byggemassen
In Swedish urban planning, byggemassen refers to the three-dimensional massing of the built environment within a defined area. It describes the collective form of buildings—their volumes, heights, footprints and silhouettes—rather than individual functions. The concept focuses on how the built form appears in plan and elevation and how it interacts with public space, light, wind and views.
Metrics commonly associated with byggemassen include building height, footprint, total volume, floor area ratio (FAR) and
Applications include zoning, development control, and urban design guidelines. Massing considerations influence street width, sky exposure,
Critics warn that an excessive focus on byggemassen may neglect program quality, materiality, sustainability and usability.
See also: massing, urban design, density, floor area ratio, shadow studies.