Atlantica - Iceland Review

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on the fly THE BELOVED INSPECTOR ERLENDUR From Bulgaria to Brazil, New Zealand to the Nordic countries, Arnaldur Indridason’s detective novels, starring inspector Erlendur, have sold over seven million copies in over 30 countries. The books have been awarded the Nordic Glass Key Award (twice in a row), the Martin Beck Award and the CWA Gold Dagger, not to mention praise from the likes of The Guardian and The Independent. In 2004, a startling seven out of 10 most borrowed titles in the Reykjavík City Library were by Indridason. There are 10 books in the chilly Reykjavík Thriller series, with the unforgiving winds of the northern island blowing through each tale. Aggression toward immigrants, human remains at construction sites, domestic violence and the gene pool of an entire nation—the aging, diligent lone wolf Erlendur investigates cases mired in the darker side of life. In Voices he even has to solve a case of stabbed Santas. The most recent English translation is Hypothermia (Harvill). For the follow-up, Outrage, you will have to bite your nails until October 2011. TREASURE BOX In the Icelandic farmhouses of the past, children would keep a völuskrín under their beds. Literally a box for heel bones, it was every child’s secret treasure box, a place for small toys and other precious finds, with a touch of child’s imagination as magical as anything in the Nine Worlds. The most common of prizes were sheep bones, to represent the farm animals on the imaginary farms that all children would keep. The Völuskrín toy set, designed by Lóa Audunsdóttir, is a remodeling of this tradition. The woman behind the project Thórey Vilhjálmsdóttir says, “We wanted to offer guests traveling from abroad something traditional Icelandic with a modern twist. Völuskrín promotes and re-establishes the original Icelandic toys for generations to come and for the children all over the world.” The box transforms into a farm house, nestling in a small valley by the mountains, and contains fences for the fields and 13 (plastic) bones, just like the sheep bones treasured by the children of old. Available at several stores and online on birkiland.com ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS The latest addition to the bar scene in Reykjavík and the town’s only gay cafe, Trúnó, opened its doors in October. Eva María Thórarinsdóttir and Birna Hrönn Björnsdóttir, couple, business partners and dj duo ‘Dj Glimmer’ set out to open “a chic, fabulous gay café designed especially to cater to the queer crowd in Iceland.” With purple walls, the biggest disco ball in the country and vinyl albums by Barbara Streisand and Diana Ross adorning the wall—in their own words—“the decor of the place does just that.” Open from late morning till late evening, the café serves up everything from Cosmos to Gaga Kaka (kaka is Icelandic for cake). Located on the main downtown street Laugavegur, the building used to house legendary gay club 22 in the 1980s, so the community’s newest living room is something of a homecoming. And if you feel like dancing the cake away, the only gay club in town, Barbara, is conveniently located upstairs. Laugavegur 22 6 atlantica
The Frozen Trove Downtown Reykjavíker Sari Peltonen collects the unusual, entertaining and hip from the green pastures of Icelandic culture. ICELANDIC-FINNISH CHINA Scandinavian design across borders—Finnish design studio Elinno and Icelandic jewelry designer Gudbjörg Ingvarsdóttir of Aurum have joined forces to create a set of beautiful, delicate tableware. “We have a lot in common in our design,” Ingvarsdóttir says about the collaboration—both Aurum and Elinno shape fragile forms from hard material, and both underline quality, timelessness and inspiration from nature. For the new line, the Finns provided the porcelain and Ingvarsdóttir the designs, previously available only on her jewelry. There are two different patterns, both in blue on fine bone white china: Dögg is inspired by blossoms moist with dew in the morning sun, and Hekla portrays flowers growing on volcano slopes. The set includes everything from teapots to plates and bowls, but the matching earrings are extra. Available at Aurum, bankastraeti 4. COZY, COOL AND COMFORTABLE DESIGNS FOR LIFE Known in local circles for her superb sense of style, Jet Korine’s design goes deeper than just the pretty surface: Made of natural and organic fabrics using vegetable dyes and natural pigments, her garments are locally produced to last—the vocal opposite to the season-by-season fashion world and sweatshop chains. Her 2009 collection #01 Endless Light featured pieces bleached by Iceland’s midnight summer sun, #2 Life Coats are blanket-esque jackets to be used as wrap, cape or hooded cloak. The summer #3 collection Ash wave (which sold out like tickets home) featured clothing dyed with fresh-spewed ash. Catch Jet Korine’s clothing while you can, in her freshly minted studio-shop on Skólavördustígur or online at Jetkorine.com. For more information on sustainable fashion design and Korine’s creative and work principles, see Katharine Hamnett’s campaign Clean Up or Die online, katharinehamnett.com/campaigns/clean-up-or-die. Tucked away amidst the 101 courtyards, brand new apartment hotel Grettisborg is one of the sweetest bets for a bed in Reykjavík. Owners Róshildur Jónsdóttir and Snaebjörn Thór Stefánsson also run careers as product designers for their studio Hugdetta, so it is no surprise that the six flats at Grettisborg are decorated and fully furnished with impeccable style. Prior to opening this fall, the 1920s house went through extensive renovation. “We tried to make the apartments as we would like to have a holiday apartment, like two showers so two can shower at the same time, enough storage, dishwasher and lots of pillows on the sofa— just comfortable,” says Jónsdóttir. The outcome is homey, design savvy, comfortable and cool, all without breaking the bank. The flats also serve as hands-on gallery space for local design and art. Whether a sculpture or a kitchen cupboard, if you like it, you can buy it and take it home with you. grettisborg.is ATLANTICA 7
Page 1 and 2: No.1. 2011 January-March Your Free
Page 3 and 4: JÓNSI ON THE GO THE SPECTACULAR ER
Page 5 and 6: a { Travel Magazine Head Office, Ad
Page 7: DRESS CODE ICELAND WWW.CINTAMANI.IS
Page 11 and 12: I C e L A n d I C d e s I g n Lauga
Page 13 and 14: What’s On In Reykjavík EIDERDOWN
Page 15 and 16: Kristján B. Jónasson Writer and p
Page 17 and 18: halfway to Akureyri, and have lunch
Page 19 and 20: Designers a Comic hero Tintin stopp
Page 21 and 22: TRUE LIES a “The scariest thing f
Page 23 and 24: Goldfinger Fully licensed Gentleman
Page 25 and 26: It is perhaps the first thing that
Page 27 and 28: Defenders Ólafur Ingi Skúlason an
Page 29 and 30: Pétur Péturson Born in 1959, Pét
Page 31 and 32: Special promotion UNFORGETTABLE EXC
Page 33 and 34: Isavia Icelandic air traffic contro
Page 35 and 36: The natural pool in Landmannalaugar
Page 37 and 38: Horses on Lava a The road to Langan
Page 39 and 40: Króksbjarg and waterfall, in Foss
Page 41 and 42: atlantica 39
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Page 46 and 47: ICY CYCLING Photos by Lucy Mallows
Page 48 and 49: The old fisherman’s huts on Aegis
Page 50 and 51: The Storyteller by Ásta Andrésdó
Page 52 and 53: Pole to Pole by MiCA Allan Photo by
Page 54 and 55: PRIce 6300 ISK Bus fare to the Blue
Page 56: a iceland Special promotion Álafos
Page 59 and 60:
tHEGOLdEN CIRCLE... If you want to
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ANTON&BERGUR Icelandic tasting expe
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O Ísafjörður experience A greAT
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Tourist books MATTHÍAS ÁRNI INGIM
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