Building Preservation

Building culture is the most visible evidence of our cultural heritage. It surrounds us every single day; we see it and move around in it. The buildings tell the story of Greenland's culture and architectural history through the ages.1

The preserved buildings are an important part of our history and identity and the history of mankind. Preservation legislation makes it possible to protect and preserve the most valuable buildings for the benefit of ourselves and our descendants

150 Preserved Buildings

The list of preserved buildings totals 150 across the entire country. A large portion of them function as private residences, but there are several places where it is possible to experience this part of Greenland's cultural heritage. Many of the preserved buildings are open to the public by virtue of their function. These can be huts and stations in Northeast Greenland or in towns and settlements throughout the country.

List of all Preserved Buildings

Greenland National Museum & Archives (Grønlands Nationalmuseum & Arkiv) has an obligation to maintain a list of "preserved and preservation-worthy buildings" (fredede og bevaringsværdige bygninger), where all the preserved buildings in the country can be found.

The already preserved buildings thus range in size from old colonial warehouses to huts and stations in Northeast Greenland. Today, there are 150 preserved buildings distributed throughout the country, of which 95 are located in towns and settlements, 55 buildings in Igaliku have come under other cultural heritage protection, and 10 are preserved huts and stations in Northeast Greenland. The preserved buildings are thus essential representatives of societal development or are selected unique testimonies of expeditions and hunting and trapping trips in remote areas.

It is the Greenland National Museum & Archives that implements new preservations, and it is also the Greenland National Museum & Archives that must approve all changes beyond ordinary maintenance on the preserved buildings and areas.

On these pages, you can read more about the different areas managed by the Greenland National Museum & Archives, and you can find answers to many of the questions that arise, whether you own a preserved building or want more information about Greenland's built cultural heritage.

To the left, you can re-watch the broadcast Illeq from KNR, where museum inspector Inge Bisgaard participated as a guest to talk about the building culture that helps tell us who we are. Also, the video about Realdania By & Byg's restoration of historic buildings in Ilimanaq. The latter film was produced by Ánorâk Film.