Trästadens dolda utrymmen: fasader i husens mellanrum som kulturhistoriskt källmaterial

Abstract

This thesis explores the narrow spaces between closely built houses in the over 300-year-old wooden town center of Mariestad, Sweden, and their potential as time capsules and sources of knowledge in cultural-historical building investigations. By interpreting well-preserved carpentry work on a facade in one of these spaces, the study aims to provide an example of how these preserved spaces can serve as a source of knowledge and understanding of craftsmanship and the history of the place. The thesis also addresses the municipality of Mariestad's work with cultural heritage, as well as maps out more of these potentially interesting interstitial spaces. Old Swedish wooden towns possess a high degree of uniqueness both nationally and internationally; nevertheless, they are subjected to relatively significant threats of demolitions and substantial changes, often in the form of many smaller restorations or changes over a long period of time. The focus of the case study is a window from the 16th or 17th century and the facade's old, hand planed wooden cladding. A conclusion drawn from the case study is that the examined facade harbors a different source material than what is observable on the other facades of the building, and that the material predates the facades facing the streets and possesses a high degree of authenticity. The case study also presents examples of potential uses for this type of source material, such as reference material in comparative studies of other architectural details, providing valuable insights into historical building practices and craft techniques. Additionally, it is observed that the interstitial spaces identified in this paper are not specifically mentioned in any cultural heritage documentation maintained by the Municipality of Mariestad, and they have not identified them as culturally or historically significant spaces with potential as valuable source material.