Urban densification has been a hot topic for several years. Compact cities have become common sense in urban planning, and many larger and smaller urban densification projects are emerging across Danish cities. Ideally, densification is more sustainable than scattered urban development, as less land needs to be incorporated, and heating, transport and service provision can be organised more efficiently.
Among the goals for densification are also a more vibrant city, with attractive places for shopping, living and experiences. Economics also play a role. However, in some of the new, dense districts, housing prices are very high, and green spaces are under pressure, which can have consequences for social sustainability and quality of life.
This work is driven by a curiosity to find out what is happening in Denmark right now: where is densification happening, what strategies are being followed, how is it concretely expressed in Danish cities, and how sustainable is it really?
The first part of the report presents core concepts and main results. The second part presents more details and background about the effects of densification, trends based on data analysis in urban densification in Denmark, and what is concretely happening in ten case municipalities.