Saturday, July 2, 2016

Reykjavik, Iceland: Harpa

The story of Harpa is that half a loaf is better than none.

Reykjavik had big plans for a waterfront complex in the 2000s. a concert hall, hotel, apartments and bank headquarters were part of the plan. Then came the financial crunch in 2008. As you might remember, Iceland was the canary in the coal mine for that meltdown, having economic problems before anyone else.

Suddenly, the government didn't have funds for big projects. But it decided to at least finish the concert hall, which had started construction. Harpa opened in 2011, and it is occupied just about every night. The unique walls reflect the sky and the ocean, and there is some public art on the grounds. You get an idea about the facility in this photo. Public tours are available for a fee.

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