In Progress: Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center / Henning Larsen Architects

Jul 2010

By Karen Cilento — Filed under: Architecture News ,Cultural ,In Progress , Artec Consultants, Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center, Henning Larsen Architects, Iceland, Olaf Eliasson, Reykjavík

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We were excited to hear from Henning Larsen Architects and pass on their news that the much anticipated Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center is nearing completion in Reykjavík, Iceland. Working in close collaboration with Danish-Icelandic artist Olaf Eliasson and American Artec Consultants, the combined forces of art and architecture have resulted in an aesthetically and technically stunning building. Conceptually, the building is all about the glass façade -which seems to be gracefully lowered onto the building- and the interplay of spaces that occur between the glass.

More images, a great video and more about the project after the break.

Reminiscent of the crystallised basalt columns commonly found in Iceland, the hexagonal glass creates kaleidoscopic reflections of the city. The multi-faceted glass façade is based on a geometric principle which is realised in two and three dimensions. Designing and constructing the building have been a complicated process because while the facades are derived from the same concept, depending upon orientation, their geometries vary. This leads to difficult connections where ultimately each corner is a unique joint.

Special attention was given to the placement of colored panels which are scattered across the surface and make beautiful reflections in the main spaces. And, in the final stages of designing, an emphasis was placed on reflection and transparency. The facade provides ample natural lighting, and in the evening, the multi-colored LED lighting system (the most ever used in any construction in the world) on the southern facade will give the structure an Icelandic glow.

The music hall’s adjacency to a busy road challenged Artec to engineer a facade that could block the noise and combat Iceland’s climate while still providing the desired aesthetic quality. The acoustics of the facilities are flexible, allowing the space to adapt to different events by changing the resonance frequency of the hall. The removable and stackable seating also allows for a variety of configuration.

The Harpa Concert and Conference Center will have four halls, the largest one seating 1,800 people. Smaller meeting rooms which can be adjusted to meet different needs/events will also be incorporated into the complex.

Northern Facade © Osbjørn Jacobsen

The official opening will feature a concert by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra on May 4, 2011. The 28,000 m2 complex will be a major addition to the region’s cultural scene – a move that will help Iceland’s greater urban redevelopment and revitalization initiative.

All information and images courtesy of Henning Larsen Architects.

Longitudional Section EE © Henning Larsen Architects

Floor Plan © Henning Larsen Architects

Image Credits:

Photo: © Osbjørn Jacobsen

Plans: © Henning Larsen Architects

Video Credit: Youtube uploader HarpaReykjavik via Harpa’s website

Icelandic Conference Center – Building Information:

Client: Austurhofn, East Harbour Project
Floor area: 28,000 m2
Construction value: 161 mill. EUR
Type of assignment: 1st prize, international competition

Cite:
Cilento , Karen . "In Progress: Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center / Henning Larsen Architects" 02 Jul 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 25 May 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/66917>