Nægilegrar

Nægilegrar is a type of rural settlement found in Iceland. The term roughly translates to "nail house" or "nail dwelling" in English. Nægilegrar were traditional farmhouses that were built using a distinctive technique involving narrow, vertically-placed wooden plates.

These narrow plates, or "naegguler", were hewn from aspen or birch trees and were arranged in a vertical pattern to form the walls of the house. The spaces between the plates were then filled with a mixture of mud, sand, and wool, creating a durable and insulating wall. This construction method was particularly well-suited to Iceland's harsh maritime climate, which is characterized by strong winds and heavy precipitation.

Nægilegrar were typically small and simple in design, with a centrally-placed hearth for cooking and a loft for storing hay and other possessions. The narrow, vertically-placed plates of the walls provided excellent protection against the strong winds and rain that batter the coastal regions of Iceland. Nægilegrar are particularly significant in the cultural heritage of Iceland, reflecting the resourcefulness and ingenuity of the island's early inhabitants.

Today, remnants of nægilegrar can be seen throughout Iceland, often in rural areas where the traditional buildings are still preserved. While many have been replaced by more modern structures, some have been restored and are open to the public as museums or cultural attractions.