Further to the debate sparked by a call on urban design and terrorism...
John Sorrell, chair of the Commission for Architecture and the Built
Environment is quoted by the BBC today* as saying:
"Often designers react to crime after the event by putting up barriers
and CCTV cameras, but I think it's better to think about how the
environment makes people feel," he says.
"What's important is to make people feel safe and secure, while giving
groups like young people a sense of ownership over their communities."
While this may not be radical or surprising, and opens up all sorts of
new questions, it is a clear example of how the relationship between
urban design and crime (or terrorism) doesn't have to be about
exclusionary or reactionary politics even in a mainstream context,
thinking about it doesn't have to be some kind of thought-crime, and
researching it doesn't have that you automatically condone state crime
or terrorism...
*here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6940485.stm
Oh, and I'm off on holiday now...
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