Loft (building)

Lofts were typically built in log technique, unlike the post and lintel construction in stave churches.

[10] In addition to the stave church, Christian Norberg-Schulz regards the loft as Norway's most important contribution to history of architecture.

Clothes, fine textile and other valuables were often kept in the upper storey which was also the finest bedroom offered to prominent guests.

[16] Specialised food storage buildings known as bur or stabbur in Norwegian are usually smaller, one-storey and usually without windows.

A two-storey stabbur usually has stairway indoor, whereas a loft has stairs on the outside and access to the upper storey from the external gallery or balcony.

[25] In Swedish Dalarna and Uppland two-storey buildings with external gallery named loft are known since late Middle Ages.

Vindlausloftet (right hand) in Eidsborg , Telemark, is the oldest non-religious wooden building in Europe. Possibly the oldest in the world as the dendrochronology confirmed that it is built of ore-pine from 1167. [ 1 ] Inside on the wall a 66 cm runic inscription reads in translation: "These runes Vestein carved. Hail to both the one that carved and the one the reads these runes." Runes are dated to around year 1300. . [ 2 ] [ 3 ] A stabbur on the left hand.
Loft building with four rooms, 17th century, Dalarna ( Sweden ), now at Hedemora gammelgård museum.
The loft at Mellom Kravik, Nore og Uvdal .
A large loft at Bjølstad Farm , protected by law since 1924. [ 12 ] photo: Herman Major Schirmer .