Location: Reykjavik, Iceland.

Architect: Henning Larsen Architects + Batteriið Architects.

The 2013 European Union Prize for Modern Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award was given to the Harpa – Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Center, which was created by Henning Larsen Architects in association with Batterii Architects and Studio Olafur Eliasson. The jury’s chair, Wiel Arets, claimed that Harpa had “captured the myth of a nation, Iceland, that has deliberately acted in favour of a hybrid-cultural building in the middle of the ongoing Great Recession.” The recognisable, translucent, porous “quasi brick” emerges as a constantly shifting play of coloured light, encouraging communication between the city of Reykjavik and the interior life of the structure.

The complex has four main halls, including a concert hall with 1,800 seats, as well as a number of conference spaces and a sizable exhibition space. The Main Concert Hall may be seen as the red-glowing centre of the massif of halls when viewed from the lobby. The expressive and open façades of the building contrast with the interior massif, creating a conversation that defines the public space of Harpa and continues in the square in front of the structure. Dark colours will be used to create a contrast with the crystalline surface. Hence, the architectural concept incorporates the environment. Harpa begins long before visitors enter the foyer, and as a result, city life is integrated into the cultural institution’s daily operations.

Photo credit: Nic Lehoux.