Alessandra Miglio

Due to sociological, demographic, spatial and regulatory changes affecting French agricultural areas, the last few decades have seen the emergence of new issues and needs surrounding housing for farmers. The issue of agricultural housing is becoming crucial in the current context of increasing land artificialisation, mass retirement of farmers and societal demand for an agri-food transition, as it brings into tension two major objectives of contemporary urban planning: the re-territorialisation of our agri-food systems and land use restraint. On the one hand, the renewal of the farming generation (and therefore the relocation of agri-food chains) requires overcoming the difficulties farmers face in accessing housing. On the other hand, the responses currently being provided are encouraging the urban sprawl (scattered urbanisation) of agricultural land, which runs counter to the objectives of preventing land artificialisation.
Based on this observation, this doctoral thesis, which falls within the fields of architecture and agri-urban planning, will investigate the issue of rural housing as both an obstacle and a lever for the establishment and transmission of agricultural activities and for the sustainable management of buildings in peri-urban and rural areas. The first objective of this work is to refine our understanding of the new challenges facing agricultural housing. To do this, it will place the issue of rural housing in a historical perspective, study how it is being reconfigured by the sociological transformations underway in the agricultural world, and explore its links with current issues of food, social and environmental justice. The second objective is to contribute to the emergence of strategies (architectural, urban, social or organisational) that can respond to the new challenges of agricultural housing in a relevant and operational manner. To this end, a survey will be conducted on a selection of initiatives currently underway in France at the local level. This will involve identifying and conducting a comparative study of around fifteen experimental agricultural housing schemes and assessing the scope of each case study in relation to the challenges of ecological, economic and social transition.
This complex subject requires a multi-scalar and interdisciplinary approach combining different methodological approaches. We will therefore draw on bibliographic research (scientific and ‘grey’ literature), socio-anthropological surveys at farm level, micro-territorial surveys (mapping and prospective modelling at municipal level), case study analysis and action research (monitoring and active participation in ongoing experimental projects).
Ultimately, this thesis aims to raise awareness among public authorities and actors in the field about the issue of rural housing and to equip them to promote the spread of agricultural housing strategies that are commensurate with contemporary challenges.