ideasSPACE

ideasSPACE with Lily Bernheimer of Spaceworks

in conversation with Christopher Martin

17 October 2020

“If you care about being thought credible and intelligent, do not use complex language where simpler language will do.” Daniel Kahneman	We are undertaking enormous change in cities globally, to protect lives, to strengthen communities and to enable more people to walk and cycle. All this boils down to changing people’s behaviour - inviting them to do something which, quite clearly, they are currently not doing. Despite this, the design of cites, and especially streets is in general governed by mechanistic - and engineering led responses, rather than responses founded in an understanding of human behaviour and decision making. I have been working on a theory of Hedonistic Urbanism for some years - saying we have to make what is good for the planet, good for people, and good for cities the most enjoyable, the most fun, and the most self-indulgent option - so people queue up for it. To deepen our understanding and find a way forward, we speak to environmental psychologist, author, and researcher Lily Bernheimer.

“If you care about being thought credible and intelligent, do not use complex language where simpler language will do.”

Daniel Kahneman

We are undertaking enormous change in cities globally, to protect lives, to strengthen communities and to enable more people to walk and cycle.

All this boils down to changing people’s behaviour - inviting them to do something which, quite clearly, they are currently not doing. Despite this, the design of cites, and especially streets is in general governed by mechanistic - and engineering led responses, rather than responses founded in an understanding of human behaviour and decision making.

I have been working on a theory of Hedonistic Urbanism for some years - saying we have to make what is good for the planet, good for people, and good for cities the most enjoyable, the most fun, and the most self-indulgent option - so people queue up for it. To deepen our understanding and find a way forward, we speak to environmental psychologist, author, and researcher Lily Bernheimer.

ideasSPACE is a series of in depth conversations hosted by Christopher Martin (UDG Exec, co-founder of Urban Movement) and produced in collaboration with our media partner, UrbanNous.

Urban Design Group Article - ideasSPACE with Lily Bernheimer of Spaceworks by in conversation with Christopher Martin

Lily Bernheimer is a researcher, writer, and consultant in environmental psychology. She is founding director of Space Works Consulting with offices in the United States and the United Kingdom, which aims to make everyday spaces work for the people and purposes they serve.

Lily is author of The Shaping of Us: How Everyday Spaces Structure our Lives, Behaviour, and Well-Being