Harpa Concert Hall

Harpa stands on Reykjavik's harborfront, its facade made of hundreds of geometric glass panels designed by artist Ólafur Elíasson in collaboration with the Henning Larsen architecture firm, inspired by the basalt column formations found around the Icelandic coast. The colored glass shifts appearance throughout the day and reflects the harbor and sky differently depending on the light and weather, making the exterior itself a changing visual feature rather than a fixed backdrop. Inside, the building houses four halls of varying sizes, the largest, Eldborg, seating over 1,600 and finished in a deep red that gives it a distinct acoustic and visual character; it serves as the home venue for the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Icelandic Opera. Visitors can walk through the public lobby and along the harbor-facing glass walls without a ticket, and guided architecture tours run several times daily explaining the building's design and construction, completed in 2011 after being delayed by the 2008 financial crisis. Restaurants and a cafe on the upper floors look out over the harbor and Mount Esja across the bay. A casual visit to see the lobby and exterior takes about 30 minutes to an hour; attending a concert or guided tour extends this considerably. The building draws visitors throughout the day, with the interior busiest in the hour before evening performances.