Based on the groundbreaking thinking of Danish architect Jan Gehl, The Human Scale is a formally elegant film investigating how urban environments impact and enhance human life and happiness. Over five chapters, Andreas Dalsgaard’s documentary looks at the work of Gehl Architects across ten cities including New York, Copenhagen, Dhaka and Melbourne.
For 40 years, Jan Gehl has been systematically observing humans in their urban environs to see how they naturally use them; creating city squares, closing roads off to traffic and opening up disused laneways (as in the case of Melbourne) all have a dramatic effect on our lives. Suddenly the private becomes public again and a sense of community is restored. This is the main thrust of thinking that drives Gehl and his associates: by building cities that encourage citizens to reclaim public space, the city (and even megacity) can become a more inhabitable space for humans.
The film features many ingenious examples of how cities can and do enact change. From solutions to ease Dhaka’s traffic congestion to rebuilding Christchurch in the wake of the earthquakes, The Human Scale is fascinating food for thought for urban planners, governments and residents alike.
The Human Scale season runs from Friday 14 June – Thursday 4 July 2013 at ACMI Cinemas.
Tickets > Full $16, Concession $12.50, ACMI Member $11
Visit the ACMI website for session dates and times. Read a blog post on the film.
Australian Centre for the Moving Image , Federation Square, Melbourne
