A methodology to determine the potential of urban densification through roof stacking

Abstract

HIGHLIGHTS Seven approaches present solutions for urban densification  Successful roof stacking requires integrating urban, engineering and architectural aspects  European cities have a great potential to be densified through roof stacking  30% of the population increase could be covered by roof stacking in Brussels ABSTRACTFacing the need to accommodate a growing number of inhabitants in major European cities, this research aimed to establish a methodology that facilitates decision making on urban densification through roof stacking.The methodology adopts a systematic approach on three consecutive levels: urban, engineering, and social.Multiple criteria are identified to assess and map the roof stacking potential in terms of location and number of added floors. The Brussels Capital Region was chosen as a case study to experiment with the developed workflow chart and validate the proposed approach, using ArcGIS software, by creating a map of the urban densification potential through roof stacking of Brussels at the city scale. The results show a realistic potential of accommodating 30% of the expected population increase in Brussels by the year 2040 using only roof stacking, provided that the current urban regulations are respected. In addition, a theoretical potential to accommodate more than the expected population increase by the same year is proposed provided that urban planning regulations are relaxed in relation to the height of buildings. Further applications to other cities in 2 Europe would help create additional opportunities to develop an automated tool for estimating such potentials on a wider scope.

Methodology for design decision support of cost-optimal zero-energy lightweight construction

“…Those values are considered in the replacementRC, and operational costsOC [16], represented by the following Eqs. (6) and 7.…”

“…Although the scientific community has proposed a numerous of multi-objective optimization methods, there are a limited number of studies that consider the implications of roof stacking on the reduction of carbon emissions and energy use of existing buildings [6][7][8][32][33][34][35][36]. Generally, it is argued that by providing more compact cities, it is possible to reduce the energy use on the building and transportation scale [37][38][39].…”

“…Moreover, Brussels has the fastest growing population among other Belgian cities, expecting 190,000 more inhabitants by 2040 [51,52]. Thus, urban densification through roof stacking has been put forward as a prospect solution [6,8]. However, in Brussels, there are several building typologies that differ in layouts and composition.…”

“…Accordingly, new urban agendas manifestly address this subject in response to the need for new housing construction while limiting urban sprawl on the outskirts of the cities [4]. Roof stacking has been put forward by several researchers and practitioners as a solution to accommodate the increasing population while conserving the urban landscape and ecology [5][6][7][8][9]. As shown in Fig.…”

Conceptual framework for off-site roof stacking construction

“…Even though roof stacking is increasingly taking place worldwide with high potential in major European cities [33,34], very few literature was found that studied this phenomenon. There have been a couple of attempts to classify roof stacking in terms of approach, shape or structural capacity.…”