Ian Mulcahey

Global Practice LeaderPlanning & Urban Design

Gensler December 2010

Hyde Park, London Central Park, New York Park Vorob’evy Gory, Moscow

Dubai International Financial Centre, UAE

Saadiyat Island

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Saadiyat Island

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Vasilievsky Island Master Plan, St Petersburg

Vasilievsky Island Master Plan,

St Petersburg

Clyde Gateway Master Plan, Glasgow, UK

Heydar Aliev Prospekt, Baku Azerbaijan

Heydar Aliev Prospekt, Baku Azerbaijan

O2 Arena Greenwich Peninsula, UK

New Darling Park, Competition, Sydney Australia

Future City

Finding One: Open space is an intrinsic part of people’s lives

70% of respondents using open spaces at least once a week and almost one third using it every day.

Only 3% said they never used open space.

Respondents at the director–level & above use open spaces more frequently than managers and those in more junior positions

The survey results indicate a strong correlation between the quality of an open space, its usage and assessment of value.

Finding two: All believe in the commercial value of open space

Just to maintain the provision of open space at the current ratio, London will need an additional 1100 ha of open space, which is equivalent to five Parks the size of the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London.

Open Space Provision: The Ideal Formula

The ideal formula by Patrick Abercrombie 1.62 ha / 1000 people

London River Park

London River Park

Vorobiev Hills Ferris Wheel, Moscow

Vorobiev Hills Ferris Wheel, Moscow

Plan the buildings and Plan the Spaces.

Ensure a hierarchy of open space

Plan the Great Parks.

Open space isn’t just for the residents.

Urban open space needs to be activated

and managed

Future City Planning?

Thank you

The buildings will

come and go but

the squares, the

parks and the

major civic

spaces have a

habit of remaining

Gensler December 2010