Spatial Morphology Lab _ SMoL. International laboratory for comparative research in urban form

Research Project, 2015 – 2017

BACKGROUND

The world is currently facing an unprecedented global urbanization, where there will be three billion more people living in cities within the next 25 years. This is reflected in Sweden as well, where the government has launched a program aiming for 700.000 new housing units in 15 years. Similarly, the City of Gothenburg has launched the largest and most complex urban development in Sweden, expanding the city across the river Göta älv. These fundamental changes in people’s daily environments will set the frames for the future development of our societies in central regards; both when it comes to equity and sustainability. They will also bring great knowledge challenges to the practices of urban design and planning, not least when it comes to their central object, that is, the spatial form of cities.

Although there is a long tradition of studies in urban morphology, spatial analysis and urban modelling, there is a need to clearly identify how this research may inform the practice of urban design and planning and from that, build a more consistent theoretical and methodological framework for such research, with direct bearings to the profession.