Wake up and smell the FIKA! - Attention all Designers

After nearly two years of studying in Göteborg, Sweden, I have realized a few things about how the cold weather and little daylight in winter time directly affect Scandinavian public space.

1.  "The urban Greenhouse" - What is more recognizable as a glass enclosed extension used as an for most pubs, restaurants and nightclubs.  This is a fully enclosed glazed space which faces the street, and generally gives the impression of being outdoors.  People love to sit in these kind of spaces, because it's like being outside with actually stepping foot into the cold Nordic climate.

You enjoy your cappuccino in the sun without feeling the wind, and although this strategy isn't new, it makes you think that if the open grass park spaces are empty most of the year... than why don't more spaces like this occur in public areas of the city?!

2.  Shopping! - And YES I know that there is nothing Swedish about this.  Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a bit of a shopaholic.  That said, retail is an important factor in any city.  During a visit to Göteborg's Nordstan shopping centre located in the heart of the city, renovations were happening on some of the interior space, it was there were I found grounds to support my design concept... I found scaffolding and temporary retailers selling goods within the structure of the scaffold!!!