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INTRODUCTION
11
such spaces supported social and private activities in outdoor
space. Other studies done by Gehl maintained that physical design
can be used to create social life in the streets. He developed
his ideas from studies in some Western cities. He maintained that
Western societies have several problems which reduced the social
life in their city streets such as decline the number of persons
per household, and decline the proportion of children in the
population. He maintained that•:
"If quality is too low, no one will use the public spaces unless
they have to."
Gehl suggested several ideas to solve these problems such
as creating physical elements for supporting life in the streets,
for example, front gardens and sitting facilities
v
.
Further, the traffic-pedestrian relationship has also been
studied to explain its influence on social and economic
activities of the street•. A study done by Appleyard maintained
that the social activities of the street and social interaction
can be increased by reducing the speed and amount of motor
traffic. His case study showed also that people changed the
function of the indoor spaces adjacent to the street to avoid
noise from heavy traffic. Another study done by Hass-Klau shows
that
traffic claiming,
which is a policy used by planning and
transport authorities in many Western European countries, can
support creating street-safety by reducing motor vehicle speeds
in urban areas�. He maintained further that such reduction can
26 Gehl, Jan,
Soft Edges in Residential Streets.
Arkitekten No. 21 (1982).
See also: Hertzberger, Herman, 1991, Lessons for Students in Architecture,
Uitgeverij 010 Publishers, Roterdam. pp.48-50.
�see also: Balgård, Sture, 1994,
Den Goda Stadsgaten,
Carlssons
Bokforlag, Stockholm. pp. 29-37, 103-110.
uBrambilla, Roberto & Longo, Gianni, 1977, For
Pedestrians Only,
Whitney
Library of Design, New York.
29
Hass-Klau, Carmen, 1990,
The Pedestrian and City Traffic,
Belhaven
Press, London. pp. 3-6.