A review by tbauman
Cities for People, by Jan Gehl
4.0
This is a good textbook-like book about how cities should be designed. Gehl focuses on the experience of a pedestrian and how elements of buildings, sidewalks, and roads can make or break the walking experience. The author loves old European cities, particularly Venice, and hates cars. This book is a little idealistic. It doesn't talk much about how a car-oriented city can gradually incorporate what Gehl calls "the human element," instead focusing on new cities and very old cities.
This book is pretty repetitive, which can make it a little boring to read straight through. It also doesn't have the passion of The Death and Life of Great American Cities, or the pragmatism of the Walkable City. Overall, though, it's a good overview of modern urban planning thought.
This book is pretty repetitive, which can make it a little boring to read straight through. It also doesn't have the passion of The Death and Life of Great American Cities, or the pragmatism of the Walkable City. Overall, though, it's a good overview of modern urban planning thought.