A people-first urban design proposal that breaks down the barrier between the city and its waterfront, following Jan Gehl's Life Between Buildings.
Between the City and the Sea is a detailed urban design proposal rooted in the principle of creating a people-first environment, closely following the humanistic vision of Jan Gehl's Life Between Buildings. The core concept is to break down the existing barrier between the city and the waterfront — the dike — by designing a lively, mixed-use space that actively encourages public life.
Concept
The plan connects the city to the water by creating diverse, high-quality urban environments. A new Urban Walk is introduced between the existing Dike Walk and Canal Walk, assembling events into a compact public realm and bridging the city and the sea.
Strategy
The design follows six moves — Assemble, Invite, Integrate People, Integrate Functions, Open Up, and Protect. Building placement invites residents from private homes directly into public space; a mix of schools, shops, and recreation ensures a diverse community; ground floors open to the street; and inner courtyards shield residents, creating the sense of safety necessary for a thriving social life.
Reflection
The project sharpened my ability to think at urban scale and to translate a clear social vision into spatial structure — designing not just buildings, but the life between them.
