Icelandic design heritage

Visiting the Museum of Design and Applied Art

Your guide to exploring Iceland's national design heritage in Garðabær.

DesignArchitectureArt

Explore the evolution of Icelandic material culture through dedicated exhibitions on textiles, ceramics, furniture, and graphic design. Visitors can browse contemporary creations, observe designers in residence, and view permanent collections showcasing local design history.

A dynamic design museum exhibiting twentieth-century and contemporary Icelandic textiles, furniture, ceramics, graphic design, and architecture.

Exploring Icelandic Design at the Museum of Design and Applied Art

The Museum of Design and Applied Art in Garðabær preserves and exhibits Icelandic design from the 20th century to the modern day. This dynamic institution showcases diverse creative disciplines, including furniture, fashion, and architecture. Visitors can explore historical collections alongside a designer-in-residence studio where active creative processes come to life.

Exterior view of the Museum of Design and Applied Art building in Iceland, showing a modern facade with corrugated metal cladding, large white text reading 'HÖNNUNARSAFN ÍSLANDS', and a smaller sign saying 'MUSEUM OF DESIGN' above the glass entrance doors.

Museum of Design and Applied Art opening hours in Reykjavík

Check today’s opening status, weekly schedule, and special date changes for Museum of Design and Applied Art. Use these opening hours to plan your arrival and avoid closed times in Reykjavík.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

12:00-17:00

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Visitor Amenities at the Museum of Design and Applied Art

The Museum of Design and Applied Art provides practical facilities to enhance the visitor experience, including dedicated family and creative spaces. Guests can also access an on-site retail area that highlights the work of local Icelandic designers.

The Workshop

Available

Museum Shop

Available

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Family visits at the Museum of Design and Applied Art

Families visiting the Museum of Design and Applied Art can utilize the dedicated Workshop space, an area designed for reading, playing, and resting. The venue also hosts scheduled creative sessions that connect design concepts to current exhibitions, providing an interactive environment for younger visitors.

Families visiting the Museum of Design and Applied Art can utilize the designated Workshop space for playing, reading, and resting, or participate in recurring design-focused workshops.

Why families will enjoy it

Dedicated Workshop space available for families to rest, play, or read.
Scheduled design-focused family workshops offered throughout the year.
Interactive environment linked to the museum's permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Activities and resources for children

Family program

Family Design Workshops

Recurring creative sessions connected to museum exhibitions.

Plan a family visit

Location of the Museum of Design and Applied Art

The Museum of Design and Applied Art is located at Garðatorg in the town of Garðabær, within Iceland's Capital Region. This convenient suburban location makes the museum an easy and rewarding addition to any cultural itinerary near the capital. It offers visitors a peaceful setting to engage with twentieth-century and contemporary Icelandic design before continuing their regional travels.

Garðatorg 1

210 Garðabær

Capital Region, IS

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Exploring the Creative Exhibits of the Museum of Design and Applied Art

The Museum of Design and Applied Art in Garðabær offers an insightful journey into Icelandic material culture from the early twentieth century to the modern day. Visitors can explore diverse creative disciplines through exhibitions featuring textiles, furniture, ceramics, graphic design, and architecture. Its layout includes a main gallery for historical displays alongside an active studio where designers-in-residence work. Guests can also discover rotating modern crafts at The Platform or browse functional works by local creators in the curated shop.

Exhibition display featuring chairs, a table, a blue plaid shirt, a yellow lamp, and a wooden cabinet against a dark wall with object labels.

History of the Museum of Design and Applied Art

The foundation of the Museum of Design and Applied Art began in 1998, establishing its collection in Garðabær, Iceland. After more than a decade of gathering objects *primarily through donations*, the institution officially opened to the public in 2010. It now stands as a dedicated repository preserving 20th-century and contemporary design.

Collection started in 1998
1998Founding
The foundation of the museum's collection began in 1998, which served as the precursor to the institution's eventual establishment as a public museum in the town of Garðabær.
Official opening in 2010
2010Opening
After over a decade of gathering items for its collection, the Icelandic Museum of Design and Applied Art officially opened its doors to the public in 2010.
Acquisition of collections through donations
Collection
The majority of the museum's holdings, which primarily consist of Scandinavian design objects from the last century, have been acquired through donations rather than direct purchase.

Curious Questions: Museum of Design and Applied Art FAQ

Wondering if you can call ahead to the Museum of Design and Applied Art? While their phone line remains a mystery, we can confirm they are definitely open Tuesday through Sunday in Garðabær. Just don't show up on a Monday expecting to browse Iceland's finest design collections!

Is the Museum of Design and Applied Art open on Mondays?

No, the Museum of Design and Applied Art is closed on Mondays. Regular visiting hours run Tuesday through Sunday.

What are the opening hours of the Museum of Design and Applied Art?

The Museum of Design and Applied Art is open from 12:00 to 17:00 Tuesday through Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Museum of Design and Applied Art weekend opening hours

On weekends, the Museum of Design and Applied Art is open from 12:00 to 17:00 on both Saturday and Sunday.

Does the Museum of Design and Applied Art have special opening hours?

There are currently no special opening hours or holiday closures listed for the Museum of Design and Applied Art.

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Visitor tips for the Museum of Design and Applied Art

Visitors planning a trip to the Museum of Design and Applied Art can enhance their experience by exploring the dedicated workshop area, which provides a comfortable space to relax, play, or read. The museum also houses a shop that features unique works from a variety of Icelandic designers, making it a convenient stop during your visit. Guests should prepare for a leisurely exploration of the diverse collections, which range from contemporary fashion and textiles to historical furniture and product design. As the facility serves as a center for both learning and leisure, taking advantage of the common areas can help ensure a more comprehensive and enjoyable visit to the site in Garðabær.

Visitor Experience at the Museum of Design and Applied Art

The Museum of Design and Applied Art in Garðabær offers a versatile environment suitable for design enthusiasts, students, and families. Visitors interested in Icelandic creativity can explore a wide range of disciplines including fashion, furniture, architecture, and graphic design. The venue features dedicated spaces such as a workshop area designed to accommodate school visits and family-friendly activities, as well as a specialized research area for those seeking a more focused experience. With its rotating projects and emphasis on both historical and contemporary works, the museum serves as an accessible resource for individuals and groups looking to engage with local craftsmanship.

Museum of Design and Applied Art Gallery Preview

The Museum of Design and Applied Art in the Reykjavík area greets visitors with a striking modern exterior, characterized by its corrugated metal facade, large Icelandic signage, and bright yellow accents. These images capture the clean, industrial aesthetic of the building's facade, offering a preview of the contemporary Icelandic design, textiles, and furniture exhibitions housed within.

Smiling woman with short dark hair and a white headband wearing a black jacket stands before a wall with red flower patterns and a large text panel.

Close-up of a white, web-like textile structure draped over a dark gray woven form with yellow threads.

Bright museum interior with white display tables holding design objects, shelves with products, hanging scarves, and framed artworks on white walls

A white ceramic sculpture shaped like a folded notebook with a hand-drawn sketch and text reading "Making a Research Practice" on its surface, displayed on a gray background.

Two smiling women holding large white pillows against a gray background, wearing dark clothing

Contemporary jewelry pieces displayed on a white background, including a red-orange-green beaded necklace, white rings with colored bands, circular translucent pendants, and a large leaf-patterned pendant.

Black and white portrait of a person with digital glitch and pixelation effects overlaid across the face and hair against a black background

Barbie dolls wearing custom-designed fashion outfits in an exhibition display, with the central doll in a pink embroidered coat with decorative patterns

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