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Experiencing Density

Life in London’s New High-Density Housing

Experiencing Density is a joint project between ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities and ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ London exploring how residents experience life in different forms of high-density housing in London.

‘Experiencing Density’ is a project jointly led by ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities and ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ London that explores resident experiences of life in London’s high-density housing. Following on from a 2004 project by ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities on high-density housing as an emergent trend, this interdisciplinary study explores who lives in high-density developments, how different residents experience life in high-density accommodation, and what spatial, design and demographic factors make them work well (or not).

In many other global cities such as Hong Kong, New York City and Singapore, high-density living is the norm. However, residential building at this scale is a relatively new phenomenon in London, which has historically been characterised as a low-rise city of terraced houses and private gardens. If the capital is to accommodate a growing population without impinging on the Green Belt, as Mayor Sadiq Khan has promised, then new developments across the capital will inevitably increasingly take high-density forms.

This research seeks to understand the experience of residents in different types of high-density housing so as to provoke discussion and inform best practice for London’s future development. The project is qualitative in nature, and focuses on fourteen case studies across London that demonstrate high-density housing across a range of built forms, levels of density, and tenure types

 

Project Team 

Research directors
Kath Scanlon, Distinguished Policy Fellow, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ London and Deputy Director, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ London
Philipp Rode, Associate Professorial Research Fellow, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Executive Director, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities
Ricky Burdett, Professor of Urban Studies, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Director, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities
, Associate Dean of the School of Public Policy, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Director, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ London

Researchers
Fanny Blanc, Policy Officer, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ London
Tim White, Researcher, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities
Julia King, Research Fellow, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities
Mel Nowicki, Researcher, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities
Meghna Mohandas, Researcher, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities

News

 

Publications

Research reports

Fanny Blanc, Kath Scanlon and Tim White (2020). "Living in a denser London: How residents see their homes."

Density and Urban Neighbourhoods in London, Summary Report — | download full PDF 

Magazine articles

White, Tim (2011). in The Guardian, 11 April 2018.

 

 
Research directors
Kath Scanlon, Philipp Rode, Ricky Burdett, Tony Travers
 
Researchers
Fanny Blanc, Tim White, Julia King, Meghna Mohandas, Mel Nowicki
 
Project partner
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ London
 
Research strand
Cities, Space and Society
 
Duration
2016 - 2019
 
Highlights
 
Short Film: High Density Living in London
Short Film: High Density Living in London