Medium Density Housing Research Articles

Overcoming the “fear of density”: vegetational diversity in residential developments in the densifying city

The pressure for more affordable housing has resulted in intensification of residential development and biodiversity loss. Using seven medium-density housing developments in three New Zealand cities, we explore the relationship between medium-density and greenspace quality. We also compare the sites pre- and post-development to determine the extent of loss of permeable space. In six developments for which we had pre and post-data, percentage loss ranged from 12% to 67%. The development with the highest housing density (82 units/ha) had very poor vegetation quality. However, there was no correlation between density and vegetation quality for those with less than 60 units/ha, indicating potential for improving the ecological value of permeable areas. Medium-density developments prioritising communal space had the highest provision of permeable space. We offer some recommendations on the application of biodiverse-sensitive design and planning principles to support biodiverse human living environments.

Living in an Age-Friendly Community: Evidence from a Masterplanned Development in Southwest Sydney.

This paper is situated at the interface of a growing urban studies literature concerned with 'masterplanning' practices in urban planning and another, hitherto relatively discrete, body of research concerned with age-friendly cities and communities. The authors are interested in exploring a gap in aging in place literature around how neighbourhoods and residential settings developed with aging in place principles in mind are experienced and perceived by residents. To explore this research gap, the authors analyse qualitative (primarily interview and focus group) data collected in Park Central, a masterplanned development located in the Campbelltown suburb in the southwest region of the Sydney metropolitan area, Australia. This development was delivered in response to a need identified by the state's land and property development agency, Landcom, for more diverse and affordable medium-density housing in Campbelltown. In particular, a need was identified for housing developments that would be able to sustainably accommodate the changing lifestyle needs of a maturing population in the region. Drawing on our thematic analysis of our data, we discern three key themes in research participants' experiences of Park Central as a place for aging. These themes are elaborated via recourse to excerpts from our data and discussed with a view to informing how the conception, development and practice of further age-friendly communities is approached.

Magnifying the Terrace: David Saunders and the Cross Street Co-Operative Housing Development

ABSTRACT This paper traces the influence that pioneering Australian architectural historian David Saunders (1928–1986) exerted over the development of the University of Melbourne’s Cross Street Co-operative Housing Development in Carlton designed by Earle, Shaw & Partners (1970–1971). Cross Street is one of a number of public–private medium-density housing developments that were constructed on large sites resumed by the Housing Commission of Victoria after World War II. While the Housing Commission was demolishing large areas of inner Melbourne for tabula rasa high-rise modernist development, Saunders argued for the retention, adaptation, and acculturation of urban form, exemplified in the house he and architect wife Doreen designed for themselves in Parkville (1962). Saunders took an active role in commissioning Cross Street and his influence meant that it became the first large-scale urban project in Australia that consciously articulated an understanding of its historic environment. The project demonstrates many of his key urban ideas such as the importance of the nineteenth-century terrace form and shared pedestrianised spaces. This paper argues that the project presaged the so-called rediscovery of the city in Australia, emerged amidst the rise of local architectural history as a discipline, heritage activism, and an institution positioning itself for expansion.

Preferences for medium density housing in New Zealand

Medium density housing (MDH) typologies are not widely used in New Zealand in comparison with other places. With current pressures to build housing in the places people want to live, interest in these forms of housing has surged. Government regulators and housing agencies, as well as many private developers, understand that MDH can help use land and infrastructures more efficiently and create liveable neighbourhoods. Nevertheless, there are still strong preferences amongst housing consumers for standalone dwellings. In an increasingly diverse society, little seems to have changed in the forms of MDH that housing providers create. The study reported in this paper interrogates the needs and preferences of people who have previous experience of living in MDH as well as those who may be considering it. Interview respondents were selected around four demographic dimensions; gender, ethnicity, whether they are property owners or renters and their prior experience of living in MDH. The interviewees were invited to provide their preferences around eight different MDH characteristics, first unconstrained by financial costs and then a second time, where costs were limited. As a pilot study, the number of respondents is small. Nevertheless, the results can be seen to illuminate the most important MDH characteristics across the diverse respondent group as well as areas where they differ. The findings will be of interest to other housing researchers and housing providers.

