This document presents insights from Camilla van Deurs of Gehl Architects on urban design's impact on public health and livability. It discusses measurements of urban spaces and their effects on safety, health, and community engagement, illustrating changes in Copenhagen and other cities. The discussion emphasizes the role of planners in enhancing public health and convenes a conversation about sustainability versus livability in urban environments.

2. 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

3. GEHL ARCHITECTS - URBAN QUALITY CONSULTANTS
A SMALL MULTIDICIPLINARY OFFICE IN
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

4. Three questions…

5. 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

6. WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHY
SOME PLACES ENDS UP
BECOMING UNINTERESTING,
UNSAFE AND DESERTED

7. … WHILE OTHER PLACES
ARE INCLUSIVE,
INSPIRING, SAFE AND
LIVELY

8. 57 countries in 5 years

9. Public Space-Public Life Studies
- Across geography
Summer weekday

10. Copenhagen 1968, 1986, 1995 and 2005

11. UDVIKLINGEN AF GÅGADER I INDRE KØBENHAVN

12. 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

13. Brighton New Road beforeShared spaces in cities….

14. … and after

15. TRAFFIC SAFETY AUDIT
93% REDUCTION IN MOTORISED TRAFFIC - CAR SPEED FALLEN TO <13MPH
22% INCREASE IN CYCLING, 150% INCREASE IN PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY
600% INCREASE IN LINGERING ACTIVITY

17. 2. WILL PLANNERS AND
ARCHITECTS HAVE A
LARGER ROLE IN PUBLIC
HEALTH THAN MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS?

19. Mexico City

20. Time spent in traffic average 4 hours

23. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
U
SA
Canada
U
nited
Kingdom
France
Italy
G
erm
any
Sweden
A
ustria
N
etherlands
Switzerland
D
enm
ark
PercentofObesity
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
PercentofWalk,CycleandPublicTransit
Obesity Walk, Cycle, Public Transit
Source: Pucher and Dijkstra, “Promoting Safe Walking and Cycling to Improve Public Health, Am Journal
of Public Health, Sep 2003.
CourtesyofGilPeñalosa

24. 37%

25. 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

26. Money invested
50% earned in 7
extra years of
productive life
20% saved on
fewer days of
illness
30% on health care
savings

27. 3. CAN WE SHIFT THE
DISCOURSE ABOUT
SUSTAINABILITY?

29. ØRESTAD IS FULL OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS –
BUT IS IT SUSTAINABLE AS A WHOLE?

30. A CITY OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS?
CROWNE PLAZA - WORLD’S FIRST NET ZERO HOTEL
Green Key
Net Zero
Carbon Neutral

31. A CITY OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS?
DOES ØRESTAD ADDRESS SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND HOLISTICALLY CONCEIVED
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS?

32. 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

33. Case : Christchurch

35. Before November 2009
City Mall

36. After March 2011
City Mall

38. DRAFT RECONSTRUCTION
PLAN FOR CHRISTCHURCH

39. A DISTINCTIVE CITY
DISTINCTIVE CITY PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK FROM
WHICH A WELL-DESIGNED CENTRAL CITY WILL DEVELOP.
AVON RIVER PARK/PAPAWAI TAKAROŌ

40. We can exemplfy
change rather than
lobby for it!
Urban prototyping as a
way to ensure effective
use of resources, time
and money

41. WORLD CLASS STREETS
GEHL ARCHITECTS UNDERTAKES A PUBLIC SPACE & PUBLIC
LIFE SURVEY. THE WORK IS PUBLISHED BY DOT 2008

42. PUBLIC SPACES
ARE HARD TO
GET TO

44. Columbus Circle - before

45. Columbus Circle - after
The pilots focused on areas where success was most likely –
People cycled already and traffic was minimal

46. Times Square - before

47. Times Square - after

49. 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)

50. Thank you!
Camilla van Deurs – Gehl Architects
Partner, Architect MAA, PhD
External professor of Urban Design,
KUA
Boardmember, Danish Architects
Association