Low-rise high-density housing refers to residential developments which are typically 4 stories or less in height, have a high number of housing units per acre of land, and have between 35-80 dwellings per hectare. [1] This housing type is thought to provide a middle ground between detached single-family homes and high-rise apartment buildings. [2]
Although the concept of low-rise high-density housing can be traced back to Le Corbusier's unbuilt Roq et Rob project from 1949, [3] a more direct influence was the pioneering work of the Swiss firm Atelier 5, whose Siedlung Halen project built in Bern, Switzerland in 1955-61 became a seminal example of the typology. [4] [5]
In the 1960s and 1970s, low-rise high-density housing gained popularity among architects as a reaction to the perceived social failures of high-rise "tower-in-the-park" public housing projects. [5] Architects and planners began to rethink and reintroduce this housing model as a way to combine the benefits of urban and suburban living. [6]
The low-rise, high-density approach has regained popularity as an alternative to suburban sprawl and high-rise housing, offering a way to create density while providing a sense of community and connection to the ground. [7] [8]
Le Corbusier: His Roq et Rob project in 1949 is considered an early influence on the low-rise, high-density approach.
Atelier 5: The Swiss architecture firm designed Siedlung Halen in Bern, Switzerland from 1959-61, which is considered the most influential low-rise, high-density project of the 1960s. [4]
The New York State Urban Development Corporation (UDC): In 1973, the UDC, along with the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies, presented the Marcus Garvey Park Village project in Brownsville, Brooklyn and the Another Chance for Housing: Low Rise Alternatives exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. This showcased a future for housing in the U.S. that combined urban and suburban living benefits. [4] [9]
Seven young architecture firms: Engaged by the UDC to further develop the low-rise, high-density prototype presented at MoMA, drawing from the pioneering work of architects like Atelier 5. [4]
Contemporary architects and researchers: Figures like Karen Kubey, exhibitor of Suburban Alternatives, which traced the typology of low-rise, high-density housing over time, advocates for this approach. [10]
The aim of this housing model is to deliver the benefits of density, such as supporting public services and reducing environmental impact, while still providing residents with a sense of community and individual identity more typical of single-family homes. [2] [1] Studies have found that low-rise high-density developments have several potential benefits:
While low-rise high-density housing is seen as a valuable alternative to high-rise towers, it presents several challenges:
Advocates of low-rise, high-density architecture argue that this type of development can provide an effective "missing middle" between low-density suburbs and high-rise towers. 3-7 story mid-rise buildings, often in a perimeter block configuration with a central courtyard, are cited as an example of this "missing middle" that can enable walkable neighborhoods with multiple different uses and housing types. [12] Proponents suggest that this medium-density approach can achieve higher densities without the perceived downsides of high-rise towers, such as limited access to outdoor space, reduced community cohesion, and higher maintenance costs. [13] [14] Mid-rise, medium-density development is more common in Europe than in North America and Australia, where urban development has tended towards either low-density suburbs or high-rise towers [12]
Criticisms or challenges associated with low-rise, high-density architecture include:
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