Accuracy – Adapting to creative and collaborative use in rural areas for circularity

Background and aim. In rural areas, economic and demographic shifts often leave buildings vacant due to functional and locational obsolescence. However, these buildings hold significant value in terms of embodied energy, natural resources, economic capital, and cultural heritage. The real estate sector urgently needs innovative space use strategies and business models to tackle rising vacancy rates. The rise of hybrid and virtual work, driven by megatrends such as digitalization, environmental crises, and individualism, presents new opportunities for revitalizing rural areas. Creative business models that capitalize on shifting work patterns and repurpose vacant buildings can simultaneously reduce vacancy rates and resource consumption in the building sector. The aim of this project is to identify, refine, and evaluate effective business models by matching vacant spaces with the right uses and users.Methods and Data. We will initially identify vacant spaces in Swedish rural areas that are suitable for new types of uses and engage in co-creative workshops to ideate creative and collaborative uses. Subsequently, we will identify the business models and assess their ecological, economic and social impact.Findings. The findings will comprise cases of creative uses of vacant spaces in rural areas, as well as an assessment of the necessary adaptations and interventions, in the forms such as LCA, LCP, S-LCA and BM-LCA. This analysis will provide deeper insight into the key factors for successfully developing creative and collaborative business models in vacant spaces. Practical / Societal implications. Municipal officials, real estate owners as well as educators may find the developed findings useful in their work. Implementing the concepts has the potential to revitalize rural areas and accelerate the shift toward circular practices.