Given rapid urbanization, Vietnam is facing a series of problems that require large efforts to address, and “Cities for People” by award-winning Danish architect Jan Gehl would finally serve citizens in such cityscapes. 

The book “Cities for People” seeks to address the question of what cities are for, if not for people that would offer good lessons for Vietnam since the very initial stage in urban management from in policy making to planning and implementing policies. 

Through “Cities for People”, the Danish architect takes into account changing demographics and lifestyles to looks into how to develop cities that are lively, safe, sustainable and healthy for the citizens. 

With a detailed analysis of public spaces and their social dimension, Vietnam could refer to many places that are designed with safe walking and biking to make a more sedentary life “behind steering wheels and computer screens”.

Keeping such interesting architectural philosophy that “a good city is like a good party: guests stay because they are enjoying themselves”, “Cities for People” is a good example in the context that big Vietnamese cities are witnessing the flows of people flocking to urban areas for study and work.

The book is a page-turner not only for professionals involved in sustainable urban development, but also for those without a professional interest in architecture with the format of a light textbook and more than 700 photos and drawings showing examples from Gehl’s work around the globe. 

Interestingly, Gehl’s readers are encouraged to pause to think about their own city spaces and their own experiences. The book largely reflects Danish architecture’s strong assertion that thoughtful design can improve city spaces in a way that increases the quality of life for the humans who work and live there.

For such a great meaning, “Cities for People” has been translated into 34 languages including Vietnamese version. It has been published in nearly all corners of the globe over the past nine years. 

“I donate the book for free translation (No Royalties) into other languages, including Vietnamese because I wish that my research could be helpful to people all over the world. I fell it natural to give it to people in other countries who may use this book to create better cities for their people,” the professor said at the book launching ceremony in Hanoi on March 20, according to the Danish embassy in Hanoi. 

The launch of the Vietnamese version of “Cities for People” is part of efforts that the Danish Embassy in Vietnam has done to offer another dimension but totally important in urban planning and governance with an aim to serve for the sake of residents living there. 

Vietnam’s urbanization rate is fastest among Southeast Asian countries, at about 40% by 2019. The figure may hit 70%-75% by 2030, local media cited urban planners as saying that. 

As of May 2018, Vietnam had 813 urban cities, including economic and industrial zones, resulting in challenges in the use of natural resources, in governance in terms of population, environment, economics, culture, and social welfare. 

“Redefining what it means to create a vibrant city, “Cities for People” gives us a perspective on how people-friendly cities could work and look. By translating the book into Vietnamese, we hope it will make its way into the urban planning and design curriculum as well as inspire those responsible for urban and transport planning policies in Vietnam. We hope that the Danish people-centric and green-town planning would be helpful for Vietnam,” said the embassy’s Deputy Head Louise Holmsgaard.

This is among the Danish Embassy’s Culture Program Promotion of cultural exchange and people-to-people links between Denmark and Vietnam which have been inspiring thanks to an increase in cultural co-operation between the two countries with emphasis on creation, people’s access and participation in arts and promotion of cultural diversity.

Undeniably, “Cities for People” has been bestowed various international awards, including the 2011 Environmental Design Research Association, Planetizen, and top rank at Brent Toderian’s 100 Best Books on City-Making 2013.

Hanoitimes