LIFE OF RURAL MATERIALS

We intend to question how we use our environment and investigate an alternative approach to how we live and build with our resources and surroundings. Thorough local mapping, involvement and learning through building processes give meaning to an environment and its users. It is not a finished product, but a process that we hope will continue in the future.

The thesis is a method for dealing with the challenges of rural Norway today. We intend to question how we use our environment and investigate an alternative approach to how we can live and build with our local resources and surroundings. The project concentrates on a “grend”, a small Norwegian community, starting with local mapping, analysis and 1:1 experimenting of local materials and resources. The process leads to a development plan for the community, a building system, examples of smaller public spaces, a dwelling and a large common multipurpose hall. The results are documented through a magazine in four (yet unpublished) editions, a website and a travelling exhibition in order to reach out to the public. It is necessary with development through dialogue and feedback, and the process of involving the community is as important as the design process. We see the benefit of strengthening existing meeting places rather than creating new ones. With quite easy steps we can contribute to a development that is economically viable and sustainable. As designers we make proposals that involve and engage the local people. The community has to decide what is useful. We do not build just to build, but to enhance the community for the community. The work has a realistic approach in three points; as a method to involve people and deal with local enthusiasm to enhance a rural community, through exploring, experimenting and displaying the use of local materials, and with the design of concrete and realistic projects. Ranging from a national level, through community and neighbourhood, to building, building components, use of materials, production, local resources, the project organizes multiple layers. It was particularly interesting to experience the exhibition with the various materials; to sense, feel and touch. Together with an understanding and respect of history, the project aims to raise a common consciousness.