A new version of the Norwegian “bygd” – Bygda 2.0 at Stokkøya
On a beautiful, small island on the West Coast of Mid-Norway, a village planned for the future, Bygda 2.0, is taking shape.
Bygda 2.0 can simply be described as the development of a new kind of village, or micro-city. It is characteristic of a unique, dense, sustainable and modern living and working environment – all about establishing social structures, modern living arrangements and use of renewable energy, food culture and scenery, and outdoor adventures. This setting provides a future-oriented environment for business and research – a living laboratory.
With the project/business Bygda 2.0, we will facilitate more people choosing rural areas as a base for a good life into the future.
Our vision is to create a contemporary interpretation of the Norwegian village by creating a unique, sustainable and modern society situated adjacent to the seashore that maintains an awareness of temporal and spatial scales.
Background
The first time that more people were living in cities than in the countryside was in 2008. The expectation according to FAO* is that by 2050, more than 70% of the world’s population will live in cities,. With this urbanisation, a substantial part of the “know how” and expertise will be lost from the countryside, which will experience a brain drain. At the same time, there will be a huge demand from rural areas for food production, water supply and other natural resources.
What kind of people shall staff rural areas in the future and where most of the supply of both edible and non-edible commodities/raw materials comes from? Will urban competence save the countryside? We need creative, competent people who choose the rural platform and who want to develop and manage these natural resources. Therefore, it is essential that the countryside becomes more attractive than it seems to be for many people today. Bygda 2.0 will become a model of what a future village can be/look like. We will knowingly develop a symbiosis between life and work by examining the needs and wants of business activities in an area like Stokkøya Island, and devise a method to make it attractive.
Food and architecture are key words in many of our projects. However, there are several relevant business interests and research activities based on location, innovation and new entrants in this area. Research and development will be an important business activity and some of the sub projects and activities will be at the intersection of several disciplines such as energy and environmental technology, water supply and consumption, marine biomass, food and health.
Nature, surroundings, architecture and sustainability
Stokkøya Island boasts a mighty coastal nature and lovely shoreline. Its Southwest facing location gives optimal sun conditions from morning until late at night and powerful weather and nature experiences on a year-round basis. The sun’s energy coupled with wind, sea and ground-source heat can be exploited for innovative energy solutions,
In the neighbouring bay lies Hosnasand, a beautiful beach, where Stokkøya Sjøsenter is situated. Stokkøya Sjøsenter has a restaurant (Beach Bar/Strandbaren), hotel, coastal houses and a camp site. The Beach Bar gets local supplies of raw materials from the ocean, meat, vegetables and herbs, and whatever else is in season. The Beach Bar is also a spot for concerts and other events throughout the year.
The location of Bygda 2.0 is unique from a sustainability perspective with its approach to the edible natural resources on both the blue and green side, and with different renewable energy resources available. The long-term perspective is that free access to marine food resources from oceans free from pollution and pure drinking water will be increasingly exclusive and desirable.
Excellent architecture enables Bygda 2.0 to evolve as an attractive place to stay and live with fantastic views and immersed in nature with buildings that are customized and integrated into their surroundings. This uncompromising architecture creates a dynamic and complex environment, up-to-date and in constant motion. Being able to experience the unique nature, whether in the workplace or from the living room, is an important premise for architectural layouts designed to create good outdoor spaces. We want to create bicycle paths, vista points, and play zones and common areas for children and adults.
Bygdebox by Pir 2 Architects
Business, research and education
The first structure that has been built is a combined business, cultural and community building, called “Bygdeboksen.” This building is the hearth of Bygda 2.0, and serve as a focal point for a lot of the activities in the area. It is multifunctional, as hosts a co-working space for regular and drop-in tenants, maker space, workshop and a kitchen/food laboratory, and has a 300 m2 hall for courses, conferences, concerts, parties, exhibitions and other events.
