Building Activity in Greenland with Special Reference to Concrete Work

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Building Activity in Greenland with Special Reference to Concrete Work

Buch, D.; ^Olgard, H.

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PREFACE

S i m i l a r i t i e s i n c l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s in Greenland and in much of n o r t h e r n Canada make c o n s t r u c t i o n

p r a c t i c e s i n t h a t country of s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t t o those concerned w i t h b u i l d i n g i n Canada's North.

The D i v i s i o n of Building Research t a k e s much

p l e a s u r e t h e r e f o r e i n 6 r e s e n t i n g t h i s t r a n s l a t i o n of a r e p o r t on b u i l d i n g a c t i v i t y i n Greenland with p a r t i c u l a r r e f e r e n c e t o concrete work. The r e p o r t i s one of a

s e r i e s of p u b l i c a t i o n s by t h e Greenland Technical Organization.

The paper was t r a n s l a t e d by M r . H.A. G. Nathan of t h e T r a n s l a t i o n s S e c t i o n of t h e National Research Council, t o whom t h e D i v i s i o n of Building Research wishes t o record i t s thanks.

O t t a w a R . F . Legget

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA

Technical T r a n s l a t i o n 1020

T i t l e : Building a c t i v i t y i n Greenland with s p e c i a l r e f e r e n c e t o concrete work

( ~ y g g e r i I ~ r b n l a n d - s p e c i e l t med henbllk

pa

betonarbe jder )

Authors : D. Buch and H. $lggrd

Reference: Beton-Teknik, 24 (1) : 3-32,

1958.

'

(Q.T.o.* Publlkation N r . 2,

1958.

30p. )

T r a n s l a t o r : H.A.Q. Nathan, T r a n s l a t i o n s Section, N.R.C. Library

B U I L D I N G A C T I V I T Y -. 33 GREENLAND

WITH SPECIAL REFEREPICE TO CONCRETE WORK

Within a few y e a r s t h e Greenland conu~lunity must undergo a profourld change i n o r d e r t o a d a p t i t s e l f t o modern s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s and technology

-

a change o f v i t a l importance t o t h e r a p i d l y growing p o p u l a t i o n , which h a s become dependent on econorriic and o t h e r t i e s w i t h t h e r e s t of t h e world.,

T h i s change h a s r e s u l t e d i n widespread b u i l d i n g a c t i v i t y d u r i n g t h e p a s t few y e a r s which i s t o c o n t i n u e i n t h e f u t u r e . S i n c e p r i v a t e c a p i t a l f o r investment on such a l a r g e s c a l e i s l i m i t e d i n Greenland, t h i s

programme has had t o be l a r g e l y f i n a n c e d by t h e govern- ment. I n o r d e r t o t a k e c a r e of t h e t e c h n i c a l problems involved, t h e government s e t up t h e Greenland T e c h n i c a l O r g a n i z a t i o n ( G.T. 0. ), which i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r p l a n n i n g and e x e c u t i o n of t h e programme.

Up t o t h e Second World War b u i l d i n g a c t i v i t y i n Greenland was l i m i t e d . A s i s e v i d e n t from t h e f o l l o w i n g a r t i c l e by Dan Buch and Hans fllggrd, two c i v i l e n g i n e e r s on t h e s t a f f of G.T.O., c o n c r e t e and c o n c r e t e p r o d u c t s a r e i n c r e a s i n g l y b e i n g used i n Greenland. A l l t h e

s t r u c t u r e s e r e c t e d t o d a t e rnust be c l a s s i f i e d as t r a d i - t i o n a l and t h e y a r e of i n t e r e s t o n l y when viewed a g a i n s t t h e background of t h e e a r l i e r b u i l d i n g p r a c t i c e , which

was

cornparat i v e l y p r i m i t i v e . A s i n t h e p a s t , t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t and a d a p t a t i o n

of

t e s t e d b u i l d i n g methods w i l l be t h e f u t u r e a i m of G.T.O. The a r c t i c c o n d i t i o n s combined w i t h a l a c k o f t e c h n i c a l e x p e r i e n c e p r e s e n t s o many d i f f i c u l t i e s t h a t experimenta- t i o n a t p o i n t s o t h e r t h a n where t h i s i s e s s e n t i a l cannot be j u s t i f i e d . However, i t should be rnentioned i n a l l f a i r n e s s t h a t b u i l d i n g methods which aim a t r e d u c i n g t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n time a r e widely used i n o r d e r t o make t h e f u l l e s t use p o s s i b l e of t h e s h o r t b u i l d i n g s e a s o n in Greenland.

Greenland T e c h n i c a l O r g a n i z a t i o n

Development o f B u i l d i n g A c t i v i t y

Before t h e Second World War b u i l d i n g a c t i v i t y ln Greenland

was

very r e s t r i c t e d . C h i e f l y d w e l l i n g s were b u i l t a l o n g with

a

l i m i t e d number of s t o r e s , warehouses, h o s p i t a l s , e t c . Wood was

p r e f e r r e d as t h e b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l and w i t h a few e x c e p t i o n s c o n c r e t e was used o n l y f o r simple foundations.

During t h e Second World War a l l b u i l d i n g a c t i v i t y came t o

a

v i r t u a l s t a n d s t i l l , b u t a f t e r t h e w a r t h e change from vrhallng t o f i s h i n g as t h e c h i e f i n d u s t r y i n Greenland, i n many r e s p e c t s a n underdeveloped country, made i t n e c e s s a r y t o r a i s e t h e c o u n t r y

c u l t u r a l l y and t e c h n i c a l l y t o t h e same l e v e l as t h e r e s t . o f Denmark. The need f o r such a development and t h e p r i n c i p a l l i n e s on which t h i s was t o be c a r r i e d o u t have been l a i d down i n t h e r e p o r t i s s u e d by t h e Greenland Commission i n b'ebruary 1950.

In t h e y e a r s a f t e r 1950 a l l t h e f u n c t i o n s which c h a r a c t e r i z e

a

modern i n d u s t r i a l i z e d s o c i e t y had t o be organized o r b u i l t up from t h e very beginning and a g r e a t d e a l of c o n s t r u c t i v e work s t i l l needs t o be done. During t h e p a s t few y e a r s t h i s r e s u l t e d i n

a

b u i l d i n g programme, i n v o l v i n g some 3 0 t o

35

m i l l i o n k r o n e r p e r y e a r . For s m a l l e r b u i l d i n g s wood c o n t i n u e s t o be p r e f e r r e d as t h e b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l .

However t h e development programme of t h e c o u n t r y r e q u i r e s

l a r g e r b u i l d i n g s and f o r t h i s purpose b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s o t h e r t h a n wood (e.g. c o n c r e t e and light-weight c o n c r e t e ) a r e b e i n g used t o a n e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g e x t e n t .

In what follows, some of t h e problems encountered i n t h e e r e c t i o n of c o n c r e t e s t r u c t u r e s a r e d i s c u s s e d and a number of examples of s t r u c t u r e s b u i l t e n t i r e l y o r p a r t l y of c o n c r e t e a r e given. These c o n s t r u c t i o n s a r e d e s c r i b e d i n groups a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r f u n c t i o n . In connection with t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n t h e p r e s e n t a u t h o r s thought it expedient t o g i v e

a

b r i e f account of t h e s p e c i a l c o n d i t i o n s i n Greenland i n each c a s e .

Concrete Work General o u t l i n e

The enormous s i z e of Greenland and t h e f a c t t h a t t h e b u i l t - u p a r e a s a r e widely s c a t t e r e d n a t u r a l l y i n t e r f e r e with b u i l d i n g

a c t i v i t y . The country has approximately 170 towns, o u t p o s t s , s e t t l e - ments, and missions. The l a r g e s t towns have approximately 1,500

i n h a b i t a n t s , b u t t h e m a j o r i t y of t h e communities have l e s s t h a n 100 i n h a b i t a n t s .

By Danish s t a n d a r d s most of t h e b u i l d i n g p r o j e c t s a r e

small

and i n t h e i n d i v i d u a l d i s t r i c t s work i s f r e q u e n t l y c a r r i e d on simultaneously on a l a r g e number of s i t e s . I n 1957, f o r example, c o n s t r u c t i o n work was under way i n approximately 75 towns and out- p o s t s with a t o t a l of approximately 350 b u i l d i n g p r o j e c t s .

