Definitions of Density

Density can generally be defined as the number of units - people, buildings, trees - in a given land area. Density can refer to the subjectively perceived density of a space and the physical density. While perceived density is profoundly affected by landscaping, building type, and aesthetics, urban design can make a huge difference in how a physically dense space is subjectively perceived (Forsyth, 2003). For example, an ugly neighborhood will be more likely to be subjectively perceived as denser even if less physically dense than a more aesthetically pleasant but physically denser one.

These two AI generated pictures showcase different ways of perceiving density: density as more opportunities of social interactions and density as fostering social isolation.

Urban Density

“Cities are characterized by a high concentration of human population, high built-up density and a magnitude of human activities” (Pauleit et al., 2016, S.2). This quote highlights the building blocks of urban density: population density, building density and traffic density, which is an important part of the human activities mentioned above.

Density is an ambivalent characteristic of urbanity, especially in relation to health-related topics (Köckler & Sieber, 2020). On the one hand, high settlement density, with a correspondingly high number of inhabitants and population density, is often a necessary condition for the provision of highly specialised public, social and economic functions, and services. (ibid.). On the other hand, the high density of urban settlement, population and traffic is a source of multiple hazards. Noise, pollution and heat, combined with insufficient access to quiet, green spaces for rest and recreation, generate stress and contribute to the deterioration of physical and mental health (Köckler & Sieber, 2020; Seidler et al., 2023).

The ambivalence of urban density also causes challenges in the case of urban shrinkage and de-densification, as the emptying of urban, public, and residential space (keyword: urban perforation) through vacancy and demolition can also lead to alienation from one's own neighbourhood and to depression (A. Haase et al., 2014; D. Haase, 2013).

References:

Haase, A., Rink, D., Grossmann, K., Bernt, M., & Mykhnenko, V. (2014). Conceptualizing Urban Shrinkage. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 46(7), 1519–1534. https://doi.org/10.1068/a46269

Haase, D. (2013). Shrinking Cities, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. In T. Elmqvist, M. Fragkias, J. Goodness, B. Güneralp, P. J. Marcotullio, R. I. McDonald, S. Parnell, M. Schewenius, M. Sendstad, K. C. Seto, & C. Wilkinson (Eds.), Urbanization, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Challenges and Opportunities: A Global Assessment (pp. 253–274). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7088-1_12

Köckler, H., & Sieber, R. (2020). Die Stadt als gesunder Lebensort?!: Stadtentwicklung als ein Politikfeld für Gesundheit. Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz, 63(8), 928–935. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-020-03176-x

Pauleit, S., Sauerwein, M., Breuste, J., & Haase, D. (2016). Urbanisierung und ihre Herausforderungen für die ökologische Stadtentwicklung. In J. Breuste, S. Pauleit, D. Haase, & M. Sauerwein (Eds.), Stadtökosysteme: Funktion, Management und Entwicklung (pp. 1–30). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55434-6_1

Seidler, D. A., Schubert, D. M., Starke, D. K. R., & Hegewald, D. J. (2023). Einfluss des Lärms auf psychische Erkrankungen des Menschen (Abschlussbericht 3717 56 102 0; Texte 04/2023, p. 364). Umweltbundesamt. https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/1410/publikationen/2023-04-19_texte_04-2023_einfluss_des_laerms_auf_psychische_erkrankungen_des_menschen.pdf