PUBLIC SPACES AND PUBLIC LIFE CITY OF ADELAIDE : 2002 Clients South Australian Government : Planning SA Roma Mitchell House, 136 North Terrace, GPO Box 1815, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. Assisting offi cers: www.planningsa.gov.au Telephone - 08 8303 0600 Planning SA Peter Dungey, coordinator City of Adelaide Jason Green Alan Merchant Colonel Light Centre, 25 Pirie Street, GPO Box 2252, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia Philippe Mortier www.adelaidecitycouncil.com Paul Stark Telephone - 08 8203 7203 Shari Sutherland John Tagliaferri Capital City Committee First Floor, 50 Pirie Street, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia City of Adelaide www.capcity.adelaide.sa.gov.au Eleanor Button, coordinator Telephone - 08 8207 2319 Alan Fairley Michael Flehr Barbara Meldrum, coordinator Nick Nash Consultant Clem Parrish Faye Patterson GEHL Architects Aps Urban Quality Consultants Jan Gehl, Architect MAA, Dr. Litt. & Helle Lis Søholt, Architect MAA, M.Arch. (Uni. of Wash.) Strandgade 100, Bygning N, DK-1401 Copenhagen, Denmark tlf.: +45 32 950 951 fax: +45 32 950 958 Assisting students: [email protected] www.gehlarchitects.dk Nitsan Atkinson Project managers: David Case Jan Gehl, Architect MAA, Dr. Litt. Paul Cooksey Helle Søholt, Architect MAA, M.Arch. Philip Cottrell Dorna Darab-Isfahani Project co-ordinator: Stephen Darley Henriette Mortensen, Architect MAA Brett Grimm Paula Hansard Project team: John Kearie Louise Grassov, Architect MAA John Lewis Line Spangsmark, Stud.Arch Christine Mifsud Mohammed Quad Corey Trezise Further copies of this report can be downloaded from the above websites Catherine Twaddle Michele Williams ISBN 1876 702 672 | July 2002 Public Spaces and Public Life CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Ideology + methodology 6 Characteristics of a good city 8 Life in the public spaces 10 Public spaces - quality demands 11 The invaded and the abandoned city 12 The reconquered city 13 The Copenhagen development 14 PART 1. PUBLIC SPACES Study area - comparison with similar cities 19 Areas of high pedestrian use 20 The public squares - waiting to be developed for pedestrians 22 Wide streets - offering many opportunities 24 The poor north-south connections 26 Heavy through traffi c - in the city cente 28 Off-street car parks - confl icts with pedestrians 30 Conditions for pedestrians - low priority in the city centre 32 Cycling - a half hearted gesture 34 Evaluation of street frontages and ground level activity 36 Attractive street frontages 38 Unattractive street frontages 39 Evening activities - towards a 24 hour city 40 Rundle Mall 42 Central Market 43 River Torrens - a well kept secret 44 Park Lands - a recreational potential 45 PART 2. PUBLIC LIFE Study area - public life studies 48 Pedestrian traffi c on a summer weekday 50 Pedestrian traffi c on a summer Saturday 56 Outdoor seating 60 Spending time in the city 62 Age distribution 66 PART 3. RECOMMENDATIONS 70 1. Capitalize on the unique qualities 72 2. A better city for walking 74 3. A better city for staying 76 4. Reduce through traffi c 78 5. A beautiful city 80 6. A diverse, safe and lively city SUMMARY AND REFLECTIONS 82 Summary - recommendations 84 Refl ections Public Spaces and Public Life IDEOLOGY AND METHODOLOGY Public Spaces and Public Life - Page 6 IDEOLOGY AND METHODOLOGY Reasons for studying public life in cities There is more focus than ever before on the human dimen- Information about public life Part 1 - Public Spaces - is a descriptive analysis of the actual sion in city planning and the need for quality in the public Most cities have excellent statistics about traffi c fl ows and physical conditions provided for pedestrians. realm of our cities. Cities all over the world are rediscovering parking patterns. Thus the issues of traffi c and parking are How are the public spaces composed ? their public spaces and a general awareness has been awak- generally well represented in planning processes. However, How large are the areas available for pedestrian traffi c and public life ened regarding the need for dignifi ed, high quality city envi- when it comes to insight and information about city quality and where are they situated ? What are the conditions offered for walking and spending time in the ronments for people. People are invited to repossess their as seen from a pedestrian point of view and about how the city? cities and restrictions are being made to reduce parking and public spaces actually function for the people who use the What is the traffi c situation like? What are the major confl icts with traffi c in central city areas in order to make room for more city, only very little information is usually available. pedestrian movements ? people oriented activities. Two opposite directions in city planning can presently be It is the purpose of this study to collect such information and Part 2 - Public Life - presents a survey of