Oliver Schulze and Louise Grassov believe we can make our cities better – and they know how to do it, too. Conceived in a swimming pool in Muscat in 2012, and based in their home city of Copenhagen, their studio – Schulze+Grassov – specialises in the creation of vibrant and engaging public spaces centred on human needs, behaviours and scale. As alumni of the legendary Danish architecture practice founded by Jan Gehl, Oliver and Louise champion Gehl’s emphasis on pedestrian-friendly environments that enrich everyday urban life. They share their pioneering ideas on architecture and public space as visiting professors of the University of Washington in the US and through teaching posts at a number of other universities around the world. Now comprising a 12-strong team of architects, landscape architects, urban designers and anthropologists, Schulze+Grassov works on urban projects all over the world, ranging from university campuses in the US to public squares in Germany, providing a full spectrum of services from masterplanning to design and delivery. They have recently been responsible for designing the outdoor spaces, streets and squares – the ‘connective tissue’ – for the new Design District on Greenwich Peninsula, the dedicated neighbourhood for London’s creative industries.
Zetteler were introduced to Schulze+Grassov as a result of our work with the Design District team. We knew them by reputation and were thrilled to have an opportunity to work together – and even more excited when they suggested we could help them beyond the project. We’re now exploring their ideas about creating warm, welcoming environments and the principles of people-centred design, and helping them champion their work transforming urban landscapes for the better.