Defensible Spaces in the Netherlands, and the Battle Between Public and Private Space

Defensible Spaces, a concept created by Oscar Newman, is defined as the built environment being manipulate by design to create areas that are less vulnerable to crime, providing residents with ways to control and defend their space. Three key components that activate defensible space, and thus can be used to analyse the success of a defensible space, include territoriality, natural surveillance, and image/milieu. These spaces can be both public and private (owned), with a trend of privatised-public spaces becoming prominent in Europe. The Netherlands, although implementing defensible spaces into its urban landscape, lacks comprehensive literature analysing how the concept has been used to design various Dutch areas. Using an analysis of primary sources, secondary literature, case studies of Dutch defensible spaces, observations, and maps, a more complete picture of defensible spaces in the country was created. Defensible spaces in the Netherlands could be identified in streets,...Show moreDefensible Spaces, a concept created by Oscar Newman, is defined as the built environment being manipulate by design to create areas that are less vulnerable to crime, providing residents with ways to control and defend their space. Three key components that activate defensible space, and thus can be used to analyse the success of a defensible space, include territoriality, natural surveillance, and image/milieu. These spaces can be both public and private (owned), with a trend of privatised-public spaces becoming prominent in Europe. The Netherlands, although implementing defensible spaces into its urban landscape, lacks comprehensive literature analysing how the concept has been used to design various Dutch areas. Using an analysis of primary sources, secondary literature, case studies of Dutch defensible spaces, observations, and maps, a more complete picture of defensible spaces in the country was created. Defensible spaces in the Netherlands could be identified in streets, policies, train stations, housings complexes, and shopping streets. The Beurstaverse, a below-ground shopping street in Rotterdam, was revitalised to incorporate defensible space techniques. The privately owned public space can be identified as a successful defensible space due to its prominent surveillance, territorially due to being below ground, and positive image/milieu, therefore being the primary case study and point of analysis. Defensible spaces in the Netherlands tend to follow common trends, being highly surveilled and encompassing a positive image/milieu, though the Dutch have new ways of increasing territoriality in a space, often neglecting to use physical barriers. Scholars opinions remain positive about implementations, but the privatisation of public spaces is heavily criticised, primarily in the cases of the Beurstraverse and gated communities in the country. Therefore, this thesis analysis defensible spaces in the Netherlands, how successful they are according to Oscar Newmans three key activation components, and how their ownership (public or private) influences the space.Show less

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Defensible Spaces in the Netherlands, and the Battle Between Public and Private Space