Season 3: Reading with Eric & Sara Joy

Episode 3 - Cities for people

What happens when an architect starts paying attention to how people actually use buildings and public spaces? Find out as Eric talks with Sara Joy about Jan Gehl's Cities for People, the book that captures his seemingly mundane, yet revolutionary observations about people and the ways they use public space.

Jan Gehl is an architect who believes that paying attention to how actual humans interact with buildings and public spaces is the most important factor to consider when building or developing these spaces. This seemingly obvious approach actually makes Gehl an anomaly in his field. But, it also makes him very successful in developing places where people choose to spend time even when they don’t have to. For this reason, Gehl has been a popular consultant who has worked for major cities throughout the world. Gehl’s book is on the expensive side, but well worth it. It also could look a little intimidating, but it is a very accessible and interesting read.