Orbaden has been known as one of the most beautiful bathing resorts in Sweden for more than 100 years. As early as the 1920s, it was widely known that at the Ljusnan valley there was a bathing beach that was something out of the ordinary. According to the first tourist brochure, even the most famous beaches on the Swedish west coast could not «stand comparison». Read more about the outstanding spa in North Sweden with breathtaking surroundings.
At Orbaden Conference and Spa you will enjoy beneficial relaxation and also discover interesting culture and fantastic nature. And the story goes far back in time. It all began in June 1926 when a man from the valley named Borgfeldt opened a bathing restaurant “located only seven hours’ journey from Stockholm”. In the beginning, there were cheap rooms for rent on nearby farms and in private homes.
Orbaden Conference & Spa is located in Hälsingland, in the north part of Sweden, between high mountains and deep valleys near the Lake Ljusnan, which also has a lovely beach. This bucolic environment will make anyone’s heartbeat slow down and calm, even the most stressed of us.
The owner Helene Åkerström says that the mission of Orbaden Conference & Spa is to offer visitors a typical Scandinavian spa with bright colors, first class Scandinavian food prepared in its exclusive restaurant and the best food from Kerstin Florian. In 2019, an eco-field was created that supplies the restaurant with day-fresh vegetables. The field has also become an integration project that gives life and inspiration to both city and country.
The spa offers several spa-treatments for customers’ well-being and is equipped with a small thermal salt pool with water at a pleasant temperature of 35-36 degrees. The use of the pool is included in the daily rate of every room and apartment. The hotel also offers an amazing outdoor Jacuzzi overlooking the breathtaking lake.
One of the nine themed suites
In 2016, there was a major investment in several pools, a spa shop, a new lobby with a conference hall and 9 themed suites. Customers staying at Orbaden Conference & Spa are assured that they never get bored. In the vicinity of the hotel, there are so many outdoor and indoor activities to do all year round that many guests feel they should have allowed more time for their stay at the hotel.
Visitors will be able to enjoy a concentrated bit of Sweden, with a focus on nature and typical Swedish culture, such as big farmhouses, handcrafts and, of course, the nearby famous Jarv Zoo hosting Nordic animals.
Outstanding Spa in North Sweden With Breathtaking Surroundings, written by Tor Kjolberg
Current global events aren’t keeping the wheel of fashion from turning in Stockholm, with Crown Princess Victoria recently launching the city’s digital fashion week from Haga Palace. Victoria sported two of the hottest trends in jewelry this year: an oversized chain necklace and oversized earrings, which provided the touch of bling that offset an elegant and simple black ensemble. Over the years, events such as Fashion Week have established Stockholm as a key European player when it comes to fashion and jewelry. Read more about building a luxury jewelry collection In Stockholm.
If you plan to visit the city to purchase a few items for your own curated jewelry collection, the following tips may be of help.
When in Stockholm, it pays to visit local shops for luxury items that can be made-to-measure
Going Classic If you are building a personal jewelry collection, then investing in a small number of items by iconic jewelry houses such as Cartier, Bvlgari or Chopard is ideal, as these pieces tend to cling to their value, and as time passes, many designs come to be considered valuable vintage pieces. In Stockholm, you can find these boutiques in the city center. Cartier is located on Smålandsgatan 10; Bvlgari can be found on Hamngatan 18-20; and many items by Chopard and other prestigious brands can be found at shops like Nymans Ur 1851 on Biblioteksgatan 1. Stockholm houses all the famed jewelry houses you might find in European fashion capitals like Paris, London and Milan, so whether you are after a Love bracelet or a dreamy Chopard nature-inspired diamond watch, you will be spoiled for choice.
Bespoke Jewelry When in Stockholm, it pays to visit local shops for luxury items that can be made-to-measure. Doing so will ensure that some of the pieces you purchase are one-of-a-kind and somehow connected to your visit to Sweden. Shops like A.P. Shaps and Caroline Hjerpe stock both ready-to-wear items and customized pieces. Having an item made for you is a good way to marry your dream jewelry piece with a reasonable spending budget. For instance, if you are after a halo ring, pendant necklace, or dazzling diamond tennis bracelet, you may not wish to fork out the price demanded by a VVS1, VVS2 or VS1 diamond. Sometimes, diamonds that are slightly included – i.e. those that have category 1 or 2 flaws – can still dazzle with their brightness, particularly if they are part of a pavé or delicate design. You can also mix a variety of diamond clarity grades in your design, allowing main stones to shine in flawless perfection.
Princess Victoria wearing Charlotte Bonde earrings. Photo: Charlotte Bonde
Choosing Statement Pieces One of the hottest trends as viewed on catwalks this year comprises large, oversized statement pieces, as favored by Princess Victoria. You will find a plethora of modern, future-forward jewelry shops in Stockholm in areas like Östermalm and Södermalm. Gaudy, for instance, is inspired by avant-garde art, while Deisy’s is known for its unique, ultra blingy designs. Fun, colorful jewelry that dresses up simple fashions is always a hit at parties, so make sure your collection has a few pieces that will spark up conversations at your next soirée.
