| The concert hall uses various ASSA ABLOY products including dp cylinders, locks and electric strikes |
The Harpa concert hall and conference centre – a visually stunning, ultra-modern landmark in Reykjavik’s historic harbour and waterfront area – makes use of a variety of ASSA products, including dp cylinders, locks from the Connect and Classic series, and electric strikes.
Harpa, designed by architects Henning Larsen and Batteríið in cooperation with the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, is the permanent home of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera.
Since it first opened its doors in May 2011, Harpa has hosted numerous concerts, conferences and other events, featuring artists such as the British pop sensation Jamie Cullum, German tenor Jonas Kaufmann, pianist Maria João Pires, violinist and conductor Maxim Vengerov, conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.
In its first year of operation, Harpa attracted far more visitors than expected – almost a million – and picked up several international awards, including one in the international category of the UK’s Civic Trust Awards and the US Travel + Leisure magazine’s "Best Performance Space 2012" award.
ASSA is involved in securing this award-winning building with ASSA dp cylinders, says Bjorn V. Sveinsson, president of Velar & Verkfærie hf, ASSA AB’s longtime representative in Iceland. In addition, the concert hall features ASSA locks from the Connect and Classic series, ASSA electric strikes, ASSA panic bars and exit devices, as well as door handles from ASSA’s sister company, Ruko.
Harpa is part of an extensive project to expand and revitalise Reykjavik’s eastern harbour, generate new life in the area and enhance its connection with the city centre, and ASSA is proud to play its part in helping to achieve this goal.