Strand Boarding School is a large, two-storey, dark-hued wooden building that lies on a slope to the southeast of Langfjordvannet. Strand was on the through route to the River Pasvik, and it was therefore natural for the boarding school to be sited here. Travellers from Kirkenes to Øvre (Upper) Pasvik rowed from Langfjorden and Langfjordvannet until they came to Strand.

Strand Boarding School was built in 1905 as the first state boarding school in Norway, and it became a symbol of the strengthening of Norwegian sovereignty in Pasvikdalen. The Finnish language was widespread in the valley and from the authorities’ point of view there was a strong need to preserve the Norwegian language. In 1914 it became necessary to develop the school further because the population had grown. The boarding school was extended by raising the roof and building out on the west side, and this was achieved by installing a dormer. As early as 1924 it became necessary to extend again and planking was used for this section. Thus the boarding school gained the appearance it has today. This large timber building exemplifies strong and conscious Norwegian building traditions. The building was spared during the Second World War.

The school continued to function as a boarding school up until the 1960s. Pupils alternated six weeks at school and six weeks at home. They travelled home every other weekend. New primary and secondary schools opened in Svanvik in 1982, when Strand Boarding School ceased to function as a school. Since then, the building has been used by Sør-Varanger Museum.

1905

1914

1924

Arkitekt Bredo Greve (in 1905)

The Norwegian State

School, housing, chapel

Wood

cog-joint timber and planking

boarding school

wood

timber

planking

dormer

timber building

Hage, Ingebjørg, Elin Haugdal, Bodil Ruud &

Sveinulf Hegstad (eds.): Arkitektur i Nord-Norge, Bergen 2007.