Barriers and opportunities for medium density housing in small, regional cities: stakeholder perspectives from Cairns

ABSTRACT Medium Density Housing (MDH) is advocated for sustainable urban growth while retaining the amenity and liveability of lower-density urban forms. Despite these advantages, affordable and diverse MDH proves challenging to implement in suburbs with access to employment and services. While scholars do explore barriers and solutions to implementing MDH in Australia, regional city contexts are less understood. Stakeholder perspectives on MDH and its implementation are also limited. This research presents a stakeholder analysis in the regional city of Cairns to address these important gaps. The research employs a case study approach including semi-structured interviews with 19 stakeholders across public and private sectors: developers, architects/building designers, government and industry planners and real estate agents. Stakeholders expressed barriers that are well-documented in the literature–such as the risk-averse nature of the finance sector–but also note key regional differences such as land constraints in world heritage areas, poor public transport, distance from supply chains, soaring insurance costs and susceptibility to cyclones. In the face of these challenges, Cairns stakeholders argue for certain forms of MDH alongside strategic planning, leadership, cross-sectoral and community engagement to support effective MDH infill. These insights are pertinent to other regional cities struggling with MDH in low density contexts. Practitioner pointers MDH needs contextualisation in places outside Australia’s capital cities, as demand and supply side issues require nuanced understanding. Cross-sectoral conversations are key to understanding the complex barriers and opportunities for MDH in regional cities. Strategic planning for where to locate MDH is vital in a context of climate change and coastal hazards.

"all the appearances of being innovative": New Zealand architecture in the 1970s

Mike Austin's seemingly faint praise, in a 1974 review of a medium-density housing development, that the architecture had "all the appearances of being innovative," is echoed in Douglas lloyd Jenkins' observation that: "Although the 1970s projected an aura of pioneering individualism, the image disguised a high degree of conformity." The decade's anxious commencement, with the imminent threat of the European Economic Community (EEC) undermining our economic relationship with "Mother Britain," was perhaps symptomatic of a risqué appearance being only skin deep. Our historic access to Britain's market to sell butter and cheese was eventually secured in the Luxembourg agreement, which temporarily retained New Zealand trade, but with reducing quotas, as a mechanism to gradually wean New Zealand's financial dependency on exports to Britain.

Appraisal of Building Price in Urban Area Using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Data in Depok City

Economic growth and its demographic benefits have enhanced the high rate of urbanization in Indonesia, although property tax revenues are still low compared to G20 countries. This low performance is partly due to the limited capacity of local governments, regarding the determination of building values for tax calculations. To improve local government tax performance, LIDAR mapping is capable of being used for quickly estimating the price of a building. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the patterns by which the spatial differences in building price values influence the tax databases and LiDAR mapping results. Based on this mapping process, the present building site size in high-density housing areas was on average 1.66-times larger than those in the Depok City Government tax database. Meanwhile, the sites in medium-density housing and trade/service areas were 1.35- and 1.08-times wider, respectively. Using a LiDAR 3D model, the observed level of construction was much higher in the highly-urbanized area compared to the price in the Depok City Government tax database. This was based on the construction cost of a building per square meter. Regarding these results, the building prices in high- and medium-density areas, as well as the trade/service area, were nine, six, and three-times higher, respectively.

THE CONTRIBUTION OF HOUSING AREA TO LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE IN BANDUNG

Following the development of built-up areas in Bandung predominantly for housing purposes, the land surface temperature (LST) in the region has increased significantly. In urban planning, particularly in housing, environmental aspects related to LST have yet to be widely considered. The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between housing densities and LST. The information regarding elevation, density, LST and tree cover (vegetation coverage) in housing areas in Bandung have been collected. Landsat 8 satellite images were used to assess LST levels and to calculate the normalised difference in vegetation index (NDVI). Statistical analyses have been conducted to determine whether the NDVI and the housing density are factors that influence LST values. A correlation analysis demonstrates a strong inverse relationship between LST and NDVI while controlling for elevation of the housing area, with Pearson correlations of -0.575, -0.612 and -0.754. Meanwhile, an ANOVA test showed that LST comparisons at each elevation were statistically significant (p<0.05), it presents the idea that LSTs for high- density housing and medium-density housing have significant differences. The statistical test results indicate that the housing densities and the lack of urban tree cover contributes to LST. These findings are an invaluable source for spatial planning in housing areas and support sustainable development in Bandung city.

