Haubarg
Encyclopedia
A Haubarg, rarely also Hauberg, is the typical farmhouse
of the Eiderstedt
peninsula on the northwest coast of Germany and is a type of Gulf house
. It emerged in the late 16th century when West Frisian
immigrants brought with them the Gulf type of farm building and it was to continue to be used until late 19th century as a farmhouse.
The word "Haubarg" means a place for piling or stacking hay. Man and animal lived for centuries in Haubargs under one roof, albeit in separate rooms.
, in which the house is supported on, usually four, but sometimes six or eight posts, depending on size, that are joined by longitudinal and transverse beams (Pfetten). In rare cases, no longer seen today, there were as many as ten posts. This method of construction meant, inter alia, that the house was resistant to the forces of nature, especially storms and their associated surges
. Even if a storm surge collapses the walls, the posts will still support the roof. The basic structure of the house remains undamaged. This design also simplified the renovation of the walls, which began to 'salt out' after about 100 years and had to be replaced.
The four posts in the centre of a Haubarg form a square or Vierkant, in which the straw, which was produced by threshing, was stored. Arranged around it are the Loo, where threshing and other activities took place, living rooms (Döns) and sleeping compartments (alcoves or Alkoven) for the farm hands
(Hofgesinde) together with the stall
s for the horses (Peerboos), cattle (Boos) and small livestock. The bedchambers of well-to-do farmer and his family were wall bed in alcoves in the so-called Pesel, which could even be heated, whereas the farm labourers were only kept warm by the cattle and the stored straw and hay.
The hay, which gave this type of house its name, was kept above the Boos, whilst grain was stored over the living area of the house. Before being threshed, sheaves from the harvest were stacked above the Loo on a sort of slatted floor (Spaltenboden). Outside the harvest season, the Loo acted as a shed for wagons.
Another feature is the thatched roof, often 15 or 20 metres high, under which hay for the winter was stored.
, to protect them against flooding during storm surges. Until the 18th century, Haubargs were built in an east-west direction, then, mostly for representational reasons, in a south-north orientation.
When the then Adolf Hitler Koog was dyked in Dithmarschen
during the Nazi era, in order to create a model Germanic settlement (Mustersiedlung) there, the houses built were Haubargs, entirely atypical of Dithmarschen.
In 1860 there were still 360 Haubargs, but by 2008 only about 100 were left. Although Haubargs had originally been built for their economic usefulness, they had since become too expensive for their rural owners. The thatched roof in particular, that often had an area of around 1,000m², was very expensive to maintain. As a result most farmers have moved into other buildings to continue farming. The Haubargs have mostly been sold to other, non-local owners, who preserve the exterior appearance, but often carry out major conversions of the interior into other uses. Some Haubargs in private hands may be viewed from inside as well.
The best known historic Haubarg is the Roter Haubarg, with 99 windows, in the vicinity of Witzwort
. In addition to a restaurant, it houses a museum in its historic rooms which offers an insight into the life and work of its former owners. The Tofthof in Westerhever
is one of the few Haubargs, that has been used for farming since 2005. The sociologist, Ferdinand Tönnies
, was born in the Haubarg of Die Riep near Oldenswort
.
Farmhouse
Farmhouse is a general term for the main house of a farm. It is a type of building or house which serves a residential purpose in a rural or agricultural setting. Most often, the surrounding environment will be a farm. Many farm houses are shaped like a T...
of the Eiderstedt
Eiderstedt
Eiderstedt is a peninsula in the district of Nordfriesland in the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein.-Overview:It is approximately 30 km in length and 15 km in width and has been created through diking from three islands: Eiderstedt around Tönning, Utholm around Tating, and...
peninsula on the northwest coast of Germany and is a type of Gulf house
Gulf house
A Gulf house , also called a Gulf farmhouse or East Frisian house , is a type of farmhouse that emerged in the 16th and 17th centuries in North Germany. It is timber-framed and built using post-and-beam construction. Initially Gulf houses appeared in the marshes, but later spread to the Frisian...
. It emerged in the late 16th century when West Frisian
West Friesland (region)
West Friesland is a contemporary region in the northwestern Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The region covers an area of about , delineated by the Westfriese Omringdijk...
immigrants brought with them the Gulf type of farm building and it was to continue to be used until late 19th century as a farmhouse.
The word "Haubarg" means a place for piling or stacking hay. Man and animal lived for centuries in Haubargs under one roof, albeit in separate rooms.
