Your Preserved House
A large portion of Greenland's 150 preserved buildings belongs to public owners. Owners and users of preserved buildings play a crucial role in ensuring the maintenance and protection of our shared cultural heritage.
When a building receives preservation status, the owners must keep it in good repair. Additionally, all external and internal changes that go beyond ordinary maintenance require prior permission from the Greenland National Museum & Archives.
Owner of a Preserved House
Many people consider living in a preserved house a privilege. Preserved houses often possess unique qualities, such as soul and history, that make the residence an interesting place to live. However, as an owner, you also act as a steward of cultural heritage. Preservation aims specifically to maintain and protect as many of the building's qualities as possible, thereby safeguarding a part of Greenland's cultural monuments for future generations.
Owners must keep their buildings in good repair. If you plan to alter a preserved building, you must obtain permission from the Greenland National Museum & Archives; this applies to both internal and external changes. The Greenland National Museum & Archives provides advice and guidance for these changes, ensuring owners receive professional recommendations on appropriate materials and methods.
Changes Require Permission
Both minor and major changes require permission from the Greenland National Museum & Archives. This includes everything from re-roofing or moving an interior partition wall to installing a sign on the facade.
When performing ordinary maintenance, you must use the same materials, methods, and colors as before, maintaining the preserved building's condition and appearance as it was at the time of preservation. When special circumstances warrant it, the Greenland National Museum & Archives may grant a dispensation from the requirement to use the same previous materials, methods, and colors. You can read more about ordinary maintenance of a preserved building under "What can you do, what should you do?".
The requirement for permission on all work ensures that your changes either maintain or improve the building's preservation values. Conversely, using incorrect materials or improper execution during changes can cause a building to lose the value and distinctive character that originally made it worthy of preservation.
Where you can get help
The Greenland National Museum & Archives serves as the authority in this area, but they also have a duty to advise owners of preserved buildings. If you have questions about preservation or upcoming and ongoing construction work, you can contact us. You can also find knowledge and good advice here.
Living building, not a museum
A preserved building is not a museum, and active use is important for its well-being. You can use the house, for example, as a private residence, a workshop, or a shop. The Idékataloget (Idea Catalogue) shows more examples of ways you can use a preserved building.
However, the use of a preserved building must never compromise its preservation values. When making changes, you must preserve and improve the building's special qualities and distinctive character. Both the Greenland National Museum & Archives and the owners of preserved buildings act as stewards in preserving the building's cultural and architectural distinctive character.
With correct advice and guidance, owners can often make changes to a preserved building without compromising its core preservation values.