Urban cottages – rural homes? Challenges towards a more sustainable residential culture and the role of architecture

Eli Støa

Nordic Journal of Architectural Research Volume 20, No 3, 2008, 14 pages Nordic Association for Architectural Research Eli Støa NTNU, Faculty of Architecture and Fine Art, Trondheim, Norway Department of Architectural Design and Management

TOPIC: ARCHITECTURE IN A RESOURCE PERSPECTIVE

Abstract: The growth in the number, size and standard of ween diverse home arenas is complex and that second homes in Norway as well as in other there probably is a need to reconsider the theo- European countries has negative environmental ry that second homes represent an escape from impacts and has thus become an issue within urban everyday life. Concepts like rural and the sustainability debate. The article argues that urban are blurred, privacy and withdrawal may the growth in second homes must be seen as be just as essential in urban residential settings part of changes within residential cultures in as in second homes and community life seems our time and that understandings of these just as relevant in vacation home settings as in changes are essential in order to reach a more urban neighborhoods. The role of architecture sustainable development within the residential within the overall discussion of how to reach a sector. It aims to provide a better basis for fur- more sustainable residential culture is thus a ther explorations into the field of connections matter characterized by several contradictions between understandings of home, architecture that need to be further explored. and environmental issues. The article draws on an outline of theoretical approaches to residential cultures and of second homes research, as well as on architec- tural analysis of two contemporary projects, one Keywords: second home and one urban housing project. Second homes, sustainability, residential The discussions show that the relationship bet- culture, housing architecture, escape theory

59 INTRODUCTION rate architectural solutions and principles that may contribute to more sustainable residential During the last years, there has been a consi- cultures. It is meant to provide a basis for fur- derable growth in the number, size and stan- ther explorations into the field of connections dard of second homes1 in Norway as well as in between understandings of home, architecture many other European countries. This has beco- and environmental issues. me an issue within the discussion of sustai- nable development, affecting not only the eco- The article outlines theoretical perspectives logical dimension of the sustainability concept from second home research which are seen as but sociocultural and economic aspects as particularly relevant for discussing changes in well. Within this debate, second homes are residential cultures and discusses how these mainly regarded as a problem. The growth wit- may relate to the quest for sustainability. hin this sector has negative environmental Furthermore it looks into how contemporary impacts such as increased transport and residential cultures are materialized into archi- demand of energy and material resources, tectural form through a study of two projects, a effects on the ecological equilibrium of recrea- Norwegian second home project and a Danish tional areas as well as on visual and historical urban housing project. The projects are studied values of cultural and natural landscapes (e.g. and discussed as physical manifestations of Taugbøl et al, 2000, Gurigard et al, 2004; Velvin, the architects’ and developers’ intentions and 2004; Hille et al, 2007). The number of ideas. Norwegian second homes increases by more The article represents the initial phase of a than 6000 annually (SSB, 2008a). While the ave- newly started research project dealing with rage size of a cottage was 62 m2 in 1983, new links between the strong increase in leisure- second homes in Norway are now typically lar- time consumption and sustainable develop- ger than 100 m2 (ibid) which implies that they ment in which the second home phenomenon have reached the size of average new housing is one of several cases that will be investigated. units (SSB, 2008b). The discussions and conclusions from this arti- The article argues that the growth in second cle will be followed up in the next phases of the homes must be seen as part of changes within research by investigations of residents’ per- residential cultures in our time and furthermo- spectives on the relationship between the vari- re that understanding of these changes is ous arenas of home. essential in order to reach a more sustainable development within the residential sector. Technical improvements of buildings and TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE RESIDENTIAL means of transport are important, but without CULTURE – THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES more structural changes in residential pat- Residential culture has several dimensions. It terns, use of land and transport modes, the could be described and analyzed from an archi- gains from technical improvements are most tectural or urban form perspective as physical likely to be cut back. This is supported by the structures or from a social/socioeconomic per- fact that energy demand in the household sec- spective focusing on household and family tor has more than doubled since the 1960s in structures, lifestyle, and patterns of living. It spite of continuously more stringent building may also be approached through the interpre- regulations and improved technical standards tations and analysis of values and meanings of (Thyholt, 2006). home. Rather then being one of these, residen- Literature states that second homes are tial culture is understood as the dynamic rela- strongly related to urban life and that one of tionship between the three aspects: physical the driving forces is the wish to escape tempo- structures (buildings and their surroundings), rarily from a stressful everyday life in the city. socioeconomic structures (individuals, house- Contemporary understandings of home involve holds, groups and society) and ideas, meanings dwelling through multiple places. Home is not and values. Each one of them are affecting so much about belonging and investing oneself each other mutually, contributing to a continu- in one place but rather about connecting to dif- ously changing situation. Values, attitudes and ferent arenas with complementing meanings conceptions regarding home, family, environ- and practices. The article aims to discuss how ment, status etc. influence both how we design further insights and perhaps reconsiderations our residential spaces and how we use them. of these theories are needed in order to gene- At the same time the physical structures and

