Harpa Concert Hall

Located by the old harbor between Reykjavík city center and the North Atlantic, the new Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, stands out as a unique landmark in continuous interplay with its surroundings. The design was influenced by Iceland‘s exceptional and dramatic nature. Situated on the boundary between land and sea, the building is a gleaming sculpture reflecting both sky and harbor, as well as the vibrant life of the city.

The glass facade, which covers the entire building, was designed by renowned visual artist Olafur Eliasson (creator of the New York Harbor waterfall installation a few years ago). Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, the new home of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera, has four halls, the largest one accommodating up to 1,800 seated patrons. Smaller meeting rooms are located throughout the building and a spacious exhibition area is nearby. The Concert Hall and Conference Centre also offers state-of–the-art equipment for corporate meetings, in addition to catering services and parking spaces.

The building was originally part of a redevelopment of the Austurhöfn area dubbed World Trade Center Reykjavík, which was partially abandoned when the financial crisis took hold. The development was intended to include a 400-room hotel, luxury apartments, retail units, restaurants, a car park and the new headquarters of Icelandic bank Landsbanki.

The completion of the structure was uncertain until the government decided in 2008 to fully fund the rest of the construction costs for the half-built concert hall. The building was given its name on the Day of Icelandic Music on 11 December 2009, prior to which it was called The Reykjavík Concert Hall and Conference Centre. The building is the first purpose-built concert hall in Reykjavík. It houses the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and The Icelandic Opera.

Posted in: Iceland