Land Of Fire & Ice

With glaciers, volcanoes, the Northern lights and geothermal baths, Iceland is our next destination.

- Justin Rohrlich & Keith Gordon

It might sound a little overwrought, ‘Land of Fire & Ice,’ but it’s definitely an apt nickname for an island that is covered in both volcanoes and glaciers. This contrast provides for some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on the planet, as city-size glaciers carve their way through magnificent lava fields, and turquoise mineral waters and majestic waterfalls contour the landscape. You can chill out in an ice-cave, or heat things up at a recently-active volcano—and experience it all, enveloped in comfort and luxury if you choose. Just some of the reasons Iceland has become a hot tourist destination.

ELEMENTAL DESIGN

The architecture and design of Iceland is a manifestation of its unreal natural beauty.

Nordic design (or, by expanded definition, Scandinavian) needs no introduction, and these Icelandic structures are reason enough to appreciate the functional, minimalist ethic. More than 245-feet tall, the spire of the Hallgrímskirkja Church serves as one of Reykjavík’s most famous landmarks and, because it’s visible from most of the city, a useful navigation tool.

Like it, Perlan is a renowned creation. Located on top of Öskjuhlíð Hill in Reykjavík, it was built in 1988 by Ingimundur Sveinsson. Constructed atop six huge tanks that serve as the city’s reservoir, the glass dome has become an iconic part of the city’s—and the country’s—identity.

The award-winning Harpa Concert Hall features a multicoloured glass facade and was the only major building constructed during the economic recession that halted all other major projects on the island. It seems a perfect rendition of the ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ ideal.