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Writing on the Wall

Writing on the Wall. Council estate/housing project = public housing = social housing Do we blame people or look for inherent design faults, or do both? Difficulty of replicating Newman’s data with OHC data from Toronto—secrecy issues

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Writing on the Wall

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  1. Writing on the Wall • Council estate/housing project = public housing = social housing • Do we blame people or look for inherent design faults, or do both? • Difficulty of replicating Newman’s data with OHC data from Toronto—secrecy issues • What design faults contributed to the social problems discussed in the film?

  2. Writing on the Wall • How many design faults might be corrected or eliminated in the design phase of housing? • Can an architect operate effectively without a thorough understanding of human territoriality?

  3. Maximizing Defensible Space • Clear entrance areas—cars, bushes, etc., should not obstruct views into the entrance • Provision of semi-public space • Visibility of entrance ways, stairwells, play areas • Housing should blend in with existing neighbourhood and not stigmatize residents • Play and seating areas adjacent to housing

  4. Maximizing Defensible Space • Public areas maximizing tenant surveillance of grounds distinguished from semi-public and private areas • Smaller number of tenants in buildings, density does not have to change • Avoid placing low income, single parent pathological families in high-rise buildings • Display names on door (reduces deindividuation) • Allowance for personalizing touches (plantings, door knockers, window boxes, tenant painted doors

  5. Pruitt-Igoe Houses (before)Architect: Minoru Yamasaki

  6. A design sketch of a hallway in the Pruitt-Igoe Houses

  7. Pruitt-Igoe Houses (St. Louis)

  8. A Pruitt-Igoe House interior hallway prior to the destruction of the housing

  9. Pruitt-Igoe Houses (after)

  10. Clason Point Modification Goals(p.16) • Intensify tenant surveillance of the grounds • Reduce public space—create private & semi-public areas • Intensify use of semi-public grounds in socially beneficial ways, extend areas of perceived tenant responsibility • Increase sense of propriety felt by residents • Reduce stigma of public housing, better blend with the community • Reduce intergenerational conflict among residents

  11. Clason Point Modifications

  12. Clason Point Play/Seating Area Seating area for adults Group seating for teens Play area for small children

  13. World Trade CenterArchitect: Minoru Yamasaki

  14. World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 (after)

  15. Procedures Implemented in Clason Point • Paths widened, decorative, coloured paving used. • Walls outside dwellings (created front lawns). • Public seating in centre of pathway. • Separation of age appropriate play areas, provision of adult seating • Better and more decorative lighting of public areas • Fencing to distinguish backyards from public paths. • Refacing of buildings

  16. Clason Point Crime Statistics • Overall crime rate dropped 54% in first year • Premodification monthly crime rate average = 6.91 crimes/1,000 residents • Postmodification monthly crime rate average = 3.16 crimes/1,000 residents • Average monthly burglary rate/year dropped from 5.15/1,000 residents to 3.71/1,000 residents (a 28% change)

  17. Clason Point Crime Statistics • Average monthly robbery rate dropped from 1.95/1,000 residents to 0. • Average monthly assault rate dropped from 0.53/1,000 residents to 0.31/1,000 residents (a 42% change) • The number of felonies (indictable offences) during the evening and night decreased by more than half.

  18. Clason Point Crime Statistics • For serious crime categories (burglary, robbery & assault), average crime rate was reduced by 61.5% • The percentage of residents who felt they had the right to question strangers on project grounds increased from 27 to 50% • (Source: Newman, O. (1996). Creating defensible space. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, pp.77-78).

  19. Issues in Defensible Space Research • Lack of definition of defensible space • Selectivity of buildings studied? • Data analysis errors • Was there an actual reduction in crime or was it merely the displacement of crime to other locations? • Architectural determinism rather than an examination of other possible factors • Failure to consider social and economic factors in the commission of crimes • Accessibility of housing data in other jurisdictions?

  20. Issues in Defensible Space Research • Buildings might have defensible space, but if tenants don’t communicate with each other, there is no gain in safety • The bystander effect (diffusion of responsibility) states that when others are present, less help is forthcoming

  21. Critique of Electronic Security Systems • “Big brother” mentality is inherent in its use • Creation of a false sense of security • Unreliability of system, breakdowns, power failures • Equipment itself can be vandalized and then crimes committed. • With electric locks, more than one person may enter, thus permitting intruders entrance.

  22. Oscar Newman(1935-2004) Oscar Newman left architecture and became a full-time carver of totem poles, taking the name “Bounding Warrior”. He claimed to be 1/8 Nootka (a west coast aboriginal tribe).

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