Body-Mind-Soul necklase by Jonna Jinton. Photo: Jonna Jinton
The Stockholm fashion scene is moving full speed ahead, with digital shows replacing physical ones for the moment. If you have chosen a few must-have items online, wear them with the right jewelry, shopping for classic as well as funky, colorful pieces. Stockholm has numerous shops selling retail and exclusive jewelry alike, so whether you’re looking for investment pieces or you’re after a trendy ‘of the season’ piece, you will certainly find a variety of options and designs.
Karoline Gore
Building A Luxury Jewelry Collection In Stockholm, written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Kraroline 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.
Desperate to reopen parts of the economy frozen by the pandemic, Denmark’s government is now joining forces with businesses to create a summer of joy in Denmark. By developing a digital passport that shows whether the holder has been vaccinated against COVID-19, the Danes want to facilitate and revive travel. Let’s hope for a summer of joy in Denmark – and other places in the world.
Denmark, a kingdom with less than six million inhabitants, has proved to be the leading vaccination distributor in Europe, and the aim is to have vaccinated the whole population by June. The COVID-19 passport will provide personalized documentation of a negative COVID-19 test result to be presented while traveling across country borders.
The COVID-19 passport will provide personalized documentation of a negative COVID-19 test result. Photo: Norway.no
COVID-19 passport on your mobile phone In a news conference last month by the Danish government in cooperation with representatives of the country’s two main business organizations: the Confederation of Danish Industries, which represents Denmark’s major companies, and the Danish Chamber of Commerce, Danish Finance Minister Morten Boedskov, said that “in three, four months, a digital corona passport will be ready for use, for example in business travel. It will be the extra passport that you will be able to have on your mobile phone that documents that you have been vaccinated,” Boedskov said. “We can be among the first in the world to have it and can show it to the rest of the world.”
Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod added that this move is vital to keep Denmark ahead of the game taken into account the sufferings of crucial Danish business operations.
“in three, four months, a digital corona passport will be ready for use, for example in business travel,” said Danish Finance Minister Morten Boedskov
Digital systems reduce bureaucracy As soon as a laboratory has analyzed and released the test result, the COVID-19 passport can be viewed, downloaded and printed – just as long as the test is no more than 7 days old and the result was negative.
Denmark, like neighboring Nordic and Baltic countries, has in recent years moved toward digitizing systems to reduce bureaucracy, using online platforms that support electronic authentication and digital signatures to enable paperless communications across both the private and public sectors.
However, since personal medical data is so sensitive, it’s a difficult task to make a COVID-19 passport. That is why many European nations covered by stringent EU privacy laws appear desperate for someone else to go first. Certain rules apply in some countries, and changes in such rules can come into effect on short notice.
Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said that the corona passport is vital to keep Denmark ahead of the game taken into account the sufferings of crucial Danish business operations.
Denmark is not alone
Denmark is not alone. Some similar digital passports, for example one called CommonPass, is being developed to help travelers to securely show that they’ve complied with COVID-19 testing requirements. The International Air Transport Association has been working on one since late 2020. Others with options ready to go include the nonprofit Commons Project Foundation, computing giant IBM and secure ID company Clear.
The Danish COVID-19 passport has been created by the Danish Ministry of Health, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Danish Police.
The Danish government said it would decide later whether the digital passport should be used for purposes other than travel to help reopen public life.
Despite the fact that her name can be translated into happiness in English, the Swedish singer/songwriter Lykke Li has been successful just because she cultivates songs for grieving.
Lykke Li (born Timotej Zachrisson 1986) has been used in advertising campaigns by brand names such as Levi’s and Victoria’s Secret, she has collaborated with artists like Røyksopp, Kayne West and Kings of Leon, but she is not impressed with today’s youth culture. She loves old music and believes that songs should have a healing effect.
Lykke Li performing at BST Hyde Park 2019.
Swedish world citizen
Li Lykke was born in Ystad, Skåne by a photographer mother and a punk-reggae musician father. Her younger brother, Zacharias Zachrisson (a.k.a. Vacation Forever), is also a musician. The family moved to Stockholm when Zachrisson was a toddler and when she was six moved to a mountaintop in Portugal where they lived for five years. The family also spent time in Lisbon and Morocco, and winters in Nepal and India.
Lykke Li discovered the joy of music when she was seven years old, in a spartan house in Estorninhos, a Portuguese idyll with 200 inhabitants. The family had acquired their first TV, and the first thing see watched was Michael Jackson’s video “Black and White”. Later she experienced how grief was cultivated in the fado – sad songs about broken hearts, performed in Lisbon’s restaurants.
Hard Rain video. Screenshot by Moley Talhaoul
Her music has been featured in several movies
She moved to Brooklyn, New York City, for three months when she was 19. She returned when she was 21 to record her first album, Youth Novels. A remixed version of her song “I’m Good, I’m Gone” was featured in the 2009 horror film Sorority Row. The song “Possibility” was written for the 2009 film The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Li had been asked to write a song to the film soundtrack but was reluctant to commit to the project. It was after she had seen an early screening of the film that she decided she wanted to contribute to the soundtrack, which was released in October 2009.
Her debut album was followed by Wounded Rhymes (2011), I Never Learn (2014), and So Sad So Sexy (2018). Last year she teamed up with Oscar-winning producer Ludwig Göransson for her first-ever single in her native Swedish “Bron” (translated as “The Bridge” in English).
