What is density? Toward a more nuanced understanding of density and its implications

Christopher T. Boyko & Rachel Cooper, "Clarifying and re-conceptualising density," Progress in Planning 76 (2011): 1

The take-away: Working toward a more nuanced understanding of density, this article develops a typology of density and considers the implications of different density types—including density of natural form, built form, mobile material form, static form, and people. It emphasizes the importance of using density as both a quantitative and qualitative analytic. 

Abstract: As a spatial concept, density is a useful tool in predicting and controlling land use. However, policymakers, practitioners, academics and citizens are often uncertain about how density, and  especially higher densities, can be best utilised to create and nurture the design of urban  environments. Barriers related to definitions, calculations, concepts and correlations with relevant issues prevent people from understanding density beyond a simple ratio of units to  area. More needs to be done to show that density plays a key role in planning, architecture and urban design, and that discussions of density cannot be done in isolation of a whole host issues found in the built and natural environment. To that end, this paper aims to clarify some of the issues surrounding density, particularly about available definitions, calculating terms, the advantages and disadvantages of increasing densities in cities and uncovering relationships between density and issues pertinent to the design of urban environments. With these relationships in mind, a new way of visualising density is then offered—through a taxonomy of density—that categorises density into its component parts, allowing scholars, policymakers and  practitioners to understand what aspects of density have been examined and what gaps are still  present. Finally, a re-conceptualisation of density is presented, illustrating that density is more than a quantitative calculation that exists on its own; rather, for density to be considered as an  integral part of the urban environment, both ‘hard’ (i.e., quantitative) and ‘soft’ (i.e., qualitative,  contextual) elements must be included.

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