“Architecture has become about choosing lipstick to put on an elephant rather than changing the elephant.”
Last night saw two of the biggest names in city design and urbanism come together in London to discuss what it means to design, support and share in the liveable city.
See also: Human Scale to screen at Design Indaba
Jan Gehl: An Urban Design Master
Should Cities be Built to Make People Happy
How can we design humane, resilient and joyful cities?
That was the question posed to urbanist Jan Gehl and architect Richard Rogers last night in London. The two urban thinkers were brought together by Guardian Cities to consider how the ‘liveable city’ looks, feels and works, citing examples from Copenhagen to Pienza. A number of London urban projects and proposals were covered during the discussion- from the Skycycle, to the Garden Bridge and London’s housing troubles, with particular critiques around who holds power in the planning system and how to better engage communities in the creation of place. The event spurred on a debate about the future shape and feel of London in particular, with some of the key points of discussion captured below:
If, as Jan Gehl like to say, cities are for people, the people must have a say in how their cities work and how they grow. Share your thoughts with Future London and follow more of the debate at #GuardianLive.
Jan Gehl & Richard Rogers comparing notes before their discussion on liveable cities #GuardianLive @guardiancities pic.twitter.com/fHPbXb97PY
— Rogers Stirk Harbour (@RSHParchitects) December 9, 2014
Why are the so called 'liveable cities' places where we don't want to live? Can't the exciting metropolises be #liveable? #guardianlive
— Tim Warin (@T_Warin) December 9, 2014
"If we want lively, liveable, sustainable, healthy cities, we need to be kind to the pedestrian." – Jan Gehl @citiesforpeople #guardianlive
— Guardian Cities (@guardiancities) December 9, 2014
Lord Rogers compares streets of Copenhagen with streets of Hammersmith. Funny how no-one ever sings the praises of the later.. #guardianlive
— Strategic Cities (@StrategicCities) December 9, 2014
'LDN is the only city where traffic engineers have the power! We need to change mindsets, why not have pedestrian engineers?!'#guardianlive
— Phillippa Banister (@phillybanister) December 9, 2014
Count the children 8 to 80 is a sign of success guardiancities @citiesforpeople #guardianlive http://t.co/xFhG8QM5UD
— riccardo marini (@riccardomar) December 9, 2014
Jerome Frost OBE "Engagement is key. Giving communities pride by making them part of the regeneration.." #guardianlive
— Arup (@ArupGroup) December 9, 2014
“@guardiancities: "We must fight extremely hard against the idea of gated communities based on fear" – Jan Gehl #guardianlive” & fear itself
— Matt (@places_calling) December 9, 2014
"Architecture has become about choosing lipstick to put on an elephant rather than changing the elephant" – Richard Rogers #guardianlive
— Ellie Violet Bramley (@ellsviolet) December 9, 2014
Cultural events like Olympics only deliver liveability gains if cities have long-term vision – Jerome Frost @ArupGroup #Guardianlive
— Erin Gill (@erinjacqgill) December 9, 2014
Jan Gehl: do we fix city streets by putting bikes up in the air in the wind? No, this is nonsense. #guardianlive pic.twitter.com/Lak1gByDI7
— Strategic Cities (@StrategicCities) December 9, 2014
Interminable @GuardianCities love-in with Jan Gehl tonight. See @guardianglancey’s more considered take http://t.co/gQMr0ft5Z6 #guardianlive
— Alastair Donald (@MaximumCities) December 9, 2014