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Aagaard, L K (2021) The meaning of convenience in smart home imaginaries: tech industry insights. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 568–82.

Airaksinen, J, Joutsiniemi, A and Vaattovaara, M (2021) Empowered by planning law: unintended outcomes in the Helsinki region. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 837–55.

Anderson, B and James, P (2021) Covid-19 lockdown: impacts on GB electricity demand and CO2 emissions. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 134–49.

Angel, S, Lamson-Hall, P and Blanco, Z G (2021) Anatomy of density: measurable factors that constitute urban density. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 264–82.

Berrill, P and Hertwich, E G (2021) Correction: Material flows and GHG emissions from housing stock evolution in US counties, 2020–60. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 797–9.

Berrill, P and Hertwich, E G (2021) Material flows and GHG emissions from housing stock evolution in US counties, 2020–60. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 599–617.

Brambilla, A, Candido, C, Sangiorgio, M F, Gocer, O and Gocer, K (2021) Can commercial buildings cope with Australian bushfires? An IAQ analysis. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 583–98.

Brocklehurst, F, Morgan, E, Greer, K, Wade, J and Killip, G (2021) Domestic retrofit supply chain initiatives and business innovations: an international review. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 533–49.

Chapman, R and Howden-Chapman, P (2021) Does reframing urban policy around wellbeing support carbon mitigation?. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 688–99.

Deloly, C, Roue-le Gall, A, Moore, G, Bretelle, L, Milner, J, Mohajeri, N, Osrin, D, Salvia, G, Symonds, P, Tsoulou, I, Zimmermann, N, Wilkinson, P and Davies, M (2021) Relationship-building around a policy decision-support tool for urban health. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 717–33.

Drury, P, Watson, S and Lomas, K J (2021) Summertime overheating in UK homes: is there a safe haven?. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 970–90.

Emmanuel, R (2021) Urban microclimate in temperate climates: a summary for practitioners. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 402–10.

Ferguson, L, Taylor, J, Zhou, K, Shrubsole, C, Symonds, P, Davies, M and Dimitroulopoulou, S (2021) Systemic inequalities in indoor air pollution exposure in London, UK. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 425–48.

Fernández González, J and Gongal, A (2021) Unidirectional pedestrian circulation: physical distancing in informal settlements. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 655–65.

Gerhardsson, K M and Laike, T (2021) Windows: a study of residents’ perceptions and uses in Sweden. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 467–86.

Giddings, B and Rogerson, R (2021) Compacting the city centre: densification in two Newcastles. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 185–202.

Godoy-Shimizu, D, Steadman, P and Evans, S (2021) Density and morphology: from the building scale to the city scale. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 92–113.

Goodess, C, Berk, S, Ratna, S B, Brousse, O, Davies, M, Heaviside, C, Moore, G and Pineo, H (2021) Climate change projections for sustainable and healthy cities. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 812–36.

Gori, V, Marincioni, V and Altamirano-Medina, H (2021) Retrofitting traditional buildings: a risk-management framework integrating energy and moisture. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 411–24.

Graham, L t, parkinson, T and schiavon, S (2021) Lessons learned from 20 years of CBE’s occupant surveys. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 166–84.

Hofman, P, Wade, F, Webb, J and Groenleer, M (2021) Retrofitting at scale: comparing transition experiments in Scotland and the Netherlands. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 637–54.

Huebner, G M, Fell, M J and Watson, N E (2021) Improving energy research practices: guidance for transparency, reproducibility and quality. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 1–20.

Huebner, G M, Watson, N E, Direk, K, McKenna, E, Webborn, E, Hollick, F, Elam, S and Oreszczyn, T (2021) Survey study on energy use in UK homes during Covid-19. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 952–69.

Jain, N R, Rawal, R, Vardhan, V and Dey, S (2021) Performance metrics for room air-conditioners: energy, comfort and environmental impacts. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 666–87.

Kayatekin, C S (2021) Architectural form: flexibility, subdivision and diversity in Manhattan loft buildings. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 888–906.

Kostourou, F (2021) Housing growth: impacts on density, space consumption and urban morphology. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 55–78.

Krych, K, Heeren, N and Hertwich, E G (2021) Factors influencing the life-cycle GHG emissions of Brazilian office buildings. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 856–73.

Li, X and Sunikka-Blank, M (2021) Urban densification and social capital: neighbourhood restructuring in Jinan, China. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 244–63.

Licina, D, Wargocki, P, Pyke, C and Altomonte, S (2021) The future of IEQ in green building certifications. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 907–27.

Liddiard, R, Godoy-Shimizu, D, Ruyssevelt, P, Steadman, P, Evans, S, Humphrey, D and Azhari, R (2021) Energy use intensities in London houses. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 336–53.

Livingstone, N, Fiorentino, S and Short, M (2021) Planning for residential ‘value’? London’s densification policies and impacts. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 203–19.

Lomas, K J (2021) Summertime overheating in dwellings in temperate climates. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 487–94.

Lu, Y, Scott, A, Kim, J, Curi, C B, McCarty, J, Pardy, A, Rysanek, A, Kellett, R and Girling, C (2021) Integration of an energy–economy model with an urban energy model. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 114–33.

Luo, M, Zhang, H, Wang, Z, Arens, E, Chen, W, Bauman, F S and Raftery, P (2021) Ceiling-fan-integrated air-conditioning: thermal comfort evaluations. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 928–51.

