Architecture of the Embassy of the Republic of Iceland
Red Ryolite, Glass, Concrete, Lava
The Icelandic Embassy is situated in the western part of the
embassies’ premises and borders on the copper band, which surrounds all
of the Nordic Embassies.
The building designed by the architect
Pálmar Kristmundsson symbolises the rough nature of Iceland and makes a
reference to Icelandic building tradition. It consists of a two-part
rectangle structure with a glass atrium in the middle.
The
five-storey front block contains the embassy offices and is clad with
red ryolite which, depending on the rays of the sun, reveals a splendid
play of colours. The four-storey rear block is clad with wave-formed,
sandblasted concrete panels, which are reminiscent of corrugated iron, a
typical building material used in Iceland. Both parts of the building
have grass-covered roofs.
The glassed atrium looks out onto the
copper band and a pool of water which visually connects the Icelandic
and Danish Embassies. The floor of the atrium is covered with black lava
slabs which are illuminated from below with red light.
The
materials for the façade, the natural stone floors, the maple parquet
and the interior decoration made of differently treated larch and maple
wood originate from Iceland.
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Facts: Iceland
Flag
Historically, the Icelandic colours are blue and white or rather
silver. The red within the Scandinavian cross is meant as a reference ...
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Historically, the Icelandic colours are blue and white or rather silver. The red within the Scandinavian cross is meant as a reference to the historical connections to Denmark. During the time when Iceland belonged to Denmark, the Danish flag had to be flown alongside the Icelandic one.
The present flag was designed in 1913. However, it was not until 1919 that the flag was officially recognised by the Danish King Christian X. When Iceland proclaimed itself a republic on 17 June 1944, this flag was adopted as the national flag.
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National Anthem
The Icelandic national anthem »Ó, guð vors lands« (Our country's God) was
originally written in 1874 as a hymn for the national celebration to
commemorate the millennium of Iceland's settlement ...
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The Icelandic national anthem »Ó, guð vors lands« (Our country's God)
was originally written in 1874 as a hymn for the national celebration to
commemorate the millennium of Iceland's settlement. The lyrics
were written by the national poet Matthías Jochumsson (1835-1920). The
melody was composed by Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson (1847-1926), the first
Icelander to make music his career. The anthem was first sung at a
festive service in Reykjavík Cathedral on Sunday, 2 August 1874. Prior
to the founding of the Republic of Iceland in 1944, Iceland had no
national anthem in the normal sense of the term. However, during the
last quarter of the 19th century, »Ó, guð vors lands« was often sung at
public events, and hence it became the national anthem by tradition. The
lyrics are more like a hymn than a patriotic ode, and due to the wide
range of notes, it is difficult for many people to sing. Nevertheless,
Icelanders do not regard this as an obstacle, even though there were
other patriotic odes which were easier to sing. People in Iceland revere
Matthías Jochumsson's work, and the solemn, moving song is dear to
their hearts. Ó, guð vors lands! Ó, lands vors guð! - Vér lofum þitt heilaga, heilaga nafn!
- Úr sólkerfum himnanna hnýta þér krans
- þínir herskarar, tímanna safn.
- Fyrir þér er einn dagur sem þúsund ár
- og þúsund ár dagur, ei meir:
- eitt eilífðar smáblóm með titrandi tár,
- sem tilbiður guð sinn og deyr.
- Íslands þúsund ár,
- Íslands þúsund ár,
- eitt eilífðar smáblóm með titrandi tár,
- sem tilbiður guð sinn og deyr.
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Language
The Icelandic language has not changed very much during the past millennium. Even today, it is very similar to Old Norse ...
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The Icelandic language has not changed very much during the past
millennium. Even today, it is very similar to Old Norse. Presumably
because of the geographic remoteness of the island, evidence of the
North Germanic cultural heritage, sagas and art could be conserved in
the language.
In accordance with Iceland’s linguistic policy of
language purism, neologisms are coined instead of adopting foreign
words. Although anyone who engages in learning the language will have to
struggle with its complicated grammar, it is fun to »decrypt« the
beautiful new word creations. For example, Icelandic has the word muna
(to remember, to think about something). The word mynd (picture) has the
same origin – meaning that a picture is a recorded memory or thought.
Icelandic
has two unique letter characters of its own, Þ/þ and Ð/ð. They are
pronounced as the »th« in English. »Þ/þ« is pronounced as »th« in
»thing« and »Ð/ð« is pronounced as the »th« in »them«.
Mini language course in Icelandic:
Good day – góðan daginn
Good evening – gott kvöld
Hello – halló
Good-bye – bless
Thank you – takk
Excuse me – fyrirgefið / afsakið
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National Day
During the mid-19th century Iceland’s political struggle for autonomy
from Denmark was initiated by Jón Sigurðsson (1811-1879), who today is
commemorated as national hero ...
