Densification as a Design Tool for Sustainable Urban Regeneration

This book explores the intersection of densification and urban renewal in the context of China’s new urbanization, with a particular focus on social sustainability. It shifts the discussion from a citywide perspective to the community level, emphasizing a people-centred approach to regeneration. The approach is novel in its emphasis on social sustainability within densification and regeneration processes. It critiques traditional regeneration methods dominated by local government and spatial design, and advocates a systematic framework to support people-centred decision-making. The intended readership is likely to include urban planners, policy makers, researchers and academics interested in urban regeneration, sustainable development and Chinese urbanization. The content level is likely to be academic, aimed at readers with a background in urban studies, architecture, or related fields.

Jinliu Chen received his master’s degree in Urban Design from The University of Hong Kong in 2016 and a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences, Geography, and Planning from the University of Liverpool in 2023 based on XJTLU. He is a lecturer at Suzhou City University. His research interests mainly focus on urban design and regeneration, GIS, quantitative spatial analysis, and sustainable urbanization.