Transform scale keeps the original space around the scaled element

A brutal way would be to virtually reduce space needed by element.

Your example shows a known width & height, so it makes it easy. else you would need a javascript method.

.box_1 {
    width:  300px;
    height: 300px;
    transform: scale(0.5);
    transform-origin: left top;
  margin-bottom:-150px;
  margin-right:-150px;
}

https://jsfiddle.net/0bc4sxk3/1/

Scaling up would mean positive margins.

Transform only happens at screen, elements still use initial room and place needed in the flow of the document.