A home fit for a king
Hverfisgata 21 was the only residence considered fit for the King of Denmark in 1926. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Today, on Culture Night, you have the opportunity to visit Hverfisgata 21 in central Reykjavik, a beautiful building which now houses a guesthouse, Reykjavik Residence Suites, but was formerly used as a residence for visiting royalty to Iceland.
The building was designed by architect Finnur Ó. Thorlacius and was built 101 years ago for Reykjavik statesman and later, Prime Minister, Jón Magnússon and his wife Þóra. When Iceland was under Danish rule, the King of Denmark announced a visit for the summer of 1926 accommpanied by Queen Alexandrína. It became quite a task to find a residence suitable for such distinguished guests in poverised Reykjavik. They finally ended up staying with the Prime Minister and his wife.
Fifteen years later the Icelandic Printing Society purchased the building and rented out the apartment in the attic to printer Hallbjörn Halldórsson and his wife Kristín Guðmundsdóttir. The couple hosted evenings for a society of artists and poets called Mjólkurfélag heilagra (The milk society of the holy) and the building therefore became an important gathering place for the bohemians of the early 20th century. The society counted authors Halldór Laxness, Þórbergur Þórðarsson and Stefán frá Hvítadal, actress Inga Laxness and doctor Vilmundur Jónsson.
Guided tours of the building start at 2 pm today and admission is free.
The beautiful staircase of the building. Photo: Eggert Jóhannsson
A traditional "lokrekkja" bed, built into the wall. Photo: Eggert Jóhannsson
