One of the most leisurely ways of sampling the country’s history is by crossing Sweden by the Göta Canal between Stockholm and Gothenburg.
Kings and industrialists alike spent centuries pondering how to link inland Sweden’s lakes and rivers, from Stockholm on the east coast to Gothenburg on the west coast, before Baltzar von Platen succeeded in early 19th century.
At the time, the country needed this new east-west artery to transport timber, iron and food, and to build up local industry. For 22 years, 59,000 soldiers labored to build the 190km (118 mile) long Göta Kanal. The canal was designated an ‘International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark”, giving it the same status as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Panama Canal, and in 2007 was officially recognized as Sweden’s greatest feat of engineering. Today, there is no commercial traffic on the canal, but there are plenty of pleasure craft!
For the visitor, the classic way is to take a cruise between Stockholm and Gothenburg on one of the vintage vessels operated by the Göta Kanal Rederaktiebolaget (Göta Kanal Steamship Company). The oldest of the three vessels is M/S Juno, built in 1874.
The four-day cruise westbound starts from Stockholm, finishing the first day at the village of Trosa. On the second day the boat passes through Mem, where the canal was officially inaugurated in 1832, before reaching Berg, where’s time to visit the historic monastery church at nearby Vreta, once the richest religious establishment in Sweden.
It took 22 years and 59,000 soldiers to build the 190km (118 mile) long Göta Kanal.
The route crosses two picturesque lakes, Asdplånen and Roxen, where there are ospreys and herons during the breeding season. The canal then takes you through 15 locks in 3 km (2 miles), lifting you 37 meters (120ft). The next night is spent at Motala, a town founded by Baltzar von Platen.
Baltzar von Platen succeeded in building the canal early 19th century. Painting by Johan Gustaf Sandberg (Nat6ional Museum, Stockholm)
On the third morning the boat crosses Lake Vättern to Karlsborg, site of a huge fortress, and Forsvik, an old metalworking village and the site of the canal’s oldest lock, built in 1813. Here, the boat is often greeted by a local family singing hymns and offering passengers wild flowers. This 100-year-old custom originated as a blessing for passengers as they embarked on the once hazardous crossing of Vättern. In the evening the boat reaches Sjötorp, marking the beginning of Lake Vänern.
At the south side of Lake Vänern, the boat enters the gorge at Trollhättan, for the last day of the voyage down the Göte River to Gothenburg.
It’s also possible to charter your own motorboat.
It’s all very leisurely, but if you prefer to take a more hands on approach, how about chartering your own motor boat? It’s also possible to hire a canoe and paddle along the waterway – several companies offer a pick-up service so you don’t have to retrace your route. For landlubbers, the Göta Kanal is Sweden’s most popular cycling path.
For all these forms of do-it-yourself transport, you find more information here.
Crossing Sweden by Canal, written by Tor Kjolberg.
Scandinavian Mexicans are citizens of Mexico with a partial or full Scandinavian ancestry. All these people share a common history and cultural background. The earliest known Scandinavian immigrant to Mexico is Jacobo Daciano who settled into the country in the mid 16th century. Learn more from this short history of Scandinavians in Mexico.
Jacobo Daciano was the younger brother of Christian II of Denmark. Jacobo was popularly known as an evangelist in the region and played a big role in spreading Christianity to the region.
Jacobo Daciano was the younger brother of Christian II of Denmark. The statue of Jacobo at Templo y Antiguo Convento de Santa Ana Zacapu.
If you have planned a trip to Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Holbox, Isla Mujeres, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen or any other place in the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico, you are required to pay Cancun tourist tax. This tax took effect on the first of April 2021. The new fee called Visitax must be paid by all visitors above 4 years and is confirmed before boarding your departure flight (source: thecancunsun.com). The tax can be paid before departure, or during your stay in Quintana Roo. Whatever the case, the tax must be paid before departure. Therefore, it is wise for visitors to pay this tax on time to avoid unnecessary scenes with the immigration officials during departure. This is given that all tourists must show proof of having paid the tax before departure. If you have not made the payment though, you can do it at the customs office at the airport.
Mario Schjetnan’s paternal grandfather was a railroad builder and Norwegian immigrant.
Federico Miguel Liebman, a Danish scientist studying plants in southern Mexico in 1941. The scientist came across a small group of native people in Oaxaca who could speak Danish. Upon further enquiries, Liebman discovered that these people were part of Danish pirates who had been abandoned in the area by their crew in the late 16th century. On the other hand, Swedes have been in Mexico since the late 1890s.
