Blokkide

Blokkide is a concept in urban planning and architecture describing a modular, adaptable urban block system designed to increase density, resilience, and social interaction within cities. It emphasizes flexibility by treating the block as a modular unit that can be combined with other blocks to form neighborhoods, parks, and networks of public space.

Origin and usage: The term has appeared in European planning discourse since the 2010s, particularly within Nordic design schools and cross-disciplinary research projects. There is no single standard definition, and variations exist across programs and projects. In practice, blokkide ideas are explored in theoretical studies, design studios, and pilot demonstrations rather than as a single, widely adopted building code or zoning standard.

Design features: Each blokkide unit integrates housing, workplaces, and amenities within a self-contained module. Blocks are designed to be stackable and reconfigurable to adjust public space, circulation, and land use as demographics and needs evolve. Integrated micro-utilities support a decentralized network, including shared energy generation, water reuse, and waste management. Ground-level public spaces and pedestrian-oriented layouts are emphasized to foster community interaction and local economies, with mixed-use ground floors and flexible interior layouts.

Implementation: As a concept, blokkide arrangements appear mainly in theoretical work, planning simulations, and limited-scale pilots rather than in large-scale urban deployments. Real-world adoption remains experimental and uneven across cities.

See also: Modular construction, grid urbanism, mixed-use development, resilient cities.