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Cities for People Illustrated Edition

by Jan Gehl (Author), Lord Richard Rogers (Foreword)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 162 ratings
See all formats and editions
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For more than forty years Jan Gehl has helped to transform urban environments around the world based on his research into the ways people actually use—or could use—the spaces where they live and work. In this revolutionary book, Gehl presents his latest work creating (or recreating) cityscapes on a human scale. He clearly explains the methods and tools he uses to reconfigure unworkable cityscapes into the landscapes he believes they should be: cities for people.

Taking into account changing demographics and changing lifestyles, Gehl emphasizes four human issues that he sees as essential to successful city planning. He explains how to develop cities that are Lively, Safe, Sustainable, and Healthy. Focusing on these issues leads Gehl to think of even the largest city on a very small scale. For Gehl, the urban landscape must be considered through the five human senses and experienced at the speed of walking rather than at the speed of riding in a car or bus or train. This small-scale view, he argues, is too frequently neglected in contemporary projects.

In a final chapter, Gehl makes a plea for city planning on a human scale in the fast- growing cities of developing countries. A “Toolbox,” presenting key principles, overviews of methods, and keyword lists, concludes the book.
The book is extensively illustrated with over 700 photos and drawings of examples from Gehl’s work around the globe.
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  1. ISBN-10
    159726573X
  2. ISBN-13
    978-1597265737
  3. Edition
    Illustrated
  4. Publisher
    Island Press
  5. Publication date
    September 6, 2010
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    7.5 x 0.8 x 10 inches
  8. Print length
    288 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. In this fascinating look inside the key architectural factors that determine a city's livability, award-winning Danish architect and author Gehl (Public Spaces, Public Life) examines the factors he deems essential to a successful city. Not surprisingly, places designed without good room for safe walking and biking lead to a sedentary life "behind steering wheel and computer screen." A "lively" city, on the other hand, "counters the trend for people to withdraw into gated communities… serving a democratic function where people encounter social diversity." It's in examining architecture's psychological effects that Gehl truly shines; public spaces without comfortable seating and properly-scaled "talkscapes" evoking Italian piazzas enact a high human toll and greatly impact how the city functions at eye-level. Soaring, dehumanizing architecture has a diminishing effect on the individual, creating a shocking "high-rise" in crime rates. Even those without a professional interest in architecture will be fascinated by the assertions, like "slow traffic means lively cities," that Gehl makes. Coming to the conclusion that "a good city is like a good party: guests stay because they are enjoying themselves," Gehl keeps his latest effort engaging from start to finish. Illus. (Sept.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Review

"Jan Gehl is our greatest observer of urban quality and an indispensable philosopher of cities as solutions to the environmental and health crises that we face. With over half the world's population now in urban areas, the entire planet needs to learn the lessons he offers in Cities for People." -- Janette Sadik-Khan, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation

"This book elaborates on many of Gehl's seminal ideas, examines some of the world's cities that have successfully improved over the last few decades, and states the challenges for the future. Many generations will lead happier lives and cities will be more competitive if their leaders heed his advice." -- Enrique Peñalosa, former Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia

"Jan Gehl continues to astonish us with his insight into what really makes cities work. He has a global reach in this book based on work he has done in Europe, Australia, and America with comparative data on how pedestrians use public spaces. The deep appeal is how quickly he has been able to assist some cities in turning their traffic-riddled streets into havens for people." -- Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University, Australia

"Jan Gehl's new manifesto…Pages will be dog-eared, margins annotated… accessibly deployed framework of research and a logical, lucid framework for all the telling details and surprising data. The book organizes a set of observations that will strike some readers as obvious, others as radical, but practically all as convincing, revealing how deeply grounded Gehl's system is in common sense. This kind of synthesis is no small task, and Gehl performs it with aplomb." ― ArchNewsNow

"If Cities for People is widely read and widely applied, the world's urban life will be immeasurably better." ― New Urban News

"Fascinating guide on how to create cities that local residents fall in love with, rather than simply put up with." ― Shareable: Cities

"Jan Gehl's most recent book—Cities for People—brought with it a lot of excitement and expectations. With a track record like his, however, it comes as no surprise that Gehl's strong perspective, clear prose and rigorous research is not a disappointment. Continuing his quest to secure the importance of the human experience as a top priority when planning and designing cities, Cities for People is a succinct collection of his experience and lessons to-date. Ultimately, Cities for People is one of those books that everybody—no matter what level you are in the industry—is bound to learn from. Clear and accessible, it's a must-read for students and early practitioners of planning, architecture, and landscape design, as well as anybody interested creating humane pedestrian cities. If one hasn't read any of Gehl's previous books, this is also a great place to start." ― Re:place Magazine

