an earlier relationship. He had fathered a child with a maid in 1846 while working as an apprentice. While he provided some financial support, Ibsen never met the boy.
Norwegian World-Famous Playwright’s Very First Drama, written by Tor Kjolberg
Feature image (on top): Henrik Ibsen in Grand Cafe, Oslo
