This document summarizes the results of a survey of 20 owners of traditional cottages in a region of Norway regarding the contribution of preserving traditional houses to sustainable development. Key findings include:
- The houses have been rehabilitated to be more comfortable and sustainable while maintaining their traditional character.
- 55% of owners have no difficulty renting the houses, though seasonality is a challenge.
- Rental income provides important economic benefits, though not all owners rely on it as their sole income.
- Guests appreciate the houses, landscapes, and quality of service, but feel there is lack of advertising and points of interest, especially in summer.
- Owners value preserving traditional villages and houses as important to
3. This theme was selected after we came across some of the
problems in our region, which are:
Low agriculture profit.
The closure of a large number of textile factories.
The lack of investments that can help the economy grow.
The economic and financial crisis that our country is going
through.
The lack of jobs opportunities.
The population has migrated and villages are becoming
deserted.
4. “Does the preservation of the traditional houses contribute
to a sustainable development?”
We considered that maybe the traditional houses would
contribute to the improvement of our current situation, so we
came across a main question for our research:
We created several questions and possible solutions
concerning the problem under study.
5. Question
Does the traditional house have
any touristic value?
Perhaps the traditional houses have a touristic value which can
contribute to the local sustainable development
Hypothesis
10. Type of building:
5%
20%
45%
10%
5% 0%
15%
less than
50
between
50 and 100
100-150 150-200 200-250 250-300 more than
300
Total house area in square metes
50%
35%
10%
5%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
GRANITE, WOOD
GRANITE, WOOD, BRICK,
CEMENT
SCHIST, WOOD, BRICK,
CEMENT
SCHIST, WOOD
Building Material
11. 30%
70%
Location of the construction
Isolated
(farm)
Village
25%
45%
30%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
INTHE HOUSE
OTHER HOUSE, IN
THESAMEVILLAGE
IN ANOTHERVILLAGE
The owners live
12. 10%
90%
Is the income provided by the touristic
houses enough for their owners to live
only on it?
Yes
No
17%
83%
OTHER PROFESSIONAL
PROJECTS ALREADY IN
COURSE
INSUFFICIENT INCOME
BECAUSE OF BEING SAZONAL
If not, what is/are the reason/s
13. 70%
85%
35%
60%
5%
35%
70%
70%
45%
60%
50%
MAINTENANCE WORK
RESTORATIONWORK
SOLAR PANELS PLACEMENT
DOUBLE GLASSWINDOWS PLACEMENT
IMPROVEMENT OFTHE RAINWATERS USAGE SYSTEM
PLACEMENT OF "ECO-FRIENDLY"/WATER SAVINGTAPS
LED ILLUMINATION PLACEMENT
INTRODUCTION OFTHERMAL INSULATION ONTHE ROOF
INTRODUCTION OFTHERMAL INSULATION ONTHEWALLS
PLACEMENT OFWATER SAVIMGTOILETS
INTRODUCTION OFWASTE SEPARATION SYSTEM
What type of changes/repairs has the owner been doing in the house?
16. 25%
95%
70%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
RUSTIC AND NATURAL
ENVIRON
ENGAGING AND
MARVELLOUS
TRANSMITS CALM,VERY
QUIET AND RELAXING
What is the visitors’ opinion on the surrounding?
18. 35%
15%
20%
40%
5%
15%
10%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%
DEVELOPINGTOURISM CREATING
INTEREST POINTS (JEWISH MARKS,…
CREATING BETTER ACCESSES
URBANISTIC RECOVERY
MORE ADVERTISING ESPECIALLY FOR
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
NOTHING
RESTAURANTS
CREATING MEANSTO ATTRACTTHE
POPULATIONAND AVOID…
What do you think it is missing in the place that could increase
tourism?
19. Would you say that having
traditional houses is important
for the different regions?
95%
5%
Yes
No
22. The houses were rehabilitated and there was a concern to make them more comfortable and
sustainable.
55% of the owners have no difficulty on renting the houses. However, there are problems that may be
related with the fact that the region is more attractive in the winter than in the other seasons.
Although not all owners depend entirely on the income of these houses, they´re an important
economic contribution. Even though some of the owners could make a living only with the renting
contribution, they don´t, because they enjoy their current job.
The guests appreciate the quality of service, the beauty of these houses and the landscape that
surrounds them.
The guests consider there is a lack of advertising for these houses and also, that there are not
enough points of interest, except in the winter.
The owners value the preservation of the villages and their typical houses, because it contributes to
tourism development.
23. This way, all these aspects allow us to conclude that the
preservation of the traditional houses of Serra da Estrela region is
important to the sustainable development of the region, even
though it seems there is still a long path to go.
