Iceland's football team at the 2016 Euro Games, was a surprise, not to say a sensation. Against all odds, it made it to the quarter finals after beating England (2-1).
I am not a sports fan, and don't get too impressed by sport achievements, but the case of Iceland is worth studying as there were other surprises, not sports related, that have preceded the one at the Euro Games.
During the economic crisis of 2008-2009, this tiny nation living on an island with very harsh climatic and geological conditions - let its banks collapse instead of bailing them out, and put bankers and other finance people in jail!! No prize was given to the banks and bankers , but punishment for their part in the economic collapse. The banks were nationalized and the banking system was taken over by the government.
Usually,in the event of an economic crisis, a country's banking system is saved at all costs (unfortunately, the banks use that knowledge to play high risk financial games, which is quite frightening).
Iceland did the unusual, and it worked. Since 2011 she has recovered from the economic crisis, and is doing well with fishing and tourism as the main industries (The banking system, though, is still in the hands of the government) .
Anyway, considering its football team performances at the Euro Games, Iceland, a land of more volcanoes and glaciers than people, is now on the "world map" and cannot be ignored.
The other day I visited the showroom of a bamboo products' firm named "Kne Kash". It's a spacious place located near a railway station and some other commercial businesses. The structure used to be a barn, one of a series of seven (7) barns with pyramidal roof shape, close to the train area - the Mamgurot (Barns) area.
It was rather dim inside. I suppose the very high concrete ceiling and the special light fixtures, have something to do with it.
The concept in this showroom is different from that in their flag store situated in another region. The emphasis here is on bamboo and straw as living materials in the hands of architects. Customers come in with their house plan, and get here professional advice as to the best way to use bamboo and straw in their home design.
I love bamboo in all its forms: furniture, fences, flooring, panels, decoration items, textiles. How could one not love it? Bamboo is natural, ecological, flexible, light-weight, and practical. Its simplicity is also its beauty.
Bamboo is usually associated with far-east countries. This strong plant grows there, and the local people make good use of it. Indeed, I've seen over the years some beautiful bamboo furniture pieces made in Vietnam, India, Philippines, China etc...
The problem is that in my neck of the woods bamboo products are quite expensive, since they are imported and mostly hand made. Besides, there has been a rise in the number of environmental buyers; and if that's not enough, people that used to buy bamboo furniture for outdoors mainly , have discovered its charm for the indoors too. As the demand increases, and the supply is sometimes short, prices go up.
There is a little sign at the entrance/exit of the store which says: 'Bamboo - the wood of the future'. Why of the future? If you ask me, its' future as wood is already here and now.