Because of t h e c l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s a l l outdoor work must be c a r r i e d out w i t h i n a very s h o r t b u i l d i n g season. I n n o r t h e r n

Greenland t h i s season l a s t s approximately 114 months and n i g h t f r o s t must be expected d u r i n g

a t

l e a s t one month of t h i s period. I n

southern Greenland t h e b u i l d i n g season d u r i n g wliich outdoor work can be performed i s s l i g h t l y longer, i . e . g e n e r a l l y about

53

months.

The l a c k of s u f f i c i e n t cargo space, p a r t i c u l a r l y a t t h e beginning of t h e season, renders t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of equipment,

b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s and labour i n t h e I n d i v i d u a l d i s t r i c t s d i f f i c u l t . I c e and road c o n d i t i o n s may, moreover, i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e supplying of t h e i n d i v i d u a l b u i l d i n g s i t e s on time. On account of poor

harbour f a c i l i t i e s problems may be encountered i n the l a n d i n g of equipment and m a t e r i a l . These c o n d i t i o n s may be a l l e v i a t e d t o some e x t e n t by sending m a t e r i a l and equipment a y e a r ahead of time, b u t because of t h e shortage of indoor s t o r a g e space t h i s can be done only on a l i m i t e d s c a l e .

The c o n s t r u c t i o n of l a r g e r houses i s normally undertaken by b u i l d i n g t h e approaches t o t h e s i t e and t h e foundations in t h e f i r s t y e a r and by e r e c t i n g t h e b u i l d i n g t h e next year. The b u i l d i n g i s then c l o s e d up i n s.uch a way t h a t it can be f i n i s h e d on t h e i n s i d e by t h e tradesmen working through t h e w i n t e r .

Any o t h e r building a c t i v i t y i s c a r r i e d out during the summer months a s f a r a s possible.

The conditions described above make i t d i f f i c u l t , of course, t o solve many d i f f e r e n t building problems. Only by c a r e f u l l y planning the shipment of material and workmen from Denmark, the s t o c k p i l i n g of sandstone, the d i s t r i b u t i o n of materials, e t c . , can t h e r e be any guarantee t h a t the work w i l l be s t a r t e d and f i n i s h e d on time. The preparation of building programmes i s a l s o of g r e a t a s s i s t a n c e I n

the proper u t i l i z a t i o n of the s h o r t building season. Materials

V i r t u a l l y a l l the m a t e r i a l s required f o r construction work i n Greenland must be Imported from Denmark. This a p p l i e s p a r t i c u l a r l y t o concrete work, f o r which cement, stee.1 and the m a t e r i a l f o r forms must be s e n t from Denmark; only the aggregate

i s

a v a i l a b l e i n

Greenland.

Since t h e c o s t of shipping must be added t o the p r i c e of the materials, these w i l l be more expensive i n Greenland than i n the r e s t of Denmark. For example, on a r r l v a l i n

a

Greenlandic p o r t cement and light-weight concrete blocks c o s t approximately

75

per- cent more than i n Denmark.

In

Greenland the sand i s normally procured from beach d e p o s i t s o r from the bottom of the sea. It i s scooped up by small-size e a r t h movers (approximately

150

t o n s ) , which a l s o t r a n s p o r t the m a t e r i a l t o i t s d e s t i n a t i o n over s h o r t d i s t a n c e s . A t g r e a t e r d i s t a n c e s the e a r t h movers t r a n s p o r t the material t o boats (400

-

600 t o n s ) , which then take over. The sand d e p o s i t s a r e very extensive and of

comparatively easy access, but road and i c e conditions during

a

large p a r t of the year make the c a r t i n g of sand impossible i n many places.

The coarse aggregate i s a l s o procured from beach d e p o s i t s and c a r t e d

as

we described above. However, these d e p o s i t s a r e small i n number and frequently a r e very d i f f i c u l t of access. A t some places during the p a s t few -.ears bulldozers had t o be used t o push the coarse aggregate from the d e p o s i t s onto the beach, where i t w a s then scooped up a t high t i d e .

A t Individual places, e.g. on the e a s t coast, sand and coarse aggregate a r e procured i n a very p r i m i t i v e way by towing barges t o sand banks, where sand o r coarse aggregate a r e found, and grounding them. A t low t i d e these a r e then f i l l e d by hand, whereupon they a r e towed o f f again

a t

high t i d e . A t some places during t h e winter the aggregates may be moved from the beach d e p o s i t s by t r a c t o r o r t r u c k over t h e i c e .

The m a t e r i a l s f o r aggregate a r e , of course, expensive because of t h e many d i f f i c u l t i e s involved

i n

procuring them. Approximately 50 kroner p e r m3 of aggregate delivered

a t

the s i t e may be consider- ed

as

an average p r i c e f o r Greenland

as a

whole. The grading curve f o r t h e o r i g i n a l m a t e r i a l u s u a l l y shows marked p a r t i c l e i n t e r f e r - ence and t h e r e

i s

g e n e r a l l y too l i t t l e f i n e m a t e r i a l p r e s e n t . Normally t h e r e f o r e

a

low grading curve must be used. The g r a i n

shape of t h e stony m a t e r i a l (mostly f l a t o r o v a l )

is

f r e q u e n t l y u n s a t i s f a c t o r y .

A t many small places t h e aggregate i s used ungraded, s i n c e the nwnber of graders a v a i l a b l e i s very l i m i t e d . The composition of the m a t e r i a l v a r i e s g r e a t l y from load t o load. A l l t h l s of course makes i t d i f f i c u l t t o obtain concrete of uniform q u a l i t y .

Because of t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s of procuring s u i t a b l e coarse aggregate and since, moreover, a more constant composition of t h e coarse aggregate i s d e s i r a b l e , the l a r g e r towns have been supplied with stone crushers during the p a s t few years. It i s expected t h a t more of these machines w i l l become a v a i l a b l e within the next few years, so t h a t t h e major p a r t of t h e coarse aggregate requirements can be met w i t h crushed stone.

During the p a s t few years the annual consumption of m a t e r i a l s f o r aggregate w a s 22,000 m3.

I n the towns normally no d i f f i c u l t i e s a r e encountered in pro- curing mixing water, but in many smaller p l a c e s the supply of t h e q u a n t i t i e s of f r e s h water required f o r c a s t i n g on a l a r g e r s c a l e can be a problem.

Labour

I n s t a l l a t i o n and c o n s t r u c t i o n work i s c a r r i e d o u t c h i e f l y by workmen s e n t from Denmark, s i n c e t h e r e q u i r e d labour cannot be obtained i n Greenland. A s long as t h e b u i l d i n g programme is being continued labour from Denmark w i l l be r e q u i r e d s i n c e i t is n o t d e s i r a b l e t o draw a l a r g e nwnber of Greenlanders away from t h e i r c h i e f t r a d e s , e s p e c i a l l y f i s h i n g . Only a s many Greenlanders as can be absorbed i n t o a small-scale b u i l d i n g programme, following t h e completion of t h e p r e s e n t one, should be e n l i s t e d f o r c o n s t r u c t i o n work a t t h e p r e s e n t time.

Apart from a small s t a f f of tradesman and foremen, labour i s normally s e n t o u t from Denmark oA?ly f o r one season. The s e a s o n a l l y employed tradesmen and l a b o u r e r s work a t t h e r a t e s p r e v a i l i n g i n Greenland, but because of expenses f o r t r a v e l l i n g and housing t h e c o s t of labour i n Greenland i s much h i g h e r than i n Denmark.

Normally a t o t a l of from 12 t o 14 kroner p e r hour must be expected. S p e c i a l concrete work crews a r e s e n t o u t from Denmark f o r con- c r e t e work on a l a r g e s c a l e , b u t i t i s o f t e n necessary t o employ people without s p e c i a l knowledge of concrete work on b u i l d i n g pro-

j e c t s where concrete i s used only i n s m a l l q u a n t i t i e s . Execution of t h e concrete work

Some i n s t a l l a t i o n and c o n s t r u c t i o n work i s c a r r i e d o u t by

c o n t r a c t o r s from Denmark and some by l o c a l tradesmen and c o n t r a c t o r s a s w e l l as by G.T.O. i t s e l f .

