JanGehl UrbanDesign Article

8/9/2019 JanGehl UrbanDesign Article

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URBAN DESIGN International (2006) 11, 2 9 4 7r 2 0 0 6 P a l g ra v e M a c m i ll a n L t d . 1 3 5 7 - 53 1 7 / 06 $ 3 0 . 0 0

www.palgr ave-jour nals.co.uk/udi

C lo se e nc ou n te rs w it h b u il di ng s

Jan Gehl*, Lotte Johansen Kaefer and Solvejg Reigstad

C e n t r e f o r Pu b l i c S p a c e R e s e a r c h R e a ld a n i a R e s e a r c h, I ns t i t ut e f or P l an n i n g , S c h o ol o f A r c h i te c t u r e , T h e R oy a lD a n i s h A ca d e m y o f F i n e A r t s , P h i li p d e L a n g e s A l l e 1 0 , D K- 1 43 5 , C o pe n ha g e n K , D e nm a r k

What we have are c l os ed, s elf- abs orbed bui l di ngs . What we woul d l i ke t o have i s open, vers at i l e, i nt eres ti nga n d sa f e ci t i e s. T h e c h a l le n g e is h o w to i n c or p o r a te l a rg e b u il d i n gs i n c it i e s w h e r e p e o p le h a ve t h e s a m es m a ll s t a tu r e a n d s l ow p a c e t h e y h a d h u n d re d s o f y e a r s a g o . T he r e i s n o w a c o n si d e r ab l e c o n fu s i on i n t h eg a p b e tw e e n l ar g e a n d sm a l l sc a l e s a n d b e t we e n q u ic k a n d s lo w a r c h it e c t ur e . G r ou n d f l oo r f a c ad e sp r o v id e a n i mp o r t an t l i nk b e t w ee n t h e se s c a le s a n d b e tw e e n b u il d i n gs a n d p e o pl e . F or p u b l ic s p a ce a n d

b u i l di n g s t o b e tr e a t e d a s a w h o le , th e g r o u nd f lo o r f a c a de s m u s t h a v e a s pe c i a l a n d w e l co m i ng d e s i gn . T h i sgood, c l os e encount er arc hi t ec t ure is vi t al for good ci t i es .URBAN DESIGN I nt ernat ional ( 2006) 11, 2947. doi:10.1057/palgrave.udi.9000162

Keyw ords: ground floors ; facades ; public s pace; people; int eract ion

C l os e e n co u n te r s w i th b u i ld i n gs a t a d i s ta nc e a s w el l a s a t c lo se r an ge , f or e xa mp le ,w he n w e bu y s om ething. The Kio s k mu s t bep le as in g t o l oo k a t a s w el l a s to uc h, s ta nd n ex t t o

H i st or ic al l y, t ow n s e m er ge d a s a r e su lt o f t heor w alk pas t. What w e want from the ground

e xc ha ng e b et we en t ra ve ll er s j ou rn ey in g a lo ngf lo or o f u rb an b ui ld in gs m at ch es w ha t w e w an t

pa th wa ys a nd v e nd or s t ry in g t o s el l t he m t he irf r om a f r ee s t an d i ng K i os k a n d i s v a s tl y d i f fe r en t

w ar es f ro m w ay si de b oo th s a s t he y p as se d. T hef ro m w ha t w e w an t f ro m t he o th er s to re ys . T hebooths later became bu ildings and the p athwaysg ro un d fl oo r i s w he re b ui ld in g a nd t ow n me et ,

became s treets , bu t the exchange between thos ew he re w e u rbani tes have ou r clos e encou nters

w ho c am e an d w en t a nd th os e w ho s ta ye d p utc on ti n ue d t o b e t he k e y e le m en t. U rb an b ui l di n gs

w it h b ui ld in gs , w he re w e c an to uc h a nd bet o uc h ed b y t h em .

w e re o r ie n te d t o w ar d s u r ba n s p ac e s b y n e c es s i ty.S in ce t he n, m an y u rb an f un ct io ns h av e m ov edi n d o o r s, a n d s h o p s , i n s t i t ut i o n s a n d o r g a n i s at i o n s Ground floors and close encounter architectureh a v e g r o w n l a r g e r. I n th e p r o c e ss , u r ba n b ui l d i n g sh av e b ec om e b ig ge r a nd c or re sp on di ng ly i nt ro -

I n t hi s c on te x t, t he g ro un d f lo or s o f a ll b ui l di n gss p ec t iv e a n d s e l f- s uf fi c i en t . P l an n i ng t y pi c a ll y

a r e i m po r t an t . T h e r e q ui r e me n ts f o r f a ca d e d e s ig ncomes to an abru pt hal t at the ins id e of the

become more demanding dep ending on the levelf ac a de , a nd t he e xt er io r i s m er el y p ac ka gi ng .

o f p eo pl e s d ai l y u se a nd t h e l oc at i on . T he f ro nt o r

H ow e ve r, pe d es t ri a ns s ti l l n e ed to b e a bl e t o w a lk e n tr an ce f aca d e i s e s pe c ia ll y s i gn i fi c an t, p ar t ic ua r ou n d c i ti e s , u r ba n s t ru c tu r es c o nt i n ue t o f o rml a rl y i n b ui l di n gs w h er e t he f aca d e f ac es t he s tr ee t

t he w al l s o f p ub l ic s pa ce , a nd pe op l e c on ti n ue t oa nd s id ew al k. G ro un d fl oo rs s er ve m an y p ur -

h av e c l os e e nc ou nt er s w i th b ui l di ng s ( Fi gu re 1 ).p o se s , d ep e nd i n g o n th e l o ca t i on o f th e b u il d i ng ,i t s f u nc t i on s a n d t h e s u rr o un d in g s p ac e ( F ig u re 2 ) .

Hi gh s tand ards ar e s et f or the Ki os ks and G e n er a ll y s p ea k i ng , c l os e e n co u nt e r s w i th b ui l d -

P av i li on s i n c it y s pa ce s . We s e e t he m h ol i st ic a ll y i n g s c a n b e d i v id e d i n to a fe w ma i n g r ou p s.

*Corresp ondence: Tel:

45- 32- 68-66- 48; F ax:

45-32-68-61-22; Walking alongside buildings. M ov em en t c an b eE- mail: cb f @k arch.dk p ar al le l w ith bui ldi ngs : pe op le w al k pas t or
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Clo se enco unters with building s J. G ehl et al

Figure 1. Wh at w e h av e: c lo se d, s el f- ab so rb ed b ui ld ings. What we would like: open, versatile, and safecities.

a lo ng si de . Mo ve me nt c an a ls o b e a t r ig ht a ng le st o t he fa cad e. P eo pl e g o to a nd fr o, a pp ro ac h,e n te r a n d l e av e .

Stopp ing nex t to bui ld ings , s t an d in g , s i tt i ng o re n ga g ed i n a c ti v it i es . R es id en ts a nd u se rs g o o ut s i de f or a break or to s tand i n the door way for a

breath of f res h air. Chairs and tables are p lacedalong the fac ad e w here acces s is eas y, si tter s

backs are p rotected and local climate is bes t.M er ch an ts a nd v en do rs m ov e t he ir b us in es s a ndw ar e s o ut si d e a lo ng t he f aca de .

G ro un d -f lo or f ac ad es a re a ls o a n a tt ra ct iv e p la cefo r ur ba n us er s w ho d on t l iv e i n th e b ui ld in gs .T he e dge e ff ec t r ef er s t o pe op le s pr efe re nc e fo rs ta yi ng a t t he e d ge s o f s p ac e, w he r e t he i r p re s en cei s m o re d i s cr e e t a n d t h ey c o mm a n d a pa r ti c ul a rl yg oo d v ie w o f th e s pa c e. A no th e r r e le v an t b eh av io ur al fa ct or fo r f ac ad e d es ig n i s t he s upp or te ff ec t, wh i ch re fe r s t o t he h um an pr ef er en ce f ors ta nd in g o r s it ti ng a t a fi xe d p oi nt a ni ch e, ac or ne r, a c ol um n o r s om e th i ng e l se t ha t p ro v id e sd ef in i ti o n a s w e ll a s p sy c ho lo gi ca l a nd pr ac ti ca lp hy s ic al s u pp or t. ( Ge h l et al., 1982)

It i s pr ec is el y t he se e dg es a nd tr an si ti on zo ne sbetween bu ildings and city s p aces that becomet he n at ur al p la ce f or t he w id e v ar ie ty o f po te nt ia la ct iv it ie s t ha t l in k t he f un ct io ns i ns id e t he b ui ld i ng w i th s t re et l i fe i n g en e ra l: r e cr ea ti on , p la y,s eating, s tanding, exhibitions , trade, banking,s m oki ng breaks a nd s o on. The more irre gu larthe f ac ade , the more i t inv ites and s up po rtsactivities .

Vi s u a l o p p o r tu n i t i es a re a no th er i m po r ta nt r e qu ir em en t f or c lo se e nc ou nt er s.

I t i s d es i ra bl e to be abl e to s ee out of bu il di ngs a nd pr ef er ab ly i nt o t he m so t ha t t he a ct iv it ie s

i ns id e t he b ui ld in gs a nd ou ts id e i n pu bl ic s pa cea re c o nn ec te d v is ua l ly a nd t hu s c an e nr i ch a ndi n s p i r e e a c h o t h e r.

Alo ng the facade s of the ci ty, it is be s t i fp ed e st ri an s m e et i n te r es ti n g a nd v ar i ed e xp er i e nc es a s t he y p as s b y. Mo vi ng a t 5 k m a n h ou r,t he y h av e t im e t o t ak e i n ev e ry th i ng a ro un d th em .Vis ual contact is cl os e u p and p e rs onal f orp e d es t ri a n s o n c i ty s i d ew a l ks .

