By that time nothing was known about this subject, and I (and other researchers in other countries) had to start from square one: Very good questions indeed, which led to me going back to school of architecture for another 40 years to find out more about people and architecture. Then, just after my graduation, I married a psychologist and suddenly I was confronted with a completely new set of questions: “Why are you architects not interested in people?” And: “Why do they not teach you anything about people in the architecture schools?” I left the School of Architecture eager to do all these new fantastic things for mankind.

Actually a rather technocratic approach to cities and housing. Instead of a focus on spaces as in the past, the focus must by now be on the buildings. And the main subject for students in the late 1950s was training to be a good Modernist: areas for living, working, recreation and communication should always be separated. In 1960 I graduated as an Architect from the Royal Academy School of Architecture in Copenhagen.

Jan, having dedicated most of your professional career to urban design and city development projects around the world, do you remember what first drew your attention to how city planning and architecture influence public life? In this interview he shares his story: how it all began, what motivates him, the success factors of good urban planning and which challenges city developers and managers will face in the years ahead.Īlso: what he thinks about “ placemaking” and what helped Copenhagen to become the prototype of a livable city. Jan Gehl has made himself quite a name as the “guru” of city liveability and people-friendly urban design.

Cities for People by Jan Gehl