Swiss/Nordic connection

A/D/O kitchen - photo by Carolyn Veith Krienke

Friday, I started my day and ended it with two inspiring design events, both containing Swiss and Scandinavian ties. The first was none other than Danish chef Claus Meyer, of NOMA, who gave a wonderful talk put on by Tina Roth Eisenberg (aka SwissMiss) of Creative Mornings. Since his recent move to NYC, he has established the Great Northern Food Hall in Grand Central Station,   an upcoming restaurant at A/O/D with Fredrik Berselius of Aska, as well as a non-for-profit venture in Brownsville Brooklyn. Lots going on for this passionate guy and it was refreshing to hear his doubts, even after all his success. 

Peter Zumthor in discussion with Paul Goldberger - photo by Carolyn Veith Krienke

The evening was filled with a rich talk and discussion by the famed Swiss visionary/architect Peter Zumthor at the Guggenheim put on by Surface Magazine. This time sponsored in part by Norway, due to two incredible museums he built there. The first, an ethereal monument to remember 91 women considered "witches" who were burned at the stake. The Steilneset Memorial in Vardø is beyond break-taking. One of his most moving statements of the evening was "We should remember with lightness and not heaviness" 

His second project, the museum, and cafe for the Allmannajuvet zinc mines in Sauda, Norway defies gravity. He laughed when he told the audience that one beam out of place and the whole things would collapse!