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Going Green and Going Dense: A Systematic Review of Compatibilities and Conflicts in Urban Research

Author

Listed:
  • Helena Madureira

    (Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Porto/CEGOT, via Panoramica Edgar Cardoso, 4150-564 Porto, Portugal)

  • Ana Monteiro

    (Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Porto/CITTA/CEGOT, via Panoramica Edgar Cardoso, 4150-564 Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

The dilemma of simultaneously promoting the advantages of urban densification and urban liveability, namely the environmental and social benefits of urban green spaces, has been widely acknowledged in the research literature. This paper aims to provide an overview of the current state of evidence on benefits, conflicts and challenges emerging from fostering both urban densification and urban greening aims. A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Searches for peer-reviewed papers were conducted in Scopus and Web of Science. Our search yielded an initial 357 papers, which were then further sorted and screened to the 117 manuscripts retained and included in this review. The authors systematized the multiple perspectives in which the interactions between urban densification and urban greening have been explored. Moreover, the results revealed a lack of clear agreement about the existence or not of conflicts emerging from fostering both urban densification and urban greening aims, suggesting that the positive or negative interactions are not absolute but depend on the scale or the context on which the studies are conducted. Further research should explore multiple potential mediating variables (e.g., the mediator effect of scale and context) to deepen our understanding of interactions between density and greening.

Suggested Citation

  • Helena Madureira & Ana Monteiro, 2021. "Going Green and Going Dense: A Systematic Review of Compatibilities and Conflicts in Urban Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:10643-:d:642809
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Saranathan Pragati & Radhakrishnan Shanthi Priya & Chandramouli Pradeepa & Ramalingam Senthil, 2023. "Simulation of the Energy Performance of a Building with Green Roofs and Green Walls in a Tropical Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Tuulia Puustinen & Heidi Falkenbach & Ari Ekroos & Seppo Junnila, 2025. "INTEGRATING CLIMATE POLICY OBJECTIVES INTO MUNICIPAL LAND POLICIES: From conceptualization to empirical evidence from Finland," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(1), pages 69-94, January.
    3. Patricia Sanches & Fabiano Lemes de Oliveira & Gabriela Celani, 2021. "Green and Compact: A Spatial Planning Model for Knowledge-Based Urban Development in Peri-Urban Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-22, December.

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