What’s the Point of Lower-Density Urbanism?

This article was originally published on Common Edge.

There are three primary settings in which lower-density urbanism can be useful, and where conditions favored by YIMBYs are weak or nonexistent: as a replacement for what is currently slated to be built out as sprawl, as a recovery process for existing sprawl, and in small towns that are growing. Giving up on these settings forces all development intended to combat the housing crisis into urban settings, ideally near transit, where land is much more expensive to acquire and to develop. It also allows the sprawl machine to roll on unimpeded.The best vehicle for implementing principles illustrated here at the scale of a neighborhood, hamlet, or village is not a major production builder, as these principles violate almost all of their conventional industrial practices. Instead, look to the record of stronger New Urbanist developers who are no strangers to doing things considered unconventional by the Industrial Development Complex in the interest of better places with stronger lifetime returns.

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Plaza de Armas Metro Station Building / Beals Lyon Arquitectos

Plaza de Armas Metro Station Building / Beals Lyon Arquitectos - Exterior Photography, OfficesPlaza de Armas Metro Station Building / Beals Lyon Arquitectos - Interior Photography, OfficesPlaza de Armas Metro Station Building / Beals Lyon Arquitectos - Interior Photography, OfficesPlaza de Armas Metro Station Building / Beals Lyon Arquitectos - Interior Photography, OfficesPlaza de Armas Metro Station Building / Beals Lyon Arquitectos - More Images+ 27

  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  4115
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2020
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Nuprotec

Carretas Renovation / Heryco

Carretas Renovation / Heryco - Exterior Photography, Renovation, Facade, ArchCarretas Renovation / Heryco - Interior Photography, Renovation, Facade, Arch, ColumnCarretas Renovation / Heryco - Interior Photography, Renovation, FacadeCarretas Renovation / Heryco - Interior Photography, Renovation, Table, ChairCarretas Renovation / Heryco - More Images+ 28

Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico
  • Architects: Heryco
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  550
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2023
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Nanocal, Paleta arquigráfica

Vasse House / Joshua Duncan Architect

Vasse House / Joshua Duncan Architect - Exterior Photography, Houses, Garden, Door, FacadeVasse House / Joshua Duncan Architect - Interior Photography, Houses, Beam, Table, ChairVasse House / Joshua Duncan Architect - Interior Photography, Houses, Deck, Facade, Beam, Door, Fence, HandrailVasse House / Joshua Duncan Architect - Exterior Photography, Houses, Garden, FacadeVasse House / Joshua Duncan Architect - More Images+ 20

Vasse, Australia

THE CAMPUS / KOKUYO

THE CAMPUS / KOKUYO - Exterior Photography, Commercial Architecture, Deck, Stairs, Facade, Handrail, FenceTHE CAMPUS / KOKUYO - Interior Photography, Commercial Architecture, Door, FacadeTHE CAMPUS / KOKUYO - Interior Photography, Commercial Architecture, Table, ChairTHE CAMPUS / KOKUYO - Interior Photography, Commercial Architecture, Bedroom, ChairTHE CAMPUS / KOKUYO - More Images+ 16

  • Architects: KOKUYO
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  8426
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2021
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Ashford Japan, KOKUYO Furniture, ModuleX, NEW LIGHT POTTERY, Nagoya Mosaic-Tile, +1

HARMAY Guangzhou / NIHILII STUDIO

HARMAY Guangzhou / NIHILII STUDIO - Interior Photography, Store, Door, Facade, Column, Stairs, Handrail, ChairHARMAY Guangzhou / NIHILII STUDIO - Interior Photography, Store, Kitchen, Beam, TableHARMAY Guangzhou / NIHILII STUDIO - Interior Photography, StoreHARMAY Guangzhou / NIHILII STUDIO - Interior Photography, Store, Kitchen, FacadeHARMAY Guangzhou / NIHILII STUDIO - More Images+ 25

Guangzhou, China
  • Architects: NIHILII STUDIO
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  749
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2022

BI-HESAR Residential Apartments / KARABON

BI-HESAR Residential Apartments / KARABON - Exterior Photography, Residential, FacadeBI-HESAR Residential Apartments / KARABON - Exterior Photography, Residential, FacadeBI-HESAR Residential Apartments / KARABON - Interior Photography, Residential, FacadeBI-HESAR Residential Apartments / KARABON - Exterior Photography, Residential, FacadeBI-HESAR Residential Apartments / KARABON - More Images+ 15

Tehran, Iran
  • Architects: KARABON
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  1500
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2016
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Akhavan, NAMIKARAN WINDOWS, Namachin Brick, Nirvana, Nooran Lighting, +4
  • Professionals: Tochal

UIA World Congress of Architects 2023: Emerging Technologies with KOMPAS VC and Modulize

ArchDaily and VELUX have joined forces to provide you with an exclusive coverage of the highly anticipated UIA World Congress of Architects 2023. Watch Ambra Gugletti from KOMPAS VC and Lucas Carstens from Modulize explain how data-driven offsite construction can help reduce construction waste up to 90%

Monman Café / LM Arkylab

Monman Café / LM Arkylab - Exterior Photography, Coffee Shop, FacadeMonman Café / LM Arkylab - Interior Photography, Coffee Shop, Facade, ArchMonman Café / LM Arkylab - Interior Photography, Coffee ShopMonman Café / LM Arkylab - Interior Photography, Coffee Shop, Facade, TableMonman Café / LM Arkylab - More Images+ 8

Aguascalientes, Mexico
  • Architects: Arkylab
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  5274 ft²
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2022