Design
Haubargs have a right-angled floor plan, which is square in the case of four-post buildings. They are post-and-beam houses, a form of StänderhausStänderhaus
The Ständerhaus is a form of post-and-beam house found in northern Germany and the Netherlands. In particular it is a type of construction used in the Low German house or Fachhallenhaus, a centuries-old form of farmhouse typical of the North European Plain...
, in which the house is supported on, usually four, but sometimes six or eight posts, depending on size, that are joined by longitudinal and transverse beams (Pfetten). In rare cases, no longer seen today, there were as many as ten posts. This method of construction meant, inter alia, that the house was resistant to the forces of nature, especially storms and their associated surges
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
. Even if a storm surge collapses the walls, the posts will still support the roof. The basic structure of the house remains undamaged. This design also simplified the renovation of the walls, which began to 'salt out' after about 100 years and had to be replaced.
The four posts in the centre of a Haubarg form a square or Vierkant, in which the straw, which was produced by threshing, was stored. Arranged around it are the Loo, where threshing and other activities took place, living rooms (Döns) and sleeping compartments (alcoves or Alkoven) for the farm hands
Farm Hands
Farm Hands is a 1943 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Herbert Glazer. It was the 215th Our Gang short that was released.-Plot:...
(Hofgesinde) together with the stall
Stall (enclosure)
A stall is a small enclosure of some kind, usually less enclosed than a room.-Market stall:A market stall is usually an immobile temporary structure erected by merchants to display and shelter their merchandise...
s for the horses (Peerboos), cattle (Boos) and small livestock. The bedchambers of well-to-do farmer and his family were wall bed in alcoves in the so-called Pesel, which could even be heated, whereas the farm labourers were only kept warm by the cattle and the stored straw and hay.
The hay, which gave this type of house its name, was kept above the Boos, whilst grain was stored over the living area of the house. Before being threshed, sheaves from the harvest were stacked above the Loo on a sort of slatted floor (Spaltenboden). Outside the harvest season, the Loo acted as a shed for wagons.
Another feature is the thatched roof, often 15 or 20 metres high, under which hay for the winter was stored.
Location
Where coastal defences were inadequate, Haubargs were built on artificial mounds, called warftsArtificial dwelling hill
An artificial dwelling hill is a mound, created to provide safe ground during high tide and river floods....
, to protect them against flooding during storm surges. Until the 18th century, Haubargs were built in an east-west direction, then, mostly for representational reasons, in a south-north orientation.
Recent history and present
No new Haubargs have been built for about 100 years.When the then Adolf Hitler Koog was dyked in Dithmarschen
Dithmarschen
Dithmarschen is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Flensburg, Rendsburg-Eckernförde, and Steinburg, by the state of Lower Saxony , and by the North Sea.-Geography:The district is located on the North Sea...
during the Nazi era, in order to create a model Germanic settlement (Mustersiedlung) there, the houses built were Haubargs, entirely atypical of Dithmarschen.
In 1860 there were still 360 Haubargs, but by 2008 only about 100 were left. Although Haubargs had originally been built for their economic usefulness, they had since become too expensive for their rural owners. The thatched roof in particular, that often had an area of around 1,000m², was very expensive to maintain. As a result most farmers have moved into other buildings to continue farming. The Haubargs have mostly been sold to other, non-local owners, who preserve the exterior appearance, but often carry out major conversions of the interior into other uses. Some Haubargs in private hands may be viewed from inside as well.
The best known historic Haubarg is the Roter Haubarg, with 99 windows, in the vicinity of Witzwort
Witzwort
Witzwort is a municipality in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
. In addition to a restaurant, it houses a museum in its historic rooms which offers an insight into the life and work of its former owners. The Tofthof in Westerhever
Westerhever
Westerhever is a municipality in Nordfriesland in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.-Geography:Westerhever lies on the northwestern tip of the Eiderstedt Peninsula...
is one of the few Haubargs, that has been used for farming since 2005. The sociologist, Ferdinand Tönnies
Ferdinand Tönnies
Ferdinand Tönnies was a German sociologist. He was a major contributor to sociological theory and field studies, best known for his distinction between two types of social groups, Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft...
, was born in the Haubarg of Die Riep near Oldenswort
Oldenswort
Oldenswort is a municipality in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, next to the river Eider.-Personalities:The founder of German sociology, Ferdinand Tönnies , was born here. A memorial of him has been unveiled 1990....
.