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Vacant space in smaller swedish municipalities : Inventory and new space use concepts

Falkstedt, Annika LU ; Kyrö, Riikka LU and Lundgren, Rebecka LU (2025) Circular Building Sector Conference p.29-29
Abstract
Background and aim.
The pandemic accelerated green and digital transition may benefit smaller towns. New opportunities include multi-locational living and working, emerging industries, and novel services to attract creative industries. All these developments entail more freedom for people to choose their place of living. Meanwhile, the real estate sector is in dire need of novel space use concepts and associated business models, to tackle rising vacancy rates. Yet, the potential of the green and digital twin transition to revitalize rural areas remains somewhat unexplored. Our aim is to identify vacant spaces suitable for matching with different types of new uses.

Methods and Data.
We first identify vacant spaces in... (More)
Background and aim.
The pandemic accelerated green and digital transition may benefit smaller towns. New opportunities include multi-locational living and working, emerging industries, and novel services to attract creative industries. All these developments entail more freedom for people to choose their place of living. Meanwhile, the real estate sector is in dire need of novel space use concepts and associated business models, to tackle rising vacancy rates. Yet, the potential of the green and digital twin transition to revitalize rural areas remains somewhat unexplored. Our aim is to identify vacant spaces suitable for matching with different types of new uses.

Methods and Data.
We first identify vacant spaces in selected smaller Swedish municipalities. The inventory includes an initial, desktop evaluation of whether the space is suitable for new types of creative and collaborative uses. Jointly with international experts and case municipalities, we will engage in co-creative workshops to ideate new uses for the spaces.

Findings.
The findings comprise an inventory of vacant spaces in case municipalities, as well as ideas for potential new uses. The new uses are presented in the form of the Business Model Canvas, which allows developing the concepts into business models for wider use.

Practical / Societal implications.
Both municipal officials and private real estate owners may find the developed concepts useful in their work. Implementing the concepts have the potential to revitalize smaller towns. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
pages
1 pages
conference name
Circular Building Sector Conference
conference location
Lund, Sweden
conference dates
2025-06-01 - 2025-06-03
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
62bd0073-5239-4b80-a73e-22148a14d8c2
alternative location
https://www.cbsc2025.se/bookofabstracts.html
date added to LUP
2025-06-09 12:02:49
date last changed
2025-06-10 10:22:09
@misc{62bd0073-5239-4b80-a73e-22148a14d8c2,
  abstract     = {{Background and aim.<br/>The pandemic accelerated green and digital transition may benefit smaller towns. New opportunities include multi-locational living and working, emerging industries, and novel services to attract creative industries. All these developments entail more freedom for people to choose their place of living. Meanwhile, the real estate sector is in dire need of novel space use concepts and associated business models, to tackle rising vacancy rates. Yet, the potential of the green and digital twin transition to revitalize rural areas remains somewhat unexplored. Our aim is to identify vacant spaces suitable for matching with different types of new uses.<br/><br/>Methods and Data.<br/>We first identify vacant spaces in selected smaller Swedish municipalities. The inventory includes an initial, desktop evaluation of whether the space is suitable for new types of creative and collaborative uses. Jointly with international experts and case municipalities, we will engage in co-creative workshops to ideate new uses for the spaces.<br/><br/>Findings.<br/>The findings comprise an inventory of vacant spaces in case municipalities, as well as ideas for potential new uses. The new uses are presented in the form of the Business Model Canvas, which allows developing the concepts into business models for wider use.  <br/><br/>Practical / Societal implications.<br/>Both municipal officials and private real estate owners may find the developed concepts useful in their work. Implementing the concepts have the potential to revitalize smaller towns.}},
  author       = {{Falkstedt, Annika and Kyrö, Riikka and Lundgren, Rebecka}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  pages        = {{29--29}},
  title        = {{Vacant space in smaller swedish municipalities : Inventory and new space use concepts}},
  url          = {{https://www.cbsc2025.se/bookofabstracts.html}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}