Jan Gehl Quotes

• First life, then spaces, then buildings - the other way around never works.

  Jan Gehl

  Space, Way, Firsts

  273 Copy quote

• A good city is like a good party - people stay longer than really necessary, because they are enjoying themselves.

  Jan Gehl

  Party, Cities, People

  273 Copy quote

• Cultures and climates differ all over the world, but people are the same. They’ll gather in public if you give them a good place to do it.

  Jan Gehl

  People, Giving, Climate

  269 Copy quote

• In a Society becoming steadily more privatized with private homes, cars, computers, offices and shopping centers, the public component of our lives is disappearing. It is more and more important to make the cities inviting, so we can meet our fellow citizens face to face and experience directly through our senses. Public life in good quality public spaces is an important part of a democratic life and a full life.

  Jan Gehl

  Home, Cities, Shopping

  270 Copy quote

• Only architecture that considers human scale and interaction is successful architecture.

  Jan Gehl

  Successful, Architecture, Scales

  208 Copy quote

• Cities must urge urban planners and architects to reinforce pedestrianism as an integrated city policy to develop lively, safe, sustainable and healthy cities. It is equally urgent to strengthen the social function of city space as a meeting place that contributes toward the aims of social sustainability and an open and democratic society.

  Jan Gehl

  Cities, Space, Healthy

  Jan Gehl (2013). “Cities for People”, p.6, Island Press

  214 Copy quote

• Nothing in this world is more simple and more cheap than making cities that provide better for people.

  Jan Gehl

  Badass, Simple, Bad Ass

  140 Copy quote

• A good city is like a good party. People don't want to leave early.

  Jan Gehl

  Party, Cities, People

  100 Copy quote

• If you make more roads, you will have more traffic.

  Jan Gehl

  Traffic, Ifs

  84 Copy quote

• An endless number of green buildings doesn't make a sustainable city.

  Jan Gehl

  Cities, Numbers, Green

  88 Copy quote

• Make it nice where you are, and put the density on top.

  Jan Gehl

  Nice, Density, Where You Are

  70 Copy quote

• Something happens because something happens because something happens

  Jan Gehl

  Happens, Things Happen

  Jan Gehl (2011). “Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space”, p.75, Island Press

  96 Copy quote

• I find it striking that the quality of the urban habitat of homo sapieans is so weakly researched compared to the habitats of gorillas, elephants, and Bengal tigers and panda bears in China…you hardly see anything on the habitat of man in the urban environment.

  Jan Gehl

  Men, Elephants, Quality

  85 Copy quote

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