Jan Gehl (1987/2011), Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space

Washington - Covelo - London: Island Press, ISBN: 978-1597268271

J
Jan Gehl (2010), Cities for People
Washington - Covelo - London: Island Press, ISBN: 978-1597265737

Reviewed by: S
S
Beatriz Campos
Space Syntax São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil

Pages: 125-128

book review book re

The Journal of Space Syntax
ISSN: 2044-7507 Year: 2012 volume: 3 issue: 1 Online Publication Date: 13 August 2012

http://www.journalofspacesyntax.org/
J Book Review:
O Jan Gehl (1987, 2011 revisited ed.), Life Between Buildings:
S Using Public Space
Washington - Covelo - London: Island Press, ISBN: 978-1597268271
S
Jan Gehl (2010), Cities for People
Washington - Covelo - London: Island Press, ISBN: 978-1597265737

Reviewed by

Beatriz Campos
Space Syntax São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil

Jan Gehl is a Danish architect who, in parallel to Life Between Buildings,

2011 revisited edition
his academic career, has worked through his ar-
chitectural practice on the design of public spaces Photo source:
< http://islandpress.org/ip/
and urban regeneration projects all over the word, books/book/islandpress/L/
including Brighton, Newcastle and London.1 His bo8036913.html >

interest in the quality and performance of public

spaces started with a research grant from Royal Notes:
Danish Academy of Fine Arts for studies on the 1
E-source, available at: <
http://www.gehlarchitects.
form and use of public spaces. Since then Gehl
com/?#/165291/ > [Ac-
has published extensively; his success in injecting cessed 8 June 2012]
outdoor life into northern European cities has led 2
For Gehl, the urban land-
scape must be considered
to worldwide impact of his design guidance (Gehl,
through the five human sens-
1987; Gehl & Gemzøe, 2004, 2000; Gehl et al., es and experienced at the
speed of walking rather than
2006; and Gehl, 2010). This review focuses on two at the speed of a car.
of his books: Life Between Buildings (2011, revised 3
Gehl makes a timely obser-
edition) and Cities for People (2010). vation when referring to Tra-
falgar Square: ‘The pedes-
The highly influential Life Between Buildings trian landscape of the square
was first published in 1971 with the first English in the 1970s consisted of
48 islands that pedestrians
translation in 1987, whilst this review considers the could walk between, in con-
reissue of the book in its sixth edition last year. The trast to the situation seen
on old photographs, where
book examines the relationship between patterns of pedestriansmove across
the square in a natural and
space use, specifically outdoor activities, and the
leisurely fashion in all direc-
spatial properties of the physical environment. Gehl tions’ (Gehl, 1987, p.139).
Refer also to: Space Syntax
promotes a straightforward approach to improving (2003 and 2005) Trafalgar
urban form, which is derived from systematically The book is divided into four main chapters, Square consultancy reports
for Foster and Partners and
documenting the performance of urban spaces and which range from general to specific models. In Hillier (1998).
analysing what factors influence their use. Gehl uses Chapter 1 – Life Between Buildings – Gehl intro-
the human dimension as the starting point for his duces the concepts of necessary, optimal and
analysis2 and measures the success of the urban social activities (Gehl, 1987, p.9), which sets the
environment by quantifying the levels of pedestrian background for his analysis on the urban environ-
flows, levels and length of stationary activity - includ- ment physical properties. To support his ideas, Gehl
ing human contact and social interaction. also examines the spatial properties of traditional

