Living Under the Winter Ice~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, TRAVEL REVIEWS


Laufas is an old turf house in Northern Iceland. There are many of these partially underground historical sod houses in Iceland. The house was built between 1866-1870 and is very large and multi-level, with one floor completely underground. In this photo you can see the sod brick construction which has withstood the test of time and Iceland’s formidable winters.

Laufas house facades are made of wood which is quite scarce in Iceland.

There are underground passages,

and underground rooms.

These houses are snug,

but quite spacious,

and not at all claustrophobic inside.

20-30 people lived in Laufas House.

The houses give one a sense of communal underground living,

that was heat efficient during Iceland’s unforgiving winters.

Laufas House was a wealthy priest’s house, and some rooms are more polished and finished than others.

This was a working farm, on a gorgeous site, with a church that was originally built in 1698.

Cheers to you from Iceland’s fascinating turf houses~

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325 thoughts on “Living Under the Winter Ice~”

    1. I am completely fascinated by these houses. They are similar to the sod houses in the central plains during the pioneer days in America with one major difference, many of Iceland’s houses are large, multi-dwelling, interconnected, underground homes, like small underground towns.

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  4. Dear Cindy, for me these are the most intriguing images you have ever posted! I love that you have left the beaten track in Iceland and have shown us how it was in the past. I love the below- ground passages and rooms! What skilled labor went into all that! I assume they had wood fires for winter heat and the smoke rose into the small vent in the roof. Can you imagine what it was like to winter over in such houses! Thank you for revealing a way of life I had never imagined (and we have wintered in Nordic climes!). The kitchen takes me back to our time in Maine – they lived a lot on what we called “Maine meals” – everything in one pot!

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    1. I grew up reading Laura Ingalls Wilder books and wanted to live in her sod house on Plum Creek, so I am fascinated by these houses. They are almost little underground towns, all the working and living aspects are partially underground with these thick, almost woven sod bricks. Only the church is completely above ground and I will post about the church later. The craftmanship and skill are evident everywhere. There is this sense of snug safety and security. Icelanders tell me people lived in winter in continual pursuit of calories. It does challenge my imagination to envision living here all winter, but I am very impressed with Icelanders and their fortitude. I am happy you share my interest in these amazing houses and the stories they tell. Be well my friend & thank you.

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  7. Timothy Price

    Iceland is definitely on our list. Have you read any of the Inspector Erlander novels by Arnaldur Indridason? I imagine that was the type of house and farm Erlander grew up on from reading all the novels in the series.

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      1. Timothy Price

        I think they are fantastic novels. I would recommend reading them in order. “Jar City” is the first novel in the series.

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  13. Pingback: Living Under the Winter Ice – Timeless Wisdoms

  18. Thanks for sharing these interesting underground houses, Cindy. Personally that long dark corridor with soil between the upright posts looks positively claustrophobic. I need light. The others images which show windows and ‘normal’ walls and colourful interiors look absolutely delightful.
    Love the box (or children’s) beds.

    When I downsized my bed in 2010 to a king single, one of the first things I bought was a sort of box bed with drawers underneath and attached headboard. Can be a bit of a chore to tuck the fitted sheets under the heavy mattress though. With box beds you need a very light mattress 🙂

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    1. I love box beds ever since reading Thumbelina as a child, she slept in one. The corridors are passage ways between the houses underground and they are a bit claustrophobic, but the rooms and houses feel very spacious which is odd since they are mostly underground,

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  33. This post was a real eye opener for me. I had no idea what it was like in those underground places. Not much daylight, and the dark days would seem long, but everything is so well organized.

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  34. It’s so beautiful…the exteriors with the lush green grass, wood, and stone. They were so clever. They look quite comfy, and cozy.

    I saw some Cave houses in France and wished I could have toured them, but they were private houses in use at the time. I imagine the premise was the same warm in the winter, and cool in the summer.

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  38. Thank you, Cindy, for this visual journey through the cozy partly underground houses in Iceland. One of our sons made a car tour all around Iceland and brought home some fascinating photos and later even created a fascinating video. I am sure that my blogging friends would love to see your photos too.

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  39. Reblogged this on The Peter and Gertrud Klopp Family Project and commented:
    Thank you, Cindy, for this visual journey through these cozy, partly underground houses in Iceland. One of our sons made a car tour all around Iceland and brought home some fascinating photos and later even created a fascinating video. I am sure that my blogging friends would love to see your photos too. That’s why I reblog it with your kind permission.

    Reply

    1. Your son drove the wonderful ring road! Good for him. I imagine the photos are impressive. It is impossible not to take impressive photos in Iceland. Thank you for kindness and the reblog. It is thoughtful of you and most appreciated too.

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  40. Wow, this is amazing! Our ancestors lived the life inextricably intertwined with nature & science, but we live with science & technology and take nature for granted.

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  43. Wow, life must be so tough in those underground houses. I always thought its a wrong idea to build underground houses in cold places. You see our basements always are coldest during winter time. But there should be some explanation here too. But in any case, it’s amazing stuff. I wonder how it would look during winter!

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    1. Even underground, these houses were built with thick amounts of insulation from the surrounding freeze, and there were fireplaces everywhere, but still, I think they might be cold and survivable. It is quite amazing isn’t it.

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    1. Yes, I definitely think of this and compare my country unfavorably to Iceland. Iceland’s capital has a jail with a couple of cells, but, according to Icelanders, it has a dearth of business. America has the fullest jails in the world, so it is hard for me to comprehend and painful to compare. Icelanders still live in close quarters, but they are much less experienced with crime.

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        1. I hope so, but, I treated domestic violence perpetrators for many, many years. We don’t know what the incidence of child abuse and spouse abuse were in those long dark winters.

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  49. Fascinating, when I go back to Iceland I need to visit them too. Icelandic people did think well how to avoid those cold winters and came up with great solutions. And they look so lovely form outside too. Just imagine in Summer you say, I just go out to mow the roof…… 🙂 This is obviously a museum, do people still live in those houses though?

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    1. Laughing…..They don’t need to mow their roofs, winter will do that for tham. It is amazing, isn’t it, how people step up to hardship.These houses are now all protected cultural artifacts, aka, museums. But, if I recall correctly, Laufas house, as just one example, was occupied until the late 1930’s.

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  50. Cindy, utterly fascinating photos of a magical place. I have always appreciated your many photos from your travels that have shown us the intricate and opulently decorated buildings and cathedrals, but the stark beauty and perfect simplicity of these sod-covered below-ground houses are every bit as majestic as any ornate building you’ve shared. Thanks for giving us this glimpse. Best, Babsje

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    1. Your comment gave me goosebumps. Is it our species amazing artistry that makes the greatest impact, or just the clever craftsmanship of long term survival, against significant odds.

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      1. Hmmm good questions. I think the survival of our species from the earliest of days into, hopefully, the future is magnificent artistry and cleverness combined. Was harnessing fire clever? Making and using the first wheel? The first tools? Even birds such as crows and ravens and herons use tools. The ancient cave paintings of France and Spain are both clever and artistry. I tend to find beauty in simplicity – the Shaker and Quaker – as well as in the ornate European cathedrals that took centuries to build and decades to paint. Whatever the answer is, I was deeply moved by your post and found your exterior photos gorgeous. Thanks for making me think. Best, Babsje

        Reply

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