2_1_ScanMag_80_Sep-Oct_2015_Q9_Scan Magazine 1 15/09/2015 16:54 Page 34
Scan Magazine | Top Experiences in Iceland | Nordic House & Aalto Bistro
Four decades at the forefront of Nordic culture The Nordic House in Reykjavík remains a bastion of Nordic culture in Iceland four decades after its foundation. Inside the striking, wave-shaped construction – one of the masterpieces of Finnish architect Alvar Aalto – young and old can enjoy the best of Nordic art, literature, gastronomy, design and, of course, architecture.
international events and exhibitions such as the Reykjavík International Film and Literary Festivals and the Nordic Fashion Biennale.
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Nordic House & Aalto Bistro
Developing with the times
Stunningly located on a manmade landmass in the middle of a marsh, the Nordic House warrants a visit for several reasons. Not only is it the only building in Iceland designed by an internationallyacclaimed architect, it is also the home of the highly praised Nordic restaurant Aalto Bistro as well as a unique public library with a collection of over 30,000 items in seven Nordic languages. “By initiating and creating great Nordic exhibitions, concerts and projects that appeal to all the family, the Nordic House has managed to define itself in its time,” says Mikkel Harder, director of the Nordic House.
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The continuous focus and development has, indeed, enabled the Nordic House to remain at the heart of Iceland’s cultural life, initiating and hosting national and
When the Nordic House opened in 1968 it was as a Nordic beacon in a country that was then increasingly influenced by the presence of the USA. Harder explains: “The house was constructed in