Harpa

Harpa

Walking through the city centre, your eyes can't help but be drawn to a glittering castle of glass and steel by the harbour, with a picture perfect backdrop of Mount Esjan on the other side of the water. Harpa, Reykjavík's music hall and conference centre was completed in 2011 much to the joy of Icelandic musicians as well as the music-loving public.

Harpa was only completed in 2011 but there had been talks, and even plans of building a music house in Reykjavík for decades. In fact, the first documented suggestion of a music hall appeared in 1881. The talks became serious when the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1950 but its temporary home in the Haskolabio cinema became much longer than expected. Many locations were suggested but in 2000, people settled on the Harpa's current spot by the harbour. Construction began in 2007, but were halted as a result of Iceland financial collapse in 2008. The building became a hot topic and the nation was divided on whether this was the right time to build a house dedicated to the arts. Luckily, construction soon went ahead and the result is the Harpa, a lovely addition to both the city centre and Iceland's music scene.

Harpa. Photo by Olga

The building was designed by a Danish firm in cooperation with Icelandic architects but the building's standout feature, the honeycomb façade at glass and steel, is the brainchild of internationally acclaimed artist of Icelandic descent, Olafur Eliasson. If you're interested in seeing more of his work, head to the recently opened Marshall building by the old harbour, which houses Olafur's studion and exhibition space.

The building is impressive but, of course, the most important part of Harpa is noth the brick and mortar (or in this case, glass and concret), but what goes on inside its halls. Harpa is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the Icelandic Opera, the Reykjavík Big Band, and a curiously musical mouse called Maximus Musicus, who regularly appears at the orchestra's children's concerts and is very excited to teach kids all there is to know about music and musical instruments.

In addition to classical concerts and operas, Harpa is also home to modern popular music – music festivals Sonar Reykjavík and the legendary Iceland Airwaves festival regularly take place in Harpa – as well as conferences, lectures and comedy shows. Be sure to check out the Harpa program while you're here, taking in a show or a concert in one of its grand halls in an unforgettable experience.