The Icelandic Opera

More pictures from the project

Address: Hamraborg, Kopavogur, Reykjavik, Iceland
Size: 8.000 m² with an audience of 820
Client: Kopavogur Council
Architect: Arkitema and Arkthing
Landscape architect: Arkitema
Other consultants: Gade & Mortensen Acoustic

The Icelandic Opera reflects its location in its architectural expression. A location that is characterised by the cultural urban landscape, the Borgarholt-elf hill and the church as its immediate neighbours. The initial concept for the Opera took its form from a cubic geometry that is replicated throughout the whole building both on the facade and the interior. The facade is characterised by the distinctive heavy base, broken up by the large cubic window openings. Above, in sharp contrast to the base, lies a shining and distinctive cube which continues through the entire building.
The building is flexible and simply constructed using the cubic form, which are also replicated in the concert hall, where the walls and balconies are created from various cubic forms which tie in with the building concept whilst providing acoustic regulation. The Opera’s location next to the foot of Borgarholt-hill provides a natural fall in terrain which is incorporated within the building, the entrance lobby’s two storeys rise up to the rest of the Opera building which is stretched over three storeys.
One enters the Opera from a little square, where three important cultural institu-tions are located. From the entrance one can either continue to the foyer area or go directly to the concert hall and restaurant. At the very top five roof gardens help to activate the building from top to bottom and provide the guests with a view across Reykjavik.