Birkiland

Björk won Sweden's Polar Music Prize

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:25:27 -0400

Björk received the Polar Music Prize at a ceremony in Stockholm on last Monday. She received the Polar Music Prize from King Carl Gustaf at the Stockholm Concert Hall. Björk shared the honor with Ennio Morricone.

You see Björk’s speech at the ceremony here

New in Store: BabyRaven by Ingibjörg Hanna

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:07:10 -0400

BabyRaven designed by Ingibjörg Hanna is a new product in Birkiland

“BabyRaven is a perfect accessory to hang your coat or favorite clothes instead of hiding them away in a cupboard. BabyRaven hangs from the ceiling by steel wire, dangling free when not in use.” See more

Snow has saved many lives through centuries

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:31:45 -0400

Every year nature covers the land in snow. The snow acts like a blanket that puts all the plants to sleep over winter. The snow has both a romantic side and a more dramatic one. Since ancient time people have buried themselves under the snow to stay alive if lost in a snow storm as it will isolate the heat. This practice has saved many lives through the centuries, up to this very day. This blanket is meant to give isolation and protection from daily life. The Snowblanket is dedicated to all the survivors and the ones who went away.

Snowblanket is part of Vík Prjónsdóttir’s new collection. Check it out here.

Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 05:08:00 -0400

Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, situated in the old harbor in Reykjavik, will be open after 289 days. Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre is designed by Henning Larsen Architects and Batteríið Architects, the glass façade, which covers the entire building, was designed by the Icelandic designer, Ólafur Elíasson.

Hidden World by Vík Prjónsdóttir

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:14:00 -0400

There is a world that most of us can not visit; some believe in it and some sense it, yet it is beyond them. There are only a few people that can communicate with this other world and those who do bridge that gap between the natural world and the spiritual for the benefit of the community. This blanket is a dedication to these magical people and is meant to create space in the everyday to connect with that hidden world.

Hidden World is part of Vík Prjónsdóttir’s new collection. Check it out here.

Emerging designer with full of ideas

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:18:33 -0400

Take a look at this article about Hafsteinn Júlíusson, an industrial / interior designer, in Stilgenetik. He’s born in Reykjavík, Iceland but at the moment he’s living and working in Milan, Italy. He graduated with BA degree in product design from Icelandic Academy of the Arts in Reykjavik in 2008 and in 2009 he earned his masters degree from Scuola Politecnica in Milan, Italy.

Hafsteinn is very young, fresh and creative designer and his ideas are full of fun, care for the nature and concern for all people. Check it out here.

Photo: Mark Bennet

Nature in Design - Náttúran í hönnun

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:10:47 -0400

Here are some nice pictures from the exhibition Nature in Design that opened on the 19th of June and will be open until 28th of August 2010 in Ljósafossvirkjun.

Thelma Design & Áróra in Modabot

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:01:00 -0400

Check out this article about Thelma Design and Áróra in Modabot, you will like it even though you don’t understand a word. Check it out here.

Photo: Friðrik Örn Hjaltested

Interview with a designer: Thelma Björk

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:07:00 -0400

At a very young age, Thelma took an interest in needlework. She became fascinated with traditions, and under the guidance and influence of her grandmother, Thelma practised and perfected her mentor’s techniques. We asked her few questions to get to know a little bit more about her.

Thelma’s profile on Birkiland, click here.

1. What is your favorite moment of the day?
Mornings are my favorite, as well as walking after midnight.

2. Favorite bus route in Reykjavik and why?
Each one is special, when younger I used to take the bus every where, just to enjoy
my view and daydream about the future.

3. What did you want to be when you were a child?

I wanted to be a farmer’s wife at day and a stewardess at night.

4. Describe your own style?
Mademoiselle in boots wearing a hat. A hat is of course a constant in my style vocabulary and I never leave the house with out one.

5. What kind of clothes do you avoid wearing?
Fake

6. Describe your work?
I specialize in creating original, contemporary designs employing my expertise in embroidery, knitting and crochet.
I rely in every collecting on those traditions, that my grandmother though me while I was growing up.

7. How is your work influenced by where you live?
In every way I have to say; nature, people and the weather.
For example in Paris it is the romantic Sunday walks and all the love in my life, in Iceland it is the air in my every day.

9. Where do you work on your design?
At home and at my workshop, but you never know when that great idea hits you, so I always have my sketchbook with me.

10. When you are designing, do you discuss what you are desining with other desingners?
Yes sometimes I do.

11. In which way do you think design is important for Iceland?
Like they say on the website natura.info “Icelandic design is a creative force that can strengthen Icelandic society and promote a diverse economy” And that is what I believe in.

12. How would you describe Iceland in few sentences?
Iceland is the land of the midnight sun, it is the land of bright summer nights and the land of fire and ice.

