Life between buildings Jan Gehl: Life between buildings Jan Gehl

urban theory and design of public spacecode 7W580Jan Gehl: Life between buildingsFirst edition 1971Gehl: 1936Frontrunner:– Attention for use of space (as opposedto ‘function’)– Attention for everyday life– Underpinning ideas with research andfacts– Modest approach– Attention to detail12Jan Gehl: Life between buildingsJan Gehl: Cities for peopleBuilds on the work of, a.o.:–Jane Jacobs–William H. Whyte–Oskar Newman–Christopher AlexanderPublished 2010Revised version of ‘Life between buildings’Different approach of text and structureSome additionsN.B.Studying this slide presentation is NOT enough as a preparationfor the exam!Read the book and analyze it3The author takes no responsibility for mistakes in these slides, only the original book text counts4Scope of the book(s)Overall content• Use of public space• Social activities as benchmark• What can design contribute?• Way of thinking: the human dimension• Design attitude, design principles• City life & quality of space• Conditions for design (senses, scale)• General design principles (health, etc)• Design of public space• Considerations as regards managingand ….• …developing cities• ‘Toolbox’ (design principles)561

The human dimensionRelation between design and use of spaceDevastating influence of the carPlea for public space as human spaceThree sorts of activities• Necessary activites• Optional activities• Social activitiesKopenhagen, effect of planning for bicycle traffic78ActivitiesInfluence of the quality of public spaceIn: Cities for PeopleNecessaryOptionalSocialInducementobligations,necessityFree choiceSpontaneousSortFunctionalGoing to school,Shopping, etc.(mostly)RecreativeTake a stroll, etc.InteractivePlaying, greeting,converstaion, passivecontactInfluence ofphysicalenvironmentMinimalBigIndirectresults from the firsttwo categories910N.B.Relation between social activities and public spaceNext part (green background):part of the exam but not in this formin ‘Cities for people’Kind of space‘Intimate’Residential streets,Streets near schools,Public space nearworking places,etc.Characteristic• Limited number ofpeople• Common interests orbackground. Peopleknow each other (of onlyby face)Social activitiesEleborate socialcontacts.Greetings, conversations,discussions, games.To be found in ‘Life between buildings’‘Public’City streets, CityCentres, etc.‘Anonimous’Motorways,infrastructure• Many people• Many differentbackgrounds• No direct physicalcontactMainly passive.Seeing and heering eachotherNone11122

‘Chain effect’Sociale activies are dependentfrom other activitiesConsequence:The physical environment has no directinfluence on social contacts.The basis of social activity is peoplemeeting each otherHowever: designers are able to influence theconditions for social contacts.Just seeing and hearing each other is aform of social activity1314Value of low intensity contacts• Possible starting point for contacts on ahigher level• Uncomplicated• Source of inspriration / stimulation‘Life’ is in the long run always moreinteresting to look at than architectureand designBasis of low intensity contacts: activitiesSource of activities“Something happens because something happensbecause something happens”‘Cities for people’:“People come where people are”1516Basis of low intensity contacts: activitiesSource of activities“Something happens because something happensbecause something happens”Human activity attracts peopleLife between buildings = the product of the lengthand number of individual occurrencesStimulating activities: making sure more people usepublic space for a longer period of time17Melbourne, Australia183

Relation kind of space – childs behaviourKopenhagenKopenhagenDenmark 19Denmark20Influence of physical design on outdooractivitiesFrom: Donald Appleyard, ‘Livable streets’Pedestrian traffic Helsingor21SanFransiscoVoetgangersverkeer Helsingor22Influence of physical design on outdoor activitiesConclusionFactors that can be influenced by design:How many people and occurrencesThe length of the activitiesWhat types of activities are possibleTwo living quarters in Kopenhagen23In research: the existing situation often gives afalse impression.Also: all types of activities should be involved inresearch (because they are interconnected)244

Back to ‘Cities for people’Some poignant subjects.Presented in the same sequenceas the chapters of the bookInfluence of sensesOn the use of spaceSensory distances according to Hall300 – 500m distinguishing people from other objects< 100m movement and body language in general50 – 70m gender & age, known persons< 35m Understanding language in a theatre22 – 25m facial expressions, basic messages< 7m conversation, hearing effective< 1m smelling effectively2526Social field of visionCommunication and distance0 - 45 cm intimate distance 45 - 120 cm personal distanceDesigning for social venuesUltimate threshold 100mKey threshold 25 m 35m with artificial means (theatre)271,2 – 3,7 m social distance > 3,7 m public distance28Senses, social contact and designSenses, social contact and designhuman scalevs car scaleFrom: ‘Toolbox’, Chapter 7 29305