60 Nordisk Arkitekturforskning 3-2008 our living habits affect our attitudes and ideas security, control, refuge, status, reflections of connected to residing. The understanding of self etc (Blunt & Dowling, 2006). Also when it transformations within residential cultures comes to the materialization of these under- must likewise include analysis and interpretati- standings, several values seem to be taken for ons of all three dimensions and their mutual granted. My own work on detached houses in interrelationship. Norway (Støa, 1996) shows that residents saw no need of explaining why they regarded the This dynamic understanding of culture is i.a. private, suburban house surrounded by a gar- inspired by Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice den as the ultimate, ideal home: “It is as if this and his concept habitus understood as a is the way to live” one of the informants told me “structuring structure” where the structures (ibid:144). are ”schemes of perception, conception, and action common to all members of the same To deal with the questions raised in this article, group or class” (Bourdieu, 1977:86). According it might be a fruitful approach to identify on to Bourdieu, the layout and practice of the one hand deeply rooted (and often unconsci- house are essential for individuals’ appropriati- ous) meanings or structures (habitus) that on of habitus: change slowly, and other issues within a resi- dential culture that might be easier to modify ”.. through the intermediary of the divisions and and shape. Architectural aspects are relevant hierarchies it [the house] sets up between things, in this context because they are changeable persons, and practices, this tangible classifying and perhaps represent the most dynamic system continuously inculcates and reinforces the dimension of residential cultures. The projects taxonomic principles underlying all the arbitrary we will look at later on are both examples of provisions of this culture” (Bourdieu, 1977:89). architectural solutions which provide new interpretations of home. Blunt and Dowling Bourdieu conceptualizes the role of architectu- (2006) would call it new imaginaries of home, re, not only as a cultural expression but also in and they are in line with Gieryn in the way they the process of continuous cultural modificati- describe home as the relation between materi- on. Gieryn (2002) however criticizes him for not al and imaginative: taking sufficiently into account human agency ”.. the material form of home is dependent on both in “designing and defining building” (Gieryn, what home is imagined to be, and imaginaries of 2002:39). In his article “What buildings do”, he home are influenced by the physical forms of speaks up for an understanding of a building dwelling.” (Blunt & Dowling, 2006:22). both “as the object of human agency and as an agent of its own actors” (ibid:36) and “as simult- Again we find support from social sciences in aneously shaped and shaping” (ibid:41). our assumption that architecture matters. According to this understanding, architects, planners as well as residents have roles and Second homes as part of contemporary indeed also responsibilities to act as shaping residential culture agents. At the same time the built environment There are many reasons for the recent growth itself may shape action and thus more or less in second homes in Norway, as well as in many directly influence residential cultures. While other western countries. The reasons include Bourdieu in his analysis of the Kabyle House increased mobility, higher disposable incomes, (Bourdieu, 1973) finds that the dwellings in a more leisure time, increased interest in out- traditional society like this were not results of door recreation and environmental awareness conscious decisions, and that design was more (Perkins & Thorns, 2006:72 referring to Gallent or less taken for granted, Gieryn emphasizes & Tewdwr-Jones, 2000). However, these what he calls intentional action when investiga- aspects are not sufficient to explain why so ting modern buildings. many people choose to use their time and money on a second and sometimes even a When it comes to the understanding of con- third home. temporary residential culture, some values, particularly those connected to the meaning of Much of the international research on second home are, however, deeply rooted in society homes has dealt with the meaning of and the and thus not easily modified. Many researchers motives behind second home ownership and have looked into this field and found that there this has been summarized in several recent exist certain common understandings of home writings (e.g. Hall & Müller (eds), 2004; conceptualized as permanence, continuity, McIntyre N. et al (eds), 2006). A main issue in

