UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MARVIN HALL
(image: Melissa Smith)
CAN THE COUNTRYSIDE CHANGE THE FABRIC OF AMERICA?
AN URBAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE FUTURE OF THE RURAL PROGRAM MELISSA SMITH
Kansas, 2018
M.ARCH GRADUATE STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Having grown up in Denver I haven’t experienced much of the countryside (aside from the occasional trip into a small Rocky Mountain town). This changed when I decided to attend the University of Kansas. While Lawrence isn’t the “countryside,” going to school there allowed me to meet people who had grown up in remote areas, giving me a deeper appreciation for the rural way of life. I realized how different urban and rural lifestyles were, but also how similar the people can be. Upon beginning this research project with HDR and the University of Kansas, I delved deeper into the American countryside, learning more about their challenges, interests, and cultures. This research led me to “Countryside, The Future,” Rem Koolhaas’s Guggenheim exhibit in New York City. Although I wasn’t able to see the exhibit due to COVID-19, our research team was able to read Koolhaas’s book on the subject, “Countryside, A Report.” The following text discusses my thoughts on the book and my own experiences in the countryside, and ties it into our architectural research project. My major impression about “Countryside, A Report” was that most of the writings look at rural life through an urban lens, as Koolhaas has his architectural background in dense, urban areas. It may be good that they took such an urban, futuristic approach to examining the countryside because it may spawn more interest and investment in rural areas than it would have coming from a solely rural perspective. The issue, though, with the urban approach which examines
the countryside as the futuristic new hub of humankind and technology is that it is inaccessible to rural residents, at least in America. Poverty is high among American rural populations; many rural residents cannot afford an expensive trip to New York City to visit the exhibit. According to the National Rural Health Association, over half of rural Americans lack access to high-speed internet; unless the book is made widely available at rural libraries and promoted in rural towns, it’s unlikely that rural populations will read or even hear about it. That’s not to say, though, that it doesn’t bring some important points to light. I found the chapter about the advancement of the Kenyan countryside to be particularly interesting and relevant to our research (Gichuyia and Madete, “Ocha: African Avant Garde,” p. 88-103). Dr. Gichuyia and Etta Madete discuss possible futures for the Kenyan countryside as it redevelops as an important place of work, life, and recreation, and investments in the Kenyan countryside grow to create a more connected Kenya. I found several methods used in Kenya to be potentially applicable in the States. Initiatives discussed and attempted in rural Kenya, some very successful, include: easier and more accessible digital banking and money transfer, improved access to internet and wifi, the creation of an AirBnBequivalent for countryside tourists or work travelers, bringing in guest lecturers from urban universities to rural schools, the creation of a high speed rail, and the provision of technology.
These initiatives helped connect the countryside to the urban, but more importantly they made it easier and more enjoyable to live and work in the countryside. Many Americans feel they need to move to a city for work even though they’d rather remain in the countryside. If we, at a design level, implement some of these solutions we could create a more connected and viable countryside, and a more connected and viable United States. Two of my roommates live in rural areas. I’ve visited both of their homes and discussed with them about their countryside experiences on many occasions. What I’ve learned is that many rural and urban people would choose to live in the countryside over the city. I’ve learned that rural life is quite different from city life and requires different attention, care, and policies. Certain things that work well in cities may not make sense in the countryside - and vise versa. Our approach to health care is just one example. Because rural towns lack the density and competition necessary to drive down healthcare costs and bring in specialists, we need to explore other healthcare methods. We researched telemedicine. While rural towns could have regular physical doctors and dentists in the town, and emergency services, they could receive more specialized care through telemedicine. The rural issue isn’t a lack of interest in countryside life but rather lacking resources. Rural areas offer fewer employment opportunities, fewer recreational activities, and less access to healthcare, making the city
seem like the only option, especially for young families and recent graduates. We must enhance life in the countryside so more people who want to live there are able to (this could also ease city overcrowding). This brings us to our research: The Mainstreet Initiative. The goal of the Mainstreet Initiative is to return promise to rural towns through entwining health with rural life. The “Main Street” would become a critical community hub. Rural residents can seek their annual physical, fitness center, community center, movie theater, shopping, and dining in a few city blocks within a short walk or bus ride from their homes or workplaces. This concept shifts the idea of healthcare from an occasional requirement to a way of life, promoting prevention over treatment, a healthy lifestyle over a long hospital stay. This could return life and employment to the countryside that would allow people to choose countryside over city, as many would like to do. In the post-COVID world, people may even work remotely for a company in the city but live in the countryside. Additionally, this approach to healthcare design could create a more adaptable environment that aids in disease control. For example, by having several connected buildings with multiple access points, it becomes easier to section off functions in a pandemic scenario. The reuse of existing spaces and buildings adds the important aspect of sustainability. The addition of high-speed rail lines, like those in Kenya, could encourage more countryside tourism and allow
those working remotely to visit the city if need be. We can look to other methods implemented in the Kenyan countryside, and all over the world, to connect the rural and the urban, and to allow people more freedom of employment and movement. Although “Countryside, The Future� looks at the countryside from an urban lens, it allowed us to glimpse what our countryside could be and how the countryside could change America as we know it.
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UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MARVIN HALL
The Forum by Studio 804