Professor Axel Didrichson is is of Swedish and Japanese descent.
While taking a voyage on the Norway Mexico line, writer Peter Lykke-Seest talks of the presence of Norwegian businessmen in Vera Cruz. He adds that the businessmen, who were well dressed, highly educated and maintained the Norwegian customs. This elite group of people maintained their customs unlike the earlier recorded voyagers who seemed to adopt a localized culture. These include former sailors who were in that port city.
These are notable Scandinavian individuals in Mexico:
Elizabeth Broden – former Miss Mexico (1984) who spent over a decade in the fashion industry
Axel Didriksson – writer and professor at UNAM – also a highly acclaimed academician in the county
Yolanda “Tongolele” Montes – exotic dancer and perfomer
Frans Blom – archeologist
Sairi Forsman – sculptor
Rosario María Gutiérrez Eskildsen – lexicographer, linguist, educator
Ann Margarit Henningsen – sprint canoer
Eva Norvind – writer and actress
Nailea Norvind – actress
Mario Schjetnan – architect
The history of Scandinavians in Mexico dates back into the early 16th century. However, most of the current descendants of this group have been localized by the Mexican culture.
A Short History of Scandinavians in Mexico, written dedicately for Daily Scandinavian by guest contributor.
Feature image (on top):
Ikat geometric folklore ornament. Tribal ethnic vector texture. Seamless striped pattern in Aztec style. Figure tribal embroidery. Indian, Scandinavian, Gypsy, Mexican, folk pattern. Pro Vector.
During a few intense days in March 2020, VIERLIVE was established by musicians, filmmakers and developers. The purpose was to create a new type of streaming platform that actually helps artists and the surrounding players make money from streaming. The Norwegian startup company aims to be the best in the world at streaming music.
VIERLIVE’s mission is to help artists earn their share in a piraya streaming market. “We’ve redefined the live streaming format with artists like Girl in Red, AURORA and Sigrid – our platform was recently awarded the highest-ranking Norwegian design award DOGA’s Innovation of the Year, and winner of the 2022 Angel Challenge Norway,” is a statement on the company’s web-page.
VIERLIVE’s mission is to help artists earn their share in a piraya streaming market.
With the recent launch of the self-service platform, VIERLIVE has set itself exciting growth and product development goals for 2023. Since the start, VIERLIVE has sold 70.000+ digital tickets to fans in 100+ countries. Working with artists like Girl in Red, AURORA, Sigrid, Papa Roach, Kvelertak, Leprous and many more, the company recently successfully finished its pre seed funding round and is now hiring for growth.
VIERLIVE has sold 70.000+ digital tickets to fans in 100+ countries.
In collaboration with Inklud, an agency that specializes in digital accessibility, the company will now collect and map its experiences and review all feedback, error reporting and dialogue with customers. The insight will be used to create an even better and more seamless service.
Norwegian Startup Company Aims To Be the Best at Streaming Music, written by Tor Kjolberg
In 2000, two Norwegian architects, Odd Klev and Geir Haaversen, founded A-Lab. They had one main purpose: They wanted to create a fun place to work. Twenty years later, A-Lab has grown into an award-winning Norwegian architecture company of around 130 employees from 20 nations.
The two founders wanted to scrap the traditional «master and apprentice» model and create a different working environment, a process driven office with an enthusiasm and curiosity that bring out the best of all of its heads because it is fun to be at work. They wanted to build a culture where you explore, ask the same questions twice, collaborate across disciplines and push the limits of what architects can do.
«It does not matter where or who an idea comes from, all that matters is the space we create to let this idea flow and the opportunities we give it to grow”, says Julie Sjøwall Oftedal, Head of Strategy and Development and partner in A-Lab.
For two decades, A-lab has been transforming the face of Norwegian architecture. Thanks to its unique culture and its focus on the users of tomorrow, the studio is ready to shape urban change for decades to come.
‘The Wdge’ at Barcode, Oslo. Photo: Ivan Broday.
Kiev and Haaversen initially wanted to design offices for IT-companies but quickly realized they had to expand their field. In 2001, the design of Oslo City shopping mall led to their first award. It was the beginning of a very successful decade for A-lab.
«It does not matter where or who an idea comes from, all that matters is the space we create to let this idea flow and the opportunities we give it to grow”, says Julie Sjøwall Oftedal, Head of Strategy and Development and partner.