“I need grief in music,” says Lykke Li. Her album “Wounded Rhymes”, has a bold, provocative sound. Photo: The Windish Agency
Pop artist noir
The Swedish noir pop artist has managed to marry her two favorite things, music and feminism. She often supports festivals celebrating women. “Then I can sing and give back at the same time,” she says.
Her positive feminist message is: “All businesses all over the world are pretty much ruled by rich white men… that’s what we’re trying to change.”
“I need grief in music,” she says. “My records are sad, and it’s sadness I like best in all kinds of music. In all this darkness there is something very positive, something to grasp, and that helps me through the day. ” Cheerful Beach Boys, for example, are not one of her favorite groups. She prefers Leonard Cohen, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone.
In “Bron” she sings (translated from Swedish):
You go after me
But I won’t stay
Let me go.
(co-written and produced by Ludwig Göransson)
The song “Get Some” was featured in the 15th episode of the first season of Hawaii Five-0 titled “Kai e’e”. The song was also used in ABC Family’s drama “Pretty Little Liars” in the 18th episode of the second season which was titled “A Kiss Before Lying”.
Several broken love relationships
After her third album, I Never Learn, Lykke Li’s female-focused directive has become clearer. She appears as a strong woman who has widened her definition to encompass vulnerability while not sacrificing any tenacity. “I think for the first time I felt like I had arrived into being a woman.”
Lykke Li has gone through several broken love relationships, but despite song titles like «Breaking It Up” and “Unrequited Love”, she does not write classic “break-up” albums.
As close as possible to her possible truth
One of her latest releases, “Still Sad Still Sexy” is a remix EP with songs taken from her 2018 album with the same name, including alternative versions of “Deep End” and the title song and two new songs “Neon” and “Baby Doves”.
Making music, ang getting it as close to her possible truth as possible, seems to be the only way Lykke Li knows how to create
Swedish Singer/Songwriter Cultivates Songs for Grieving, written by Tor Kjolberg
Falling for someone doesn’t come with alerts or permissions. You wake up one day, and their existence seems to fall in place with yours. Regardless of the differences between you two, you don’t choose to have a choice. And there you go; all of a sudden, it just is what it is. Here are 8 reasons you should date a Scandinavian.
Well, you’re in sheer luck if you found your significant other in a Scandinavian. Coming from a diverse and unique background, the Scandinavian has much to offer and makes your life 10x interesting apart from the dating domain. They are an all-in-one package.
To provide you with a glimpse of what it would be like and why you should date a Scandinavian, here are the top eight reasons:
Scandinavians get recognized for their warm and sweet nature. Photo: Timo Stern/Unsplash
They Are Warm And Sweet Scandinavians get recognized for their warm and sweet nature. One may not get the hang of their vibe in their first go, but with time these passionate people reveal their hidden and more wondrous side.
What’s more, Scandinavians strongly believe in taking out time for those who matter even in their busy schedule at all costs. They will skip their work if it’s due and make sure that they are there for you if need be.
With them, you need not worry about receiving a cold; Sorry, I’m a bit caught up right now. Catch up later!
Instead, you can confidently expect: Be right there!
And for this very reason, we believe dating a Scandinavian is quite satisfyingly wholesome. Not that everyone gets to experience this, but those who do, report so!
You will get to enjoy a fair share of responsibilities and command in your day-to-day life. Photo: Sandy Millar/Unsplash
You Get To Enjoy Equal Authority Considering that the share of responsibilities and authority is one of the primary debates between men and women in the current times, you may find this aspect of your Scandinavian partner to be the best. You will get to enjoy a fair share of responsibilities and command in your day-to-day life. Be it house chores or the bills, your Scandinavian partner will treat you as an equal and will expect you to participate equally.
The gender equality factor runs deep in their roots. Thus, if he is your man, expect less of gentleman(ly) habits such as getting you a chair, pulling the door, and whatnot. And if your girl’s Scandinavian, you need not be offended by her love for independence even in the smallest of things.
Besseggen mountain walk. Photo: John Fiddler/Visitnorway.com
You Get To Explore Exotic Places Dating a Scandinavian would mean getting access to the hidden, resident-reserved exciting spots at the iconic Scandinavian places. Sure, you can visit as a tourist too. But again, your significant other will know about all the amazing stuff that they don’t put up on the front for the public. Hence, endless joys!
And. Should you plan for marriage, prepare yourself for an enthralling and exotic honeymoon. Perhaps, a romantic Sweden or sandals honeymoon.
Their aesthetic yet practical fashion sense comes from the grounds. Here, a man in Helly Hansen workwear.
They Make Styling Easy And Effortless By now, you would know at least one thing for sure: Scandinavians are both composed and intense. Coming from socially complex and intriguing lands like Denmark, Norway, or Sweden, these people learn to live well in a variety of challenging situations. And thus, have a firm command over things, naturally.
Their aesthetic yet practical fashion sense comes from the grounds. You will find the Scandi style of clothing revolving around neutral and solid colors. They blend minimalistic looks with sleek accessories. And when the temperature drops down below 40 degrees Celsius, you will find your Scandinavian significant-other layering up in the most aesthetically pleasing way.
Scandinavian interior.
