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.
The Icelandic Embassy 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... > more 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 June 17, 1944, this flag was adopted as the national flag.
< less 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. > more 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 Matthias 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, August 2, 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, “Our country's God” 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.
< less Language The Icelandic language has not changed very much during the past millennium. Even today, it is very similar to Old Norse. > more 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 < less 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. > more 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 December 1, 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 the 17th of June, 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). < less Christmas Christmas is called Jól in Icelandic > more 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 the 23rd of December, 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 the 6th of January, the end of the Christmas season. On this day the elves dance around a bonfire together with the elf king and queen. < less Easter Easter is called páskar in Icelandic. > more 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. < less Summer Seamen’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in June. It is an official flag day in Iceland. > more 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. < less 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. > more 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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