Why are houses in Greenland so colorful?

Why are houses in Greenland so colorful?

The colour coding of buildings and houses in Greenland dates back to its 18th-Century colonial era, when wooden houses were sent up from Scandinavia as timber kits. ... All hospitals were painted yellow as were the houses where doctors and nurses lived.

How do Greenland heat their homes?

Many Greenlanders live in small wooden houses, often without running water, central heating or flush toilets. Isikkivik has a chemical toilet that is emptied three times a week. There is no shower. A modern electric heater keeps the place nice and cozy on cold days.

Are there houses in Greenland?

In all of Greenland's towns, specific areas are dominated by a few such houses in the smaller towns and up to fifty plus in Nuuk. Ever since the 1950s there has been and indeed there remains a small and highly lucrative market for these houses.

How hard is it to move to Greenland?

Greenland has a harsh climate; there are few jobs, and even few jobs that pay well. Living expenses are high, because almost nothing edible grows there. The two languages are almost impossible for outsiders to learn: The native language of Greenland is a mix of an Inuit dialect and Danish.

How do you build a house in Greenland?

Please note that in Greenland, you do not own the site on which a home is built. Citizens, private individuals, co-operative housing associations and companies can be granted the right of use to a site if, for example, they wish to build a house. You must apply for site allocation in order to obtain the right of use to the desired site.

What kind of homes do Greenlandic people live in?

Greenlandic homes are typically constructed of stone, sod, or wood. During the summers, some families live in tents made from furs or skins. Communities are typically tightly clustered together, for as Gretel Ehrlich remarked in National Geographic Adventure, "for the Eskimo, solitude is a sign of sheer unhappiness.

What are the colors of houses in Greenland?

The colourful tradition of the characteristic, brightly coloured houses began here. The colours were practical and indicated the function of the building: Commercial houses were red; hospitals were yellow; police stations were black; the telephone company was green and fish factories were blue.

When did Hans Egede bring wooden houses to Greenland?

Hans Egede’s arrival in Greenland in 1721 marked the new colonial style whereby wooden houses were sent up from Scandinavia as timber kits. The colourful tradition of the characteristic, brightly coloured houses began here.