Owing t o t h e l a r g e nwnber of b u i l d i n g s i t e s spread over l a r g e r e g i o n s and t h e r e l a t i v e l y small s i z e of t h e i n d i v i d u a l p r o j e c t s , b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l n u s t be a v a i l a b l e i n very l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s and It is, moreover, e s s e n t i a l t h a t t h e m a t e r i a l can be t r a n s p o r t e d

e a s i l y . A s a r u l e o n l y t h e s i m p l e s t means of t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a r e r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e , e s p e c i a l l y f o r work a t o u t p o s t s .

In t h e t o m s t h e m a t e r i a l i s t r a n s p o r t e d by

1s

t o n t r u c k s with four-wheel d r i v e . T r a i l e r t r a n s p o r t s a r e a l s o used t o some e x t e n t . A t t h e o u t p o s t s t h e m a t e r i a l must o f t e n be c a r r i e d t o t h e b u i l d i n g s i t e , whereby t h e c o s t of c o n s t r u c t i o n may be i n c r e a s e d

Srnall drum mixers with a c a p a c i t y of 100

-

300 l i t r e s a r e almost e x c l u s i v e l y used f o r mixing. I n d i v i d u a l t o m s have c e n t r a l mixing s t a t i o n s which d e l i v e r t h e c o n c r e t e f o r a l l t h e s m a l l e r b u i l d i n g p r o j e c t s

.

Because of t h e composition of t h e aggregate and i t s g r a i n shape t h e a v a i l a b l e c o n c r e t e u s u a l l y i s n o t r e a d i l y workable and r e q u i r e s v i b r a t i n g . In t h e towns v i b r a t i n g i s e x t e n s i v e l y a p p l i e d , b u t i n

t h e s m a l l e r communities t h e c o n c r e t e must f r e q u e n t l y be worked by hand. In o r d e r t o improve t h e w o r k a b i l i t y , a i r e n t r a i n i n g a g e n t s a r e used t o some e x t e n t ; however, t h e use of t h e s e must be confined t o p l a c e s which have t h e t e c h n i c a l personnel r e q u i r e d f o r c o n t r o l - l i n g t h e p r o p o r t i o n of a d d i t i v e s .

Even f o r l a r g e p r o j e c t s t h e c o n c r e t e i s shipped from t h e mixer8 t o t h e moulds by simple means, such

as

h o i s t i n g t u r r e t s o r wheel- barrows

.

A s t h e r e s u l t of c l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s i t

i s

f r e q u e n t l y n e c e s s a r y t o r e s o r t t o g e n e r a l measures f o r w i n t e r c o n c r e t i n g , such as h e a t i n g t h e water and covering t h e c o n c r e t e . The l a r g e s t towns a r e provided w i t h mobile b o i l e r s , s t o v e s , e t c . Some p l a c e s a l s o have flame-

throwers s o t h a t t h e c o a r s e aggregate and sand may be h e a t e d as

w e l l .

I n s p e c t i o n of c o n c r e t e and s u p e r v i s i o n of c o n c r e t e work

In o r d e r t o manage t h e work c a r r i e d o u t by G.T.O. i t s e l f and

i n

o r d e r t o s u p e r v i s e t h e work c a r r i e d o u t by c o n t r a c t o r s , G.T.O. keeps a small number of t e c h n i c i a n s i n t h e towns. In many c a s e s t h e

t e c h n i c i a n s must s u p e r v i s e n o t o n l y t h e work i n t h e towns b u t a l s o

a l a r g e number of s m a l l work p r o j e c t s i n t h e o u t p o s t s and s e t t l e - ments of a d i s t r i c t extending over s e v e r a l hundred k i l o m e t r e s .

Therefore, p r o j e c t s i n t h e s m a l l e r p l a c e s can be s u p e r v i s e d o n l y on a l i m i t e d s c a l e . In t h e p a s t few y e a r s a number of c l e r k s whose work i s confined e i t h e r t o a s i n g l e b u i l d i n g p r o j e c t o r t o a few

l a r g e ones have been s e n t from Denmark.

For l a r g e p r o j e c t s t h e composition ( p r o p o r t i o n i n g ) and t h e c o n s i s t e n c y of t h e c o n c r e t e and t h e composition of t h e a g g r e g a t e

are f r e q u e n t l y checked. S t r e n g t h t e s t s a r e , moreover, c a r r i e d o u t on t e s t beams and p o s s i b l y on t e s t cubes, which a r e s e n t t o

Copenhagen f o r t e s t i n g .

For c o n s t r u c t i o n on a small s c a l e it may s u f f i c e t o s p e c i f y a

maximum slump and a minimum c o n t e n t of cement p e r m3 of c o n c r e t e . C o n s t r u c t i o n Work Performed

Warehouses and s t o r e s

A monetary economy, a r i s i n g l i v i n g s t a n d a r d ,

a

p a r t i a l change- o v e r t o Danish consumer h a b i t s , c o n s i d e r a b l e a c t i v i t y i n t h e b u i l d -

ing t r a d e and i n s t a l l a t i o n s , e t c . , i n t h e y e a r s f o l l o w i n g t h e

r e o r g a n i z a t i o n i n Greenland have r e s u l t e d i n a vigorous i n c r e a s e i n t h e s h i p p i n g of goods t o Greenland and i n Greenland i t s e l f . This h a s a l s o i n c r e a s e d t h e need f o r s u p p l i e s i n almost every f i e l d , In o r d e r t o meet t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s a number of warehouses and s t o r e s had t o be b u i l t .

The goods s e n t o u t from Denmark a r e d i s t r i b u t e d from t h e towns. For t h i s reason t h e s e warehouses must have adequate s t o r a g e c a p a c i t y f o r supplying both t h e towns and t h e d i s t r i c t . In d e s i g n i n g t h e warehouses i n t h e towns it was, moreover, n e c e s s a r y t o t a k e i n t o account t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of p e r i o d i c i n t e r r u p t i o n of s u p p l i e s and t h e need f o r a d d i t i o n a l indoor s t o r a g e space f o r a number of goods which cannot s t a n d exposure t o t h e a r c t i c c l i m a t e .

The e r e c t i o n of blocks of s t o r e s r a t h e r t h a n i n d i v i d u a l s t o r e s

was found t o be economical and e x p e d i e n t , Such blocks i n c l u d e t h e most important departments, such as f u r n i t u r e , d r y goods, p o c e r y , hardware, bread shop, bakery, e t c .

In t h e o u t p o s t s t h e s e l e c t i o n of goods i s l i m i t e d and t h e r e f o r e t h e warehouses and s t o r e s a r e s m a l l e r t h e r e t h a n i n t h e torms.

Examples of warehouses and s t o r e s i n which c o n c r e t e had been used e x t e n s i v e l y a r e t h e warehouses i n ~ u l i a n e h z b and ~ o d t h z b and t h e new s t o r e i n Sukkertoppen,

The f o u r - s t o r e y warehouse i n ~ o d t h g b was, b u i l t i n 1954-55 n e a r t h e harbour approximately 50 metres from t h e quay. The r e i n f o r c e d

c o n c r e t e s k e l e t o n , i n which t h e space between t h e columns h a s been f i l l e d with 25 cm light-weight c o n c r e t e blocks, i s unheated. The roof c o n s i s t s of boards and a s p h a l t r o o f i n g n a i l e d on a wooden t r u s s . The i n s i d e dimensions of t h e warehouse a r e 15.60 x 26.10 m

and 24 columns d i v i d e it i n t o

5

x

3

₌

15

square s e c t i o n s with s i d e s

of 5.25 m. The f r o n t page of Beton-Teknik No.1, 1958, shows t h e warehouse b e f o r e t h e t r e a t m e n t of t h e masonry s e c t i o n s vrith c o n c r e t e p a i n t .

Through two s l i d i n g doors, i n t h e e a s t and weat gable w a l l s ,

c a r s and f o r k - l i f t t r u c k s can be d r i v e n i n and o u t between t h e concrete-surfaced dock a r e a s and t h e ground f l o o r of t h e warehouse.

I n t h e warehouse t h e goods a r e t r a n s p o r t e d from f l o o r t o f l o o r by two 2-t'on f r e i g h t e l e v a t o r s , while 2-ton f o r k - l i f t t r u c k s a r e used t o move them about on t h e i n d i v i d u a l f l o o r s .

The ground on which t h e warehouse s t a n d s had t o be c l e a r e d by

b l a s t i n g away a rock r i d g e , approximately

6

m high. The foundation8 f o r t h e columns and walls were p l a c e d d i r e c t l y on t h e rock.

