The concert hall is situated on the border between land and sea, standing out as a large, radiant sculpture reflecting both sky and harbour space as well as the vibrant life of the city. The facades were designed in close collaboration between Henning Larsen Architects, the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson and the engineering companies Ramboll and ArtEngineering GmbH from Germany.

The Concert Hall is 28,000 m2 in size and situated in a solitary spot with a clear view of the enormous sea and mountains surrounding Reykjavik. The building features an arrival and foyer area in the front of the building, four halls in the middle and a backstage area with offices, administration, rehearsal hall and changing room in the back of the building. The three large halls are placed next to each other with public access on the south side and backstage access from the north. The fourth floor is a multifunctional hall with room for more intimate shows and banquets.

Seen from the foyer, the halls form a mountain-like massif that appear similar to basalt rock on the coast, which forms a stark contrast to the expressive and open facade. At the core of the rock, the largest hall of the building, the main concert hall, reveals the detail of the interior.

The project was designed in collaboration with the local architectural company, Batteriid Architects.

It was awarded the 2012 Mies van der Rohe architecture award.