The Reykjavik Guide for Design Lover
Ásgeir Fannar Ásgeirsson • March 9, 2015
Reykjavík is the Northernmost Capital of the World and the coolest city in Europe. This month is DesignMarch in Reykjavik, and if you’re one of the lucky visitors coming to Iceland this month (or any month) let us guide you through the most interesting, artistic parts of the city.
Street Art
Some countries call it graffiti, but not Iceland! Strolling through Reykjaviík you’ll come across the most amazing street art by extremely talented artists, rivalling the likes of Banksy.
Reykjavík is a relatively small city with a population of 118,000, so when you visit take to the streets by foot and look around.
Street art is scattered among many of it’s buildings, one of which features The Mushroom by artist Sara Riel. This was painted by Sara in 2012 on Hverfisgata street.
“Part of a series of murals that all deal with the theme “Natural Kingdoms”—the kingdom of fungi, in this case.” - cntraveler.com
You will find these amazing portraits painted by the artist Guido Van Helten, on the Loftkastalinn building on the West end of Reykjavik. Once a theatre, it now serves as a film studio.
Take a look at our Inspire your heart with art
blog where we showcased more great street art from Iceland.
Architecture
Something else you will notice on your walk around the Icelandic capital will be the quirky and colourful architecture.
Harpa
Harpa is the modern magnificent National Concert Hall designed by Henning Larsen Architects in collaboration with Batteríið Architects and Studio Ólafur Elíasson. In 2013 Harpa won the prestigious European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award.
Visit Harpa.is
to find out more.
Book the Reykjavík Dinner Cruise and see the spectacular Harpa Concert Hall as you cruise past. Visit tripcreator.com for more information.
Museums
Museum of Design and Applied Art
The Museum of Design and Applied Art is is one of the must see places to get a taste of Icelandic design. During DesignMarch (12th to 15th March) the Museum will host exhibitions ranging from graphic design to product design and design history.
SPARK Design Space
SPARK is Iceland’s only design gallery which plays host to a series of exhibitions and events, especially during DesignMarch. This year SPARK’s DesignMarch exhibitions will have an emphasis on food design. SPARK will host work from both local and international designers. SPARK gallery is also home to a design shop and plays a major role as a host to design events.
Reykjavík Art Museum
Reykjavík Art Museum Kjarvalsstaðir first opened in 1973, and is named after the beloved painter of Iceland, Jóhannes S. Kjarval. As stated in icelanddesign.is, Kjarval was a living legend, a romantic bohem who captured the beauty and mystique of the land which he so intimately knew.
When you visit the Reykjavík Art Museum, you will be able to see a large part of Kjarval’s art collection.
2025: New Platform Updates and Pricing Options
Maximize your efficiency with a direct integration to live availability & pricing in Travia
Boost Your Productivity With The New TripCreator x Bókun Integration