And Setting Up Your Place Much More Fun Along with their fashion sense, you can count on your Scandinavian partner to take care of the interiors too. Their command of neutral colors and minimalism grants them the ability to set up a fully-functional yet stunning room or lounge, whichever it may. Now, you shouldn’t expect your partner to somehow magically operate like a professional interior designer. Go with their taste in color and furniture, and work for it mutually to yield the best results.
You can expect loads of cross-country road trips! Photo: Kai Pilger/Unsplash
You Would Get Exposure To More Than One Culture At Once Perhaps, the most exciting thrill that a Scandinavian individual promise is their abundant cultural knowledge and highly integrated cultural self. Hence, you can expect to learn and even participate in a variety of different local festivities, such as All Saints, St. Martin’s Day, Midsummer celebration, and whatnot.
Plus, the borders between the Scandinavian countries are almost non-existent. You can expect loads of cross-country road trips!
A Scandinavian will teach you how to play with a different combination of sandwiches, cheese, jam, spreads, etc.
They Will Teach How to Go Elite with Breakfast Scandinavian do not seem to understand how a mere bowl of cereal can provide enough fuel for the day. And if you’re dating them, they will make sure that you quit on such unhealthy habits. Instead, they will teach you how to go grand about it. They will teach you how to play with a different combination of sandwiches, cheese, jam, spreads, etc. Sometimes, on special occasions, they may go a step ahead and include smoked fish and meat of sorts.
With a Scandinavian, you will find your clouds of stress, hesitation, and confusion clearing out. Photo: Thought Catalog/Unsplash
They Will Teach You How to Get Easy Have you heard about Scandinavians’ habit of taking off their shoes at the entrance? Whether they’re in a get-together, attending a party, or whichever.
Although this may seem a petty habit, it reflects a very deep-rooted and influential attribute, i.e., their ability to be down to earth. With them, you will find your clouds of stress, hesitation, and confusion clearing out. They will keep it all much comfier for you.
Shawn Mack
8 Reasons Why You Should Date a Scandinavian, written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Shawn Mack. Shawn is a content writer who offers ghostwriting, copy-writing, and blogging services. His educational background in business and technical field has given him a broad base from which to approach many topics.
Potatoes are the soul of Scandinavian cooking. They are eaten with almost every meal, and accompany anything traditional. You would think that, given such culinary success, they have been here for ages, but in fact potatoes have been eaten in Scandinavia for only 200 years. Learn more about Scandinavian potatoes.
Even if they were known before, they were regarded with great suspicion: potatoes ar a member of the nightshade family, and it was hard for the authorities to convince the public that they were edible. When people finally were convinced, everybody grew and ate them; as well as being a crop that protected people against famine, potatoes were relatively easy to grow on the extremely stony ground of much of Scandinavia.
Most importantly perhaps, people soon realized that potatoes fitted beautifully with all the core elements of Nordic cooking – fish, butter, cream, herbs, apples and onions. Everything tasted much nicer with potatoes than with the porridge, hard bread, pea mash and parsnips that were eaten before the potato became the staple.
Fried potatoes. Photo: Coop.no
Nowhere is the potato cherished as much as it is in the north, where the year’s new potatoes are awaited with great excitement. The first new potatoes of the year are auctioned at sky-high prices and the event is even published in the papers. Local people hunt the potatoes down from numerous road stalls with rickety signs or from the shops – suppliers frequently run out by noon, despite the often ridiculous prices.
Appearance and taste Many Scandinavians grow potatoes in their gardens just to enjoy the exquisite taste of very young, new potatoes. Freshly dug new potatoes are a national passion. Mothers teach their children the only truthful indication that potatoes have been newly dug, when you rub your fingers against the flaky skin it must come off in one stroke, revealing a moist, mother-of-pearl sheen to the flesh.
We have many Nordic cultivars; some are in constant use, while others are kept in the Nordic gene bank, from where anyone can order a few spuds and help to keep the regional potato heritage alive. There are two Nordic gene banks, NordGen in southern Sweden and one secure storage bank on the Atlantic islands of Svalbard.
Boiled potatoes. Pgoto: Coop.no
There are specific cultivars for new potatoes, and potatoes for winter use. New potatoes have a much higher water content and are best boiled. Starchy winter potatoes have numerous uses, as mash, baked, fried or oven-cooked edges, making use of their starchiness. Special waxy salad potatoes are also available. In reality you must love what you can get as the number of cultivars available in the shops is very few. If you want to eat old, tasty cultivars, or potatoes for a specific use, you must grow your own or go to a farmers’ market.
Buying and storing New potatoes are supposed to be bought fresh every day, while old potatoes can be stored as long as they are kept out of the light. Instead, use a a crock with a lid kept in a cool, frost-free place. In spring, all potatoes tend to sprout, sending out long, pale shoots if kept in the dark. As long as the sprouts are small and the potato is not too wrinkled it is fine to eat. A partial sprinkling of black spots on the skin are harmless scabs which you can remove with a good scrub.
Damaged green (or partly green) potatoes should not be eaten. The green could indicate that the level of toxic solanine is high, even if this is not always the case. It’s not good enough to cut off the green patches.
Potatoes provide plenty of starch, relatively high levels of vitamins and also good protein.
