Follow along as we renovate an 1891 Swiss-style villa in Eidsvoll, Norway.
Villa Nordhøi is a Swiss-style villa built in 1891 in the historic section of Eidsvoll, Norway. It was built by the local shoe maker and remained in the same family until we purchased it in January 2007. The structure of the building is log-cabin framing with siding inside and out.
Friday, December 7, 2007
We have purchased a country house!
We are now the proud owners of Nordhøi, an 1891 Swiss-style villa in Eidsvoll, Norway. We plan to use the house for a weekend getaway until such time as we decide to move out of the city. At that time, we'll have the possibility of renovating and moving here.
We are a family of five with three children born between 1999 and 2006. Villa Nordhøi has been our breath of fresh country air from our daily life in an apartment in downtown Oslo.
We have building exerience, having self-built a house in the USA from the foundation to the roof. We view this project in the long-term, with a plan to move to the house, raise children until they move out, and retire here one day. Short-term, good-enough solutions are of no interest to us. We like original details as much as possible, combined with modern solutions and environmental efficiency.
Dec 2007: Decided to build onto and eventually move to VN
Spring 2008: Hired an architect
July 2008: First meetings with town Building Department and state Preservation Department
Sept 2008: Fired first architect because he never came to department meetings and never took any steps beyond the original general sketches
Summer-Autumn 2009: First building plan developed
Autumn 2009: Met with a number of potential builders and received general cost bids and input on how to alter project.
Late 2009: Sent amended plans to Preservation Department for informal comments
Early 2010: Preservation Department formally rejects our plan (technically advises the Building Department not to approve it)
April 2010: Meetings with Building Department and Preservation Department to get more input. Conceded that we needed a professional architect for this project.
June 2010: Met with neighbors and came to agreement in principle for the purchase of surrounding land.
1 Aug 2010: Moved to Belgium
August 2014: Villa Nordhøi must be completed and ready for us to move in upon return from Belgium.
Recommended Links Related to Our Project
ByggeBolig.no - Everything you need to know about building or renovating a house in Norway.
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