The purpose with this thesis is to investigate how to design a
urban space so that it is experienced safe and how to implement
this at an actual site. Knowledge on the subject has
been gathered through litterature studies and interviews with
experts. Through an analysis of the site with surroundings and
studies of projects with similar problems, practical actions
have been observed. Part taking in the municipalities planning
process has given insight in the projekt as an whole and
the interests of different parties.
There are many different opinions about what the word safety
means. It is a feeling depending on situation, that is affecting
our daily behaviour. Safety can be divided into the actual
safety and the perceived safety. The actual safety is the lack
of or protection against risks, while the perceived safety is
the personally experienced feeling of safety. My definition
of the word safety is described with the "Safety Concept". It
consists of three aspects: Control, Constant and Contact. For
the experience of safety there needs to be a balance between
these three. Social and situational prevention is mentioned
within the field of crime prevention. In this thesis I focus on
the situational prevention, which means the physical form of
a place and the maintenance of it.
The City Beautiful movement wanted to create a beautiful
city center, make the citizens proud of it and thereby get a
sense of belonging. The ambition was to achieve a common
moral and social control. Jane Jacobs advocates variety and
multiplicity in both the built environment, efficacies and
people. According to her it shapes a living urban environment
and a safe society.
The CPTED-theory explains that criminal behaviour is
depending more on the environmental conditions than the
character of the individual. Therefore are both social and
environmental actions needed. Oscar Newman's theory about
Defensible Space is focusing on urban residential areas and
aims to prevent crime through an physical expression of the
social structure. The Broken Windows theory is about the
importance of maintenance in an area. The idea is to take
action as soon as a minor crime is comitted and thereby
prevent serious crime. Space Syntax is a analysismethod that
investigates how spatial networks interact seen in the users
perspective. Since the movements in a city is generated by its
form, a good urban environment should have segregated local
streets inside an integrated road network.
The Swedish Police Authority has produced the handbook
"BoTryggt05" that is focusing on the situational crime
prevention. It's aim is both to build out crime and to build in
safety. "Brå" is a research center within the justice department
that is assigned by the Swedish government to reduce
crime and increase safety in the society. It is also supporting
local crime prevention.
At the "Östra Ågatan" in Uppsala, Sweden, an open urban
space has been created with room for everyone, and thereby a
safer environment. After consultation with the citizens "Högdalens
Centrum" was made car-free and got flower pots, and
thereby became a safer environment. In central Stockholm the
"Sergelgången" has been renewed and privatized to gain control
over the problems with drug users at the site. The work
has also been supported with social actions. A workgroup in
Sundbyberg has formulated a plan of action to improve the
safety. The plan includes lighting, maintenance, surveillance
and house protection. A tunnel has also been transformed to
become brighter and more lucid.
The discussion leads to the conclusions:
* Democracy is depending on the respect of the citizens that
is created by safety, and the citizens safety is essential for a
democratic society.
* The integrating method should be used to create a democratic
society and the isolating method should be allowed to
protect the individuals right to integrity close to the residense.
* The presense of other people creates a sense of safety.
* A place should be associated with positive memories and a
sense of belonging.
* It is important to clearly communicate what is public and
what is private.
* Management and maintenance is essential to uphold the
actions for safety.
* Physical design can effect peoples actions and experience
of a place.
When the studied theories and investigations are related to the
Safety Concept, it reveals that most theories are focusing on
Controlling and Constant actions. My ambition is to balance
the three aspects. I have formulated six "Safety Factors"
that are important for design of a safe urban space. They are
Presence, Activity, Clearness, Visibility, Caretaking and Conside...