Thermal performance and indoor air quality in new, medium density houses – Auckland, New Zealand

PurposeNew Zealand’s historical housing stock comprises largely single-storey detached houses, characterised by poor winter comfort with high air infiltration. Challenges with affordability and land use are shifting New Zealand’s housing stock towards double-storey, conjoined medium-density housing (MDH). Reduced external surfaces in this typology should reduce winter heat loss and infiltration, improving winter comfort and health. New concerns arise, however, regarding summertime overheating and poor indoor air quality.Design/methodology/approachA field study was undertaken where temperature, humidity, airtightness, particulate matter (PM) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were measured in two unoccupied, newly built double-storey, conjoined houses, for several weeks over summer.FindingsThe reduced surface area of this typology did not reduce infiltration and demonstrated significant periods of overheating. Internal PM concentrations generally exceeded outdoor concentrations but did not exceed annual average outdoor PM10 guidelines of 20 µg m-3. Infiltration factors (Finf) were closer to more traditional houses. TVOC readings varied widely, but frequently exceeded international guidelines.Research limitations/implicationsThe small sample limits the applications of conclusions more widely. Recommendations to investigate a wider sample in different locations with more detailed VOC analysis over all seasons are made.Practical implicationsImprovements to internal environments cannot be guaranteed by housing typology changes alone and must still involve thoughtful environmental design.Social implicationsHousing typology changes may not improve internal living environments.Originality/valueA move to the new MDH typology may not achieve expectations of airtightness and thermal improvement. New challenges arise from significant overheating and high TVOC levels, which may lead to new negative health effects.

The failure of the ‘Housing Diversity Code’ to deliver housing diversity

ABSTRACT This article explores the policy failure of the NSW ‘Low Rise Housing Diversity Code’ (implemented through State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (Codes SEPP)). The Code came into full effect (across all NSW LGAs) on the 1st of July 2020 following a number of deferral periods since its formal adoption in 2018. The Code was intended to address Sydney's ‘missing middle’, notably medium density housing to address affordability and the relative imbalance in available housing typologies between polarised market choices; the detached suburban house on a remote (greenfields) lot, and the apartment in a high density metropolitan centre. The policy ultimately failed to deliver the intended diversity it had seemingly promised. This article explores technical, legislative, political and economic factors contributing to the Code's limited application, as well as actions that further curtailed housing diversity, counter to the Code's intent.

Density in the Suburbs: Families with Children Adapting to Living in a Medium Density Social Housing Development

ABSTRACT Medium-density housing (MDH) is posited as a solution to providing greater housing affordability. Yet, higher-density housing is often considered unsuitable for children. Our study investigates the experiences of families living in a new MDH development designed for affordability and sited in a suburban location. Findings highlight trade-offs made by families moving into higher density residential environments and the positive effects of a supportive social environment and flexible dwelling designs integrated with communal spaces. Also evident is the enduring challenge of car dependence and the need to address the interface between developments and surrounding amenity and public transit environments. The research provides an example of positive experiences of families living in MDH that runs counter to conventional expectations.

QUANTIFYING THE IMPACT OF URBAN INFILL ON THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT – A CASE STUDY FOR AN ALTERNATIVE MEDIUM DENSITY MODEL

Abstract. Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) impact the quality of life in many urban centres. Metropolitan areas of Australian cities and urbanised regional centres, in particular, show vulnerability towards UHIs due to challenging climatic conditions and the model of greater subdivision of established properties whereby backyards and mature trees are replaced with more residential dwellings and sealed areas. The measurements for the UHI mitigation, such as imposing reforestation, employing sustainable and medium density housing build form typology must be quantified. Simulation-based identification and mitigation of UHIs can be used for planning decisions. There are several advantages to use simulations. For instance, alternative subdivision design, building design and the placement of trees and other measures is only required in the digital twin. Experimenting with the digital twin saves resources and maximises the outcome by being able to quantify the heat reduction. The aim of this work is to quantify the impact of the current urban infill methods on UHI. We focus on an area that has gone through a process of re-subdivision that is bounded by roads within Perth, Western Australia. For the same area we propose an alternative design with an urban infill model based on a medium density housing guidelines with an improved green space allocation. While the current model shows significant effects of UHIs we could mitigate those effects in the alternative proposed model. In our simulation the hottest surfaces are roads with a temperature of approximately 45 °C at 2PM in the afternoon. In the current model close to 100% of the road surfaces reach this temperature. In contrast, in the alternative model only 45% of all road surfaces reach this temperature, significantly reducing the impact of UHI for pedestrian walking close by to those roads. At 2PM, the most frequent temperature of all surfaces for the current model is around 44 °C while the alternative’s model the most frequent temperature is approximately 28 °C – a difference of 16 °C.

