Grass Roof House Iceland

It has then adapted to the harsh icelandic climate providing superior insulation.

Grass roof house iceland.

A turf house is a house build with earth with a roof that consists of turf and grass. Dec 27 2017 kate bulo. The romans built with turf grass to create fortresses in the northern parts of their empire. Icelandic turf houses long before environmentally friendly construction became popular people in iceland were constructing turfhouses.

Upon this was built a wooden frame which would hold the load of the turf. 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. They are not only a beautiful feature for a house. 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. The turf would then be fitted around the frame in blocks often with a second layer or in the more fashionable herringbone pattern. Icelandic turf houses belong to a tradition that was introduced by the vikings in the 9 th century. Bustarfell is a huge turf house and consists of 17 houses but each gable and outhouse counts as one unit.

The top layer of the earth is used which is soil that is bound together by grass and plant roots. Bustarfell turf house in east iceland. Turf roof of a house in glaumbær iceland the common icelandic turf house would have a large foundation made of flat stones. And the turf house tradition of iceland was nominated for unesco world heritage status in 2011.

But there is a reason why scandinavians like these green roofs so much. In fact earth sheltered dwellings have been in use since at least the iron age. Scandinavians are serious about their green roofs. The hall skáli of the turf houses is believed to be the oldest turf house hall in iceland.

A traditional turf roof blankets a wooden house in iceland.