Eli Støa: Urban cottages – rural homes? Challenges towards a more sustainable residential culture 61 and the role of architecture the discussion of second home meanings is making new friends etc. Dislocation and place- that households “.. purchase second homes in lessness are concepts used to describe the order to achieve some dimensions of lifestyle that globalized society. Some theorists argue howe- is not available at their primary residence” (Hall ver that place and home still matter “..although & Müller, 2004b:12). Behind this lays a desire sometimes in ways not previously envisioned” to escape from everyday urban life with all its (Gustafson, 2006:22). The contemporary mea- hustle and bustle as well as a longing for a ning and use of second homes, with their loca- more rooted life close to nature. lities, can be understood in this context, as a way to adapt to a modernization processes In studies on Norwegian attitudes towards (Kaltenborn, 1998). Quinn elaborates this a bit urban living, Witoszek & Saglie (1998) found further by stating that second home for some that urban residents state that practical issues were the reasons for choosing to live in the “… creates a means of re-discovering and re-con- city, so that they might save time to spend time necting with places that hold special meanings in out in nature outside the cities in the wee- people`s lives, there serving to counter the sense kends: of place-alienation and dislocation associated with globalization” (Quinn, 2004:113) “Most of them have cottages. And as soon as they start talking about their cottages the talk beco- Still it seems that the relationship between pri- mes livelier. (…) One has a place in nature that is mary and secondary homes – or between the a home, a locus of identity and belonging. One cottage and the city – is much more complex resides in the city, but one lives in the nature” then merely a “simple” duality where the quiet (ibid: 238, my translation). cottage in spacious natural surroundings is complementing the compact apartment in busy This is also supported by recent research on and noisy cities. The “escape theory” should second homes (e.g. Kaltenborn et al, 2005; probably be reconsidered since it seems that Bjerke et al, 2006; Vittersø, 2007). the escape also may be “.. an attempt to re-visit Quinn (2004) argues that, to be able to answer and rediscover experiences, times and places the question “why do people have second that create a sense of connectedness” (Quinn, homes?” there is a need for considering how 2004:118) or as cited in Perkins & Thorns the meaning people attach to different places (2006:76 citing Crouch, 1994:96): “escape beco- informs the decision to become a second home mes an escape for home, not just from home”. owner. Drawing on several earlier studies, she Many modern second homes are no longer discusses how circulation between different characterized by the simple life, quietness and places has become a normal part of contem- closeness to nature as they used to be porary lifestyles. It seems to be both possible (Vittersø, 2007). We have lately witnessed great and perhaps also natural to feel at home in changes in the cottage cultures. Very few new more than one place. In this light, second cottages are built “out in the wilderness” far home ownership may be seen as away from neighbors. They are often located in “part of an adaptation to dwelling in modernity villages or even apartment buildings close to that relies on multiple belongings between two, downhill slopes, hotels, shops, “after ski” or possibly more, places of residence. (…) second entertainment, restaurants, and busy nightlife. home ownership allows people to dwell in and With modern technology it is possible to bring through different places, enabling them to feel work to the cottage and thus extend the period connected to more than one place at the same of use beyond holidays and weekends (Perkins time” (ibid, 2004:117-118). & Thorns, 2006). The globalization and high mobility that cha- The tendencies described underline the fact racterize modern society may lead to reduced that second home culture is not about one significance of “place rooted localities” and single trend, but that they play different parts weaken neighborhood ties and networks in the understandings of what contemporary (Giddens 1991). The easiness of traveling both residential culture may be. The complexity physically and virtually, affects our attitudes calls for a broad exploration of the second towards place and perhaps also our need for home phenomenon seen in relation to the pri- belonging. Alienation, insecurity and becoming mary home and the residents’ attitudes rootless may be results of this, but surely also towards urban as well as rural life and how freedom, mobility, possibilities for a range of diverse arenas supplement each other and individual choices for gaining new experiences, together constitute multiple homes. To be able

