DenCity: Zero Energy Lightweight Construction Households for Urban Densification

Population movements towards major cities in Europe are growing exponentially. By
2020, it is expected that 80% of Europe’s population will live in cities, which creates
the need to develop more compact districts and suburbs by increasing their density.
This research aims to establish a methodology that aids decision making on urban
densification through roof stacking. The methodology adopts a systematic approach
on three consecutive levels; urban, engineering, and social. A multiple criteria are
identified that maps roof stacking potential in terms of location and number of added
floors. Brussels Capital Region is chosen as a case study to experiment the workflow
using ArchGIS software and to validate the developed approach creating a map on
the city scale. The results show the potential to accommodate more than the expected
population increase by the year 2040 in Brussels through roof stacking only. Yet,
further applications on different cities around Europe would help valorising the applied
methodology and to open further opportunities to develop an automated tool that
estimates those potentials on wider scope.