In my very first blog post I presented a passage from my research proposal that really gets to the heart of my interest in wilderness architecture and DNT hytter:
As havens in the remote wilderness, these cabins provide necessary shelter to a revolving door of multiple occupants. Each visitor comes with their own stories, accumulated along the trail. Spoken aloud around a fire or left behind in the form of forgotten objects or traces of activity, their stories become part of the cabins themselves.
As I journey from hytte-to-hytte, this is an aspect of the architecture that I continually explore. How do hytter function as containers of stories? How do those stories change the experience of the architecture? What can the physical condition of the hytte, objects that have been left behind, and stories in the hyttebook teach us about people and culture?
Throughout the "in-between" - on the trail, in the mountains, in the forest - traces of culture are less apparent. They exist, but are small in scale compared to the vastness of the wilderness. Their existence in the wilderness is transient and temporary - people are on the move, nature is on the move, seasons change, objects decay. However, in the hytte, a place of protection and refuge, these cultural artifacts accumulate and persist.
The following is a collection of objects found in hytter. Each tells a story. Some tell purely documentary stories - their significance spelled out through accompanying passages or inscriptions. Others invoke stories from the imagination; they trigger narratives through associations and memory, different for each individual.
The interpretations are my own, but I hope they provide insight into the rich variety of stories alive within the hytte.
Fiskesuppe, pannekaker, pølse, fiskesuppe, pannekaker, pølse, fiskesuppe, pannekaker, pølse . . .
Tuesday: 4 reindeer, lots of sheep
As havens in the remote wilderness, these cabins provide necessary shelter to a revolving door of multiple occupants. Each visitor comes with their own stories, accumulated along the trail. Spoken aloud around a fire or left behind in the form of forgotten objects or traces of activity, their stories become part of the cabins themselves.
As I journey from hytte-to-hytte, this is an aspect of the architecture that I continually explore. How do hytter function as containers of stories? How do those stories change the experience of the architecture? What can the physical condition of the hytte, objects that have been left behind, and stories in the hyttebook teach us about people and culture?
Throughout the "in-between" - on the trail, in the mountains, in the forest - traces of culture are less apparent. They exist, but are small in scale compared to the vastness of the wilderness. Their existence in the wilderness is transient and temporary - people are on the move, nature is on the move, seasons change, objects decay. However, in the hytte, a place of protection and refuge, these cultural artifacts accumulate and persist.
The following is a collection of objects found in hytter. Each tells a story. Some tell purely documentary stories - their significance spelled out through accompanying passages or inscriptions. Others invoke stories from the imagination; they trigger narratives through associations and memory, different for each individual.
The interpretations are my own, but I hope they provide insight into the rich variety of stories alive within the hytte.
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| framed photos of Roald Amundsen's expedition to the South Pole in 1911 (Gamle Skåpet) |
The spirit of adventure. Braving the elements in search of the unknown.
A Norwegian hero and source of great national pride.
Who better to watch over the hytte?
We may not be mapping the arctic but, in a way, that same drive is what brought us here.
Away from the everyday - to the wilderness. We too are in search of adventure.
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| troll figurines (Sandvatn) |
Not all trolls are mischievous and blood-thirsty. Some sit on the window sill quietly minding their own business. That is unless, as the hyttevakt warned, you forget to sweep the floor before you depart...
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| oven mitt (well worn) and pot holder (Selfjordhytta) |
dog sled (Gamle Skåpet)
Fire wood, propane, matches, candles, toilet paper - enough to last the winter.
Gliding over the white snow, the cold wind whips across his face.
All is silent except for rhythmic pants and the pitter patter of paws.
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| carvings cover the interior walls (Stølsmaradalen) |
Not a single square inch unadorned.
"KD + PM"
"Michael '98 -Danmark"
"Michael '98 -Danmark"
"Einar var her"
Names. Dates. Locations.
A desire for permanence beyond the pages of the hyttebook.
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| Gordon's London Dry Gin, maybe two shots left (Blåfjellenden) |
We laughed until our bellies hurt. But when we finally stopped laughing, our bellies kept hurting...
Do you want the last swig?
Nah - let's save it for the next guy.
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| binoculars and case (Nordlysobservatoriet Haldde) |
Wednesday: a whole herd of reindeer!
lots of sheep
lots of sheep
Thursday: too foggy
Friday: lots of sheep
Translation: "This bag was used by Bjarne Huse to carry stones to (build) the cabins at Breidablik"
One man's dream: a hytte in the mountains close to his favorite fishing spots.
Friday: lots of sheep
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| Bjarne's backpack (Breidablik) |
Translation: "This bag was used by Bjarne Huse to carry stones to (build) the cabins at Breidablik"
One man's dream: a hytte in the mountains close to his favorite fishing spots.
The dream grew over time - a place to raise a family, a place to host guests.
A true labor of love.
A true labor of love.
Trip after trip up the mountains.
More stones. More stones. More stones.
LEARN NORWEGIAN
fiskesuppe = fish soup
(fiss - keh - soup - eh)
pannekaker = pancakes
(pawn - eh - kock - er )
pølse = sausage
(pul - seh)
fiskesuppe = fish soup
(fiss - keh - soup - eh)
pannekaker = pancakes
(pawn - eh - kock - er )
pølse = sausage
(pul - seh)
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