62 Nordisk Arkitekturforskning 3-2008 to do that, we should also look into some of the dents’ perspectives which are necessary to give architectural aspects of the phenomenon. Few a complete picture of residential culture. studies have done this so far. Most relevant in this respect is perhaps research carried out in ”Hovdinntunet” Oslo that indicates that access to private out- Architect: Skaara Architects AS, Oslo door spaces and gardens in primary homes – Oppdal is a small mountain village with 6.500 which in fact are essential issues within deba- inhabitants located between Oslo and tes on urban housing architecture – gives less Trondheim, 2 hours by car or train from long travels by car, and also that high density Trondheim and 5 hours from Oslo. Oppdal has in housing areas contributes to more travels by its main identity as a ski destination in winterti- air (Holden & Norland, 2004). An explanation is me. Recently there are, however, attempts to that people need second homes and / or tra- expand this to include summertime outdoor vels abroad to compensate for an everyday life life and also more “urban” activities consisting in dense urban environments with a lack of of shopping, night life and cultural activities. natural surroundings, largely in line with the Within the district of Oppdal there are 3000 pri- “escape theory”. A relevant response to this vate cottages. would be to secure a better access to private The Oslo based architect Kim Skaara has made outdoor areas as well as more parks and green a plan for a new settlement, “Hovdinntunet”, areas within the city. But how can we be sure consisting of 138 vacation apartments close to that this will work? Holden & Norland point out the downhill tracks. One of the main objectives that the correlations need to be examined is to ensure the best possible relationship bet- more closely as they may just as well have to ween the downhill tracks and the site, and to do with the choice of urban lifestyles as with give priority to sun and view both in winter and the physical structures and their limitations. summer. The central building will be a focal And as we already have seen, the “escape the- point within the building complex – seen from ory” is only a part of the rationale behind our the access from the south and from the down- increasing wish for second homes. hill slopes in the north. In addition, the architect has put efforts into NEW HOME ENVIRONMENTS creating connections between the village and – SOME ARCHITECTURAL ISSUES the new settlement and expresses a will to contribute to a positive development of Oppdal. Studies of architecture alone will not provide The project aims to strengthen the urban fabric answers to the questions raised in this article of the village, visually as well as functionally. but they may still contribute to provide a better The visibility between the village and the ski basis to explore the connections between the resort are cautiously taken care of. The shape diverse home arenas and the role of architec- and placing of the front building support open- ture within this whole. ness between the village center and the ski Two projects are selected as examples of con- resort. People on vacation are seen as means temporary home environments. One of them to urbanize the village. At the same time, the consists of vacation apartments in a village in village offers “urban attractions”, believed to Norway, two hours by car from the city of bring people to Oppdal. It is assumed that ski- Trondheim. The other is an urban housing pro- ing, nature and outdoor life are not enough, ject in Ørestaden in . They are not implying that vacationers have changing prefe- necessarily representative for what is being rences which should be met. built today but are rather selected as unique The architectural design of the settlement and cases, considered to embody ideas that might the apartment buildings has a suburban cha- shed light upon the current discussion of racter. Features typical to contemporary hou- multiple homes and thus give opportunities for sing, are put forward: underground parking, learning (Stake, 1998). The architectural project sun and view, modernistic design (large win- is seen as a cultural expression: “..a cultural dowpanes, flat roofs etc), plazas, street like project for change” as Gromark (2000) puts it, passages and high density. The central building and the qualitative interpretations are mainly will have 6 floors, and thus become the highest based on written presentations of the projects building in Oppdal. In addition to service facili- by the architects and developers, as well as ties for winter and summer tourists, it will have drawings, models, other visualizations and on- restaurants, shops, “after ski facilities” as well site visits2. This will be followed up in later as 40 rental flats (ranging from 24 to 80 m2). phases of the research of investigations of resi-