T h us t he r hy th m o f t he o pp or tu ni ti e s o ff er ed i sc ru ci al t o t he r ic hn es s o f t he p ed es tr ia n e xp er ie nc e: t he n um be r o f d oo rs , w in do ws , n ic he s,c ol um ns , s h op w in do ws , d i sp la y d et ai ls , s ig nsa nd d e co ra ti on s i s s ig ni fi ca nt ( Ja co bs , 1 99 3) . I na d d it i on , w a l ki n g b e co m e s e v e n m o re a p pe a li n gi f the d etail s and di s p l ays along the way arec ar ef ul ly c ra ft ed , a nd if t he re a re t hi ng s t o s me lla nd touc h so that al l the s e ns es are engaged a ts o me p oi n t.

E x p e ri e n c in g b u i ld i n g s

T he d oo rs i n D ub li n w it h t he ir s ig na l c ol ou rs ,f i n e d e ta i l s a n d d i s ti n g ui s h ed f r am e s a r e f a mi l i arf ro m p os te r s, p o st ca rd s a nd t o ur is t b ro ch ur es( Fi gu re 3 ). T he y r ep re se nt g oo d g ro un d- fl oo ra rc hi te c tu re e ye -c a tc hi ng a t a d i st an ce , w i ththe p romis e of f ine det ails and s hi ny bras s onc l o se r i n s pe c ti o n .

E xt er ior a rc hi te ct ur e i s i ne xt ri ca bl y t ie d t o t hev an ta ge p oi nt s f or v ie wi ng . Wh at i s s ee n fr om ad i s ta n c e a n d p e rp e n di c ul a r p o si t io n d e pe n d s o nt he v i ew i ng a ng le s d i ct at ed b y t he s t ru ct ur e o f t hehu man eye.

H u ma n b io lo g ic al h i st or y h as g iv e n u s s i gh t t ha ti s l ar ge ly f ro nt al a nd h or iz on ta l. B ei ng a bl e t o s ees tr ai gh t a he ad a nd t o t he s id es w as i mp or ta nt t oou r f oref athe rs becau s e poten tial e nemi es andd anger ex i s ted l arge ly on the s am e pl ane ast h em s e l ve s . T h e o b st a cl e s h u nt e rs a n d g a th e re r sm i g ht e n co u nt e r e n r ou te s t on es a nd s n ak es a nds uc h n e ed e d a w at ch fu l e ye , w hi l e l i tt le d an ge rw a s e x p e c t e d f r o m a b o v e .

URBAN DESI GN I n t ern at i on al


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Figure 2. ( a ) C h at t in g b y ; ( b ) E n te r in g a n d l e av in g ; ( c ) W al k in g a l on g si d e; ( d ) S t an d in g a l on g si d e; ( e ) T a ki n g a b r ea kb y ; ( f ) St a nd i ng i n d o or w ay s ; ( g ) Sh o pp i ng n e xt t o ; ( h ) In t er a ct i ng w i th ; ( i ) L oo k in g a t d i sp l ay s i n; ( j ) Si t ti n g o n ; ( k ) Si t ti n gne xt to ; ( l) L oo ki ng i n an d o ut of .



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T he ref ore ou r s ens e of s i ght is w el l d ev elo peds t ra i gh t a he a d a nd to t he s id e s, w he r e w e c an s eeo r r at he r g li mp se m ov em en ts a lm os t 9 0 d eg re est o e ith er s id e. A bov e u s w e c an o nl y s ee a bo ut 5 0d e gr ee s , w h il e o ur d ow nw a rd fi e ld o f v i si on i s

c o n si d e ra b ly w i d er, a b ou t 7 5 d e g re e s . We t i l t o u rh e a ds d o w nw a rd a b ou t 1 0 d e g re e s w h i le w a l ki n gn or ma ll y a nd ca n t ak e i n a lm os t e ve ry th in g

beneath u s . Bu t of the world above u s , we s eev er y l it tl e ( Fi gu re 4 ).

Wi t h r es p ec t t o b ui l di n g a rc h it e ct ur e, t hi s m e an s t ha ta s ped estr ians w e hav e to s tand at q ui te a d ista nceto see a building in its entirety. When we comecloser, we have to stretch our necks and lean ourh ea ds f ar b ac k t o t ak e i n t he w ho le b ui ld in g, b ut f ews tr uc tu re s a re d es ig ne d f or v ie wi ng f ro m t ha t a ng le .As we move closer the upper storeys gradually

disappear from view, until we can only see theground floor, or when we are really close, only as ec ti on , l ik e t he d et ai ls o n t he d oor s i n D ub li n.

E x p e ri e n c in g p e o p le

S ig ht a nd h ea ri ng a re o ur r em ot e s en se s. C lo se ru p w e c an a ls o a ct iv ate t he s en se of s me ll , t ou cha n d t as t e. We c an sm e ll d us t a nd pa i nt , t o uc hd ec or ati ons or f ee l the heat re fl ected from a

bu ilding f acade. Grou nd- f loor f acades have a f arg re at er e mo ti on al i mp ac t o n u s t ha n o ur p er ce p

t i on s o f th e r es t o f th e b ui ld i ng o r t he s tr ee t, w hi chw e s e ns e f ro m a mu ch g re at er d i st an ce a nd w it hc o r re s p on d i ng l y l o w er i n te n s it y.

O ur s en s es o f s m el l , t o uc h a nd t as t e a re c l os e lyco nnecte d to ou r em otions ( Figure 5) . S hor td is ta nces ar e ne e ded to p rovi de intens e ande m oti onal ly p owe r fu l ex pe rie nce s , w hil e thee m o ti o n al c h ar g e o f c om m un i c at i o n ac r os s g r e at e r e xp an se s i s i mp er so na l a nd l es s v eh em en t. Wet r an s f er t h e p e rc e pt i on s o f i nt i ma c y, m e a ni n g a n de m ot i on al i m pa ct f ro m o u r m e et in g s w i th p eo pl et o o ur m e et in gs w i th b ui l di n gs . I n o th er w or ds ,

s tr on g a nd dy na mi c r es po ns es a re a t w or k h er e.

E x p e ri e n c in g s t r e e ts

W hi le o ur p er ce pt io n o f p ub li c s pa ce n at ur al lyd e p en d s o n vi e w po i nt a n d d i s ta n ce , th e s p ee d a tw h ic h w e m ov e i s c ru ci al . Ro ot e d i n b i ol o gi c alh i s to r y, t he h u ma n s en s o ry a p pa r a tu s i s d e s ig n edto pe rcei ve and p roces s s ens ory i mp res si ons

Figure 3. D u bl i n f a ca d es a t d i ff e re n t v i ew i ng d i st a nc e s. w hi le m ov in g a t a bo ut 5 k m/ h ( Fi gu re 6 ).



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14METER

23METER

12 METER

6 METER

3 METER

9 METER

5METER

1METER

Figure 4. E f f e ct i v e v i e wi n g d i s ta n c es .

Figure 5. A n i nt en se e ng ag em en t o f t he s en se s.

T he 5 k m/ h a rc hi te ctu re m at ch es w al ki ng pa ce .O n t hi s s c al e , s pa ce s c an be s m al l . M an oe uv r in go n f oo t i s e as y a nd pe d es t ri a ns c an ge t q ui te c lo s et o f ac ad es . S ig na ls a nd s i gn s a re v ie we d a t c lo serange and thus can be s mall and ref ine d.Tr a di t i on a ll y, 5 k m /h a r c hi t e ct u re i s a l s o r i ch i nd e ta i l , b e c au s e v i e w er s h a ve a g oo d v an t a ge p o in ta nd th e t im e t o a pp re ci at e i t p ro pe rl y. In s ho rt ,5 k m/h a rch ite ctu re c om bi ne s t he b es t o f t woworl ds : a gli mp s e of the tow n hall tower ord i st an t h il l s a t t he e n d o f t he s tr ee t a nd th e i n te ns ec on ta ct o f g r ou nd -f lo or f ac ad e s u p c l os e .

I n co nt ra st t o t hi s sl o w a rc hi te c tu re i s t he 6 0 k m/h ar ch it ec tu re a lo ng t he r oa ds u se d by v eh ic le s.H er e l ar ge s pa ce s a nd s ig ns a re a n ec es si ty, a nd

Figure 6. 5 k m/ h a r ch i te c tu r e, V as tr e L an g g a te n , S t o ck holm.

s in ce dri vers and p as s en ge rs canno t pe rcei ved et ai l w he n m ov in g a t t hi s s pe ed , t he m at ch in ga r ch i te c t ur e i s c h ar a c te r i se d b y s m o ot h b ui l d in g ss h o rt o n d e t ai l ( Va r mi n g , 1 97 0 ).

M o d er n c it i e s a r e h e av i l y i n fl u e nc e d by c o nf u s io no v e r t h es e t w o s c al e s . P e de s t ri a ns a r e o f te n f o rc e dt o w a l k i n 6 0 k m /h u r ba n l an d s ca p es , w h il e n e wu r ba n b ui l d i ng s a r e d e s ig n e d as b o ri n g a n d s te r i le6 0 k m / h b u i l di n g s i n t r a d i t i o na l 5 k m / h s t r e et s .

T h e t ru th , o f c ou rs e , i s t ha t t he p eo p le w a lk i ng i nou r citie s today hav e the s ame s mal l s ta ture andw al k at the s ame s p ee d they have al ways done ,a n d n at u ra l l y t h e n e e d fo r g o od 5 k m /h a r c hi t e c-



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Figure 7. P ro me na di ng a nd p an ni ng t he s ce ne .

t ur e a lo ng p ed es t ri a n ro ut es r em ai n s u nc ha ng e d( Bos s elmann, 1998) .

Vi ew po in t a nd d is ta nc e a re t he o th er f ac to rs t ha tp l ay a n i mp o r ta n t r o le i n o ur p e rc e pt i on o f pu b li cs pa ce . I f w e w al k o n t he s id ew al ks , w e p er ce iv et he b ui l di ng s f ro m v a ri o us a ng le s . We s e e b ui l dings acros s the s tree t as more or le s s wh ol ee nt it i es , bu t u su al l y f ro m a d i st a nc e t ha t l e ss e nst he i nt en si ty o f t he e xp er ie nc e. We a re l it er al lyd i s t a n ce d f r o m a s t r o n g e m o t i o na l r e s p o ns e .

