Following the Viking Era came a darker period, yet wood remained one of our most powerful materials. Craftspeople, farmers, seafarers and warriors gathered and traded timber across Europe and globally.
Nordic countries have long relied on wood for building materials in their homes; it provides local energy security while being easily transported.
Sweden
Timber holds a special place in Nordic building culture. Not only is it renewable and climate-smart material like pine wood, it is also very durable; some wooden houses date back several hundred years! No wonder then that many traditional Swedish houses were constructed using this material; thus contributing significantly to Sweden’s national heritage – leading many municipalities to establish guidelines to preserve historic structures across their towns and cities.
Swedish Sectional Timber Homes typically feature shallow pitched monopitch roofs or shallow pitch gable roofs topped with asbestos cement sheets, while their walls are often clad in either stained horizontal or vertical timber boarding, often featuring an entrance porch made out of timber boarding as an additional feature.
Dalarna province boasts the oldest timber houses in Sweden. Here can be found an impressive stock of traditional wooden buildings dating back as far as 11th or 12th century X-joint log houses; with carbon 14 dating and dendrochronology placing their construction date between 1229 – plus or minus 10 years –
Before very recently, these buildings typically included a lower level or basement. More modern low-rise houses differ by having outer walls end some distance above an intermediate floor; this provides ample room for a furnished room in the center of the house as well as storage areas along its perimeter walls.
These historic structures often featured high levels of insulation. Sometimes this would involve using straw or animal hair insulation, while in others cases cellulose or glass wool may have been employed instead. Today, many of these homes have been converted to apartments; however, their insulation materials may no longer compare favorably with what modern dwellings use.
As these houses were meant for self-sufficiency, tasks requiring fire were completed in separate log cabins (Hastkatet) that were situated away from farmyard buildings to reduce risk. Examples include smithys, bakeries and laundry houses.
Finland
Finland is home to many historic wood houses that have become cultural landmarks. Constructed from wood harvested from forests such as spruce, larch and other species harvested for use as building material; not only is this timber sustainable but it provides great insulation as well. Furthermore, each piece is kiln dried and season before use to prevent warping or shrinkage in future years.
These homes are also durable, withstanding heavy snowfall and strong winds without succumbing to damage. Furthermore, many are decorated with traditional Finnish ornaments and paintings as a way of showing off Finnish culture and people.
Wood construction methods in Finland have a long history and continue to be utilized today. Indeed, postwar wood construction experienced a major upsurge as a response to humanitarian crises. Like Swedes, Finns enjoyed close ties to nature and an established forest industry; adept at building various forms of log housing from pirtii cabins constructed using round logs to more sophisticated squared logs with double notched joints (sometimes known as laftehus houses in rural areas)
Finland is well known for its skills in shipbuilding and aircraft production, thanks to its vast lake system and forests. Logs used in building are typically comprised of spruce, larch, cedar or pine that has been kiln-dried to ensure stability; double notches or dovetail joints are usually utilized between logs hewn for walls while dovetail joinery may be applied on roofs.
Nordic timber houses differ from steel and concrete houses by being lighter in weight, which helps reduce wind sway. Insulated versions can further lower energy costs while their slim logs offer added resilience against moisture, environmental conditions and other environmental threats. Furthermore, Nordic timber homes are eco-friendly as they do not require preservatives or any chemicals for upkeep.
Denmark
Denmark is well known for their longstanding tradition of building timber homes, famously recognized for their clean lines and connection to nature. These energy efficient homes boast durable construction that can withstand years of weathering while many even outlive their owners!
Bruno Jakobsen designed and built this Nordic barnhouse project located south of Randers. Living there with his family, this beautiful example of new Nordic style was constructed at the end of a forest trail for easy accessibility with large sliding doors providing privacy despite being exposed to nature.
Moelven Limtre was one of the earliest pioneers of mass timber construction and its Troldtekt wall system was an essential element. Moelven’s structural timbers were produced locally; their glulam elements made from local spruce trees harvested within 50 kilometers exemplifying how forestry practices can be harnessed to produce building components.
LUMO architects selected timber framing with mortise and tenon joints, which are more resilient than spliced or nailed connections. This joint technique has long been employed in Scandinavia, as archaeological digs have revealed examples dating back over three millennia. Tenons are hand-cut while mortises are filled with beeswax to strengthen them further.
Wood structures’ light weight allows them to effectively reduce wind sway, providing stability for their structure. By adding extra weight with concrete slab floors, additional reduction was seen in wind sway. In addition, their increased insulation reduced energy consumption as they improved insulation of timber frames.
To make the house truly eco-friendly, a heat pump was installed to draw heat from the earth directly. This system is three to four times more energy-efficient than an electrical resistance heater and protects logs from UV radiation exposure. Furthermore, Nordsjo industrial stain was applied for finishing.
This project forms part of the LIFE Timber in Housing program, which seeks to promote and showcase the advantages of timber as an option for social housing while advocating for improved life cycle assessment processes.
Norway
Nordic builders have begun exploring massive wood construction (also known as glulam or tall timber). This method involves cutting and joining huge sections of solid timber to form buildings; its lightweight nature can replace concrete and steel in high-rise construction; alternatively it can create low-rise buildings that resemble they’re anchored directly to the ground – becoming particularly popular in Norway due to a growing interest in sustainable design. This approach has proved immensely popular.
Norway is well known for its vast forests. Building with wood can be much simpler and cost less when compared with brick structures – not having to transport firewood from the coast and bake them into bricks saves both time and money when building houses from wood.
Norway is home to some of the finest farms, offering all the necessities needed for life on a farm, from living quarters and barns, through equipment storage sheds. All structures are constructed using either solid or hollow timber logs joined with special nails known as hammers that withstand severe weather conditions and provide stability in building construction.
When building a wooden house, selecting high-grade materials is paramount to its long-term durability and energy efficiency. A timber frame will keep air inside while still allowing circulation – guaranteeing warmth throughout the year!
Environmentally friendly structures are easy to maintain. Not only that, they’re also durable and able to withstand storms or snowfall. Furthermore, these affordable options can easily be tailored to the unique requirements of their owners.
As a result of this breakthrough in building techniques, multiple companies have taken on large scale projects using this innovative building method. One such building is Sara Kulturhus in Norway designed by Voll Arkitekter using glulam elements sourced from local Norwegian Spruce trees; its distinctive profile was further defined by diagonally laid, quarter-cut logs feathering its profile diagonally laid logs to match natural surroundings; such cladding helps integrate structures with their landscape by complementing rocky and unspoilt terrain.