Growing garden potatoes. Photo: Mills AS
Culinary uses It’s important to remember the difference qualities of seasonal potatoes and the traditions of how to serve potatoes all year round reflect this.
In Scandinavia, when new potatoes are in season, they are the most important part of the every day meal. Roles are reversed for a short time, meat and fish becoming the accompaniments to the potatoes, temporarily the stars of the dinner show. A salty-sweet matjes herring, chives and dill, and a blob of crème fraiche, or a few rashers of bacon, butter and dill, are all you need for dinner until the new potatoes become old news, by which the magic is gone, and potatoes assume their traditional accompanying role.
Baked potato. Photo: Rema 1000
Even though pasta and rice are becoming the everyday starch in many Scandinavian families, potatoes remain a vital part of traditional cooking. Many open sandwiches are unthinkable without potatoes. Maybe the most popular smørrebrød is a piece of buttered rye bread, boiled, sliced new or even old potatoes, chives, homemade lemony mayonnaise and perhaps a rasher of bacon. And then of course there’s the eternal classic – rye bread with potatoes, various herrings, dill and onion.
Want to try something different?
Burning love. Photo: Copenhagennet.dk
Burning love
How this dish ever got its name, I have no idea. It’s far too filling to get you in the mood, but it’s very satisfying in other ways. It’s a cheap and comforting dish in its own right.
1 quantity caramelized onions for the baked apples
4 eating apples
4 tablespoons sugar
20 rashes of bacon for the mashed potatoes 1.5kg floury potatoes
54g salted butter
200ml full-fat milk
Salt and pepper
Serves 4 – 6
Quarter the apples and remove the core, then arrange in a baking dish. Sprinkle the sugar on top and turn the apples to coat. Arrange the bacon rashers on top. Bake in the oven at 200ºC/gas mark 6 until the apples are tender and the bacon is crispy.
Rinse and peel the potatoes if they are large, cut into slices. Boil in unsalted water until completely tender, then drain, keeping some of the water. Mash the potatoes with the butter, milk and black pepper, using a balloon whisk. If the mash is too dense, add some of the cooking water. Salt at the last moment, to avoid glueyness.
Heap up the mashed potato on a pretty dish to form a Norwegian mountain, then arrange the apples, bacon and onions around the base, and let a knob of butter melt down the peak.
All Scandinavian countries, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, are competing to launch their ‘greenest city’. Sweden is now launching its ‘One-Minute City’ design to improve urban living. Read more about Sweden’s ‘One-Minute City’ design.
The ‘One-Minute City’ concept is that no locals should need more than a minute to access everything they need, from playing grounds to social hubs. The new national experiment, which started last fall in central Stockholm, asked residents to work with designers using Lego-like parts to redesign their space with a new vision of what one agency started to call the “one-minute city”.
The ‘One-Minute City’ concept is that no locals should need more than a minute to access everything they need, from playing grounds to social hubs
A building kit to transform the way we use city streets
In front of a gourmet sausage shop in Gothenburg, where it was a couple of parking spaces before, there are now a picnic table and racks for cycles an e-powered scooters. Rumors say that the sausage shop’s turnover has quadrupled.
It is the Swedish think tank ArkDes which has developed a building kit to transform the way we use city streets, as part of its Street Moves project, which takes the French “15-minute city” concept to an even more granular level. “The 15-minute city” is a concept now being implemented in Paris. The Swedish concept aims to demonstrate how streets might transform within neighborhoods where walking and cycling are prioritized over driving and could be healthy, sustainable and vibrant by 2030.
The minimized need for traveling long distances to reach work, home or leisure attractions during Covid-19 has increased the idea of thinking local to incite sustainable change.
The Swedish concept aims to demonstrate how streets might transform within neighborhoods where walking and cycling are prioritized.
40,000 km of streets
ArkDes is a national agency that focuses on sustainable urban design, which partnered on the project with Vinnova, the Swedish national innovation agency. “Sweden has about 40,000km [25,000 miles] of street already built, which, if you think of that as a space, is kind of extraordinary,” says Dan Hill, the director of strategic design at Vinnova, who is the force behind the project along with the architecture curator Kieran Long.
And now, ArkDes’s new concept is taking it even further by empowering citizens to add public facilities right outside their doorstep, paving the way for “one-minute cities”. Last summer, the team started piloting the project on four different blocks around central Stockholm. Each had an elementary school, and children became part of participatory design workshops to reimagine the street, adding swings, dance platforms, and street painting.
It is the Swedish think tank ArkDes which has developed a building kit to transform the way we use city streets
Positive surveys
About 70% of the 322 people surveyed about the Stockholm projects were positive, with ArkDes claiming a 400% increase in movement on the streets around each unit. Currently being tested and evaluated in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Helsingborg, the building kit comprises an expandable modular wooden platform, with different parts that can be placed on top of one another. The changes are a part of Sweden’s plan to get to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045; nine Swedish cities are aiming to get to net zero emissions by 2030.
The unit in Gothenburg will shortly be followed by one in Helsingborg, and other cities in Sweden have also expressed interest. One partner is the national transportation regulatory agency, which is helping deal with parking space regulation. Though it starts at the level of transforming single blocks, it’s flexible enough to be spread throughout the entire country.
About 70% of the 322 people surveyed about the Stockholm projects were positive.
