Abstract
Based on the case of Oslo, this paper focuses on the physical results of the implementation of the densification policy in Norway. By applying the urban morphological approach, the paper examines transformation of urban tissue at the intermediate spatial scale (buildings – plot – street – urban block). It covers 71 cases of multi-family residential buildings and analyses the pre-existing tissues where they occur as well as the principles of intervention. The results reveal a myriad of tissue types (mixed tissues being dominant) and a significant number of entirely new urban blocks. Tissues are investigated in terms of conditions and challenges, and new blocks are analysed for their morphological characteristics and application in densification.
 
Highlights
Over the past few decades, planning theory has taken a direction towards social sciences, distancing itself from its common roots with architecture and engineering
What kinds of urban tissues are undergoing densification in Oslo? This analysis is based on two reference patterns of urban tissue, the traditional and the modernist (Figure 4)
This kind of densification occurs in a large variety of urban tissues, across the built-up area of Oslo: from the inner city all the way to the outskirts and border to the forest belt
Summary
Over the past few decades, planning theory has taken a direction towards social sciences, distancing itself from its common roots with architecture and engineering. This has created a gap between planning and design (urban and architectural) to the disadvantage of both fields (Palermo & Ponzini, 2010). It has become largely accepted that the containment of the urban sprawl together with a more efficient use of the existing built-up areas could ensure the attainment of the sustainability goals. The approach known as “strategic spatial planning” has been adopted in many European contexts and is considered to be the most appropriate means to meet the identified challenges (Albrechts, 2004; Palermo & Ponzini, 2010)
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