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During the mid-19th century Iceland’s political struggle for autonomy
from Denmark was initiated by Jón Sigurðsson (1811-1879), who today is
commemorated as national hero. For the millennial celebration of the
island’s settlement in 1874, the King of Denmark granted Iceland its own
constitution as well as financial sovereignty.
In 1904 the
first Icelandic government was established. It consisted of one minister
who resided in Iceland. On 1 December 1918 Iceland became independent,
but remained in a personal union with the Danish monarch. In 1944 the
Republic of Iceland was officially proclaimed in Thingvellir on June 17,
the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson.
This date has since become
Iceland’s official national day, on which Icelanders throughout the
country commemorate the foundation of the republic in 1944 by taking
part in open-air events with exquisitely colourful parades, speeches and
the message from the »Lady of the Mountain« (Ávarp Fjallkonunnar).
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Christmas
Christmas is called Jól in Icelandic ...
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Christmas is called Jól in Icelandic.
Advent season
In
Iceland there is not only one Father Christmas or Santa Claus, but 13
»Yule Lads«, who enjoy playing pranks and are sometimes quite gruff.
Thirteen days before Christmas the first Yule lad comes down from the
mountains, and then the others follow, one each day up to Christmas Eve.
Starting thirteen days before Christmas the Icelandic children place a
shoe on the windowsill every evening, hoping to find a gift in it the
next morning.
On December 23, also called St. Thorlakur’s Day,
people eat skata (fermented skate), the Christmas tree is decorated and
the last Christmas presents are bought. The stores are open until
midnight on this day.
Christmas Eve
In
the morning, many Icelanders go to the cemetery and put a candle on the
graves of their loved ones. At 6 p.m. the church bells ring in
Christmas Eve and the Christmas celebrations commence. Rjúpa (snow
grouse) or pork roast are eaten on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day
Hangikjöt
(smoked lamb) prepared according to a traditional recipe and Laufabraud
(snowflake bread) are served on Christmas Day. The 13 Yule Lads
disappear one after another into the mountains again until January 6,
the end of the Christmas season. On this day the elves dance around a
bonfire together with the elf king and queen.
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Easter
Easter is called páskar in Icelandic ...
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Easter is called páskar in Icelandic.
Holy Thursday is a holiday
in Iceland, as well as Good Friday and Easter Monday. Many use the
holiday to go on a skiing vacation.
There is no tradition of the
Easter bunny – it is not known in Iceland (nor is there any
understanding of the connection between rabbits and eggs!), and
therefore Easter egg hunts are unknown as well. Nonetheless, children
are given chocolate Easter eggs on Easter Sunday. The hollow eggs come
in different sizes, and contain sweets and a note with a saying on it.
The big ones are decorated with a bow, and a chick sits on top. The eggs
are made of delicious creamy chocolate, and of course everyone would
like to get Easter eggs as big as possible from parents and
grandparents!
The Icelandic Easter tradition is young, since the
date of Easter was too early in the calendar to be considered a spring
festival. The arrival of spring was celebrated on a later date, on
sumardagurinn fyrsti, literally the first day of summer. Presents were
distributed and people symbolically began with their spring work. To
this day, there is no school on sumardagurinn fyrsti.
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Summer
Seamen’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in June. It is an official flag day in Iceland ...
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Seamen’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in June. It is an
official flag day in Iceland. Seamen’s Day was first celebrated in 1938
in Reykjavík. The festivities later spread to ports and fishing villages
throughout the country. Especially outstanding achievements, for
example in sea rescue operations, are honoured. All over Iceland,
festivities take place with games and competitions.
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Sports
The Icelandic national sport is glima – Icelandic wrestling. The sport
has a proud tradition, because the Vikings imported glima as early as
around 800 A.D. when they conquered the island ...
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The Icelandic national sport is glima – Icelandic wrestling. The sport
has a proud tradition, because the Vikings imported glima as early as
around 800 A.D. when they conquered the island. There are several
versions that have survived up to this day almost in their original
form. Traditionally, glima is practised outdoors, which is a good way to
build up one’s resilience before winter comes. Glima can be
translated as »game of joy«. It is a wrestling match in which each
wrestler must maintain an upright stance and make his opponent lose his
balance and fall down. To achieve this, each wrestler tries to lift up
his opponent or use tricks to get him down. Glima is also played in
Denmark and in Greenland. Glima in Iceland: www.glima.isGlima in German: www.spielederwelt.de/spiele/glima < less
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of the Nordic Embassies
