Quality Criteria The 12 Quality Criteria help us understand and compare quality in the built environment and its ability to either contribute to the flourishing of public life diversity or hinder it. The criteria can be correlated with the amount of public life diversity in a space.
Method Quality Criteria
Scale Blocks
26 - Public Space Metrics
Metrics 1 Quality of a place, including:
Protection • Protection against Vehicular Traffic • Protection against Crime + Violence • Protection against Unpleasant Sensory Experiences Comfort • Invitations for Walking • Invitations for Standing and Staying • Invitations for Sitting • Invitations for Seeing • Invitations for Hearing + Talking • Invitations for Play + Recreation Enjoyment • Dimensioned at a Human Scale • Positive Aspects of Climate • Aesthetic Quality
Method Surveyors assess the quality of a specific space according to the 12 Quality Criteria. These Criteria were developed by Jan Gehl in the 1960s and have been used by Gehl’s practice for the past 15 years to collect qualitative data about a place. This survey complements quantitative data and can be correlated with the amount of public life diversity in a space. An inviting place that encourages public life has elements of protection, comfort, and enjoyment. These categories are further detailed into 12 Quality Criteria at left.