Perlan - The Pearl Reykjavík, Iceland

The Pearl is a unique restaurant, utilising Icelandic natural resources to create a remarkable atmosphere. Situated on the Öskjuhlíð hill close to the city centre, this is not only a place with a view, it is also an architectural curiosity. Öskjuhlíð is the location for a storage and distribution centre for the city's heating system, which has provided heating from geothermal sources since 1928. Architect Birgit Abrecht points out that the structure, formed by a cluster of six hot-water storage tanks, may be regarded as symbolic of the country's geothermal sources, and their key role in Icelandic society. The Pearl is the name given to the four-storey glass dome erected over the tanks, and on the top floor is the exclusive rotating restaurant The Pearl, offering international cuisine. The extra energy from the hot water tanks is used to heat the dome, ensuring that the interior temperature is stable and comfortable.