Densification

Densification of the built environment should underpin future decisions. Stopping the spread of cities has benefits on numerous levels. It stops the expansion of systems established to collect and distribute resources and can stop the depletion of valuable biodiversity around cities.

Building engagement with their context and surrounds is minimal when looking at tall buildings with small sites. Maximising GFA of a site is the clients interest in projects which is why most buildings in the city are square rectangular prisms with little engagement to the street. I often look at the city from a distance, impressed with the density and scale of the built environment. However, when actually within the city, rarely do I ever look up and actually engage with the buildings.

The ground level is basically the scope of most users of the city which is quite superficial and insulting to the rest of the building. Whether this is the architects fault, or just the reality of cities, I think that this needs to be addressed.