BILDEN AV ÖVERVÅNINGEN: En studie i hur bebyggelsehistorisk kunskap formas

Abstract

This thesis investigates the notion of unused and unfurnished upper floors in rural manor houses ("mangårdar") from 19th-century southern Norrland, Sweden, focusing on how this concept has been constructed and reproduced within historical building research. Through a literature analysis of three central publications by Sigurd Erixon (1947), Finn Werne (1980), and Ann Renström (2012), the study examines the descriptions of the upper floors, the sources underpinning authors' conclusions, and the perspectives influencing the authors interpretations. Employing a discursive approach inspired by Ingrid Martins Holmberg (2006), the analysis emphasizes the role of linguistic statements in shaping historical notions. Combined with source-critical methods, this approach highlights how the understanding of the upper floors’ usage has been formed. The results reveal that the term "furnished" frequently occurs but remains ambiguously defined. The analysis further indicates that authors rely on the same sources, reflecting both commonalities and differences in perspectives applied. It is argued that the image of the upper floors primarily depends on how sources are selected, interpreted, and reproduced rather than solely on empirical evidence. Ambiguity in terminology, authors' individual experiences, and inherent source biases influence this constructed narrative. The study concludes by underlining the necessity for further research on rural architecture after the "laga skifte" land reforms. Future investigations would benefit from analysing primary sources for a more nuanced understanding. This thesis thus critically contributes to the field by demonstrating how historical architectural knowledge can be shaped by linguistic and interpretive choices.