13. What do you think is most beautiful place in Iceland?
There are so many beautiful places in Iceland! But if I have to pick one it would be Breiðafjörður because of its secrets

14. What frightens you most regarding the future?
Death

Interview with Harpa Einarsdóttir

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:57:06 -0400

Dazed Digital published today an interesting interview with Harpa Einarsdóttir where she talks about her work, her inspiration and more. Check it out here.

Eli Roth is inspired by Iceland

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:33:29 -0400

Eli Roth is an American film director, producer, writer and actor. Roth is known for making low-budget horror films that are box office hits worldwide, the most famous being the movie Hostel. Roth is also an award-winning actor, most known for his role as Donny Donowitz in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds.

You can see the interview here.

Nature in Design 19.06.2010 - 28.08.2010

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:00:00 -0400

The exhibition Nature in Design opened in Ljósafossstöð power station Saturday 19th June and will be open until 28^th of August 2010. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through nature objectified by Icelandic designers and offers insight into the underlying ideas, e.g. through interesting interviews with Hrafnkell Birgisson, Katrín Ólína, Sigríður Sigþórsdóttir and Steinunn Sigurðardóttir. See more here.

Vogue Italia chooses Hildur Yeoman's bag

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:40:35 -0400

Enrica Ponzellini, journalist for Vogue Italia, chooses Hildur Yeoman’s bag as her favorites for summer. You can see her choice here.

Sheep's Tie by Herra Mókollur

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 09:50:00 -0400

Sheep’s Tie by Herra Mókollur is knitted using wool from the Icelandic sheep, the animal that has formed the backbone of Icelandic life since the time of Settlement.

Much ore about the Sheep’s Tie here.

Behind the scenes of Vík Prjónsdóttir

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:39:00 -0400

On a rainy afternoon in the year 2007 took the designers of Vík Prjónsdóttir this nice video in Vík in Mýrdal, where Vík Prjónsdóttir’s collections are manufactured.

Watch this video here.

Reykjavík LIVE!!!

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:52:00 -0400

Watch Reykjavík absolutely live, check it out here

Interview with a designer: Ingibjorg Hanna

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:52:00 -0400

Ingibjorg Hanna is a graphic designer from Iceland Academy of the Arts. Raven and Not Rudolf are among her objects she has designed recently and are available in Birkiland. She loves to reawake the child inside us all. Her work is playful and functional. We asked her few questions to get to know a little bit more about her.

What is your favorite moment of the day?

In the morning when I read the newspaper in the living room sofa, drinking my cappuccino and eating my toast.

Favorite bus route in Reykjavik and why?

I rarely take the bus …but occasionally I go with my sons for the fun of it and then the route itself doesn’t really matter only the company.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

A doctor.

Describe your own style?

Simple but with a twist.

What kind of clothes do you avoid wearing?

Track suit.

Describe your work?

Playful and functional, I like to try to reawake the child inside us.

How is your work influenced by where you live?

When it comes to themes, I’m influenced by our cultural/national heritage. I try to take these themes into a direction not used before.

Where do you go in Iceland when you want to feel inspired?

I don´t really have a place for that. I just get inspired by the little everyday things that happen or appear. I use the previous experience, from today or my childhood and find a way to make it into a useful design object.

Where do you work on your design?

All over my house but hopefully my studio will become ready soon.

When you are designing, do you discuss what you are designing with other designers?

Yes I do and also what they are working on.

In which way do you think design is important for Iceland?

I think all people, from Iceland or not, have the need for their senses to be stimulated.

How would you describe Iceland in few sentences?

I find many similarities between the Icelandic nature and the people. They are extreme, have great energy, can seem cold on the outside but are actually really warm on the inside.

What do you think is most beautiful place in Iceland?

Snaefellsnes

What frightens you most regarding the future?

That humans will not learn from their mistakes.

Icelandic Photographic Roadtrip

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 06:25:47 -0400

Michael Levy, a french photo / graphic designer, took a 23 days photographic roadtrip around Iceland and took many exeptional photos on his long way.

Check them out here.

René Redzepi is inspired by Iceland

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 05:51:06 -0400

René Redzepi, the chef and co-owner of the two-Michelin star restaurant Noma in the Christianshavn neighborhood of Copenhagen tells the story of how he is inspired by Iceland.

You can see the interview here

Black Lady by Eygló Margrét Lárusdóttir

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:51:59 -0400

Black Lady is made of 100% silk satin and chiffon. It’s 1 meter long and 1,25 meter wide. Tied in the front with a long ribbon that goes around the waist. One size fits all. See more

Eygló Margrét was born in Reykjavik in 1981. She graduated from the fashion department in the Iceland academy of the arts in 2005. After interning with Bernhard Willhelm, AsFour and Jeremy Scott she started her own label in 2006. Her clothes have been described as feminin and classic and she likes to use natural fabrics as much as possible. Eyglo has been available in KronKron and Liborius in Reykjavik.