PROF. ARCH. JAN GEHL: I CONSIDER VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY FOR MY UNIVERSITY!
02 April 2020
On the eve of the presentation of the book "How to Study Public Life" by its author - the world-renowned Danish architect and urbanist Prof. Jan Gehl in Varna, we asked him several questions. Prof. Jan Geel gladly answered.
The author will present his new book and deliver a public lecture on the study of urban life and cities for people in Varna, on 5 March 2020, at 5:30 at the Graphite Hotel -Gallery.
ADMISSION IS FREE!
The book "How to Study Public Life" is published in the Bulgarian language by Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" with the assistance of "Holding Varna" AD.
It is translated from English by Assoc. Prof. Plamen Petrov, PhD - lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture at VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar"
Prof. Gehl, what inspired you to write the book "How to Study Public Life"?
The book "How to Study Public Life"? is a sequel to "Cities for People". The aim was set by the Realdania Foundation, which has for years supported my research on better cities for people. They asked me to describe in a book the methods developed in connection with the study of LIFE in our 40 years of research dedicated to people. That is why this book is supposed to be "truth, all truth and nothing but truth" in the field of humanistic urban planning - at least I see it that way.
In 2010, I published the book "Cities for People"- it was published in 35 languages, and the Bulgarian edition is in 2016. The book was a great success and to my satisfaction it was translated and distributed in all parts of the world. It is a pleasure that my research has been presented so widely.
What connects you with Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar"?
In 2017, I was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor Honoris Causa of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar". Since then, I consider Varna Free University to be "my" university. It is a great pleasure for me that the book "How to Study Public Life"? is published by the university.
Could you share some of your thoughts on urban pedestrian conditions in Sofia and Varna?
My personal knowledge of Varna and Sofia is not great. I know that the consulting firm Gehl Architects has developed a sort of "health check" for Sofia to identify a number of areas where cost-effective improvements could be made. I hope some of these recommendations have been taken into account.
Based on your observations of these two cities, would you make some recommendations about the main topic of your book - the connections between public spaces and urban life?
In fact, the purpose of my two books is to enable cities, professionals and citizens around the world to analyze the situation, carry out the necessary research and take action to make cities much more friendly to people. I wish all the cities of Bulgaria the best of luck in achieving this goal. I have provided you with my research and methods and now I wish you all SUCCESS!
The author will present his new book and deliver a public lecture on the study of urban life and cities for people in Varna, on 5 March 2020, at 5:30 at the Graphite Hotel -Gallery.
ADMISSION IS FREE!
The book "How to Study Public Life" is published in the Bulgarian language by Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" with the assistance of "Holding Varna" AD.
It is translated from English by Assoc. Prof. Plamen Petrov, PhD - lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture at VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar"
Prof. Gehl, what inspired you to write the book "How to Study Public Life"?
The book "How to Study Public Life"? is a sequel to "Cities for People". The aim was set by the Realdania Foundation, which has for years supported my research on better cities for people. They asked me to describe in a book the methods developed in connection with the study of LIFE in our 40 years of research dedicated to people. That is why this book is supposed to be "truth, all truth and nothing but truth" in the field of humanistic urban planning - at least I see it that way.
In 2010, I published the book "Cities for People"- it was published in 35 languages, and the Bulgarian edition is in 2016. The book was a great success and to my satisfaction it was translated and distributed in all parts of the world. It is a pleasure that my research has been presented so widely.
What connects you with Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar"?
In 2017, I was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor Honoris Causa of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar". Since then, I consider Varna Free University to be "my" university. It is a great pleasure for me that the book "How to Study Public Life"? is published by the university.
Could you share some of your thoughts on urban pedestrian conditions in Sofia and Varna?
My personal knowledge of Varna and Sofia is not great. I know that the consulting firm Gehl Architects has developed a sort of "health check" for Sofia to identify a number of areas where cost-effective improvements could be made. I hope some of these recommendations have been taken into account.
Based on your observations of these two cities, would you make some recommendations about the main topic of your book - the connections between public spaces and urban life?
In fact, the purpose of my two books is to enable cities, professionals and citizens around the world to analyze the situation, carry out the necessary research and take action to make cities much more friendly to people. I wish all the cities of Bulgaria the best of luck in achieving this goal. I have provided you with my research and methods and now I wish you all SUCCESS!