No. 221
The thatched-roof house typical of Aargau is one of the best-loved and best-known house styles of our country. Barely a dozen true thatched-roof houses now remain in Aargau and its neighbouring cantons. They are carefully looked after and much trouble and expense is devoted to their upkeep.

The traveller on the byways of Aargau comes across many old farmhouses whose form and proportions resemble those of traditional thatched-roof houses. In fact there are hundreds of farmhouses from the 17th and 18th centuries whose roofs were thatched with straw until a few generations ago. Most of them ceased to be used for their original purpose as a result of the exodus of farming from the villages. The roof of the multi-purpose house from Oberentfelden was also covered with tiles until the building was relocated to the Museum.
Its construction differs little from that of the neighbouring house from Madiswil BE (No. 321), which was built roughly a century later. It is a frame and plank structure resting on oak beams. Three massive posts bear the weight of the tent-shaped roof, while the walls are infilled with planks of pinewood.

The uniform, finished appearance of this house is deceptive. It already underwent its first alteration at the beginning of the 17th century. The reconstruction in the Museum shows its state in the early 18th century.

Dendrochronological studies show that the oldest beams date from 1609. The house was probably erected in the early summer of 1610. A surprising discovery was made during its dismantling. There was clear evidence that the stone-built storeroom (“Stock”) adjoining the kitchen had been incorporated into the building after its erection. And, in fact, studies of the wood from these parts showed that the «Stock» was built in 1627. This stone-built storeroom protected the farmer’s valuables and other belongings and, above all, his seed grain. Built in insecure times, it gave a good degree of protection against theft and probably safeguarded at least some of the farmer’s most valuable property in the event of fire.
The building underwent a number of repairs and alterations over the centuries. Around 1820, the main facade, which had fallen into disrepair, was replaced with a masonry wall. In the final building phase the living quarters were divided between two households. Partition walls and chimney flues were added. Additional small rooms were created by adding an extension at the rear. When the house was dismantled, we decided to restore it to its 17th and 18th century state.

While, in a multi-purpose building, the cattle are housed in a stall integrated into the main building, pigs were often accommodated in a separate sty as in the case of our pigsty from Brugg AG (No. 222).

The beauty of soft roofs
Only just over a century ago, Aargau villages resembled a group of tents when seen from a distance. Big thatched-roof houses formed a picturesque cluster around the village church. Among other factors, strict insurance requirements and inflated premiums led to the almost complete disappearance of this traditional form of roof within a matter of decades.
Today the buildings roofed with soft materials in the Cantons of Aargau, Solothurn and Zurich probably number less than a dozen. Due to a shortage of straw and a lack of experienced thatchers, in recent times societies for the care and protection of the national heritage and monuments have taken to using reeds as a more durable material for thatching the buildings in their care.
In the Museum, a mixture of straw and reeds has been used experimentally in order to reproduce the original character of these fascinating roofs.