Jan Gehl LIFE BETWEEN BUILDINGS Using Public Space ‘Translated by Jo Koch ARKITEKTENS FORLAG‘08 Tomed 1000 ‘Forlag and Jan Ge 1906 gure, sive arse caerved. No par of thie work covered by the copy ‘may be reproduced or ured in any form ory ty ‘phi, estrone, or meshanialy ineluding photo: ‘Sing, taping, © iformation storage and eter without writen pension ofthe pubiher Foreword by Ralph Brakine Acknowledgements Preface 5 4, LIFE BETWEEN BUILDINGS, ‘Three Types of Outdooe Activites Lt Between Budings Outdoor Actives ant Quality of Outdoor Space ‘Outdoor Actives and Architectural Trends Life Beoween Bullings in Current Soil Situations 2. PREREQUISITES FOR PLANNING Process and Projets Senses, Communication, and Dimensions ie Beuween Buidings~ A Process 3. TO ASSEMBLE OR DISPERSE: City and Site Planning ‘To Assemble or Dispere Beg or sere To laviteor “To Open Upor Cone Tn 4. SPACES FOR WALKING, PLACES FOR STAYING: Dota Panning Spacer Wag Pa or Staying, Walking sve Standing Sieg Secing, Heating, and Taking ‘A Pleszane Pac in Every Respect Sof Baga Bibliography... iueteaion Credits u 0 s 4 31 so 6 % 8 10s us, ia1. LIFE BETWEEN BUILDINGS “Three Types of Outdoor Activites Lite Betwean Buldings ‘Outdoor Activites and Qualty of Outdoor Space ‘Outdoor Activites and Architectural Trends Lie Between Buldings ~ In Curent Socal Stations thes yes of outdoor aces ais Sondra enone ional aeivies ent enderoesbe ‘Three Types of Outdoor Activities ‘sonny day oa onary ster, Pdesines pas onthe ‘dea, cbien payne at das, peopl sc on benches Sete, the pasoran makes his rounds wih the ray wo [Sasser gre on the seal wo techasis real cl, {up engage in conversation, This mix of otdoor see ‘Btcenced bya numberof condone Pyscl envionment it One ofthe tors tor ha nce the actin 10 ‘Saying degre and inmany diferent ways. Outdoor acti, Seda sumber ofthe phys codidors tha inuence tee are {he sujet otis book ‘Gest simple, outdoor ais in public apcee can be vid at vee categre each of which places very erent ‘domands on he pial evioement ey ee, ool ‘ey, and loti, Naan tena howe bat are more ores ompiosy pig to schol to wor, sboping, sing fra Dus ‘ton runing cand ditching malin ther words al ‘Severin wth howe owl aren greater oer degree ogi price Tn general every tasks and pastimes belong o his grovp Aone aioe, i grvp inca! hereto of ‘hone raed fo walking Bechet atts in this group are neeiany, tel ace dace inflacnced only sigh by the physic amenerk, ‘Thee ace wil take place thoughout the year under rely all conan, and are more ow indepen the ‘exeroreovunment. The paripas have no cae pia tts owe purse that ae patted in Shere ina wih do so aed Une a place ae i posethre pes font cutdoor aces and ‘uty tourer np rai Sapte. py be pean ep pial “This category neces och ative taking a walkto get breath offen, standing around enjoying Heo sting and bathing "These sete take pce aly when exterior canon are optinal wen wether an lac vite tem. Threats i pareslry important in cones with phys planting elauve mont ofthe resveatonl aces that are erpecally Penna fo pune cutiors re und preci bi egy [tctvidn Thee sees re espesaly dependent on ext Wen ator ae az poe qulity ont ely necessary S\henewor aes are a high quality, neces ates take pce with approximately he ame Gequeney Cough they ‘ee tnd othe longer line, base te phys cond Sane re tetera aon, however x wie ange fps ‘sev illo ou bese plat and stuatian ow ite ‘People ap ex lay, ad 0 That se cy spaces of poor gual, oly the bare inimarn of cite lace. People huey home. Ina good ences completly diferent, brond sp trum of human acide pone ‘tons actos -esutant ote (Soci ctv) . e‘Sheer ae vies tat depend on the presence of stn pb ss Sc alent ply, rect and. convertion, communal stvies af Einis Sid ally ~ ae the mast widespread roc sci Pte conta chat, simply sng endearing other onl Diflere hinds sca wets eeu in many paces: in Ainelingsi prvte otdoor spaces, garden and bore, in pulitegy alc of werk and oon btn da cle nly thee aces on over in pil cen apace are "Tce activites col slio be txmed “resent ais, ec nna tance they eve fom ctv inked tote other Saiityexegre.Thy dev mconnenson with te other sores because pope arose space, Tet, pus by one abate, or are merely with iw: ‘Sod nites cecarspontanenily, s+ det consequence ot people moving above and being i te same space Tas ‘ipl tat socal ete aot indirect eopprted svhenever etsy an optional acs ae gen bee codons in peblespace = 1 ne ppt [gen our Bi ae a ee Boa Seine | Regt ati, | Berar