“We are not an office of ‘big names’,” Sjøwall Oftedal adds. “In many architecture firms, there’s this master figure—a guru who shows others how things ‘should’ be done. A-lab is not like that. Instead, our studio was built to be a place where the best idea is used, no matter who or where it comes from. That’s part of why none of our buildings ever look alike.”
From 2006 on the company had to expand very quickly because it took on two gigantic projects at the same time: the headquarters for DnB (Norway’s largest commercial bank) and the new regional and international offices for Statoil (now Equinor – image on top).
‘The View’appartment house.
Oslo Architectural Triennale 2022 has selected four important urban development projects in which A-lab has a central role: Lilleakerbyen, Oslo Science City, the competition proposals for Grønlikaia and the report on a third housing sector from Tøyen Housing Construction Cooperative, all in Oslo, the capital of Norway.
Now, a natural next step for the studio is to look abroad. “We’ve been busy with competitions in France, and a partner opened A-lab’s first studio in Portugal some years back,” Julie explains. “We’re also now a partner in Include, an international research program investigating the social impact of increasing urban density.”
As such, A-lab might be spreading its wings across Europe, but it’s determined to keep in touch with its core values—and its people. “We do feel that we have something to contribute. But just as importantly, it’s our eagerness to learn that drives us to create something new.”
“We try our best to create exciting areas and building and always add a new layer of meaning to every design project or masterplan,” says Odd Klev.
Award-Winning Norwegian Architecture Company, written by Tor Kjolberg
Feature image (on top): Equinor’s headoffice building, Oslo.
Sofie Ekeberg Hellsing and Christian Duivenvoorden opened the design store Artilleriet in Gothenburg in 2014. There are many indications that they have become Sweden’s most important interior trendsetters. Welcome to Sweden’s most interesting design city.
According to their website, Artilleriet stands for an eclectic collection of interior, furniture, and details.
Despite the fact that the founders were warned against opening a store in the working-class city of Gothenburg, the fifth largest city in the Nordics, Artilleriet has proven to be a successful trendsetter in interior design.
Artilleriet stands for an eclectic collection of interior, furniture, and details.
The reason might be that Gothenburg is so small that there is an opportunity to be seen and at the same time large enough to have a lot of expertise. Artilleriet displays a proprietary blend of classics, vintage and modern products together with innovative design from around the world. According to the owners, part of the success is due to a mix of well-known brands with recognized high quality and lesser-known up and coming suppliers with great potential.
Artilleriet has become a very strong brand. The internet and customers have been hugely important to the store, which has never paid for marketing. That said, the company has a marketing department that works with images from the Artillery. Material is produced there for the channels the company wants to use, such as Instagram and newsletters.
Designmuseum – Röhska museet – Gothenburg
The old industrial city of Gothenburg is about to change. With a number of innovative interior and online stores, some of Sweden’s most important bloggers and interior stylists, trend-setting apartments for sale posted on social media every week as well as its own design museum, the city has established itself as Sweden’s most interesting design city.
The Kitchen, next to Artilleriet on Magsinsgatan 19, is a small store selling beautiful handcrafted kitchen products, utensils and unique everyday objects, made for staying within families for generations.
The fact that Gothenburg is Stockholm’s little brother makes it easier to experiment and test out new concepts there. The competition is not as tough, according to blogger Frida Ramstedt who runs one of Sweden’s biggest design blogs, Trendenser , with over 250,000 readers every month.
Being in the travel business – and in the communication business – for over three decades now, I’ve had the opportunity to meet managers in the tourism industry as well as ‘marketing experts’, all struggling to find the best way to market their businesses. In today’s digital marketing world, the question is: Does your travel website attract the right visitors?
Having studied thousands of travel websites, I often become sad because I see so many obvious misinterpretations of what good transactional web marketing actually can deliver. To prove my assumptions, I contacted a journalist/marketing colleague in Vancouver, Canada, Darryl Leniuk, who founded Aventur Marketing back in 2010.
Aventur Marketing was founded in 2010.
Darryl has many years of experience as adventure journalist and photographer and has written for several publications, overseas as well as in North America. He worked closely with the national Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mall and photo agencies like Getty Images.
Fun and interesting assignments gave him the opportunity to travel around the world doing adventure travels, scuba diving, mountain biking, skiing and a lot more.
Canadian journalist, photographer and travel expert Darryl Leniuk
“The media industry changed a lot in the years following 2010. I began learning new skill sets as well as improving my existing ones. I had quite a strong background from journalism and PR, having worked with many tourism boards, literally around the world. I was a member of several trade associations and had won a few awards for journalism. However, I felt I lacked marketing experience, so I went to night school and also joined the Duct Tape network, founded by bestseller author John Jantch,” says Darryl.
