Harpa Concert Hall and Congress Center
The Harpa Concert Hall and Congress Center opened in the spring of 2011. The building has a distinctive stained glass façade inspired by the basalt landscape of Iceland. The project was designed by Danish firm Henning Larsen Architects in collaboration with Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson and cost more than 160 million euros to build.
History of creation
The construction of the Harpa Concert Hall and Congress Center began when Iceland was in the midst of a severe crisis. In all likelihood, the construction of the complex should have been postponed for decades, but the state of the country decided to have a direct influence on this process and help the project to be fully realized.
The reason is that if the project was suspended, then it would be necessary to admit one’s own helplessness. And if you finish the job, it will symbolize that Iceland, even in the most difficult situation, can find a way out and prosper in the future. And as we can see in various photos of Reykjavik, the state of the country is definitely coping with its tasks perfectly. The Harpa Concert Hall and Congress Center is currently the second tallest in the capital. The center resembles the shape of a ship from outer space and a large gemstone. The creation of the Harpa Hall belongs to Henning Larsen and Olafur Eliasson.
Description of the complex
Today, the Harp Concert Hall and Convention Center has become a venue for conferences, conventions, concerts and other events. And all this happens not at the local, but at the global level. Another reason for local residents to be proud of their city and country as a whole. Although this is not surprising, since Iceland is spoken of as an ideal place for meetings.
The Harpa Concert Hall and Congress Center looks very unusual. The façade of the complex consists of numerous glass blocks that shimmer with the colors of the rainbow. Immediately behind the façade there is a comfortable foyer with a café and galleries. People not only spend time waiting for an event, but also often just relax when everything outside is cloudy due to precipitation.
An excellent addition to all the listed advantages of the Harp Concert Hall and Congress Center is that when it comes to this center, there will definitely be a mention of “eco”. The cuisine of the local cafes is based on the use of environmentally friendly products grown in Iceland. The energy required for the operation and lighting of the center is taken from geothermal sources.
