Master`s Thesis ULS · Summer Semester 2016 · Theresa Friedrich / Johannes Hemmelmann / Julian Numberger

Wallersdorf in Lower Bavaria – a municipality in the Gäuboden region along the A92 motorway between Landshut and Deggendorf – is officially classified as a rural area within the Bavarian State Development Programme. Current developments, however, reveal dynamics that extend far beyond conventional perceptions of rural regions. The construction of BMW’s central spare parts distribution centre, with a floor area of 35,000 m², further reinforces the region’s mono-functional character as a logistics hub. Large-scale projects of this kind not only reshape the landscape but also have far-reaching social, economic, and spatial impacts. By combining Wallersdorf’s specific situation with broader challenges facing rural Bavaria – including demographic change, limited inner development, and a lack of diverse housing options – the thesis develops future visions and spatial strategies for rural transformation.

The thesis understands rural settlement transformation as a comprehensive process of adaptation that responds to the needs of a changing society. It extends far beyond the provision of diverse housing types and embraces a holistic understanding of the living environment: living also means working and participating in a region. This results in a multi-scalar planning approach that spans from the individual dwelling and the settlement structure to the regional context. Efficient infrastructure, attractive cultural landscapes, and social, cultural, and economic amenities are essential factors in the choice of where to live. The space commonly labelled as “rural” therefore offers considerable development potential at both the local and regional scale.