Supervision and repair. No building type has such historical roots as the log house. It has been a house for both the common man and the gentry and has come to characterize our older building environment to a great extent.

The report shows how log houses can be cared for and repaired to preserve their heritage value. The key is careful supervision and repairs that are adapted to the authentic log technique.

The report is written for both property owners and construction professionals. Richly illustrated.

Moving Old Houses is the first book in the series – Building Conservation in Practice.

The book describes, step by step, how the work of moving an old house is done. Documentation, research into the history of the house, marking, demolition and reconstruction. The construction of the log house, from foundation and frame to finishes and permanent fixtures, is also described in detail. The book is compulsory reading for anyone intending to move an old wooden house, but even if you are only renovating a wooden house on site, you will get a lot of valuable advice.

Various principles of reconstruction are discussed, as well as the choice of craftsmen and methods and materials for interior renovation. Invaluable knowledge for those working with older houses.

The book provides an illustrative picture of the standard and style development of kitchens and bathrooms in Sweden’s apartment buildings and detached houses. The design and equipment of kitchens and bathrooms follow the spirit of the times through the decades, both technically and functionally. At the same time, history bears clear traces of how the view of housework and life in the home has changed over time.

The story begins in the 1880s, when many cities are growing rapidly in the wake of industrialization. There is a housing shortage and economic conditions are tight. Homes are heated by tiled stoves or fireplaces, food is cooked on wood stoves and there are dry toilets in the yard. 120 years later, in 2000, when the story ends, high standards in kitchens and bathrooms are a matter of course. New trends follow one another and many kitchens and bathrooms are torn out and rebuilt, long before it is technically necessary.

Increased knowledge of period interiors is a valuable basis for conservation, renovation and remodeling. Inspiration can be drawn from the floor plans, kitchen layouts and furnishings of different periods.

Cecilia Björk architect SAR/MSA and Laila Reppen architect SAR/MSA are authors and illustrators of books such as Så byggdes husen 1880-2000, Så byggdes staden, Så byggdes villan and Tidstypiskt. Gustav Bergström, “Rävjägaren”, is a civil engineer as well as a writer and opinion leader in architecture and building conservation.

The book is nominated for Book of the Year 2020.

Byggnadsvårdarens bibliotek is a collection of Gysinge’s own useful book series – Byggnadsvård i praktiken. Written by Göran Gudmundsson, one of the enthusiasts and founders of Gysinge Center for Building Conservation. Cardboard box in matte paper.

The books are invaluable for anyone who owns or has recently bought an old house that needs looking after. They provide in-depth practical tips, advice on construction, style eras, restoration and approaches to building care for the different areas indicated by the books’ titles:

Relocation of old houses

The heat in old houses

Exterior renovation

Interior renovation

Painted floors

The books can also be purchased separately, but the package price for the collected books is significantly cheaper.