Contesting density: beyond nimby-ism and usual suspects in governing the future city

Abstract

Density is often a major focus of contestation in imagining the future city. The built form of the future city, including its height and density, is a crystallization of current and projected urban growth, as well as a realization of policy ambitions. However, also determinant of future built form are present capacities to extract value from urban development, on the part of both private and public actors. This tight ‘nexus’ of concerns and interests drives the specific heights, densities and public space provision of the future city. This paper considers, on what grounds today’s urban residents might be drawn into a battle for the quality of the future city?