Medieval craftspeople were often guided by the presence of building materials within the natural environment. In the forested regions of northern Europe trees provided the raw materials for many of lifes conveniences. Wood fueled fires used for cooking, warmth, and for producing iron, salt, charcoal, and tar. Most notably wood provided a material which could be used to build boats, furniture, and houses to shelter from the elements during the long, cold, dark winters. By Medieval times the southern regions of Europe were devoid of forests, and stone had become a much more common building material. In contrast, the northern reaches of Europe had a more rugged terrain, covered with vast expanses of forest. This set the scene for a unique wood-building culture throughout Scandinavia, but particularly in Norway. From the builders of Viking ships, to the stave churches, and farmsteads, nearly over 800 years of construction focused on a single material – wood.
There were many reasons for this lengthy dependence on wood as a building material. Firstly, it was abundant. Secondly working wood required only simple tools, in many cases an axe would suffice. Wood was also cheaper, and easier to build with than construction materials such as stone. Trees exist in a form that is readily adaptable to many types of structure. Stone on the other hand first has to be quarried, transported, and shaped – tasks that require specialist tools, and trades. Wood could be manipulated by artisans who were familiar with it as a building material, e.g. a shipbuilder could easily transfer their skills to building a house.
Norwegian wood culture survived for such a long period because very little changed in society that would have resulted in grand architectural changes. This design consistency may have been strengthened by Norway’s natural environment and agrarian way of life. A good majority of the population lived in rural, isolated areas. There may have been little contact with the outside world that would have facilitated changes in building techniques. Nor was there a need, as the buildings were well suited to the tasks they were designed for. What it did do was allow the craft of woodworking to mature past the utilitarian through the use of ornamentation. Many of the simplest buildings used to store food and everyday goods are adorned with the most intricate carvings.
The traditional architecture of of Norway can be symbolized by two types of wooden buildings – farms and stave churches. Scandinavia was on the whole a much more agriculturally-oriented society than the rest of Europe. In Norway, daily life occurred on farmsteads that were often in isolated communities. These farms were self-contained settlements, containing an assortment of differing forms of wooden building. As Norway was a sparsely populated country, there were never many “public” buildings in the landscape. The exception was the stave church, which was often situated amongst a group of farmsteads. These two structures represented opposing sides of Norwegian life: the farm represented the private and secular, the church the sacred and public.
This ensuing posts look at various aspects of Norwegian wood culture. There is in reality much to learn about Norwegian wood building techniques, and if you are interested in learning more, I would suggest two things. The first is visit Norway. You will see wood construction techniques that equal those found in Japan. You will see traditional gutters made of wood, and wooden slat roofs – even on newer buildings. Secondly, obtain a copy of Norwegian Wood: A Tradition of Building, by Jerri Holan. It was written in 1990, and it’s likely one of the few comprehensive books on the subject written in English. It covers just about every aspect of wood construction, as well as in-depth analysis of farms, stave churches, including drawings, methods of construction, and a multitude of photographs, including many of innate carving work. If you like architecture, take a walk into the wild side of what once was, and possibly could be again.
working by hand 