If you’re familiar with the work of Jan Gehl, you probably know his saying that we should “measure what we care about.” In the case of cities, it’s important to not just measure car traffic or property values, but also the activities of people in public space. By tangibly capturing how people relate to their urban environments, we […]

Racial segregation in U.S. cities is no accident. As historians have extensively documented, our unequal social landscape is in large part the result of specific urban policies, from redlining and zoning to highway construction and suburban incorporation. These are the banal instruments that have shaped economic and health disparities in communities across the country. [1] […]

Gehl Institute is thrilled to announce the release of A Mayor’s Guide to Public Life, with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. There are few greater legacies a mayor can leave behind than investing in public life: the everyday social life of streets, parks and plazas, and spaces between buildings. When […]

Everyone deserves to feel safe in public space. But oftentimes the design, planning, and especially policing efforts that are meant to improve safety in cities actually deplete residents’ quality of life. Spaces designed to be defensive and uncomfortable to certain groups often become unwelcoming to everyone. Such defensive spaces, in turn, usually fail to attract […]

It’s well-known that social networks are a major driver of wellness. Less recognized, however, is the role that public spaces play in forging those social connections. Research shows that our common spaces have the potential to strengthen community bonds and expose people to difference, and that even indirect passive social interactions can foster a sense […]

Thank you to all who submitted questions for Open Call: Proposals for Public Life! Please find the question answers below. To indicate your interest in applying for this grant and to be added to the email list please email admin@gehlinstitute.org Q&As Is the competition open to teams in non-U.S. cities? No, this specific competition is for U.S.-based […]

Public space matters.  Everyone deserves access to inclusive public spaces, whether to spend time with friends, participate in civic actions, or sit alone. Public space is the fabric through which many of us live our daily lives, where strangers can coexist and community bonds can be strengthened. At Gehl Institute, we work to make public […]