Approximately i n t h e c e n t r e of t h e square towards t h e n o r t h faqade t h e e l e v a t o r and f i r e - e s c a p e s h a f t s form a r i g i d c o r e .

The f l o o r s have been designed t o b e a r a l i v e load of 1,500 kg/ m2 and t h e above-mentioned 2-ton f o r k - l i f t t r u c k s . The two-way

s l a b s were p l a c e d with a t h i c k n e s s of 20 cm and were screeded.

I n o r d e r t o i n s t a l l t h e e l e v a t o r u n i t s d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r s o as

t o have them ready f o r use a t t h e beginning of t h e next working season, a nurrlber of h o l e s with s p e c i a l c o n c r e t e reinforcement were very c a r e f u l l y made i n t h e e l e v a t o r s h a f t s . These h o l e s were

a c c e s s i b l e f o r s p o t welding, e t c . A t t h e beginning of t h e second working season o n l y t h e welded reinforcement remained t o be

f a s t e n e d and t h e p l a s t e r of t h e s h a f t s on t h e space between t h e e l e v a t o r doors had t o be smoothed.

During t h e second working season t h e work was concluded f o r t h e p r e s e n t with t h e e x t e r n a l s t u c c o i n g of t h e l i g h t - w e i g h t c o n c r e t e masonlry. The s t u c c o w a s t h e n coated with a l i g h t - b l u e c o n c r e t e

Simultaneously w i t h t h e e r e c t i o n o f t h e c o n c r e t e warehouse i n Godthzb a very similar warehouse was b u i l t i n J u l i a n e h % b , 70 metres from t h e quay. The l a y o u t f o r t h e two warehouses had been designed i n Copenhagen. In d e s i g n and method of c o n s t r u c t i o n t h e two ware- houses do n o t d i f f e r g r e a t l y . The warehouse i n Julianeh$b i s shown i n F i g . 1.

Work on t h e s t o r e i n Sukkertoppen began i n t h e summer of

1955.

The two-storey b u i l d i n g h a s a t o t a l f l o o r a r e a of

840

m Z and because o f i t s l a y o u t p a r t of t h e s t o r e can be used f o r s e l f - s e r v i c e . The s t o r e i s a r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e s k e l e t o n c o n s t r u c t i o n and t h e space between t h e columns i s f i l l e d w i t h l i g h t - w e i g h t c o n c r e t e b l o c k s of 25 cm t h i c k n e s s ( c f . F i g . 2 ) .

The s t o r e was e r e c t e d i n t h e c e n t r e o f t h e town on ground which had been f i l l e d a y e a r ago. The bottom of t h e f i l l e d ground used t o be f l o o d e d a t high t i d e . The f i l l c o n s i s t s o f b l a s t e d r o c k from a q u a r r y i n t h e v i c i n i t y . A t s p r i n g t i d e t h e f l o o d i n t h e f i l l e d ground a t t a i n s a l e v e l of approximately 80 cm below t h e upper edge and washes away t h e f i n e and medium-fine g r a v e l . The f o u n d a t i o n p r e s s u r e must t h u s be t r a n s m i t t e d through v e r y small

c o n t a c t s u r f a c e s , which a r e exposed t o g r e a t s t r e s s e s . The s t r e s s e s promote d i s i n t e g r a t i o n of t h e c o n t a c t s u r f a c e s , and t h e r e i s danger o f s e t t l e m e n t s i n t h e f i l l .

In o r d e r t o reduce t h e p r e s s u r e s e x e r t e d by t h e f o u n d a t i o n s and t h u s t h e s t r e s s e s o f t h e c o n t a c t s u r f a c e s o f t h e f i l l and i t s

tendency t o d i s i n t e g r a t e , s t e e l r e i n f o r c e m e n t s were used i n t h e column f o u n d a t i o n a t t h e f r o n t of t h e s t o r e ( c f . F i g .

3 ) .

Foundations on a t h i c k , contlnuous s l a b of r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e proved t o be a much more expensive s o l u t i o n .

The c o n c r e t i n g i n c l u d e d f o u n d a t i o n s , decks, beams, g a b l e s , walls and columns. L i s t s of r e i n f o r c e m e n t r o d s f o r t r e s t l e s had been compiled I n Copenhagen and t h e r o d s , c u t t o p r o p e r l e n g t h , were t h e n shipped t o Greenland. Before t h e o n s e t o f w i n t e r , 1 . e . approx- i m a t e l y i n t h e middle of October, t h e s u p p o r t i n g s t r u c t u r e s were c a s t , t h e space between t h e columns was f i l l e d with masonry and wooden boards were p l a c e d on t h e a s p h a l t e d r o o f i n g .

During t h e next working season t h e i n s i d e work was done and t h e colunlna a t t h e f r o n t of t h e b u i l d i n g were i n s u l a t e d with cork and t h e e n t i r e f r o n t ( d i v i d e d i n t o s e c t i o n s ) was p l a s t e r e d .

H o s p i t a l s , schools, e t c

.

The c o n s t r u c t i o n of modern h o s p i t a l s i n Greenland w a s one of t h e most important b u i l d i n g programnies d u r i n g t h e p a s t few y e a r s . Since t u b e r c u l o s i s i s widespread i n Greenland and s i n c e t h e

Greenlanders a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y s u s c e p t i b l e t o d i s e a s e s c a r r i e d i n t o t h e country from t h e o u t s i d e , t h e need f o r t h e s e h o s p i t a l s h a s been g r e a t .

For reasons of economy, h o s p i t a l s can only be b u i l t i n t h e towns. The h o s p i t a l s nust be s o planned t h a t they can s e r v e as

g e n e r a l h o s p i t a l s , i n p a r t i c u l a r t h e y must s t i l l be equipped with s p e c i a l wards f o r t r e a t i n g t u b e r c u l o s i s . Cases of complicated d i s e a s e s r ~ u s t o f t e n be r e f e r r e d t o Denmark f o r treatment. However,

a t p r e s e n t a c e n t r a l h o s p i t a l i s being b u i l t i n Egedesminde; when completed it w i l l be a b l e t o cope with t h e same problems as a cor- responding h o s p i t a l i n Derlmark. Eventually both t h e p r e s e n t

t u b e r c u l o s i s sanatorium and t h e planned new h o s p i t a l i n ~ u l i a n e h g b a r e t o be equipped as c e n t r a l h o s p i t a l s . Infirmaries a r e being e r e c t e d i n t h e l c r g e r o u t p o s t s and i n those d i f f i c u l t of a c c e s s .

The e d u c a t i o n a l system, l i k e t h e h o s p i t a l s e r v i c e , has had t o be expanded g r e a t l y . The new s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e i n c r e a s e d t h e need f o r knowledge and competence i n t h e population, and t h e r a p i d l y growing number of c h i l d r e n t h u s n e c e s s i t a t e d a considerable exten- s i o n of t h e e d u c a t i o n a l system, both q u a l i t a t i v e l y and q u a n t i t a t i v e - l y . Larger schools could only be b u i l t i n t h e tovms and high

schools a s well as b i l i n g u a l schools only i n some of t h e b i g g e r

towns, such as ~ u l i a n e h 8 b , ~ o d t h g b and Egedesminde. When t h e l a t t e r schools were b u i l t , f a c i l i t i e s f o r boarders had t o be included.

In o r d e r t o keep people informed it w a s a l s o found d e s i r a b l e t o b u i l d a Greenland Radio S t a t i o n , which can be heard everywhere i n Greenland a t any tirne. A s 'a r e s u l t of t h i s d e c i s i o n a s t u d i o b u i l d - i n g w i l l soon be completed i n ~ o d t h H b i n a d d i t i o n t o t r a n s m i t t i n g

and amplifying u n i t s .

In t h e b u i l d i n g programme o u t l i n e d above concrete was used

as

a

b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l i n

a

v a r i e t y of ways,

as

i s e v i d e n t from t h e following examples.

A 43-bed c i v i c h o s p i t a l with

a

f l o o r a r e a of 3,100 m2 was

completed i n Holsteinsborg ( c f . Fig.

4 )

and

a

82-bed c e n t r a l hospi-

t a l with a f l o o r a r e a of 5,000 ma i s at p r e s e n t being b u i l t in

Egedesminde ( c f . Fig.

