Summary of The Humanization of Urban Space

Jan Gehl

CHAPTER 01 : THREE TYPES OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

The first chapter three types of outdoor activities tells us about the classification of all the activities
that take place in public spaces these are necessary activities optional activities and social activities.
Necessary activities are all the activities that we are more or less obliged to do are all the daily tasks
for example: walking to work or to school, these activities can be performed in almost all weather
conditions, i.e. they depend on the external environment
Optional activities in which there is a desire to do them and their performance depends on external
physical conditions, i.e. they are performed more frequently when external conditions are favorable
Social activities are all those that depend on the presence of other people in the public space, these
can be like playing, talking or greeting, and one of the most extensive social activities is the contact
with other people in the public space, i.e. they depend on the presence of other people in the public
space.These can be such as playing, talking or greeting and one of the most extensive social activities
is passive contact, i.e. seeing and hearing other people, all these activities are intertwined with each
other in different combinations, i.e. they can be performed in different ways. in different
combinations i.e. several activities can be performed at the same time and the combination of
activities in inter-building life makes community spaces and cities more meaningful and attractive
CHAPTER 02 : LIFE BETWEEN BUILDINGS
In chapter 02 life between buildings tells us mainly about passive contacts but since the
pathway between buildings consists primarily of these contacts because they areIn order to
have a passive contact it is required to be in the same space, that is to say, to relate with
other people offers us sensorial variations, it offers us lively and attractive opportunities to
receive stimuli in contrast with the experience of only seeing buildings and inanimate
objects.In this chapter jungle presents us with a living city and a lifeless city in the living city
people interact with each other generating stimuli and experiences while in the lifeless city
there are no experiences in the city it becomes boring and in spite of all the formal and
colorful solutions that can be given to the buildings the city enhances us because these are
inanimate objects that generate no stimuli for us, therefore jungle is a city that is alive and
lifeless.Therefore Jungle tells us that life between buildings is more essential and relevant
than spaces and buildings.
CHAPTER 03 : OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND OUTDOOR SPACE QUALITY
In chapter 3, outdoor activities and outdoor space quality, we are told that the physical
configuration can improve or worsen outdoor activities. Here, Jungle continues to present
two cities: one city with very tall buildings. many cars few people little pedestrian circulation
and poor conditions for being on the street this causes outdoor activities to diminish while
in the city where buildings are reasonably low and are closely spaced and there are places
for pedestrian traffic as well as areas for being on the street and interacting directly with
homes outdoor activities are greater in conclusion.In conclusion, outdoor activities depend
on the quality of outdoor spaces, so activities disappear when conditions are poor and
thrive when conditions are favorable when the interior spaces of buildings are
complemented by usable outdoor areas and public spaces function well and the city
functions well and becomes a living city.
CHAPTER 04 : EXTERIOR ACTIVITIES AND ARCHITECTURAL TRENDS
In chapter 4 exterior activities and architectural trends in this chapter we talk about how the
urbanistic principles and architectural trends of different historical periods influence
exterior and social activities.The chapter talks about the medieval cities that arose where
they were needed and were shaped by the inhabitants did not develop from a blueprint but
evolved following a process of adaptation and continuous adjustment to the physical
environment, this process of evolution resulted in urban spaces that offered better
conditions for life among the buildings.The fundamentals of urban planning at that time
were based on a visual expression of the city and of the buildings. Functionalist buildings are
mentioned, which were based on physical and functional aspects as well as on an analysis of
natural aspects, but did not mention any physical, psychological and social aspects.The
influence that buildings had on external activities and social possibilities was not recognized.
A critique of functionalism and the urban areas that it proposed, which caused the
abandonment of education and the absence of public spaces, is made.
