I am a big fan of Finnish Modernist architect Alvar Aalto‘s work ( you can read my previous entry on him here). Although most of Aalto‘s buildings are located in Finland, he did build a few outside of Finland in his later years, and The Nordic House in Reykjavik is one of them.

Opened in 1968 by the Nordic Council of Ministers, The Nordic House is a cultural institution that supports cultural connections and activities between Iceland and the other Nordic countries.

The unadorned white building has a slanted wooden roof that resembles the mountain row in the background. And once inside, you can see Aalto‘s signature traits everywhere as all the furnishings, lamps and furniture were designed by him. The extensive use of wood can be seen throughout the building, and every design detail was well-thought-out by the designer.

The institution houses a shop, a bistro, an exhibition space, auditoriums and a library with over 30,000 items in 7 Nordic languages (though not in Icelandic). I think the building’s most notable feature is the bright and spacious library. The large windows above the bookshelves and the skylight windows enable natural light to penetrate inside, while at the same time reaches the split/lower level in the middle. What a marvellous design!

The interior of the library and bistro overlooking the wetland

The acclaimed Aalto bistro serves fresh, local and healthy produce in a cool setting overlooking the wetland with a pond and mountain backdrop. There is even a binoculus by the window where you can enjoy the view and observe the ducks swimming in the pond.

The Nordic House is located at Sturlugata 5, 101 Reykjavík.