The Food Lab will be spectacular as a distinctive platform for a multidisciplinary cooperation within food-related disciplines, business and research. Our aim is that the Food Lab should hold a strong position in the New Nordic Cuisine and its development. The main focus will be on marine resources in addition to other relevant and local raw materials.
A local microbrewery, Stokkøy Bryggeri, established as one of the first tenant, and has already grown out of their facilities in “Bygdeboksen”.
You find a small bakery that has excellent sour dough bread and good
The office and workshop (manufacturing space) is a flexible, innovative and a dynamic work place for a variety of companies and people with a cross-section of disciplines and demographic criteria.
Housing
On the edge of the sea, a tiny part of the Atlantic Ocean with a small harbour as closest neighbour, houses in different shapes and expressions are being built. The first phase (2015) is small houses for rent and for sale. The next phase is 8 houses of different sizes for sale and rent (2017-2018). There are also plots for sale, planned for 4 different housing models that are developed by four different architects from four different countries: Japan, France, Argentina and Norway.
Spillebrettet by Pir 2 Architects
Some milestones:
- Bygdeboxen (a commercial multipurpose building) – Completed August 2015
- Houses for hire – Type “Game board”, Completed May 2015
- Houses, sold: Completed August 2015
- “Townhouse on a pier” – Project planning, expected start up and completion 2017/2018
Some Facts
Bygda 2.0 is situated on Stokkøya Island in Åfjord municipality on the Fosen Peninsula, on the outer coast of Mid-Norway about 120 km Northwest of Trondheim. The nearest airports with connection to Oslo are Brekstad, 95 km from Stokkøya, and Trondheim Værnes, 157 km from Bygda 2.0. There are two departures to and from Trondheim with public transportation, during weekdays.
Åfjord Municipality has 3,300 inhabitants. Three large contracting and construction companies employ a large number of people from Åfjord and surrounding municipalities.
Åfjord also has a strong primary Industry within both the blue and green sectors. Åfjord and Fosen Peninsula are facing large development projects in the coming decade that will have an impact on migration to, and economic growth in, the region.
Employment census (2014)
| Primary Industry | 13,36 |
| Secondary industry | 23,69 |
| Merchandising, travel industry, transport, finanicial services, real estate | 28,75 |
| Public administration | 4,88 |
| Education | 8,65 |
| Health and social services | 18,29 |
| Others | 2,38 |
Based on the territorial advantages and infrastructure, Åfjord is a very good starting point for establishing your own business. Public services in Åfjord offer childcare at four different kindergartens (ages 1-5), and two schools, from 1st to 10th grade. Both school buildings are new and modern, and a high school with subjects for both practical subjects and pure academic studies. Åfjord offers a professional health care system for people of all ages with three General Practitioners, dentists, chiropractors and physiotherapists and an outstanding healthcare system for the elderly population.
Want to Join Us?
Our target group for this project is settlers, entrepreneurs, and sector-specific educational and research institutions.
For the target group of settlers and entrepreneurs we are primarily searching for those who knowingly seek an alternative to the city for both living and working space but who might not find today’s rural life attractive enough. People who want the benefits that the rural life can offer pared with desirable urban qualities. Target groups are also people who are currently living in rural areas who want another way of living given what’s available today. Target groups should be demographically independent, but will likely have some shared core values, attitude and desire for a lifestyle that is somewhat different than what one sees as more common in rural areas today.
We are targeting several research and educational milieus e.g., architecture, design, energy- and environment, water resources, marine-, food-, health-, and sociology research/science.
We are finding interesting and challenging experiences and need creative, competent, skilled and dedicated people to join us in developing the future village to create an intriguing and exciting environment to live and work in.
Surrounded by nature, aided by groundbreaking architecture, a resilient, rewarding, social life, good business prospects, local production and cultural activities, Bygda 2.0 will be an attractive place to live life to the fullest.
Feel free to contact us for more information:
ingrid@bygda20.no phone: +47 913 83 144 (founder)
roar@bygda20.no phone: +47 900 53 878 (founder)
