Density

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Even before the dawn of civilization, we as human beings have always chosen to live in groups. Strength comes from numbers, making our chan-

VG ces of survival greater. From our time in the jungle as groups of five to ten people to modern cities as groups of five to ten million, we evolve as a collective. Density is a constant; scale is what evolves.

Over the past hundred years, we have redefined the scale of living together. Our industrial inclinations have pushed the limits of cities and in turn, we brought up radical ways of coexisting.

Economics play an important role in our desire to live so closely. Proximity to what drives our lives forward gives us a sense of comfort. But where do we draw the line? Moderation seems like the logical explanation, but it cannot be generalized.

What one person considers a dream; another could consider it a nightmare. One could enjoy working with others in a dense urban environment but also have the need for a quiet retreat when he is not working. On the other hand, one could also want to work right next to where he lives, or even work where he lives. These are the nuances in the urban needs of people. While some needs follow desire and necessity, others follow strictly necessity. It is from this strict necessity, where we have some of our most radically dense places in the world. When a place becomes dense enough, it creates its own ecosystem - it becomes self-sufficient.

From the outside looking in, perhaps the lives led in these super dense areas are not ideal, but in terms of productivity, they are nothing to take lightly. Once you have removed as much distraction as possible, what is left over will only help you work more.

“Density is a constant; scale is what evolves.”