Abstract
This report consists of a written reflection on my experience as an intern with NORRØN architects from 01/08/2022 to 31/12/2022. During these five months, I have been involved in the design and execution of a citizen-involvement based development plan for Thorupstrand, a fishing village located along Denmark’s north-west coast belonging to Jammerbrugt Kommune. NORRØN is an architecture and planning office based in Copenhagen, founded in 2014 by architects Poul Høilund and Marco Berentz. Since then, they have specialized in the field of destination development within the experience economy around three main themes: Nature, Coast and Culture. Most of their work is located in the Danish countryside, with several projects realized in Greenland. Each project is characterized by a strong sensibility towards the place. In the words of their founders themselves: ‘Every destination has a unique composition of place-bound stories and potentials. It is therefore in the ability to identify, refine and further develop the positions of strength that the market for creating strong destinations with an international outlook is found. Destination development is therefore at the same time a local, regional and national matter.’ (NORRØN, 2015). As it will be further described in this paper, this approach towards working with the rural environment by locating and enhancing locally based potentials is crucial to the current agenda. The development of Thorupstrand is a state-of-the-art example of the challenges that planners are facing today in the rural environment, and it shows the importance of citizen-involvement for creating place-based solutions. However, it is also important to reflect upon the level of participation that is being achieved under the circumstances of a rurally declined environment.
