Grass Roof House Iceland

Icelandic turf houses belong to a tradition that was introduced by the vikings in the 9 th century.

Grass roof house iceland.

The first icelandic turf houses generally had a foundation made of flat stones whereupon a wooden frame was built which had to hold the weight of the turf. But there is a reason why scandinavians like these green roofs so much. The top layer of the earth is used which is soil that is bound together by grass and plant roots. The hall skáli of the turf houses is believed to be the oldest turf house hall in iceland.

Bustarfell is a huge turf house and consists of 17 houses but each gable and outhouse counts as one unit. They are not only a beautiful feature for a house. They even have a competition every year to determine the best green roof project in scandinavia by the scandinavian green roof association. They ve had them for a while now and it doesn t look like they re going anywhere.

Dec 27 2017 kate bulo. Turf roof of a house in glaumbær iceland the common icelandic turf house would have a large foundation made of flat stones. A turf house is a house build with earth with a roof that consists of turf and grass. The turf would then be fitted around the frame in blocks often with a second layer or in the more fashionable herringbone pattern.

The turf house is an exceptional. Seen today turf houses are green cloaked homes with grass on the roofs that are laid into the natural landscape. And the turf house tradition of iceland was nominated for unesco world heritage status in 2011. Bustarfell turf house in east iceland is one of the country s best preserved turf houses and the only one of the big turf houses which is painted in a beautiful red colour.

Upon this was built a wooden frame which would hold the load of the turf. In fact earth sheltered dwellings have been in use since at least the iron age. It has then adapted to the harsh icelandic climate providing superior insulation. Scandinavians are serious about their green roofs.

A traditional turf roof blankets a wooden house in iceland.