pedestrian activi- identifi ed. In some cities walking and public life are disap- make it easily accessible to the residents, politicians, city plan- ties which discloses how many people walk in the city; where pearing, emphasizing that life is becoming more and more ners, business associations and other groups who work to they walk; how many people stay in the city; what do they do; privatized. In other cities public life is carefully supported improve the quality of the city centre. The collection of such what kind of facilities are offered for walking and staying. by the introduction of good pedestrian environments in information will serve as a useful tool for the ongoing work How is Adelaide’s city centre used on typical summer days ? order to suppplement the private life spheres with a well of improving the quality of the public spaces. It will make it How many people are walking in the streets ? functioning public domain offering a wide range of attrac- possible in the future to follow new trends, identify changes in How many activities are going on ? tive public activities. The fact that people in all parts of the the use pattern of the city, as well as creating a general public How are the streets, squares and parks used ? world respond eagerly and enthusiastically to these new awareness of people in the city and the quality of the city. Which groups in the population use the spaces in the city centre ? opportunities for walking and participating in public life in public spaces, indicates that walking environments and other Part 3 - Recommendations - Based on the above mentioned types of public spaces where people can meet are important analysis and use surveys a general evaluation of the pedes- assets in present day society (possibly even more so than 20, trian activity patterns as well as the quality offered for people 30 or 50 years ago). In a world being steadily privatized public by the public spaces will be highlighted. Finally problems and spaces are gaining in importance. potentials in Adelaide city centre will be outlined and sug- gestions and broad strategies for quality improvement will GEHL Architects The Public Spaces and Public Life study in Adelaide: be presented. The work at GEHL Architects is carried out on the basis of Dr. Purpose and methods Litt. Jan Gehls work of the past 30 years. The work of Jan Gehl The Public Spaces and Public Life studies have been the main The process includes“Life Between Buildings” a humanistic approach to area of work for GEHL Architects during the last 15 years. The The project started in January 2002 in Adelaide where a urban design and city planning. It is the strong belief of both surveys and recommendations included in the study reports team was set up consisting of architecture, planning and Jan Gehl and GEHL Architects that planning carried out with serve as guidelines for politicians and planners to agree on landscape students from the universities, offi cers from City of the human dimension in mind will produce durable, high future common goals. The studies consist of three parts, Adelaide and from Planning SA guided by GEHL Architects. quality solutions. which provide substantial knowledge of how the city is used The students carried out the fi eld studies which took place in a number of key positions in the city and did behavioural and how it can be improved. GEHL Architects has achieved insight into the specifi c prob- One intention of this report is to highlight the fact that mapping in the most important public spaces. The planning lems related to Australian cities through previous work in changes can happen over a longer time frame e.g. Copenha- offi cers and some of the students joined in 5 different task Melbourne and Perth and also through Jan Gehl´s year-long gen where a persistent wish for a better city for people has forces - each with a specifi c area of study. During an intense experience and numerous travels to the Australian continent. resulted in a city much improved today - 40 years after the fi rst work period a number of important fi ndings were made and His Australian and world-wide experience makes it possible improvements commenced. the week concluded with a seminar where the different task to compare Adelaide to other similar cities in order to identify The Adelaide study area contains the areas of greatest public forces presented their fi ndings. what can be achieved in Adelaide. This experience also cre- and commercial activity in the city. The recommendations put The material presented in Adelaide is part of this report and ates an awareness that Adelaide is not a European city, but forward in the third part of the report are both strategic com- serves together with surveys and fi ndings made in the period a city of the new world with the qualities and problems that ments - relating to the City´s broader “square mile” as well as from January to June 2002, as the basis upon which recom- implies. It