Harpa Concert Hall and Congress Center
The Harp Concert Hall and Congress Center opened in the spring of 2011. The building has a distinctive stained glass facade inspired by Iceland's basalt landscape. The project was designed by the Danish firm Henning Larsen Architects in collaboration with Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, and cost over 160 million euros to build.
History of creation
The Harp Concert Hall and Congress Center complex began to be built 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 country's government decided to have a direct impact on this process and help the project fully realize.
The reason is that if the project had been suspended, it would have been necessary to admit their 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 country's government is definitely doing its job perfectly. The Harpa Concert Hall and Congress Center is currently the second tallest in the capital. The center resembles the shape of a spaceship from outer space and a large gemstone. The creation of the Harp Hall belongs to Henning Larsen and Olafur Eliasson.
Description of the complex
Today, the Harp Concert Hall and Congress Center has become a venue for conferences, conventions, concerts, and other events. And all this is happening not on a local, but on a global level. This is another reason for locals to be proud of their city and the country as a whole. Although this is not surprising, because Iceland is talked about as an ideal place for meetings.
The Harp Concert Hall and Congress Center looks very unusual. The facade of the complex consists of numerous glass blocks that shimmer with the radiance of rainbow colors. Immediately behind the facade there is a comfortable foyer with cafes and galleries. People not only spend time waiting for the event, but also often just relax when everything is swam outside 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" in it. The cuisine of the local cafes is based on the use of environmentally friendly products that are grown in Iceland. The energy needed for the operation and lighting of the center is taken from geothermal sources.
