Hallgrímskirkja
Guðjón Samúelsson · Reykjavík, Iceland · 1986
Hallgrímskirkja is Reykjavík’s dominant vertical landmark and the best-known work of Icelandic state architect Guðjón Samúelsson. Conceived in the 1930s and finally consecrated in 1986, the church uses a stepped concrete façade and soaring tower often associated with the forms of Icelandic basalt formations. Its long construction period makes it a bridge between expressionist, nationalist and modern architectural tendencies. The austere interior focuses attention on height and light, while the tower establishes a powerful orientation point within Reykjavík’s low urban fabric.