is with this in mind that the following study has comments regarding specifi c locations within the study area. mendations and conclusions have been made. been conducted. Public Spaces and Public Life - Page 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD CITY In order to carry out a qualitative analysis of the public spaces, a yardstick for the evaluation is applied. The quality of the public spaces is viewed from a pedestrian perspective, walking at a pace of 5 kilometres per hour. A good city is defi ned in the following terms: A Good City to walk in and to stay in for a while Room to walk with dignity, integrity and without overcrowding Comfortable climatic conditions. Sun and shade depending on the season and protection from the wind Pleasant facades at street level to stroll alongside and observe Good conditions for people with disabilities and people with prams Clear structure in the pedestrian system. It should be easy to fi nd your way around A pedestrian system that connects important destinations Ability to promenade through the city Good walking rhythm with few interruptions Few and short waiting times at intersections Many well placed benches Widespread secondary seating such as steps and edges of planter boxes Well-situated cafes and outdoor restaurants Beautiful and effective lighting A Good City for social and cultural exchanges Space for cultural activities and communication Space for street theatre, clowns and jesters, music and small scale commercial activities Democratic public spaces for all A Good City for talking, watching and experiencing Low level of noise and few disturbances Intimate public spaces Fine views and good details Interesting facades, window displays and exhibits A lively, diverse and safe city to move around in A wide variety of uses both day and night Residences to ensure a 24 hour city Educational institutions to ensure life and vitality Open in the evenings with lit window displays Safe places and streets both day and night Public Spaces and Public Life - Page 8 CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD CITY ACTIVITIES IN THE PUBLIC SPACES THREE TYPES OF PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITIES Necessary activities The things that have to be done: On this page three different categories of activities carried Going to school, waiting for the bus and going to work. In out in public spaces are described. the short term these types of activities occur regardless of Among the three distinct categories of people activities - the quality of the physical environment because people are NECESSARY ACTIVITIES, OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SOCIAL compelled to carry them out. ACTIVITIES - the optional and the social activities are the important keys to city quality. A Good City provides good conditions for the many necessary activities and will retain and strengthen these activities over In poor quality city areas one will only fi nd necessary activi- time. ties ie. people doing things they have to do. In good quality city areas one will fi nd not only necessary activities (carried out under decent conditions) but also a multitude of recreational and social activities people love to do while in cities. However these activities will only happen Optional activities (urban recreation) if the circumstances are right; ie. if the city offers tempting, Activities people are tempted to do when climatic conditions, good quality spaces. This is why a good city can be compared surroundings and the place are generally inviting and attrac- to a good party - people stay for much longer than really tive. These activities are especially sensitive to quality. They necessary, because they are enjoying themselves. only occur when quality is high. A Good City is characterized by a multitude of optional activi- ties. People come to town, fi nd the places attractive and stay for a long time. A great, attractive city can always be recogni- zed by the fact that many people choose to spend time in the public spaces. Social activities These activities occur whenever people move about in the same spaces. Watching, listening, experiencing other people, passive and active participation. A Good City offers a wide range of attractive optional activi- ties, and because so many people are present in the city, there are many people to experience, watch and speak to. The city becomes a lively and wonderful city. A people city. Public Spaces and Public Life - Page 9 LIFE IN THE PUBLIC SPACES The good public space The key to establishing lively and safe public spaces is pedestrian traffi c and pedestrian activities. The arrival to the public space will - in different combinations - happen via six forms of traffi c - people will arrive on foot, by car, by train or tram, by bus or on bicycles. Eventually everybody will be pedestrians leaving their mode of transport behind and entering the public spaces experiencing the surroundings at