URBACT TALK: CITIES FOR PEOPLE
Camilla VAN DEURS, Architect MAA, PhD, Partner in Gehl Architects, External Professor of Urban Design KUA, Boardmember Danish Architects Association
Title of Your Presentation 2
GEHL ARCHITECTS - URBAN QUALITY CONSULTANTSA SMALL MULTIDICIPLINARY OFFICE IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Three questions…
1. Can you measure what you care about?Measure systems and characteristics of things or measure people and outcomes (health, happiness, safety).
Create design and policy incentives that foster sustainable behavior
WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHY SOME PLACES ENDS UP BECOMING UNINTERESTING, UNSAFE AND DESERTED
… WHILE OTHER PLACES ARE INCLUSIVE, INSPIRING, SAFE AND LIVELY
57 countries in 5 years
Public Space-Public Life Studies- Across geography
Summer weekday
Copenhagen 1968, 1986, 1995 and 2005
UDVIKLINGEN AF GÅGADER I INDRE KØBENHAVN
Who is invited to the city?Number of cafe chairs throughout Copenhagen inner city
The number of café chairs rose by 61% between 1986-1995
The number increased by another 47% between 1995-2005
Number of parking spaces in Copenhagen inner city
23% of inner city parking was removed between 1986-1995
Another 13% was removed between 1995-2005
Brighton New Road beforeShared spaces in cities….
… and after
TRAFFIC SAFETY AUDIT 93% REDUCTION IN MOTORISED TRAFFIC - CAR SPEED FALLEN TO <13MPH22% INCREASE IN CYCLING, 150% INCREASE IN PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY600% INCREASE IN LINGERING ACTIVITY
2. WILL PLANNERS AND ARCHITECTS HAVE A LARGER ROLE IN PUBLIC HEALTH THAN MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS?
Mexico City
Time spent in traffic average 4 hours
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
USA
Canad
a
United
King
dom
France Ita
ly
German
y
Sweden
Austri
a
Netherl
ands
Switzerl
and
Denmark
Per
cent
of
Obe
sity
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Per
cent
of
Wal
k, C
ycle
and
Pub
lic T
rans
itObesity Walk, Cycle, Public Transit
Source: Pucher and Dijkstra, “Promoting Safe Walking and Cycling to Improve Public Health, Am Journal of Public Health, Sep 2003.
Courtesy of Gil Peñalosa
37%
Physical health improves – cycling everyday makes you live longer
•Studies show physical activity is more important than weight for health
•Danish studies show cycling regularly for 20 years can increase your life span by 7 years
Money invested50% earned in 7 extra years of productive life
20% saved on fewer days of illness
30% on health care savings
3. CAN WE SHIFT THE DISCOURSE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY?
ØRESTAD IS FULL OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS –BUT IS IT SUSTAINABLE AS A WHOLE?
A CITY OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS?CROWNE PLAZA - WORLD’S FIRST NET ZERO HOTEL
Green Key
Net Zero
Carbon Neutral
A CITY OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS?DOES ØRESTAD ADDRESS SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND HOLISTICALLY CONCEIVED ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS?
Should we be focussing on Livability instead?
Sustainability is about the viatality of the planet tomorrow A global issue
Livability is about the lifestyle of people today A local issue
Case : Christchurch
Before November 2009City Mall
After March 2011City Mall
DRAFT RECONSTRUCTION PLAN FOR CHRISTCHURCH
A DISTINCTIVE CITYDISTINCTIVE CITY PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK FROMWHICH A WELL-DESIGNED CENTRAL CITY WILL DEVELOP.
AVON RIVER PARK/PAPAWAI ŌTAKARO
We can exemplfy change rather than lobby for it!
Urban prototyping as a way to ensure effective use of resources, time and money
WORLD CLASS STREETSGEHL ARCHITECTS UNDERTAKES A PUBLIC SPACE & PUBLIC LIFE SURVEY. THE WORK IS PUBLISHED BY DOT 2008
PUBLIC SPACES ARE HARD TO GET TO
Columbus Circle - before
Columbus Circle - after
The pilots focused on areas where success was most likely –People cycled already and traffic was minimal
Times Square - before
Times Square - after
40% decrease in pedestrian injuries in Times Square
74% of New Yorkers say Times Square has improved dramatically
42% of NYC residents shop in Times Square more often
84% more people are lingering (eg. Reading, eating)
The percentage of area employees satisfied with the Times Square experience increased by 72% (from 43% to 74% of those surveyed)
Thank you!
Camilla van Deurs – Gehl Architects
Partner, Architect MAA, PhD
External professor of Urban Design, KUA
Boardmember, Danish Architects Association