5 ) .

In

both t h e s e b u i l d i n g s t h e e x t e r n a l walls a r e of light-weight concrete blocks, e x t e r n a l l y i n s u l a t e d with mineral wool and

covered with boards. In both b u i l d i n g s t h e f l o o r s and t h e c e n t r a l h e a t i n g p l a n t enclosures a r e of r e i n f o r c e d concrete.

he

c o a l

s t o r a g e rooms of t h e c e n t r a l h e a t i n g p l a n t s a r e p r o t e c t e d by

a

r e i n - forced concrete beam s t r u c t u r e , which permits t h e c o a l t o be thrown down i n t o

a

r e i n f o r c e d concrete s i l o from t h e t r u c k .

The Queen I n g r i d Tuberculosis Sanatorium i n ~ o d t h z b w a s b u i l t from A p r i l 1953 t o November 1954. The sanatorium has 211 beds and

a

f l o o r a r e a of 12,000 m2. A l l t h e h o s p i t a l b u i l d i n g s a r e b u i l t of frame s e c t i o n s ; they have only one s t o r e y and a r e interconnected. In a d d i t i o n , t h e h o s p i t a l has f o u r b u i l d i n g s f o r t h e s t a f f and

a

c e n t r a l h e a t i n g p l a n t . The c o a l s i l o s and t h e b o i l e r room of t h e c e n t r a l h e a t i n g p l a n t a r e of r e i n f o r c e d concrete. The c o a l ( s t o k e r c o a l ) nlay be thrown through a covered r e i n f o r c e d concrete beam

s t r u c t u r e dorm i n t o f o u r s i l o s d i r e c t l y from t h e t r u c k s . A t o t a l of approximately 220 t o n s of c o a l may be s t o r e d i n t h e s e s i l o s

( c f . F i g . 6 ) .

In Egedesninde a new b i l i n g u a l school f o r both c h i l d r e n and housewives was completed i n 1956 ( c f . F i g .

7 ) .

The school has

a

f l o o r a r e a of 2,000 m2 and c o n t a i n s seven standard c l a s s e s , f o u r vocational rooms, a s e c t i o n f o r c h i l d r e n and one f o r housewives; i t can accommodate

15

boarders. If r e q u i r e d , t h e s c l ~ o o l may be

enlarged by adding another f o u r standard c l a s s e s .

I n t h e wing c o n t a i n i n g t h e classrooms f o r t h e r e g u l a r upper grades, t h e basement and ground f l o o r , i . e . t h e e x t e r n a l w a l l s and deck, a r e b u i l t of r e i n f o r c e d concrete. S i m i l a r l y , i n t h e wing

housing . s p e c i a l c l a s s e s and i n t h a t f o r housewives, t h e ground

f l o o r s a r e made e n t i r e l y of r e i n f o r c e d concrete. With t h e exception of t h e gables, t h e r e i n f o r c e d concrete i n t h e e x t e r n a l w a l l s has been covered with boards. E x t e r n a l walls and gable walls have been i n s u l a t e d on t h e i n s i d e with wood-vrool s l a b s and cork a p p l i e d i n t h e s h u t t e r i n g .

I n ~ u l i a n e h g b a combined b i l i n g u a l school f o r g i r l s and house- wives has been b u i l t . It h a s a t p r e s e n t

a

f l o o r a r e a of 1,800 ma

( c f . Fig. 1 1 ) . The school w i l l e v e n t u a l l y c o n t a i n 16 s t a n d a r d classrooms and s i x rooms f o r v o c a t i o n a l t r a i n i n g ;

i t s

t o t a l f l o o r a r e a w i l l then be 3,400 ma. The s e c t i o n f o r g i r l s and housewives

a t

p r e s e n t has 3 0 boarders.

In t h e wing f o r housewives t h e f l o o r s and beams of t h e basement and ground f l o o r a r e of r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e . The r e i n f o r c e d con- c r e t e i n t h e e x t e r n a l w a l l s , with t h e exception of t h e gables, i s

covered with boards. E x t e r n a l w a l l s and gable walls have been i n s u l a t e d on t h e i n s i d e with wood-wool s l a b s and cork a p p l i e d i n t h e s h u t t e r i n g .

In t h e tving housing t h e standard classrooms t h e f r e e gable and t h e supporting p a r t i t i o n s s e p a r a t i n g t h e classrooms a r e of 25 cm light-weight concrete coated with p l a s t e r . In t h e wing f o r s p e c i a l c l a s s e s t h e p a r t i t i o n s are of

15

cm r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e .

The broadcasting b u i l d i n g shown i n Fig. 9 _{is n e a r l y completed.}

The photograph b r a s talcen i n J u l y 1957. The b u i l d i n g h a s a f l o o r

a r e a of 750 m2, and f o r reasons of a c o u s t i c s i t has been b u i l t

almost e n t i r e l y of r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e . For t h e same reason i t has been d i v i d e d i n t o two s t r u c t u r a l l y s e p a r a t e d s e c t i o n s , one f o r t h e s t u d i o s and t h e o t h e r f o r o f f i c e s . The beams, t h e n o r t h faqade, t h e colwms and g i r d e r s of t h e south f a ~ a d e , th e stairs, t h e i n s i d e p a r t i t i o n s and t h e c o a l s i l o s a r e of r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e .

S p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n w a q p a i d t o t h e e r e c t i o n of t h e 24 columns of t h e south faqade which a r e 5.7 r11 high.

They were c a s t i n h o ~ i z o n t a l smooth moulds, and placed i n p o s i - t i o n by a mobile crane ( c f F i g . 1 0 ) . A s p e c i a l arrangement enabled t h e columns t o be r a p i d l y and a c c u r a t e l y placed i n t h e c o r r e c t

p o s i t i o n s i n a s i n g l e operation. The columns were then a t t a c h e d t o lower g i r d e r , upper g i r d e r and the deck above the ground f l o o r . Precut wooden s e c t i o n s have been applied between and behind t h e columns. The roof has been f i n i s h e d with boards and t h r e e l a y e r s of s p e c i a l a s p h a l t roofing.

Construction of dwellings

U n t i l a few y e a r s ago one-family houses were t h e only type of dwelling b u i l t i n Greenland and wood was almost e x c l u s i v e l y used a s t h e b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l , e i t h e r i n t h e form of t r a d i t i o n a l frame

c o n s t r u c t i o n o r i n t h e form of p r e c u t wooden s e c t i o n s .

However, during; t h e p a s t few y e a r s s u i t a b l e b u i l d i n g l o t s have been s c a r c e i n many towns. Therefore, i n o r d e r t o u t i l i z e t h e

a v a i l a b l e space a s much as p o s s i % l e and t o a l l e v i a t e t h e shortage of housing,. blocks of apartment houses a r e being b u i l t a t an

i n c r e a s i n g r a t e .

This trend has been f u r t h e r promoted by t h e d e s i r e t o prevent t h e towns from spreading too much, s i n c e otherwise t h e c o s t of road c o n s t r u c t i o n , water mains, e t c

.

,

would be considerably increased; t h e supplying of water by tank truck, garbage c o l l e c t i o n , snow

c l e a r i n g , e t c . , would likewise be rendered more d i f f i c u l t . Further,

i f towns were t o spread out too much, t h i s might hamper t h e e f f e c - t i v e n e s s of t h e f i r e - f i g h t i n g s e r v i c e s .

The annual number of dwellings b u i l t i n Greenland i s about

250, of which approximately 200

are

needed f o r t h e Greenland popula- t i o n and a r e Government financed. A number of these Government- financed apartment houses in ~ o d t h z b a r e shown in F i g .

8

and a.

block of t h e s e apartment houses i n SuWcertoppen i s shown i n F i g . 12. Both types of dtrellings a r e b u i l t c h i e f l y of light-weight concrete and wood. In t h e p a s t few y e a r s similar blocks of apartment houses were e r e c t e d i n many towns i n Greenland and a d d i t i o n a l ones w i l l be b u i l t i n 1958 and 1959.

A 16-unit apartment house was b u i l t i n ~ o d t h 8 b i n

1955

and another 18-unit one i n 1957. During 1958 and 1959 a t o t a l of f o u r 5-storey apartment houses were b u i l t i n Holsteinsborg and ~ o d t h g b .

