Last I checked Iceland can use all the light it can get ;)

codemagic

Tight

NagChampa

@Boardndave: Are you trying to imply that Reykjavik isn't affected by light pollution? If so, then you have obviously haven't been to Reykjavik either.

Disclaimer: I live in Reykjavik

bjarnia

SgtToastie, you obviously haven't been to Reykjavik.

Boardndave

Krypton?

tande04

Of course, the first opera will be Wagner's One Ring Cycle.

ljj

Light pollution? Who cares!

SgtToastie

Well, they could be referring to the dark elves, who live in Svartalfheim. I think there is some uncertainty whether the dark elves were the same as the dwarves, or were a different people.

Repton

Seriously, does everything have to be a lite-brite these days?

Forty years from now we're going to look back on this like the neon revolution - 2 parts wonder, 8 parts shame.

92BuickLeSabre

@bjarnia: Do you guys have to replace your J key often? It seems heavly used over there.

Im surprised they arent referred to as Ejlves.

m4ximusprim3

I went to Iceland back in April for 2 weeks. Amazing trip. It's fairly dark there (which I like) and although there is enough light most of the time, its no where near as bad with light pollution as where I live (new york city).

imTheKing

looking at those pictures that place is real dark. It looks like Sleepy Hollow...

VakeroRokero

This totally goes together with their main pop star, Björk!

VakeroRokero

I read the headline, and I thought it said "EFF" friendly - I figured it was some sort of new enviro-friendly building standard.

tidybowl

@imTheKing: Forget light pollution...the biggest thing I noticed in Iceland was the lack of air pollution. Although, did you catch the sulfur scent from the hot water taps from the geothermal systems? April must have been cold. August is the best if you don't want to freeze your nuts off.

johnnyabnormal

I want Dethklok to play there.

bitgod

I think something like The Fortress of Solitude with light emanating from deep inside would have been more pleasant to see on the skyline. This giant glowing cube seems a bit much.
Plus, how cheesed-off are the elves going to be at 6+ months of heavy construction right over their heads?

On a more substantial note- >900 seats seems kind of small for a major theatre. 1200 to 1500 seats would seem to be more in line with such a major venue. Disney Hall has some 2400 seats just for music.

AdmNaismith

Meanwhile, at the Legion of Doom......

Diskoboy

*Stirs around some ice, drops in flash light.

This means something.

robpruitt

@AdmNaismith: Well reykjavik isn't really a very large city.. :)

krisve

Did you actually read Tolkien or just watched the movies? Elves DO live underground - even Legolas's home was a network of caverns in Mirkwood.

borgseawolf

Bjork will be pleased

Geogeo

this is the most metal place ive ever heard of

pevans34

@borgseawolf: But the question must be asked. Are we even talking about Tolkien elves? Or are we talking about the old school European elves which are smaller, more imp-ish creatures? Tolkien revolutionized the way people see elves. Before him elves were not the spritely, lithey, agile, elegant creatures that most people think of now a days. But most often a small, slightly fiendish, mischievous creature. Although their are myths with larger sized elves I'm not sure which one "lives" in Iceland.

ninjamurf

@AdmNaismith: Well this is not entirely true, the real opera house being build in reykjavik is this one [www.portusgroup.is]
as you can see this opera house is a hole lot bigger!

this Ragnarokkin opera house is being build in a town called Kopavogur. And is not even close to being as big as Reykjavik.

Jon_Cleon

This story is wrong in some major points: 1) The Opera house will NOT be built in Reykjavík, but in the town of Kópavogur. 2) Elves do NOT live underground. They walk ON the ground like humans, but build their homes in cliffs, fells, rocks and sometimes mountains. Therefore their homes can easily be seen, but you may not know wheather elves are living there or not, until they make themselves visible. Bergthora Jonsdottir Reykjavik, ICELAND

NancySagan

Re: the LEDs "combating seasonal affective disorder on those long long northern winter nights." Oddly, the Icelandic medical profession does not believe in SAD. Also, the thing is to be in Kopavogur, not Reykjavik. Small point, but as anyone who lives in Newark will tell you, it ain't New York City.

Disclaimer: I used to live in Kopavogur and I often fly through Newark on my way to pastures green, i.e. NYC.

TinTininVegas

False story! the real Opera house is at this link: [www.portusgroup.is]

AdmNaismith: True this Opera house is small, that is because this house is in a town called Kópavogur. Kópavogur is not as big as Reykjavík so that is why ;) ([www.kopavogur.is])

As you can see on portusgroup web page under video, Reykjavik's opera house is also going to be LED frosted! I think the largest LED lighting design in the World. But I might be wrong!

Jon_Cleon

hummmmm... this is not true!!! This opera house is not in Reykjavik! it is in a town called Kópavogur!!! Reykjavík is building a far far larger opera house!!! It also illuminates with LED lighting. And I think it is the largest LED backlight design in the WORLD.

Link to the true opera house in Reykjavik: [www.portusgroup.is]

The Icelandic National Concert & Conference Centre is being constructed at the Reykjavík city centre harbour where the waterfront wharf and the old harbour wall meet on a striking coastal site, embraced by the sea.

The Centre will be 28.000 square meters (258.000 sq ft) in size and 43 meters tall (141 ft).

The design of the building is influenced by the impressive and dramatic Icelandic landscape. The nature is an endless source of colours: from glowing red to indigo blue, with variations from roaring ocean with white-foaming waves to a still, glassy sea.

The concept of the building is to create a crystalline form with a variety of colours dependent on the surrounding nature, giving the viewer a continuous feeling of sensuous change. The building stands alone as a monolith, reflecting the varying sky both in intensity and colour depending on the time of day, the weather and the season. The sun will accentuate the details in light and shadow, and the building will allude to the warm golden colours of glowing lava or to the ice blue glaciers of winter.

There are eight planned terraces on different floors in the building. On the fifth floor, a terrace connects the roofs of the rehearsal hall and the concert hall providing fantastic view over the bay to the north and to the city towards west and south. The terrace will be used for intermissions and for minor exhibitions and performances.

The plan of the building is simple with three halls side by side ? a Concert Hall, a Rehearsal/Recital Hall and a Conference Hall, which will simplify the flow within the building. In addition there are smaller halls and rooms. Throughout the design process, emphasis is placed on making it both ideal for hosting bigger events and to separate different conference halls from other areas of the building. This makes it possible to host different events simultaneously, without one interfering with the others.

Venue details

Concert hall: 1,800 people

Conference hall: 750 people

Rehearsal hall: 450 people

Chamber music hall: 200 people

Two halls that sit 60 people each

In addition there are various meeting rooms and a spacious exhibition area.

Jon_Cleon

Actually the Opera house will be built in Kópavogur, which is the town next to Reykjavík.

For more pics and video you can go to [www.kopavogur.is]

vag4

That is one sexy building. Gizmodo should buy it for their new HQ.

lond0n