Urban Densification (Verdichtung): Zurich's Alternative to Urban Sprawl

Verdichtung is German word that loosely means 'densification'. It represents an alternative to urban sprawl that is prevalent in US cities and has been the dominant strategy for Zurich's expansion.

What it means is that even though there would theoretically be new space available on the outskirts, the city, or canton, instead of dedicating it to new construction it prefers to repurpose existing buildings by increasing the number of floors or by reducing the distance between buildings.

I am actually currently living in such a building created from Verdichtung where before this was partially...