Organized by the Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen, the Landgut 2050 ideological competition focused on three areas located in German Thuringia: Lauscha, Stützerbach and Urleben, which have become increasingly depopulated in recent years. The organizing foundation sought a vision and strategy for the development of rural life and housing for the three places, representative of many communities and cities in Europe struggling with similar problems. The first prize in the competition was won by the interdisciplinary strategy for the revitalization of the village of Urleben - "New vernacular" developed by an international team consisting of: Mateusz Adamczyk and Agata Wozniczka from BUDCUD studio, Berthold Flieger and Valerie Madoka Naito.
The award-winning team of architects, urban planners and a landscape architect developed strategies on which to build a program for the effective revitalization of Urleben. The competition concept includes three diverse, interdisciplinary "activator" proposals, in which both the organization and financing scheme and the architecture and landscaping strengthen the local community and build a friendly public space.
focusing on Urleben's three biggest problems, the team proposed three specific solutions
© Mateusz Adamczyk, Agata Wozniczka, Berthold Flieger, Valerie Madoka Naito
The isolated houses in Urleben, surrounded by large plots of land, which used to be inhabited by multi-generational families whose members worked in nearby factories and on the surrounding farms, the architects note, now form an archipelago of deserted buildings, inaccessible fortresses to passersby.
Such a situation does not foster integration, solidarity, nor does it create a local community. As the designers emphasize, given the demographic problem of an aging population, the village should rethink the system of interrelationships between people and functions and ensure its self-sufficiency.
The award-winning team, in response to these problems, proposes tapping into the hidden potential of Urleben's urban structure and using existing plots of land to create a network of public and semi-private spaces where neighbors can meet, strengthen the ties that bind them, work together or exchange knowledge and experience.
strategy 3: a revitalized backyard that serves the whole community
© Mateusz Adamczyk, Agata Wozniczka, Berthold Flieger, Valerie Madoka Naito
In the past, the project's authors write, the houses in Urleben functioned like independent businesses - the families living in each house grew and sold their crops. People worked in and for the village, making Urleben a productive and vibrant place. Today, however, due to demographic and technological changes, most have stopped growing crops in their fields, and as many as 90 percent of working villagers leave for other cities for work. The idea behind the award-winning project is to try to restore the village to its potential and productivity through original and vernacular economic strategies and to build an engaged community. Thus, the answer to a homogeneous, monotonous layout of functions could be the creation of a local restaurant in the spirit of zero waste; the deteriorating structure of the urban fabric could be helped by a workshop and testing ground for new, environmentally friendly building materials; and the recipe for a lower demographic and aging population could be a joint day care center for children and the elderly.
strategy 1: experimental garden, part of an ecological restaurant
© Mateusz Adamczyk, Agata Wozniczka, Berthold Flieger, Valerie Madoka Naito
In the proposed concept, the designers suggested architectural and urban planning solutions to help the revitalization process, including removing or lowering high walls between existing buildings, creating green zones in the space between buildings or building connectors between them. New buildings could be introduced into existing structures or arranged inside as common spaces on different levels, and old, formerly single-family homes could be transformed according to the co-living model - a place where multiple people live at the same time sharing common areas, but also having individual, private zones.
The 
The designers also proposed proposed solutions for existing buildings
© Mateusz Adamczyk, Agata Wozniczka, Berthold Flieger, Valerie Madoka Naito
