Icelandic turf house
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Icelandic turf houses are timber structures with turf walls and turf as a cover for the roof. Turf houses have been constructed since Iceland was settled in the 9th century. Turf houses were the produ
Turf houses of the burstabær style in Glaumbær
Peat wall, Glaumbær, Iceland
Turf roof of a house in Glaumbær, Iceland
Turf house with a wooden gafli in Iceland.
Architecture of Iceland
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The architecture of Iceland draws from Scandinavian influences and traditionally was influenced by the lack of native trees on the island. As a result, grass- and turf-covered houses were developed. L
Icelandic turf house
…which would commonly have a great fire. The floor of a turf house could be covered with wood, stone or earth depending on the purpose of the building. Icelandic architecture changed in many ways in more than 1,000 years after the turf houses were being constructed. The first evolutionary step happened in the 14th century…
Glaumbær at Skagafjordur Folk Museum
Hólar Cathedral, in Hólar, is the largest stone church constructed in the country.
A house in Reykjavík showing typical corrugated metal siding.
Reykjavík Cathedral (by Laurits Albert Winstrup, 1847–1849)