The first Danish language version of this book published in 1971 was very much a protest against the functionalistic principles for planning cities & residential areas that prevailed during that period The book carried an appeal to show concern for the people who were to move about between buildings & it urged an understanding of the subtle almost indefinable
- but definite
- qualities which have always related to the interaction of people in public spaces & it pointed to the life between buildings as a dimension of architecture that needs to be carefully treated Now 40 years later many architectural trends & ideologies have passed by over the years These intervening years have also shown that the liveliness & liveability of cities & residential areas continues to be a important issue The intensity in which fine public spaces are used at this point in time as well as the greatly increased general interest in the quality of cities & their public spaces emphasises this point The character of life between buildings changes with changes in any given social context but the essential principles & quality criteria to be employed when working with life between buildings has proven to be remarkably constant Though this work over the years has been updated & revised several times this version bears little resemblance with the very early versions however there was no reason to change the basic message Take good care of the life between your buildings