CHAPTER 05 : HABITUAL SOCIAL SITUATIONS
In chapter 5, social and habitual situations, we talk about the existence of new modes of
interaction that arise from technology, public spaces are replaced by electronic
communications and experiences are now generated through images, which causes the
abandonment of public spaces.This leads to the abandonment of public spaces and the
change in the population where there are now fewer children and more adults.This is why
we must analyze society to know for whom we are going to design and what needs we have
to satisfy. A space with desirable conditions offers the possibility to move easily and
confidently stay in it, enjoy it and helps us to relate with other people, the requirements to
project.
CHAPTER 06 : PROCESSES AND PROJECTS
In chapter 6 processes and projects for the development of community activities it is
necessary the existence of common interests which cannot be provided by architecture,
however one or another design of the physical framework where social relations are
developed can propitiate spontaneous encounters that favor the identification of those
common interests.There is therefore an interrelationship between physical structure and
social structure when entrances to terraces, verandas, galleries, front yards and gardens
where the access street is located, people can follow life in the public space and will often
meet other people in the course of their daily life. the book shows us the example of the
housing cooperative I have order of copenhagen in which you can see that they have
courtyards in the middle of the houses which leads to a very rich communication between
the inhabitants not to mention the fact that there is a lot of communication between the
inhabitants.The basic scheme that makes jungle is the semi-public space with the private
one and the semi-private one in which people can feel or can appropriate the space without
feeling invaded by it, the physical structure of the building complex reflects the fact that it is
a place where people can feel or can appropriate the space without feeling invaded by
it.The physical structure of the building complex reflects and supports the desired social
structure due to the fact that the complex is located next to a main street, having a semi-
public space the center encourages and invites to the natural coexistence to become a city
in the functional aspect the social structure is manifested physically by placing the dwellings
around the houses, which are located in the center of the city, and the social structure of
the complex.the physical layout can encourage or inhibit visual and auditory contact in at
least five different ways with walls distance speed levels and orientationpeople are
interested in spaces where something happens when someone starts to do something there
is a clear tendency for others to join in either to participate or to watch once the process is
started the activity is almost always greater and more complex than the sum of partial
activities existing at the beginning this is expressed with slogans like one plus one is three at
least or one is three at least or one is three at least or one is three at least.s one is at least
three or something happens because something happens because something happens or on
the contrary in areas of low density of social activities nothing happens because nothing
happens children prefer to stay at home and watch TV or play computer games because
outside they get bored when nothing happens older people do not find it particularly
entertaining to sit on benches because there is nothing to see.
CHAPTER 07 : SENSES, COMMUNICATION AND DIMENSIONS
In chapter 7 senses communication and dimensions small dimensions equals warmth and
intimate spaces the human sensory apparatus consists of the distant receptors eyes ears
and nose and the immediate receptors skin membranes and muscles distance is used both
to regulate intimacy and intensity in various social situations and to control the start and
end of individual conversations.distance is used both to regulate intimacy and intensity in
various social situations and to control the start and end of individual conversations
implying that some space is necessary to converse distances are used to connote different
relationships between people analogous to architecture small spaces tend to be perceived
as warm and inviting.Small spaces tend to be perceived as warm and personal, such as your
room or your own home, whereas large spaces are perceived as cold and impersonal, in
which people maintain a certain distance due to their proximity, such as in buildings or even
shopping malls, which is why there is so much talk about these buildings not being on a
human scale.The size of cars and especially the speed of movement create substantial
differences between car cities and pedestrian cities resulting in the vulgar strident
architecture that is visible in the traffic as well as in the traffic of cars and pedestrians.It is
important to note that all meaningful social activities, intense experiences, conversations
and caresses occur when people are standing, sitting, sitting, standing or walking. In short,
limitations with the senses can be encouraged or hindered in space by architects and urban
planners depending on what elements they decide to put in place.