O u r i n te r ac t i on w i t h t h e n e a re s t b u il d i ng f a ca d e i sq ui te d if fe re nt . H er e, a t c lo se r an ge , we c an s ee ,h ea r, sm e ll a nd fe e l a ll t he d e ta il s , n o t o nl y o f t he

g r o u nd f l o or, b u t o f t e n o f t he d i s p l a y w i n d o w an ds ho p i nt er io r a s w el l. In t he b es t-c as e s ce na ri o,there i s a l ot to s ee. Ord inari ly whe n w e are u pc l os e a n d p e rs o n al w i t h t h e g r ou n d- f lo o r f a ca d e ,we hav e no s ens e at all of the other s toreys( F ig u re 7 ) .

W ha t t hi s m ea ns i n p ra ct ic e i s t ha t i t i s t he g ro un df lo or s w e p er ce i ve a nd r e me m be r w h en w al k in gi n t ow n . A s t ud y o f t he m ai n p ed e st ri a n st re et i nC o pe n h ag e n s h ow e d t h at a l m os t e v e ry o ne i n t er v i ew e d h ad a s t ro ng s e ns e o f w h at w as h ap pe n ing at ground -f loor l eve l whi ch s hops w erel o c a t ed w he r e , a n d w h i c h d i s p l a y s w e r e p a r t i cu l ar l y i n te re s ti ng a t t ha t p oi nt i n t im e . I t w as m uc hm or e d if fi cul t to ge t a ns we rs to q ue sti on s a bo utt he u pp e r s to r ey s he i gh ts o f b ui l di ng s, sh ap esa n d c o lo u rs . C o nt r o l q u e st i on s a b ou t t h e l o c at i ono f n on - ex i s te n t b u il d i ng s w e re a n sw e r ed r e ad i l y.C le ar ly p eo pl e h ad n ot n ot ic ed m uc h ab ou t t he

bu ildings thems elves real or f ictive. Thee xp l an at i on , o f c ou rs e , i s t ha t t he u pp er s to re ysof the bu il d ings i n the city ce ntre are alw ays

v ie we d f ro m g re at , i mp er so na l d is ta nc es a ndo f t e n f r o m s h a r p a n g l e s .

The c lo se r w e g et to bu ildings, t he m or e w e p er ce iv ea nd re me mb er th e c on te nt of o ur fi el d o f v is ion .

I f t h e g r ou n d f l oo r s a r e i n te r e st i ng a n d v a r ie d , t h eu rb an e nv ir on me nt i s i nv it in g a nd e nr ic hi ng . I ft he g ro un d fl oo rs a re c lo se d o r l ac ki ng i n de ta il ,t he u rb an e xp er i en ce i s c or re s po n di n gl y f la t a ndi m pe r so na l ( Fi g ur e 8 ).

W h e re b u i ld i n g a n d ci t y m e e t p a s t an d p re s e n t

C a r ef u ll y d i ff e re n t ia t ed t r ea t me n t o f t h e i n te r fa c ebetween bu ilding and city was taken f or grantedi n th e p as t: bu il di ng un its w er e s ma ll , s ho psm od es t a nd p ub li c s pa ce d es ig ne d pr im ar il y t oa c c o m m o da t e p e d e s t ri a n t r a f fi c . B u i l d i n g t e c h n i q u e s a l l ow e d r i c h d e t ai l i ng t h at i n cl u d ed pi l l ar s ,p i l as t e rs , n o o ks a n d n i ch e s . F un c ti o n s a n d d o or w ays w er e c lo se to ge th er a nd g oo ds f or s al e e ye -c at ch in g. C it y s pa ce b ec am e al mo st i nh er en tl yi nte ns e and i nvi ti ng du e to the s ho rt d is ta nce

between exp eriences and great f u nctional variety( F i gu r e 9 ) .

T h e s t ar ti n g p oi nt i s q ui te d if fe re nt i n n ew er c i ti esa n d d i st r ic t s w h e re n e w f u nc t io n s a n d b u il d i ng sa r e i n c o r po r a te d i n t o e x i s t in g p r o pe r t i es . B u i l d in gu nits are larger and the s hops and bu s ines s esr em ai ni n g a t s t re e t l e ve l h av e g ro wn c or re s po nd i n g l y b i g g er, o ft e n w i t h a c on s i d e ra b l e p a r t o f t h ef aca de c lo se d t ow ar ds t he s tr ee t. R at io na l p re f ab ri ca te d co ns tr uc ti on f ur th er r ei n fo rc es t hel arg e- sc al e o pe ra ti on s a nd la rg e f or ma ts , as d og l as s y le ss i s m or e f ac ad es . P oi nt s o f e xc ha ng e,



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Figure 8. U rb an s ce ne s a t e ye l ev el .



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Figure 9. Sma ll u ni ts, m an y do or s. In o ld as wel l a sm od er n c it ie s a ll o ve r t he w or ld , l iv el y a nd a tt ra ct iv es h o pp i n g s t r ee t s h a v e v e r y u n i fo r m r h y t hm s : 1 5 2 0 u n i t sa nd 2 0 25 d oo rw ay s e ve ry 1 0 0 m . T he s ce ne c ha ng ese v er y 5 s e c on d s a s w e w a lk d o wn t h e s t re e t. T h is sa m er h yt h m i s a l so c o mm o n i n si d e m o de r n s h op p in g m a ll s .( a ) C h an g sh a , C h in a ; ( b ) B r as i li a , B r az il ; ( c ) M i dd l es b r ou g h, E n gl a nd ; ( d ) S an F r an c is c o, U S A.

Figure 10. A c l os e d s h op p in g m a ll f a ca d e , 1 7 5 m l o ng ,f ac in g t he c it y sq ua re i n t he n ew t ow n o f re st ad en n ea rC o p e nh a g en , D e n ma r k .

f u nc t io n al v a ri e ty a n d i n te n se s e n so r y e x pe r ie n ce sh av e b ec om e f ew a n d f ar b et we e n (F ig ur e 1 0) .

T he d ev el opm en t o f so ci ety a nd t he a tt en da ntd e ve l op me n t o f a r ch it ec tu ra l i de a ls h av e c re at eda n u rban archi te ctu re whe re me ani ngf u l cl os ee ncou nte rs betw ee n ci ty and b uil di ngs and

between p eop le ins ide and ou t have dis ap p eareda l m o s t a u t o ma t i c a l l y.

C i ti es no lon ger hol d a pp eal f or p ede s tr ians ,p a r ti c ul a r ly a t n i gh t w h e n c l os e d b u il d i ng s f o st e rw o r r y a n d i ns e c u r i ty.

We i g hi n g i n a g ai n s t t h es e s i g na l s , w h i ch c l e ar l ye ncou rage pe op le to op t f or the ir car s ando th er wi se s ta y a wa y, a re n um er ou s fa ct or s t ha td e c ry t h e p r ol i fe r a ti o n o f l i f el e s s f a ca d es .

Fi rs t of al l, p eopl e contin ue to w al k in p ubli cs p a c e s ( a l s o i n ne w c it i e s ) . F u r t he r m o r e , a l m o s t a l lc it ie s ( pa rt ic ul ar ly t he n ew on es ) h av e s ta te dp ol i ci e s t o m ak e p ub li c s pa ce p ed es t ri a n f r i en dl y,l iv el y a nd sa fe . T he re i s w id es pr ea d a wa re ne ssthat i t i s healthy a nd ene rgy eff i ci ent to wal k,c yc le a nd u se p ub li c t ra ns po rt w hi ch p re su pp os es b ei ng a bl e t o w al k c om fo rta bl y a nd s afe lyt o a n d f r om t r a n sp o rt a ti o n n o d es . I n s h o rt , l i v el y,a tt ra ct iv e a nd s af e c i ti e s a re o n th e p ub li c a ge nd a .

I n t hi s c on te x t, c l o se e n co un te rs b et w ee n b ui l di n gs a nd c i ti e s n ee d t o b e r e -e va l ua te d . We n ee dt o d e ve l op a m o de r n b ui l di n g c ul t ur e t ha t d es i gn st he l ow es t t hr ee m et re s o f t he b ui ld in gs a s g oo dc l o se e n co u nt e r a r ch i te c tu r e.

W hil e i t i s tru e that bu il dings and urban uni tsh a v e b e co m e i n cr e a si n gl y l a r ge r, p e op l e c o nt i n uet o b e s ma ll , s lo w, an d o n t he l oo ko ut f or g oo ds e n so r y e x pe r i en c e s ( G eh l , 2 00 3 ).



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T h e im p a ct o f g ro u n d f l o or s o n c it y l i f eG r ou n d fl o or s a n d pa t te r ns o f a c ti v it y i nC o p en h a ge n s t r e e ts , 2 0 0 3

T he r el at io ns hi p be tw ee n c it y l ife a nd g r oun d

f lo or s h as b ee n t he s ub je ct o f n um er ou s s tu di esover the year s . T he Ce ntre f or P u bl ic Sp aceR es ea rc h at t he S ch oo l o f Ar ch it ec tu re , Ro ya lD a n i s h A c a d e m y o f F i n e A r t s , r e c e n tl y c a r r i e d o u ta s tu dy o f th e c on ne ct io n be tw ee n ci ty l if e a ndgr oun d fl oo rs i n se ve n m ix ed -u se s tr ee ts i nCop enhagen.

F a c a de s a n d pu b l i c l i f e , C o p en h a ge n 2 0 0 3

T he s tu dy o bj ec ti ve w as t o e xp lo re t he c on ne ct io nbetween the content, trans p arency and des ign of

gr ound floor s, and the extent and natu re ofp e de s t ri a n a c ti v i ti e s a n d s t ay s a l on g t h e s t r ee t .