Eli Støa: Urban cottages – rural homes? Challenges towards a more sustainable residential culture 63 and the role of architecture Figure 1 - 3: Photos from the site at Hovden, showing neighboring farms, existing ski tow and recently built vacation apartments. Photos: Eli Støa

64 Nordisk Arkitekturforskning 3-2008 Owner flats (all together 98, ranging from 60 to opposes the extensive recent development of Figure 4: 120 m2) will be established in the terraced buil- detached cottages in the district. The large Overview site plan. Illustration: Skaara Architects AS. dings in the west and south with balconies and underground car parking space is, however, Printed with permission of the view towards the west and the evening sun. according to the architect, questionable in a architect They will be placed to give as many as possible sustainability perspective. “nice glimpses” of the village center in the south. Some apartments will have large roof ”VM Bjerget” terraces. The outdoor areas are designed to Architect: BIG – Group achieve pleasant sun and view conditions as The newly completed residences on top of a well as wind protected spaces for playing and man made mountain in Ørestaden in outdoor activities. Centrally located within the Copenhagen give the neighboring “VM houses” settlement there will be two common outdoor (PLOT Architects, 2005) an evergreen hillside spaces with bath tub, barbecue or other com- as their new view. Eighty apartments are built mon facilities. A system of paths will connect diagonally on the top of a parking garage this plaza to both the downhill tracks and the accommodating 480 cars with a sloping roof different parts of the building complex. facing south. The large northern and western facades are covered by perforated aluminum Environment friendly design features and tech- plates with a huge photo of Mount Everest by nology will be integrated to secure reduced the Japanese artist Osamu Uchida imprinted. energy demand, the use of renewable energy This acts both as an artistic decoration and as sources and ecological water and drainage a mean to ventilate the parking house. solutions. According to the project homepage, Norway's largest solar collector is planned on “VM Bjerget”, described as a residential district the tilted south façade of the central building. “on top of Ørestaden”, consists of a dense Because of these features and the compact structure of courtyard houses, each of them building, the project is highly welcomed by the with a private, shielded garden. According to local organization “Oppdal for the future” that the website, the architects aimed to combine

Eli Støa: Urban cottages – rural homes? Challenges towards a more sustainable residential culture 65 and the role of architecture Figure 5 and 6: “..through its environmental fri- endly, modern and identity gene- rating contemporary architecture give the district and region a push forward” (quotation from the web- sites http://www.hovdinntunet.no/). Perspective drawings: Skaara Architects AS. Printed with permission of the architects.

urban lifestyle with “living in the green”. The “When open the fourth wall disappears and dis- project offers “healthy and relaxing outdoor life solves the border between indoor and outdoor” in green surroundings”. The “light and airy” (from web-side). Furthermore, the wooden ter- apartments have views far beyond the villa race floor is meant to visually merge with the quarters of Amager, all the way to the Øresund indoor floor, enhancing the dissolvement bet- bridge and the Turning Torso in Malmø. It ween house and garden. offers the better of two worlds: the proximity to “VM Bjerget” is located close to Scandinavias a hectic city life in the urban center with rural largest shopping center Fields, with a huge tranquility. The apartments have large windows amount of shops and entertainment. It also has and glass sliding doors towards the south:

66 Nordisk Arkitekturforskning 3-2008 Figure 7 and 8: Drawing showing the space bet- ween “VM houses”(2005) and the new “VM Bjerget”. The architect Bjarke Ingels was also involoved in the design of “VM houses” as a partner in PLOR Architects.