When I ask Darryl where many tourism marketers fail, he answers:
It’s important to understand your audience, says Darryl Leniuk
“Too often they do not understand who their ideal clients are, who their competitors are, their niche in the market – or the demand in the market. Yes, there’s definitely a need, not just in adventure marketing, I would say tourism marketing in general. Just now I am working with high end tourism marketing, for instance luxury adventure tours, heli-skiing, high end fishing lodges, eco resorts and this sort of thing”.
Is it a long process? “The strategy part takes about a month to do. And a lot of that is in client interviews, so the first thing we do is to ask for a list of their best clients and repeat visitors. We interview them by phone since we really want to understand why they chose a particular operator. After such interviews, we really understand the key things we are looking for. And when we understand those, that is kind of the basis for the rest of the process.”
Darryl Leniuk loves being close to nature.
How did you manage to get through the COVID-19 problems?“One of our clients, a heli skiing company, lost about 95% of their market since the borders were closed and not many Canadians do heli skiing. We created content, new messaging and worked with them to create some new tour products especially for the Canadian market as a short-term stopgap so they could keep the business running. The revenue blossomed and the client was very happy that most of his competitors did not open that year, since they thought it would be too difficult. We solved the problem with a different product”.
Night view, by Darryl Leniuk
What skills will marketers need in the future? Marketing techniques are constantly evolving. It’s becoming increasingly more technical, literally by the day. And so, you really do need to stay on top of all the changes. You have to constantly be trying things and testing and experimenting and staying on top of what’s going on.
PR is to get awareness. People can’t search for something if they don’t know it exists. Let’s say I’m looking for fly fishing in Norway, you want to make sure that that particular business comes up because people don’t remember what, they just might see a great story on fishing, and they all want to go to Norway, and they look closely at the first ones that come up. And so, you want to make sure that your business is among them.
Captivating images grab our attention more than plain text.
Here’s where we come into the picture. I’ve worked in the tourism industry, and as you know, there’s many types of tourism businesses. There are inbound operator, there are outbound operators, agents, there are so many different things. But the one that I tend to focus on the most is what you just described, I’d say, an inbound operator, where they are based in, pick some place in Scandinavia, and they want to get the word out to the UK, the US, Canada and other English-speaking markets. It’s definitely a combination of a couple different things. I would say PR and SEO are the big ones, generally.
Nature, by Darryl Leniuk
Issues to be considered
Are the visuals on your website engaging the right prospective guests and differentiating your tourism business?
If it’s all blue skies, spring green trees, smiling models or other perfectly boring crap, they’re probably not. Today, competition is fierce, and having the right visual strategy is key to generating sales and attracting more high-value guests. The right combination of photos, videos, and illustrations which can define your brand is a key part of luxury travel marketing.
Tsuiat Falls, West Coast Trail, British Columbia, Canada
Understand Your Audience and Brand Before taking a step further, you need to understand your ideal guest or buyer’s persona.
Who are they? What sort of places do they want to visit? What activities appeal to them?
The answers to these questions should give you an idea of what types of images to use. If they’re couples age 60+, for god sakes make sure the people on your website and other channels look like that. People want to see themselves when imagining their dream vacation.
If they want luxury holidays, you should show high-end experiences through your visuals; if adventure travel is more what they seek, make sure to show guests doing those activities.
Then think about style. I’ve seen phenomenal atmospheric images, cloudy skies, backlit models and otherwise the kinds of photos and videos that would never wind up in tourist brochures being used successfully by top tourism brands.
Go for professional images as they are unique and allow the readers to connect with the destination.
Get Experimental With Images And Videos Visuals aren’t limited to great photos. While images are a great way to excite website visitors for their next vacation, you should be creative and experimental to offer something different from your competitors. This difference keeps viewers engaged.
While not as common in the travel industry, illustrations or infographics can be an effective way to explain more complicated topics, like travel logistics, in an easy-to-understand way.
Custom Photographs or Stock Pictures? Captivating images grab our attention more than plain text, which is why they are a powerful tool in tourism marketing. An excellent scenic picture is often enough for a person to pursue their wanderlust.
Pictures for a travel website are available in two main forms: Original/Custom Photographs or Stock Pictures. While guest or user-generated-content can be great for social media, it’s generally not a good idea for something as important as your website.
It is best to always go for professional images as they are unique and allow the readers to connect with the destination. When working with a photographer or videographer, make sure to use a photo brief that explains the style that matches your brand.