The 100- m -l ong s e cti ons of typ ical s ho pp ings tr ee ts i n Co pe nh ag en w er e s el ec te d as s tu dyareas . T he s ec ti ons fe atu re two v ery d if fe rentt y p e s o f f a ca d e s : ( a ) v a r i e d f a c a d es w i t h ma n yd o or s , v i s ua l c o nt a ct b e tw e e n o u ts i d e a n d i n s id ea n d v a r i ou s f u n c ti o n s , a n d ( b) u n i f or m f a c a de sw i th f ew d oo r s , b l in d or n o w i n do w s a n d f e w o rn o f un c ti o ns . A 1 0- m se gm e nt w as s e le ct ed a s t hep ri ma ry s tu dy a re a f or e ac h s ec ti on . T he 1 0- ms e gm e nt s w e re s ub se q ue nt l y d e si g na te d A a nd Eareas .

Ot he r f ac to rs s uc h as g en er al po pu lat io n mi x,p e d e s t ri a n f l o w, c l i m a t e , t i m e a n d t r a f fi c i n t e n s i t ywe re cons tan t, as the A and E are as are on thes am e s i de o f th e s tr ee t a nd l es s t ha n 10 0 m a pa rt .

B y c om pa ri ng t he e xt en t a nd n a tu re o f ac ti vi ti eswi thi n the A and E are as , it is p os s ible toi ll um in at e t he i mp ac t o f t he f ac ad es ( tr an sp ar e n cy, fu n ct i on , d e s ig n , e t c) on th e a c ti v i ti e s a n ds tr ee t l i fe g oi n g o n i n f ro nt o f t he m .

Ob se rv er s i n t he i nd iv id ua l fa cad e s eg me nt sr e g i s te r e d t h e f o l l o w i ng :

N um be r o f pe op le p as si ng by t he fa cad e p erhou rS p e e d a t w h i c h p e d e s t ri a n s p a s s e d t h e f a ca d eN um be r of p eop l e w ho tu rned thei r head st ow ar d s t he f aca d e a s t he y p as s ed b yN um be r o f p eo pl e w ho s to pp ed i n fr on t o f t hefa cad e

N um be r o f p eo pl e w ho w en t i n o r o ut o f a d oo rin the f acade

N um be r o f p eo pl e w h o c ar r ie d o ut o th e r t yp eso f a c t iv i ti e s o r s t ay e d i n f r o nt o f t h e f a ca d e ; t y peo f a ct iv i ty a nd w he r e i t t oo k p l ac e .

T he s tud ies w ere condu cte d u s i ng m an ual obs er va ti on s ( co un ts a nd b eh av io ur al m ap pi ng )d iv id ed i nt o m or ni ng , no on , a ft er no on a nde v en i ng . T he d ay s tu d ie s w e re c o nd uc te d u nd e rg o od s u m me r w e a th e r c o nd i t io n s f r om 1 0 a . m . t o4 p. m. E ve ni ng s tu di es w er e c on du ct ed o na u tu m n we e k da y s b e tw e e n 5 a n d 8 p .m . , w h e ni t was d ark bu t the w eathe r w as good f or thes eas on.

D a y a n d e v en i ng s t ud i es

T he s tu di es y ie ld ed h ig hl y u ni fo rm r es ul ts . I ng e n er a l t h e s t ud i e s o f t h e s e v en a r ea s s h o w a c l e arc o nn ec ti o n b et w ee n ty pe o f fa ca d e a nd t he

behaviou r and activity level of the p as s ers - by.

P ed es tr ia n t r af fi c i s 1 3% s lo we r a lo ng t he i nt er es ti ng f aca de s ec ti on s. P eo pl e h ur ry b y t he u ni nt er e s ti n g o r c l os e d f ac ad e s, b u t s l ow d o w n i n f ro n t o ft h e m o re e y e- ca tc h in g a n d o p en f a c ad e s.

R e co rd i ng s o f h ea d m o ve m en ts s h ow t h a t 7 5% o ft he p eo pl e p as si ng A f ac ad es t ur ne d t he ir h ea dst o wa rd s t he f aca d e, c om pa re d w i th o nl y 2 1 % o ft ho s e p as s in g E f ac ad e s.

O f a l l p ed e st ri an s , 2 5% s to pp ed i n f ro nt o f Af ac ad e s, co mp ar e d w i th on l y 1 % i n f ro n t o f Ef acades .

S tu dy in g t he v ar io us t ype s of a ct iv it ie s t aki ngp la ce on t he s id ew al k i n fr on t o f th e t wo fa ca det yp es s ho ws t ha t a ct iv it ie s i n f ro nt o f E fa ca de sw e r e l a r ge l y f u nc t i on a l, s u c h a s w i t hd r a wi n g c a shf r om a n AT M , p ar k in g b i cy c le s , a n d e n te r i ng a n dl ea vi ng s upe rm ar ke ts . T h e a ct iv it y p at te rn s i nf ront of A facad e s wer e f ar more vari e d, l es sd i r e c t a n d o f te n s p o n ta n e o u s . Ev e n a c t i vi t i e s s u c ha s c on ve rs at io ns , w ai ti ng f or s om eo ne o r t al ki ngo n c e ll p ho ne s t oo k p la ce m or e o ft e n i n f ro nt o f Af ac ad es . U rb an l if e f lo ws t o s ec to rs w it h m or ea c ti v it y: p eo pl e a tt ra ct p eo pl e.

I t i s i nt er es ti ng t o n ot e t ha t m an y o f t he s ho ps t ha ta t tr a ct e d a l o t o f a t te n ti o n s u ch a s h e ad - tu r ni n ga n d s to ps w e re n ot n e ce ss a ri l y t ho se w i th a l ot o fp eo pl e g oi n g i n an d ou t. C on ve r se l y, w hi l e t he

boring s u p ermarkets had f ew typ es of activities in



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f ro nt o f th ei r f ac ad es , t he y h ad a r e la ti ve ly h ig hn u mb e r o f v i s i to r s .

T he e v en in g s tu di e s s ho w ed th at t he d i ff er en ce i nintere st i n A and E f acade s was e ven more

d ra ma ti c t ha n in t he d ay ti m e. W he n it i s d a rk , itis more te mpti ng to tu rn you r he ad to wardso r s to p i n f ro nt o f a n i n te r es ti n g, i l lu mi n at edf a ca d e , w h e r e a s i n t h e e v e n i n g , da r k , m o re c l o s e df ac ad es o ff er e ve n le ss d iv er si on a nd ar e u ni nt er es t in g. S i mi l ar l y, i t i s o bv i ou s b ut n ot s ur p ri s i ng t hat t he n um be r o f ac ti vi ti es i n ge ne ra l f al lsd ra s ti c al l y i n th e e v en in g . P eo pl e a re o n th ei r w a yh om e a nd t he i r a ct io n s a re p ri m ar i ly r at io na l a ndn e c e s s ar y. Th e y w i t h d r a w c a s h , b u y g r o c e ri e s a n dm ov e o n q ui ck ly, but e ve n t ho ug h t he y a rege ne ra ll y m ov in g fa st er, t he re i s s ti ll a d i st in ctd i ff er en ce i n th e w al k in g s pe e d i n fr on t o f A a nd

E fa ca de s. Ty pi ca ll y, p eo pl e p as s l ig ht ed Af ac ad es s lo we r t ha n d ar ke r E f ac ad es . A ls o i nt h e e v e ni n g, th e p h en o me n o n o f a c ti v i ty a t tr a ct i ng m or e a ct iv i ty i s c l ea rl y a t p la y. F or e x am pl e , am i n i- m ar k e t w i th a w i d e s e l ec t io n l o c at e d i n o n eo f th e s tu dy a re as w as t he b us ie st s ho p i n th e a re a al so i n th e e ve ni ng a nd i t w as t ypi ca ll y h erethat peop l e al s o made cal ls on ce ll p hone s ,s to pp ed t o e at f oo d, a nd c ro ss e d t he s t re et , fo rexamp le.

Summary: wealth of experience, pedestrian

s e c u ri t y a n d c o n si d e r ab l y m o r e l i fe i n t h e s t r e etStud ie s l ike the one me ntio ned her e p rovi dei nf or ma ti o n ab ou t m an y d i ff er en t a sp ec ts o f ci t ys t re e t s, d a il y u r ba n li f e i n ac t iv e s h op p in g s t re e t s,t he a tt r ac ti v en es s o f t he v ar i ou s s h op s , t ra ns pa re n c y, d e s i g n , f a ca d e d e t a i l s , a n d t h e u s e f u l ne s s o fh av in g r es id en ce s i n c om me rc ia l s tre et s. T h es tu di e s a l so d is c lo s e n ew ph e no me n a l i ke AT M sa nd s m ok in g b re ak s a nd t h ei r i mp ac t o n th e f as tp ac e o f c i ty l i fe .

When we cons i de r the i s s u e of the imp act ofg ro un d- fl oo r f ac ad e s o n pu bl i c l i fe , th e p ic tu re i sc le ar. P ed es tr ia ns m ov e s lo we r i n fr on t o f th ecitys activ e facad es , mo re peop le s top, ands ev er al o f t he c it y s o th er a ct iv it ie s t ak e p la ce o nt he f ri en dl ie r m or e p opu la te d s tr ee t s eg me nt sF i gu r e 11 .

W he n w e a dd i t a ll up , we s ee t ha t t he n um be r o fs to ps a nd ot he r a ct i vi ti e s i s s e ve n t im e s g re at er i nfront of acti ve rather than p as s iv e f acades( Fi gu re s 1 2 a nd 1 3) . On t op o f t hi s , t he s l ow e r

Figure 11. S tr ee t l if e i n C op en ha ge n.

