When Jan Gehl was hired by the City of Sydney in 2007 to help make the city a more attractive place to live and work, the renowned architect and urbanist focused on the fact that so much of Sydney's space was given over to cars.

"There was no room for people and there was lots of room for cars," said Mr Gehl on Wednesday. "Part of it is still in that situation but other parts are now being turned around, which is a great joy to see."

Mr Gehl, whose study a decade ago – Public Spaces Public Life – has helped form the basis of Lord Mayor Clover Moore's vision for Sydney's core, has been in town this week to receive the keys to the city.

In his work for Sydney, Mr Gehl, who has travelled the world evangalising for the "Copenhagenisation" of urban spaces, advocated wider footpaths, a light rail line down George Street and the progressive greening of the city.