Over the course of his career, Danish architect and planner Jan Gehl has redefined the role of the architect in public life, provoking the profession to consider the act of design in public space. The bike and pedestrian pathways in New York City that Gehl pioneered have altered how cities around the world approach street design.

We hosted a conversation between Gehl and former “The Ethicist” columnist for The New York Times Randy Cohen in a live recording of the radio show Person Place Thing. Gehl told us about a person, a place, and a thing that have shaped his understanding of cities, and how that understanding has in turn shaped his work. The evening also featured performances by mbira musician Kevin Nathaniel Hylton.

Listen to the discussion here.