• Norway!

    Norway: Sunnylvsfjord. Go Now!

    Norway
    Known for its natural beauty, Norway is home to isolated villages, fjords, and mountains that create a culture and landscape without compare. Begin Your Journey!

  • Vatican City!

    Vatican City: Vatican Museums. Go Now!

    Vatican City
    The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the world's finest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms (ceiling pictured). Go to Vatican City!

  • Macedonia!

    Macedonia: Traditional architecture. Go Now!

    Macedonia
    Macedonia is a country still finding its unique identity, but its architecture is already one of a kind. Explore Macedonia!

  • Austria!

    Austria: Belvedere Palace. Go Now!

    Austria
    Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and incredible history & food. Go Now!

  • Spain!

    Spain: Guell Park and Gaudi architecture. Go Now!

    Spain
    Fusion foods, lively music, historic ruins, and cultural events like the Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina make Spain and Barcelona (pictured) a favorite tourist destination. Explore Spain!

  • Ukraine!

    Ukraine: Traditional Village. Go Now!

    Ukraine
    Ukrainian culture is based on village life, particularly that found in the Carpathian Mountains (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

Architecture of Iceland

Icelandic Architecture - Traditional house
Traditional house

Iceland's architecture is similar to Nordic architecture in many ways, first among those similarities being that most of the country's early buildings were constructed from wood or mud, giving the visitor today few early surviving examples of traditional dwellings.

Icelandic Architecture - Church in the country
Church in the country

Turf houses have been built since people first arrived in Iceland in the 800 or 900s, but these rarely last. Some are still being built today in a similar style and many folk museums also contain examples of these domestic buildings, but none are from the 800 or 900s.

Even as late as the 1700s most buildings were constructed from wood, which became a common building material in the 1000s with the introduction of Christianity and the building of churches. Most of the larger wooden churches were stave churches, however most of the remaining ones in the world today are in Norway, as there are no remaining stave churches still standing in Iceland.

Icelandic Architecture - Hallgrimskirkja Church
Hallgrimskirkja Church

In the 1700s stone structures began to be built. Bessastaoir, the president's palace is one of these earlier stone buildings and is located just outside of Reykjavik. Another example is the Parliament House, also in Reykjavik (1880-1881).

The 1800s saw new styles introduced, such as the neo-classical style, but again most of these buildings were constructed out of wood. In the early 1900s the Swiss chalet style arrived, primarily as housing for Norwegian immigrants. After independence and the Industrial Revolution, most buildings were made from concrete and even today most of the buildings in the country are made from this material, although modern designs have taken hold in more recent years.

This page was last updated: March, 2013