However, pro photo shoots are expensive and time-consuming to do. On the other hand, countless fantastic sources offer stock images. They are easily accessible at an affordable price and available in numerous categories. But regardless of the images you choose, stay relevant to your brand and destination.
Images for SEO SEO is essential for tour and activity providers. Google is the center of everything, and for a tourist, their journey often starts directly from the search bar. With a reliable tourism SEO strategy, you can direct your guests to your tour operation.
The same SEO approach is essential for your images too. When integrating visual files within your content, make sure to:
Resize Images – Images having a high resolution will slow your website load time. You can utilize an online tool to reduce the size of your pictures.
Descriptive Alt Text – An alternate text is a piece of information that describes what an image shows. It helps the visually impaired to have a better understanding of the image offered. In terms of SEO, it helps search engines recognize your content.
Correct Image Format – Different formats are available, and each offer something substantial. It entirely depends on what kind of image you are using and how you want to use it.
JPEG for large photos or illustrations as it offers good results with small sizes.
PNG to preserve image background transparency.
SVG for logos and icons.
Image Sitemap – A sitemap is a simple directory or guide that holds information about the pages and elements present on your website. Search engines crawl a sitemap’s database to find information concerning a specific search query.
Does Your Travel Website Attract the Right Visitors? Continue reading….
Watch Out For Google’s AI The AI behind Google aims to provide users with the most relevant search results by analyzing their search queries. Google’s AI uses the content of the text near the image to understand what the image represents and can even understand what and where the image is from the image itself. So that beautiful stock photo of an island on the other side of the world? Don’t use it. Google will probably know it’s not from your destination and penalize you for using irrelevant images.
Darryl Leniuk biking
Does Your Travel Website Attract the Right Visitors? Putting it all Together
Aventur Marketing has years of experience delivering results and growing bookings for premium tourism businesses. The luxury tourism industry is going through a big shift. Be flexible and adjust to these changes and engage with your ideal guests by using the right visual strategy.
Aventur Marketing’s Total Online Opportunity Report will tell you why. We’ll take a deep dive into your business and find those strengths, weaknesses and most importantly, opportunities. We’ll show you how you stack up against your competitors and what you can do to gain an unfair competitive advantage.
Aventur Marketing + Daily Scandinavian are your perfect marketing partners in Scandinavia and will help your tourism business grow. Click the link below NOW and get a FREE copy of the E-book Strategic Marketing for Adventure Tourism Businesses.
Does Your Travel Website Attract the Right Visitors? Darryl CEO of Aventur Marketing, Darryl Leniuk, interviewed by Tor Kjolberg
Ryanair will launch 13 new winter routes at Stockholm Arlanda. This is Ryanair’s largest winter schedule for Sweden in its history.
Ryanair has announced its biggest ever Swedish winter offering as it continues to strengthen its presence in the Swedish market. The Irish low-cost carrier will launch thirteen new direct routes from Stockholm Arlanda Airport this winter. Six of them are all new routes, half of which are brand-new European destinations. Altogether, the airline has launched 44 new direct routes from its new base at Arlanda since it opened a year ago.
The Irish low-cost carrier will launch thirteen new direct routes from Stockholm Arlanda Airport this winter.
Related: New Norwegian Airline Ryanair is celebrating its one-year anniversary of setting up operations and opening a base at Stockholm Arlanda Airport for the 2021 winter season. Ryanair initially based two aircraft at the airport and launched 23 direct routes. Since opening its base, the carrier has placed four aircraft in Stockholm and until now flown some 1,5 million passengers to and from Arlanda. All in all, the airline has now launched 44 new European routes, five of which are domestic – to Gothenburg Landvetter, Malmö, Luleå, Visby and Skellefteå. Twenty destinations are new for the airport and complement Arlanda’s other destinations on offer.
From Arlanda airport, Stockholm. Photo: Wikipedia
The company will offer its customers in Sweden affordable fares for their travel this winter with promotional fares starting from USD 25 each way for flights between October 22, 2022, to January 23, 2023, already found for booking from the company’s website.
“Ryanair has become one of Swedavia’s biggest and fastest-growing airlines,” says Charlotte Ljunggren, Chief Commercial Officer at Swedavia.
“It is with great joy that we welcome Ryanair’s continued expansion in the Swedish market. During its first year of operation at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, it launched 38 new routes, five of them domestic, and has become one of Swedavia’s biggest and fastest-growing airlines. The new routes from Arlanda to exciting destinations in Europe to be launched this winter are an important addition and complement the airport’s existing range of routes.
