By Sally Gambrell Bridgford Many of you know how important awe is to us at The Gambrell Foundation. We have been on a continual journey to better incorporate awe and wonder into our daily lives, and that is a large reason why we partnered with Gehl, a group of strategists who are dedicated to making sure we can all live greatly in our cities. The folks at Gehl really get people, and they have a deep understanding of how the places and spaces around us have a deep impact on our well-being. Through our partnership, Gehl created In Awe of Charlotte, a research initiative that explores the profound connection between awe and the city. I had the pleasure of chatting with Sophia Schuff, a director and urban anthropologist at Gehl, about some of their approaches to designing with awe in the cities they’ve worked in all around the world. 1. What motivates Gehl’s work to transform cities? Gehl is driven by the belief that cities should be designed for life first — where both people and the planet can thrive. This means shaping urban spaces that nurture connection, health, and joy or play by prioritizing walkability, accessibility, and a vibrant ever-evolving public life. As architects, social scientists, and data analysts, we’ve spent over 25 years championing public life, and today, we’re inspired by new questions: How can cities spark positive emotions, strengthen our sense of belonging, or help us find meaning in daily life? These are the ideas guiding our work as we continue to shape cities for a better future. As rapid urbanization reshapes the world, these questions are more urgent than ever. Cities face mounting pressures — from climate change to social inequality and political polarization — making it crucial to design urban environments that really support both resilience and well-being simultaneously. Therefore, we put people and planet at the center of urban transformation to create cities that don’t just accommodate growth but elevate the human experience. 2. Can you tell me about some of the ways Gehl goes beyond designing and planning to make tangible changes within the cities you’ve helped to transform? We try to work directly with communities, policymakers, and local leaders to create real, measurable change. Our approach varies depending on the place, culture, and willingness to engage, but it always starts with listening. We bring policymakers out from behind their desks to experience the city firsthand — because we believe the best decisions are made from the street. We also implement pilot projects to test ideas in real time, using hyper-local insights to tackle complex, systemic challenges. By bringing together big thinkers, community members, and problem-solvers, we prototype innovative solutions that can scale. Through data collection, and public participation we can turn visionary ideas or people’s unique and important lived stories into lasting, meaningful solutions — ensuring that change is felt at eye level where daily life happens. 3. How does Gehl incorporate sustainability and climate-friendly approaches within your work? Sustainability often gets diluted in the real estate and development sector, but we work to ensure it remains a core principle of our projects. We prioritize walkable and bike-friendly streets, integrate green and blue infrastructure where possible, and leverage urban design to make sustainable choices effortless—like taking public transit or spending time in nature. Research shows that cities generate over 70% of global CO₂ emissions, with transportation and buildings as the biggest contributors. By designing compact, mixed-use neighborhoods, we can help reduce car dependency, lower emissions, and improve public health. But sustainability isn’t just about design—it’s about action. One of the biggest challenges is translating climate goals into political will and achievable development strategies, and that’s where we focus on working with policymakers and local communities to turn ambitious ideas into something tangible. 4. How does awe influence the way people experience cities like Charlotte? The feeling of awe is the feeling of being amazed by things outside of the self and having a moment where you feel small in comparison to the world around you. Research shows that experiencing awe can reduce stress, improve cognitive function, and strengthen social connections. Cities, as dynamic and densely populated places, have the potential to bring awe into everyday life, transforming routine moments into sources of inspiration and joy. But when urban spaces are poorly designed, they can contribute to isolation rather than connection. Designing streets, parks, and neighborhoods with belonging and joy in mind isn’t just good urbanism—it’s a public health necessity. We’ve found that in cities like Charlotte, moments of awe can come from the places and the people that animate them — hearing beautiful music on the street, feeling small under the canopy of the old-growth trees, or participating in community-organized events. A city that nurtures awe doesn’t just function — it makes people feel safe enough to wander, provides shared moments of joy or play, and reinforces the feeling that we are part of something bigger. 5. What does it mean to you to Live Greatly? To us, living greatly means feeling like your city cares for you — that your environment supports your well-being, that you feel safe and inspired to explore, that you’re connected to a community, and that delight is woven into daily experiences. Since our environment shapes 80% of our well-being, the design of our cities plays a huge role in determining whether we feel safe, can easily meet others, or have access to nature in our daily routines. When cities make the healthy choice the easy choice, they help people flourish. We believe designing for well-being means designing for everyday life. A neighborhood that supports living greatly is one where streets invite people to walk and bike, parks and public spaces encourage gathering, and homes, jobs, and services are equitably distributed and accessible. It’s a place where public life flourishes — where the urban fabric prioritizes people over cars, connection over isolation, and joy over mere functionality. Creating these kinds of cities requires a neighborhood-level approach, where we listen to communities and leverage the power of design to respond to their needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but to live greatly is to live in a place that supports, nurtures, and inspires public life to thrive.