The residences on top of a rende- ring of Mount Everest, “appearing as a cottage field” according to a Norwegian newspaper (DN, 2008) Illustrations: BIG – . Printed by permission of the architects

a close and efficient connection to the city cen- homes are not necessarily complementary but ter by metro. The railway station connects to more or less overlapping arenas. View, sun, the rest of and Kastrup airport just a openness and sightlines to the urban surroun- couple of kilometers away to the rest of the dings and city (or village) center are highligh- world. in both projects. There is also a common focus on practical issues: “easy life” with car According to Bjarke Ingels, “VM Bjerget” repre- parking in the basement and shops and service sents a reaction against the “tyranny of squa- close by. This, combined with an aesthetic atti- res” that has ruled in Copenhagen as well as tude expressed by extensive use of glass and many other large cities. Instead of placing a flat roofs, shows strong links to the modern block of flats beside a parking house, he has movement. This is an interesting aspect of placed one-storey flats on top of the parking “Hovdinntunet”, since traditionalist aesthetics house. seem to have had a strong hold on second home architecture – even though comfort and Discussion technical standard may be very up to date. The most striking finding from the analysis of However, both projects have elements that may “Hovdinntunet” and “VM-Bjerget” is the simila- be characterized as “romantic”. Most impor- rities between the two projects when it comes tant is how they both accentuate “natural fea- to the qualities and values that are emphasi- tures” through the extensive use of natural zed. This illustrates that primary and second

Eli Støa: Urban cottages – rural homes? Challenges towards a more sustainable residential culture 67 and the role of architecture Figure 9: materials like wood and stone, the greenery on more serious approach: high consumption of “Where the apartments in ”VM the southern façade of “VM Bjerget”, and the land, even in our scattered country and moun- houses” were wild and distorted, the residences in “VM Bjerget” emphasis of the natural surroundings for tainous districts, is not any longer acceptable. are far more traditional. We have “Hovdinntunet”. Both projects are thus expres- A compact building structure - 6 floors is created a villa quarter where the sions of modern suburban values within settle- regarded as high rise in Oppdal - and a striking house merges with the outdoor space, worth noticing in a multi- ments of relatively high density. This may be solar panel visible from a long distance com- story structure in an urban set- regarded as an example of a shift towards municate a comprehensible message in this ting with a view over Amager, the more urban second homes, while for “VM- regard. Øresund bridge and with the Bjerget” this rather reflects a shift “back- Turning Torso in the far distance. On the other hand, there are some significant One gets all the spendours of the wards” towards more rural qualities in an differences between the two projects. One suburbs in the city”. urban setting. (Bjarke Ingels at the website: concerns the activities supported by the physi- http://www.vmbjerget.dk/ my Another similarity, related to the aesthetic cal structures. For “VM Bjerget”, peace and translation) Photo: Jakob Boserup. appearance of the building complexes, is the tranquility as well as the withdrawal from the Printed by permission of Mark, strong aesthetic distinctiveness both projects hectic city life are focused upon. The architect Lindberg & Partners have, represented by the high rise central buil- and developers promote values that are similar ding with a huge solar collector at to the ones traditionally associated with second “Hovdinntunet”, and the Mount Everest art homes. When it comes to “Hovdinntunet”, work at “VM Bjerget”. Both may be seen as there are no words on withdrawal, peace and examples of a conscious endeavor to express quite. On the contrary, the website presentation images that will attract attention and symboli- rather emphasizes the positive “hustle and ze new, astonishing and perhaps also contras- bustle” of an active and sportive leisure time. ting or controversial meanings in their unlike This does however not imply that possibilities contexts. In Ørestaden, “VM Bjerget” repre- to experience the peace and quietness associa- sents not only the suburban dream, but also ted with closeness to nature are not important. the dream of undisturbed, fresh, healthy, with- The reason that these qualities are not mentio- drawn life in the mountains. While this may in ned may be that they are taken for granted fact be regarded as an ironic comment on when it comes to second homes in the moun- Danish residential values, “Hovdinntunet” has a tains.

