Beautiful surviving examples of the traditional Icelandic turf house

There are about a gazillion reasons why Iceland should be on everyone’s bucket list. The fairytale-like turf houses are a reason more.

The picturesque turf houses in Iceland known as torfbæir are major attraction among the visitors on the island.

A house with a turf roof and walls near Reykjavik, Iceland. Turf was plentiful in Iceland and provided superior insulation against the weather than wood or stone. Photo Credit

 

A house with a turf roof and walls near Reykjavik, Iceland. Turf was plentiful in Iceland and provided superior insulation against the weather than wood or stone. Photo Credit

 

Front side of old farmhouse at Tyrfingsstadir Skagafjordur northern Iceland. Photo Credit

 

Gullfoss – Wasserfall in Islands Südwesten. Photo Credit

The harsh climate conditions in Iceland made it practically impossible to build a structure solely made of stone or wood; turf offered far superior insulation.

When first settled, 30% of Iceland was forested, mostly with birch. Even though the preferred timber for building Norse halls in Scandinavia was oak, the native birch had to serve as a main framing material on the secluded island. However, there was an abundance of turf that was suitable for construction.

 

Iceland Keldur Earth covered homes. Photo Credit

 

Iceland Saenautasel Earth covered home outside. Photo Credit

 

Icelandic turf house. Photo Credit

 

Rear side of old farmhouse at Tyrfingsstaðir, Skagafjörður, Northern Iceland. Photo Credit Speisekammern in Keldur. Photo Credit

The traditional Iceland turf house would have a large foundation made of flat stones, and a wooden frame which would hold the turf. The turf was then fitted around the wooden frame in blocks with a second layer or in the more modern herringbone style. The only external wood was the doorway.

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A fascinating aspect of the Icelandic turf house was the advent of attached toilets, which were communal, and the act of going to the bathroom was commonly done in large groups.

 

The Glaumbær peat farmhouse. Photo Credit

 

Turf farmhouse near Flúðir, snow falling. Photo Credit

 

Turf house – Holar. Photo Credit

 

Turf house – Holar. Photo Credit

 

Turf House. Photo Credit

Icelandic architecture evolved in many ways in the more than 1,000 years the turf houses were being constructed. In the 14th Century, the Viking longhouses were deliberately abandoned and small, specialized, interconnected buildings were built instead.

 

Turf houses in Hólar. Photo Credit

 

Turf wall in turf farm at Glaumbær. Photo Credit turf-roofed house in Borgarfjörður. Photo Credit

 

Turf-roofed house in Borgarfjörður. Photo Credit

We have more stories on Iceland, here is one: 1,000-year-old Viking sword found lying on the ground in Iceland

In the late 18th century a style known as the burstabær started to gain momentum and is the most popular version of the Iceland turf houses.