125

medieval public spaces (such as dimensions and
detailed design) and relates the identified common
denominators to the success or failure of contempo-
rary examples. He then discusses the introduction
of contemporary urban city planning principles and
the reasons why the 20 century design ideas, such
th
as functionalism (Gehl, 1987, p.43), were central to
the lack of vitality in street life.
In Chapter 2 - Prerequisites for Planning - Gehl
analyses the physical properties of human senses
(such as smell, hearing, seeing) and social dis-
tances. Like many other authors (Sitte 1889, 1945;
Alexander et al., 1977; Lynch, 1971), Gehl believes
there must be a correspondence between the di-
mension of a public square and a sense of place
(Cullen, 1961). If squares are too big for the number
of users, they will feel empty. This leads to a further
idea: the ‘self-reinforcing’ process where individual
events stimulate others:
‘If activities and people are assembled, individual
events will stimulate one another’ (Gehl, 1987,
p.107).
In line with Gehl’s argument on the importance
of the self- reinforcing process, in Chapter 3 – To
Assemble or Disperse – Gehl examines a series of
J
O
The Journal of S
Space Syntax S
Volume 3 • Issue 1
spatial components which will enhance or reduce Cities For People, 2010
pedestrian flows across and around the public Photo source:
space: building heights, orientation of entrances, < http://islandpress.org/ip/
books/book/islandpress/C/
multifunction areas and active frontages, density, bo8038192.html >
modes of transport (pedestrians and cyclists), ac-
cessibility and visibility from immediate surrounding
areas (Whyte, 1980; Hettiarachchie, 1987). It is Notes:
here that Gehl acknowledges that well-functioning 4
The ‘edge effect’ (Gehl,
1987, p.159) is widely ac-
pedestrian systems facilitate the shortest distances knowledged by a number of
between natural destinations and makes a rather different researchers. In fact,
Gehl adopts this terminology
compelling argument about the failure of Trafalgar from De Jonge (1967). De
Square before its redevelopment.3 Jonge, after observations on
static occupation in a series
Lastly, Gehl is aware that for public spaces to of recreation areas (such as
be lively and successful they need to have a com- parks and roadside resting
places) claims that ‘other
bination of both moving and stationary activities. In things being equal, the parts
of the areas near the main
Chapter 4 - Spaces for Walking, Places for Staying
entrances are parking areas
- Gehl focuses on static activities and the physical and used more intensively
than the distance parts…
elements that will make people not only stop but This phenomenon can been
also spend time with the space. According to Gehl, called the edge effect’. Ac-
cording to Gehl, the edge
the ‘design of individual spaces and of the details, is the preferred location for
down to the smallest component, are determining standing or sitting when
people first occupy the bor-
factors to quality of public spaces’ (Gehl, 1987, ders and edges of the public
p.129). Gehl also discusses preferable areas for spaces, and only once they
are fully occupied, do people
sitting and standing as well as the edge effect4 and tend to move inwards. The
edge effect exists because
the correlation between static occupancy and levels
people prefer to sit in areas
of pedestrian movement 5. Interestingly, although facing the pedestrian flow,
and therefore the location on
Gehl does refer to Sitte’s work (Gehl, 1987, p.43), the boundary of the public
one of the few typologies which is not explored is spaces will provide the best
views, with extensive and
the concept of enclosure and irregularity principles.6 richer visual fields. Gehl sug-
gests that benches that pro-
vide a good view of the sur-
Cities for People was published in 2010 and it rounding activities are used
is, to a degree, a revised version of Life Between more often than benches
with less or no view of others
Buildings. In addition to the elements previously since human activities are
the main attraction for users
discussed, Gehl examines issues such as sustain-
of public spaces. Although
ability, shared spaces, mixed use, sense of security, Gehl makes a distinction,
claiming that the location for
usability and levels of pedestrian comfort. Like in his sitting is chosen more care-
previous book - Gehl uses systematic and empirical fully than standing, he points
out that the edge effect is ob-
observations of patterns of space use, often making served in both cases. Refer
gradual incremental improvements, then document- also to Alexander et al. (1977
op cit.) and Marcus and
ing them again to demonstrate what makes public Francis (1990).
spaces ‘alive’. Throughout the book, Gehl explains
126
 J
O Book Review:
S Life Between Buildings
S & Cities for People

Campos, B.

