5.2. Urban forms and land uses

In addition to the population density and intensity of development, character of a city depends also on forms of objects. It is not a linear feature like “the bigger the better”. Tall buildings, for instance, are potential obstacles in access to the sunlight, in case they are located really close. Limited access to sunlight results in hugher demand of artificial lighting, increasing energy consumption and making this system more energy-dependent. In case of bigger distances between tall buildings, they become not the most dense form. On the other hand single family houses are even less efficient in terms of density. One of the most effective form in that aspect are 4-6 storey buildings. That height of buildings does not force all users to use a lift, which makes this residential form more independent from external sources. Buildings with a perimeter form create the most multifunctional, diverse, socially diverse environment (thanks to the diversity of the size of apartments), and at the same time integrated. Continuous frontages favor the shape creating quiet, semi-private courtyards and well-defined interiors of streets, squares and gardens. Comparison of different urban forms characterized by the same congestion of citizens are presented in Figure 1.2. (based on: [3] after [2])

Figure 5.2Comparison of three types of urban forms

Depending on selected urban form of residential neighborhood we may influence the level of energy use if each district. Therefore, multi-family housing with 4-6 storeys buildings can easier reach high energy efficiency standards and follow requirements of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Despite different functions of buildings, there is a specific category of LEED certification for residential35 . Considering more complex forms of