Preserved Buildings

Kalaallit Nunaanni building culture is a visible part of the country's cultural heritage. Nationally, Kalaallit Nunaat has a total of 150 preserved buildings and approximately over 350 buildings considered to have preservation value.

Preserved buildings and preservation-worthy buildings differ in that preserved buildings possess special architectural or cultural-historical qualities that speak to significant periods in the country's history and are therefore of national importance. Consequently, you must seek permission from the NKA for all building work, both external and internal.

Preservation-worthy buildings similarly tell stories about building customs, architecture, and cultural history, but on a local level. A preservation order applies to all or part of a preserved building, covering both its exterior and interior, whereas a preservation-worthy designation applies only to the building's exterior.

Here on these pages, you can read more about what preservation covers, the history of building preservation and conservation, preservation-worthy buildings, and upcoming plans for the preservation review in Kalaallit Nunaat. You can download the overview of all preserved buildings in Kalaallit Nunaat 2024, here.