AshehougAgency

A Wooden Heritage. The Norwegian Stave Churches

Stave churches represent the exceptional integration of Viking tradition with Christian religion and culture and are Norway?s unique contribution to the international history of architecture. The stave churches bear witness to the expansion of wooden architecture during the time of the age of the sagas and late middle ages. Norway?s unique geographical and demographical situation has led to their preservation here alone despite their erection over the whole of Scandinavia and North Western Europe.

Towns and villages began to build churches in stone early on. However, the lack of resources and expertise led to many Norwegian communities opting for the development of stave church architecture instead. This explains both their rural locations, as well as their particular architectural advancement and specialisation when compared to stave churches built in other Scandinavian countries.

A WOODEN HERITAGE. THE NORWEGIAN STAVE CHURCHES
Ola Storsletten?s magnificently illustrated book emphasises these churches as places of worship. Impressive photography shows stave churches in their original environment and exemplifies their advanced architecture, numerous details and religious symbolism.

Ola Storsletten (b. 1948) is an architect working for the Central Office for Historic Monuments. Yasuo Sakuma (b. 1949) lives in Tokyo and has studied architecture and photography with Yasuhiro Ishimoto.

Publisher: H. Aschehoug & Co/Methuen 1993
ISBN 82-03-22008-8
Illustrated 191pp