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Reykjavik – Iceland’s Design Destination

Reykjavik is such a cool city. It has a distinct design culture and artistic creativity that punches well above its weight in terms of population.

There are the obvious design stars like Harpa Concert Hall, Hallgrimskirkja Church and The Sea Voyager but amongst the brightly coloured corrugated homes that line the streets you’ll find another creative vibe when visiting Reykjavik.

Shops crammed with design for the home, crafted from natural, sustainable Icelandic materials. The old harbour has become a design hub, brimming with workshops, galleries and artists. Here are some of my Reykjavik design favourites…

Harpa Concert Hall

You can’t miss Harpa Concert Hall which sits shimmering by the harbour side fragmenting light and reflecting the sun, the sky and the city. The clean lines and striking façade of the building mirror the crystallised basalt columns found on the Icelandic Coast.

Harpa Concert Hall
Harpa Concert Hall

From inside you’ll get stunning views of the city and of Mount Esja from Harpa’s various levels. There’s also a shop selling Icelandic design and there’s more design with the neon ‘Scandinavian Pain’ art installation in the Kolabrautin bar and restaurant.

Scandinavian Pain Installation, Harpa, Reykjavik
Scandinavian Pain

Where: Austurbakki 2
When: The building is open daily 08:00 – 24:00. Check the website for Box Office times
Cost: Entry is free to the building.  www.harpa.is

The Sun Voyager (Sólfar)

A short walk from Harpa, on Faxaflói Bay, you’ll find the gleaming Sun Voyager, a sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason. Sun Voyager is intended, by the artist, “to be a dreamboat, an ode to the sun, and contains within itself the promise of undiscovered territory and a dream of hope, progress and freedom”. It’s made of stainless steel and sits on a base of polished granite which reflects its graceful curves.

Sun Voyager (Sólfar) Reykjavik
Sun Voyager (Sólfar) Reykjavik

We caught Sun Voyager in the early evening when the Bay was still as a mill-pond and the setting sun was glinting gold on the gleaming stainless steel. If you want to see it with the sun coming up over the bay, you’ll need awake with the dawn. I think Sun Voyager sums up Reykjavik perfectly; affinity with the sea, culture and design.

Where: Saebraut

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Hallgrímskirkja

The tallest church in Reykjavik is Hallgrimskirkja. Its spire rises 73 metres into the crisp Icelandic air and can be seen throughout the city. The church, designed by state architect Guðjón Samúelsson, and the white concrete columns either side of the tower built to resemble Iceland’s basalt lava flows. I’d call it modern-gothic. The church took 38 years to construct and was finished in 1986. Take the lift inside to the top for a panoramic view of Reykjavik’s colourful rooftops.

Hallgrímskirkja Reykjavik

Where: Skólavörðustígur
When: 9am-9pm Jul & Aug, to 5 pm Sep-Jun
Cost: adult/child Ikr700/100
http://www.hallgrimskirkja.is/

Reykjavik Design and Crafts

It’s not all about the big stuff – in Reykjavik’s shops you’ll find a whole heap of Icelandic design which will fit nicely into your suitcase. Kraum, which means ‘simmering’ in Icelandic stocks only Icelandic design and is housed in Reykjavík´s oldest house. You’ll find works from over 70 Icelandic designers, like Sigurður Már Helgason’s 1970s iconic Fuzzy Stool, and you’ll want to take all of it home with you. Well, maybe not the fish skin lampshade. Sadly Kraum closed down in 2018 but there are many shops in Reykjavik with a similar vibe, although maybe not as large.

Kraum Design Shop

Where: Number 10 Aðalstræti
When: Mon-Fri: 9 – 18, Sat: 10 – 17, Sun: 12 – 17

Icelandic Knitwear

I knew I’ve mentioned them before on the blog but I just love these Lopapeysa jumpers. They keep you cool in the summer and toasty warm in the winter.  Lopi is the wool that’s used to make them and ‘peysa’ means sweater which is how they get their name.  If you see one of these iconic jumpers you know instantly it’s from Iceland from the designs and patterns. They are hand-knitted all over Iceland and are for sale in most shops. Sadly I didn’t have time to buy one so I guess I’ll just have to start knitting!

