Modernist architects were, Jan realised, bloody technocrats. This didn’t account for the needs, wants, expectations, or lifestyles of the people inhabiting cities. "The truth is, generally you will not be twice as happy but will have twice as many problems. When Jan graduated from architect training in 1960, the modernist practice in urban design was, he tells us, to create nice patterns as seen from above. thinking they'll be twice as happy if they have twice as many cars," said Gehl. "We are much smarter now in the 21st century than they were 50 years ago, but many cities still are lumbering around in the 20th century paradigm. However, Gehl still laments that the "people-scale" isn't getting the attention it deserves, and too many cities are focusing their planning around cars. "They have started to humanize Moscow, having been inspired very much by what has happened in New York," he said, noting that there's a strong will there now to create a livable city for people. Gehl, the renowned proponent of people-friendly cities and public spaces, spoke about progress in New York, Copenhagen, and Moscow, in making cities about people, instead of cars. "Nothing in the world is more simple and more cheap than making cities that provide better for people," said Jan Gehl, founding partner of Gehl Architects, in an interview this week.
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