urban theory and design of public space

code 7W580

Jan Gehl: Life between buildings

First edition 1971 Gehl: 1936

Frontrunner: Attention for use of space (as opposed to function) Attention for everyday life Underpinning ideas with research and facts Modest approach Attention to detail
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Jan Gehl: Life between buildings

Builds on the work of, a.o.: Jane Jacobs William H. Whyte Oskar Newman Christopher Alexander

Jan Gehl: Cities for people

Published 2010 Revised version of Life between buildings Different approach of text and structure Some additions

N.B. Studying this slide presentation is NOT enough as a preparation for the exam! Read the book and analyze it
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The author takes no responsibility for mistakes in these slides, only the original book text counts

Scope of the book(s)

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Overall content
City life & quality of space Conditions for design (senses, scale) General design principles (health, etc) Design of public space Considerations as regards managing and . developing cities Toolbox (design principles)
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Use of public space Social activities as benchmark What can design contribute? Way of thinking: the human dimension Design attitude, design principles

The human dimension

Devastating influence of the car Plea for public space as human space

Relation between design and use of space

Three sorts of activities

Necessary activites Optional activities Social activities

Kopenhagen, effect of planning for bicycle traffic

Influence of the quality of public space

Activities
Necessary Inducement obligations, necessity Functional
Going to school, Shopping, etc.

In: Cities for People

Social Spontaneous

Optional Free choice

Sort

(mostly) Recreative
Take a stroll, etc.

Interactive
Playing, greeting, converstaion, passive contact

Influence of physical environment

Minimal

Big

Indirect
results from the first two categories

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N.B.
Next part (green background): part of the exam but not in this form in Cities for people To be found in Life between buildings

Relation between social activities and public space

Kind of space Characteristic Social activities
Eleborate social contacts.
Greetings, conversations, discussions, games.

Limited number of Intimate people Residential streets, Streets near schools, Common interests or background. People Public space near know each other (of only working places, by face) etc. Public City streets, City Centres, etc. Anonimous Motorways, infrastructure Many people Many different backgrounds No direct physical contact

Mainly passive.
Seeing and heering each other

None

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Chain effect
Sociale activies are dependent from other activities The basis of social activity is people meeting each other

Consequence:
The physical environment has no direct influence on social contacts. However: designers are able to influence the conditions for social contacts.

Just seeing and hearing each other is a form of social activity

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Value of low intensity contacts

Basis of low intensity contacts: activities Source of activities

Something happens because something happens because something happens happens

Possible starting point for contacts on a higher level Uncomplicated Source of inspriration / stimulation

Cities for people people:

Life is in the long run always more interesting to look at than architecture and design
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People come where people are are

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Basis of low intensity contacts: activities Source of activities

Something happens because something happens because something happens happens Human activity attracts people Life between buildings = the product of the length and number of individual occurrences Stimulating activities: making sure more people use public space for a longer period of time
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Melbourne, Australia

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Relation kind of space childs behaviour

Kopenhagen Denmark

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Kopenhagen Denmark

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Pedestrian traffic Helsingor

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San Fransisco

From: Donald Appleyard, Livable streets

Influence of physical design on outdoor activities

Voetgangersverkeer Helsingor
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Influence of physical design on outdoor activities

Conclusion
Factors that can be influenced by design: How many people and occurrences The length of the activities What types of activities are possible

In research: the existing situation often gives a false impression. Also: all types of activities should be involved in Two living quarters in Kopenhagen
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research (because they are interconnected)

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Back to Cities for people

Some poignant subjects. Presented in the same sequence as the chapters of the book

Influence of senses
On the use of space

Sensory distances according to Hall

300 500m < 100m 50 70m < 35m 22 25m < 7m < 1m distinguishing people from other objects movement and body language in general gender & age, known persons Understanding language in a theatre facial expressions, basic messages conversation, hearing effective smelling effectively

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Social field of vision

Communication and distance

0 - 45 cm intimate distance

45 - 120 cm personal distance

Designing for social venues Ultimate threshold 100m Key threshold 25 m 35m with artificial means (theatre)
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1,2 3,7 m social distance

> 3,7 m public distance

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Senses, social contact and design

Senses, social contact and design human scale vs car scale

From: Toolbox, Chapter 7

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Senses, social contact and design Make sure theres never quite enough room

Senses, social contact and design

Credo: When in doubt, leave some space out out

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life between buildings buildings

