As cities across the world look for ways to blend higher densities to accommodate the increased demand for urban living, a recent proposal for how to solve Stockholm's critical lack of housing in the core of the city may define "inelegant density."
While planners, designers, and officials in cities such as Los Angeles seek ways to blend "elegant density" into their existing urban fabric to accommodate the increased demand for urban living, a recent proposal by Stockholm-based architecture firm visiondivision, may set back such efforts in their city.
The plan, called "Stockholm Stacked," calls for "a change in planning regulations to eliminate height restrictions on courtyard typologies" in an effort to "build where most people actually wants [sic] to live." The plan responds to a real problem for the increasingly segregated city in which demand for limited housing available in the core of the city is driving up prices and forcing development and low- and middle-income residents to its outskirts.
However, visiondivision's plan, featuring dramatic renderings with foreboding skies and clumsy towers poking out of Stockholm's courtyards, may serve to turn off more people from finding ways to increase density in the core of the city than it will convince.
Thanks to Brent Toderian
FULL STORY: Stockholm Stacked / Visiondivision

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service