Flight To Denmark-DIARY

I would like to write about Danish daily life from the resident point of view.

No.51 - No.60　　　(May 2005 - Jul 2005)　Now translating...
No.41 - No.50　　　(Mar 2005 - May 2005)　Now translating...
No.31 - No.40　　　(Dec 2004 - Mar 2005)　Now translating...
No.21 - No.30　　　(Oct 2004 - Dec 2004)
No.11 - No.20　　　(Sep 2004 - Oct 2004)
No.01 - No.10　　　(Aug 2004 - Sep 2004)

No.20 Oct 21-23, 2004 "ORGATEC"

"ORGATEC"
I think most people don’t know it, but it’s one of international furniture fair. This fair is hold in Koln Germany every second year. Milano Salone, 100% Design in London etc relatively introduce home-use furniture, but this fair completely does contract furniture. For people engaging in a contract furniture world, it’s a valuable exhibition to know current European trends. I introduce a few things about it and the city of Koln. Later I’ll write about "ORGATEC" in detail.
(Click on this for further details: JAPAN DESIGN NET)


The booth of "vitra". "vitra" is a world famous German furniture company, so there was filled with many people. Designed furniture on the wall looks as if "vitra design museum".	The booth of "Herman Miller". This booth was filled with people as well as "vitra". Compared with "vitra", "Herman Miller" displayed more office furniture, so I could see businessmen with suit. Aeron Chair is added new color variation.	There are Koln Cathedral and Ludwig Museum. The color of the wall of the Museum is usually gray, but then it was shining gold because of reflecting the morning sun.

No.19 Oct 13, 2004 "Closed Residence"

My condition hasn’t been so good for a few days. In Denmark, as the sunset time has been earlier, there has been a sudden drop in temperature. The temperature of early morning stands at about one or two degrees. But it’s warm inside the building; it’s difficult to adjust clothes. My wife and I have no class today, so we were going to Copenhagen at first, but we changed my plan to walk around my school. Ten minutes’ walk from school, there is "KINGO HOUSES". This architecture is called that it impacted the history of world residences. The architect is Jorn Utzon. He is very famous as well as Arne Jacobsen in Denmark. And he is also well known to the architect of "Sydney Opera House".
(Click on this for further details: ARCHITECTURE)


One ?story houses are lined. Toward the front street, the facade is closed except a few small windows. Houses made of brick walls and tile roofs harmonize well with the landscape around them.	Going in back of the house, there are big windows and a courtyard to get the lighting. I guess families will spend a good time alone here.	There is a pond in the site. About sixty houses are lined in the big site. I didn’t imagine such a quiet environment just coming in by a bus road.

No.18 Oct 9, 2004 "Flea Market"

Generally flea market in Denmark starts on April and finishes on October. If I don’t go there earlier, I will not be able to do until next spring. That’s why my wife and I went to a flea market in Copenhagen with a Korean friend and a Polish friend. Especially, today it seems that there is a big indoor flea market besides a normal outdoor one. I’m looking forward to finding some treasures…


The situation of the flea market on the Israel Square close to Norreport Station. My friend told us that this square was crowded the other day, but it’s cold today, so there are few people and shops. Prices as a whole look like pretty cheap.	Furniture, accessory, handmade goods and mannequin! From practical goods to junk…It’s one of the fascinations in flea market to find various things. I should have asked the price of mannequin…	Flea market in the exhibition center near "Forum" metro station. Different from the Israel Square, there are so many shops and people. I thought that prices are a bit expensive, but I was never bored while I was there for half a day. I bought some toys and interior magazines. I found a wooden monkey designed by Kay Bojesen, but I couldn’t buy it because it was expensive even flea market. You have to pay 25DKK as an entrance fee, but this flea market is worth visiting.

No.17 Oct 2, 2004 "The West Exit of Copenhagen Central Station"

I wrote about Sweden on this diary for the past three times, but today my wife and I went to Copenhagen again. This is the small city like Japanese travel agencies’ tour passes one or at most two days, but this is an interesting city that the more time people come here, the more they can find a new discovery. We walked around the area of the west exit of Copenhagen Central Station where most travel guide books introduce only as a hotels’ area and an adult-entertainment area. This area looks like the old town; probably you can see many international grocery stores (mainly Asia and Middle East), and many general stores. And you can find some design-sophisticated stores among them.


In the west direction of Copenhagen Central Station along "Istedgade St", there is a general store named "Girlie Hurly". This shop carries a lot of colored sundry goods; you’ll never be tired of this shop. The goods are selected from not only Scandinavian but widespread countries.	This is an antique furniture shop near "Girlie Hurly". I found many kinds of junks inside. In the back of the shop, a craftsman was repairing furniture hard.	First I thought that this shop was a lovely general store, but in fact this is a discount shop like "100-yen shop" in Japan. All goods are sold at a flat price of 10DKK or 20DKK. For example these candles were sold 10DKK for four pieces. By the way, the name of this shop is "TIGER". You can often find it everywhere in Denmark.

No.16 Sep 29, 2004 "To Malmo over the Oresund Bridge"

The area called "Oresund" is attracted recently. This area covers from Copenhagen to Malmo of Sweden. Originally both cities was linked each other, but the relationship was more tightened since the Oresund Bridge was built and they could come and go each other easily in July, 2000. From the viewpoint of design, Malmo is the remarkable area where "David Design" is based. My wife and I crossed the bridge for looking forward to meeting unknown things different from Denmark.