Lopapeysa Knitting, Iceland
Lopapeysa Sweaters

Reykjavik Hotels

Icelandair Reykjavik Marina Hotel

This Reykjavik design hotel stands right next to the dry-dock and slipway in Reykjavik Harbour and it’s bright, colourful and vibrant. Inside you’ll find  cool, quirky elements and nautical oddities reclaimed from the harbour area. It also has a fun bar area, restaurant and serves up a great breakfast.

I’ve stayed in Icelandair Reykjavik Marina Hotel twice and can personally recommend it.  The light, airy rooms are filled with locally sourced design elements. The breakfast and food is good and there’s a buzzy sociable air to the hotel. It’s just a ten-minute walk from the town centre and a few minutes from Harpa so it’s perfectly located for exploring the city.

Check availability and latest prices for Icelandair Reykjavik Marina Hotel

Icelandair Reykjavik Marina Hotel Lobby

Reykjavik Art Museum

The museum is in three different buildings around the city. In Harbour House (Hafnarhús) which is, not surprisingly, located near the harbour, there are ever-changing exhibits but the museum always houses works from the Erró collection. Erró, an Icelandic pop-artist, despite living and working in Paris for years, has donated a huge collection of his works and continues to this day. I’m not that keen on pop art but loved checking out the museum shop which had lots of quirk-worthy design and crafts. I love the little wooden puffins and whale fins – no idea what they’re for though…

Icelandic Crafts

Many Reykjavik hotels have art installations like this one at 101 Hotel in the town centre which has a gallery too.

Art Installation 101 Hotel, Reykjavik

Reykjavik design is all over the city and not just in the architecture. It’s everywhere; bars, cafes, restaurants, it’s in hotels and even peeping out from people’s windows along the street. Then there’s more in the museums and artist shops. You can’t set foot anywhere in Reykjavik without encountering art, design and creativity and that’s one of the reasons I love it.

Many thanks to Celebrity Cruises for hosting my 24 hours in Iceland.

Reykjavik - Iceland's Design Destination full of art, design and creativity. Here are my Reykjavik design favourites

Pin it! Read more about Iceland:

•  Tips for Visiting Reykjavik – Iceland’s Capital of Cool – Is Reykjavik the coolest city on earth?

•  Touring Iceland’s Golden Circle – Three forces of nature in the Golden Triangle Iceland

•  Into The Blue Lagoon  – Tips for your visit to the Blue Lagoon

•  What to Wear in Iceland – Packing tips for summer or winter trips to Iceland

Eating Iceland – What food will you be eating on your visit to Iceland

• Thunder Bread – A Geothermal Bake Off in Iceland – Digging for Thunder Bread in Iceland

The Travelbunny September Update | The Travelbunny

Sunday 4th of October 2015

[…] bread in a fascinating geothermal bake-off. While we were there we had a little time to check out Reykjavik – Iceland’s Design Destination. It’s all incredibly cool and I really hope it’s not my last visit to this beautiful […]

Blog post by Stacey - Anyone for Thunder Bread? - Siren Communications

Friday 11th of September 2015

[…] whistle stop visit with bloggers Suzanne (The Travelbunny), Lucy (On the Luce) and Neily (Cherie City) gave us 24 hours in Iceland, so we had to use it […]

Richard

Thursday 10th of September 2015

I loved my time in Reykjavik and think it is one of the best city break choices around. I regret not bringing some design souvenirs home from the gift shop in Harpa - and if I could have afforded one, I'd definitely have bought one of those jumpers!

Suzanne Jones

Saturday 12th of September 2015

You're right it's the perfect city break destination. I never got to check the price of the sweaters but am sure they were expensive as they're all handmade. That's why I need to get knitting!

Lucy

Thursday 10th of September 2015

Lovely pics, Reykjavik is such a great city I'm going to have to go back and see some more soon!

Suzanne Jones

Thursday 10th of September 2015

I feel the same way - would love to do a road trip and drive the ring road exploring all the highlights on the way. Love a bit of wilderness!

Rebecca

Thursday 10th of September 2015

So beautiful! It's definitely not just Iceland's landscapes that are beautiful, I'm so picking up one of those jumpers when I go.

Suzanne Jones

Thursday 10th of September 2015

It is absolutely beautiful. I could have done with one of those jumpers at Blogstock, it was soooo cold! Can't believe I missed you there :(

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