Eksjö was yet another example of the different thoughts and approaches towards preservation that I came across on this trip. Eksjö is known in Sweden as one of the Tre Trästäder - three wooden towns. Eksjö and the other towns, Hjö and Nora, are among the best preserved wooden towns in Sweden and draws its... Continue Reading →

"Old should be preserved, but new should fit the context. New isn't bad, it's not a museum" "Old should be preserved, but new should fit the context. New isn't bad, it's not a museum" I was lucky enough to see the most curious building technique in a house under renovation. Young boys and men would... Continue Reading →

The ICOMOS-Sweden President Nils Ahlberg was kind enough to give me a tour of an area in east Södermalm that includes much of Stockholm's remaining wooden houses and buildings. I have few pictures from this tour due to our quick pace, but Nils taught me an interesting lesson about reading building age from a facade.... Continue Reading →

Mosjøen: As we walked along the famous Sjøgata street, Hans Pedersen the town historian pointed out several buildings with stories to be told. A large trading house in the center or town that his grandfather built before falling into financial ruin had large display windows that were representative of the invention of large format glass,... Continue Reading →

Levanger #11 of #12 protected cultural environments in Norway. Riksantikvaren in 2008 sent a fax to temporarily preserve the city - “you can’t protect it yourselves, we need to do it for you” No ice - furthered development thought winter. Shopping center in 1980s and new highway brought people out of the city 70-80,000 years... Continue Reading →

Bakklandet has specific protection under planning and building act. 1991. “Consideration zones” not historic districts. Byantikvar does “character areas”, other departments do environmental area. Using “area character” for guidelines, though hasn’t been tested in law. Area plan has a document with description of historic areas. Layer plan with historic districts does not. Politicians want to... Continue Reading →

Population: 1,150 Lærdalsøri is listed as a heritage village, with 163 historic houses dating as early as the 1700s. It has been protected since the 1970s but it was also was one of three areas that the Norwegian government initiated a pilot program in for national-level town conservation, others being Gamle Stavanger and Kragerø. In... Continue Reading →

Due to transportation issues, it was much more efficient for me to fly out of Bergen rather than take the train to my next stop, so I took advantage of getting to see this city again with a few of my "flex" days. Not to waste an opportunity, I set up a meeting with Kari... Continue Reading →

Pop. 13,409 Drøbak has the option to “let the politicians decide” which has led to corruption within projects. Developers and friends of politicians have projects go through and be approved easier. The preservation plan submitted last year was denied by politicians and they ended up submitting their own plan instead that was riddled with holes and... Continue Reading →