Very thought provoking lecture with the woman from Gehl this morning. In the U.S. we’re used to thinking of sustainability in terms of “Green” as in, is it sustainable to the earth. In Denmark, green is good, but if people won’t use it, how is it sustainable? So, I’m starting to see sustainability as something we are sorely lacking in the U.S.

I think office parks may be the perfect example of this: cramped boxes full of more cramped boxes (cubicles) with minimal landscaping. Is there no more depressing landscape than this? People are there only as long as they need to be and not a moment longer, so on the weekends, they’re virtual ghost towns. No one wants to hang out there, it’s as if corporations do it on purpose, to discourage employees from taking breaks outside and thereby increase employee productivity. (Can you tell how much I hated working in a cubicle farm?) 

Anyway, my point is: In the U.S. we seem to do it as cheaply and quickly as possible, human sustainability be damned! 

I’d really wish I could visit some of the sites she spoke about to experience them for myself. It would be interesting to see if the areas are as inviting and sustainable as indicated by her.