DEFENSIBLE SPACE

Week 6

Team Teaching of Human Spatial Behavior

Prepared by Hastuti Saptorini
Architecture Department, FTSP, UII
Why Defensible Space?
Criminal behavior is still prevalent in our environment.
Referring to the experience of several developed countries,
security forces and city planners work together to apply a
concept called defensible space, which literally can be
interpreted as a space capable of playing a role in
environmental protection efforts. The concept of defensible
space was introduced by Oscar Newman, an American
architect and urban planner through his book Defensible
Space in 1972.
Perilaku kriminal masih menggejala di lingkungan kita.
Merujuk pada pengalaman beberapa negara maju, pihak
keamanan dan perencana kota bekerjasama untuk
menerapkan konsep yang disebut dengan defensible
space, yang secara harfiah dapat diartikan sebagai ruang
yang mampu berperan dalam upaya pengamanan
lingkungan. Konsep defensible space diperkenalkan oleh
Oscar Newman, Arsitek dan perencana kota asal Amerika
lewat bukunya Defensible Space pada tahun 1972.
What is Defensible
Space?
Defensible space is a mechanism to prevent criminal
acts carried out through informal social controls.

Defensible space adalah suatu mekanisme untuk menghindari perilaku

kriminal yang dilakukan melalui control sosial informal
(disain arsitektural yang berskala sosial).
 The 3 POINTS CONCEPT

1. Restructure the
physical layout
of communities
to allow
residents to
control the
areas around
their homes. The architect’s vision of how the 3d floor
communal corridor in Pruitt-Igoe would be
used
 The 3 POINTS CONCEPT

2. Relies on self-
help rather
than on
government
intervention.
 The 3 POINTS CONCEPT

3. Has the ability to

bring people of
different incomes
and race together
in a mutually
beneficial union, if
maintaining racial
and economic
integration
 THE PRINCIPLES
OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE

• All interior spaces are within the private domain of the

family.

• All grounds around the private unit are for the private
use of the family.

• There is a direct abutment between private grounds and

the sidewalk.

• The domain of the house encompasses the street.

 THE PRINCIPLES
OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE

• Private space is within the apartment unit only.

• The interior lobby, stairs, and corridor are semiprivate.

• Grounds can be designated for one family but are usually

shared by all the families in the building.

• Only a small number of families (three to six) share the

interior circulation areas and grounds.

• The street is within the sphere of influence of the dwellings.

THE PRINCIPLES
OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE
Defensible Space In
Design Application?
 CRIMINAL PREVENTION THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED)

The Four Principles (Tim Crowe,1991):

a.Natural surveillance (pengawasan).

b.Natural access control.
c.Territorial reinforcement (penguatan)
d.Maintenance and management
 a. Natural Surveillance

1> Criminals behavior do not wish to

be observed.

2> Surveillance or the placing of

legitimate ‘eyes on the street’ increases
the perceived risk to offenders.

3> not to keep intruders out but to keep

intruders under observation
 a. Natural Surveillance

Natural surveillance techniques:

1> The flow of activities can be

channelled to put more people
(observers) near a potential crime area.

2> Windows, lighting and the removal of

obstructions can be placed to improve
sight lines from within buildings.
2. Natural Surveillance:
a. Fisik: (penerangan cukup, pohon rindang, rumah berhadapan, dsb).
b. Non Fisikal (Sosial): tingkat saling kenal tetangga, kepedulian
sosial, dsb)

Natural surveillance, (pengawasan alami terhadap lingkungan):

menjelaskan tentang perlunya pengawasan penghuni terhadap ruang
publik.

Konsep ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kesadaran penduduk sebuah

lingkungan dan penghuni bangunan terhadap siapa yang meninggalkan
serta siapa yang masuk ke dalam lingkungan dan bangunan.

Pengawasan alami bertujuan agar pelaku dapat dengan mudah dikenali.

Strategi ini dapat dimaksimalkan dengan memanfaatkan feature yang
memaksimalkan visibilitas penduduk, misalnya pintu dan jendela yang
menghadap ke area parkir, jalan, dan trotoar yang ramah pejalan kaki,
beranda depan, tempat duduk di luar dan penerangan malam yang baik.
 b. Natural Access Surveillance

Non-physical or ‘psychological’ barriers to access

control.
• form of signs
• paving textures
• nature strips or anything that announces the
integrity and uniqueness of an area.

The idea behind a psychological barrier is that

if a target seems strange, or difficult, it may
also be unattractive to potential criminals.
 c. Territorial Reinforcement

1> People naturally protect a territory that they

feel is their own, and have a certain respect for
the territory of others.

2> Clear boundaries between public and

private areas using physical elements such as
fences, pavement treatment, art, signs, good
maintenance and landscaping are ways to
express ownership.
Territoriality: kejelasan batas ruang pribadi, publik, dan semi publik.
Secara fisik, diwujudkan dalam bentuk: pagar, portal, benteng
kompleks, dsb.

Teritorial reinforcement (penegasan territorial) bertujuan untuk

menciptakan kesan kepemilikan sehingga pelaku merasakan
pengaruh teritorial (kekuasaan) penghuni lingkungan.

Strategi penegasan territorial menggunakan desain untuk menciptakan

atau menambah bidang pengaruh (sphere of influence). Kesan kontrol
teritorial diperlukan agar pelaku potensial merasakan kontrol tersebut,
menciptakan kesan resiko tertangkap dan tidak jadi melaksanakan
kejahatan.

