As cities grow increasingly crowded and housing costs soar, many young people are beginning to idealize life in the countryside—envisioning fresh air, close contact with nature, affordable housing, and a slower, more peaceful pace of life.

In Albæk, Denmark, as in many small towns, the lack of cultural institutions, infrastructure, and social programs has led to a steady population decline over the past few decades. How can communities like Albæk create an environment that attracts a new generation seeking to reconnect with rural life?

Reimagining the "Villa Suburbana"

To explore solutions, we look to the historic "villa suburbana" model, an architectural typology that has shaped rural life for centuries. The Danish farmhouse, a descendant of this form, traditionally serves as a site for agricultural production and is divided into three sections: the “pars urbana” (family residence), the “pars rustica” (barn and stables), and the “pars fructuaria” (farmland).

The villa’s flexible structure offers an opportunity for reconfiguration to support not just single-family use but a community. Barns and stables, with their ample space, could be transformed into co-housing, individual apartments, or studio spaces, catering to diverse groups, including students, artists, single parents, temporary workers, and refugees.

Redefining the Farmhouse for Modern Production

The traditional farmhouse, historically dedicated to agricultural production, could be reimagined for a range of modern production activities—art, music, food, furniture, social media content, and more. The farmland could host small community vegetable plots and larger areas could be converted into nature parks that encourage biodiversity through rewilding.

Themes for Transformation: A Framework

01) Adding a catalyst function-How can we enrich the town's existing community and structure?

A "catalyst" program - something culturally or socially appealing - can serve as a destination that provides economic and social value. Community centers, art spaces, libraries, and other communal facilities could find new life within the farmhouse’s main residence.

02) Redefining production - How can we rebuild the village’s identity and sense of community?

The large stable buildings on the farm could be repurposed into co-working spaces for artists, architects, musicians, and craftsmen, supporting a range of creative and productive activities that foster a collaborative rural identity.

03) Transformation through diversity - What new uses, living arrangements, and functions can revitalize unused building stock?

The stable buildings could also serve as residences, moving beyond the traditional single-family model to support a variety of living arrangements, including co-housing and studio apartments for diverse groups.

Structural Transformation: A Case Study

Using the four building masses around the courtyard at Nedrevej 76 as an example, the proposal preserves the external facade’s form, materials, and characteristic elements, such as gables, gates, and the courtyard itself, retaining the original look from the street.

On the courtyard-facing side, extending the facade to the first floor would open up the interior spaces, bringing light into new living and working spaces and creating opportunities for expansion on the upper floor. This design allows for both preservation and functional adaptation, ensuring that the farmhouse typology continues to serve the needs of a modern rural community