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general design considerations Lively, safe, sustainable and healthy city Influence of density No absolute relation High density + high rise buildings liveliness = combination of factors
- compact city structure (may be low rise) - reasonable density of population - acceptable walking and cycling distances - quality of space - no dominance of car + slower trafic - soft edges to public space (design principles) - activities in plinths
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liveliness

soft edges

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Lively, safe, sustainable and healthy city safe - traffic

Relation between street type, use and safety

Lively, safe, sustainable and healthy city

reducing motorized traffic good relation space public transport social sustainability helped by lively cities

- crime (= security)
- Life in buildings (social control) - Clear structures (good orintation) - Clear territories - Soft edges Only reference to Oskar Newman. In original book more elaborate
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Lively, safe, sustainable and healthy city

The city at eye level (chapter 4) The importance of the small scale

promoting excersise: walking, cycling Not in the book but also: - optimizing distances in neigborhoods - clear and safe routes, safe bicycle storage - environments inviting for walking - optimizing locations of schools, shops, etc. - accessibility for pedestrians & bicycles - transferiums, parking outside centres
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Small scale activities

walking staying meeting self-expression, play, exercize cycling

Small scale agreability

visual attraction comfort / avoiding distress accesibility
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The city at eye level (chapter 4)

The city at eye level (chapter 4)

General consideration: Design should be based on realistic insight into the way people use space, not on abstract research or considerations from behind the drawing board

Clutterd and unattractive situation caused by failing planning and design

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The city at eye level (chapter 4) Analysis

walking: technical solution for healthy people versus feeling of safety and discomfort of stairs

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from: Life between buildings

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The city at eye level (chapter 4)

design considerations for sitting

An example of the way Gehl treats this kind of subject in his book

Edge effect

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Choice of location: Edge-effect

Hengelo (OV)

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variation of the Edge-effect: attractors

Roma

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Dispersion, quality of the place, advantages

Sliedrecht

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Dispersion, quality of the place, advantages

Roma

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Demands differ per target group

Roma

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Demands differ per target group

Roma

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Seating is not only recreation it is also functional

Wien: looking for shade

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Seating is not only recreation it is also functional

Wien

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Types of seating

Types of seating

Primary

The best benches

Secundary

Stairs, edges, low walls, etc.

Seating landscapes

Multifunctional

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Primary seating
Dublin

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Types of seating

Types of seating

Secondary seating
Eisenach

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Seating landscapes
Enschede

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Types of seating

Types of seating

talk scapes
Paris

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community scapes
Mnchen

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Types of seating

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Leugenbank

special seating

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Mnchen

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self-expression, play, excercise

Quality of public space

Flexibility / multi-functionality Scale tool: small spaces in larger ones .. ..but not as an afterthought

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Paris

small spaces in larger ones .. making do with street furniture

Quality of public space

Flexibility / multi-functionality Scale Micro climate Physics of the built environment

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Micro climate

The Brasila Syndrome

Brasilia, design, Oscar Niemeyer 65 66

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The Brasila Syndrome

Design should not be an excercise on the map Stephano Boeri: Zenital view view

life > space > buildings

chapter 5

Urban design is about people, not about buildings The second concern is real space (not space on paper)

Life is in the long run always more interesting to look at than architecture and design
Brasilia, design, Oscar Niemeyer 67

From: life between buildings

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Scale levels Gehl distinguisches:

Planning method According to Gehl 1. determine the character of anticipated life Life 2. make programs for city spaces and - structure Space 3. position buildings Buildings 4. design larger units and districts Overall structure
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Large scale
holistic, city as seen from a distance

Middel scale
development scale, individual quarters organization of space and buildings

Small scale eye level scale

the human landscape the city as experienced should be combined

Planning method According to Gehl

The Human dimension is a universal starting point

Not one standardsolution

1. determine the character of anticipated life Life 2. make programs for city spaces and - structure Space 3. position buildings Buildings 4. design larger units and districts Overall structure
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Not one standardsolution

1. determine the character of anticipated life Life 2. make programs for city spaces and - structure Space 3. position buildings Buildings 4. design larger units and districts Overall structure
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differentiate

differentiate

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toolbox

chapter 7

toolbox
1
12 quality criteria

Planning principles
1. location of functions 2. integration of functions 3. experience / safety 4. relation between buildings and public space 5. make people stay longer in public space

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toolbox
designing the ground floor dos and donts

urban theory and design of public space

code 7W580

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