Density and Sustainability: Norms in practice and the results of research

Last changed: 03 April 2023

The main goals of this project was to provide a systematic review of international research on urban density and the practical use of densification strategies in practice. (Cooperation with Chalmers)

Background

One of the dominant strategies proposed for sustainable urban development is densification. UN Habitat prescribes a density of over 150 inh/ha to realize the UN Sustainable Development Goals. While some authors advocate the benefits of density, others emphasize the potential drawbacks.

The project

The main goals of this project was to provide a systematic review of international research on urban density and the practical use of densification strategies in practice. To achieve this, the research project consisted of two initial analytical trajectories: one concerned the state of scientific research on the topic of density, and the other the use of density and densification in planning policies.

The first trajectory surveyed positive and negative effects of densification as described in scientific publications, including an overview of the degree of consensus on specific effects of densification.

The second trajectory used comprehensive plans to identify in which ways claimed density effects are used to underpin practical policies.

This application aimed at:

  1. systemizing the described effects of densification, the degree of scientific consensus and identification of knowledge gaps;
  2. systemizing the claimed benefits of densification in Swedish practice; and
  3. synthesizing the matches and mismatches between (1) and (2).

In the cases of mismatches, the degree of over- or underestimation of density benefits as well as not considered benefits or disadvantages were described.

Facts:

Project leader

Meta Berghauser Pont, Associate Professor in Urban Design and Planning at Chalmers University of Technology

Project participants

Per G Berg, Professor, Division of Landscape Architecture, SLU (-2021)

Per Haupt, Adjunct Professor of Architecture and Urban Planning, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola

Project time

2018-2020

External funding

Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development (Formas)


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