Retrofit Brigadeiro / Coletivo de Arquitetos

Retrofit Brigadeiro / Coletivo de Arquitetos - Interior Photography, Renovation, Kitchen, Facade, Table, ChairRetrofit Brigadeiro / Coletivo de Arquitetos - Interior Photography, RenovationRetrofit Brigadeiro / Coletivo de Arquitetos - Interior Photography, Renovation, TableRetrofit Brigadeiro / Coletivo de Arquitetos - Interior Photography, Renovation, Facade, Handrail, BalconyRetrofit Brigadeiro / Coletivo de Arquitetos - More Images+ 10

UIA World Congress of Architects 2023: Healthy Buildings at the Time of the Energy Crisis

C40 and VELUX presents the panel discussion "Healthy Buildings at the Time of the Energy Crisis" at the UIA World Congress of Architects 2023.

The panel discussion will focus on the role of healthy building principles in addressing the ongoing energy crisis through accelerated retrofits while simultaneously promoting environmental sustainability, job creation, and social equity.

Florasdorfer Spitz Building / Freimüller Söllinger Architektur + Studio Vlay Streeruwitz

Florasdorfer Spitz Building / Freimüller Söllinger Architektur + Studio Vlay Streeruwitz - Exterior Photography, Residential, Facade, BalconyFlorasdorfer Spitz Building / Freimüller Söllinger Architektur + Studio Vlay Streeruwitz - Exterior Photography, Residential, Facade, FenceFlorasdorfer Spitz Building / Freimüller Söllinger Architektur + Studio Vlay Streeruwitz - Exterior Photography, Residential, FacadeFlorasdorfer Spitz Building / Freimüller Söllinger Architektur + Studio Vlay Streeruwitz - Interior Photography, Residential, Facade, Handrail, BalconyFlorasdorfer Spitz Building / Freimüller Söllinger Architektur + Studio Vlay Streeruwitz - More Images+ 19

Deelfabriek Community Center / TRANS architectuur I stedenbouw

Deelfabriek Community Center / TRANS architectuur I stedenbouw - Exterior Photography, Community Center, FacadeDeelfabriek Community Center / TRANS architectuur I stedenbouw - Exterior Photography, Community Center, Door, Facade, ArchDeelfabriek Community Center / TRANS architectuur I stedenbouw - Interior Photography, Community Center, Facade, ColumnDeelfabriek Community Center / TRANS architectuur I stedenbouw - Interior Photography, Community Center, Beam, FacadeDeelfabriek Community Center / TRANS architectuur I stedenbouw - More Images+ 9

UIA World Congress of Architects 2023: VELUX Future Living Places

There is a general agreement that our built world should become climate neutral. But, how construction will have to change to make this future a reality is still uncertain. At the same time, the economic and social framework for construction and especially for housing construction are changing. Components, building products, and building systems are being reused, and this is accompanied by a new ethic of design and construction and a new aesthetic of architecture.

Renovation of Nanjing Combat Machinery Factory / Mix Architecture

Renovation of Nanjing Combat Machinery Factory / Mix Architecture - Exterior Photography, Renovation, Facade, CityscapeRenovation of Nanjing Combat Machinery Factory / Mix Architecture - Exterior Photography, Renovation, FacadeRenovation of Nanjing Combat Machinery Factory / Mix Architecture - Exterior Photography, Renovation, FacadeRenovation of Nanjing Combat Machinery Factory / Mix Architecture - Exterior Photography, Renovation, FacadeRenovation of Nanjing Combat Machinery Factory / Mix Architecture - More Images+ 42

  • Architects: Mix Architecture
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  11224
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2023

Empowering Thermal Comfort Through Smartphone Technology in HVAC Systems

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Heating and cooling buildings have always been two of the most important challenges in ensuring indoor user comfort. At a biological level, our bodies generate heat through metabolism, a physicochemical process. And although the human body has temperature regulation mechanisms, such as sweating and vasodilation, sometimes we need additional help to achieve thermal comfort. Therefore, since ancient times, traditional strategies have been sought to help achieve this, and many have been adapted to their historical and material contexts.

Jingru (Cyan) Cheng Wins 2023 Wheelwright Prize for her Study on the Impact of Sand on the Environment and Communities

Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) has announced Jingru (Cyan) Cheng as the recipient of the 2023 Wheelwright Prize, a study grant created to support globally-minded research and investigative approaches to contemporary architecture. The winning research project, titled “Tracing Sand: Phantom Territories, Bodies Adrift,” delves into the multifaceted impacts of sand mining and reclamation, understood from cultural, economic, and ecological perspectives. The unassuming material has become an indispensable element for our built environment and human communities, serving as a vital component in the production of glass, concrete, asphalt roads, and artificial land. Yet the process of dredging underwater systems and sand mining leads to the disruption of habitats in a process that simultaneously shapes one habitat while devastating another.

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The Fireworks Factory at Woolwich Works / Bennetts Associates

The Fireworks Factory at Woolwich Works / Bennetts Associates - Exterior Photography, Cultural Center, Facade, DoorThe Fireworks Factory at Woolwich Works / Bennetts Associates - Interior Photography, Cultural Center, Facade, Beam, DoorThe Fireworks Factory at Woolwich Works / Bennetts Associates - Interior Photography, Cultural Center, Beam, Column, ChairThe Fireworks Factory at Woolwich Works / Bennetts Associates - Interior Photography, Cultural Center, Facade, BeamThe Fireworks Factory at Woolwich Works / Bennetts Associates - More Images+ 9

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