Helsingborg next
The Helsingborg unit will be outside a sixth-form college, and combines seating with planters and integrated LED lighting. Designed by Lundberg Design, the building kit means city residents can quickly build shared facilities such as playgrounds, outdoor gyms, urban gardens, storage, social hubs, open-air meeting spaces, electric charging stations for cars and parking for electric scooters.
Sweden’s ‘One-Minute City’ Design, written by Tor Kjolberg
Brødrene Lunn AS was founded by father and two sons in 1995 and started with a small machine park in 1996. It consisted of a truck and an excavator. Since its inception, the company has developed into a company with forty permanent employees. Daily Scandinavian interviewed one of the brothers, Stian Lunn, who explained to us how a Norwegian owned mPaaS technology solves challenging road construction logistics for the company.
Brødrene Lunn AS, based in Lillehammer, Norway, has specialized in mass transport of stone, gravel, crushed stone, fill, asphalt and recently also concrete. Each type of cargo requires a different type of truck, and while some vehicles are owned by the company, others are rented. Some rented cars have their own drivers, while others are operated by the company’s own employees.
Started with 10 Android Tablets
It all started when Stian Lunn bought 10 Android tablets at a computer outlet for use by different drivers for various tasks. One month later he bought another 25 tablets.
“It all started when Stian Lunn bought 10 Windows tablets at a computer outlet for use by different drivers for various tasks,” says Stian Lunn, co-founder of Brødrene Lunn AS. Photo: Tor Kjolberg
“Until 2014 we used those tablets and Excel. Two employees handled 40 trucks,” says Stian Lunn. “The company expanded and our operational system proved insufficient. We were approached by Appsmakerstore, a mobile app development company, which proved to understand our challenges.”
Rudi Carlsen, founder of and CEO Appmakerstore. Photo: Tor Kjolberg
According to CEO and founder of Appsmakerstore, Rudi Carlsen, a mix of patented technologies and tools, the data of the internet and a highly skilled team of application developers in Ukraine are part of their success formula. “Several years of experience have given us a wide professional approach which is ideal for companies that need a mix of bespoke, easy moving forward and a cost effective mobile app platforms like the Appsmakerstore technology,” he says.
A highly professional team
“2019 was all time high and today one man can handle up to 200 trucks going to different locations,” says Stian Lunn and emphasizes that this is more or less thanks to the app developed by Appsmakerstore in collaboration with his company.
«The Appsmakerstore team has been highly professional and proven to be flexible, scalable and very competent technically,” says Lunn. “The results have sometimes come faster than we’ve been able to cope with.”
Today one man can handle up to 200 trucks going to different locations with the app from Appmakerstore. Illustration: Appmakerstore
Pressure to deliver construction projects on time and to budget has never been higher. In addition to handling the existing logistic solutions, the app operates documentation to suppliers (at present 60 sub-suppliers) as well as to the authorities.
In addition to handling the existing logistic solutions, the app operates documentation to suppliers as well as to the authorities. Illustration: Appmakerstore
Listed among the Top Seven in the world
Appsmakerstore has been in the mobile application market since 2010 with their own cross platform mobile development technology, and in 2014, Reuters analysts reached out to over 35 app development software companies with an identifiable track record of successfully meeting clients’ app development needs. The research findings were based on an algorithm of factors that included the breadth of software features, client reviews, and market presence. Appsmakerstore was listed with seven other market players.
The results have sometimes been given faster than we’ve been able to keep up with.,” Says Stian Lunn
Today, Appsmakerstore is one of the top five application makers in the world. “What started for us as our own DIY (Do it yourself with drag and drop) cross platform for making mobile apps for non-coders, has developed into a cost and time effective mPaaS for agencies and their clients. “Our business model also offers options for adding new functions to your project as custom development by the Appsmakerstore team, at an extra cost. Along with building other technologies, platforms and apps from scratch where this makes better sense from our custom department. But we see that 95% of any business request, actually can be solved without any custom development needed.”
Pressure to deliver construction projects on time and to budget has never been higher. Photo by: Werner Juvik/”Volvo på Vei”
Along with our bespoke development department we’re doing custom-made development on the core Appsmakerstore platform or building solutions from scratch for agencies and their clients,” says Rudi Carlsen. “Our specialty is within business and organizations apps. As a mobile development company, we need to provide the highest skills within business processes, culture, user behavior and trends, along with innovation and the pure coding itself. These are ingredients that make Appsmakerstore a truly interesting company to work in, for and together with the right minds,” he adds.
“It’s all about having a good product and volume. This is the information age, adapted to wide-scale use of sub-contracting as well as businesses with field operations.
Road construction involves a variety of workers with different skills. Photo by: Werner Juvik/Volvo
More complex construction projects
Construction projects are undoubtedly becoming more complex as the trend towards tiered transactional interfaces becomes more commonplace which means more opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers.
Appmakerstore’s technology can be used by many different industries.
“When our staff talks to clients, they are trained to understand the similarity to selling complicated products or services in a store. For instance, in my case, I love cars, but I am not a mechanic. I can fill up my fuel tank, change oil and fill up washer fluid if the car alerts me, but that’s it! For repair and other maintenance, I need a garage. Similarly, it is important for us to focus on the client and their needs,” concludes Carlsen.
