Lotte Johansen Kaefer’s research while affiliated with Aarhus School of Architecture and other places

What we have are closed, self-absorbed buildings. What we would like to have is open, versatile, in- teresting and safe cities. The challenge is how to incorporate large buildings in cities where people have the same small stature and slow walking pace they had hundreds of years ago. There is now a considerable confusion in the gap between large and small scales and between 'quick' and 'slow' architecture. Ground-floor facades provide an important link between these scales and between buildings and people. For public space and buildings to be treated as a whole, the ground-floor facades must have a special and welcoming design. This good, close encounter archi- tecture is vital for good cities.