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 density. In massing studies, planners and architects create simplified 3D models to compare alternative configurations and to understand impacts on streetscapes, daylight access, shadow casting and microclimate before detailed design.

Applications include zoning, development control, and urban design guidelines. Massing considerations influence street width, sky exposure, shelter from wind, and the visual character of an area. The massing of a development can range from low-rise, dispersed forms to compact high-rise clusters, each with different effects on public realm and infrastructure.

Critics warn that an excessive focus on byggemassen may neglect program quality, materiality, sustainability and usability. Modern practice tends to integrate massing with programmatic requirements and sustainability criteria, using iterative models and simulations to find a balance between density, livability and urban resilience.

See also: massing, urban design, density, floor area ratio, shadow studies.