Dense-cities vs. open space provision
Sustainable urbanization has been a significant topic of scientific discussion in recent decades. A key point of contention is the "compact city" model and its effectiveness in addressing urban sprawl. The concept of a compact city is intricate and contentious, and there is ongoing debate about the best strategies for achieving urban sustainability, especially in different contexts such as developed versus developing countries. The Landscape Ecology Lab (Dagmar Haase) investigated the balance of density and open space provision in three big cities together with two other research groups from Leipzig and São Paulo. In more detail, the research explores the relationship between urban density indicators and urban morphology, and how these factors impact the balance of built and open space in high-density residential areas across São Paulo, Brasília and Berlin. It also aims to identify the main morphological and urban density attributes related to the age of urban developments in these residential areas and their temporal context. They found out that high-rise development does not automatically ensure open space and high density. Also, some of the morphologies found in Berlin balanced housing density and Open-Space Ratio (OSR) effectively. That led to the idea that city models with perimetral blocks might be an optimal use of urban space. If you are interested in compact city modeling and research, read the whole article here.
Abstract
Cities worldwide face the challenge of balancing densification and open space provision. However, few studies investigate how urban morphology influences that balance across different cities and continents. We identified eight urban morphological types characterizing high-density residential areas in São Paulo, Brasília (Brazil), and Berlin (Germany) and assessed those morphologies using seven indicators: population density, housing density, Floor Space Index (FSI), Ground Space Index (GSI), average building height, Open-Space Ratio (OSR), and average number of people per built area. Our findings from the Brazilian cities showed that intense verticalization does not automatically ensure open space and high density. Vertical morphologies showed the highest FSI values but not the highest housing densities, and had low to moderate OSR values, comparatively. Three morphologies found in Berlin (Contemporary, Half-Open and Edge) balanced housing density and OSR best (127–147 dwellings/ha, 0.5 to 0.8 OSR values, on average). Berlin’s Traditional type showed the best balance between FSI, GSI, average building height and OSR, with buildings ranging from 1 to 9 storeys. It also achieved the highest housing densities (188 dwellings/ha, on average), but at a cost of OSR. Those findings suggest that a compact city model with perimetral blocks (Half, Edge and Traditional types) could provide an optimum use of urban space, if open space provision is properly considered. We further discuss the advantages and implications of block-based urban planning and design (traditional in Berlin and other European cities) in contrast to plot-based (often observed in Latin American cities).