"In his well-illustrated and accessible new book, Cities for People, Jan Gehl fills in the missing link in modern planning: how human beings actually function and respond to the built environment." ― Planning

"Jan Gehl's book constitutes part of a worldview; it embodies a fundamental re-orientation in the way that we regard and adopt knowledge about the behaviour of individuals and communities in the development of our cities." ― Urban Design

"...fascinating...Gehl keeps his latest effort engaging from start to finish." ― Publishers Weekly, starred review

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Island Press; Illustrated edition (September 6, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 159726573X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1597265737
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 0.8 x 10 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 162 ratings

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Jan Gehl

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4.6 out of 5 stars
162 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and motivating, with simple language for real challenges. They describe it as a great addition to anyone's architecture or planning library. Readers appreciate the visual quality, including beautiful illustrations and photos. The book is considered good for people and considers the needs of human beings. However, opinions differ on the author's quality - some find him well-written and the book has a good quality, while others feel the writing is repetitive.

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Thought provokingReadabilityVisual qualityHealth benefitsAuthor quality
14 customers mention "Thought provoking"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and motivating. They say it provides a comprehensive approach to understanding important ideas and challenges. The examples are inspiring, making it a great addition to any architecture or planning library. Readers mention the book is a must-read for architects, urban designers, planners, and landscape architects.

"...1. The Human Dimension 2. Senses and Scale 3. The lively, safe, sustainable, and healthy city 4. The city at eye level 5...." Read more

"Great book, very informative and explained with simple analogies to understand the most important aspects of planning good attractive and resilient..." Read more

"This is an amazing concept. However, it is disjointed and repetitive. This book really needs a complete re-write by a professional writer...." Read more

"...the Six Chapters, the Toolbox and even the Appendix, give the reader a comprehensive approach in relation to how to understand, to study and to..." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and worth reading.

"...A Great Architect and another great book. Worth every page turn." Read more

"Great book, very informative and explained with simple analogies to understand the most important aspects of planning good attractive and resilient..." Read more

"Gehl, excellent author and great one this book! Urbanism at its best, including the needs of human beings. great piece" Read more

"...really enjoyed the book." Read more

6 customers mention "Visual quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's visual quality. They find it visually appealing with good illustrations and photos. The concept of viewing the city through the human perspective is a key aspect of the book.

"...For those that don't live in the city, it will make a well design city a place you desire to live. Key Concepts..." Read more

"...approach in relation to how to understand, to study and to shape the built environment from the standpoint of the people who inhabit it...." Read more

"Gehl, excellent author and great one this book! Urbanism at its best, including the needs of human beings. great piece" Read more

"...Beautiful illustrations and photos...." Read more

3 customers mention "Health benefits"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's health benefits. They say it's good for people and meets their needs.

"...Urbanism at its best, including the needs of human beings. great piece" Read more

"...to anyone's architecture/planning library and also is also great for people who just getting into the field of planning...." Read more

"Good for people!..." Read more

7 customers mention "Author quality"4 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the author's writing quality. Some find it well-written and classic, while others feel the author is repetitive or disjointed.

"Gehl, excellent author and great one this book! Urbanism at its best, including the needs of human beings. great piece" Read more

"This is an amazing concept. However, it is disjointed and repetitive. This book really needs a complete re-write by a professional writer...." Read more

"This author is amazing, he exposes and makes it all clear, the book has a good quality" Read more

"...The problem, however is the fact is that it is basically a repetition of everything what has already been said in another timeless book by Jan Gehl "..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Michael
    5.0 out of 5 stars Will Change the Way You Think About Cities - [...]
    Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    I received the book fresh off the press, and the book was filled with fresh ideas about how we design our cities.

    Gehl has been in the field of architecture and urban design for a long time now. Through "Cities for People" Gehl shares his knowledge and wisdom that he has acquired through out the years. As a student intending to be an architecture, reading this book completely changed what I thought being an architecture was about.

    Who should read this book?

    City Politicians - Read this book and better understand your citizens.

    Architectures and Urban Planners - Obviously people in the design field should read it. I believe every student would greatly benefit, I know I did.