CHAPTER 08 : LIFE BETWEEN BUILDINGS: A PROCESS
In chapter 8 buildings a process the fact that life between buildings is a self-
reinforcing process also helps to explain why many new residential
developments seem so empty and lifeless the process becomes negative
nothing happens because nothing happens the disintegration of living public
spaces and the transformation of streets into areas of no interest to anyone is
a major factor contributing to vandalism and crime in the city.The
disintegration of living public spaces and the transformation of the streets into
areas of no interest to anyone is a major factor contributing to vandalism and
crime in the city and it is also known that a space is successful when people are
encouraged to stay in public spaces for a considerable period of time and how
free they feel there.The optional ones that only occur in favorable external
conditions based on a physical configuration that should presume a quality of
the outdoor space and the social ones where the detail lends itself to
socialization of activities between people such as greeting and greeting and
socializing with other people.The dimensions of a physical project are also
clearly defended to favor the above mentioned having qualitative
improvements in outdoor activities in the space overestimating how many
activities of what duration and which ones without having restrictions for the
coexistence.
CHAPTER 09 : GROUPING OR DISPERSING
In chapter 09 grouping or dispersing as a first instance he talks about dispersion and
grouping in scale, he tells us that in a small scale, dispersing an activity can be achieved
through an oversizing of a surface area.This means that the area where the users are going
to coexist should be enlarged instead of being reduced to achieve the development of the
activities and that there should be an interaction between them will cause the coexistence
between the users themselves to be smaller and therefore a division is achieved.An example
of these are the large internal courtyards that are designed within a set of apartments
whose routes are very long or the relationship of the station is direct this decreases the
relationship between inhabitants as an opposite case in search of a grouping we have for
example the design of a market in which the area is limited to the minimum required use a
corridor of 2 meters or a little more.This causes a daily and fluid relationship between them
and therefore also relates their activities and other points to take into account in the sizing
of their spaces are light and comfort depending on each circumstance if you are looking for
shade or light, large or small spaces.We must take into account elements that will help us to
create the atmospheres we are looking for many times in the design of spaces are not taken
into account how they relate to external factors both physical and sensory level is why these
elements will help us to achieve the objectives of design.An example of these cases is a
front patio in a row of houses, this patio will ensure that there is a wide space full of sun and
will not leave aside the intimacy and the narrow space that is necessary for the street where
the users will walk through, another example is a row of trees on the sidewalk, we know
that this will help us to achieve the design objectives that we propose.We know that it will
delimit the space where we are going to walk but at the same time it will not deprive us of
the freedom that the visual of the street gives us when talking about grouping and
dispersing we can also refer to other elements in our architectural object such as the
facades, in these the wide and wide openings and the sunlight.these the wide openings and
with view towards the public part the varied accesses of users and the entrances of light will
help us to group the activities in a way that we will optimize the flow of people and the
visual relations in contrast the long facades and with few openings accesses and entrances
of light will provoke a dispersion in the events that surround them.
CHAPTER 10 : INTEGRATE OR SEGREGATE
In chapter 10 integrate or segregate is when we talk about integration, we talk about a
shared operation between spaces trying to eliminate the limitations and creating a
collaboration between one activity and another this will cause that the users can share
spaces in search of different activities creating a participation and disposition or premium of
the same in contrast with segregation that attends to the concentration of groups that have
characteristics that are different from those of the other. This will cause users to share
spaces in search of different activities, creating a participation and a disposition or premium
of the same, in contrast to segregation, which is the concentration of groups that have
similar characteristics and that can be recognized in the same place.This implies the
residential separation of different population groups, of course, eliminating any sign of
grouping that may exist between them.This space is designed to be able to develop within it
several activities and even have different types of furniture but at the same time consider
the users sharing time and space
CHAPTER 11 : ATTRACT OR REPEL
In chapter 11 attract or repel public spaces can be attractive and easily accessible or not all
this will depend on how the transition to them is when these transitions are smooth such as
intermediate or semi-public spaces, examples or front gardens, roads, paths or paths to the
front of the building.When these transitions are smooth, for example, front gardens, roads
leading to them, or storefront windows in commercial stores, this attraction for users will be
greater; on the contrary, when a space is repelled, the transition is abrupt or non-existent,
until the space becomes unattractive and the number of users who occupy it decreases.
