Perlan remains on the market in Reykjavík as bidding closes this Thursday

Reykjavík’s iconic Perlan remains on the market, with bidding set to close this Thursday. The property is valued at 3.5 billion Icelandic krónur. The city aims to find new owners for Perlan, which includes two tanks situated beneath the structure.

The new ownership will not affect the Natural History Museum or other exhibitions currently housed within Perlan and the tanks, which will continue operations unchanged for at least the next two decades. A lease agreement for Perlan extends until 2040, with options for renewal. There are stipulations requiring that the building, parking facilities, and grounds remain open to the public for free or at a modest fee. Additionally, primary school students from Reykjavík are allowed to visit the museum free of charge twice during their schooling.

Perlan itself is divided into three sections: a 4,500 square meter event space, an exhibition area of 846 square meters, and a 500 square meter planetarium. Including the two tanks, the total area of Perlan measures 5,800 square meters. The city council initiated the sale process for Perlan and two of the six tanks last fall. The remaining four will continue to serve as hot water storage for the greater Reykjavík area. Perlan was constructed by Reykjavík Energy and opened in 1991, and the city acquired it from the energy company in 2013.