ANALISIS DAYA DUKUNG LAHAN POTENSIAL PERMUKIMAN DI KECAMATAN TEMBALANG TAHUN 2021-2041

The city is always developing all the time. The development of a city isgenerally synonymous with population growth. The high rate of population growth thatoccurs in a city will be followed by an increase in the rate of settlement growth (Jayadiet al., 2017). Tembalang District which has the main function as an educational areaand is planned as a medium density housing development area equipped with completefacilities and infrastructure is one of the factors causing the increase in population whichresults in an increase in the need for residential land in Tembalang District. This studyaims to determine the availability of potential settlement land along with the carryingcapacity of potential settlement land in Tembalang District in 2021-2041 which wasanalyzed using quantitative descriptive analysis methods and spatial analysis. Based onthe results of the study, it shows that the area of land that has the potential to bedeveloped into a residential area in Tembalang District reaches 814.04 Ha or 19.78%of the total area of Tembalang District., while the population at the end of the analysisyear (2041) in Tembalang District reaches 418,397 inhabitants. After calculating, it wasfound that at the end of the analysis year (2041) the carrying capacity of the potentialland for settlements in Tembalang District was 1 DDP (DDPm = 1). The carryingcapacity of potential residential land of 1 DDP (DDPm = 1) means that the availabilityof residential land in Tembalang District is balanced with the need for residential landin Tembalang District with 6 (six) villages in Tembalang District which are still able toaccommodate the need for residential land including Rowosari, Meteseh, Bulusan,Tembalang, Jangli, and Kramas village.

Urban regulation and diverse housing supply: An Investigative Panel

This research examined the barriers and challenges within the housing system for delivering housing supply that is more diverse in terms of size and built form; tenure; development model; and affordability level.

Application of Absolute Sustainability Assessment to New Zealand Residential Dwellings

One approach to supporting the implementation of sustainable activities by industry sectors is the use of climate targets. Such climate targets have potential to be used in design and rating tools for buildings and to support government regulation for the building and construction sector. In this study, the climate targets for New Zealand residential dwellings were calculated based on assigning the global carbon budget (for limiting temperature increase to 1.5 or 2.0 °C during 2018-2050) to three building typologies: detached, medium-density housing and apartments. These budgets were assigned to the pre-existing and new-built dwellings using building stock projections for the nominated period. Separately, the climate impact of new-built dwellings in each of the three residential typologies were assessed using Life Cycle Assessment methodology. For New Zealand residential buildings, new-built dwellings exceed their 1.5 °C climate targets by a factor of 6.7, 6.8 and 10.9 for detached, medium-density housing, and apartments respectively. For the 2.0 °C climate target, these factors are 4.8, 4.8 and 7.7 for detached, medium-density housing, and apartments respectively. The results show that about two-thirds of the climate impact of residential dwellings for the period 2018-2050 is associated with preexisting dwellings rather than new-builds. The operational energy used for space heating, water heating, lighting and plug loads makes the biggest contribution to the climate impact for all typologies of pre-built residential dwellings. For new-built residential dwellings, both the operational energy and the construction materials/products contribute most of the climate impact.

The Apartment Shortage

This paper measures the excess demand for apartments in Australia’s largest cities. We estimate that homebuyers will pay an average of $873,000 for a new apartment in Sydney though it only costs $519,000 to supply, a gap of $355,000 (68 per cent of costs). There are smaller gaps of $97,000 (20 per cent of costs) in Melbourne and $10,000 (2 per cent of costs) in Brisbane. The large gaps are sustained by planning restrictions. The shortage of apartments is most severe in the inner suburbs of Sydney, where height limits prevent more construction. Elsewhere, restrictions on converting low density housing to apartments are important. High rise apartments are a much less costly means of supplying extra housing than the medium density housing that some planners favour.