68 Nordisk Arkitekturforskning 3-2008 While protection of the private sphere is a main intended to let us “escape” from our protected issue in the promotion of “VM Bjerget”, more privacy in an urban residence to our second focus seems to be put on public life in home village to live an active and social life “Hovdinntunet”. Several meeting places and together with family, friends and neighbors, or common facilities for outdoor and indoor activi- we may seek similar qualities within different ties are established here in order to support contexts and independent of this being within the social life of the vacationers. In “VM the frame of leisure time. Bjerget” the parking house is the only common When life in urban dwellings is designed to be space. Even though the space between the new more quiet and withdrawn then what is inten- building and “VM Houses” is presented as a liv- ded in modern vacation villages, we must seek ely pedestrian area (see figure 7) there are no other explanations then the earlier mentioned functions along this area that might support theories of escape or compensation to describe “lively activities”. the motives for the recent growth in second “VM Bjerget” represents in some respects inn- homes. More relevant reasons may be related ovation when it comes to urban housing3, but to lifestyle changes involving increased mobility this is related to the architectural expression (Holden and Norland, 2004) and what seems to (the image of on top of a be a continuously more blurred relationship parking house), and to the density of the struc- between urban and rural life, between leisure ture rather than to housing typologies. The flat and work and between need for privacy and layout is a rather traditional courtroom plan withdrawal and visions of rich community lives. similar to Utzon’s “Kingo Houses” or The study thus fits well with the suggestion “Fredensborg” (Møller et al, 2004) and many of from Kaltenborn (1998) that second homes not the values they represent are the same as the only should be regarded as an escape from ones embodied in much of Nordic post-war certain aspects of modern life but also repre- suburban housing. As such it represents more sent a search for a more flexible lifestyle where conventional dwellings than the neighboring “VM Houses” does (Mollerup, 2006). Both “VM “.. life revolving around the recreation home can Houses” and “VM-bjerget”, like many other gradually become the ordinary life that provides new housing projects in Ørestaden as well as the desired meaning, while the modern, urban in other cities, are characterized by being life represents the extraordinary existence” designed and planned as independent objects, (ibid:133). rather than as structures integrated in an urban fabric and contributing to the surroun- CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS ding public life. The lack of interest in the “life between building” (Gehl, 1996) is perhaps also How then may we use the findings from the a part of the heritage from the postwar subur- study of the two new projects, related to the ban housing developments, and may in hardly theoretical perspectives drawn earlier, as input be regarded as “new”. What is new is that, to the discussion of how architectural solutions even though there is no conscious attitude and principles may contribute to more sustai- against establishing common arenas, the nable residential cultures? architectural solutions as well as the socioeco- The architectural examples support the conc- nomic realities seem to counteract visions of lusions from the theoretical discussion that the public life. “Hovdinntunet” may be regarded as “escape theory” needs reconsideration. The more inventive at least in the context of archi- projects furthermore illustrate the complexity tectural typologies for second homes in a rural in the relationship between primary and setting, both aesthetically and regarding the second homes and thus the need for a broader area layout with public spaces, common activi- exploration involving other dimensions of resi- ties and connections to the rest of the village. dential culture. After all, we do not know to Looking into the architectonic issues of the two what degree the residents at “VM-Bjerget” and projects, we may rather simplistically conclude other urban housing areas seek retreat in that while “Hovdinntunet” represents an urba- second homes, and if so: on which basis? nization of cottage life, “VM Bjerget” represents Similarly, we have no information of who the a ruralization of urban life. It is thus not obvi- buyers and renters of flats at “Hovdinntunet” ous that second homes are designed as retreat and similar projects are, why they choose this from the noisy and stressful life in the cities. It kind of second home environment and what may just as well be the contrary: they are kind of primary homes they have.

