I recently had the chance to take a tour of Harpa, the newly constructed concert hall in Reykjavik, which puts its distinctive look on the waterfront with its unique glass design and nightly light shows.
Inspired by Icelandic landscapes and traditions including natural phenomenon Hvítserkur, namely the way sea and sand surround and reflect off the majestic cliff – Harpa’s design took its current form.
Harpa was an interdisciplinary collaboration between Henning Larsen architects in Denmark, Icelandic architectural firm Batteríið and Danish/Icelandic artist Ólafur Elíasson. In 2013, the design won the esteemed Mies van der Rohe award for Contemporary Architecture.
With Icelandic basalt rock within the building, Icelandic furniture designs chosen from a national competition, the magical glass facade and cutting edge acoustic properties, Harpa has become just as much of a national icon for the Icelandic culture scene as Hvítserkur is for nature enthusiasts.
The best part is that there are guided tours of Harpa everyday, enjoy!!!
