ParcelhusPortrætter

Danish Family Homes / ParcelhusPortrætter

Based on 12 visits and interviews with owners of family homes built in the 1960s and 1970s.

During this 20-year period, 450,000 houses out of Denmark’s total 1.17 million single-family homes were constructed. These neighborhoods and homes have been, and still are, home to many people—it is their everyday life and history.

Despite this, neighborhoods, houses, gardens, and even the people who have lived or currently live there are often discussed in overly general terms or dismissed as a uniform "type." They are even subject to devaluing rhetoric rather than being appreciated for their architectural and cultural-historical qualities, unique character, and broader context.

This book shares the stories and perspectives of parcel house owners, supplemented by reflective essays that ask important questions about this significant aspect of Danish housing culture. By visiting 12 homes and their owners—who have generously, touchingly, and honestly shared their insights and experiences—the book reveals that life in parcel house neighborhoods is diverse, nuanced, and rich with personality and stories.

ParcelhusPortrætter aims to contribute to the rediscovery, enhancement, and renewal of life quality in these neighborhoods. It seeks to shift the conversation away from simplistic, market-driven debates of “ugly or beautiful” to a more nuanced, compassionate, knowledge-based, and constructive dialogue. By listening, learning, understanding, and challenging, we can carefully and thoughtfully develop these neighborhoods to meet the demands of an ever-changing future.