    Citizens! - Yes, I believe citizens should read this book. For those that live in cities improve your voice in city policy by having an understand of how cities work at the human level, your level. For those that don't live in the city, it will make a well design city a place you desire to live.

    Key Concepts

    -The most prominent concept in the book is viewing the city through the human perspective. In the past several decades, since the automobile has dominated city life, architecture and urban spaces have been created for the fast pace of the automobile. Buildings are bigger, with less details. Urban spaces are far too large to be enjoyable. Gehl argues that urban planners and architects must begin to view design from a bottom up perspective, from instead of a top down perspective.

    -Pictures-- Reading Gehl's book was an experience. I did not read the book from front to back. I continually flipped ahead to look at the wonderful pictures, to return back and re read a paragraph I just read. Without the pictures in the book, "Cities for People" would be a dull experience. However, there are many pictures used to emphasize certain points. Gehl could have thrown tons of numbers at you(which he does have plenty of statistical data), instead he shows you the difference between a car friendly street and a pedestrian friendly street. He shows how a long street with no windows or lights scares people away, compared to a street with open shops and outdoor cafes have an exuberant human interaction.

    -Walking, Bicycling ,Staying and Meeting -- Most of the book focuses on getting more people walking and bicycling as means of transportation. Walking and Cycling can also lead to staying in urban spaces and meeting people.

    Table of Contents (Chapter Titles)
    1. The Human Dimension
    2. Senses and Scale
    3. The lively, safe, sustainable, and healthy city
    4. The city at eye level
    5. Life, space, buildings -- in that order
    6. Developing cities

    The only criticism I have with the book is that Gehl focuses entirely on out door space. Most of what he tells us should apply to indoors, but it would be nice if Gehl took his ideas into the buildings not just outside.

    A Great Architect and another great book. Worth every page turn.
    21 people found this helpful
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  • Amit Shkedy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Great book, very informative and explained with simple analogies to understand the most important aspects of planning good attractive and resilient cities
    Helpful
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  • James T. Ryan
    5.0 out of 5 stars great read for all
    Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    let's travel, check these places out, see if his reviews hold up to my expectations.
    Helpful
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  • Bitbanger
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating but disjointed
    Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is an amazing concept. However, it is disjointed and repetitive. This book really needs a complete re-write by a professional writer. That should make it more appealing to the greater audience.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Rene Ariza Cruz
    5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive approach about the relation between the human scale and the built environment
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    If you are interested in how to shape cities that take into account the human scale, this book is for you. The Foreword, the Preface, the Six Chapters, the Toolbox and even the Appendix, give the reader a comprehensive approach in relation to how to understand, to study and to shape the built environment from the standpoint of the people who inhabit it. A must read for architects, urban designers, urban planners and landscape architects (both students and professionals).
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Gaby
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cities for People
    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Gehl, excellent author and great one this book! Urbanism at its best, including the needs of human beings. great piece
    Helpful
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  • Fernanda Viteri
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This author is amazing, he exposes and makes it all clear, the book has a good quality
    Helpful
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  • Leon Anderson
    5.0 out of 5 stars good reading especialiy for people interested in city planning
    Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    good thoughts for our future...a must read for anyone interested in up to date thinking regarding city planning...recommended. really enjoyed the book.
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • John Cawley
    5.0 out of 5 stars A classic
    Reviewed in Canada on November 23, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Insights from this cutting edge urbanist
    Report
  • Juliana Balbuena
    5.0 out of 5 stars perfect condition, arrived before predicted
    Reviewed in Spain on December 10, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    perfect condition, arrived before predicted
    Report
  • Tammy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reliable and fast
    Reviewed in Australia on December 14, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The book was in excellent condition.
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  • VAN HAMME CHRISTOPHE
    5.0 out of 5 stars Livre essentiel pour comprendre où et comment nous vivons.
    Reviewed in France on June 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Clair et bien illustré ce livre devrait être un point de passage obligé, voire obligatoire, de tout professionnel de l'immobilier. Architectes,promoteurs,particuliers en quête d'une acquisition,tous devraient connaître les notions présentées dans ce livre.
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  • Dr. iur. Joachim Fritz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Top Buch - Alle die im Green & Smart City Bereich unterwegs sind ein must
    Reviewed in Germany on April 26, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Lieferung hat etwas länger gedauert - aber letzendlich hat sich das Warten voll ausgezahlt.
    Ein must have für alle Stadtplanen - Jan Gehl ist leader
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