Mallaburn, P, Azhari, R, Fawcett, T and Topouzi, M (2021) Australian non-domestic buildings policy as an international exemplar. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 318–35.

Martino, N, Girling, C and Lu, Y (2021) Urban form and livability: socioeconomic and built environment indicators. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 220–43.

McCarty, J, Scott, A and Rysanek, A (2021) Determining the retrofit viability of Vancouver’s single-detached homes: an expert elicitation. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 354–77.

Mirabella, N and Allacker, K (2021) Urban GHG accounting: discrepancies, constraints and opportunities. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 21–35.

Mohajeri, N, Walch, A, Gudmundsson, A, Heaviside, C, Askari, S, Wilkinson, P and Davies, M (2021) Covid-19 mobility restrictions: impacts on urban air quality and health. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 759–78.

Pineo, H, Zhou, K, Niu, Y, Hale, J, Willan, C, Crane, M, Zimmermann, N, Michie, S, Liu, Q and Davies, M (2021) Evidence-informed urban health and sustainability governance in two Chinese cities. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 550–67.

Pont, M B, Haupt, P, Berg, P, Alstäde, V and Heyman, A (2021) Systematic review and comparison of densification effects and planning motivations. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 378–401.

  • Type: Journal Article
  • Keywords: cities; densification; planners; sustainable urban development; systematic review; urban density; urban planning; Sweden;
  • ISBN/ISSN: 2632-6655
  • URL: https://doi.org/10.5334/bc.125
  • Abstract:
    Do higher urban densities contribute to more sustainable cities and communities? This paper examines the effectiveness of higher density (as a means) for achieving sustainable urban development (the goal) following three lines of enquiry. First, a systematic review of the scientific literature (n = 229 peer-reviewed empirical studies) is presented on the effects of urban density. Second, the motivations for increasing urban density are studied in a systematic review of Swedish planning practices based on the comprehensive urban plans in 59 municipalities. Third, these two studies are compared to find matches and mismatches between evidence and practice. Although positive effects exist for public infrastructure, transport and economics, there are also considerable negative environmental, social and health impacts. This creates a challenging task for urban planners to assess the trade-offs involving densification and accommodate current urbanisation rates. Some topics are found to be over-represented in research (transport effects), seldom discussed in practice (environmental impact), and misaligned when comparing motives and evidence (social impact). Furthermore, for some topics, urban density thresholds are found that are important because they may explain some of the divergences in the results between studies. Practice relevance The transfer of knowledge from research to planning practice is a serious concern as planning strategies are not aligned with scientific evidence. Planning practice in Sweden is more positive about the contribution of higher density to sustainable urban development than the results of empirical studies warrant. The largest deviation is found in relation to the social impacts of higher density where the planning arguments are not aligned with the evidence. Several reported negative effects of densification (e.g. water management, recreational infrastructure, biodiversity) are not sufficiently accounted for in Sweden’s planning policy and strategy. The narrow planning focus on decarbonising cities and densification needs to be broadened to ensure cities are resilient against the effects of climate change and include mitigation strategies to reduce negative social, environmental and health impacts. The findings can be used to develop evidence-based planning strategies. Other countries can apply this process to assess their planning strategies.

Rinkinen, J, Shove, E and Smits, M (2021) Conceptualising urban density, energy demand and social practice. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 79–91.

Schiller, G, Blum, A, Hecht, R, Oertel, H, Ferber, U and Meinel, G (2021) Urban infill development potential in Germany: comparing survey and GIS data. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 36–54.

Simpson, K, Murtagh, N and Owen, A (2021) Domestic retrofit: understanding capabilities of micro-enterprise building practitioners. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 449–66.

Taylor, J and Howden-Chapman, P (2021) The significance of urban systems on sustainability and public health. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 874–87.

Teller, J (2021) Regulating urban densification: what factors should be used?. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 302–17.

Teller, J (2021) Urban density and Covid-19: towards an adaptive approach. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 150–65.

Tingey, M, Webb, J and van der Horst, D (2021) Housing retrofit: six types of local authority energy service models. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 518–32.

Turcu, C, Crane, M, Hutchinson, E, Lloyd, S, Belesova, K, Wilkinson, P and Davies, M (2021) A multi-scalar perspective on health and urban housing: an umbrella review. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 734–58.

Urme, S A, Radia, M A, Alam, R, Chowdhury, M U, Hasan, S, Ahmed, S, Sara, H H, Islam, M S, Jerin, D T, Hema, P S, Rahman, M, Islam, A M, Hasan, M T and Quayyum, Z (2021) Dhaka landfill waste practices: addressing urban pollution and health hazards. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 700–16.

van der Bent, H S, Visscher, H J, Meijer, A and Mouter, N (2021) Monitoring energy performance improvement: insights from Dutch housing association dwellings. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 779–96.

Wade, F and Visscher, H (2021) Retrofit at scale: accelerating capabilities for domestic building stocks. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 800–11.

Walter, T and Mathew, P (2021) GHG policy impacts for Seattle’s buildings: targets, timing, and scope. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 283–301.

Wise, F, Moncaster, A and Jones, D (2021) Rethinking retrofit of residential heritage buildings. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 495–517.

Yang, Y, Li, Y, Kral, K, Hupert, N and Dogan, T (2021) Urban design attributes and resilience: COVID-19 evidence from New York City. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 618–36.