PEDESTRIAN BEHAVIOUR IN FRONT OF GROUND FLOORS IN MAIN STREETS

Average of all people who walk by the 2x10-metre faade segments in the seven areas studied:

75%

21%

AA

E E 1%

STOPSTURN HEAD

25%

Figure 12. P ed estr ia n b eha vi ou r i n fr on t of gr ou ndf l oo r s in m a in s t re e ts .

ACTIVITIES PER HOUR IN FRONT OF GROUND FLOORS IN MAIN STREETS

Average in front of each of the 10-metre facades in the seven areas studied:

18 AA

10 EE 5

87

ACTIVITY STOPS

In total there is 7 times as much activity and time spent in front of interesting facades.

Figure 13. A c t iv i t ie s p e r h o u r i n f r o n t o f g r o u nd f l o o rs i n

m a in s t re e ts .

p ace of p ed es tr ians p as s in g the activ e s tree ts eg me nt s g en er at es a n a dd it io na l 1 3% i nc re as ei n t ot al a ct iv i ty l e ve l .

On e mai n conclu s ion mu s t the ref or e be thatl if el es s, c lo se d fa ca de s p ac if y w hi le o pe n an di n te r es ti n g f ac ad es a ct iv a te u rb an us er s . T hi s i s i ni ts el f a u se fu l c on cl us io n, b ut i t i s a ls o i mp or ta ntto note that the acti vi ty l eve l of a s tre et i sq u a n t i ta t i v e i n p ri n c i p l e , a m e as u r e o f ho w m a n yp e o pl e c o me a n d h o w m u ch l i fe a n d a c ti v i ty t h er ei s to loo k at. A highe r activ ity le vel is thu s n otne ce s s ar il y the s ame as better ur ban qu ali ty.H ow ev er, i f w e l oo k c lo se r at s tr ee t s ce ne s a ndc o ns i de r t he m a ny g oo d i nt en t io ns t o c re at e l i ve l y,a cti ve an d s af e c it ie s, th en we m us t a gr ee th atk no w le dg e a bo ut t he f ac to rs t ha t i nf lu e nc e u rb anl if e pos iti vely i s an imp or tant i ns tru m ent f orp la n ni ng b et te r c it ie s .



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Fu rther nar rowi ng the f ocus on s tre et s ce ne s,we fi nd the m os t com pe ll i ng argum ents forp r om o ti n g w e l l- c on c e iv e d g r ou n d- f lo o r p o l ic i e s:t he v a ri e ty o f e xp e ri e nc es a nd t he s he e r p le as ur eo f j ou rn ey in g t hr ou gh t he c it y. W ha t w e n ee d

to do is encou rage an d ins is t on fr eed om ofmove ment for p ed es tr ians in the ir own ci ty.F ac a de p ol ic y a ls o a dd re ss es t he i ss ue o f u rb ansecurity.

I ns t ea d o f f oc us i ng s o le l y o n ho w m an y p eo pl ew al k, st op , s it a nd st an d, it i s a ls o i mp or ta nt t ol o o k a t q u a l i ty c o n t e n t, w e al t h o f e x p e r i e nc e s , a n dy es , th e s i mp le d e li gh t i n be i ng i n ci ti e s.

A nd g r ou nd -f lo or a rc hi te c tu re p la ys a k e y r ol e i nt hi s c on te xt a s w el l.

Case study: ground-floor studies in Madrid,Spain, 2003

A rc hi te ct To ma s Gi l Lope z c ar ri ed o ut a Ph Ds tu dy i n M ad ri d i n 2 00 1 o n t he i nf lu en ce o fe dg e z on e s a nd f aca de d es i gn s o n th e b eh av i ou ro f p ed e st r ia ns i n c it y s t re et s w i th a r e la ti v el yh i g h m i x o f f u n c t io n s ( s h o p s, of f i c e s , r e s i d e n ce s ,etc) ( Lop ez, 2003) .

T he s tu dy ut il is ed a n i nd ex f or s ev er al fa ct or s:r hy th m ( n um be r o f u n it s p er 1 00 m ), i r re gu la ri ty

( nu mb er o f n ic he s a nd op en in gs i n a ro w o ff acades ) and trans p arency. Facade trans p arency isd e fi n e d i n p a rt b y g l as s e d a r e as vs clos ed areas ,and i n p art by the op po rtuni ty to l ook i nto theg ro un d f lo or a re a, a s w el l a s t he i nt eg ra ti on o fa c ti v i ti e s o n t h e g r ou n d f l oo r w i t h t h e s t r ee t s p ac e( F ig u re 1 4 ). T h es e t h re e f a ct o rs w e r e e v a lu a te d o na s c a l e w i t h t h re e i n c r e m en t s : 0 , 0. 5 a n d 1 , an d t h ethree f igure s were ad de d u p s o that the totali n d ex o f a f a ca d e c a n b e q u an t if i e d a s b e t we e n 0and 3.

T he n t he i nd ex i s c om pa re d w it h t he n um be r o fa ct iv i ti e s t ak in g p la ce i n f ro nt o f t he v a ri ou s t yp eso f f ac ad es , as w el l a s t he s pe ed at w hi ch pe op lep a ss t h e f a ca d e .

I t i s i nt er es ti ng t ha t t hi s s tu dy l ar ge ly r ea ch es t hes am e c on cl us i on s a s t he r ec e nt f aca d e s tu dy f ro mC ope nh ag en : n am el y, th at t he m or e u ni ts p er1 00 m , t he g re ate r t he t ra ns pa re nc y, t he m oren i ch e s a n d d e t ai l s i n t h e f a ca d e d e s ig n , t h en th em or e a ct iv it ie s o n th e s id ew al ks i n fr on t o f th e

f ac ad es . T he M ad ri d s tu dy a ls o r ea ff ir me d t ha ts t o pp i n g, c o n v er s a ti o n s , t e l e p ho n e c a l l s, a n d o t h e rw ai ti ng a ct iv it ie s a s w el l a s l ow er s pe ed a nd h ea d-t u rn i ng , e t c a re p he n om e na t h at p r im a ri l y h a pp e ni n f ro nt o f t he i nv it in g f ac ad es . T hi s c on cl us io n

w a s r e ac he d b y r e gi s te r in g t h e b ui l di n gs p h ys i ca ld e s ig n e x cl u si v el y, t h a t i s , w i th o ut i n cl u di n g t h ef u nction of the grou nd f loor.O n th e b as i s o f th e s tu dy, To mas Gi l Lop ez givest h e f o l l o w i ng g o o d a d v i c e o n f a ca d e d e s i g n a i m e da t prov idi ng attractiv e inte res ti ng wal ks andg e n er a l ly e n ha n c in g u r ba n l if e :

D oo rs e ve ry 7 9 mG l as s s ur fa ce o n a bo ut 6 3% o f f aca d e l e ng thN i c he s a n d op e ni n g s t h at e x t en d f aca d e l e n gt h

by 30% E d g e z o ne ( f or s t o pp i ng a n d a c ti v i ti e s ) b e tw e e n

0 . 7 a nd 2 . 0 m w i d e t o p re v en t s ta ti on ar y p eo pl ef r om i m pe d i ng o t he r p e d es t ri a n t r a f fi c .

F ur th er mo re , t h e s tu di es c le ar ly s ho w t h at a ct iv i ti es concentrate in pl aces where the re is hight r an s pa re n cy ( l oo k in g i n wi n do w s) a nd w he ret he re a re n ic he s a nd o pe ni ng s a nd o th er o pp or tu n i ti e s f or s t op pi n g ( s ta ti on a ry a c ti v it ie s ).

Close encounter architecture in existingurban areasP l an n in g a n d de s ig n in g g r ou n d fl o or s i n

e x i s t in g a n d n e w u rb a n a r ea s

T he p re vi ou s s ec ti on s s pe ll ed o ut t he i mpa ct o fgrou nd fl oor s on publi c li fe and the generala t tr a ct i v en e s s o f a c i ty. T h is s e c ti o n la y s o u t s o m eo f t he w or ki ng m et ho ds a nd pl an ni ng t oo ls a ndp ro vi de s e xa mp le s o f s uc ce ss fu l g ro un d- fl oo rp o l i c y a n d ur b a n pl a n n i n g.

We l i mi t o ur t re at me n t t o m i xe d h i gh -d e ns i ty c i tys tr ee ts a nd d iv id e t he t op ic i nt o t wo :

W ha t c an b e d o ne i n e x i st i ng c i ti es / ci ty s tr e et s?

W ha t c an b e d o ne i n ne w u rb an a re as ?

Close encounter architecture in existing urbanareas

O ve r t im e m an y c it ie s h av e a tte mpt ed t o e ns ur eo r i mp ro ve t he a tt ra ct iv en es s o f g ro un d fl oo rs .F or e xa mp le , t he m aj or it y o f c it ie s i n D en ma rkc o n du c te d a c a mp a ig n i n th e 1 9 80 s a n d 1 9 90 s t ol im it t he s pr ead o f p as si ve b an k f ac ad es a lo ng



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Figure 14. F r om p hy s ic a l i n te r ac ti o n b e tw e en i n si d e a n d o u ts i de ( s ec ti o n a a n d b ) to a m o re o r le s s v i su a l p e rm e ab i li t y( s ec t io n c to f ) . S t ud i es by To m as Gil Lopez.

Figure 15. D u b l in , I r e l an d .

m ai n s tr ee ts , a nd ma ny l oc al p la ns s et g en er alr eq ui r em e nt s f or t he c on te n t a nd t ra ns p ar en c y o fg ro un d f l oo r s, s o m et im e s s pe ci f yi ng m at er i al sand detailing.

