Jærhus is a type of house that is considered typical of Jæren in Rogaland county, Norway. The house type was widely used until the beginning of the 20th century. Eventually, Jærhuset was considered old-fashioned, and many houses were demolished to make room for more modern types. There are probably just over 100 Jærhus left. Few of these are from the time before 1800, and few have been preserved in their original style.
Houses were built where the landscape could provide shelter from the wind. The houses were preferably placed so that the wind from the northwest hit the gable, where "skuter" of stone took the worst of it.
The houses were built according to what was needed and what materials were available. Since the western part of the country was in lack of forests, stone and straw were used around the facade and peat was used on the roof. Peat was filled in the "skuter" and used as a replacement for firewood, while also creating insulation for the inner rooms of the house.
*A "skut" is an extension on one or both sides of the house, less often on the long side of the house (on the Jærhus, the "skuter" are always built on the short walls)
Jærhuset