World-renowned architect is bringing the public back to public spaces

8 May 2007

World-leading expert Danish Architect Professor Jan Gehl and his team have been engaged by the City of Sydney to conduct a Public Spaces and Public Life survey just as he has done in London, Copenhagen, Wellington, Stockholm, Rotterdam and Zurich.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said Gehl's study will be a landmark urban design initiative for the City to help strike a balance between people, cars and the built form.

"It is essential Sydney remains a global and competitive city and to do that we must ensure accessibility and desirability," she said.

"Gehl's work achieves this by focusing on energising city centres and breathing new life into poorly used areas.

"His Sydney study has been commissioned by the City to feed into our long-term strategic plan - Sydney 2030.

"Public space is a vital component of a vibrant, global city and also adds to the enjoyment and happiness of workers, residents and visitors.

"Gehl's survey will form the framework to shape and increase public space usage to ensure Sydney is an enjoyable and functional place for everyone," Ms Moore said.

Professor Jan Gehl said: "A good city is like a good party - people stay longer than they planned to because they are enjoying themselves.

"With smaller households, longer lives and increasingly spread dwellings, the public realm and public life obtains an increasingly important role as the direct meeting place between society and the individual.

"A good public realm where people from all walks of life naturally and casually meet is important for democracy, social cohesion in society, the notion of an 'open city' and the feeling of safety," Prof Gehl said.

The study will focus on the CBD, William Street, Broadway and Oxford Street.

The survey will include:

• Fieldwork by a team of urban designers;
• Mapping of activities such as children playing, sidewalk merchants, sitting on benches to determine the quality of urban spaces and busking;
• Counting pedestrian traffic and movement patterns to provide a clearer understanding of how street usage is prioritised;
• Analysis of connections with surrounding villages, traffic, parking, pedestrian and car conflict, travel time, types of night time activities and street furniture; and
• Recommendations for quality improvements to spaces.

Media Contact:
Josh MacKenzie 0402 351 459

Related Resources

 Jan Gehl media conference (11MB, MP3)
8 May 2007

With Prof Gehl and Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP

Gehl Architects website


Prof Jan Gehl