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The Culture House

This fascinating exhibition called Point of View, or Sjónarhorn in Iceland, gives visitors the opportunity to delve into the collections of six different cultural institutions; from thousand-year-old treasures to the latest in Icelandic contemporary art. Its main emphasis is on the visual expression of the ideas we have about the world, our environment and ourselves. The materials and techniques may change over the years, but the viewpoint remains the same. This is a unique journey through Iceland’s visual legacy, offering an innovative guide to a nation’s cultural history.

The exhibition is a collaboration between Iceland’s three leading museums in their respective fields – the National Museum of Iceland, National Gallery of Iceland and Natural History Museum – and the National Archives of Iceland, National and University Library of Iceland, and Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies.

The Culture House has always been considered one of Iceland’s most beautiful buildings and a lot of care was taken in creating the interior as well as the exterior. The building was designed by Danish architect Johannes Magdahl Nielsen and built by Icelandic craftsmen and is certainly a testament to their fine work. Within its walls, you’ll find the unique reading hall, preserved in its original form.

The Culture House is well worth a visit and a great way to explore and learn about Icelandic culture. After you’ve gone through the collections we recommend that you sit down at the lovely Julia & Julia a coffee house and bakery located in The Culture House. They offer soups and sandwiches along with cakes and sweet pastries to enjoy with a cup of coffee.