DENSITY IN URBAN DESIGN PRACTICE: STRATEGIES OF SKIDMORE, OWINGS AND MERRILL LLP (SOM) IN THE UTILISATION OF DENSITY IN RELATION TO LIVEABILITY IN URBAN DESIGN

Abstract

Modern day history welcomes the advent of densification in the 21st century. There is no apprehension that urban design practice will write a new chapter with density in light of the current wave of urban growth. It is imperative cities respond to the change and architects to the challenges in their urban city in relation to liveability. An explorative research is structured to gain an in-depth understanding on the density strategies of SOM, who exemplifies architecture and urbanism excellence. It applies a multivariable and multi-scalar definition of density and sanctions Spacematrix in the examination of density and urban form. San Francisco, a dense yet growing city of this age, is a metropolis on the transition. A critical study of the city’s large-scale urban design projects in Parkmerced and Mission Bay will drive the research under the contemporary setting of urbanism today. The dissertation invites architects and inhabitants to illuminate aspects of liveability with reference to the integration and synthesis of SOM density strategies. Further analysis continues into the implications of density in a broader context and presents the concept of density a contribution to urban design practice.