Outfield
The walk through the agricultural landscape towards the Wittgenstein House
Coming to the Wittgenstein House should be a great experience. The walk inside is part of this.
Graphic artist Arild Yttri, with roots in Fortun, has created a series of 18 copper engravings depicting the decay of the outfield meadows in Mørkridsdalen. The work was exhibited at the "Autumn Exhibition" in Oslo 2020, where it received an award for best graphic work from the Norwegian Graphic Artists' Foundation.
The Wittgenstein Foundation in Skjolden does not want our guests to see collapsed, lost buildings on the way to the W-house. Our statutes state that we will preserve cultural values in Skjolden beyond the W-house. This includes three agricultural-related buildings in this beautiful landscape.
One of these is the large outfield shed that is located close to the road leading to the W-house.
Photo: Trygve Martinussen
The pictures show the farm before and after the foundation took over the farm. Before - with the dominant extension, the closest part with a corrugated iron roof - now in its original size and original architecture.
In the following, we show glimpses of the work done with the Løa in the period 2023-2025.
SWiS has an agreement with the owners Simon and Monica Page to take over the farm for their own use in exchange for taking responsibility for its maintenance.
The fundamental goal of the project was to permanently preserve an important cultural monument for all time. This was done through immediate measures such as repairing roof leaks and restoring the building to its original architecture. As needed: strengthening the retaining structure and improving the roofing.
Secondly, furnishing for own needs such as establishing storage space and a suitable information space for guiding groups. In addition, using the shed as a boathouse, i.e. winter storage for the W-boat and for storing leftover materials from the W-house.
Photo: Lars Frellumstad
Start the project by releasing the extension, cutting the hills.
Photo: Lars Frellumstad
Perfect "landing" - none of the remaining panels at the top of the gable were damaged. The building was prepared for volunteer cleanup and reconstruction of the gable wall.
Photo: Trygve Martinussen
Vidar – a fearless roofer who plasters the Mønsåsen with corrugated iron.
Photo: Trygve Martinussen
Good materials for recycling
Photo: Lars Frellumstad
Pull in and go! The extension was pulled over by four strong men from the volunteer group.
This is after dismantling the lower part of the panel for reuse.
Lots to tackle! Sweeping away moss, dust and weathered cellulose showed a big difference before and after. The silver-gray, aged panel color comes out cleaner, should match the hair color (!).
A well-deserved thank you with a volunteer dinner at Vassbakken.
Monty Martinussen, Kim Dutton, Ole Marius Manskow Løken, Jon Bolstad and Trygve Martinussen.
New corrugated iron sheets on the raised part of the roof in autumn 2025.
In addition, Simon Page has placed three pallets of additional slate slabs from the staff house roof on his farm for later restoration of the roof here.
Photo: Trygve Martinussen
Photo: Jon Bolstad
“Handy” and sporty volunteer/friends group with an average age of just under 80: Vidar Hovde, Ragnar Steen, Lars Frellumstad, Trygve Martinussen, Jan Oluf Hagen and Terje Lium.
Photo taken and published by the Norwegian Ministry of Cultural Heritage on their website on May 13, 2022.
The Minister for Cultural Heritage, Hanna Geiran, personally urged us to create a project to salvage this lake. Such requests have consequences for us…
Photo: Jan Nyberg
Barefoot architecture
Interesting find: Jan Nyberg was inspired and subsequently carried out valuable conservation of the neighboring island, belonging to "Larsagarden". Here he found this `architectural drawing`, drawn on a sheet of paper. It shows the extension made on Larsaløa, dated 1956. Beautiful drawing of an exquisite wooden structure.
Vegard Bolstad TV thanks the two new volunteer participants, Jostein Fjøsne and Kjell Eide.
Photo: Kristin Devor
Man with saw
The work close to the road to the W-house provided a good opportunity for many a good chat with the people to and from the W-house. One of the interested parties was Kristin Devor, a professional photographer, see devorfoto.no . She asked for permission to photograph, and sent this picture in return. She gave the subject the Hemingway-esque name “Man with a Saw”. She received unconditional permission to publish and sell!
The stone slab floor in place. Jan Nyberg with the half-finished storage room and the room seen almost finished.
Direct help from Troels Fuglsang Rosenkrantz.
“Cathedral Square” in Løa.
A popular place – especially in rainy weather – for information before the ascent to the W-house for guided guest groups. Please take a seat!
Text: Trygve Martinussen
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