Wooden Culture

Workshop No. 3 in Hälsingland, Sweden
5th-19th May 2002



Welcome to workshop no. 3 in Sweden!
Here are all the details for the workshop in the province of Hälsingland Sweden, 5-19th of May. Craftsmen, architects and conservation officers from all participating countries are invited to take part in the workshop. We will work with log construction buildings at summer farms (chalets), but the exercise will be useful for anybody working with restoration/conservation and documentation of any type of wooden construction.

For those who have a special interest in wooden architecture, the province of Hälsingland in Sweden is something extraordinary. In the valleys of river Ljusnan and river Voxnan we can still find a large amount of well preserved farmsteads with often 10-20 wooden buildings. The farmhouses are often big log constructions in classical style with wooden porches and richly decorated interiors. Read more about the wooden architecture in Hälsingland at the web site www.halsingegardar.com

Workshop objects
The work will take place at five summer farms in Ovanåker parish, Hälsingland. Summer farms were a vital part in the agricultural production system until 1950-ies, for the extensive use of the forests for feeding the animals during summertime. Hay was gathered around the summer farms and elsewhere in the forests and stored in hay barns for the long winter period. The use of summer farms was extensive in all provinces a little bit north of Stockholm.

A summer farm consists normally of a number of buildings with a very specific function; dwelling-house, cooking house, granary, cow stable and horse stable, stable for sheep and goats and hay barns. Many summer farms have been ruined, but there are still many to find. They have been used as holiday cottages, kept by farmers for traditional reasons and in rare cases for grazing or even milk production until today. The last ten years, the interest for preserving and using the summer farms has grown. The National Heritage Board launched a special programme 1998-2001, focusing on preservation of summer farms. Most buildings at the summer farms used at the workshop are built during 18th and 19th centuries, but few buildings are dated with the dendrochronological method to the 16th and 17th centuries.

Character of work
Restoration/conservation of log buildings will be the major task. A Swedish building contractor, specialised in restoration/conservation, are responsible for each workshop site. Working teams of 3-4 craftsmen with mixed nationalities will restore each building. Working teams and participating architects start immediately the work on Monday 6th of May with a common thorough discussion upon which conservation/restoration actions should be taken.

Architects programme
Architects will participate in restoration/conservation work, but are also offered special programme and special tasks part of the time.


Day by day programme
Sunday 5th   Arrival to Stockholm Arlanda Airport, transport to Järvsö, dinner.
Monday 6th
1.


2.

3.
This first day will be used for;
Examination of buildings; construction, wood characteristics, function, surface treatment, analysis of tools used, changes etc.
Analysis of damages; types of damages, extent of damages, causes of damages etc.
Proposal of restoration actions; Repair or only elimination of cause?, technical solution of repair, quality of material, method of joining, tools used, surface treatment, time needed for the repair etc.
Tuesday 7th   Practical work starts at workshop sites.
Wednesday 8th   Work at workshop sites. Evening activity.
Thursday 9th   Work at workshop sites. Evening activity.
Friday 10th   Work at workshop sites. Visits from guests.
Saturday 11th   Excursion tour in the province of Hälsingland + guests.
Sundday 12th   Excursion tour in the province of Hälsingland + guests.
Monday 13th   Work at workshop sites.
Tuesday 14th   Work at workshop sites. Evening activity.
Wednesday 15th   Work at workshop sites. Evening activity.
Thursday 16th   Work at workshop sites.
Friday 17th   Work at workshop sites. Evening activity.
Saturday 18th   Tour around all workshop sites. Discussion and evaluation. Closing party.
Sunday 19th   Early departure to airport.

Guest programme
Representatives from The Council of Europe, managers and officials from the Ministry of Culture/National Heritage Boards and craftsmen from participating countries are invited to take part in the special guest programme, arranged Friday 10th - Sunday 12th of May (arrival to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) Thursday 9th of May 12 am-6 pm, departure Monday 13th of May 12 am-6 pm).

Friday 10th: visit to the workshop sites.
Saturday and Sunday 11th - 12th: excursion tour together with workshop participants, see above. Discussions.

Accommodation at Järvsöbaden Hotel, Järvsö, cost; 500 SEK(50$)/night or Youth hostel, 200 SEK (20$)/night. Note! Each participant in the guest programme pays his or her costs, except the transportations in Sweden, according to the original agreement.


