Image: Mad John

Terri Mapes from About.com recently wrote an article about celebrating Labour Day in Scandinavian Countries:

Labour Day in Scandinavia (also called May Day) takes place on May 1 every year, following Walpurgis Night on April 30. Labour Day in Scandinavia is a celebrated public holiday - and quite visible. Visitors can see lots of festivities, parades, and other celebrations every year on the first of May in Scandinavia when locals celebrate Labour Day. You’ll find special events in every city on this day.

Read more on About.com: Scandinavia Travel

I can add that in Finland there is a holiday called “Vappu”, it’s mostly dedicated to persons graduated to some high school level, and whole Suomi selebrating this day with special for this day Sima (light alcoholic beverage) Tippaleipä (some kind of cake similar to Funnel cake), donuts and potato salad. People wearing white student caps everywhere and funny masks on parties.

verhelstaal has added a photo to the pool:

Wooden beams holding the roof for the Ticketing and Check-in hall at Gardermoen Airport (Oslo, Norway).

The main terminal building at Oslo Gardermoen Airport, completed in 1998, is the largest laminated wood structure in the world. The roof has ten pairs of wooden beams each supported by three solid columns; the secondary structure connecting the pairs of beams is partially visible through the false ceiling, which consists of a perforated metal grid. The grid allows natural light to filter in from above while also reflecting artificial light from below the false ceiling. The enormous ceiling is conceived as a form of decoration for the interior space, featuring the same colours, designs and materials as the interior of the large hall.

“The Nordic Region should be declared free of genetically modified organisms and the Nordic countries should join other European states like Austria, Greece and Poland, which have already declared themselves GMO-free zones,” according to a proposal by the Lef-Socialist Green Group (VSG) on the Nordic Council.

“Research suggests that the use of genetically modified products has a negative impact on health,”(…) “It would provide a boost to sustainable development and underpin the positive environmental and health image the Nordic Region aims to project,” says the Group. Full article [www.norden.org]

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Nordic Museum architects selected: “The Nordic Heritage”

Located in Ballard, Seattle, USA, the Nordic Heritage is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to preserving the history of the five Nordic countries: Denmark; Finland; Iceland; Norway; and Sweden.

With a rich history in Ballard, the museum was founded in 1979 with a mission to honor the Scandinavian immigrants who arrived in the Northwest in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Now a new Nordic Heritage Museum building planned to be built on Market Street of Ballard.

The design team includes Juhani Pallasmaa, a well known Finnish architect, and top exhibit designers, Andr/ and Associates from Victoria, British Columbia, known for their work at the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Jämtlands läns Museum in Sweden.

Pallasmaa, an architect, author and professor, has experience as a museum designer and museum director.

From Ballard News-Tribune

From Wikipedia:

Scandinavian Culture in Ballard
Historically Ballard is the traditional center of Seattle’s ethnically Scandinavian seafaring community, who were drawn to the area because of the salmon fishing opportunities.[23] In recent years the decline of the fishing industry has decreased the proportion of Scandinavian residents but the neighborhood is still proud of its heritage. Ballard is home to the Nordic Heritage Museum, which celebrates both the community of Ballard and the local Scandinavian history. Each year the community celebrates Norwegian Constitution Day (also called Syttendi Mai) on the 17th of May to commemorate the signing of the Norwegian Constitution.[24] Locals still refer to the neighborhood as “Snoose Junction,” a reference to the old Scandinavian settlers’ practice of using snus.[25] Walking in downtown Ballard much of the old flavor can still be seen as there are still many shops and Bakeries with a Scandinavian theme and some businesses hang out flags from the Scandinavian countries.

Link: The Nordic Heritage Museum

Cool Hunting: Lindstrøm: ” We recently followed the Norwegian electronic musician Lindstrøm to Studio B in Brooklyn for his first ever live performance in the U.S. The producer and founder of Feedelity records has been gaining much attention lately for his ’space disco’ style. Raised on country and western, Lindstrøm quit his band and job to devote all his time to producing this danceable music. In his studio, where he oftentimes collaborates with fellow Norwegian Prins Thomas, we witness the experimentation and creative process as they bounce ideas off each other. Back in New York, a chance encounter with a fellow European DJ on the street leads to a conversation about the glory days of Ibiza. During an interview he enlightens us with the thought process behind his airy synth effects and strobe light percussion.”

(Via Cool Hunting.)

January, 15th 2008 Design Hotels will open their new property, Grims Grenka hotel in Oslo, Norway. The hotel ’s 42 large deluxe rooms and 24 suites will feature “floating” beds (an illusion created by illumination effects). Room design blends traditional Scandinavian and avant-garde styles, in green, white and golden colours……

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Papermaster

Originally uploaded by Morten Iveland.

Norway Says Papermaster Magazine Holder

Magazine/Newspaper holder in birch, oak or walnut.

Design:
Torbjörn Anderssen, Norway Says

Manufacturer:
Swedese Möbler
Torbjoern Anderssen designs

We wrote already about this escalator on Nydalen Metro Station in Oslo. Now readers of NDB can enjoy also the video of this cool light installation:

Thanks Andreas Lunde for this video!

Vintage Catherineholm kettle

Originally uploaded by H is for Home.

These colourful housewares made by Norwegian company Catherineholm’s brighten up every kitchen and are permanent targets of collectors.

Lovely items with the ‘Lotus’ pattern created by Grete Prytz, a second wife of infamous Norvegian Designer Arne Korsmo. Grete Prytz Kittelsen was born 1917 in Oslo, Norway. Her designs have won many prestigious awards. She was one of most influential designers in Scandinavia in Mid-Century. In 2003, when she was already 86, Grete visited China, where she saw traditional Chinese enamel factory still in operation and which inspired her to start designing again. Chang & Biörck got exclusive rights to reproduce some of her design, among which a bowl and a plate, that she designed using similar colors as her original 1950s works. Cathrineholm of Norway started enamel production in 1907.

See more stuff like this on H is for home.

A hat tip for Adelle from H is for home for additional information and research.

Sources:
MEAM NET
Bloesem

Picture from the coast in the Northern Norway - Alpenglow in the mountains and clouds

Thomas Laupstad wrote:

In this picture, from the coast in Northern Norway, you can see the “Alpenglow” (from German: Alpenglühen) phenomenon on the clouds and mountain peaks. It is a phenomenon that appears as a red glowing band as the sun sets.