Cascade
Harpa
Concert hall, Reykjavík
"Harpa was designed by architect Henning Larsen from Copenhagen together with Batteríið arkitektar in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland.
Artist Ólafur Elíasson designed the glass facade together with the architects.
(...) In 2013 the building won the European Union’s award for contemporary architecture, the so-called Mies van der Rohe award, for its outstanding architecture with the glass facade which seeks inspiration from Icelandic nature. The facade is made up from many smaller glass and steel elements and similar mirror elements are found in the ceiling. The artist’s idea was to move the basalt blocks which are found in several places in Icelandic nature closer to the citizens. The glass facade is inspired by naturally occurring pillow basalt.
The artist then plays with the light which comes on during Iceland’s dark winter months and is projected onto the building’s facade. It creates a magical light show reminiscent of the northern lights or the beautiful light and colours reflected in the sky at different times of year when the weather changes. (...)
The award statement said:
“Emerging on the border between the land and the sea, the crystalline structure captures and reflects the light, promoting a dialogue between the building, the city, and the surrounding landscape. One of the main ideas has been to dematerialise the building as a static entity and let it respond to the surrounding colours of the city lights, ocean and glow of the sky.”" www.nordiclabourjournal.org/i-fokus/in-focus-2014/iceland...
Cascade
Harpa
Concert hall, Reykjavík
"Harpa was designed by architect Henning Larsen from Copenhagen together with Batteríið arkitektar in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland.
Artist Ólafur Elíasson designed the glass facade together with the architects.
(...) In 2013 the building won the European Union’s award for contemporary architecture, the so-called Mies van der Rohe award, for its outstanding architecture with the glass facade which seeks inspiration from Icelandic nature. The facade is made up from many smaller glass and steel elements and similar mirror elements are found in the ceiling. The artist’s idea was to move the basalt blocks which are found in several places in Icelandic nature closer to the citizens. The glass facade is inspired by naturally occurring pillow basalt.
The artist then plays with the light which comes on during Iceland’s dark winter months and is projected onto the building’s facade. It creates a magical light show reminiscent of the northern lights or the beautiful light and colours reflected in the sky at different times of year when the weather changes. (...)
The award statement said:
“Emerging on the border between the land and the sea, the crystalline structure captures and reflects the light, promoting a dialogue between the building, the city, and the surrounding landscape. One of the main ideas has been to dematerialise the building as a static entity and let it respond to the surrounding colours of the city lights, ocean and glow of the sky.”" www.nordiclabourjournal.org/i-fokus/in-focus-2014/iceland...