T h e p r in c i pl e o f g iv i n g g r ou n d fl o or s a d i s ti n ct i v ed es i gn i s a l on gs t an d in g t ra di ti on i n t he U K a ndI re la n d, w h er e s ho p f ac ad e s a nd s i gn s a re s ub je ctt o c a re f ul d e ta i l in g , re g ar d le s s o f ho w m uc h orh ow li tt le att en ti on is p ai d to t he r es t o f t he

bu ilding ( Figu re 15) . Similar p rincip les s hou ld be

Figure 16. A l th o ug h t h is s h op b o as ts a b o ut b e in g o p en7 d ay s a w ee k i t i s c er ta in ly n ot o pe n t ow ar ds t hesidewalk (Adelaide, Australia).

a p pl i e d t o o t he r s t re e t -s i d e b u il d i ng s , w h et h e r o l d

o r n ew, b ec au se o nl y t he g ro un d f lo or i s e xp er ie nc ed a t c lo se r an ge ( Fi gu re 1 6) .

We c an a ls o f in d ex am pl es o f ta rg et ed e ff or ts t oi mp ro ve t he a tt ra ct iv en es s o f g ro un d f lo or s a ndp r e ve n t n e w, p a s s i v e b u il d i ng s b e i ng e s t ab l i sh e d i ne xi st in g c it y s tr ee ts e ls ew he re i n t h e w or ld . C i ti ess u c h a s M e l bo u r ne , S a n F r an c i sc o a n d S t oc k ho l mh a ve i n tr od uc e d v a ri ou s t oo l s a nd re gu l at io n s o nt he s ub je ct . H ow ev er, pr ob le ms a re o ft en fi rs ta d dr es s ed a ft e r c o ns i de ra bl e d a ma ge h as a l re a dy

been done to u rban qu ality and the is s u e becomes

p a i nf u ll y r e l ev a n t ( G eh l A r ch i t ec t s , 2 0 0 3) .

T he f ir st s te p t ow ar ds c re at in g a fa ca de p ol ic y i sof te n to m ap the attractive nes s of the groundf lo or s a lo ng t he c it y s tr ee ts . H ow e x te ns iv e i s t hep roblem i n a parti cu lar ci ty? Where are thep roblem s s pe cif ic all y? Are the re areas wi th ag re at n um be r o f u na tt r ac ti v e f ac ad es ? W he r e a ret he a ttr ac ti ve f ac ad es l oc at ed ? A fa cad e a ttr ac t iv en es s a na ly si s c an c la ri fy a ll o f t he se i ss ue s.



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S tu dy in g t he s it ua ti on d ur in g t he d ay a s w el l a s a tn ig ht i s a v a lu ab l e s up pl e me nt .

The nex t s tep in the wor ki ng p roces s i s to s tu d yt he s it ua ti on a lo ng t he m ai n st re et s a nd p ed es

trian routes in the city and us e that bas is tod et e rm in e w h ic h s tr ee ts a nd p ed e st r ia n ar ea ss ho ul d be s ub je ct t o s tr in ge nt f ac ad e r eq ui re m en ts , an d wh er e i t i s a cc ep ta bl e to a pp ly m orel e n ie n t s t an d a rd s .

F i gu r e 1 7 i s a fa ca d e e v a lu a ti o n sc a l e d r aw n u po ri gi n al l y f or S to ck ho l m. T he s c al e h as s i nc e b ee nr e fi n e d a n d u s ed i n m a n y o t he r c i t ie s . A l l o f t h ee x am p l es s h o wn a r e f r om C o p e nh a ge n .

Case study: Stockholm, Sweden

C e nt r al S t oc k ho l m w a s t h e s u bj e c t o f a n ex t e ns i v es tu dy o f c i ty l i fe i n 1 99 0 ( Ge h l, 1 99 0) . T he s ur v eyc om pr is e d q ua li ty e v al ua ti o ns o f p ub li c s pa c e i nt h e d o wn t o wn ar e a, as w e l l a s a n i n v es t i ga t io n o fh ow t he i n ne r c i ty a ct ua ll y f un ct io ne d r e la ti v e t op ed es tr ia ns a nd p ub li c l if e. N um er ou s r ec om m en d at io ns w e re t he n m ad e o n h ow to i m pr ov ec o nd i ti o n s f o r u r ba n l i fe .

The im pet us f or the s tu dy w as the d es ire tos ig ni fi ca nt ly i mp ro ve q ua li ty o f li fe i n th e i nn er

c it y i n vi e w o f i ts d ev e lo pm e nt h i st o ry, wh i chi nc l ud e d a 2 0- ye ar p er i od f ro m 19 55 t o 1 97 5d ur in g w h ic h o ld bu il d in gs w e re t or n d ow n t om a ke w a y f o r a n e w, l a r ge - s ca l e m o n o- f un c ti o n aldis trict.

Figure 17. Facade evaluation scale. Category A : S ma llu n it s, m a ny do o rs (1 5 2 0 p e r 1 0 0 m ) . L a rg e v a ri a ti o n i nfunction. No blind and few passive units. Lots ofc ha ra ct er i n f aca de r el ie f p ri ma ri ly v er ti ca l f aca dea rt ic ul at io n. G oo d d et ai ls a nd m at er ia ls . Category B :R el at iv el y s ma ll u ni ts ( 1 0 14 d oo rs p er 1 0 0 m ) . S om ev a ri a ti o n i n f u nc ti o n. F e w b l in d o r pa s si v e u n it s . F a ca d er e l ie f . M a n y d et a i l s. Category C : M ix o f l ar ge an d sm al lun its ( 68 d oo rs p er 10 0 m ). Mo de st var ia ti on i nf un ct io n. S om e b li nd a nd p as si ve u ni ts . M od es t f aca d er el ie f. F ew d et ai ls . C at eg or y D : L ar ge u nit s. Al mo st n ov ar ia ti on i n f un ct io n ( 2 5 d oo rs p er 10 0 m ) . M an y b li ndor u ni nt er es ti ng un it s. No fa ca de r el ie f. F ew o r n odetails. Category E : L ar ge un it s, f ew or n o d oo rs ( 0 2d oo rs pe r 10 0 m ) . N o v is ib le v ar ia ti on i n f un ct io n. B li ndor p assi ve un it s. U ni fo rm fa ca de s w it h no r eli ef. N od e ta i ls , n o th i ng t o l o ok a t .



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T he m an y m od er n o ff ic e c om pl ex es a nd m ul ti -s to re y c ar p ar k s t ha t w e re b ru ta ll y p la n te d o n t hec it y s s id ew al ks r ob be d t he ne w S to ck ho lm o fm an y o f i ts u rb an qu al i ti es , of fe ri n g i ns t ea d am u lt i tu d e o f f a ca d e s t h at w e r e c l o se d , i n d if f er e nt

a n d s e e m i ng l y e n d le s s .

M ap pi ng t he c it y s go o d A a nd B f ac ad e s a nd it su na tt ra ct iv e D a nd E f ac ad es p in po in te d t hee xt e nt o f t he d i sm i ss i ve f ac ad e s a nd t he d is t ri c tsw he re t he p ro bl em w a s w or st ( Fi gu re 1 7) .

Once the grou nd- fl oor facade s we re map p ed( F ig u re 1 8 ), a gr o un d -f l oo r p o li c y c o ul d b e d r aw nu p. C i ty s t re e ts w e re c at e go ri s ed a s e i th e r:

S tr e et s w h er e q ua l it y a nd p ed e st ri an s ec ur i tyw as v er y i mp or ta nt a nd s pe ci al r eq ui re me nt sf or ground f loors coul d be mad e (s uch asc at eg o ri e s A a nd B )

S tr ee ts w he re q ua li ty w as l es s i mp or ta nt a nd am ore l ibe ral f rame work w as accep tabl e forg r o u n d- f l o or d e s i g n .

Wi t h t h at s t r at e gy i n h a n d, r e l e v an t r e qu i re m e nt sc ou ld no w b e m ad e f or n ew bu il di ng s t o e ns ur ea t tr a ct i v e g r ou n d- f lo o r f a ca d e s. S t an d ar d s c o ul da ls o b e s e t f or t he r en ov at i on o f e x is t in g b ui l di n gs

t o p r ov i d e a b e t te r f u nc t i on a l m i x , f o r e x am p l e, byo pe n in g u p f ac ad es a nd i nc re as i ng t he n um be r o fdoors .

Small miracles in central Stockholm

N a tu r a ll y, S t oc k h ol m s u r ba n e nv i r on m e nt p r es en ted othe r proble ms , i nclu d ing a mode stn um b er o f r es i de n ts ( on ly 1 0% o f t he p op ul at i on

o f ce nt ra l C op en ha ge n) , a nd a g en er al u ne as ea bo ut b ei ng o ut o n th e d es er te d st re et s a t n ig ht .

I n re ce nt y ea rs , so me o f th e m os t p ro bl em at ics tre et s a lo ng D ro ttn in gga ta n h av e un de rgo ner e m ar k ab l e u r ba n r e n ew a l t h at a d d re s s ed s e v e ra lp ro bl em s a t o nc e. On se ve ra l s tr ee ts , b lo ck s o fs hop s and hou s i ng 4 to 6- m dee p we re bui ltou ts i de exi sting car parks and othe r bu il di ngst ha t l en d t he ms el ve s t o h av in g a ne w n ar row

bu ilding p as ted on the ou ts ide of the old one.

T h e c h an g e b r ou g ht a b ou t a c o m pl e te t r an s f or m a t ion . S tr ee ts h av e b ec om e m or e i nt im at e, a nds ma ll u ni ts w ith a d iv er si ty of fu nc ti on s h av er e pl a c ed l i f el e s s f a ca d e s. T h e n u mb e r o f i nh a bi t an ts i n th e c i ty c en tr e h as m us hr oo me d an d no wther e are l ight s in t he w indow s alon g the onced e s e rt e d s t re e t s ( F ig u re 1 9 ).

Case study: Melbourne, Australia

M e lb ou rn e s e x te ns i ve c am pa ig n t o k ee p t he c i tyv i t al i n c lu d e s a f a ca d e p o li c y. T h e p o li c y r e gu l at e s

t he d es ig n o f n ew b ui ld in gs t o e ns ur e a l iv el ys tr ee t a nd u rb an e nv ir on me nt w it h a m ix o ff u nc t io n s a n d a c ti v i ti e s ( F ig u re 2 0 ).

