Nordic House
Reykjavík, Iceland
Open to visitors
The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.
Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.
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Opened in 1968, the Nordic House in Reykjavík is a cultural institution designed by Finnish modernist architect Alvar Aalto and operated by the Nordic Council of Ministers to foster cultural connections between Iceland and the other Nordic countries. A signature late work by Aalto, the building exemplifies his characteristic modernist approach: an organically shaped roof clad in ultramarine tiles that echoes the distant mountain range, a central well anchoring the library, and extensive use of white, tile, and wood throughout. Aalto designed virtually all the furnishings, lamps, and furniture installed in the building. The library, unique in Iceland for its architectural distinction, holds over 30,000 items in seven Nordic languages and allows patrons to borrow books, eBooks, films, and prints from its Artotek. The Nordic House also houses exhibition space, auditoriums, a children's library, and a restaurant, and serves as a venue for major cultural events including the Reykjavík International Film and Literary Festivals and Iceland Airwaves.
Architect
- Built
- Type
- cultural center
- Place
- Reykjavík, Iceland
This building on
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Location