Design Out Crime CREATING SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Here is a book about the practical design of communities and housing in which people can enjoy a good quality of life, free from crime and fear of crime.
Recognising that crime, vandalism and anti-social behaviour are issues of high public concern, and that the driving forces behind crime are numerous, this book argues that good design can help tackle many of these issues. It shows how, through integrating simple crime prevention principles in the design process, it is possible, almost without notice, to make residential environments much safer.
Written from the perspective of an architect and town planner, this book offers practical design guidelines through a set of accessible case studies drawn from the UK, USA, The Netherlands and Scandinavia. Each example illustrates how success comes when design solutions reflect local characteristics and where communities are truly sustainable; where residents feel they belong, and where crime is dealt with as part of the bigger picture of urban design.
* A practical guide to the creation of secure spaces through design
* Accessible narrative shows examples of best practice internationally
* 100 plans and drawings describe how to create a safer built environment through architecture and urban design

Introduction. Types of crime; the fear of crime; the nature of crime in the community; robbery, burglary, break-ins, vandalism, property damage, willful damage, graffiti. Common causes. Economic costs of crime. Section One Development of Design concepts and impact on security. Historical developments. Radburn housing layouts, high rise/high density; theories of Jane Jacobs, Oscar Newman, Alice Coleman, Christopher Alexander. Section Two Design Factors that affect safety and security. Size; scale; density, child density, avoidance of fortress image. Spatial design: streets, squares, footpaths etc. Territory, ownership. Surveillance. Resident Participation. Section Three Case Studies - the US, Canada, UK, The Netherlands, Far East, Australasia. Future Perspectives.

Ian Colquhoun