Nearly half of the destinations launched by the carrier are new to Arlanda, which enables people to meet and visit loved ones in even more places around Europe. Its network contributes to improved access both in Sweden and abroad, and direct routes are crucial for regional growth and the tourism industry throughout Sweden. We have had a good partnership with Ryanair for many years, and we look forward to further developing it going forward,” says Charlotte Ljunggren, Chief Commercial Officer at Swedavia.
Ryanair’s new routes from Arlanda airport.
Planned completely new Ryanair destinations winter 2022/23 from Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN):
· Birmingham (BHX): Starts October 30, 2 weekly departures on Wednesdays and Sundays
· Malta (MLA): Starts November 1, 2 weekly departures on Tuesdays and Saturdays
· Pisa (PSA): Starts November 1, 2 weekly departures on Tuesdays and Saturdays
· Turin (TRN): Starts November 2, 2 weekly departures on Wednesdays and Saturdays
· Tuzla (TZL): Starts November 2, 2 weekly departures on Wednesdays and Saturdays, new destination from ARN
· Valencia (VLC): Starts January 8, 2023, 2 weekly departures on Thursdays and Sundays, new destination from ARN
VOLA was originally created for use in the National Bank of Denmark, in Copenhagen, designed by the renowned Arne Jacobsen, who also marked the beginning of the brand’s history.Now, the company launches an architecture and design campaign in Denmark where VOLA products can be found. Voilà – Danish Vola!
Arne Jacobsen died in the spring of 1971, when the first stage of the Nationalbank building had just been completed. During his long career, Arne Jacobsen designed some of the finest buildings and industrial products of the 20th century, leaving a life’s work that ensured him a distinguished place in international architectural history and making him one of the few Danes known by a wide circle of people throughout the modern world.
‘In Denmark, we’ve always understood how design and culture intertwine,” says Anne-Louise Sommer, director of the Designmuseum Denmark in Copenhagen.
Danish tap manufacturer Vola
Danish tap manufacturer Vola celebrates its 50th anniversary, and its sleek products, originally designed by no other than Arne Jacobsen, show no sign of getting old. Some of the company’s earliest products are still fully operational today – most notably Jacobsen’s iconic KV1 tap, which combines simple lines with innovative function.
In Denmark, cultural spaces are where design comes to life.
When Jacobsen created the Nationalbank, he applied the ‘Total Design’ approach, which ranged from designing the door handle to the carpets and cutlery. This, was to prove both the importance of unity, as well as the impact on improving people’s lives. For instance, the Bankers Wall Clock were designed especially for this project.
As a very young architect, he introduced himself to the public at a building exhibition in Copenhagen with a project entitled ’The House of the Future’, which featured motorboat access in the basement, a garage at ground level and a helicopter pad on the roof.
The Home of Vola near Horsens in Denmark, is a ‘little universe’ which has grown from 30 to 230 employees, or family members, as they like to call themselves. In the early 1960s, Verner Overgaard, the enterprising owner of Vola approached Arne Jacobsen with the idea of creating a new type of wall-mounted mixer tap in which all its mechanical parts were hidden away behind the wall, exposing only the handles and the spout.
Denmark’s National Bank, designed by Arne Jacobsen
In Denmark, cultural spaces are where design comes to life, and now VOLA invites everyone to participate and be immersed in its cultural campaign, which includes two films made in Copenhagen and Aarhus, featuring interviews with Anne-Louise Sommer, director of the Designmuseum Denmark in Copenhagen, and Jane Sandberg, CEO of ENIGMA Museum of Post, Tele and Communications.
Arne Jacobsen’s summer house.
Design and culture intertwine
Arne Jacobsen’s production was prodigious, and there cannot be many areas that he did not turn his hand to. His works range from several waterfront housing complexes, theatres, sports halls for swimming, riding and tennis, schools and other institutions for children, hotels, central banks and town halls, administrative buildings, factories and laboratories, blocks of flats, row houses and single-family houses. All designed with attention to detail and respect for a good solution, and often incorporating innovations that advanced the field of architecture.
The Vola taps are sculptural additions that can transform the most-humble space into the heart of the home. They are designed to help life run smoothly and meet the demands of a busy home – where kettles are filled and refilled all morning, children’s hands washed after a painting session, and sinks crammed with pots after a spot of baking.
