Your Preserved House
A large part of Greenland's 150 preserved buildings are publicly owned. Owners and users of preserved buildings are important because they help ensure the maintenance and protection of our shared cultural heritage.
When a building is preserved, it means, among other things, that the owners must keep the building in good repair and that both external and internal changes that go beyond ordinary maintenance require prior permission from the Greenland National Museum & Archives.
Owner of a Preserved House
Living in a preserved house is considered by many to be a privilege. Preserved houses often have special qualities, such as soul and history, that make the residence interesting to live in. But as an owner, you are also a steward of cultural heritage. The purpose of preservation is precisely to maintain and protect as much as possible of the building's qualities and thus a part of Greenland's cultural monuments for posterity.
The owner is therefore obligated to keep their building in good repair. And the owner must have permission from the Greenland National Museum & Archives if the preserved building is to be altered. This applies both internally and externally. The Greenland National Museum & Archives provides advice and guidance in connection with these changes. In this way, the owner is assured of professional advice on appropriate materials and methods.
Changes Require Permission
Both small and large changes require permission from the Greenland National Museum & Archives. This applies to everything from re-roofing or moving an internal partition wall to setting up a sign on the facade.
Ordinary maintenance must be carried out using the same materials, methods, and colours as previously, and in accordance with the preservation of the preserved building's condition and appearance at the time of preservation. The Greenland National Museum & Archives may, when special circumstances warrant it, grant a dispensation from the requirement to use the same materials, methods, and colours as previously. You can read more about ordinary maintenance of a preserved building under "What can you do, what should you do?".
The reason that all work on a preserved building requires permission is to ensure that the changes carried out on a preserved building maintain or improve the preservation values. Changes to a preserved building with incorrect materials and incorrect execution can, among other things, lead to a building losing the value and distinctive character that made it worthy of preservation in the first place.
Where you can get help
The Greenland National Museum & Archives is not only the authority in this area, but it is also our task to advise owners of preserved buildings. If you have questions about the preservation or about upcoming and ongoing construction work, you are welcome to contact us. You can also gain knowledge and good advice here.
Not a museum
A preserved building is not a museum, but it is important to use the building. The house is best off when it is actively used. For example, as a private residence, workshop, or shop. In the Idékataloget (Idea Catalogue), you can see more examples of ways to use a preserved building.
However, the way a preserved building is used must never impair the building's preservation values. It is important to preserve and improve the building's special qualities and distinctive character when changes are to be made to the building. Both the Greenland National Museum & Archives and the owners of preserved buildings are stewards of the preservation of the building's cultural and architectural distinctive character.
With the correct advice and guidance, it is often possible to make changes in a preserved building without compromising the core preservation values.