Abstract

This work seeks to characterize various expressions of the intensive residential densification process in the Metropolitan Area of Santiago (AMS), in order to objectify the discussion about its impact on the urban space. The verticality associated with intensive residential densification transforms the morphology of the urban fabric, more precisely, reconfigures the structure of the block that is, the arrangement of lots, circulation and buildings. While urban morphology constitutes a conditioning factor of the densification process, the densification process transforms the urban space with varying degrees of increase, particular spatial manifestations and performance parameters of the urban form. Consequently, residential densification corresponds to a phenomenon that extends differently in the AMS. Since the relationship between density and urban form is highly complex, to characterize intensive residential densification, density is related to other parameters of urban form, such as buildability, land coverage and diversity of uses. This work addresses residential densification through the analysis and parameterization of the urban form of 16 fragments of 25 hectares that have been densified since the decade of 1990. We propose five types of densification, which allow a better understanding of what properties and spatial variables characterize them: 1) hyperdensification that reconfigures the traditional urban fabric; 2) densification of the peri-central urban fabric with a variety of uses; 3) densification of the residential peri-central urban fabric; 4) densification with a tendency to compactness and 5) monofunctional densification of the industrial block.