te | Se ie ‘context in which they occur. In the residential streets, near people with comaan interests or backgrounds, social activities Epub apace an be que compen: grstigs conve: ‘stone, diseaone, ant pay ating fem common interes nd betas pope “know” each oly fr no er secon Th iy stro ait contr, il ates wil generally bemae supe with the majority bing passive enacts ‘Secng sd beanngs pete ofcnkopte people Bove ‘iste acy ea be very appealing yey inept, sexes ee plac very ie two poplar taper nthe same space Toate and ea ach they, medi earn of coat asc acti. The ‘other, more comprehensive farms of social activity "This omnes rant in elton opel plas. [Abongh the physi framework doc not have a die ite face onthe quay, content and inten of sal ents, [chitcs and planes ean after the prio fr mecing ‘ecng and bearing people ~ posites that both take on (nyo ther on and become mpi a chy ond arcing por fr other on of conte “Thre the bchgreon fr che investigation inthis bok of meting pres and oppor te ae and bear ther frople Another eeton brs compechesie sevew o ee cient prevent he rene of ether peoples, ‘vent inpraon, and sieation campriae one othe meet” Important quale of ple space aloesSdeiced $$ $$ Alstning he tye categorie of eutdone atte, we ean Se how nkessary,oplona, and sos eer onc» ney Seowoea puttin. People wally iy ad ale Poncdonal, FeeesSonl scl aes nterwin al conesae ‘outing, "Terr, thik examination of the sabe of ‘ede sou se ot begin with sage, Listed category ste, Lie heen bangs i not merely paetan {lis orerethal osc ates, Life btwten blige ‘mpi the eadre spectrum of actin, watts combine to ‘ake commnal spac ces and teeta rear ean scene ee ested aie ago he yas farm a comnunnfibie have reosved considerably lee ate: ial acs in pubic spac. ie beeen bu Life Between Buildings senor in relation the ed ora [IN “Opportunites tr meting aod dy atv inthe public spacer ofs cy orresdenal sen cnblean oe ang, 08, bdo her otha, wo experince oer people Fein “hese med "ace and kr occ!” mut be considered in elton tethers cntast nd part ofthe whole range ‘fecal sce, fo very spl and ancora const (o aample and enatonalyinalved canoer, crete tcc ath bas High mtemicy Clove rendshipe Acqualnances (he cones ntact) In tem of hi outinlife etoeen ing ‘iy he lone contac loeated at tbat Compared withthe othe conte ons the ona spent eres fo other more compen traction. Spr eld w mare bg seo ead conta a eet lve 7 pale suring point for contact ater eee 5 possi fr maistamning akendy established contacts Ci bores ef nfemstn aboot the socal world eutdele beginning for contacts toter levels form of contact, ‘The possibile elated tothe low-intensity conta forms oe din public spaces perhaps can best he described by the Stanton that exist if they are lacking. activity beeen binge i ising, the lower end of he contact scale aso disappears. The varied anginal forms between being alone and beng together have dippeared, The boundaries between lation and contact become sharper = people are cithor alone or lee with others on & relatively ‘emanding snd exacing level Life between buildings ofr an opportunity tobe with there ipa enced and undemanding way. One cam take ecasional walls, perhipe mabe a detour slong a main steeton the way Tome or pause at an inviting bench near a ont door to be among peopl fra short while, One can take slong bus ide ‘ery day, ts many eied people ave ben fovnd tod in large tis, Or one ean do daly shopping, eventhough it would be ‘nore practical toda i ne a week, Bret looting oat ofthe ‘window ow and then, done i fortunate enough to hive ‘sexing and heaving athers, eceving impulse from others, imply paste experiences, alleratves to being alase. One i not ecesarly witha speatie penn, but on, sevrtheless, with 7 ‘Ar oppoted to being a passive observer of other people's expeienear oh clon or video or fin in public sper the 7 {ntvicual himelfs presen, participating in s modest way, but ‘moat deftly participating.am opportunity foe maining eae once a posible assess to Lowney contacts ao stato fhm which others Cncatothcrlvels ofeimac th grow. Iie a medium for tbe empedicable he ‘Pets opportunites en beiloaaed by examining how pay — | Ta ey Title level, cont ean grow fo ober levee a he pare ant wih Maving being pesent inthe sme fp ac an vcompizaed The poutility of mening neighbors an coworker aft in cpperteet0 net with diy comings and ping pee x vateable ‘linn aeady _opprtnity to eta and inter maint acquaintances a (Gublabed conics nce and