Iceland's turf houses at risk due to lack of records

Iceland faces a potential loss of its unrecorded turf houses due to a lack of comprehensive surveys and ongoing maintenance. Environment, Energy and Climate Minister Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson stated that while preservation is primarily handled by local museums and the National Museum of Iceland, a nationwide count of these historic structures has not been undertaken.

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There is a risk that the turf houses that are not registered will be damaged in the coming years if they are not maintained.

The National Museum's collection includes nine turf houses and five turf churches, but largely focuses on major homesteads and churches rather than common dwellings. A detailed survey in Skagafjörður, however, identified 59 turf houses in 2024. This study, which examined the fate of 37 turf houses documented between 1989 and 2021, revealed that 62% had deteriorated into ruins or foundations, 5% were partially collapsed, and 33% remained intact.

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No special survey has been conducted on the number of turf houses found in Iceland.

Maintaining these structures is vital for preserving the traditional building knowledge associated with them. While the exact number of turf houses that have disappeared in recent years is unknown due to the lack of a national registry, the findings from the Skagafjörður study are expected to provide a representative picture of the national situation. The preservation of these unique architectural remnants is essential for Iceland's cultural heritage.

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The preservation of turf houses is primarily handled by local museums and the National Museum of Iceland.