Arne Jacobsen’s Banker’s Wall Clock
‘In Denmark, we’ve always understood how design and culture intertwine. For many years, we have embraced the practice of ‘total design’, in which every element of a scheme is given equal consideration, from architectural form and landscaping, down to the smallest detail such as a door handle or tap. It is an approach that continues to influence design not only in Denmark, but all over the world,’ says Anne-Louise Sommer, director of the Designmuseum Denmark in Copenhagen and adds, ‘We know that by bringing ‘total design’ into the public realm, we benefit as individuals and as a society.’
It’s part of the Danish way of life to value the principals of form and function everywhere, not just in our homes and important institutions, but in all sorts of places where people meet, stop and experience something together,’
Aarhus Town Hall (1937-1942) designed by Arne Jacobsen
Arne Jacobsen’s goal was totality
Arne Jacobsen’s goal was totality. As an architect, he wanted to have total control of a project and nothing was to be left to chance. This led to the design of a series of products of such high quality that although they were developed in conjunction with specific building projects, they had such universal application that they could become part of standard production. Jacobsen’s designs comprise a wide assortment of items such as furniture, textiles, lighting fixtures, door handles, cutlery, stainless steel tableware, glassware, clocks, water taps and accessories. Many of these products have achieved the status of international classics and have certainly helped Jacobsen’s rise to dizzying heights on the international firmament.
The American light artist James Turrell has created the world’s northernmost skyspace in Norway – the Hardanger Skyspace.
Hardanger Skyspace is one of the well-known art installations by the American artist James Turrell. Through a colorful light installation, you can watch and experience sunrises and sunsets in a special way. The Hardanger Skyspace is part of the Kabuso Art Centre in Øystese.
At the reception at Hardangerfjord hotel – a few meters away from the lightwork, you will be provided with a key and written information about the lightwork. However, dress as to stay outdoors.
Hardanger Skyspace in Øystese, Hardangerfjord. Photo: Helge Skodvin.
In 2011, James Turrell went for a walk on the beach in Øystese in Hardanger. He had been invited by professional leader of Kabuso, the village’s art and culture center, Heidi Ann Jaeger. There were several reasons why Turrell had accepted the invitation. He prefers to work outside art metropolises and he has a deep fascination for the fjord paintings of Norwegian Lars Hertervik (1830-1902) and he was nearby since he had just opened an exhibition in Järna in Sweden.
His light installation is in Øystese, Hardanger Skyspace, is an eye-catching, octagonal building with an opening in the roof and seating inside. A light installation with changing colors is started at sunrise and sunset, giving you a unique experience of sky and space. Weather and season also will influence vistors’ experience – so every visit is unique!
James Turrell’s most famous work is the Roden Crater, a light observatory in a dried-out volcano in the Arizona desert.
In the twilight hours, you are bathed in LED lights of changing colors, and the night or morning sky can be seen through an elliptical aperture in the roof. The interplay between the artificial and natural light affects how we perceive the sky.
Turrell likes to have a lot of space. His most famous work is the Roden Crater, a light observatory in a dried-out volcano in the Arizona desert. When he experienced the panoramic view of the Hardangerfjord and Folgefonna in Øystese, his light art instincts literally glowed. “Here I can imagine creating the world’s northernmost skyspace!” he exclaimed.
Hardanger Skyspace. Photo: Katrine van Tulder/Fjordmoods
Hardanger Skyspace has an octagonal shape inspired by the small but wonderful sculpture museum that houses the works of Ingebrigt Vik. It is also characterized by the grey color of Hardanger slate. Turrell anchors his art works in local traditions, building methods and art forms. Hardanger Skyspace’s elliptical shape reflects the long fjord.
World’s Northernmost Skyspace – in Norway, written by Tor Kjolberg
The Thief Lifestyle Boutique Hotel at Tjuvholmen, Oslo is undisputedly one of the greatest hotels in the capital of Norway – with a canal view. The name Tjuvholmen (The Thieves Islet) arrives from the time back in the 18th century when thieves were executed here. The Thief Hotel is located at one of the most exclusive sites in the Oslo fjord area. The next neighbor is the Astrup Ferner Museum of Moden Art.
Tjuvholmen (Thief Islet) used to be a haven for smugglers, thieves and scoundrels. Today it is home to The Thief, a modern hideaway – right in the middle of downtown Oslo. “If anything gets stolen there nowadays, it’s usually us stealing our guests away from their everyday lives,” says General Manager Robert Holan, and adds that The Thief Hotel has shaped him as a manager.
“The Thief Hotel has shaped me as a manager,” says General Manager Robert Holan.
