Creating a Process: Tackling rural depopulation by collaboration with viable and creative individuals

Abstract

This is an awakening call! To rural municipalities struggling with depopulation. Look to the highly viable and inspirational individuals and leave the waiting for industrial big guys be for a while. The tiny house movement is an ever growing trend that attracts both solitary wanderers and families in search of simplicity and who see no future in building a home on large mortgages. It is here and now offering opportunity to create prosperous conditions. In the small but extra ordinary rural village of Uddebo both solitary wonderers and families finds sanctuary. A place where they find they can build a future away from the demands and pressures experienced in society today, and instead be part of a closely collaborative community. This is now hindered by shortage of affordable housing. The proposal for Uddebo is to produce Tiny House as an initial activity to set development for new housing in motion. At the same time recognizing the demand for affordable housing brought on by speculation in housing as well as a stressful society. As architect I engage myself in the developing process of this Tiny House project to explore how my role can help the process and the people wanting to create a more simple life for themselves. In a series of meetings we start a productive dialogue with actors involved. Through engagement in the Uddebo Tiny House project and other rural developing projects I’ve found that the aims for growth through more creative, environmentally friendly lifestyles in rural municipalities is hindered by the regulated process for building, speculation in housing as well as out of date assumptions about demands on small town living. I will illustrate opportunities for applying alternative and sustainable developing processes by extending collaboration