CHAPTER 12 : OPENING OR CLOSING
In chapter 12 opening or closing the opening of a space refers to the contact between what
is happening in the dwellings, stores and adjacent buildings with their adjoining buildings,
this implies an increase in the possibility of experiences for the users, different interactions
and sensations, the interior squares, streets and private commercial galleries are an
example of closing this type of objects, since the result is the dispersion of people and the
impoverishment of the public space concentrating a whole group of users in a closed
space.Indoor squares, streets and private shopping malls are an example of closing this type
of objects as the result is the dispersion of people and the impoverishment of public space
by concentrating a whole group of users in an enclosed space.
CHAPTER 13 : SPACES TO WALK, PLACES TO BE
In Chapter 13 we discussed the previous sections on ways to group people and functions in
time and space, and ways to integrate, attract and open up activities, rather than enclose
them, when designing city and building complexes. As already discussed in this book, it is
important to point out how the various categories of outdoor activities are influenced by
the quality of the outdoor space and, in particular, how it is precisely the optional, largely
recreational, functions and social activities that have the opportunity to develop where this
quality is improved. These basic activities are used as a starting point because they are part
of almost all other activities. This is partly because many qualities are common to all
activities, and partly because larger, more complex community activities can develop
naturally from many smaller, everyday activities.
CHAPTER 14 : WALKING
In chapter 14 walking requires sufficient space adequate paving adequate physical distances
not excessive but also experienced distances for many a stretch of more than 500 meters in
a straight line unprotected and boring is an unattractive journey it also requires protection
from road traffic to avoid differences in level or stairs and to take into account protection
from bad weather the value of porticoed streets in southern Europe that provide shade and
protection from the weather.The value of the arcaded streets of southern Europe, which
provide shade and protection from the rain, must also be taken into account.
CHAPTER 15 : STANDING
In chapter 15 standing can be a necessary daily activity in front of a red light
or standing to talk to someone we know or an optional one to observe or
enjoy an environment, the latter require a certain quality of space standing
with the entire facade of a space or in a transition zone the edge effect we
stand when we can lean on something and have our back protected and a
wide field of vision.
CHAPTER 16 : SENTARSE
In chapter 16 sitting the great importance of benches and spaces to settle down in
community life is impressive this act as well as walking is more demanding than standing.
benches have to be located in protected spaces oriented towards where the pedestrian flow
is concentrated. The existence of good opportunities to sit down gives rise to the
development of many activities such as reading, eating, chatting and others that can be
developed individually or in groups, these activities are vital for the quality of public
spaces.The recreational spaces that do not have them are not crowded on a daily basis as
those where you can do it in this way is of utmost importance how these spaces are
intervened the seats that are needed must be thought favorably and must have
considerations of urban design based on the characteristics of the public space.The seating
that is needed should be favorably thought out and should have urban design
considerations based on the characteristics of the area to develop our language in the
context should also be analyzed according to an average number of users that are around
because if many of these spaces are unoccupied they can detract from the view of the same
area
CHAPTER 17 : SEEING, HEARING AND SPEAKING
In chapter 17 seeing, hearing and speaking are different issues that will influence the design
of our architectural object but they must have a previous consideration seeing is a matter of
distance and light spaces are going to influence the design of our architectural object but
they must have a previous consideration seeing is a matter of distance and light.The spaces
will favor a visual contact and relationship with the exterior when they have adequate
lighting and the distances are short or long depending on what has been sought at that
time. hearing will be determined by the noise perceived by the visitor. determined by the
noise that is perceived from the architectural object whether you want to let it in or block it,
this case should be the space designed to enjoy it depending on your intention speaking
refers to the possible conversations that can be developed within this object when we are at
ease in comfort when standing or sitting with one or more people while we are engaged in
an activity inside speaking tells us that we have to enjoy the architectural space.