Villages in landscapes: the importance of appearance

Jørgen Møller

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingArticle in proceedingResearch

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Abstract

For more than 30 years the physical environment (buildings, gardens, roads and spaces, etc.) in Danish villages has undergone dramatic changes. Many villages close to the bigger towns have grown and are dominated by modern, architecturally maladapted buildings, and as one of the results other villages especially in the periphery are declining with physical impoverishment and decay.

Mainly due to the structural rationalization processes in the agricultural sector throughout the last generation the physical rural structures are under pressure. The changes in the countryside are highly visible, and the physical appearance of many villages and detached farms can at best be characterized as shockingly inferior.

It can be argued that the Danish society has grossly omitted to take care of the largest and most important part of its cultural heritage in the Danish landscape; 6-7,000 large and small villages dispersed in the Danish cultural landscape.These villages are crucial to the future of rural areas and are normally neglected.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInnovation Systems and Rural Development : Proceedings from 10th Annual Conference, Nordic-Scottish University for Rural and Regional Development
EditorsHanne W. Tanvig
PublisherMuseum Tusculanum
Publication date2008
Pages56-69
ISBN (Print)978-87-7903-343-6
Publication statusPublished - 2008
EventInnovation Systems and Rural Development - Brandbjerg, Denmark
Duration: 8 Mar 200810 Mar 2008
Conference number: 10

Conference

ConferenceInnovation Systems and Rural Development
Number10
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityBrandbjerg
Period08/03/200810/03/2008
SeriesForest & Landscape Working Papers
Number27

Keywords

  • Rural development
  • Villages
  • Building culture
  • Superfluous farm buildings
  • Village planning

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