The Norwegian country cabin and functionalism: a tale of two modernities

The mountain or shore-side cabin (hytte) represents a common leisure form for a significant proportion of Norwegian population. Its roots can be traced to the decline of farming society, growing urbanisation an emphasis on the outdoor life as part of 20th-century state modernising projects. Throughout this history, and through periods of accelerated social change, the cabin has represented an ‘other’ form of . This paper makes the argument that far from representing an escape from post-industrial consumer , the hytte prompts evaluation, comparison or negation of normative domesticity for its occupants. Many such as getting back-to-nature and living the simple life are achieved best, paradoxically, through material manifestation. Routine and rupture, and discourse surrounding farming culture artefacts are in evoking contrast.