COBASI: Co-creating transformation processes of Baukultur and Services of general interest (SGI) in rural municipalities
Summary
Structural and Territorial Heritage, Place-user Interactions
Fonds national suisse (FNS), NFP 81 - Culture du bâti
Institut fédéral de recherches sur la forêt, la neige et le paysage (WSL), Ostschweizer Fachhochschule (OST), Groupement suisse pour les régions de montagne (SAB)
Séréna Vanbutsele
Skills directory
March 2025 - February 2028
COBASI explores how rural municipalities can address Baukultur and the transformation of their built environment by maintaining and programming services of general interest (SGI). Through co-creation with local actors, it identifies and develops sustainable strategies for rural revitalization.
The project aims to explore and align the domains of Baukultur and services of general interest (SGI) to revitalise rural municipalities. It focuses on the critical examination of Baukultur, traditionally associated with cultural aspects of building and architectural aesthetics, and its evolution towards encompassing broader issues of sustainability and functionality within the built environment. The project analyses the ongoing restructuring of services of general interest with a reduction of physical points of contact, and the potential for these buildings to be repurposed for multifunctional services, thereby fostering social interaction and new approaches to urban planning.
The TRANSFORM Institute at HEIA-FR is responsible for the spatial analysis of selected case studies, that aligns Baukultur principles and the programming of services of general interest (SGI).
This part of the research is guided by the following key questions are: How can Baukultur and SGI interact to produce a high-quality environment that contributes to the revitalisation of rural areas?
What spatial, functional, and governance-related characteristics contribute to the success of such transformation processes?
Case study analyses covering a wide range of services of general interest (public administration, public health, transport and communication, education, culture and leisure, everyday services and local commons) across diverse territorial contexts were conducted through site visits and interviews. These in-depth analyses make it possible to identify concrete leverage points for the successful implementation of rural revitalisation projects.
These findings will support the future development of the COBASI project by providing references for municipalities and stakeholders involved in the co-creation process of rural revitalisation projects.
Project team: Séréna Vanbutsele, Julie Riondel, Stefanie Schwab