Culture in Iceland

Iceland has only limited amount of available resources, it is interesting to note that locals think up of creative ideas to work within the constraints. It is also seen in some parts of their country how they integrate designing in their everyday living, such as recycling of materials and eco-friendly building structures. The increasing amount of green buildings in Iceland enhanced the culture of the society through eco-friendly practices.



Some of its interesting features:
-Double-glass facade that assists with the building’s natural ventilation scheme, daylighting and weather shielding
-These ice crystals made from glass formations diffuse light as it enters the building, reducing glare as well as heat gain
-Iceland is located at a high Northern latitude, so the glass is designed to take advantage of low sun angles.

Green building example - http://inhabitat.com/stunning-icelandic-institute-is-an-ice-frosted-eco-citadel/iceland-institute-of-natural-history-2/?extend=1

Through Iceland's example, it is evident that sometimes culture can also be shaped by nature. Limitations and lack of resources partially helped in shaping the Icelandic culture of building structures. Usually, culture is determined by the indigenous group of people who settled in the country.

Icelandic cuisines are not for the faint-hearted. Hakarl (decomposed shark), gravlax (salmon fish marinated with spices), hangikjot (smoked lamb), and slatur (delicacies made from sheep intestines) are some of the popular cuisines in Iceland.

http://www.mapsofworld.com/country-profile/iceland-economy-people-culture-and-flag.html

Apart from innovative designs as part of the Icelandic culture, other cultures in Iceland revolves around arts and music.

In Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, along the streets and alleys there will be project spaces, diverse artist run organisations and established galleries that offers its visitors an insight into the emerging scene. The museums in Reykjavik and surroundings offer exhibitions ranging from art historical revisions to contemporary projects as well.
http://www.iceland.is/arts-culture/visual-arts/

In terms of music, it can be categorised into classical music, opera, jazz and contemporary music. There are numerous annual music festivals in Iceland that showcase the colourful music scene with performances. Icelandic music is closely interlinked with the Nordic breed of music, pulsating the native ethnicity with folk and pop music that are religious in nature

The icon in Iceland is the Icelandic Horse. It has been purebred for a thousand years, treated with respect and raised to the highest level. The horse is a favorite among Icelanders and can be seen in art and literature all through Iceland’s history. It holds a special place in the mind of the nation. Thousands of people in Iceland own horses for the simple pleasure of riding out.

http://www.fhb.is/Files/hestarensk72.pdf