The paper examines a human-scale strategy in the development of Varvsstaden in south-eastern part of Western Harbor in the city of Malmö, Sweden. During the process of transforming Western Harbor from an old-industrial area to a national example of sustainable ones, Varvsstaden- as the old Kockums' shipyard area from 1870 to 1986- is a noticeable area that should be renewed from large-scale blocks into an attractive neighborhood to the general public. Because of the unique structure as an old industrial area and special location as the entrance from the city center to Western Harbor, which offer great potentials to develop Varvsstaden into a human scale urban area. This paper starts with the introduction of research question "How to develop public life in the neighborhood Varvsstaden regarding a human scale strategy" and the study area to point out opportunities based on human scale perspective. Then, the method triangulation of literature review, case study and site observation will be used. Therefore, in the next chapter, theory studies on human scale in different perspectives are discussed. Finally come to a conclusion about human scale principles, which can be applied to case study and design proposal. In the next chapters, the background of Western Harbor are introduced. Then, three cases (Bo01, Dockan and Flagghusen) in Western Harbor are bring-in to be analyzed and described in terms of human scale principles. In the design chapter, the paper applies certain knowledge from literature review, cases study and site observation to the design proposal for Varvsstaden. Moreover, in the process of developing public life in Varvsstaden, this research serves as a practical model for transforming an old industrial area into a human scale neighborhood.