The News 30/09/2026
WHEN WHALE BONES BECOME PART OF A HOUSE: INUIT ARCHITECTURE IN GREENLAND
In Greenland, where much of the landscape is covered by ice and snow and large trees are almost nonexistent, building a house has never been a simple task. The Inuit had to make use of whatever was available in their surroundings to create shelters strong and warm enough to survive the winter. Stone, peat, snow, animal skins, and whale bones therefore became important materials in traditional architecture. Among them, whale bones are perhaps the most striking. Curved ribs and large jawbones were used to create the framework of the roof, which was then covered with skins, soil, and other natural materials. From the outside, these structures may appear rather primitive, but behind them lies a structural and climatic approach that was highly suited to Arctic conditions.
