Reykjavík City Hall, Reykjavík, Iceland — Photographed 2016
Nestled on the northern shore of Tjörnin Pond in downtown Reykjavík, the City Hall was the result of a decades‑long vision finally brought to life. After an international design competition won by Studio Granda, Margret Harðardóttir and Steve Christer, the building was constructed from 1987 to 1992, with its inauguration on April 14, 1992.
The design comprises two connected volumes: one housing public functions with lakeside access, the other containing council and office spaces. A pedestrian bridge links the City Hall directly to the water, blurring boundaries between civic life and nature. Its minimalist concrete, glass facades, and thoughtful landscaping reflect Iceland’s rugged environment, while the large relief map of Iceland in its foyer underscores civic identity.
Though not adorned with global awards, it has earned local accolades, including the Icelandic Environmental Services Association Award and the Nordic Sheet Metal Award in the early 1990s, and remains one of Reykjavík’s most beloved architectural landmarks.
Photographed in 2016, this project allowed me to explore the serene interaction of architecture and water, how light filters through glass onto concrete, and how civic space can feel intimate yet open—capturing the quiet civic spirit of Reykjavík’s intellectual and aesthetic heart.
