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Beyond Density - Exploring Urban Limits Through Digital Space

Einarsson, Frej LU (2026) AAHM01 20251
Department of Architecture and Built Environment
Abstract
What happens when you take a normal city and try to cram more people
into it, without expanding the surface on which it can grow? Maybe you end
up with something like Manhattan or Tokyo, with skyscrapers standing side
by side and large roads cutting in-between them. Now we try to fit some
more people in. Then you might get something similar to Hong Kong,
more compact, more layered and with even less space between the
skyscrapers. Let’s try to push some more people in. Now we are getting to
the levels of Kowloon Walled City, the densest settlement in recorded
history. Buildings are now fully merged, creating one big structure where no
light reaches the street level. We have reached the most extreme example of
what hyperdensity has... (More)
What happens when you take a normal city and try to cram more people
into it, without expanding the surface on which it can grow? Maybe you end
up with something like Manhattan or Tokyo, with skyscrapers standing side
by side and large roads cutting in-between them. Now we try to fit some
more people in. Then you might get something similar to Hong Kong,
more compact, more layered and with even less space between the
skyscrapers. Let’s try to push some more people in. Now we are getting to
the levels of Kowloon Walled City, the densest settlement in recorded
history. Buildings are now fully merged, creating one big structure where no
light reaches the street level. We have reached the most extreme example of
what hyperdensity has ever been on this planet. But what if it went even
further? Then we can only guess what it might turn into.
This project explores what such a city could look like, through interactive
digital tools such as Unreal Engine. It also explores what these tools can
offer when working with complex, three-dimensional spaces, where
interactivity becomes a necessity for understanding them. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Einarsson, Frej LU
supervisor
organization
course
AAHM01 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
language
English
id
9224715
date added to LUP
2026-04-20 08:18:11
date last changed
2026-04-20 08:18:11
@misc{9224715,
  abstract     = {{What happens when you take a normal city and try to cram more people
into it, without expanding the surface on which it can grow? Maybe you end
up with something like Manhattan or Tokyo, with skyscrapers standing side
by side and large roads cutting in-between them. Now we try to fit some
more people in. Then you might get something similar to Hong Kong,
more compact, more layered and with even less space between the
skyscrapers. Let’s try to push some more people in. Now we are getting to
the levels of Kowloon Walled City, the densest settlement in recorded
history. Buildings are now fully merged, creating one big structure where no
light reaches the street level. We have reached the most extreme example of
what hyperdensity has ever been on this planet. But what if it went even
further? Then we can only guess what it might turn into.
This project explores what such a city could look like, through interactive
digital tools such as Unreal Engine. It also explores what these tools can
offer when working with complex, three-dimensional spaces, where
interactivity becomes a necessity for understanding them.}},
  author       = {{Einarsson, Frej}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Beyond Density - Exploring Urban Limits Through Digital Space}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}