Notes:
5
Gehl produced a survey
of patterns of space use in
public spaces in Stroget,
Denmark. He notes that the
levels of static occupancy of
public spaces had dramati-
cally increased over a period
of twenty years and all avail-
able squares of ‘good qual-
ity’ were filled to capacity
every day. He concludes that
the main reasons for deter-
mining the quality or usability
of each space are closely re-
lated to its location in relation
to the main pedestrian flows,
which had also dramatically
increased in the previous
twenty years, meaning that
the static occupancy had in-
creased in direct proportion
to the levels of pedestrian
movement.
6
A very common interpre-
tation is that liveable pub-
lic spaces should observe
enclosure and irregularity
principles, which were de-
rived from studies of tradi-
tional medieval squares.
Sitte (1889 op cit.), Unwin
(1909) and Zucker (1959)
regard enclosure, defined
by the grouping of architec-
tural masses around an open
space, as the fundamental
property of public spaces.
Only enclosed spaces could
provide the users a sense
of well-being, comfort and
pleasure, and therefore
would ultimately determine
the preference by the public
for such spaces.
7
See Chapter 4 ‘Cities as
Movement Economies’ in
Hillier (1996) and Stonor
(2009).
the methods and tools he believes are necessary to human dimension as the starting point for the
reconfigure public spaces into the environment he design of the urban environment is inspirational.
believes they all should be: urban meeting places, Both books are engaging, logical and rich in case
places for social cohesion and interaction. studies, which illustrate Gehl’s approach. If Life
The book follows a similar structure to Life Be- Between Buildings was and still is an outstanding
tween Buildings. Chapters 3 and 4 are possibly the contribution to the subject, Cities for People, despite
two chapters that the readers of JOSS might find addressing a number of current issues, could have
the most innovative and significant. When stressing been more engaging and informative about how the
the importance of mixed use and active frontages, spatial morphology of the urban grid shapes the
Gehl points out that mixed functions provide more performance of urban spaces.
activities around the clock bringing safety and Nevertheless, both books are a must-read for
protection to both residents and ‘visitor’s to the students, designers, as well as anybody interested
surrounding public space. As for shared spaces: in the performance of public spaces and the urban
Gehl is sympathetic with the idea and recognizes environment as a whole.
its benefits, however he points out that although
mixing traffic (pedestrian, cyclists and vehicular)
is possible, mixed traffic solutions must prioritise
pedestrians.
Gehl also examines the positive relationship
between well-functioning urban areas and sus-
tainability. However, the significance of sustain-
ability is centred on the responsible management
of resources and health benefits. Gehl does not
examine the social and economic benefits of sus-
tainable city centres as a result of what adequate
accessibility brings to pedestrian movement and
trade as presented in the seminal work of Hillier
and colleagues7. Another missed opportunity is
the lack of reference to city life as an outcome of its
emergent morphology and the role of urban spatial
configuration, both at local and global levels, on
the performance of public spaces (Arruda Cam-
pos, 2000). The space syntax methodology as a
design tool and its functionality, which allows the
correlation of spatial elements and social variables
is paramount for understanding public spaces,
mainly the correlation between configuration and
pedestrian movement flows and stationary activity
(Hillier et al., 1993).
There is no doubt that Gehl understands the
mechanisms behind ‘life between buildings’. Gehl’s

127

References
Alexander, C. et al. (1977), A Pattern Language, New York:
Oxford University Press.
Arruda Campos, M. B. (2000), Urban Public Spaces: A
Study of the Relation Between Spatial Configuration
and Use Patterns. PhD Thesis, University of London.
Cullen, G. (1961), Townscape, London: The Architectural
Press.
De Jonge, D. (1967), ‘Applied hodology’. In: Landscape,
Vol. 17 (2), p.10-11.
Gehl, J. (2010), Cities for People, Washington - Covelo -
London: Island Press.
Gehl, J. (1987), Life Between Buildings: Using Public
Space (transl. by Koch, J.), New York: Van Nostrand
Reinhold.
Gehl, J. and Gemzøe, L. (2004), Public Spaces, Public
Life, Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press.
Gehl, J. and Gemzøe, L. (2000), New City Spaces, Copen-
hagen: The Danish Architectural Press.
Gehl, J. et al. (2006), New City Life, Copenhagen: The
Danish Architectural Press.
Hettiarachchie, J. (1987), Public Squares in Urban De-
sign - A Critical Study of Cases in Rome, Helsinki and
Colombo. Master Degree, Department of Architecture,
Helsinki University of Technology.
Hillier, B. (1996), Chapter 4: ‘Cities as movement econo-
mies’. In: Hillier, B. (1996), Space is the Machine,
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
J
O
The Journal of S
Space Syntax S
Volume 3 • Issue 1
Hillier, B. (1998), ‘From research to design: Re-engineering
the space of Trafalgar Square’. In: Urban Design Quar-
terly, Vol. 68, p.35 -37.
Hillier, B. et al. (1993), ‘Natural movement: Or configura-
tion and attraction in urban pedestrian movement’.
In: Environment and Planning B, Vol. 20 (1), p.29-66.
Lynch, K. (1971), Site Planning, Cambridge, MA: The
MIT Press.
Marcus, C. and Francis, C. (eds.) (1990), People Places -
Design Guidelines for Urban Open Space, New York:
Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Sitte, C. (1889, 1945), The Art of Building Cities (transl. by
Stewart, C.), Connecticut: Hyperion Press.
Stonor, T. (2009), ‘The spatial components of sustainability’.
In: Xishan Sustainable Development Demonstration &
Executive Forum, Taiyuan, China. Available at:
< http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/84784/Tim-
Stonor_Spatial-components-of-sustainability_Taiyuan
> [Accessed 8 June 2012]
Unwin, R. (1909), Town Planning in Practice, London:
Ernest Benn Ltd.
Whyte, W. (1980), The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces,
Washington: The Conservation Foundation.
Zucker, P. (1959), Town and Square, New York: Columbia
University Press.
128