Photographer's Paradise, Iceland: Harpa

"I love this place!"

I said it over and over again today at Harpa, Reykjavik's concert hall and conference center at the old harbor, as the weather shifted from drizzle to heavy rain to cloudy to brilliant sunshine, and the light inside Harpa changed as well.

We climbed the simple concrete staircases from the ground floor to the top floor (fifth floor), exploring the light, patterns, silhouettes, and views on each of them. I cannot fathom how anyone could design such a complex and beautiful building, while also making it highly functional and versatile.

It is indeed a photographer's paradise, and we were not the only ones brandishing cameras. We were fortunate to be there at a quiet time of year, and in between the two daily tours. I wish I could show you more photos here, including some taken of this iconic building from across the harbor, but that will have to wait until I'm home and on my computer again, instead of using my iPad.

Designed by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, in cooperation with Henning Larsen Architects of Denmark, Harpa opened its doors in May 2011. Reminiscent of the crystallised basalt columns commonly found in Iceland, the steel framework is clad with geometric shaped glass panels of different colors, creating kaleidoscopic reflections of the city and the striking surrounding landscape (information from en.harpa.is and wikipedia).

Harpa is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera, and hosts a wide range of other concerts, as well as events, meetings, and conferences. There are four halls in the building, ranging in size from 200 seats to 1800 seats, as well as several meeting rooms, an attractive cafe and a restaurant/bar, a shop offering Icelandic music, a gift shop, and a flower and book store.

Harpa won the 2013 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award for excellence in the field of architecture.

(See Phil's journal entry for today at blipfoto.com/pilipo for more details about all the things we did.)