The apartment house e r e c t e d i n ~ o d t h g b i n 1957 i s a n example of a r e s i d e n t i a l b u i l d i n g c o n s t r u c t e d c h i e f l y of concrete ( c f

.

Fig.

13

and 1 4 ) .

This b u i l d i n g has t h r e e s t o r e y s , each having a f l o o r a r e a of 550 m2. It c o n t a i n s

18

apartments of varying s i z e , has c e n t r a l h e a t i n g and i s supplied with d r i n k i n g water. It a l s o has WC's,

which i s r a t h e r t h e exception in Greenland, s i n c e n e a r l y a l l t h e b u i l d i n g s have p r i v i e s owing t o t h e d i f f i c u l t y of sewage d i s p o s a l and water supply. The c e n t r a l h e a t i n g p l a n t s u p p l i e s h e a t n o t o n l y f o r t h i s b u i l d i n g but a l s o f o r t h e 16-unit apartment house e r e c t e d i n 1955. The c e n t r a l h e a t i n g p l a n t h a s been made l a r g e enough so t h a t it w i l l be a b l e t o supply two more apartment houses.

The s u p p o r t i n g s t r u c t u r e comprises n i n e b e a r i n g p a r t i t i o n w a l l s

of

15

cm nass concrete and a r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e gable. The

supporting walls a r e approximately 4.50 metres a p a r t and t h e decks a r e of concrete s l a b s r e i n f o r c e d i n o n l y one d i r e c t i o n . These s l a b s have a t h i c k n e s s of

16

cm.

The w a l l s e n c l o s i n g t h e t h r e e s t a i r c a s e s a r e r e i n f o r c e d and absorb t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l h o r i z o n t a l f o r c e s . The concrete s t a i r s

were placed a t t h e s i t e .

The faqades a r e suspended from t h e decks and comprise a wooden frame covered e x t e r n a l l y with a s b e s t o s cement boards and wood and a r e sheathed i n s i d e with gypsum boards.

The problems involved i n p l a s t e r work i n Greenland a r e p a r t i - c u l a r l y g r e a t , because s u i t a b l e mortar sand i s a v a i l a b l e o n l y a t a

few l o c a t i o n s and because t h e p l a s t e r vrorlc must, moreover, be c a r r i e d out a t an unfavourable time of y e a r . Therefore, f o r t h e apartment house i n q u e s t i o n t h e walls and f l o o r s were c a s t i n a

sniooth s h u t t e r i n g . This w a s found p r e f e r a b l e s i n c e an i n v e s t i g a t i o n showed t h a t t h e a d d i t i o n a l expenditure f o r t h e s h u t t e r i n g was more than o f f s e t by t h e savings due t o t h e e l i m i n a t i o n of p l a s t e r work.

One-storey high s h u t t e r boards c o n s i s t i n g of t h r e e v e r t i c a l b a t t e n s and a c r o s s - b a t t e n i n t h e c e n t r e were used f o r t h e walls.

The b a t t e n s vrere covered wi'th a 12.5 mrn plywood panel. I n o r d e r t o s e c u r e the boards a t t h e bottom, a f o o t i n g 12 cm i n h e i g h t was c a s t

b e f a r o

ti?@ boards were mounted. The a c c u r a t e p o s i t i o n i n g of t h e boards was a s s u r e d by c o n c r e t e s p a c i n g blocks e s p e c i a l l y made f o r t h i s purpose.

The boarding c o n s i s t e d of 4 rnnl plyriood s h e e t s which were f a s t e n e d t o a wood frame with broad-headed n a i l s p l a c e d i n t h e j o i n t s between t h e s h e e t s .

I n d u s t r i a l p l a n t s

Over t h e p a s t 30 t o 50 y e a r s s e a l i n g has been r a p i d l y d e c l i n - i n g , b u t a t t h e same time f i s h have been encountered a l o n g t h e c o a s t s i n e v e r y i n c r e a s i n g nwnbers.

A s e a r l y as t h e t w e n t i e s cod f i s h i n g was i n c r e a s e d by t h e e r e c t i o n of a number of f i s h - c u r i n g houses a l o n g t h e west c o a s t . During t h e p a s t 10 y e a r s an a d d i t i o n a l g r a n t w a s made i n o r d e r t o develop f i s h i n g i n Greenland and i t h a s now become t h e c o u n t r y n s l a r g e s t i n d u s t r y . Favourable c r e d i t arrangements have enabled GTeenlanders t o procure f i s h i n g t a c k l e and l a r g e r f i s h i n g b o a t s .

A t t h e same time j e t t i e s and c o d - s a l t i n g houses have been b u i l t n e a r most of t h e towns and o u t p o s t s . I n some of t h e l a r g e r towns t h e most up-to-date p r o c e s s i n g p l a n t s have been b u i l t f o r t h e

f i s h i n g i n d u s t r y . For example, a f i l l e t i n g p l a n t and a c o d - f r e e z i n g p l a n t have been b u i l t i n ~ u l i a n e h g b and a f i l l e t i n g p l a n t , a

f r e e z i n g p l a n t and a p l a n t producing f i s h meal c h i e f l y from wolf f i s h have been e r e c t e d i n Sulckertoppen. A c o d - s a l t i n g house h a s been b u i l t i n Holsteinsborg, a f i l l e t i n g p l a n t and a f r e e z i n g

p l a n t ( c h i e f l y f o r cod) i n Egedesminde and shrimp-canning p l a n t s i n ~ h r i s t i a n s h z b and Narssaq. The canning p l a n t i n Narssaq i s designed n o t o n l y f o r shrimp canning, i t a l s o s e r v e s a s a c e n t r a l s l a u g h t e r house f o r sheep and as a meat-packing p l a n t .

In Jacobshavn p l a n s a r e ready f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of an

i n d u s t r i a l p l a n t f o r f i s h p r o d u c t s , p r i r i ~ a r i l y p r o c e s s i n g h a l i b u t and shrimp

.

In some of t h e above f i s h - p r o c e s s i n g p l a n t s c o n c r e t e w a s used a s t h e b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l . . B y way of example, t h e p l a n t s i n Narssaq and H o l s t e i n s b o r g a r e d e s c r i b e d i n g r e a t e r d e t a i l h e r e .

The p l a n t i n Narsaaq ( o f . Fig. 1 5 ) was e r e c t e d i n t h e y e a r s 1949

-

1951; i t has a f l o o r a r e a of 4,200

m2.

The p l a n t i n c l u d e s a

steam s t a t i o n , s l a u g h t e r house, cooling p l a n t , c a s i n g f a c t o r y , f a t - b o i l i n g p l a n t , f r e e z i n g p l a n t , cutting-up room, room f o r making sausages, s t o r a g e rqom, workshops, o f f i c e s , e t c .

The foundations and o u t s i d e walls of t h e basements a r e of mass

concrete. The decks above basements and f i r s t f l o o r s , as well a s t h e columns i n the f i r s t f l o o r , a r e of r e i n f o r c e d concrete. Light- weight concrete blocks were used between t h e colwlns and t h e

f a ~ a d e s were sheathed with wood on t h e o u t s i d e .

The e r e c t i o n of t h e f i s h - p r o c e s s i n g p l a n t i n Holsteinsborg s t a r t e d i n 1957. The p l a n t

i s

expected t o be completed i n s p r i n g 1958 ( c f . Fig. 1 6 ) .

The p l a n t c o n s i s t s of two buildings, one of which i s a two- s t o r e y b u i l d i n g equipped f o r cod s a l t i n g . A f r e e z i n g and f i l l e t i n g p l a n t w i l l be opened on t h e f i r s t f l o o r . The o t h e r b u i l d i n g has only one s t o r e y and c o n t a i n s a kippering room, packing p l a n t and a

furnace room. The b u i l d i n g s a r e located c l o s e t o a quay ( b u i l t i n 1955), where t h e f i s h can be landed. The e n t i r e quay a r e a and t h e a r e a about the b u i l d i n g s a r e surfaced with concrete.

The s a l t i n g p l a n t i s on t h e second f l o o r of t h e b u i l d i n g , which i s a r e i n f o r c e d concrete s k e l e t o n s t r u c t u r e . The b u i l d i n g a r e a i s approximately 815 m2, divided by

60

columns i n t o s e c t i o n s of

approximately 4 . 1 x

5.1

m. The f r o n t i s sheathed with wood. The

b u i l d i n g has been designed t o permit t h e a d d i t i o n of another s t o r e y l a t e r . The kippering p l a n t i s b u i l t c h i e f l y of wood; i t has a

f l o o r a r e a of approximately 150 m2.