The situation of the exhibition in Form Design Center. Swedish designers’ works, mainly textile were displayed. Totally Scandinavian textiles are so cute. I guess that the good design of textile has been developed with furniture and lighting, because Scandinavian people spend much time in their home during cold winter and they often invite their friends and families to their home. By the way, there is a gallery and a cafe on the first and second floor, and a museum shop on the third floor. (Click on this for further details: DESIGN SPOT)	A designer group and a shop "David Design" which made Malmo famous about design. They design and produce original products. And you can see not only them, but also other good designs like Italian maker "KARTELL" and "arper" etc in the shop. The price range is big, that’s why many young women enjoyed shopping there. (Click on this for further details: DESIGN SPOT)	Among this visit to Malmo, "HAMRELIUS BOKHANDEL" book store was a big hit to me. I found this shop by chance. Of course, the selection of books was very good, and the level of interior design was very high. I was so impressed that "GLO-BALL" lamp designed by Jasper Morrison was used for the lighting from the ceiling. Because I’ve never seen the lamp in Japanese bookstore and generally almost all Japanese bookstore adopts whole lighting system of fluorescent. I think Japanese bookstores are too bright. It was not dark inside of "HAMRELIUS BOKHANDEL"; it has essential light to read books. (Click on this for further details: DESIGN SPOT)

No.15 Sep 25, 2004 "Helsingborg"

My wife and I went to Sweden again today. The other day, we couldn’t walk around this town, because we spent in IKEA in almost times. In my feeling about this town, this is different from Danish one though the distance is only 5km. For example, the color of buildings is more chic and the height of the buildings is higher than Helsingor. Later I would like to write about this kind of topic in detail.


Main street of Helsingborg. There were few people on the street in the morning, but there were full of people from the afternoon.	From the height. Compared with Helsingor, the colors of buildings are few, and I felt chic totally.	Modern apartments by the sea. Five or six buildings are there but each building has each design. I thought it's difficult to find modern architecture of this type in Denmark.

No.14 Sep 22, 2004 "First landing on Sweden"

I probably wrote somewhere before, my town Helsingor is the closest place between Denmark and Sweden. The distance between Helsingor in Denmark and Helsingborg in Sweden is about 5km and it takes twenty minutes by ferry. I felt that Sweden is a bit far from here, as most Japanese aren’t used to passing across the border because of the topography. But in fact, it’s nearer than Copenhagen. At last my wife and I are passing across the border!


Seeing from the ferry to Helsingor town. There is the Kronborg Castle of UNESCO world heritage in some left from the center of this photo. Can you find it? It’s an important base during the war between Denmark and Sweden.	Duty free shop in the ferry. It takes only twenty minutes, but it exists because of passing across the border. For example you can buy cigarette cheap. It’s valuable for both people who live in country which price is expensive.	After arriving at Helsingborg, we headed for IKEA soon by bus. We were a bit disappointed, because we imagined the sign of IKEA was blue and yellow, in fact it’s red in this shop! Anyway we could really enjoy shopping there.(Click on this for further details: DESIGN SPOT)

No.13 Sep 19, 2004 "Danish Architecture Center"

My wife and I went to Danish Architecture Center to see the exhibition "Re-Think" today. It is opposite to "Black Diamond" over the canal. Because Danish language was used for the most of the exhibition, I couldn’t understand the details, but it showed me how Denmark and world cities should be in the future. Bruce Mau who is a famous graphic designer designed the whole exhibition plan. In spite of the small exhibition, it’s full of excellent displays and graphics, so we could spend a good time there.
(Click on this for further details: DESIGN SPOT)


At the entrance, Danish furniture masterpieces were displayed. First I thought that this kind of exhibition would continue, but it changed from furniture to the theme of city planning.	Each board like T-shirt has its own message. And there is a Danish map on the floor. The contents were difficult, but I couldn’t be tired of it because of the interesting display.	The contents of graphic. Owing to colorful and simple icons, even people who don’t know the language can understand most of them. By the way, there is a chic cafe and a bookstore in this center.

No.12 Sep 17, 2004 "Meeting with a Japanese artist"

An e-mail my friend sent me. There was an article about "Yuko Takada Keller" who is active in an artist and a curator in Denmark. She lives near from my town, so I had an affinity with and contacted her. Today is the first day to meet her. I felt strange impression and pleasure, because of the thing which the exhibition by a Japanese artist was held in this town "Frederiksvaerk" too far from Japan. Their works play wonderful harmonies in the gallery that soft light got in.
(Click on this for further details: THE OTHERS)

URL：http://www.yukotakada.com


Yuko’s work which is displayed at the entrance of the gallery. Because tracing papers make light go through, the work seems as if a chandelier.	These works which you can feel Japanese beauty. Especially the display which put works on the floor makes me feel such a kind of feeling. They are formed by white pale tone, and produce a mild atmosphere.	She is Yuko Takada Keller. She is an artist and a curator. As the name of the exhibition is "Three Artists", this exhibition introduces three Japanese artists including her. They have been friends from university.

No.11 Sep 5, 2004 "CHRISTIANIA"

In contrast to the fresh beach which we visited yesterday, my wife and I went to the strange place. This area is called "CHRISTIANIA" which is near from "Christians havn" station in Copenhagen. In about 1970, hippie drove army out of there and founded their autonomous area. I was very surprised that such a place is in the center of Copenhagen. (Click on this for further details: ACTUS)


These are some graffiti arts and also landmarks of "Christiania". You can see them everywhere.	The main street. This is a lovely dog waiting for food. Later he/she got it.	At a glance, you may think this is a flea market, but it’s more underground and junk. You can’t experience this kind of atmosphere in the center of Copenhagen.