2.6Theme 4: Density is not the problem, poor design is

Density is not the problem, poor design is

Figure 2.6.1HSurveyed plots, coloured by density and housing quality.

Housing quality (0 to 32)

Figure 2.6.2HDensity against housing quality. All 8 plots (H05 to H12) share one point.

Sources Toolkit 3 survey, 8 plots. Dense: FAR 1.87 or more (Sim, Soft City, p. 380). Good: 16 or more of 32.

32

Dense from FAR 1.87

24

16

8

0

0

10

Density: floor area ratio (FAR)

RESULT, 8 PLOTS

Good from 16 of 32

H09 H10 H11 H12

H05 H06 H07 H08

20

30

8

Dense + poor quality

100.0% of plots

0 0 0

Dense + good quality

no plots

Not dense + poor quality

no plots

Not dense + good quality

no plots

WHAT IT MEANS

All 8 plots are one building type: 25 storeys at 90% ground coverage, a FAR of 22.5. Each scores 9 of 32.

With nothing to compare, this area cannot test the idea. It shows extreme density with no diversity, human scale or flexibility.