There is broad agreement among architects and city planners: What we need are vibrant urban neighbourhoods – not monofunctional suburbs of detached homes. What makes high-density residential structures desirable places to live? In the this issue, we take a look at buildings that do not consist solely of living units. Shops, cafés and day care centres add to their vitality, and community rooms foster social cohesion. We present exemplary designs from cities such as Berlin, Vienna and Zurich.