Oscar Newman

8/3/2019 Oscar Newman

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OSCAR NEWMAN(30TH SEP 1935-14TH APRIL 2004)


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INTRODUCTION

Architect

City planner

Writer


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WORKS

Known internationally for:

Architectural work

Research

Writings in the fields of :

Community planning

Assisted housing Crime prevention

Racial integration.


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Defensible Space Theory

Social control

Environmental criminology

Politics, Commissions, Administrations, &Projects


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CONCEPT

Defensible Space relies on:

Self-help rather than on government

intervention Resident involvement to reduce crime and

remove the presence of criminals

Mutually beneficial union A symbiotic relationship especially in favor of

low income communities


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Factors

Territoriality

the idea that one's home is sacred

Natural surveillance

the link between an area's physical characteristicsand the residents' ability to see what is happening

Image

the capacity of the physical design to impart a senseof security

Milieu

other features that may affect security, such asproximity to a police substation or busy commercialarea


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Social control

Cooperation between society.

The evolution of man depended on conflict aswell as cooperation.

To increase our chances of survival, whilecompetition is inevitable, particularly at theindividual level, a method of cooperation

must be established between individuals aswell.


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Environmental Criminology

Tool emphasized the possibility of the use ofmeasures, prior to action, that may reducethe possibility of a crime from occurring.

Crime prevention as a method rejects thenotions of

Rehabilitation

Incarceration

Retribution.


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Crime prevention as a method of explanationand understanding is based on the behavioralsciences, including:

Urban design

Human ecology

Psychological learning theory Sociology

Environmental psychology


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Two critical elements of his discussion relatingto crime prevention are:

The place where the crime occurs The person who committed the crime.

It is interested in why certain areasexperience high rates of crimes, or specifictypes of crime, and it greatly influenced thework of Newman.


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POLITICS, COMMISSIONS,

ADMINISTRATIONS, AND PROJECTS

The initial attraction of the defensible spacetheory lay in its potential for policy. Prior to thisit was deeply ingrained in the minds of the public

and the policy makers that crime was basic insocial and economic conditions, so that nothingcould be done about it. Newman's physicaldesign changed altered this way of thinking. Thefederal government put millions of dollars intoNewman's ideas, through the Law EnforcementAssistance administration


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Principles

Oscar Newmans basic five principles of designingdefensible space

The assignment to different resident groups thespecific environments they are best able to utilizeand control, as determined by their ages, life-styles, socializing proclivities, backgrounds,incomes, and family structures.

The territorial definition of space in residential

developments to reflect the zone of influence ofspecific inhabitants. Residential environmentsshould be subdivided into zones toward whichadjacent residents can easily adopt proprietaryattitudes.


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Principles

The juxtaposition of dwelling interiors with exteriorspaces and the placement of windows to allowresidents to naturally survey the exterior andinterior public areas of their living environments

and the areas assigned for their use. The juxtaposition of dwellingstheir entries and

amenitieswith city streets so as to incorporatethe streets within the sphere of influence of theresidential environment.

The adoption of building forms and idioms thatavoids the stigma of peculiarity that allows othersto perceive the vulnerability and isolation of aparticular group of inhabitants.


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Defensible Space Intentions

Sense of territorialism in community

Hierarchy of living and community spaces.

Any intruder should be able to sense theexistence of a watchful community and avoidthe situation altogether.

Criminals fear the likelihood that a resident,

upon viewing the intrusion, would thenquestion their actions. This is highly effectivein neighborhoods that cannot afford aprofessional crime watch.


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Planned Space The Defensible Space Theory.

Development of a communal area in which

residents can extend the realm of theirhomes and the zone of felt responsibility.

Circulation paths and common entry areimportant aspects of defensible design as

well.


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Protective attitudes to locations where propertyand urban streets and surroundings connect. Theinterfacing between private property and

community space should be protected similarly.

The principles of defensible space is to give theresidents of a community control of public

spaces that they formerly felt were out of reach.In effect, residents care enough for their area toprotect it from crime as they would protect theirown private property.


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CASE STUDY


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Mini-neighborhoods in Five Oaks,

Dayton, Ohio

It contains 2,000 households, or about 5,000people, inhabiting one- and two-familyhomes and some small apartment buildings.

Rapid suburban expansion following WorldWar II.


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Problems Experienced By

Five Oaks

Heavy through traffic

Rising crime

The visual presence of drug dealers

Single-family homes being converted tomultifamily use

The continuing replacement of white

Middle- and working-class property ownerswith low-income

Minority renters


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Mini-neighborhoods in Five Oaks,

Dayton, Ohio

During the year before the Defensible Spacemodifications were undertaken,

Violent crimes increased by 77 percent

Robberies by 76 percent

Vandalism by 38 percent

Overall crime by 16 percent.

lack of shared values and aspirations amongneighbors increased feelings of isolation andthe perception of being on their own.


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Different Types Of Housing

large, stately homes(brick and stone)

Wood frame houses on small lots.

Two story, two-family houses that share acommon wall

two- and three story apartment buildings.

Medium high-rise apartment buildings onthem


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Planning mini-neighborhoods,

Removes vehicular through-traffic (the onlytraffic remaining will be seeking destinationswithin each minineighborhood);(instead ofbeing long, directional avenues laden withtraffic, they become places where childrencan play safely and neighbors can interact)


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The gates installed limitingaccess and egress to and from

each mini-neighborhoodcome very close to the ones.

prominent serve vehicular access

pedestrians entry.

A fence would then continuethe closure running from the

pedestrian gate to somephysical element on theadjoining property (fencing,shrubs, or a building).


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Only one

entry off an

arterialstreet.


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Defensible Space plan

1. A high level of citizen participation is critical.

2. Do more than close the streets; make it a comprehensiveprogram: offer first-time homebuyers loans, target codeenforcement efforts, and use police task forces to flush out thebad elements.

3. Accept some shortcomings. There are going to be a lot ofbenefits, but also some traffic inconveniences. It is not like youare starting from scratch on a fresh site: This is a retrofittingprocess, and some of the problems will not have 100-percentsolutions.

4. Put some public policy in place: Decide on how the changes tothe streets will be made and paid for; and decide when and for

whom the gates will be opened (for snow plowing, fire and police

emergencies, etc.).

Oscar Newman

Documents

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