Medieval Scandinavian architecture

Boating houses, known in Scandinavian culture as "Nausts", are the buildings used to hold Viking Ships during the winter and any time they could not sail.

They were usually built a few meters back from the waterline making it easy to move to ships to and from the water.

Occasionally vertical beams were built along the inside of the building to add additional support.

During the summer seasons when the boating houses were no longer in use, Vikings used these structures for feasts and even royal festivals on occasion.

The most commonly accepted theory is that these fortresses were built by Bluetooth to not only show his strength and sovereign power but as an attempt to combine and establish a proper and unified kingdom under his rule.

However, due to the turmoil of the time period with various power struggles, these structures were most likely very difficult to maintain, leading to them falling into disuse within a mere decade.

This required ritual houses which were not only religious buildings, but in earlier times were also used as a way to display the weapons of defeated enemies, showing the strength of the warriors and community.

Rituals were completed outside the structure as it often involved burning and sacrifice of animals; due to this, the Vikings developed the outside of the houses to be ornamental rather than focusing on interior decoration.

The space utilizes Romanesque styles in wooden form rather than the common stone material.

The strap-work paneling showcases Viking tradition along with the carvings in the walls displaying fighting animals.

The decorations are an essential connection between the pre-Christian Nordic traditions and the later Christianity of the Middle ages as well as representing the artistic style of Scandinavian culture.

Specific banquets were held to teach proper etiquette as well as promoting hospitality and how a host should act towards their guests.

The floor of a turf house could be covered with wood, stone or earth depending on the purpose of the building.

Over time, the turf houses changed in size which directly related to their purpose and status of the owner.

The turf house tradition was brought over by to Iceland by Nordic settlers where it originated from Northern Europe.