JHP_160911_Iceland_1063Architecture and Art of Iceland

Iceland is a country full of Scandinavian influence.  Many of the homes and streets have been around a long time.  Built to withstand the harsh climate of the northland, most are made of a concrete or metal and covered with brightly colored metal roofs.  Some older turf homes and sheds are still in use, albeit mostly for stock and as cellars. Although not ornate, I found the buildings to be lovely in their simplicity, all the same!  In Reykikavik the largest city in Iceland there is room for a more modern twist and occasionally throughout the country the local's flair for art can be seen, often honing around the lore of the sagas.  

JHP_160928_Cell_2033Architecture of Iceland

This image was taken in Iceland's capitol, Reykjavik.   The city and local surroundings holds over 2/3 the population of Iceland which has just 330,000 residents! It is the most sparsely populated country in Europe.  Simple, attached and distinguished by color, these homes and businesses make up one of the many historic district streets.

JHP_160928_Cell_3630Architecture of Iceland: Reykjavik from the Church.

An iconic image of Iceland's most populated town showcases the variety of color in the rooftops.  The photo was taken from the Clock/Bell Tower of the very notable and possibly most photographed landmark, the Hallgrims Church (seen below).  

JHP_160928_Cell_3650Architecture of Iceland, Hallgrim Church

Hallgrims Church from ground level.  Iceland did not have elaborate renaissance era churches but rather simple places of worship scattered throughout the country side. This church was built in 1937 just before Iceland became a sovereign country at the end of WWII.  This sparked an age of modern design in the larger towns to create a place of worship that highlighted the unique countryside.  This church is meant to resemble the basalt rock formations.  

JHP_160927_Iceland_2625Reykjavik, Harpa Center, Iceland

Another notable structure in the Capitol City is the modern and quite artistic, Harpa Center, which glistens and dances in the ever changing light of Iceland.  The entire building is covered in a glass façade and is used as a concert hall and conference center.  The building is open to the public and a quick walk-about inside is certainly a must for every visitor! 

JHP_160911_Iceland_1326Architecture of Iceland

Moving on to the smaller communities this is a small fishing town on the snaefellsnes peninsula.  The buildings are a bit more free-standing but still just as colorful. The harbor is full of fishing and charter boats and it is home to a ferry stop that goes up to the northern fjords.

JHP_160913_Iceland_1493Architecture of Iceland, Hjalteryi

In a tiny and historic village just north of Akureyri, there lies and old Herring Factory in Hjalteyri.  Today the factory has been decommissioned but Icelander, diver and oceanic protector, Erlendur Bogason and his daughter, Saevor now call it home for their business, Strytan Dive Center.  The center is unique in many ways- all of them being good and that I highly recommend for any diver of any level!   In the summer months the building is home to various art venues.  As with most of Iceland, the entire facility is heated using geothermal water, the excess is used to fill an outdoor hotpot which boasts excellent views and whale watching.

JHP_160921_Cell_3341Architecture of Iceland, farm

As we made our way around the countryside as with most places on our planet the types of buildings seen change depending on use, location, culture, etc. Many of the farms had large barns semi-built into the hillsides like seen with this one.  I did not go into any of these barns, or talk to a local about there functional uses (a shame), but I can imagine that the use of insulation by the surrounding grounds helped to keep stock and food stores at a constant temperature.  On a practical note it would take large machinery and many man hours to excavate a flat area for the barns why not capitalize on what god gave you.

JHP_160912_Iceland_1409Architecture of Iceland, turf house

Finally, you cannot talk about architecture in Iceland and not include a turf house.  This is a replica of the turf house used in the 11th century by Leif Erickson. Turf houses were economical, resourceful and robust (the sod lasting 70+ years) and because of this turf homes were lived in as primary residences through the 1960's.   Today Icelanders still use the turf structures for tourism, history, animals and food storage.   In many cases the turf buildings blend right in with the surroundings making you feel like you are playing a game of "Where's Waldo"?

Sorry for the delay in getting this post out, but I hope you enjoyed the information and the images.  Stay tuned for the next installment on February 7th.  As always a larger gallery of images can be seen by clicking on any of the above photos.