Michal Kasperski

Project Location 
Budachów, Poland 

Topic 
Landscape Regeneration Rural 

Program 
Mixed use - Cultural & Social Aggregation, Elderly, Collective housing, Nature, Community 

New perspectives for the European Countryside in the circular economy 

Project explores a new model of regenerative communal living for economic and social revival of the European countryside through strategic re-development of State-Owned Farm typologies. Applied at scale, it envisions a more locally productive, globally-connected, economically competitive and self-sufficient countryside in a circular economy 

The events that unfolded in recent years in Europe highlighted the need and the urgency for an increased local and regional resilience. The 83% of the total EU area that is considered ‘rural’ will play a vital role in this challenging transition. While facing interlinked problems of soil degradation, lack of diverse economic opportunities, ageing and a declining population, rural areas desperately need new models of living – inspiring optimism and stimulating long-term social and economic perspectives. 

Reviving the Rural – explores new models of regenerative communal living and the potential of regional forestry for economic and social revival of the European countryside. It started with an investigation of the evolution of Polish countryside settlements across different economical periods. From early-capitalist through socialist to late-capitalist models - it became clear that the ways of organising territory are always closely tied and shaped by the socio-economic climate. Therefore, the project seeks an answer to, “What could the countryside be like as we shift towards the circular economy?” The result is a revitalisation strategy model proposing a re-development of former State-Owned Farm typologies - once popularised around Germany and Western Poland - now often abandoned. They present a unique opportunity to revive the rural areas while helping already established communities. A case study located in Budachów village in Western Poland explores an innovative model of regenerative communal living. It combines housing for seniors, permanently occupying the site, with a rich educational, cultural, and touristic programme for visitors, in areas of permaculture, farming and dining. In the light of local forestry and manufacturing potential, the architectural intervention focuses on careful adaptive reuse, paired with a more industrialised way of producing quality housing, while returning to locally sourced pine as the primary construction material. CIRCL– Centre for Innovation in Regenerative Communal Living – aspires to create a wide range of new economic opportunities for the area while providing much-needed housing for seniors and more responsible food production and resource management models. If applied at scale, the model envisions a more locally productive, globally-connected, economically competitive and self-sufficient countryside in a circular economy.