A Day in New York City with Gehl's Gabriela Degetau Zanders

Gabriela Degetau is an urban designer, researcher, and project manager at Gehl, where she strives to be an agent of change in a shifting society. With experience spanning Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, Spain, and the United States, her work emphasizes community engagement and people-centered urban design, ensuring that cities evolve in ways that prioritize inclusivity, sustainability, and social equity.

At MIT, Gabriela was awarded the Master of Science in Architecture Studies Prize for her thesis, The Afterlife of a Well: From Oil to Soil, which explores the transition from fossil fuel extraction to ecological restoration and sustainable land use. She was also a recipient of the Vuslat Fellowship for Deep Listening and the PKG Fellowship, further reinforcing her commitment to ethical, research-driven urban interventions.

7:30am: Waking up at 7:00 AM is always a bit of a struggle—I’m not a morning person. But I force myself up to give myself a quiet moment before the day fully gets underway. A quick shower and a cup of coffee are non-negotiable. If I have time, I glance at my schedule to mentally prepare for the day ahead.

8:00am: When I’m in New York City, I enjoy the fifteen-minute walk to the metro, using this time to immerse myself in the city’s rhythm. Living in Long Island City means the neighborhood streets are always buzzing—families heading to school, commuters rushing, and dogs doing their morning rounds. I find these small urban moments refreshing.

Community-driven discussions in Santa Ana, CA.

9:00am: Once I arrive at the office, I begin by reviewing emails and my weekly schedule. My work at Gehl involves juggling between three to six projects at once. Currently, I am working on four: a neighborhood plan amendment in Canada, a guidelines report for open space activation in Mexico, a Master Plan framework and pilot projects in priority zones for a project in Georgia, and a project in Ecuador, where I am originally from, focused on designing built environments that encourage healthier habits.

Traveling to project sites is one of my favorite — and most exhausting—parts of the job. Physically visiting a site is essential—it allows me to understand the context, how people actually move through spaces, what works, and what doesn’t. But it also means long flights, adjusting to new time zones, and sometimes scrambling to find Wi-Fi so I can stay connected to other projects remotely.

10:00am: For the next hour, I’m in meetings or deep in design work. Urban Design and Masterplanning are my main focus and my favorite types of projects because they let me do a bit of everything—talking to stakeholders, community leaders, and developers; diving into feasibility studies; and actually shaping how neighborhoods evolve. But they’re also complex puzzles, full of competing interests and logistical hurdles. Nevertheless, I enjoy the challenge of weaving social, environmental, and economic factors into a cohesive urban vision.

Gathering insights to inform future development through on-site explorations in Guatemala.

12:00pm: Lunchtime at Gehl is one of my favorite moments of the day. Our NYC office has a tradition of gathering at the “Great Table” to enjoy lunch together. It’s a time when we not only discuss our ongoing projects but also share personal stories, news, opinions, and book or TV recommendations. It’s a small ritual that makes the fast-paced environment feel a little more grounded.

Gehl team in Chihuahua, Mexico for a Master Plan presentation event.

1:00pm: The afternoon is a good time to check in with project teams and see how things are progressing. This part of the day is about troubleshooting challenges, refining strategies, and making necessary adjustments.

2:00pm: After team meetings, it’s time to dive into the details of project work. Today, I’m refining a neighborhood plan amendment for Vancouver. This work involves shaping a framework for a sustainable residential neighborhood. We are focusing on writing guidelines and developing the necessary diagrams for future development.

4:30pm: Before ending my workday, I review what got done, what didn’t, and what needs urgent attention tomorrow. I rely heavily on my notebook to keep track of tasks—it’s old school, but writing things down helps me process them. If needed, I check in one last time with my team, depending on project deadlines.

6:00pm: I usually leave the office by 6:00 PM and take the metro back home. If I’m lucky, I’ll get a seat. If not, I’ll be one of those people awkwardly balancing while scrolling through emails.

Collaborative session with Ghigo DiTomasso.

Once I arrive, I try to have an early dinner and wind down from the day. I make time for an evening workout — whether it’s a Peloton ride or strength training, exercise is my way to decompress. It helps clear my head and shake off any stress from the day.

8:00pm: After dinner, I dive into my research for The Afterlife of a Well: From Oil to Soil. This project started as my MIT thesis but has since evolved into a deeper exploration of how abandoned oil wells can be reimagined as sites of ecological and social renewal. The thesis aimed to create pilot projects that conceptualize alternative futures and provide tools for remediation strategies on varying timelines and levels of intervention.

Books like Design for the Pluriverse by Arturo Escobar and The Extractive Zone: Social Ecologies and Decolonial Perspectives by Macarena Gómez-Barris have been instrumental in framing my research and keeping me inspired and hopeful. But let’s be real—some nights I’m energized to make progress, and other nights, I’m just ready to watch a show and relax.

10:30pm: Before bed, I try to disconnect—either by reading a book or watching a show. Right now, I’m reading The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green, which helps me shift gears from work to rest.

This piece has been edited and condensed for clarity.