Thesis (M.Arch.)(Prof.)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Academisch Proefschrift--Universiteit van Amsterdam, 2007. / Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. 250-269).

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This thesis investigates the criminogenic capacity of characteristic residential housing designs found in the British city. This exploratory study collected and analysed both qualitative and quantitative data concerning the perceptions of major stakeholders in society (planning professionals, police officers, convicted burglars and young adults) regarding these design typologies. This design-specific approach highlights the crucial significance of 'image' and subjective perceptions in the 'design-affects-crime' debate thereby representing an innovative and original contribution. Newman's theory of 'Defensible Space' (1973) is convincingly supported, in that single family dwelling units such as detached, semi-detached and terraced housing, were perceived by all groups to be less prone to criminality. Low-rise and high-rise flats, however, were viewed in more negative terms, as highly criminogenic and fearinducing. To probe the complex relationship between the social and physical dimensions of urban residential space, various designs of contrasting and polarised levels of upkeep were selected for investigation. Significantly, designs with visible 'signs of decay' that were poorly-maintained were consistently perceived to be both more criminogenic and fear inducing. Newman's third 'defensible space' element of 'image and milieu' is underpinned, in addition to the 'Broken Windows' theory of Wilson and Kelling (1982). It is established that design, per se, is not the definitive explanatory factor for criminality. Rather, it is the crucial socio-economic and demographic associations attached to these designs that influences perceptions of crime/deviancy, 'defensible space' and the fear of crime. The 'image' of the design can significantly affect levels of perceived defensibility. It is demonstrated that probing the subjective and perceptual elements to crime and fear of crime provides a useful analysis to pursue alongside the traditional approaches of utilising recorded crime statistics and published socio-economic and demographic data to guide policy responses and crime prevention through environmental design initiatives. Understanding the subjective reality of the fear of crime and how 'defensible space' is perceived can assist in the campaign to improve urban design and inform the Home Office's 'Secured By Design' initiative. This work underpins the journey towards understanding 'safer cities' and contributes to the design-affects-crime debate generally.

This research examines the dynamics and workings of bridging social capital through a comparison of the Cleveland and Portland City Clubs. Bridging social capital differs from most common conceptions of social capital (often referred to as bonding social capital) in that the associational connections seek to cross an important boundary that has marked an association at a particular point in time. Each of these clubs excluded women until the 1970's; both have also sought to build a cohort of young professionals over the last decade. The goal of this research is to understand the processes behind integrating these two populations into their respective clubs to expose the development of bridging social capital. Scholars have increasingly noted that associations which can build viable bridges often experience transformative outcomes - including the broadening or re-visioning of an association's mission and its impact within the community. However, due to certain structuralist methodological and theoretical predispositions, most bridging research can often point to the existence of these outcomes but cannot explain how they transpired. How bridging relations operate and produce transformative outcomes is still poorly understood. This dissertation uses a historicist approach to address those shortcomings. It reveals that bridging relations are far more dynamic then previously presented. Bridging relations can often mitigate, and be mitigated by, politics. How they do this is crucial to their success and the outcomes they produce. I argue that acts of power articulation and capacity development are important elements in building successful bridges. Institutional variations, the creative agency of actors, and the histories of these clubs within their communities help form the playing field through which these elements unfold. To understand this complex nexus and how it produces transformative outcomes, scholars need to study bridging relations over time and within the context from which they emerge.

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Typescript (photocopy).

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