Harpa Conference Center, Opera, in Reykjavík

The History

In In April 2002, the Icelandic State and the City of Reykjavík signed a contract to build a conference and music centre. The two founded a private company,The East Harbour Company, that was then given the task of arranging for the construction and the running of the centre, in collaboration with a hotel on the East of Reykjavik's harbour, using a so-called private development: i.e. that a private party should take care of the design, construction, financing, and the running of these facilities.

The East Harbour Company´s overall intention is to generate life in the area and to enhance the connection between the city centre and the harbour.

Right at the beginning, the board of East Harbour Company set itself the following goals for the project:
To create a strong cultural image, drawing the world's attention to Iceland and Reykjavík.
To strengthen the country's position in the international competition in the fields of culture and travel.
To create the right facilities to host international cultural events and to improve facilities as to better receive world renowned artists.
To enrich the Icelandic cultural life and to establish international cultural connections
To create a first rate facility for the Iceland Symphony Orchestra

The Design

The main designers of the Harpa Reykjavík Concert Hall and Conference Centre are Danish architectural firm Henning Larsen Architects and Icelandic architectural firm Batteríið Architects. Henning Larsen Architects has gained a reputation for superb design, including the new Opera House in Copenhagen.

Batteríið Architects have won numerous awards for their design, including the extension for the Icelandic Parliament. The firm works internationally in close cooperation with contractors and renowned architects and engineers in the Nordic countries, North America, and Australia.

Danish-Icelandic artist Ólafur Elíasson designed the south facade and developed the principle for the remaining north/east/west facades and roof in collaboration with Henning Larsen Architects and Batteríið Architects. Elíasson deploys light, colour, and natural phenomena to test how physical movement, sensual engagement, and the interaction of body and brain influence our perception of our surroundings.

The US consulting firm Artec is responsible for acoustics, sound isolation, and design of the theatre and sound equipment.

Facts about the building

Contractors and designers

Designed by Henning Larsen Architects and Batteríið.
Artist Ólafur Elíasson designed the facade and provided the principle for the overall facade design.
IAV hf., Iceland Prime Contractor Ltd., is the principal contractor of the whole project.
Acoustics Design by Artec Consultants Inc, New York USA.

Building Strategy

Music Hall and Conference centre with meeting facilities.
Suitable for a broad range of concerts and cultural events.
Flexibility to host big and small events without one interfering with the other.
Conference centre with meeting facilities.
In-house catering and restaurants.
Equipped to highest standards.
Exhibitions, promotions and public events.

Conference facilities

A large conference hall seating up to 750 people
Two meeting rooms seating 63 people each
Conference services
Eight smaller meeting rooms

Key numbers

Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre is 28.000 square meters (258.000 sq ft) in size.
The bottom slab is 8.000 square meters.
The building is 43 meters tall (141 ft).
30.000 cubic meters of concrete will be cast in the whole building.
The whole building site with adjacent building is 60.000 square meters (15 acres).
2.500 tons of construction steel and 4.000 tons of reinforcement bars will be used in the building.
200.000 cubic meters of soil were removed from the site before construction began.

Main consulting companies in the project have been:

Henning Larsen Architects
Batteríið Architects
Olafur Eliasson
IPC (IAV)
Artec Consultants
Ramboll
Mannvit Engineers
Hnit Consulting Engineers
Efla Engineers

Other consulting companies:

ASK Architects
Almenna Consulting Engineers
Verkis Consulting Engineers
Verkhönnun Engineers

Artistic adviser

Jasper Parrott- International consultant
Vladimir Ashkenazy - Artistic adviser

The Project

Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre is part of an extensive harbour development project in Reykjavik, the East Harbour Project. As the name indicates, the overall objective of the project is to expand and revitalise Reykjavík's eastern harbour with a new downtown plaza, a shopping street, a hotel, residential buildings, educational institutions, and mixed industry. The overall intention is to generate life in the area and to enhance the connection between the city centre and the harbour.

Situated slightly apart from Reykjavík's traditional centre, the building will become a significant icon in the city – a visual attraction due to its stunning design. Harpa´s location will mean that, to a great extent, the changing climatic and light effects will be exposed in the facades of the concert building, often in contrast to the narrow streets in the rest of the city.

Supporting parties

The main participants are:

Other Consulting Companies:

Conference Facilities

Harpa's facilites, which offers some of the most technologically advanced equipment available, are capable of accommodating everything from large conventions, concerts and exhibitions to smaller banquets and meetings.

Green Conferences - Harpa complies with the highest Icelandic thermal performance standards. Its advanced insulation and air-tight construction make it one of the greenest conference centers in the world. These elements will play a key role in minimizing energy use for heating and cooling and therefore in reducing carbon emissions.

Reykjavík, Europe's northernmost capital is a hospitable city that succeeds in combining the charm and intimacy of a small town with the qualities of a modern, sophisticated city. Reykjavík is known for its vibrant music life and thriving cultural scene.

Reykjavík has a considerable advantage when it comes to hosting conferences and meetings due to its geographical location midway between North America and Europe. There are daily direct flights from most major cities in Europe and North America.

http://en.harpa.is/

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