The project RURALISE confronts one of Europe’s most complex and pressing challenges: the affordable, sustainable and durable housing in rural areas. In many European rural communities they are observed population decline and aging, vacant or abandoned dwellings, increasing pressures for second homes; and structural exclusion of vulnerable groups from access to decent housing. At the same time, an important one remains unexploited regenerative potential, which builds on social, cultural and ecological ‘capitals’ and can support more inclusive transitions.
The aim of RURALISE is to enhance the affordability, accessibility and resilience of rural housing through six pilot applications to Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Norway, Ireland and Italy, as well as through its creation Ruralise Studio: of an integrated knowledge hub and decision-making environment, which will unify data, participatory knowledge and tested solutions to handy tools for policy makers, municipalities, housing providers and citizens.
Methodologically, the project combines multiscale quantitative analysis of the housing market, rents and socio-demographic changes (WP2, WP4) with participatory and co-design processes (WP3, WP5). These procedures are based on approaches such as Participatory Action Research, h Asset-Based Community Development, h Extreme Citizen Science, as well as in frames Social Security.
Expected results include; transnational housing typologies, vulnerability maps, co-created roadmaps, as well as policy and planning tools, in direct alignment with key European initiatives such as Agrarian Pact, the Wave of Renovations, h Affordable Housing Initiative and the Social Fund for the Climate.
By the end of the project, RURALISE aims to:
(i) enhanced documentation for the operation and needs of rural housing markets,
(ii) validated governance strategies and models that improve affordability and access to housing,
(iii) feasible, reproducible solutions for rural communities resistant to climate change and without exclusions.
ACTIONS OF WESTERN MACEDONIA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
PE 1 Project Management – 1
Action 1.1: Coordination, management, technical reporting and internal communication – 1
Action 1.2: Risk management and quality control – 1
Action 1.3: Participation in joint information, dissemination and cooperation actions – 1
Action 1.4: Data Management – 1
PE 2 Project Management – 2
Action 2.1: Coordination, management, technical reporting and internal communication – 2
Action 2.2: Risk management and quality control – 2
Action 2.3: Participation in joint information, dissemination and cooperation actions – 2
Action 2.4: Data Management – 2
PE 3 Existing situation mapping and needs assessment for affordable housing and revitalization
Action 3.1: Conceptual formulation and research positioning
Action 3.2 : Analysis of regulatory, governance and policy frameworks
Action 3.3: Sociodemographic and cultural influences on rural development
Action 3.4: Benchmark and define real estate and rent analyses
PE 4 Establishment of a cooperation network of interested parties and recording of needs
Action 4.1: Formulating a stakeholder engagement strategy
Action 4.2: Needs, barriers and data mapping for housing upgrading in rural areas
Action 4.3: Co-design engagement program with and for communities and validate with Stakeholder Groups
PE 5 Multiscale typologies rural housing data collection
RuraLISE Studio will be the main online “portal”, where the results of the project are collected and presented in an organized way. It will host a Knowledge Hub with data, analytics and tools, as well as a Decision-Making Environment that helps users explore solutions by pilot area and by “challenges”. The platform allows navigation by both subject area and problem, with summary impact “cards” for proposed strategies. It is developed and maintained with an emphasis on security, accessibility and data protection, so that it remains useful even after the end of the project.
Action 5.1: Create a repository of existing data
Action 5.2: Data analysis to record housing trends and systems in rural areas
Action 5.3: Development of the methodological approach for data collection identified in actions 4.2 and 4.3
Action 5.4: Data collection for the pilot action
Action 5.5: Data collection for the pilot action
PE 6 Multiscale typologies rural dwelling data processing and creation/hosting of Ruralise Studio
Action 6.1: Pilot Action Data Analysis
Action 6.2: Typology mapping
Action 6.3: Development and Hosting of Ruralise Studio as an Environmental Knowledge and Decision Making Hub
PE 7 Co-designing rural homes and villages of the future – 1
Action 7.1: Coordination of pilot actions and implementation of solutions and procedures – 1
Action 7.2: Mapping approaches to rural housing
Action 7.3: Development of a co-design methodology adapted to the needs of the pilots
PE 8 Co-designing rural homes and villages of the future – 2
Action 8.1: Coordination of pilot actions and implementation of solutions and procedures – 2
Action 8.2: Implementation of co-design workshops in the pilot areas
Action 8.3: Co-creation of plans/roadmaps for intergenerational, multifunctional housing units and community spaces
PE 9 Policy Adoption, Synergies and Strategic Support
Action 9.1: Synergies and Partnerships
Action 9.2: Stakeholder Evaluation of Tools
Action 9.3: Policy Support and Policy Recommendations
PE 10 Communication, Dissemination
Action 10.1: Plan and Action Team
Action 10.2: Information and Marketing/ Promotional Material – 1
Action 10.3 : Communication and dissemination through digital channels – 1
Action 10.4: Boosters: Media, networking and events – 1
Action 10.5: Scientific Dissemination – 1
PE 11 Communication, Dissemination, Exploitation and Reproduction
Action 11.1: Plan and Action Team
Action 11.2: Information and Marketing/ Promotional Material – 2
Action 11.3 : Communication and dissemination through digital channels – 2
Action 11.4: Boosters: Media, networking and events – 2
Action 11.5: Scientific Dissemination – 2
Action 11.6: Reproduction and Exploitation