Located in Møre og Romsdal, Norway, is this stunning visitor center designed by Reiulf Ramstad Architects.

The Visitor Centre, is a new addition to the existing Trollstigen Viewing Platform, both designed by Reiulf Ramstad Architects, and is part of the National Tourist Routes in Norway. Situated in a mountain pass - at an elevation of around 850 metres - between the towns of Valldal and Åndalsnes in Western Norway, the Trollstigen Visitor Centre and Viewing Platform provides spectacular views of the Trollstigen road - the 'Troll Ladder'.

The project enhances the experience of the Trollstigen plateau's location and nature. Thoughtfulness regarding elements and materials underscore the site's nature and character, and well-adapted, functional facilities augment the visitor experience.

The architecture is characterized by clear and precise transitions between planned zones and the natural landscape. Through the notion of water as a dynamic element—from snow to running and then falling water—and rock as a static element, the project creates a series of prepositional relations that describe and magnify the unique spatiality of the site.

'Much of the uniqueness of Nordic culture, and Norwegian culture in particular, is based on our relationship to water,' says Reiulf Ramstad. 'At Trollstigen, water can be experienced as snow on the mountains, as a glistening mirror, as a swirling but controlled cascade or as a dramatic waterfall, all of which is reflected in the Visitor Centre's design.'

In spirit with the tradition for Scandinavian simplicity where there is nothing to add and nothing to take away that can make the design better, Norm Architects created this simplicity black & white Copenhagen Penthouse II.

To ensure a simple interior white cupboards and closets were built in to the walls in full height with hidden fittings to make them look like walls. Built-in storage goes a long way toward eliminating clutter. All wires were cut in to the walls and the rest of the lighting done with wireless switches and the heating was put into the floors."

This article is part of the Nordic Design: Now & Then series.

With the recent Microsoft purchased of Nokia's phone business, we should never forget Nokia's root as a Finnish company. Previously lead by Finland-born Marko Ahtisaari, the Nokia Head of Design (Marko left Nokia in November 2013), Marko had oversee a series of Lumia phone development. One of it is the Lumia 820 where we saw a huge Nordic influence. 

Modernism is at the heart of Nordic design. More a state of mind than a specific style, Modernists believed that the design of an object should be based purely on its purpose – that 'form follows function'. This philosophy very much complemented the Nordic way of thinking and resulted in Nordic design embracing the abstract motifs and bold primary colours, which are so much part of the Lumia 820's look. 

Another key feature of Nordic design is the way it aims to create accessible, affordable products that appeal to the masses. This tradition stems from established institutions such as the Swedish Society of Industrial Design, which was created to promote design that the general public could access and enjoy. This doesn't mean stripping design of its beauty, quite the opposite. It means ensuring that beauty is first and foremost functional. A great example of this is the Lumia 820's removable shells. 

When you live in place where the winter is long and very cold, the original basis for all design has to be function. In the Nordic countries, if a product's design didn't help you survive, it was no good. It's this that explains Nordic design's lack of decoration and its enthusiasm for minimalism. Use only what is needed, make its function clear and its form simple. You just need to hold the Lumia 820 in your hand to appreciate this aesthetic. 

The Nordic countries industrialized a lot later than most of Western Europe. This meant that the mass production that kicked off between the two World Wars was on a much smaller scale there. As a result of this, the Nordic countries were better able to preserve their traditions of craftsmanship and integrate them into commercial production. The result has been called industrial art. Whether it's the bevelling around the screen or the 4.3-inch OLED screen with ClearBlack display, the craftsmanship in the Lumia 820 is easy to see. 

The Nokia Lumia 820 has been born from a design philosophy, which has influenced companies as diverse as Bang and Olufsen, Iittala and Ikea. But what is it you enjoy most about Nordic design? The simplicity or the bold colours? The craftsmanship or the focus on function? As ever, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

This article is part of the Nordic Design: Now & Then series.

Has been designing for Askman Furniture for more than 25 years, Jørgen Møller recent work is a minimalist Square tables true to its Nordic origin. 

His Square tables series include a magazine holder, box and nest of tables in beautiful, timeless designs. The design not only represent functionality and ease of use, but also display obvious design of each detail implemented in choice materials. 

Jørgen Møller started out working with Danish legend Arne Jacobsen before establishing his own design office in 1969. His notable works include collaboration with Georg Jensen Silversmiths, creating watches, utensils and thermometers in stainless steel, anodized aluminum and other metals and synthetic materials. In 1987, Jørgen Møller and his grandchild designed the Elephant bottle opener, which went on to be a global favorite. Jørgen Møller's works are on permanent display at the London Design Museum and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem and he is also represented at New York's Museum of Modern Art.

"To me form and function are the keywords – by in reverse order. Functionality is essential, and only once you've achieved this can you start evolving the form. Decorations have no function and this I strive towards the art of simplifying".-Jørgen Møller

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The SAS Royal Hotel, built for the Scandinavian Airlines System in the 1960 is the first design hotel and often considered Arne Jocobsen's masterpiece. When the hotel was completed, it was the very first skycrapper in Copenhagen with 22 storeys of structures. A man for craftful work & fine details, Arne Jacobsen designed everything, from the high-rise structure to the organic-shaped Swan and Egg chair, the ashtrays, and the stainless steel cutlery used in the restaurant. 

50 years on and the SAS Royal Hotel is now the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel with completely redeveloped. Only Room 606 has been carefully preserved and remains identical to Jacobsen's original commission. The Room 606 or Arne Jacobsen Suite,is a showcase for exquisite original Jacobsen décor from the 1960s. The colour palette includes greys, greens and blues, which perfectly complement the wenge wood details and representative furniture. The floor plan includes a sitting area, a large bathroom, separate small toilet and built-in makeup mirrors. It's a portal to the past, a room that has stopped in time, preserved for posterity while everything around it is changing. 

Room 606 is still open for booking at DKK 4900 (€655) per night, based upon two sharing, and includes breakfast.

This article is part of the Nordic Design: Now & Then.

This year, Marimekko will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Unikko. The Unikko story began in 1964 when Armi Ratia, Marimekko's founder, had announced that Marimekko would never print a floral pattern. Flowers should only bloom in nature, she said. In protest, designer Maija Isola created an entire collection of floral patterns. One of them was Unikko.





The Unikko floral pattern embodied the spirit of the '60s flower revolution, and had plenty of provocative self-expression. Armi Ratia was immediately convinced that the print had a place at Marimekko. In the last 50 years, Unikko has reached all over the world with more than eighty unique colorways, with each conveying the mood and spirit of its own time.

Today Unikko floral pattern appears on fashion, fabric, tableware, wallpaper and numerous different medium.