Figure 18. M a p pi n g p r o b le m f a c a de s (C at eg or ie s D a nd E ) . M ar ki ng t he p oo r f ac ad es of a c it y o n a m ap p ro vi de s a ni n di ca t io n o f t h e a r ea s in n e ed o f u r ba n i m pr o ve m en t . ( a ) St o ck h ol m ce n tr e m a pp e d i n 1 9 90 a n d ( b ) i n ne r Co p en h ag e ni n 1 9 96 ( Ge h l & G em z e , 2 0 04 ) . T h e d i ff e re n ce i n t h e n u mb e r o f d i sm i ss i ve f a ca d es i n t h e t w o c i ty c e nt r es i s d r am a ti c .



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Figure 19. B e fo r e ( a ) s t re e t w i th c a r p a rk a n d a f te r ( b ) t h e s a me s t re e t, n o w r e si d en t ia l , w i th c a r p a rk b e hi n d.

Figure 20. On ce th e d ama ge is d on e a nd la rg e, clo se d u ni ts ha ve b een la nde d s en se le ssl y i n t he p ed estr ia n

l an ds ca pe , s te ps c a n s ti ll b e t ak en t o o pe n t he c lo se d w al ls . A h ot el c om pl ex d e si gn ed b y I .M . P ei v ir tu al ly d e st ro ye dt hi s M el bo ur ne s tr ee t e nv ir on me nt ( a) . T ha nk s to t he s tr en uo us e ff or ts o f t he c it y s ar ch it ec ts , t he f aca de w ass u c ce s s fu l l y r e o p en e d r e c e nt l y ( b ) .

T he m o st i mp or ta nt o bj ec ti v e o f t he f aca d e p ol i cya lo ng t he c ity s tr ee ts i s t o m ak e s ur e t ha t g ro un d-f l oo r f a ca d e s a p pe a l t o p e de s t ri a ns a n d c o nt r i bu t et o t he c it y s v er sa ti li ty a nd se cur it y w it h g oo dl i gh ti n g a nd l e ve l o f a ct iv i ty. T h e p ol i cy s et s t hef o l l o w in g f r a m e w or k :

S hops and food s e rvi ce outl ets mu st hav e ad i sp la y w i nd o w o r e n tr an ce m ea s ur in g a t l e as t5 m o r 8 0% o f t he g ro un d- fl oo r f aca d e ( wh ic he ve r i s t he l ar ge r) ,T he r hy th m, s ca le , a rc hi te ct ur al d et ai l, w in d ow s a nd col our s o f n ew fa ca de s m us t b e i nk ee p in g w i th e xi s ti n g s tr ee t s pa ce ,B ui l di n gs m us t b e d iv i de d i nt o a b as e ( gr ou ndf l oo r ) , a d di t i on a l s t or e ys a n d t o p f l oo r,D et ai l s o f i n te r es t t o p ed es t ri a ns a nd t he u se o fg oo d m at e ri a ls m u st b e p ro mo te d,

F ac ad es m ay n ot b e s mo ot h/ de vo id o f de ta il ;l arge facad es i n p arti cul ar mus t be di vi dedv e rt i ca l ly i nt o s m al le r s e ct i on s,S ig ns m us t b e a da pt ed t o b ui ld in g d es ig ns ,Wi ndo ws mus t be glazed wi th cle ar gl as s ;f ac a de d es ig n m us t p ro vi de g oo d l ig ht in g a tnight,

S ec ur it y g ri ll es m us t b e m ou nt ed i nt er na ll y t op r o v i d e g o o d v i si b i l i t y.

A d d it i on a l r e gu l a ti o n s d e a l w i t h e v e ry t hi n g f r ombans on s kywalks to height limits f or bu ildingscl os e to the f ac ad e li ne, one reas on be in g top re v en t s ha d ow s a nd w in d tu rb ul e nc e a lo n g t hes tre et. The type s of bu s i ne ss al low ed to r ung ro un d- fl o or o pe r at io ns i n t he c i ty c en tr e a re a l soc a r e f ul l y c o n t r ol l e d .



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Ap pl ic an ts fo r b ui ld in g pe rm it s m us t s ubm it a nU r ba n C o nt e x t R e po r t b a se d o n t h e c r i te r i a l i s te da b ov e d e al i n g w i t h f a ct o rs s u c h a s s u s ta i na b i li t y,g ro un d- fl oo r f ac ad es a nd t he ir v is ua l i mp ac t o nt he l oc al e nv i ro nm e nt , c ri m e p re v en ti on , a n d t he

i mp ac t o n s un li gh t a nd w in d c on di ti on s a ndinf ras tru ctu re.

C l o s e e n c o u n te r a r c hi t e c t u r e i n n e wurban areas

C om pa ri n g t he g ro un d -f lo or m ap pi ng o f r eb ui l tStockhol m with the traditi onal city f abric inC ope nh ag en c le ar ly p in po in ts t he pr obl em s i nn e w ur b an a r ea s a n d n ew b u i ld i n gs . T h e b u il d i ng s t he ms el ve s a re l ar ge , a s a re t he fu nc ti on alu ni t s a nd b ui ld i ng e le m en t s. T he s tr e et s a re w i dea nd t he t ra ff ic i s f as t. T he l a rg e m o no -f un ct i on al

bu ildings tu rn their backs on the s treet and clos eo ff t he i r f ac ad e s. Th i s s m oo th s tr uc tu re -l e sscorporat e architectu re is the las t l ink in a chaino f f ac to rs t ha t cr ea te d is mi ss iv e, u ni ns pi re dc it ys ca pe s . T h e t ar ge t g ro up i s m ot o ri s ts a nd t hep ri ma ry o bj ec ti ve i s a pp ar en tl y t o e na bl e t he m t od ri v e d i re ct ly i nt o c ar p ar ks a t g ro un d -f lo or l e ve l .

E ve ry th in g h as b ec om e b ig ge r, e xc ep t t he p eo pl ew al ki n g a lo ng s id e t he b ui l di n gs ( Fi gu re 2 1) .

The di lem m a aris e s w he n we als o w ant ana tt ra ct iv e c it y t o w al k a bo ut i n.

T he t wo s e em i r r ec on ci l ab le a nd c e r ta in l y n ee d at ar ge te d a pp ro ac h t o e ns ur e a tt r ac ti v e g ro un df l oo r s i n n e w u r ba n a r ea s a n d n e w b ui l d in g s.

F or tu na te l y, qu it e a fe w e x am pl e s e x is t t o s h owt ha t t hi s i s i nd e ed p os s ib le . It g oe s w i th ou t s ay i ng

Figure 21. E ve r yt h in g h a s b e co m e b i gg e r, e x ce p t t h epeople.

t h at a s u cc e s s c r it e r io n s h ou l d b e a n o n -n e go t i ab l er e qu ir em e nt w he n d es i gn i ng n ew u r ba n a re asw hos e env i ron ment mu s t al s o be attractiv e top e o pl e o n fo o t.

I t is al so imp ortant to anal ys e fu ncti ons i n ne wu r ba n a r ea s a n d b ui l d i ng s t o e s ta b l is h w h e re c l os ee nc ou nt er a rc hi te ct ur e c an p la y a r ol e. W he re a ret he m os t i mp or ta nt pe de st ri an ro ut es ? Wh ic hf acade s are the m os t i m portant? Whe re w il lp eo pl e i n t he n ew u rb an a re a c om e i n c lo sec o nt ac t w i th b u il d in gs ? W he re a nd h o w c an t h ed es ig n o f n ew bu il di ng s c on tr ib ut e t o l if e a ndv i t al i t y i n ne w ur b an a re a s ? ( Ta b le 1 ) .

T he q ue st io n i s n ot w ha t t he n ew ur ba n c on te xtcan do f or you r bui l di ng, bu t w hat your ne w

bu ilding can do f or the context!

C a s e s t u d y: A ke r Br y g g e, O s l o , N o r w ay

Ake r Brygge i n Os lo ( 19851992) s tands outa mong new urb an ar eas . I t has bec ome ane x tr em e ly a tt ra ct iv e a nd po pu la r p ar t o f t he c i ty,a nd a n um be r o f ba si c q ua li ti es a nd p la nn in gp ri nc ip le s c an te ll u s w hy ( Fi gu re 2 2) .

B ui l di n g d en s it y i s c om pa ct , f un c ti o ns a re m ix e d,u r ba n s pa c e s c a re f ul l y d e s ig n ed t o a c co m m od a tet he a tt ra ct io ns i n th e a re a, a nd a ct iv e, v ar ie dgrou nd fl oor s f ace the m os t imp or tant p ubli c

s p aces .

G ro un d- fl oo r a tt ra ct iv en es s w as f ol lo we d u p i nt he y ea r 2 00 0 b y a n in sp ec ti on o f a ll f ac ad es i no rd er t o r em ov e a ny l at er a dd it io ns t ha t b li nd edw in do ws o r c lo se d o ff do or s, a nd to i mp re ss o ns hop and bui ldi ng ow ners the imp or tance ofm a i nt a in i n g a c ti v e g r ou n d f l oo r s.

T he s i mp le reci pe us ed for Ake r Brygge has s oi mp ro ve d t he o ve ra ll a tt ra ct iv en es s o f t he a re at h at L i n st o w A S A, t he p r iv a te p r op e rt y d e v el o p ert ha t o wn s t he l io ns s ha re o f B ry gg en tod ay h asd ec id ed to a ppl y t he m ai n p ri nc ipl es t o fu tu rea re as , i nc l ud i ng t he B j rv i ka /B is p ev ik a a re aa l on g t he O sl o w at er f ro nt .

T he mo st i mp ortant les son l earnt fr om AkerB ry gg e i s t ha t l iv el y a tt ra ct iv en es s i n n e w u r ba na re as i s t he b es t i nv es tm en t i n th e l on g te rm .

