Landmark Reykjavik

Original text by Angela Leenhouts

 Hall of fame Harpa’s angular shape is designed to reflect and capture the light

Executive summary by darmansjah

Trip Tip: Anyone planning an Icelandic so journ in the new year will be treated to another of the country’s luminous attractions; The northern lights. Nasa scientist predict that in 2012. The aurora borealis will shine brighter than it has for so years. And Reykjavik is one the best places in the world to witness the phenomenon.

ICELAND

Icelandic Eye Candy

Rising from the ashes of Iceland’s financial woes, the Harpa (en.harpa is) concert hall is a sparkling addition to the Reykjavik harbor front. The building, which celebrated its grand opening in August, features a multifaceted façade designed by Danish installation artist Olafur Eliasson, whose LED inlaid translucent glass blocks-some 12,000 square meters of them-both reflect the surrounding landscape with prismatic light. More than just an architectural statement, Harpa is expected to enhance Iceland’s appeal as a cultural destination. Home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera, its main hall seats up to 1,600 people and has already received tens of thousands of concert goers-not bad, for a country with a population of less than 320,000. Look for performances by homegrown sensation Bjork in October.