Abstract
Rapid and significant reductions in global carbon emissions are needed to remain within Earth’s limits. The construction and operation of buildings account for the largest share of the global consumption of raw materials, and they yield around 40% of global carbon emissions. Leading climate researchers therefore recommend adapting housing needs to existing building stock instead of constructing new buildings. This requires shifting the focus from what we desire to how we can adapt our needs to existing spaces. In addition to challenges with lowering carbon emissions, this paper, a work in progress, highlights two significant but unconnected challenges observed in several provincial towns in Denmark. First, the issue of empty retail spaces in pedestrian streets due to changing retail strategies and consumer habits; second, the issues of exploiting the untapped potential for tourism existing in some of these provincial towns, which requires attractive tourist accommodation. The aim of this paper is to explore if and how three issues can be addressed through one solution: Reducing carbon emission through build environments by using the existing building stock, revitalizing town centres struggling with empty retail spaces, and accommodating tourists without increasing carbon footprint. Rather than constructing new accommodation for tourists, we suggest transforming vacant retail spaces into holiday apartments, boutique hotels, and other types of places that can support sustainable urban development, and strengthen the local community, the local businesses, and the tourist appeal. Through a novel combination of analytical perspectives, this paper lays a foundation for further research into how retail spaces in pedestrian streets can be transformed in a manner that both tourists and locals find appealing.
Keywords
adaptive reuse; retail and hospitality design; tourist accommodation; provin- cial town revitalization
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drsf.121
Citation
Münster, M.B.,and Adriansen, H.K.(2025) Reimagining Empty Retail Spaces: Sustainable Potential for Pedestrian Streets Facing Retail Decline, in Quartier, K., Iannilli, V. M., Spagnoli, A., Elli, T., Prinsloo, I. (eds.), Designing Retail & Services Futures Colloquium: Sustainable Retail and Services Futures, 14–15 May, Milan, Italy. https://doi.org/10.21606/drsf.121
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Full Papers
Reimagining Empty Retail Spaces: Sustainable Potential for Pedestrian Streets Facing Retail Decline
Rapid and significant reductions in global carbon emissions are needed to remain within Earth’s limits. The construction and operation of buildings account for the largest share of the global consumption of raw materials, and they yield around 40% of global carbon emissions. Leading climate researchers therefore recommend adapting housing needs to existing building stock instead of constructing new buildings. This requires shifting the focus from what we desire to how we can adapt our needs to existing spaces. In addition to challenges with lowering carbon emissions, this paper, a work in progress, highlights two significant but unconnected challenges observed in several provincial towns in Denmark. First, the issue of empty retail spaces in pedestrian streets due to changing retail strategies and consumer habits; second, the issues of exploiting the untapped potential for tourism existing in some of these provincial towns, which requires attractive tourist accommodation. The aim of this paper is to explore if and how three issues can be addressed through one solution: Reducing carbon emission through build environments by using the existing building stock, revitalizing town centres struggling with empty retail spaces, and accommodating tourists without increasing carbon footprint. Rather than constructing new accommodation for tourists, we suggest transforming vacant retail spaces into holiday apartments, boutique hotels, and other types of places that can support sustainable urban development, and strengthen the local community, the local businesses, and the tourist appeal. Through a novel combination of analytical perspectives, this paper lays a foundation for further research into how retail spaces in pedestrian streets can be transformed in a manner that both tourists and locals find appealing.