The Nordic House in Reykjavík, Iceland: A House with a Big Heart for Children and Literature

Photo: Mats Wibe Lund

Surrounded by sea on three sides and guarded by the majestic mountain range Esja, the city of Reykjavík is a capital in a rather non-metropolitan way. Small in scale and with a pond frequented by Arctic birds for a central square, the city gets its capital allure from the international vibe of its numerous events and the variety of cultural festivals it hosts. One of the venues taking a leading role in the city’s richness of activities is the Nordic House, situated in the nature reserve across the road from the city center. The same modest size as Reykjavík, the house is as vibrant, varied, and international as the city itself.

The Nordic House, built in 1968, is a cultural institution designed by acclaimed Finnish architect Alvar Aalto (1898–1976). Visitors from all over the world find their way to the Nordic House to admire this distinctive representative of Aalto’s architecture. It features typical motifs that can be found in Aalto’s well-known masterpieces. Due to the use of organic shapes and natural materials, such as bended wood and copper combined with tile and brick, the building is in harmony with its environment and function. The blue rooftop merges with the mountain range to the south, and the brightness, transparency, and warmth of the interior reflect the objective of the Nordic House.

The institution was the first of its kind and is operated by the Nordic Council of Ministers—an intergovernmental body with representatives from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden as well as Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Åland. The goal of the Nordic House, which is to foster and support cultural connections between Iceland and the other Nordic countries, is manifested in a diverse program of cultural activities and events.

A Focus on Children and Young People

In the heart of the house, with its high ceiling and fan-shaped book well, is the library, which has books and media in all the Scandinavian languages along with Sami, Greenlandic, and Finnish. Furthermore, the house contains an art lending section, an auditorium, exhibition spaces, and a cozy children’s library and playing area, where storytelling hours in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish take place.

On a regular day, activities can be as varied as follows: In the morning, a school class gets a guided tour through the house, while a seminar on Nordic environmental issues is opened by the President of Iceland. Later, the auditorium might be used for a film screening or children’s theatre, while tourists and locals visit the exhibitions, the restaurant, or the gift shop. People drop in at the library to study, borrow books, or enjoy the architecture. In the children’s library, children are playing, reading, and discovering books in familiar or new languages. In the evening, you might see guests sipping from a glass of wine during a literature night with a Nordic writer, or the auditorium could be filled with long-haired youngsters at a concert with Norwegian medieval instruments or young people of all ages enjoying Danish hip-hop. The Nordic House participates in the major festivals held in Reykjavík and produces its own exhibitions, festivals, and events—covering a broad spectrum of topics, with a focus on sustainability, children and youth, and literature.

Photo: Mats Wibe Lund

Today, the Nordic House has sister organizations in the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Åland, and Finland. All five institutions work under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers, following its strategy for Nordic cultural co-operation. One of the current strategy’s five main topics focuses on children and young people. In addition, children and youth are a priority target group within the overall strategy of the Nordic Council. Based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Council of Ministers seeks to respect, protect, and promote the rights and perspectives of children and young...