Visualizing Density Investigating the density challenge facing the United States
A Bird's Eye View
2. Preconceptions
When you think of high density housing what comes to mind? Crowding? Monotony? Too much asphalt and not enough green? No privacy? These are some of the negative characteristics that people often associate with high-density development. Some dense neighborhoods are bleak, but it's not necessarily because they're dense. Crowding and monotony are the consequence of poor design, not the inevitable result of density.
Monotony results when the same form is repeated without variation.
At higher densities, overuse of one building design creates a tiresome uniformity.
Shifting the building orientation does not provide sufficient variety or privacy.
The bleakness often associated with density stems from homogeneity and lack of green space.