Senses, social contact and designSenses, social contact and design“Make sure there’s never quite enough room”31Credo:“When in doubt, leave some space out”‘life between buildings’32Lively, safe, sustainable and healthy cityInfluence of densityNo absolute relationgeneral design considerationsHigh density + high rise buildingslivelinessliveliness = 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 plinths33soft edges34Lively, safe, sustainable and healthy citysafe-trafficRelation between street type, use and safety- crime (= security)- Life in buildings (social control)- Clear structures (good oriëntation)- Clear territories- Soft edgesLively, safe, sustainable and healthy city• reducing motorized traffic• good relation space – public transport• social sustainability helped by lively citiesOnly reference to Oskar Newman. In originalbook more elaborate35366

Lively, safe, sustainable and healthy city• promoting excersise: walking, cyclingNot 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 centresThe city at eye level (chapter 4)The importance of the small scaleSmall scale activitieswalkingstayingmeetingself-expression, play, exercizecyclingSmall scale ‘agreability’visual attractioncomfort / avoiding distressaccesibility3738The city at eye level (chapter 4)The city at eye level (chapter 4)General consideration:Design should be based on realistic insight intothe way people use space, not on abstractresearch or considerations from behind thedrawing boardClutterd and unattractive situation caused by failing planning and design3940The city at eye level (chapter 4)Analysiswalking: technical solution for healthy peopleversus feeling of safety and discomfort of stairs 41from: ‘Life between buildings’427

The city at eye level (chapter 4)design considerations for sittingAn example of the way Gehl treats this kindof subject in his bookEdge effect4344Hengelo (OV)Choice of location: ‘Edge-effect’45Romavariation of the ‘Edge-effect’: ‘attractors’46Dispersion, quality of the place, advantagesSliedrecht47RomaDispersion, quality of the place, advantages488

RomaDemands differ per target group49RomaDemands differ per target group50Seating is not only recreation it is also functionalWien: looking for shade51WienSeating is not only recreation it is also functional52Types of seatingTypes of seatingPrimary– ‘The best benches’Secundary– Stairs, edges, low walls, etc.Seating landscapes– Multifunctional53DublinPrimary seating549

Types of seatingTypes of seatingEisenachSecondary seating55EnschedeSeating landscapes56Types of seatingTypes of seatingParistalk scapes57Münchencommunity scapes58Types of seatingMünchen59Leugenbankspecial seating6010

self-expression, play, excerciseQuality of public space• Flexibility / multi-functionality• Scale tool: small spaces in larger ones …..…..but not as an afterthoughtParis6162small spaces inlarger ones …..…making do withstreet furnitureQuality of public space• Flexibility / multi-functionality• Scale• Micro climate ‘Physics of the built environment’6364Micro climateThe Brasila Syndrome65Brasilia, design, Oscar Niemeyer6611

The Brasila Syndromelife > space > buildings chapter 5Design should not be an excercise on the mapStephano Boeri: ‘Zenital view’Urban design is about people, not about buildingsThe second concern is real space(not ‘space on paper’)‘Life’ is in the long run always more interesting tolook at than architecture and designBrasilia, design, Oscar Niemeyer67From: ‘life between buildings’68Scale levelsPlanning methodGehl distinguisches:According to GehlLarge scaleholistic, city as seen from a distanceMiddel scaledevelopment scale, individual quartersorganization of space and buildingsSmall scale ‘eye level scale’the human landscapethe city as experiencedshould becombined1. determine the character of anticipated lifeLife2. make programs for city spaces and - structureSpace3. position buildingsBuildings4. design larger units and districtsOverall structure6970differentiateNot one ‘standard’solutionPlanning methodAccording to Gehl1. determine the character of anticipated lifeLife2. make programs for city spaces and - structureSpace3. position buildingsBuildings4. design larger units and districtsOverall structureThe Human dimension is a universal starting pointdifferentiateNot one ‘standard’solution1. determine the character of anticipated lifeLife2. make programs for city spaces and - structureSpace3. position buildingsBuildings4. design larger units and districtsOverall structure717212

toolboxchapter 7Planning principles1. location of functions2. integration offunctions3. experience / safety4. relation betweenbuildings and publicspace5. make people staylonger in publicspace12345toolbox12quality criteria7374toolbox• designing the ground floor• do’s and don’tsurban theory and design of public spacecode 7W580757613