iDanish Architecture CenterSlotsholmen
Cities for People
The city at human scale, drawing on Jan Gehl's ideas: how streets, squares and bike lanes in Copenhagen, New York, Buenos Aires and Shanghai shape health and community.
More in Copenhagen
Jan Gehl's test for a good city is a party: people stay longer than really necessary because they are enjoying themselves. The show is built on his work, made with Gehl Studio and Gehl himself for his 90th birthday, and includes an interview titled "Good Cities Should Feel Like One Big Hug".
It tests Gehl's 12 quality criteria for public urban spaces on Copenhagen, New York, Shanghai and Buenos Aires, from harbour baths and bike lanes to Times Square. Some installations let you feel when a place is safe or unsafe, and show how one public space changes with age, gender and life situation. By Gehl's measure, a good city is one where people linger, a test most Copenhagen bike-lane red lights fail.
Admission is DKK 135 (DKK 60 for under-27s and students), 10% off online. DAC is open until 21:00 on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, and under-27s are free on Fridays from 16:00. It runs until 29 March 2027.
Editor's pick
Streets, squares and bike lanes in Copenhagen, New York, Buenos Aires and Shanghai, and what they do for health and community, built on Jan Gehl's human-scale thinking. Open until 21:00 Monday, Thursday and Friday.
Look for
The Gehl interview
An interview titled "Good Cities Should Feel Like One Big Hug", in which Gehl talks about his life's work.
Safe or unsafe installations
Participatory set-ups where you physically feel when a place seems safe or unsafe.
One space, different people
A demonstration of how the same public space feels different by age, gender and life situation.
Your own public space
A chance to share your idea of the kind of public space that brings joy.
Good for
- Evening Visits
- Nerding Out
With kids
Children under 18 are free with a paying adult.
Also at Danish Architecture Center
On now nearby
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Image credits
9
- Cities for PeopleCourtesy of Danish Architecture Center
- Gauguin & Kihara – First ImpressionsCourtesy of Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
- The Power of Fashion in the Roman EmpireCourtesy of Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
- What's the Big Rush?Christopher Egeberg Flip / Museum of Copenhagen
- Danish Architecture CenterLeif Jørgensen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Museum of DenmarkIb Rasmussen, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
- Christiansborg PalaceJulian Herzog / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
- Ny Carlsberg GlyptotekDaderot / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
- Museum of CopenhagenLauren Friedman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0