Penegasan teritorial dapat berupa fisik alam dan non alam, dan
membantu membedakan ruang publik dan ruang non-publik. Teritory
dapat ditegaskan dengan penanaman lansekap, pintu gerbang
pemukiman, dan pagar.
d. Maintenance And Management

Creating Image and Milieu:

1> Neighbourhood’s sense of ‘pride of place’ and territorial

reinforcement.

2> Territorial concern, social cohesion and a general sense

of security can be reinforced through the development of
the identity

3> Clear spatial definitions such as the subdivision of

space into different degrees of public/ semi- public/ private
areas > the level of social estrangement would decline
DEFENSIBLE SPACE
EXPERIENCES?
 DEFENSIBLE SPACE in UNIT HOUSES

Meletakkan jendela rumah se optimal mungkin untuk

memudahkan pandangan visual ke arah jalan sebagai
kontrol potensi perilaku kriminal di ligkungannya
 DEFENSIBLE SPACE in HOUSING AREA
Sumber: Haqy AA, et al, 2017

Pengalaman merancang Defensible Space di Rumah Susun:

a. Menyisihkan sebagian area lahan untuk aktivitas publik

b. Meletakkan ruang ruang privat di zone paling jauh dari jalan atau
di belakang ruang semi privat
c. Membentuk “taman” di ruang publik lingkungan perumahan
sebagai tempat bermain.
DEFENSIBLE SPACE in KAMPUNG/SETTLEMENT AREA

Defensible space diwujudkan

dalam meletakkan ruang
ruang tertentu pada zone
yang tepat.
DEFENSIBLE SPACE in Urban Area
Hapsari H, et al. 2016

Defensible space diwujudkan

dalam Kampus Undip Tembalang
 DEFENSIBLE SPACE in Urban Area
Hapsari H, et al. 2016

Temuan:
a. Masih banyak terdapat jalan tembus, orang asing bebas keluar
masuk.
b. Tidak semua tempat publik dilengkapi penerangan jalan.
c. Masih banyak ruang dibiarkan terbengkalai

Rekomendasi:
a. Memblokade jalan jalan tembus, dan menetapkan jalur utama.
b. Menambah penerangan jalan

Diskusi.
Bagaimana penerapan Defensible
Space di Kampus UII?
CONCLUSION?
DESIGN STRATEGIES for
DEFENSIBLE SPACE
1. Defensible Space dipertimbangkan untuk
menghindari perilaku kriminal

2. Strategi rancangannya dapat

diimplementasikan dalam skala unit
rumah, lingkungan perumahan, dan
kawasan.
 DESIGN STRATEGIES for DEFENSIBLE SPACE

• allow for clear sight lines,

• provide adequate lighting,
• minimize concealed and isolated routes,
• avoid entrapment,
• reduce isolation,
• promote land use mix,
use of activity generators,
• create a sense of ownership through maintenance and
management,
provide signs and information and
• improve overall design of the built environment.
• clear sight lines
 Design Strategies
Clear sight lines
 Design Strategies
Provide adequate lighting

• Minimum standard: can

identify a face within 10
meter

• Do not give lighting

where a place is not
intended for night use
(avoid false impression of
use)
 Design Strategies
Minimise concealed and isolated routes
• give visibility
• avoid entrapment area in
the end / on the way to
isolated routes
• give “natural surveillance”
in the route
• give sight lines to the end of
the route
• hardware surveillance
• communication devices,
alarm for help access
• alternative route sign
 Design Strategies
Avoid Entrapment

• avoid entrapment area

• closing after operating hours
• give visibility
• escape route
 Design Strategies
Reduce Isolation

• give natural
surveillance

• formal surveillance
(hardware)

• increase activities
 Design Strategies
Promote land use mix

• give compatible
mixed use

• balancing landuse

• increase “positive”
activities
 Design Strategies:
Use of activity generators

• enhance complementary
uses
• reinforcing activity
generators
•“active edge” such as
informal food vendors should
be encouraged in paths
• design for mix programming
• encourage ground-level
activities as “eyes of the
street”
 Design Strategies:
Create a sense of ownership through maintenance
and management

• territorial
reinforcement

• durable material

• maintenance

• management
 Design Strategies:
Provide signs and information

• good design of signs

• adequate information
and message
• good location
• provide maps
• provide information
operational hours
 Design Strategies:
Improve overall design of the built
environment

Good functional and aesthetic design can contribute to a sense of safety

 Design Strategies:
Improve overall design of the built
environment

• aesthetic value
• design clarity
• avoid unusable area
• night time use informed
• good and appropriate material
(bright color will likely express safety)
 REFERENCES

1. Crowe,T. D. (1991). Crime Prevention through Environmental Design:

applications of architectural design and space management concepts. Boston,
Butterworth-Heinemann.

2. Hapsari, H., et al, 2016. Study of Defensible Space Theory Adaptation in

Diponegoro University Tembalang Campus Area. Jurnal RUANG Vol. 2 Nomor
4, October 2016, 243-252 ISSN 1858-3881, E-ISSN 2356-0088 © 2016
HTTP://EJOURN AL.UNDIP. AC.ID/INDEX.PHP/RUANG.

3. Haqy AA., et al. 2017. Penerapan Konsep Defensible Space Pada Hunian
Vertikal. JURNAL SAINS DAN SENI POMITS Vol. 6, No. 2 (2017) 2337-3520
(2301-928X Print)

4. Newman, O. (1972). Defensible Space: Crime prevention through urban

design.NewYork,Macmillan 8. Trancik, R. (1986) Finding Lost Space: Theories
of Urban Spatial Design”, New Mork: Van Nostrand Reinhold Press.