wndemading way Socal events can evolve spotaneouy. Sinton area Towed t devo, Vs nad paerigs an be arranged on meetings mut be ranged inane Taree uoderying anon why nea all ren aod a ‘pore fequert contact with fends abd acquaintances who ive—— “The oppotmiy to ae and hear 0 Fede ate slo ips an ofr of valuable inrmaton, men in genial ed about “Th epcialy shat with he wal deve ren flees, whieh large based on bsrvations othe rounding scl evtonnen butallus ned be keep date about the srounding thay ol and variations olsbapesn balding reedte etwen bulla gies orale condos trough seosble pinning of eran housing sess lite many cay fod often sled and seaine! atemplr make binge interesting” and rch by wing drama aeiteeual esas | un than are ay ebination of Saige sees begin te vicinity of event that ae mead ogres. Tete hme we cane that chien pre be whee here are ade or where theres oer eure, ‘aspect oascivites and ply fie sewed, I given a ce tween walking on deserted of 3 Millon choot theffncof hehoure where the ee page 9) owe surouding hen ton ply mareen theses, alo cn, ant nee the entrances of dings aia he tr ha purpae ba located in baclyarsof| peers metres Coredng ted be und ping wi pope Gort toss pe pce, Benet poi got new ‘Eoroundng eli oe ed nore than ences ilar An tein of Tie Garde a Copenage 36 a sid out y he acct fob Ley shows atte at ed cheat alng the garden's main pty whee ere od eof pray ative seas wi the eat ed bene (Sita he quit ea the park. Tn varios pn, Scher are arangol bck co ac, atone of he Desc csp ether toor sackman ieaienp the benches ng he path at steed. ‘Compartte ret hve bee fund to wept of seaing Ins numberof sare ental Copechage. Benches ‘Sch ow of he tort aed prsan voter ae wed Trot wie bee nated twa te pnd se of ie ates ae wed fe equeny [1 4 ‘At idwalk ene, ar welt He o he sidewalk on of che eats he prime atone, Aimer wow expe ‘Sh roughout the word ae ovented tod the moat att fen nearby. Seals are, no erp, the very reason fe crengsderalkcleden see Serta y Sees an Tepe i woh her soy “The opportu oe, bar, nd meet others canals Be sown {mca oe mt iporant tesco ly ener and on frdean sve hie sted by a stracon ait Ered out on Shapes the nn petra sree in centea Copeagen, by stay group Eom the Seo of Archie Sr Ge Royal Danita academy of Fine Ate, 18). Thea ‘ras butolonanfvengaton of where peletoane stepped on ‘heating see and what they oped to ook a "Rowatotops wee noted in Gant af banks ies, sowooms, nd all ebro for enampe cash retry oie rst ‘ovens o bai cut, Converey, rst somber stops Nese nah in ont of shops and eis thot had »diert, ‘stomp to ther people and fo the srounding socal troroment suc a aewpape Koss, phooraphy exits, pete nove hes tigre nyse seg hat went om the set pace el. Al forme a man ety append abe afar incre this coneson sgceatets, Sanpaaci Sees, ‘ew ea ie beeen balings morc the meet Inport iy Considerable interest was obverse in Boh te orinay, everyday events that take pace on astra ~ cena play Sewbyweds om tet way tom che potogrepbes a merely ple natking yan inthe more sua inanes=the art Tihs ene theatre naican with qatar suet panes ei, an ober lege anual event ions abou tat human ste, being abet se ote poplin acon consttutl the e's main atacton, "The see pels ella ange crowd along 28 stk es in pg, Dut when they To the ares, poesia Vetkedoversbepuintnge without esston, The stne war ue Pm Mose ang oa on the sect rm openers in font ef exord shops ected torsion, but the moment ive tacans begun fo play or ing thee was a8 Hstanareons ‘ow of et interes “The ateaton pdt people and hue aces was aso itvtratd by obucratant made in comecion ith he expan Son a's depron store in the sve. While exevatin nd pouring funda were in por rs posible 0 ee [lo the bung ste through wo gees fing the pedetran ‘ice "Throughout ered moe peoplestoped to wtch the toh in progress ese ung than ws he ste fr ope ttt tai the department es Bitar pay windows "is cs, soo it ws the workers and thee work nthe ling se Tell thar wae te ejecta inte, Th was Semonszned futher ding inch beaks sod aller quiting time when o workers wate these precy Robey Hopped lak ‘Asanmary of oberatins and inesgaton shows that po [cand hate ati are the greater objet oan ad Bernt Ever the moe fin one f merely sing and Iarng or being net fo oes spparey or rewarding {SE more in demand tan the majority f oer aeration ‘Meredith ple pos of see nd ridental ae fle in badng a between buldings sn i nen al sitntins oak mae eel sod sore leva han he ‘pss and baligs ese,