Trønderlån - our farmhouse from 1850
What characterizes our long and narrow wooden log hose as a Trønderlån?
And what is the purpose of having so many rooms?
The Trønderlån, the farmhouse, joins in as one of the four "walls" that shape the square farmyard (Firkanttun).
The inner construction - a log frame/box - is built with a spacial notching technique called Lafting. Norwegians learned this technique around year 1000 CE.
The Trønderlån is quite narrow, as the width depends on the length of the logs.
The angle on the roof is customized for a turf roof (Torvtak).
It has two floors containing many rooms. The rooms usually have full space width, to allow the daylight to fill the room from both sides.
It also has regular and symmetric window rows and a prominent entrance, sometimes in the shape of a portal.
The word Trønder means "a person from the Trøndelag region" (Mid-Norway).
The word Lån is old norse (Lon) and means "row of houses standing close together".
To my knowledge, the word "Lon" is stil used in the Faroe Islands for describing a row of houses.
More kids? Add another log frame!
The Trønderlån is a multi-generation building that grows in tandem with the family living there.
Our Trønderlån has been expanded in both directions three times!
Back in the days, Norwegians lived together in big families. In the 1800s - due to the growing knowledge about bacteria, nutrition, infections risks and vaccines - the child mortality rate dropped from 40 % to 20 %. This meant more residents.
In the middle of the house there was (usually) a common room (Dagligstue). This room was used for activities like eating, cooking, crafting (women) and sleeping (the master and mistress of the household). It had a fireplace for cooking, aka "the kitchen".
Next to the common room there was the "fine living room". This room was only used for special occasions (like weddings and funerals) and had a fireplace, cabinets, tables and benches.
In the far end of the building was a section that we still refer to as "Kåret". This was the home of the elders and an important part of their pension scheme.
Up stairs you would find bed rooms for kids in all ages, servants and others.
Privacy was a relatively unknown concept and several people shared the same room and bed.
Our Trånderlån has eight bed rooms, three living rooms, three bath rooms, two kitchens, a sauna and 30 meters of hallway...
Since we are a family of three we find it logic to share the space with more people.
And when my parents get old I will invite them to live in "Kåret" so I can take care of them. They are not going to agree to that so I guess I'll have to find some other old people.
