Streets are meeting and experimental places, theatres of everyday life and settings for cultural events. With the aim of bringing about sustainable and healthy lifestyles, streets are in vogue. Many of today’s diseases are caused by a sedentary lifestyle it is essential, therefore, to centre prevention on the promotion of physical well-being encouraging an active lifestyle, which can be achieved by changing the urban structure. For this reason, the configuration of urban space plays a decisive role in defining lifestyles and can contribute to improving the welfare of citizens. The study originated in the conviction that health and well-being are crucial objectives integrated within the notion of a sustainable city. Jan Gehl has been awarded the “Sir Patrick Abercrombie Prize for Exemplary Contributions to Town Planning” by the International Union of Architects, as well as an honorary doctorate from Heroit-Watt University in Edinburgh.This article presents the results of an international research project carried out in Italy and Canada, conducted by architects, landscape architects, sociologists and medical doctors. International teaching includes universities in Edinburgh, Vilnius, Oslo, Toronto, Calgary, Melbourne, Perth, Berkeley, San Jose, Guadalajara and Cape Town, and consultancies for London, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Wellington, Riga and Amman. Partner of Gehl Architects - Urban Quality Consultants. Architect, Professor at the Center for Public Space Research, School of Architecture, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Swanston Street Walk, Melborne, Australia Three squares in Qasr-Al-Hokm, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Village of Yorkvilee Park, Toronto, Canada Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Santa Severina, Italy Plaza de Carlos III el Noble, Olite, Spain Placa del General Moragues, Barcelona, Spain Placa dels Paison Catalans, Barcelona, Spain Place Charles Hernu, Villeurbanne, Lyon, France Place de l'Homme de Fer, Strasbourg, France Schouwburgplein, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Main street in Kouvola, 'Mansky', Finland Traditional uses of public space: Meeting place, marketplace and traffic spaceĩ cities- 9 public space strategies: introduction The book is extensively illustrated by drawings, plans and photographs.įoreword by Lord Richard Rogers of Riverside This book presents an overview of the developments in the use and planning of public spaces, and offers a detailed description of 9 cities and 39 selected public space projects from all parts of the World.

Jan gehl new city life