‘Densification’ alone is not enough  
The Dutch Stedenbaan project (in the province of South Holland around Rotterdam and The Hague) involves densification, and building housing and offices near to stations.
But a study has shown that this does not automatically yield results.
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Seven desity indexes
This principle concerns the actual physical urban structure. Density is a feeling one has when looking at the horizon and seeing only buildings, but there are various ways of measuring the density of urbanised areas. In ReUrbA1, seven density indexes were introduced.
They are:

1. Intensity index
   the classical index of number of people per square metre or floor-area-ratio (FAR)
   
2. Usage index
   indicates the usage of an area spread out over one day
   
3. Flexibility index
   indicates the density due to flexible usage of space
   
4. Moving index
   indicates the density when a lot of movement is involved
   
5. Activity index
   indicates urban vitality by measuring the number of lifestyles and diversity of functions in a specific area
   
6. Character index
   measure the quality of the environment based on cultural standards and identity of an area
   
7. Integration index
   measure the integration of the labour force with the appropriate level of education of the people living in the area.

Densification should be location-specific
Given the scarcity and the high price of land, densification in various forms is called for. As skyscrapers don't fit in most European urban contexts, it's creative densification we should be aiming at; densification that improves the quality of the working and living environment. Densification should be location-specific within the context of the region, and should be implemented with a certain lifestyle in mind.

Not necessarily more buildings
Densification does not necessarily mean more buildings. There are different ways of densifying the urban fabric. It could also mean the following:

• Better use of the existing space
• A combination of functions
• Time sharing of buildings
• Clustering of activities
• Flexible peak times by spreading the use of the infrastructure
• The minimalisation of political institutions, co-operation between them and shorter procedures
• The development of socio-cultural spaces in a sea of the same.

The ReUrbA1 transformation principles could be used to increase the density of the urban fabric in various ways.

>>> DOWNLOAD REURBA DOCUMENT 'CREATIVE DENSIFICATION'