As I move around Harpa, the light shifts and changes the colour on the glass. Like an optical illusion, you can’t tell if the facade is 2D or 3D until you’re nearer.
I love how a handful of windows are different colours and stand out from the crowd.
Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik is a beautiful structure and one of my favourite contemporary buildings I’ve visited.
Much like the Hallsmarkirka church, Harpa takes design inspiration from Iceland’s natural surroundings. Up close, the Harpa facade resembles a craggy cliff.
Inside Harpa, the optical illusion feeling intensifies as new shapes appear as light and dark clash.
Adjacent to Harpa, there are examples of rock balancing with a wonderful backdrop of the Icelandic mountains.
History of Harpa Concert Hall
Harpa Concert Hall is Reykjavík’s most iconic modern landmark, a shimmering glass structure on the city’s waterfront that blends architecture, music, and resilience. The idea for a national concert hall dates back to the 1880s, but construction only began in 2007. When Iceland’s financial crisis hit in 2008, the project was nearly abandoned. Instead, the government chose to complete Harpa as a symbol of hope and cultural pride.
Designed by Henning Larsen Architects and artist Ólafur Elíasson, Harpa opened in 2011 and quickly became a hub for music, conferences, and the arts. Its façade, inspired by Iceland’s basalt columns and northern lights, won the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Award for contemporary architecture. Harpa is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and hosts festivals like Iceland Airwaves and Sónar. Today, it stands as a testament to Iceland’s creative spirit and is one of the country’s most visited attractions.
10 Interesting Facts About Harpa Concert Hall
- Harpa’s façade features 714 glass panels, each with built-in LED lights for nighttime displays.
- The name “Harpa” was chosen from over 4,000 public suggestions in a national naming contest.
- The building’s design was inspired by basalt columns and the aurora borealis.
- Harpa won the Mies van der Rohe Award for architecture in 2013.
- It was the only major construction project completed during Iceland’s financial crisis.
- The main concert hall, Eldborg, seats up to 1,800 people and has world-class acoustics.
- Harpa is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Reykjavík Big Band, and formerly the Icelandic Opera.
- The building hosts over 1,400 events annually, from concerts to conferences.
- Harpa’s glass façade is used for interactive light art, including games and seasonal displays.
- The venue has appeared in Netflix’s Sense8, Black Mirror, and The Bachelor.
Practical Information for Visiting Harpa Concert Hall
- Location: Austurbakki 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Opening times: Daily, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (extended hours for events)
- Entry: Free to enter; ticketed events vary
- Parking: Paid underground parking available; public transport and walking recommended
- Accessibility: Fully accessible; lifts and ramps throughout
- Dogs: Assistance dogs only
- Food: Hnoss Bistro (ground floor), La Primavera Ristorante (4th floor)
- Toilets: Accessible facilities available
- Nearby: Sun Voyager sculpture, Old Harbour, Reykjavík Art Museum, Laugavegur shopping street
- Official website: Harpa Concert Hall
Let me know if you’d like this paired with another Reykjavík landmark or adapted for print. I can also help with Perlan or Hallgrímskirkja next.