eye level. The traffi c in good public spaces will primarily be dominated by walking, cycling and limited vehicular traffi c. How the traffi c will be distributed depends on the quality of the public spaces. If the vehicular traffi c is too dominant the public spaces will neither be exciting for people nor lively. Worldwide examples show how public spaces with unfortunate compromises for pedestrians result in unattractive and deserted public spaces. If on the other hand good conditions are provided for pedestrians more people will walk and many recreative and attractive activities will follow. A public space of high quality will always be recognized by people interrupting their walk or daily business so they can rest, enjoy the city, the public spaces and be together with other people. Placa del Sol, Barcelona, Spain. Good conditions for walking and for life on foot, along with a possibility for staying, for pauses and experiences are the key to attractive and lively public spaces. Which types of user groups can be expected to use the public spaces ? What kind of activities can be expected in the public spaces ? 1. The every day users: People that live and work in the area or walk through. A Daily necessary activity: To walk to and from or walk through 2. The visitors/customers: People that visit the functions in the area. B Daily recreational activity: Breaks and pauses 3. The recreational visitors: People that visit the area because the public space is delightful or use C Recreational activity: Recreation and play the public space in relation to recreation, pleasure, exercise, play etc. 4. The visitors to events: People that visit the public space because of special events. D Planned activity: To be a spectator /participant Public Spaces and Public Life - Page 10 PUBLIC SPACES - QUALITY DEMANDS Focus When planning public spaces the most important group are those people who visit the area because the public spaces are delightful and who use the public space for recreation, pleasure, exercise, play etc. DESIGNING / DETAILING THE PUBLIC SPACES To ensure that public spaces are lively and popular one must make sure that this group of people are given good conditions. This means that the public spaces must be highly attractive. Within this user group the focus can be on A KEY WORD LIST children, teenagers, adults or the elderly, and the public spaces can be designed to meet the different needs of dif- ferent groups. If the public spaces are very attractive one can, on a day with nice weather, expect the group of public space visitors to make up the majority of people in the public space. P 1. Protection against 2. Protection against 3. Protection against un- To the right is a list of criterias to be used as a guide in the design of public spaces. To create a ’’100% place’’ - R Traffi c & Accidents crime & violence (safety) pleasant climatic extre- O mes meaning a place that combines all or nearly all the essential qualities to obtain comfort and pleasure for people T - traffi c accidents - lived in / used - wind / draft - the majority of the listed criteria should be met. E - fear of traffi c - streetlife - rain / snow C - other accidents - streetwatchers - cold / heat T - overlapping functions - in - sun / glare I space & time O N C 4. Possibilities for 5. Possibilities for STAN- 6. Possibilities for Visits to events O WALKING DING / STAYING SITTING -ap ndladenp cnehenaddr ae ocvntee ntrht osef stihzee Dtcshaheneap dneesgvn eeodn fbi ntpe, gatth rwotiisenc e citpnahat e ena gc tfshoearwyr a tccoat neth r oouf - MORF ---rtuinoantbo-eltmryeed sfoitoirnu wgs aflaalkycioanduget c soofm stfroere-ts ----s’dsEtuedapfiyg pnienoe gerdt f zsfseo pfcnootre’t sss tfaoyri nstgaying -- zmpseoraicnmxoeinams drfyioaz rsre yisdt its tiaitntditngivng apgno tpsasogitseisos.ns T -good surfaces - benches for resting -no obstacles Optional activities 60% 60% -good accessibility to key - extent and charac- points ter depends on the quality and design of the public space 7. Possibilities to SEE 8. Possibilities for 9. Possibilities for HEARING / TALKING PLAY / UNFOLDING / -seeing-distances ACTIVITIES -low noise level 40% -- iunntherinesdteinregd v vieiewwss -bench arrangements -invitation to physical activi- - lighting (when dark) »talkscapes« ties, play & entertainment - day & night and summer & winter Necessary and pre- 20% 15% 15% dictable activities - goes on more or E 10. Scale 11. Possibilities for enjoy- 12. Aesthetic quality / less regardless of the 40% 25% 25% N ing positive aspects of cli- positive sense- experi- quality offered J -dimensioning of buildings mate ences O & spaces in observance Y of the important human - sun / shade -good design & good dimensions related to - warmth / coolness detailing M senses, movements, size & - breeze / ventilation -views / vistas Ordinary weekday Good summer Summer weekday E behaviour -trees, plants, water N weekday with event T Public Spaces and Public Life - Page 11