Interventions on City Density
The discourse on density in urban planning can be traced back to the discipline’s founding times. Nevertheless, there is disagreement about the meaning or definition of density. According to current planning theory debates, density appears to be a concept whose content is determined by its context. In most cases, density implies something negative and undesirable, reductions to building or population density are often promoted. As cities grow, finding ways to incorporate density in urban planning and design becomes more pressing. As density is inevitable in sustainable urban developments, planners require guidance outlining how density can be given positive attributes and, thus, how urban planning can deal with density in the future. Density does not only refer to features of the built environment, but also social components with spatial references, such as diverse, lively, and energetic atmospheres filled with activity and people. In this sense, density can also have positive associations, summarized under the term density pleasure.
In growing cities, the connections between mental health and environmental and psychological aspects are increasingly recognized. Within various planning instruments, we see the potential of tactical urbanism increasing significance as part of municipal health promotion to foster density pleasure, sustaining the well-being of urban residents. As the existing research and practice on density lack a focus on density pleasure and its implementation in urban planning, we examine how density in urban space is perceived and which physical elements and material characteristics of the space (design features) contribute to positive feelings. To achieve this, we are collaborating with university students and artists to produce temporary artistic interventions in urban public spaces. Through qualitative interviews with passers-by, we analyze, in cooperation with psychologists, the perception of urban space around these interventions, specifically their understanding of density, and learn about the emotional experiences people have in dense spaces.
