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Sydney CBD Public Life and Public Spaces Survey

Gehl Architects

World-leading expert Danish Architect Professor Jan Gehl and his team have been engaged by the City of Sydney to conduct a Public Spaces and Public Life survey for the Sydney CBD.  Gehl Architects have prepared similar studies for London, Copenhagen, Wellington, Stockholm, Rotterdam and Zurich.

The Public Life and Spaces Survey will help give a clear picture of the quality of Sydney’s public domain, to inform the development of a Public Domain Plan that will form an essential component of Sustainable Sydney 2030.   

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said Gehl's study “will be a landmark urban design initiative for the City to help strike a balance between people, cars and the built form”.

Professor Jan Gehl said: "A good city is like a good party - people stay longer than they planned to because they are enjoying themselves”.

Study Process  

The survey has a focus on the activities and conditions offered for pedestrians within the CBD and some of the major pedestrian routes that feed people from our villages to the CBD - William Street, Oxford Street etc.  The inclusion of some of the feeders in the study is intended to emphasise the important connections between the city and the surrounding areas in terms of e.g. walking links. 

Within the selected study area, 24 streets and 23 urban squares/ parks will be surveyed. 

The study will be carried out in four stages:

Stage 1: Quality Analysis of the Public Spaces
“The urban spaces: Problems and Potentials”

Stage 2: Survey of Pedestrian Activity Patterns
“How is the city used?”

Stages 1 and 2 include a summer and winter survey and workshop followed by the thorough analysis of information gathered through the surveys and workshop.  At this stage, comparisons with other cities are included in the study.  Some of the survey work and data collection was carried out by students from the University of NSW Masters of Urban Design Program under the guidance of Gehl Architects

Stage 3: Recommendations for Quality Improvements
“How can the city be improved?”

 The processing of data and the refining of recommendations will be conducted in cooperation with council to ensure that the study culminates with a realistic and workable program for improvements in the long, intermediate, and short-term. 

Stage 4:  report finalised for presentation and adoption by Council.

Study Program

The study program for 2007 is as follows;

Dates
Project Component
February/March 2007 Summer Survey

April/ May 2007

 Quality Analysis Workshop 
Jan Gehl to conduct workshop
July 2007 Winter Survey
September/October 2007 Development of recommendations for city improvements
Jan Gehl to present City Talk, 11 September.
Early 2008 Jan Gehl to present final report

Related Resources

Reports

Map

Media Releases

8 May 2007
World-renowned architect is bringing the public back to public spaces.

Articles

Squaring up for an urban overhaul
Sydney Morning Herald: 4 December 2007

Start planning to repel the invaders
Sydney Morning Herald: 3 December 2007

But where can the children play?
Sydney Morning Herald: 3 December 2007

Iemma says city plan uncosted
Sydney Morning Herald: 3 December 2007

A heart where the city could come together
Sydney Morning Herald: 3 December 2007

Fixing Sydney
The Western Lines: 1 December 2007

Great setting, shame about the freeways blocking it off
Sydney Morning Herald: 1 December 2007

Walkers need to reclaim the streets
Sydney Morning Herald: 1 December 2007

Easy street, pride of a new Sydney
Sydney Morning Herald: 1 December 2007

Another Dane with a view for Sydney
Sydney Morning Herald: 1 December 2007

Man with Sydney in his sights
Sydney Morning Herald: 1 December 2007

Take back the city
Sydney Morning Herald: 1 December 2007

City with a hole at its heart shown how to get back on its feet
Sydney Morning Herald: May 2007

Meet the new Mr Sydney
Sydney Morning Herald: February 2007

Audio/Podcasts

11 September 2007
City talk - creating a great pedestrian City: Professor Jan Gehl

9 May 2007
Public spaces – public life in the 21st century: Professor Jan Gehl

8 May 2007
Professor Jan Gehl media conference

Website

Gehl Architects Website

More Information

Laurie Johnson
City Strategy
Tel: 02 9246 7579
Email: ljohnson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

 

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Last Updated: Wednesday 20 October, 2010

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While care is taken to ensure accuracy, the City of Sydney cannot guarantee that information expressed here is correct and recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use. The City of Sydney makes no warranty or undertaking, whether expressed or implied, nor does it assume any legal liability, whether direct or indirect.