House from the 1920s

A historic home with rental opportunities

The small, red-brown house is the first furnished home you encounter along the 1900s street in the Residential Area at Maihaugen. The house, which opened to the public in the summer of 2015, is an important example of Norwegian housing history from the 1920s.

The house is log-built, with a timber-framed entrance—a traditional building method that remained popular in Lillehammer after the dissolution of the union in 1905. Strong national sentiments defined the era, and Maihaugen likely served as an important source of inspiration for this architectural style.

The first resident of the house was a single woman in her forties, who only used the ground floor, while the upper floor was rented out. The home had running water and electricity, with a WC in the basement, but no water heater. Cooking was done on a wood-fired stove in the kitchen, alongside an electric hot plate. The woman ran a café in Storgata, meaning there was likely little cooking at home.

The interior of the house features bold colors, in line with the design ideals of the time among certain social circles. Similar color schemes can be seen in homes like Garborg’s Labråten and Gerhard Munthe’s Leveld.

The house, which was started in 1920 and completed in 1923, originally stood at Søndre gate 21 in Lillehammer. It represents a home for a single person with space for rent, offering an interesting glimpse into Norwegian rental housing from this period.

The house is simple but functional, with the main entrance through the kitchen and access to the garden via a charming glass veranda. It’s easy to imagine enjoying a cup of coffee in the sky-blue garden room.

• Building was started in 1920 and the house was completed in 1923.
• The house was originally located at Søndre gate 21 in Lillehammer.
• The house represents the home of a single mother with rooms for rent. 
• It is a simple house with the main entrance through the kitchen and exit to the garden through a glazed veranda.