Safe by Design

Well-designed buildings and grounds contribute to the safety of those that live and work there. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design – or CPTED, for those of you with a passion for acronyms – is a time-tested approach to making buildings and public spaces safer.

There are three components to CPTED:

• Natural Surveillance – The configuration and location of buildings should enable observation of the surrounding outdoor areas. This means windows must be placed with care, obstructions such as signs and landscaping, must be eliminated, and outdoor gathering places need to be strategically located and properly lit.
• Natural Access Control –Defining points of entry to neighborhoods, parks and developments through the use of fencing, landscaping and signage is vital. Having visitors come and go where they can be seen lets residents know who is in the area.



Harrison Heights Public  Housing -- Harrisonburg, VA

• Territorial Reinforcement -- Definition of public and private space is critical. In multi-family housing situations, making sure that each resident’s outdoor space is delineated promotes pride of ownership and encourages custodial care.  Porches and carefully crafted outdoor areas can be transitional spaces that the encourage residents to welcome visitors.

Even the safest, most well-designed spaces will deteriorate if not maintained.  Planning and budgeting for on-going up-keep is crucial.  Surfaces should be easy to clean and re-finish.  Places for junk to accumulate should be eliminated.  

If you’re interested in learning more about promoting safe behavior through good design, contact us at Blue Ridge Architects.