 Guðjón's design of Hallgrímskirkja was, for instance, inspired by basalt columns, such as those at Svartifoss.Guðjón characterized his design of the main-building of the University of Iceland as a distinct and new Icelandic style that he believed would contribute to the revival of the Icelandic Commonwealth.When the British occupied Iceland in 1940, the British commander reportedly opted not to seize the University of Iceland main-building because he considered it too beautiful.