Reykjavik City Hall, Reykjavik

Reykjavík's City Hall, designed by architects Margrét Harðardóttir and Steve Christer, stands on Tjörnin lake's northern shore, at the heart of the city. This building uniquely blends nature and urban elements, reflecting its dual purpose. The City Council Building, located on the north side, is solid and structured, mirroring the Kvos district's architectural style. In contrast, the south-facing Office Building, where administrative work happens, has a more fluid and open design, with workspaces and meeting rooms overlooking the lake. A notable feature outside is a moss-covered wall, reminiscent of Iceland's natural mossy rock formations.

The concept of a city hall in Reykjavík dates back to the city's early days. After years of planning and an open competition in 1986, the winning design by Harðardóttir and Christer, both London Architectural Association School graduates, was chosen from 38 entries. The construction began in 1988 and the hall was inaugurated in 1992.

A key attraction inside is a large 3D map of Iceland, located in the main hall. This detailed map, crafted from 1 millimeter thick cardboard cut to represent Iceland's topography and mounted on a wooden and aluminum frame, spans 76.4 square meters. The map, built by the city's carpenters and painted by Sigurður Pálsson, is designed at a 1:50,000 scale but with an exaggerated elevation scale of 1:25,000 for better visual impact. This map, along with the building's design, symbolizes the fusion of Reykjavík's urban fabric and natural environment.