Is a New Vision for Stockholm Meant to Sway or Scare?

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."

1 minute read

June 12, 2012, 10:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


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

Monday, June 11, 2012 in ArchDaily

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Hot air balloons rise over Downtown Boise with the State Capitol building visible amidst the high rises.

The Five Most-Changed American Cities

A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

April 23, 2025 - GoodMigrations

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

15 minutes ago - SD News

Sleeping in Public

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts

Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

1 hour ago - KSL

Conductor walks down platform next to Amtrak train at station in San Jose, California.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement

An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.

2 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

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.