‘A lot of designs are too clean’

Helle Søholt set up Gehl Architects with Jan Gehl in 2000. Jan has written a number of books on urban design and had had an academic life before setting up practice at the age of 64. “In the last eight years he has been able to make this into an operational philosophy and not just way of thinking,” says Helle, who has worked on a number of projects with John Prevc of Make who is closely involved in the Dublin scheme. Pedestrian areas such as Temple Bar and Grafton Street show how Dublin is becoming more community minded, says Søholt. “Dublin is moving towards a more urban living situation and Temple Bar and Grafton Street have become linked to the whole discussion about heightening the quality of living in the city.”

The Irish Times