What if... the future is rural?: Strategic and Spatial Scenarios for Rural Development

Christiansen, Lærke Kramer ; Dalsgaard, Helene Holm

4. term

Urban Design, Master

2024

2024-05-30

165 pages

This Master’s thesis project by Helene Holm Dalsgaard and Lærke Kramer Christiansen from Aalborg University, 2024, titled ”What If The Future Is Rural,” delves into the complexity of rural development in Denmark. Focusing on both national and regional scales, as well as medium and local scales, particularly the village of Vestervig in Thy, the project seeks to address the question: ”How can an innovative approach to rural development create new social, spatial, and economic drivers in rural areas to attract new resources and foster sustainable development while facing challenges including land use and dual urbanization?” The project unfolds through five phases: Prologue, Unfold, Understand, Condense, Form, and Epilogue. Motivated by a desire to challenge conventional strategies and tools while respectfully acknowledging the complexity of rural development, the project aims to provoke new discussions and add fresh perspectives to the subject. At its core, the vision of the project is to revitalize the role of farms and the natural landscape surrounding small villages, positioning them as central to rural life once again. By considering various agendas influencing rural development, including spatial, political, environmental, and social factors, the project proposes six strategic ”What - if Scenarios” as a proposal for the sustainable development of rural villages in Denmark. Acknowledging uncertainties, such as the impact of political decisions like the proposed CO2 tax on agriculture, the project underscores the critical importance of rural development for current inhabitants, prospective residents, food security, tourism, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. While the future political landscape remains uncertain, the imperative of nurturing rural communities and landscapes remains clear.

This Master’s thesis project by Helene Holm Dalsgaard and Lærke Kramer Christiansen from Aalborg University, 2024, titled ”What If The Future Is Rural,” delves into the complexity of rural development in Denmark. Focusing on both national and regional scales, as well as medium and local scales, particularly the village of Vestervig in Thy, the project seeks to address the question: ”How can an innovative approach to rural development create new social, spatial, and economic drivers in rural areas to attract new resources and foster sustainable development while facing challenges including land use and dual urbanization?” The project unfolds through five phases: Prologue, Unfold, Understand, Condense, Form, and Epilogue. Motivated by a desire to challenge conventional strategies and tools while respectfully acknowledging the complexity of rural development, the project aims to provoke new discussions and add fresh perspectives to the subject. At its core, the vision of the project is to revitalize the role of farms and the natural landscape surrounding small villages, positioning them as central to rural life once again. By considering various agendas influencing rural development, including spatial, political, environmental, and social factors, the project proposes six strategic ”What - if Scenarios” as a proposal for the sustainable development of rural villages in Denmark. Acknowledging uncertainties, such as the impact of political decisions like the proposed CO2 tax on agriculture, the project underscores the critical importance of rural development for current inhabitants, prospective residents, food security, tourism, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. While the future political landscape remains uncertain, the imperative of nurturing rural communities and landscapes remains clear.

rural development ; agriculture ; village ; strategy

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