An Investigation of Urban Density with Respect to Sustainability and Energy Use: Is a Sustainable Tall Building a Misnomer? Part 1 Dissertation 2020 Amy Wilkinson University of Nottingham | UK This paper explores the relationship between urban density and sustainability, acknowledging the growing population and increases in carbon emissions related to the building industry. It investigates the advantages and disadvantages of different density-related building forms relative to the environmental, social and economic parameters of sustainability. The aim is to deliver conclusions based on which building form is the most energy efficient and socially viable to accommodate for growing populations and urbanisation. For this to be possible, a literature review has been undertaken, critically analysing Life Cycle Assessments and the phases of energy consumption for a range of building heights. The compilation of 34 existing assessments regarding initial embodied energies and building height resulted in graphs which show increasing trends of embodied energy with height. The significance of this, as well as the operational energy demands is outlined in the paper. The outcomes show that high-rise buildings are significantly more energy consumptive throughout their lifetime than low-rise buildings. This justified a parametric study using the ‘Space mate’ model, indicating how alternative designs could be executed to achieve a reduction in building height without impeding on site boundaries. Hence, enabling a reduction in building energy consumption without the costs of urban sprawl. Amy Wilkinson Tutor(s) Mark Gillott