“Having a single provider overseeing logistics from the very start of a project can make all the difference to sustainability in all its guises,” emphasizes Stian Lunn. Norwegian Technology Solves Challenging Road Construction Logistics, written by Tor Kjolberg
Tourism is one of the most affected industries in the pandemic. In this article, we are going to talk about Norway tourism and possible trends that will rise in the near future. A country with so many natural attractions is the perfect choice for a thorough analysis. Find out what tourism destinations in Norway will develop after the pandemic.
Every country in Europe is now struggling to get approval for opening their borders and allow international travel again, given that the summer season is almost here. Norway decided to take it slow and safe, balancing tourism reinvigoration and respecting the health indications. Let’s dig in deeper and find out what the Norway tourism industry will look like after this pandemic.
Northern lights in Lofoten. Photo: Stian Klo / Visit Norway
Domestic Norway Tourism Ever since the coronavirus crisis has started, Norway tourism was frozen as thousands of people have been laid off. An alarmingly high number of businesses were/still are on the brink of bankruptcy, which calls for a very well-structured plan to revive the economy—especially the Norway tourism industry, which has been hit by tough pandemic restrictions.
This has been a severe hit on those who work in tourism, especially after having one of the best decades before, with overnight guest stays hitting an impressive number of 35.2 million in 2019 (not taking into account private rental platforms like AirBnB or passengers from all the cruise ships). Now, most of them are sitting at home, playing in something from the so-called Book of Ra online, and searching for online jobs.
This is why the Norway tourism after COVID-19 expects a big boom in the domestic tourism sector. It’s not forbidden at the moment for citizens to roam within the country. Still, authorities are strongly advising citizens to limit themselves only to essential travel.
Another reason for the rise of domestic Norway tourism during COVID-19 would be the level of environmental concerns that people have accepted in their day-to-day life. That is why it is expected to see more families wanting to enjoy outdoor activities instead of just seeing things together.
Ecotourism has witnessed an impressive rise among the citizens of Norway in the last 10 years. Photo: Store norske leksikon
What Tourism Destinations in Norway Will Develop After the Pandemic? Continue reading.
Ecotourism
Ecotourism has witnessed an impressive rise among the citizens of Norway in the last 10 years, and in a post-pandemic world, people will most probably be even more conscious about where they travel – for minimizing the impact they have on our planet and, of course, to avoid being infected with the dreaded virus.
We will probably see people changing the Norway tourism history by choosing train travel over flying. Another interesting topic is the evolution of ecotourism. At the beginning, it was addressed to people who were flying far in places like Costa Rica or Brazil. Nowadays, we are witnessing more people respecting the carbon footprint and limiting their airborne time.
This resulted in more traveling being done towards destinations that are closer to their home. People are starting to realize how much they were missing by traveling via airplanes and are drawn towards traveling on the ground. This brings the ability to also make the ride part of the holiday to experience all things first-hand.
Although they are not exactly a new thing among Norwegians, caravans and motorhomes have seen a surge in popularity in the last few years. Photo: NAF
Vanlife or Nomadic Lifestyle Although they are not exactly a new thing among Norwegians, caravans and motorhomes have seen a surge in popularity in the last few years. Vanlife is considered a cool lifestyle by many young people nowadays, no matter if it’s about living or just traveling for long periods of time, and is becoming an important Norway tourism policy that needs to be respected.
There has been increased activity on Facebook groups such as Vanlife Norway, either due to the pandemic or maybe it gained popularity naturally. One of the most convincing incentive for people who choose this life is about the freedom that you have with it. If you feel like you’re not thriving in a particular space, you can just leave with minimum hassle.
This way of traveling will, perhaps, attract mostly people that have no kids in their household. One of the biggest benefits of it being that you don’t necessarily have to visit one place and then go back to your everyday life. Vanlife allows you to embark on your own journey using your own vehicle, as long as you respect the Norway tourist warnings, just to be safe.
If your profession can be 100% practiced on a laptop or PC, this lifestyle can be relevant. All you need is access to electricity, of course, and a good internet provider. If Elon Musk is successful with his Starlink project, you should have no problem accessing wireless internet anywhere on the planet in a couple of years.
People have shown an increased interest in spa experiences. Photo: Visit Telemark
Natural Well-being People have shown an increased interest in spa experiences and spa for hundreds of years. Now, in recent years, we have observed a significant increase in the interest for detox, with most of the respectable hotels offering services of fitness or beach yoga as part of their Norway tourism strategy.
More people are beginning to feel drawn towards living a healthy life, and that can be seen on a global level, with diet, stronger immune system, and health being the keywords in any Norway tourism travel guide. People are starting to realize that if they replace the drinks and crowded beaches with their own company and a glass of coconut water, they will return home much healthier and have a much better attitude towards life than before.
This pandemic has guided us into putting extra efforts towards taking better care of our minds and bodies. One of the most relevant Norway tourism facts is the increasing popularity of hotels that offer healthy food, activity opportunities, and lots of sports.
. Now people are shooting for more authentic experiences. Photo: CH-Visit Norway
Authentic Experiences
It’s starting to be all about getting that real experience like tasting local food, having a conversation with locals, or learning about their cultural identity. If there is anything positive that we can take out of this Instagram era that we live in, is that what matters most is to enjoy a unique, authentic moment. People are moving away from the standard, streamlined experiences that involve an ordinary pool at some luxury hotel that could be, honestly, everywhere.
