Creating Gentle Density - Course

The course

A two-day urban design master-class taught over two Saturdays by Create Streets’s experienced urban designers. You’ll learn gentle density design principles and how to create beautiful and sustainable places, applying those lessons to a London location

We no longer create the type of gentle density places which are best suited to supporting happy, healthy and sustainable urban lives. We rarely create neighbourhoods with the intensity necessary for communities to flourish but with the space so as not to feel crowded or overwhelmed.

Based on our wide experience designing places for councils, developers, land promoters and community groups, the course will teach the connections between urban form and design with wellbeing, sustainability, prosperity, value and popularity and practically how to design such places. We will apply those lessons to a site near our office in central London.

The course is aimed at planners, urban designers, architects, students and enthusiasts interested in gentle density urbanism and placemaking. Professional experience is not a requirement. We welcome enthusiasts with an interest in place. Some proficiency in sketching is recommended though not required.

Afterwards

The course includes a month of feedback time where delegates can submit their work for evaluation and critique and will hopefully encourage an ongoing process of improvement.

When and where

• The course will take place over 2 Saturdays from 10:00 till 16:00 on Saturday March 7th and Saturday March 21st 2026

• It will take place in Create Streets’ offices in central London at 81 Lambeth Walk SE11 6DX which is 8 minutes’ walk from Lambeth North Tube Station and 16 minutes’ walk from Vauxhall Station. It is also close to bus routes 3, 344, 360, 77, 507 and C10

Practicalities

The course fee covers both days of the course

Students will be given a recommended list of drawing materials to bring along, but pens, rulers and pencils will be available for those who don’t have them. Tea, coffee, water and snacks will be provided but students should bring a packed lunch.

Feedback from students from last session

“Thank you for a fantastic course! I really appreciated the well-structured sessions and the opportunity to learn from both the instructors and fellow participants.”

“It has made a significant difference to my perception of place”

“I enjoyed meeting other like-minded people and learning from the discussions that emerged”