Beautiful Norwegian Foliage-Covered Green Roofs

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-roof">Green roofs</a> may be a newer phenomenon in many places, but Norwegians have been planting greenery atop their houses for hundreds of years. Some have flowers mixed in with grass, creating a lush garden that just happens to keep the house below well insulated. The verdant roofs have many advantages, from maintaining regular temperatures within the dwellings to actually stabilizing the houses themselves.

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-roof">Green roofs</a> in Norway have become a long-standing tradition, and it's not common to see them dotting the country's landscape—or in this case, essentially melding with the landscape.

During the Viking and Middle Ages most houses had sod roofs, and in rural areas sod roofs were almost universal until the beginning of the 18th century.

While the tradition declined and almost became extinct with the introduction of corrugated iron and other industrial materials, steadfast national romantics revived the older tradition.

Tile roofs, which appeared much earlier in towns and on rural manors, gradually superseded sod roofs except in remote inland areas during the 19th century.

The renaissance of green roofs was also boosted by a growing interest in open air <a href="http://inhabitat.com/lotus-shaped-singapore-artmuseum-collects-rain-and-light/">museums</a>, mountain retreats, vacation homes and the preservation movement.

In turn many cultural and commercial institutions have integrated these roofs into the core of their design as an alternative to modern <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/materials">materials</a>.

Every year, since 2000, an award has been given to the best green roof project in Scandinavia by the board of the Scandinavian Green Roof Association.

Structures blend well with the surrounding landscape, to create an uninterrupted aesthetic.

Given the brisk and often low temperatures experienced, the roofs provide excellent, natural insulation.

Even large manors will integrate a green roof in their design.

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Green roofs go even greener with skylights.