Villa Strandheim

Hans Dahl (1849–1937)

Married to Helene Brewer (1862–1927)

Dahl bought the property in 1892 for NOK 1,500 from Truls Sande. Dahl was an officer and served in the Bergenske brigade until 1874. He then left to become an artist.

He studied painting under J. F. Eckersberg and Knut Bergslien while he went to cadet school until 1871. He also studied in Karlsruhe in 1872 and moved to Düsseldorf in 1873, where he studied under Hans Gude.

Dahl lived in Berlin from 1888 onwards, but travelled to Balestrand every summer from 1894 onwards to sketch the scenery of Western Norway. From 1919, Balestrand became his permanent residence, although he spent every winter during this period in Berlin.

The artist Hans Dahl

Hans Dahl’s paintings often feature the scenery of Western Norway in beautiful sunshine featuring happy people dressed in national costume. Dahl’s work was not highly regarded during his lifetime, but there was a big market for it among private collectors. Paintings by Dahl were sold for NOK 200,000 during the 1980s.

Emperor Wilhelm II

Hans Dahl was a close friend of Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, who appointed him ‘Royal Professor of Prussian’ in 1910. Dahl hosted large garden parties at Villa Strandheim every summer, and the Emperor was a regular guest.

Dahl’s descendants

Hans Dahl’s children Hans Andreas and Eline, took over the property in 1938. Eline, who lived in England, holidayed with her family at the property until 1958. It was then sold by auction. Hans Andreas married Anna Lorna Bellew in 1909.

New owners

Andreas Kvalheim bought the house in 1958, but swapped it for a house owned by Oddvar Ugulen in Holmen in 1966. Oddvar Ugulen (1932–1988) and Solveig née Thue thus became the new owners. Solveig now owns it after Oddvar’s death.

The house is in a very good state of repair, having undergone regular maintenance over the years.

The house

Villa Strandheim is one of the biggest dragon-style villas in Balestrand. It is situated by the shore, where Dahl built a wharf, bathing hut and boathouse in the same style. The house was built by Jakob Digre, a building contractor from Trondheim. Jakob Digre made pre-fabricated modules for the dragon-style house, which made it quicker to erect.

Built 1893 – Drakestil - Dragon Style

Builder: Jakob Digre,Trondheim

Requested by: Painter Hans Dahl