Danish architect Jan Gehl played an important role in turning Strøget into a pedestrian
street, and he and his followers have been at the forefront of innovative designs to promote
the “life between buildings” that Strøget exemplifies.
Gehl argues that designs that encourage people to spend time outdoors and that facilitate
interacting with other people outdoors can make a big difference in city dwellers’ quality of
life.
The heart of Gehl’s theory involves four dualities: designs that assemble rather than
disperse, integrate rather than segregate, invite rather than repel, and open up rather than
close in.
street, and he and his followers have been at the forefront of innovative designs to promote
the “life between buildings” that Strøget exemplifies.
Gehl argues that designs that encourage people to spend time outdoors and that facilitate
interacting with other people outdoors can make a big difference in city dwellers’ quality of
life.
The heart of Gehl’s theory involves four dualities: designs that assemble rather than
disperse, integrate rather than segregate, invite rather than repel, and open up rather than
close in.