Luxurious Rooms and Suites High-quality runs throughout the hotel; the comfort, the efficiency and the cleverly thought-out layout of the rooms. “We are sure you will enjoy the bedside light control, the balcony, the creative selection in our in-room shop, the full body mirrors by the door – or our little prank of having an extra pillow in the closet even though there are already nine pillows on the bed.” This is how the hotel describes the rooms on its website.
From our junior suiteExclusive interior creates an cozy atmosphere.Elegant designed furniture
With 114 luxurious rooms and suites with cleverly thought-out layout, its size is just about right for those looking for an intimate and exclusive Oslo hotel. The Thief has filled this retreat with top international art pieces, carefully selected designer furniture, global Nordic cuisine, top quality spa and cosmopolitan bars.
Junior suite bedroomBedroom with sliding televisionPop-up television
A different branding “The Thief is different – in every way,” says Holan. “We have a completely different branding compared to most other hotels. All our employees act as if they are on a theater stage. We exist for our audience – our guests. This applies to everyone, from room service and reception to restaurants, bars and the spa.”
From one of the 114 luxurious rooms and suites.“If anything gets stolen there nowadays, it’s usually us stealing our guests away from their everyday lives,” says Robert HolanDetails matter. Comfortable slippers for indoor relaxTION.
Located in Oslo’s city center, more precisely along the Tjuvholmen allé, The Thief hotel is just a short walking distance from the Town Hall, the bustling Aker Brygge restaurant and business area and the New National Museum.
Junior suite bathroom
The location of The Thief makes it possible for guests to experience central Oslo by foot. The best way to explore Oslo is like a true local. After a long day of walking through Oslo’s exciting streets, end your day with an unforgettable dinner at the Thief Restaurant, one of the first-class dining venues in the capital.
we were welcomed by our knowledgeable waiter Kasia.Starter consisting of duck egg and caviar.main dish halibut with cognac sauce (Tesseron XO), Petrossian caviar, lemon gel, fresh dill and toasted brioche on the side.
Refined dining “We don’t call it fine dining,” smiles Robert Holan “but refined dining.” Indeed, we were welcomed by our knowledgeable waiter Kasia, who in consultation with the chef composed our menu with accompanying wines; a starter consisting of duck egg and caviar and main dish halibut with cognac sauce (Tesseron XO), Petrossian caviar, lemon gel, fresh dill and toasted brioche on the side. Heavenly! The restaurant is worth a visit – even if you don’t stay at the hotel.
From The Thief RestaurantSkilled cooks at workDetail from the elegant Thief restaurant
A holistic experience
“Aiming to be the very best service hotel is demanding. Exceptional good training is our top priority. The key is confident employees,” says Holan. “Staying at our hotel should be a holistic experience. Everyone does their best as part of our team.” He adds that most of the hotel’s guests come to get away from it all, and for the relaxing atmosphere. He is also proud that they managed to keep the hotel running during the pandemic.
The Thief reception.The new bar concept focuses on the craft of bartending.
The two favorite spaces at this stylish hotel are the top floor terrace during the summer season – and the charming and intimate bar at night, when the fireplace is lit. At this magical venue, romance happens on the spot.
“The Thief is different – in every way,” says Holan.
What’s next?
When we ask Holan if we can expect some surprises at The Thief Hotel in the near future, he looks at us with a suspicious look and says, “Yes, things are happening, but I can’t tell you anything yet. However, there will be a new bar concept where we will focus on the craft of bartending. And we continue our monthly program “Art and Soul” where artists perform together with visual art.
The secret to the hotel’s success, according to Holan, is the hotel’s organizational form. There are short decision-making processes and owners who are open to new thinking. Many of the guests are Norwegians who come to the capital and feel that The Thief is their second home. This, combined with foreign hotel guests, create a nice mix of national and international people who are spliced together in a unique atmosphere.
Raving reviews “I can’t rave enough about The Thief Hotel. It is the epitome of style, modernism and cool. From its location to its bar program and dining options, I could have stayed there forever!” says Carylon Scott-Hamilton, a cookbook author and travel and lifestyle expert.
“A mini holiday in your own city!” wrote Norwegian blogger Travel Hanne. “Superb hotel that delivers on all points. Lovely view from the Junior Suite and fantastic breakfast. As well as a lovely roof terrace that serves great drinks. Really recommend taking a trip to the spa too! We will be back!”
Today, the Tjuvholmen area has about 1,200 apartments and is part of the Fjord City urban renewal program.
The Thief Lifestyle Boutique Hotel in Oslo, written by Tor Kjolberg
