Course content

Norway has preserved a large number of traditional buildings, displaying a wide variety of construction types. Their design has been shaped by access to natural resources, stylistic influences, technological advances, the exchange of craftspeople, and the development of craft traditions over long periods of time and across large geographical areas.

The course provides an introduction to how various traditional structures work. These structures have developed regional variations over time, but they function according to universal structural principles that can be traced back to antiquity.

In this course we study local building customs, general structural principles, and the design of basic building elements such as arches, columns and beams. We explore the forces acting on individual building elements, consider composite systems, and look at how complete structures transfer their loads down to firm support.

Teaching is organised around in-person sessions, with digital lectures and home assignments between sessions. During the sessions we carry out practical exercises working with various materials, alongside relevant lectures. Relevant ongoing restoration projects may form part of the course.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate has knowledge of:

• The basic principles behind different structural systems in Norwegian building tradition.
• Geographical and historical variation in traditional structures in Norway.
• Different types of loads and load paths down to firm support.
• Marking systems and joints in various traditional structures.
• Common building materials and their different properties.

Skills

The candidate can:

• Build limited structures in collaboration with other craftspeople.
• Identify and describe where and how forces act in different types of structures.
• Survey and describe relevant damage to structures and building elements, as a basis for interventions in restoration work.
• Use tables and pre-accepted solutions to calculate simple structures.

General competence

The candidate can:

• Document the composition and details of different structures.
• Describe how different structures work.
• Use various types of sources to investigate local tradition relating to a given structure.
• Assess the interface with structural engineering, and know when a traditional structure requires specific calculations.

Learning methods and activities

In-person seminars with lectures, excursions and exercises in which we build models or full-scale structures. Exercises are given between seminars, and some lectures may also be held digitally between seminars.

Compulsory assignments

Active participation in seminars, submission of exercises and attendance at online lectures are required to complete the course.

Compulsory assignments

• Obligatory assignments
• Obligatory seminars

Recommended previous knowledge

A craft background. Experience with building and repairing structures in timber and/or stone is an advantage.

Required previous knowledge

Applicants must have general university admission certification and a relevant craft or journeyman’s certificate, or equivalent competence. Applicants without general university admission certification may apply on the basis of prior learning and work experience.

Course materials

In addition to the reading list, material related to exercises will be handed out during sessions and on any excursions.

Products made by the student as part of exercises or home assignments belong to the institution unless otherwise agreed with the student.