Nature Nexus - Small town sustainability in an island context

Abstract: Despite its sandy beaches, lush forest, and many sunshine hours, Bornholm was placed on a list along with 23 other municipalities as a peripheral area by Erhvervsstyrelsen in 2014. This designation means that the municipality’s income per capita is less than 90 percent of the national average and over an hour away from a large city. Being called a peripheral area can come with many negative assumptions and hard to shake stigmas—these areas were later called ‘Udkantsdanmark’ by the media, perpetuating these assumptions. Bornholm has performed better than many others on the list; with summer tourism and a stabilizing/growing population, Bornholm has many qualities that people seek out and decide to call this island home. Nature Nexus is a mixed-use housing project in the town of Nexø. This new housing project will attempt to meet the needs of the diverse demands of the population while working towards the sustainable goals put forth by Bornholm’s Regional Municipality and citizen initiatives for a more sustainable future. People do not choose to live on Bornholm to live in a city but choose Bornholm for its proximity to nature and island lifestyle. This degree project shifts the focus of urban development from the larger cities to the small towns to highlight the sustainable aspects that small-town living cultivates. Too often, development efforts are focused on geographical centers, ignoring the need for developmental diffusion to strengthen growth and development in all parts of the region.