T he o ve rr id in g p la nn in g p ri nc ip le h as t o b e: f ir stl i f e, t h e n s p ac e , t h en b u i l di n gs . T h u s t h e f i rs t s t e p



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Table 1 F a ct o rs t o c o ns i de r a n d i n cl u de i n t h e p l an n in g p r oc e ss t o c r ea t e l i vi n g c i ty s t re e ts

Figure 22. Aker Brygge.

o f a de s i gn p l an mu s t b e t o e s t ab l is h t h e l o c at i ona nd qu al it y c ri t er ia fo r t he c i ty s m os t p ro m in en tp u b l i c s p a c e s , b a s e d o n s p e c i f ic p r e f e re n c e s a b o u t

t he c ha ra ct er a nd e xt en t o f p ub li c l if e i n th e n ewp a r t o f t o wn . U r ba n d e s ig n g u id e l in e s c a n t he n b ed r a wn u p f o r n e w b u il d i ng s ( G eh l A r ch i t ec t s 1 9 98& 2 00 0) .

S a mp le g ui d el i ne s f or p ro je c t d e ve l op me n t:

To r e s pe c t f a ca d e l i ne s ,To e st ab l is h gr ou nd -f lo or f un ct i on s t ha t i n vi tet h e p u bl i c ( s h op s , c a fe s , r e s ta u ra n ts a n d o t he ra c ti v e c o m po n en t s ),To e n s ur e a m i n im u m o f 1 0 d o or w a ys p e r 1 0 0 mo f f a ca d e i n o r d er t o c r ea t e l i fe a n d v a r ia t io n ate ye h ei gh t,To e ns ur e a m in im um g ro un d- fl oo r h ei gh t o f4 m t o p ro vi d e r oo m f or p ub l ic a ct iv i ti e s,To s et d e si g n r e qu ir em en ts f or f ac ad es s uc h a sv a r i a t i on , n i c h e s , d e t a i l s a n d v e r t i c al i t y.



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F in al l y a s ha r pl y r ed uc e d g ro un d- fl o or r e nt c ans e cu re s m al l u ni ts , m an y d oo r s a nd a n a tt ra ct iv em i x o f u ni t s f ac i ng t he m os t i m po rt an t p ed e st r ia ns p ac e s a n d r o ut e s .

Case study: Almere, The Netherlands

A lo ng w it h t he p ri nc ip le o f v er ti ca l i nt eg ra ti on( v ar i ou s f u nc t i on s a b ov e e a c h o t he r i n bu i ld i n gs ) ,narrow u ni ts and man y d oors hav e bee n ar ec ur ri ng p la nn in g t he me i n s ig ni fi ca nt p ar ts o ft h e n e w t o wn o f A l m e re , 2 0 k m e a s t o f A m st e rd am . I n l es s t ha n 3 0 ye ar s, A lm er e h as be ent r a n s fo r m e d f r om r e c l a i me d l a n d t o a n e w t o w nw i th m o r e t h an 1 0 0 0 0 0 i nh a bi t an t s . A c a re f ulpl anning s che me that encou rages l if e be tw een

bu ildings has res u lted in an attractive town with ad yn am i c u rb an e nv i ro nm e nt h i gh ly u nu su al f or an e w t o w n ( F i g u re 2 3 ) .

Case study: Java Island, Amsterdam, TheNetherlands

S ev e ra l n ew c it y d i st ri c ts w e re d ev e lo pe d on t hei s la nd s i n A ms t er da m h ar bo ur d ur i ng t he 1 99 0 s.On e o f th e m or e i nt ere st in g d ev el op me nts i s o n

J ava I s land. Des igned by Architect Sjoerd Soeters ,t he m as te r p la n is b as e d on a n um be r o f l ar ge c i ty

blocks s tretching f rom coas t to coas t on then a rr o w i s l an d . G e ne r o us g r ee n s p ac e s a b ou n di ns id e t he bl oc ks a nd n ew c an al s i nt er se ct t heis land between blocks .

T h e J a va I s la n d d e v el o p me n t d e m on s tr a te s c a re f ul t re at m en t o f t he i nt e rf ac e b et w ee n b ui l di n gsa n d p ub l i c s p ac e s . T h e p r i nc i pl e o f n a rr o w u n it s ,m an y d oo rs i s u se d s ys te ma ti ca ll y, e sp ec ia ll ya lo ng t he i nt er s ec ti ng c an al s , w he r e n ar ro w r owh o us e s d e s ig n ed b y d i ff e re n t a r ch i t ec t s s t an d si d e

by s ide in combinations that vary f rom one canals tre et t o t he o th er ( Fi gu re 24 ).

Case study: Vauban, Freiburg im Breisgau,Germany

Tw o n e w ci t y d i s tr i c ts , R i es e l fe l d a nd Va u ba n ,with 11 000 and 5000 inhabitants res p ectively, arecurrentl y bei ng bui lt i n the city of Fre iburg inG e r m a n y. B o t h d i s t r i c t s a r e c o n c e n tr a t e d a r o u nd am ai n s tr e et s e rv e d b y t ra m li ne s t o t he c it y c en tr e.R et ai l s ho ps , o ff ic es a nd r es id en ce s a re s ta ck eda bo ve e ac h o th er i n t he 4 - t o 6- sto re y b ui ld in gs

Figure 23. N a rr o w u n it s , m a ny d oo r s a n d a d i ve r si t y o fu rb an f un ct io ns f ac in g a l oc al s qu ar e i n A lm er e.

Figure 24. J a va I s la n d, A m st e rd a m.

l in in g t he m ai n s tr ee ts . T he p ri nc ip le o f so fte d ge s h as b e en u s ed i n l o ca l r e si d en ti a l s t re et s t oe n su re c ar ef ul t re at m en t o f t he t ra ns i ti on z on es

between p rivate and p u blic territories . Combinedw i th t h e p ri n ci p le o f na rr ow u n i ts , m a ny d oo r s ,t he r es ul t i s un us ua ll y i nv it in g a nd in te re st in gw a l k i n g e n v i r o nm e n t s .

T h e r e s id e nt i a l s t re e t i n F i gu r e 2 5 i s f r om Va u ba n ,w he re res i d enti al bui ld i ngs are gen eral ly res t r i c t e d t o 3 4 s t or e y s . In R i e s e lf e l d , t he b u i l d i n gsa re 5 6 s to re ys h ig h.

D i a l o g ue b e t w ee n c it y a n d b u il d i n g

I d on t d o c on te xt , w as F ra nk G eh ry s r es po ns ew h e n a sk e d a bo u t h i s c o n si d e ra t i on s o n a d ap t in gt he n ew S ch oo l o f La w to t he r es t o f th e b ea ut if ulc am pus a t C as e We st er n R es er ve U ni ve rs it y i n



19/19

47


Figure 25. Vauban.

C le ve la nd . Ma ny e xc el le nt ar gu me nts c an b e

m ad e i n de fe nc e o f hi s d is ti nc ti ve a nd u ni qu ebu ilding whos e s trength lies in its dep artu re f romi t s c o nt e x t a n d s u rr o un d i ng s .

I t c a n o c ca s i on a l ly b e r e fr e sh i n g w h e n a b u il d i ngd o es n o t i n s is t o n a f r ie n d ly c o nv e rs a t io n w i t h t h epe opl e e nte rin g and l eavi ng or pas s i ng by.H o w ev e r, w h en d ep a r tu r e s f r om t he n o rm a n dlack of d ialogu e becom e or dinary practice ind e s ig n i ng n e w bu i ld i n gs , i t c a n al s o b e a p ro b le m .I t c an b e t oo m uc h of a g oo d th i ng w h en G e hr y s,g re at a nd s m al l, d r op b ui ld in gs o nt o s tr ee ts a nds qu ar es f ro m gr ea t h ei gh ts w it ho ut c on ce rn f or

t he n ot i ce a bl e p eo pl e e n vi r on me nt .

L ar ge u ni t s a nd p ow e rf ul c o nt ra ct or s d o n ot m ak eit eas y for bu ild ing p artners to e ns u re that clos ee n co u nt e r s c a n h a pp e n. T h e re i s a l s o c o ns i d er a bl ec on fu si on a bo ut s ca le r eg ard in g t he i nte rfa ce

between large and s mall and f as t and s lowarchitectu re.

D es pi te t he d if fi cu lt ie s , h ow e ve r, i t i s a c ha l le n get ha t s ho ul d an d mu st b e a dd re ss ed . W he n ne w

bu ildings are p lanted in p laces p eop le f requ ent,the bu il di ngs mu s t le ar n to make me anin gf u lc on ve r sa ti o n w i th c i ty s pa ce s a nd t he p eo pl e i nt he m. B u il d in gs a nd c i ty s pa ce s m us t b e s e en a n dt re at ed a s a u ni fi ed b ei ng t ha t b re at he s a s o ne .

A n d g r o u nd f l o o r s , i n k e e p i n g w i t h t r a d i ti o n a n dg oo d se ns or y a rg um en ts , m us t h av e a u ni qu el yd e t a i l e d a n d w e l c o m i ng d e s i g n .

Go od clos e enco u nte r architectu re is vital for

good cities .

Acknowledgements

T he s tu d ie s w ere co ndu cted b y the Ce ntre forP u bl i c S p ac e R e s ea r ch / Re a l da n i a Re s e ar c h at t h eI ns ti tu te f or P la nn in g, S ch oo l o f Ar ch it ec tu re ,R oy al D an is h Ac ad em y o f Fi ne A rt s, w it h th eh el p o f Qi u C an ho ng , L uc y C ar ew -R ei d, L ar sG e m z e , A l e x H a r t, N a n ak o I s hi z uk a , M i ch a e lVa rm in g. Tr an sl at io n b y K ar en S t ee nh ar d. A llp h ot og ra ph s w e re t ak e n b y t he a ut ho rs .

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