When t h e s a l t i n g p l a n t w a s e r e c t e d , t h e foundation work a t t h e northern p a r t of t h e b u i l d i n g presented s p e c i a l d i f f i c u l t i e s , s i n c e t h e bedrock here w a s

3

t o

5

m below t h e s u r f a c e and w a s t h e r e f o r e below t h e high water l i n e . Thus p r e f a b r i c a t e d foundation p i l e s were used over f o o t i n g s poured under water,

Workshops and f i r e s t a t i o n s

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e i n d u s t r i a l and r e s i d e n t i a l b u i l d i n g

programme, t h e G.T.O. i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e o p e r a t i o n and rnainte- nance, f o r example, of e l e c t r i c - p o w e r s t a t i o n s and waterworks. This p l a c e s heavy demands on workshops, s o t h a t a l o n g with t h e c o u n t r y l s development i n o t h e r r e s p e c t s it was n e c e s s a r y t o e n l a r g e t h e work- shops i n t h e towns. Since s h i p s cannot c a l l a t many of t h e towns f o r s e v e r a l months of t h e year, and s i n c e i t f r e q u e n t l y t a k e s s e v e r a l months f o r s p a r e p a r t s and m a t e r i a l s t o be d e l i v e r e d , t h e l a t t e r must be s t o r e d i n l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s , t h u s r e q u i r i n g a l a r g e number of warehouses.

Since t h e towns a r e c o n s t a n t l y i n c r e a s i n g i n s i z e , and because of both t h e i n c r e a s i n g number of urban developments as w e l l as t h e e x i s t e n c e of o l d congested a r e a s and q u a r t e r s c o n s t i t u t i n g a f i r e hazard, t h e f i r e - p r e v e n t i o n se-vices i n t h e t o m s of Greenland have had t o be modernized d u r i n g t h e p a s t few y e a r s . For t h i s reason f i r e s t a t i o n s have been b u i l t i n many tovms. These b u i l d i n g s have u s u a l l y been e r e c t e d along with workshops and warehouses.

Nearly a l l t h e worlcshops, warelzouses and f i r e s t a t i o n s b u i l t d u r i n g t h e p a s t few y e a r s a r e one-storey b u i l d i n g s i n vrhich c o n c r e t e and l i g h t - w e i g h t c o n c r e t e have been used as t h e c h i e f b u i l d i n g

rfiaterials. For exarrlple, i n 1357 work on such b u i l d i n g s began i n

C u t d l i g s s a t , Upernavilc arid N a n o r t a l i k . I n Narssaq, ~ r e d e r i k s h g b , Jakobshavn and Ai~~;i.lagssalik s i m i l a r b u i l d i n g s were a t v a r i o u s s t a g e s of con:pletion i n 1358. These b u i l d i n g s co1;lprise p r e f a b r i c a t e d

s e c t i o n s , which can be assembled i n such a tray t h a t t h e b u i l d i n g s can s e r v e

as

workshops, warehouses o r f i r e s t a t i o n s , depending on t h e requirements of t h e i n d i v i d u a l tovms. This system p e r m i t s t h e enlargement of any of t h e s e b u i l d i n g s sirnply by adding one o r

s e v e r a l s e c t i o n s , and t h e f u n c t i o n of t h e i n d i v i d u a l s e c t i o n s can be changed depending on what may be needed a t any s p e c i f i c time.

I n 1957 a s t o r e y was added t o a b u i l d i n g i n Sukkertoppen. T h i s b u i l d i n g s e r v e s a d u a l purpose, i . e . t h a t of a workshop and tiarehouse. lllhen completed i t w i l l c o n t a i n workshops f o r macl~inery,

p i p e f i t t i n g , j o i n e r y , c a r p e n t r y , p a i n t i n g , motor c a r r e p a i r s , e t c

.

,

and t h e n e c e s s a r y storerooms as w e l l a s rooms f o r s t o r i n g b o a t s .

Since t h e space a v a i l a b l e t o c o n t r a c t o r s i n Sukkertoppen i s l i m i t e d , t h i s r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e s k e l e t o n b u i l d i n g h a s two s t o r e y s . The space between t h e columns h a s been f i l l e d i n w i t h l i g h t - w e i g h t c o n c r e t e b l o c k s .

Water-supply p l a n t s

The water r e q u i r e d f o r Greenland's towns and o u t p o s t s i s

s u p p l i e d by l a k e s and watercourses, s i n c e t h e g e o l o g i c a l formation of t h e country i s such t h a t ground w a t e r cannot be r e l i e d on as a

source of supply ( o n l y a t c e r t a i n l o c a t i o n s i s t h e bed r o c k covered by a t h i n l a y e r of s o i l a few metres t h i c k ) . A t some p l a c e s i n n o r t h e r n Greenland water h a s t o be o b t a i n e d by m e l t i n g i c e .

The development of Greenland h a s n e c e s s i t a t e d an e v e r - i n c r e a s - i n g supply of water, p a r t l y f o r i n d u s t r y , s c h o o l s , h o s p i t a l s , e t c . , and p a r t l y t o meet t h e requirements of t h e growing p o p u l a t i o n . It h a s t h e r e f o r e been found n e c e s s a r y t o b u i l d water-supply p l a n t s which can f u r n i s h t h e r e q u i r e d q u a n t i t i e s o f water throughout t h e y e a r . In t h e p a s t few y e a r s such p l a n t s have been b u i l t i n t h e towns of Narssaq, ~ o d t h & b , Sukkertoppen, Holsteinsborg, Egedesminde, ~ h r i s t i a n s h b , Thule and Angrrkgssalik. F i l t e r e d and c h l o r i n a t e d w a t e r i s s u p p l i e d by a l l t h e s e water p l a n t s .

I n connection with t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e water-supply p l a n t s

it was n e c e s s a r y a t many p l a c e s t o r a i s e t h e water l e v e l of t h e l a k e s from which t h e water i s drawn s o t h a t d u r i n g summer t h e s e l a k e s may c o l l e c t water i n adequate q u a n t i t i e s f o r use i n w i n t e r .

In Godthgb t h e water l e v e l i n t h e r e s e r v o i r was t h u s r a i s e d by t h r e e dams, t h e l a r g e s t o f which i s 102 m long and 11 m h i g h . These a r e r o c k - f i l l e d g r a v i t y dams s e a l e d with r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e ( c f . F i g . 17 and 1 8 ) . A similar dam was b u i l t a t t h e r e s e r v o i r i n

Sukkertoppen. I n 1958 and

1959

a p l a n t t h a t s u p p l i e s water t h e y e a r round w a s b u i l t i n Jakobshavn. The water l e v e l i n t h e r e s e r - v o i r was r a i s e d by a dani t h e r e , t o o . In t h i s c a s e , a n Ambursen dam of r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e was b u i l t .

The water

i s

c a r r i e d from t h e r e s e r v o i r s by a c a s t - i r o n s p i g o t - and-socket p i p e l i n e , as a r u l e e l e v a t e d above t h e ground on an

i n c l i n e . The p i p e s a r e h e a v i l y i n s u l a t e d and h e a t e d e i t h e r e l e c t r i - c a l l y o r with waste h e a t from t h e power s t a t i o n s . For c e r t a i n

s t r e t c h e s it may be n e c e s s a r y t o l a y t h e p i p e s a t ground l e v e l . In such a c a s e t h e p i p e s a r e l a i d i n a c o n c r e t e d u c t and a r e i n s u l a t e d and h e a t e d i n t h e above manner ( c f . F i g . 1 9 ) . I n Godthgb t h e s o i l l a y e r i s t h i c k enough s o t h a t t h e main water p i p e s could be l a i d a t

a f r o s t - f r e e d e p t h of approxinlately 2 ~ n e t r e s . The p i p e l i n e which s u p p l l e s w a t e r t h e y e a r round i n Narasaq i s c a r r i e d o v e r c e r t a i n s t r e t c h e s by a c o n c r e t e g i r d e r supported by c o n c r e t e p i e r s e v e r y 10 metres.