Maybe a couple of decades ago, if you had asked anyone what their ideal vacation looks like, it would have been all about bathing in the sea and some sunbathing on the beach. Now people are shooting for more authentic experiences.
Another term that you should expect to hear more often in the near future is „bleisure”. Photo: NHO Reiseliv
Conscious Tourism A great benefit of the reduced flights we have witnessed on a global level is the low level of emissions, which made many people realize the consequences of traveling, thus, agreeing that we should be traveling less in the future. This is where conscious tourism comes in, which combines the leisure travel with business.
Another term that you should expect to hear more often in the near future is „bleisure”, which is a combination between business, leisure, and pleasure. Suppose you don’t believe us this is serious. In that case, we will let you know that there is an entire casual clothing style specifically designed for this activity, including clothes that are easily packed and used on holiday and at work.
Here’s how this works: you extend the business trip by a few days until the next weekend, and you are basically saving the climate by taking two fewer flights when combining city travel with business. This works especially now when people are starting to realize that you can work away from your office.
What Tourism Destinations in Norway Will Develop After the Pandemic? Conclusion Although we don’t know how long will this terrible pandemic last, we know that society has changed its perspective when traveling and enjoying vacations. People are moving towards more authentic and meaningful experiences, having them taken away during the quarantine periods.
What other Norway tourism trends do you think will catch on after the pandemic? Feel free to share your opinions and experiences in our comment section.
Ellen Royce
What Tourism Destinations in Norway Will Develop After the Pandemic? Written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Ellen Royce. Ellen is a great journalist and travel blogger. She loves to share tips and experiences in her articles. For example, about how things are necessary for travelers. Transferring her experience to other people is her main task.
Scandinavian saunas can be likened to religion; the entire experience is revered and of supreme importance. Sauna roots, although difficult to trace, date back to 7000BC. Finnish forefather, Nestor the Chronicler, in 1112, spoke of “hot wooden saunas in which naked bathers beat themselves with branches and finally pour cold water over themselves”. Sauna traditions are steeped in ritual and superstition. Read further to find out all you need to know about the Scandinavian sauna culture.
Did you know there is a sauna elf? Way back in time, saunas were usually dark, smoke-filled cabins with an earthen floor and narrow window slits. Did you know that there was a sauna elf called Saunatonttu? The elf is easily upset, particularly by profanities or other inappropriate behavior. The elf will drive out any badly behaved users who do not abide by the rules.
Did you know that there was a sauna elf called Saunatonttu? Photo: Hukka Elf family/Finnmark Sauna
Thankfully today, beating is not essential. But if you seek an incredibly authentic sauna, then the viht or vihad is what you need. These ‘beating-brushes’ are made from birch branches, and when used, the air fills with their natural aroma and raises your temperature after a short and vigorous ‘beating’ workout. If you want to make your own ‘viht’, you can also add various herbs such as St. John’s wort, chamomile, mint, and if you are fearless, nettles.
Sauna Vihad. Photo: Hinokad.eu
Regular saunas positively impact health and wellbeing Not only does taking a regular sauna have a positive impact on your overall health and wellbeing, but it’s also well known that as soon as you step into a sauna, your circulation will increase due to the rise in temperature. Improved circulation can help relieve muscle stiffness, improve joint mobility and help alleviate any arthritic pain. Science shows that an increased heart rate can also help with weight loss. It is thought that spending 20 minutes in a sauna can burn up to 500 calories, which is excellent news for those that want to keep those extra pounds at bay.
Sweating is good for you, but many of you just won’t sweat enough. Many of our jobs are sedentary, which means that we are not moving around enough to break into a sweat. Everywhere we turn, our bodies are absorbing harmful elements, so it’s vital to flush them out. The American Journal of Medicine has published numerous scientific papers that attest to the sauna having a multitude of health benefits.
Traditional cabins to those on wheels BZB Cabins has a vast collection of outdoor saunas ranging from the traditional styles that are so popular in Scandinavian countries to more contemporary styles. They even have a carefully curated collection on wheels so that you can [almost] take your sauna with you wherever you go.
A BZB garden log cabin. Photo: BZB
Enjoy your natural state of bliss Being able to cut yourself off from the outside world gives you the chance to relax fully. That necessitates no computers, phones, or outside noise. Your increased heart rate means that you are releasing endorphins; these are the ‘feel-good’ natural chemicals that make you feel happy.
Healing heath The Scandinavians traditionally used the incredibly versatile sauna as a sterile place for treating the sick, giving birth, bloodletting, preparing smoked food, concocting malts, drying clothes, and grooming the dead. Cupping, massage, and body balancing are still practiced today in the healing heat of the sauna.
All You Need to Know About the Scandinavian Sauna Culture written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by the team of BZB Cabins & Outdoors, an established distributor of high-quality, eco-friendly outdoor saunas and log cabins manufactured in Europe.
Feature image (on top): Soria Moria sauna, Dalen, Telemark, Norway. Photo: Dag Jenssen / Visit Norway
All You Need to Know About the Scandinavian Sauna Culture written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by the team of