Eli Støa: Urban cottages – rural homes? Challenges towards a more sustainable residential culture 69 and the role of architecture The architectural solutions in the projects are of home deeply rooted in our culture, and the based on the architects’ as well as the develo- changing understandings and patterns of eve- pers’ interpretations of future residents’ needs ryday life. The aim for this article is not to pre- and preferences. If they are right, in the sense scribe answers or solutions. In addition to rai- that the projects are materializations of “what sing questions and providing a basis for further home is imagined to be”, as Blunt & Dowling explorations, it might hopefully also inspire (2006) put it, the study may in fact give some architects and developers to take their role as optimism for the future. It implies that there is shaping agents of residential futures seriously an openness among people towards architec- and seek situations and opportunities for what tural solutions for second homes that in a sus- Gieryn (2002) calls intentional action. Instead of tainability perspective probably are much bet- believing that architecture does not matter, ter than large cottages scattered in the wilder- and that modern life heads in one direction - ness, as well as for dense urban housing in towards increasing placelessness, alienation stead of detached houses and urban sprawl. and unsustainable consumption - we should to This again would imply that efforts put into a larger degree question contemporary trends technological improvements of the buildings and search for alternatives. On the one hand, and infrastructure could be feasible, and per- this could mean improving qualities in urban haps also that it might be possible to create housing, in an environmental perspective as even more future-oriented solutions when it well as in supporting homecomings and place comes to energy solutions, materials and attachment for those who seek options to transport than we find in our two examples. By “nomadic lifestyles”. And on the other hand, creating projects that appear as alternatives to there is a need to develop and offer alternative conventional solutions, architects and develo- solutions for second homes that meet a broa- pers may contribute to the shaping of a more der spectre of the various motives people may sustainable residential culture. have for wanting them and at the same time meet the requirements of a sustainable built However, when it comes to the need of chang- environment. ing more fundamental structures of a residen- tial culture, it is more questionable how archi- tecture may have a shaping influence. If we had ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS believed strongly in the “escape theory”, an obvious strategy would be to affect the need The article constitutes a part of a larger project and use of second homes by improving the dealing with links between the strong increase qualities of urban residential environments, in leisure consumption and sustainable deve- e.g., by providing better access to private gar- lopment. The project is funded by the dens, parks and green areas, possibilities for Norwegian Research Council for the period withdrawal and refuge from the hectic urban 2008-2010. It is carried out in cooperation bet- life, place attachment etc. The article has ween Western Norway Research Institute shown, however, that the motives for second (WNRI), the National Institute for Consumer home use are much more complex than just Research (SIFO) and the department of the need to escape from a hectic urban life. Architectural Design and Management and the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of As contemporary residential culture is not Culture at the Norwegian University of Science about one trend but rather about a magnitude and Technology (NTNU). of patterns and meanings, this is probably the case for the motives for second home use and The article is a further development of a pre- ownership as well. Influencing this in a more sentation given at the ENHR conference in sustainable direction requires not only one June 2007 and CIB W69 Housing strategy but many, also when it comes to Sociology Meeting in , Estonia, June architectural solutions and principles. Trying to 2008. I am thankful for valuable comments and counteract the need to escape urban life every fruitful discussions taking place on both occa- weekend by architectural means may be one of sions. several actions. Creating housing environments that answer to contemporary needs and at the same time deal with serious environmental problems requires the search for a balance between the meanings

70 Nordisk Arkitekturforskning 3-2008 AUTHOR

Eli Støa Professor NTNU, Faculty of Architecture and Fine Art, Trondheim, Norway Department of Architectural Design and Management [email protected]

NOTES 1 Second homes include in this context cottages, sum- architect Bjarke Ingels on diverse websites, and new- merhouses and vacation apartments in rural or peri- spaper articles about both projects. “Hovdinntunet” is urban areas. still at the planning stage and detailed layout of buil-

2 dings or apartments is not available. It is planned to The presentation and analysis of the projects are be completed in 2011. “VM Bjerget” will be completed based mainly on the websites http://www.hovdinntu- during 2008 and the apartments there are now for net.no/ and http://www.vmbjerget.dk/. Other sources sale. are: powerpoint presentation made by the architect Kim Skaara on Hovdinntunet for a conference for 3 This is supported by the fact that the project won the architects at Oppdal, April 2008, an interview on telep- award for best housing project in the “World hone with Skaara, June 2008, a visit to VM Bjerget in Architecture Festival” in , October 2008: March 2008 and a lecture given by Henrik Lund, one of www.worldarchitecturefestival.com the architects at BIG Architects, statements from the

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