C o n s t r u c t i o n of harbours

In most of t h e t o m s and i n a l l t h e s m a l l e r p l a c e s p a s s e n g e r s and goods n u s t be embarked and disembarked by rnotor launch o r barge p l y i n g between t h e s h i p s and t h e c o a s t . I n t h e l o n g run t h i s

s i t u a t i o n i s e c o n o i i ~ i c a l l y u n t e n a b l e . T h e r e f o r e , I n t h e l a r g e r towns, i

.

e

.

~ u l i a n e h g b , Godthgb and Egedesminde

,

quays have been b u i l t i n t h e p a s t few y e a r s s o t h a t t h e l a r g e s t v e s s e l s c a l l i n g i n Greenland can dock.

In

I l a n o r t a l i k , Narssaq and I.Iolsteinsborg quays f o r schooners have been b u i l t . These quays can handle s h i p s of up t o 600 _{t o n s . I n t h e towns of ~ r e d e r i k s h & b , Sukkertoppen and}

Jakobshavn t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of quays i n t h e n e x t few y e a r s i s b e i n g contemplated.

The quays b u i l t t o d a t e a r e s h e l t e r e d a g a i n s t t h e s e a and t h e s w e l l o n l y by t h e nearby s k e r r i e s . I n ~ o d t h % b t h i s p r o t e c t i o n i s extremely good, b u t elsewhere t h e v e s s e l s may have d i f f i c u l t y i n g e t t i n g t o o r from t h e quay o r may even be unable t o dock a t a l l i f

t h e wind conditiorls a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y u n f a v o u r a b l e . I n g e n e r a l , t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of s h e l t e r i n g i n s t a l l a t i o n s i n c r e a s e s t h e c o s t of

h a r b o u r c o n s t r u c t i o n o u t of a l l p r o p o r t i o n t o t h e p r o t e c t i o n gained. Therefore, a t t e m p t s a r e b e i n g made t o s e l e c t o n l y l o c a t i o n s where t h e r e are s k e r r i e s t h a t a s s u r e t h e c o n d i t i o n s r e q u i r e d f o r adequate p r o t e c t i o n of t h e quays.

If harbour c o n s t r u c t i o n involved n o t h i n g more t h a n t h e b u i l d l n g of quays, t h e c o s t could s t i l l be unfavourably a f f e c t e d by such

f a c t o r s as t i d e and i c e c o n d i t i o n s . In c e n t r a l Greenland t h e high- water mark a t s p r i n g t i d e i s

5.50

rn and almost everywhere t h e

presence of e i t h e r g l a c i a l i c e o r f i e l d i c e a t t h e quays l~lust be talcen i n t o account and t a l l r o c k - f i l l e d timber c a i s s o n s a r e used

as

countermeasures. These timber c a i s s o n s have n o t been r e p l a c e d by c o n c r e t e s t r u c t u r e s as y e t s i n c e t h e t i d e s have a d e t r i m e n t a l e f f e c t on c o n c r e t e i n Greenland. Consequently c o n c r e t e i s used o n l y f o r t h e quay s u p e r s t r u c t u r e s , s u r f a c i n g , smaller s e a w a l l s , e t c .

For s e a w a l l s and s h o r e h o l d s of minor importance, a i r - e n t r a i n e d c o n c r e t e

was

poured i n 2" tongue-and-groove impregnated s h u t t e r i n g which renlained b o l t e d t o t h e c o n c r e t e . The c h i e f purpose o f t h e s h u t t e r i n g ic t o e q u a l i z e t h e a b r u p t and v i o l e n t t e n ~ p e r a t u r e f l u c t u a t i o n s (approximately

35

-

40°c) t o vrhich t h e c o n c r e t e i s

exposed d u r i n g t h e t u r n of t h e t i d e i n t h e s e v e r e w i n t e r , but l a c k of experience does n o t permit p r e d i c t i o n s as t o whether t h e d e s i r e d e f f e c t has been a t t a i n e d . The f a c t t h a t t h e shuttering makes i t d i f f i c u l t t o i n s p e c t t h e c o n c r e t e f o r p o s s i b l e d l s i r i t e g r a t i o n i s a110 t h e r drawback.

Tlze quay i n ~ u l i a n e h 8 b was b u i l t between 1950 and 1952 ( c f . P i g . 2 0 ) . It c o 1 1 ~ 2 r i s e s two r o c k - f i l l e d timber c a i s s o n s and two b r i d g i n g spans of s e c t i o n a l s t e e l . One of t h e s e spans j o i n s t h e two t i n i ~ e r c a i s s o n s while t h e o t h e r j o i n s t h e n o r t h c a l s s o n t o t h e s h o r e . I ~ k e n th e quay i s conzpletcd it w i l l have a t h i r d kpan l i n k - i n g up with y e t a n o t h e r til~!ber c a i s s o n which w i l l s e r v e a s a n

e x t e n s i o n of t h e e x i s t i n g c a i s s o n s and w i l l be n o r t h of them. The need f o r timber c a i s s o n s i s d i c t a t e d by t h e presence of f i e l d i c e .

A s i s e v i d e n t from F i g . 20 t h e superstructure over t h e c a i s s o n s and spans i s of r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e . On shore an a r e a 3,000 n2 l e a d i n g up t o f i v e warehouses and surrounding then1 i s s u r f a c e d w i t h

c o n c r e t e

.

I n ~ o d t h % b a 110 n quay vraa b u i l t between 1952 and 1955. The

s u b s t r u c t u r e of t h e quay i s of s t e e l ( t h e quay i s w e l l s h e l t e r e d a g a i n s t i c e by i t s l o c a t i o n ) , and t h e s u p e r s t r u c t u r e i s of

r e i n f o r c e d concrete. Approximately 1,550 m2 of t h e quay a r e a has been s u r f a c e s with r e i n f o r c e d concrete and an a d d i t i o n a l 3,100 m2

of t h e harbour a r e a with unreinforced concrete. The e n t i r e a r e a between t h e quay and t h e harbour warehouses and t h a t surrounding them has been surfaced with concrete.

The p r i n c i p l e of timber c a i s s o n s used i n Julianeh8b was a l s o a p p l i e d when the quay i n Egedesminde was b u i l t . The method of con- s t r u c t i o n i s determined here by g l a c i a l i c e , c h i e f l y from t h e

Jakobshavn g l a c i e r . Approixmately 250

m2

of t h e quay s u p e r s t r u c t u r e i s of r e i n f o r c e d concrete and approximately 1,500 m2 of t h e harbour a r e a i s surfaced with concrete.

I n s u r f a c i n g t h e harbour a r e a with concrete t h e same method was applied i n Julianehzb, ~ o d t h z b and Egedesminde

.

The s u r f a c i n g

was placed on s o l i d rock o r rock-chip f i l l . The concrete s u r f a c i n g

was

15

cm t h i c k and n o t r e i n f o r c e d . This concrete had been rnlxed and v i b r a t e d , and a i r - e n t r a i n i n g agents were added under c o n t r o l . The s u b s t r u c t u r e was screeded with sand o r stone powder and covered with heavy a s p h a l t paper, whereupon t h e concrete was placed and divided by a system of expansion and c o n t r a c t i o n j o i n t s , t h e former on a foundation of concrete s l e e p e r s . These s t e p s were thought t o be e s s e n t i a l i n Greenland where concrete s u r f a c i n g i s l i a b l e t o be exposed t o considerable and abrupt temperature changes, i n c l u d i n g r a p i d cooling.

S p e c i a l u s e s

The use of concrete f o r foundations of l a r g e r b u i l d i n g s i n a r e a s with permafrost may be mentioned a s an example of t h e s p e c i a 1 , u s e of

t h i s m a t e r i a l ' u n d e r a r c t i c c o n d i t i o n s .

I n

r e g i o n s where t h e mean annual a i r temperature i s below o O C t h e s o i l l a y e r s o f t e n a r e

p e r e n n i a l l y frozen. In t h e c o l d e s t regions t h e permafrost l a y e r s may be s e v e r a l hundred metres i n depth. Only t h e t o p s o i l l a y e r , i . e . t h e a c t i v e l a y e r , thaws i n summer.

I n t h e undisturbed s t a t e t h e permafrost l a y e r s a r e s t a b l e and load bearing. Therefore, they a r e p e r f e c t l y s u i t a b l e f o r founda- t i o n s . However, t h e s e l a y e r s f r e q u e n t l y c o n t a i n l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s of