Densification of Urban Landscapes

Densification of Urban Landscapes - Post-War Housing Developments Between Preservation and Renewal.

Across Europe, post-war residential developments make up the majority of housing stock but are under pressure to develop further. Most are in need of renovation and, due to their urban composition, accompanied by large open spaces that seem to offer easily developable structures. Yet they are also valuable historic heritage. Through extensively documented case studies, this book offers a complete guide for urban planners, historic preservationists, administrators, and others in possibilities for these post-war developments slated for densification. The analysis also considers aspects of landscape planning, socio-political issues, and the conservation of historic parks.

Content

Post-war residential developments across Europe, which make up the majority of housing stock, are under pressure to develop further. How to deal with those dwellings has thus become one of the core questions on building among existing building stock. Most of them are in need of renovation and, due to their urban composition, are accompanied by large open spaces, which seem to provide easily developable structures.

At the same time, these developments and quarters are valuable historic witnesses. Densification efforts should therefore always allow for the overall composition of the development.

For the first time, this workbook offers planners and historic preservationists as well as municipalities, city administrations, cooperatives, clients and owners a comprehensive guide to preserving the qualities of post-war residential developments due for densification. In its analysis, it also considers aspects of landscape planning, socio-politics and the conservation of historic gardens.

Using selected, extensively documented case studies of densifications as well as densification experiments for yet to be densified developments, the editors show that inner-city densification is possible even when considering building culture, built heritage and commemorative values.

The publication shows procedures for a mindful definition of individual conservation goals that can serve as guidelines in the course of planning densification. Therefore, it not only offers valuable assistance in recognizing and maintaining the individual and often unique character of a residential development, but also presents planning criteria that allow for a meaningful densification.