The land in Kulusuk is almost all sloping in some direction,
the answer to this is to build a raised platform on piles and
then put houses on top of that, the under house portion
making a useful storage space. By its weathered colour I assume
that the topless base in the center of this picture has lost
its house rather than is awaiting one.
One thing that
I never really understood though was why so many of the houses
were built so far up the slopes. There were virtually no vehicles
so every day the inhabitants would have to walk up and down
the slopes or steps often carrying all sorts of stuff, and the
exposed positions must make the houses colder in winter however
insulated they are compared to being built further down the
slope. Maybe the views are worth it and the efforts that put
me off
just shows how soft and unfit I am.
Picture copyright
Paul Ward.
