How the right design methods can increase building safety.

Numerous studies show that the planning of a building has the potential to reduce the risk of crime and thus increase building security. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a design method that applies aesthetically pleasing principles while reducing vulnerability and the opportunity for crime. Implementing CPTED strategies in the planning phase of a building is the most cost-effective and efficient way to increase security. An additional advantage is that they can also be integrated into existing buildings.

As a concept, preventing crime through design is not new. The Great Wall of China or medieval moats throughout Europe illustrate this centuries-old practice. CPTED itself developed into a recognized design approach in the 1970s. Today, buildings and communities around the world are adopting it. Although specific CPTED principles may vary, the basic strategies include natural surveillance, natural access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance. Incorporating these principles can significantly increase the security of any building.

Natural Surveillance

People who engage in criminal activities do not want to be observed. Therefore, creating an environment that makes activities easily visible and, perhaps more importantly, lets potential criminals know that they are being watched, is the focus of this principle. The following precautions are an integral part of the feeling of visibility.

• Windows:Keep windows free of obstructions—both inside and outside. Obstructions can be anything from trees and shrubbery to window decorations and office equipment. If possible, position desks toward the windows so that it is possible to see what is happening outside. It is useful to see who is entering and leaving the building. Installing windows on all sides with an unobstructed view of the property is often a wise design choice.

• Entrances:Ideally, the doors of the building should be at least partially visible from the street or parking lot, with a clear line of sight to see an approaching person from a distance.

• Lighting:Good lighting is an important deterrent to crime. Lighting entrances and parking lots, as well as installing lights in dark areas, can significantly reduce the risk of crime.

• Landscaping:Possible hiding places can attract criminal activity. However, by moving or removing fences and garbage containers and trimming bushes and hedges to a maximum of one meter, it is possible to minimize the risks.

Natural Access Control

Closely related to the principle of natural surveillance, natural access control involves the use of appropriate landscaping and lighting, signs, fences, and the like to guide people where they need to go. At the same time, public and private areas are marked.

• Entrances:Ideally, there should only be one entrance and exit in a building to maximize security. Install doors that close automatically and lock and consider a secure entrance for a large public lobby.

• Landscaping:The use of paths and signs that lead people to the entrance of the building gives people fewer excuses to linger in areas where they should not be.

Territorial Reinforcement

This principle involves the visual distinction between public and private spaces, which should deter potential intruders from entering private areas. Territorial reinforcement also promotes a sense of belonging. When the occupants of the building feel that the area belongs to them, they are more likely to feel responsible for the building and watch out for intruders.

Methods include:

• Use of an entrance area or lobby as a transition point between public and private spaces.

• Marking property boundaries with landscaping, fences, or walkways.

• Avoiding empty spaces. An area that is not often used should be avoided. This leads to more opportunities for criminal activity. Increased security can also be provided by creating and actively using an inviting space. Moving vending machines into this area further increases security, as surveillance is thus improved.

Maintenance

Criminals might see a neglected, run-down, poorly lit building as a warm welcome sign. The maintenance of a property deters criminals, as it makes it clear that the occupants care for it and are watching what is going on.

• Landscaping:Keep trees, shrubs, and hedges trimmed so that they neither block the view nor create hiding places.

• Lighting:Check lighting systems regularly and repair or replace them as needed.

• Entrances:Make sure the doors are functional and close by themselves. An open door is a multi-layered danger.

• Overall:Clean up trash, remove graffiti and other vandalism, and mow the lawn regularly.

Perception Counts

An essential part of the CPTED concept is the security concept. Using these strategies makes crime more difficult and at the same time enables building users to observe potentially bad behavior. If criminals feel that they are being watched and there are no good hiding places or escape routes, they are less likely to target a particular building.