Short facts

Responsible workshop managers

Mr Göran Andersson
Timmerdraget
Torsta
SE-830 43 ÅS
SWEDEN
Phone; +46-63 14 73 51
Mobile phone; +46-70-395 24 18
E-mail; goran.andersson@jll.se

Mr Henrik Larsson
County administration
Cultural Heritage department
SE-801 70 GÄVLE
SWEDEN
Phone; +46-70-219 83 36
E-mail; henrik@woodenculture.org

Project coordinator
General questions
Architects programme






Workshop manager
Practical & local matters; accommodation, workshop sites, excursions, evening programmes etc


Dates for workshop: 5th -19th of May 2002, including travel days.

Transportation to Sweden: each country pays and organises transportation to and from Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN).

Arrival to Stockholm Arlanda Airport: Sunday 5th of May, preferably 11.00 - 14.30. The train from Arlanda direct to Järvsö leads departs at 16.00.

Departure from Stockholm Arlanda Airport: Sunday 19th of May, preferably 12.00-16.00.

Local transportation: Swedish host organisation provides for all transportation from Stockholm Arlanda Airport the 5th of May, all transports during the workshop, and back to Stockholm Arlanda Airport the 19th of May. The transportation Arlanda - Järvsö is about 3,5 hours.

Number of participating craftsmen: 2 from each country.

Skills of participating craftsmen: good experience from restoration/conservation of heritage wooden constructions (not necessary log constructions), prepared to take part in practical work. Basic knowledge in English desirable, but not necessary.

Number of participating architects/conservation officer/conservator: 1 from each country.

Skills of participating architects: good experience from restoration/conservation of wooden constructions, experience of documentation. Basic knowledge in English necessary.

Language/Translation: English will be used during the workshop. Therefore, it is preferable - but not necessary - if participants have basic knowledge in English. Participating architects must support craftsmen in translation when needed. The special dictionaries developed during the workshop in Romania will be printed and used as a help for communication.

Registration of participants: in order to plan the workshop activities, accommodation, meals, transportation etc., we ask you to send us the names of participants (Mr or Mrs/Ms) with a short description of experience, organisation etc. as fast as possible.
Fax; +4663-14 73 75
E-mail; goran.andersson@jll.se or henrik@woodenculture.org

Place of accomodation: Oljons farmstead, Järvsö (40 km from workshop sites). Mr Per Eriksson and Mrs Fia Westberg is running a small scale farm and a youth hostel in historical environment. Oljons farmstead is situated right next to Karlsgården (small open air museum) with 18th -19th century wooden buildings. Participants share rooms for 2-4 persons. Note! Smoking is forbidden in the area because of the danger of fire. Special smoking area is arranged outside the farm. The rooms are clean but have only simple standard. Breakfast and dinner is served at Oljons, lunch at working sites. Two (2) showers and four(4) toilets are available. During workdays dry closets are used at the working sites. Distance to shop/bank/post office etc. in the municipality of Järvsö 3 km. Daily transportation will be provided.

Working hours: the daily time schedule for working days

7.00
7.30
8.15
12-13
17.00
18:30
Breakfast
Departure to workshop sites
Work starts
Lunch
Work finish
Dinner

Weekend excursion: Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th of May, an excursion will be arranged in the province of Hälsingland. The tour will take us to summer farms, richly decorated farmhouses, churches, medieval granaries etc. to give a picture of the social and economical character of the historical landscape we find today. Participants in the guest programme will also take part in the excursion, see above.

Weather conditions: The weather in the area in this late winter-early spring period could be very nice with clear and sunny days (+15 C) and cold nights
(-5 C). But prepare for cloudy days around 0 degrees!

Evening seminars: After dinner, different activities will be offered. Short excursions to churches, wooden bell towers, other summer farms, medieval log buildings etc. might take place. Rowing a church boat and sauna is other examples of activities that may be offered.

Visas, tickets, passports etc.: Check with your travel agency which documents are requested for entering Sweden.

Questions: we will try to answer any question you might have concerning the workshop. Do not hesitate to phone or send an e-mail!

Göran Andersson; mobil phone; +4670-395 24 18,
e-mail; goran.andersson@jll.se
Henrik Larsson; mobile phone; +4670-219 83 36,
e-mail; henrik@woodenculture.org


Welcome!


Göran Andersson Henrik Larsson

 

 

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