The impact of cool and green roofs on summertime temperatures in the cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv

Experiments were conducted to assess the potential impact of cool and/or green roofs to mitigate summertime conditions in two cities of Israel, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, which differ in elevation, humidity, and housing density. Tel Aviv is located along the coastal plain and characterized by low- and medium-density housing in a humid climate. Jerusalem is in the central mountains (elevation >750 m), and characterized by medium- and high-density housing in a dry climate. The fraction of potential roofs available for reflective cooling and the fraction of green versus impervious surface areas were estimated from “Google Earth.” Both were utilized as input into the Urban Canopy Model (UCM) within the Weather Research and Forecasting model, along with the residential building density. Increasing the albedo (cool roofs) had a larger impact on roof surface radiometric temperatures than covering the roof with irrigated soil and vegetation. Cool roof surface temperature differences were about 20 °C, compared to between 10 and 15 °C for wet soils with vegetation. The impact of varying albedo on 2-m. surface temperatures was about 0.4 °C, and the impact of varying soil moisture 0.1 °C. Increasing the leaf area index from 1.5 to 4.5 had a comparatively small impact on 2 m temperatures. Imposed anthropomorphic heating added about 0.2 °C to 2-m surface temperatures, which was less than values found in other studies conducted with more sophisticated building energy models. The surface temperature and heat index within Tel Aviv were more sensitive to mitigation efforts than those in Jerusalem, but both cities could benefit from mitigation efforts.

La periferia en la ciudad alemana: de la ciudad-jardín a la Siedlung moderna

<p class="VLCResumen">This article examines how the most recognisable urban forms of the Siedlung in the first postwar period in Germany were influenced by previous experiences in the construction of the urban periphery involving the company town and the garden city. The adaptation of these peripheral settlements – in which the desired balance between the country house and the urban dwelling was achieved by introducing terraced housing – to meet certain requirements of sufficient density to satisfy the growing demand for small dwellings was to determine the final configuration of the “modern Siedlung,” the settlement characteristic of the expansion of the large German city in the 1920s. An urban form that was to combat the housing shortage problem by providing systematic, medium-density housing groups consisting mainly of linear buildings several storeys high integrated with the open space in a remarkable balance between building and nature. On the basis of original sources from that period, this text addresses noteworthy aspects of this evolution towards a spatial, functional and aesthetic shaping of the collective accommodation characteristic of a Modernist German urbanism which still deserves to be taken into consideration in the current discussion about urban density.</p>

Urban Growth, Liveability and Quality Urban Design: Questions about the efficacy of urban planning systems in Auckland, New Zealand

Preventing sprawl and concentrating future urban growth at transit centres, typifies many urban planning strategies in a number of Australian, New Zealand and North America cities. Newer iterations of these strategies also argue that compact development delivers public benefits by enhancing urban ‘liveability’ through good urban design outcomes. Where neoliberal economic conditions prevail, achieving these aims is largely dependent on market-driven development actions requiring the appropriate urban planning responses to ensure these outcomes. However, there are growing concerns that urban planning approaches currently used are not effectively delivering the quality urban design outcomes expected and enhancing residents’ liveability. This paper reports on an evaluation of three medium density housing developments located in areas designated for intensification in Auckland, New Zealand. Examined is the extent to which the development outcomes are aligned with the statutory urban planning requirements for quality urban design. The results indicated contradictions and points to limitations of the statutory planning system to positively influence quality outcomes, leading to enhanced residents’ experiences.

Social representations of children in higher density housing: enviable, inevitable or evil?

An increased focus on housing diversity in planning policy, international flows of capital and changing lifestyle preferences are resulting in increased higher density housing often marketed towards professional singles, couples without children and ‘empty nesters.’ Despite this, families with children currently dwell in higher density housing, either by choice or by necessity. This research identifies the social representations surrounding children in higher density housing in Australia’s third largest city, Brisbane. It does this by analysing newspaper media published between 2007 and 2014 and through 46 interviews with residents and built-form professionals from Brisbane. The research finds four key representations; that children belong in the suburbs; increasing support for wealthy families in higher density housing; an economic argument for the lack of family-appropriate apartments; and an increasing acceptance of medium-density housing for younger households. This research draws attention to the winners and losers in housing debates and the ‘common-sense’ assumptions that impact housing outcomes.