Browsing by Author "Dharmatilleke, S"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

item: Conference-Full-text
‘Architecture of fear’: an analytical investigation on ‘negative impression’ in architectural design articulated by ‘integrated spatial and space-related aspects
(Department of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2014) Dayasagara, N; Botejue, P; Dharmatilleke, S; Dayaratne, R; Wijesundara, J
Architecture of fortification; iron bars and iron spikes, cinder blocks and barking dogs, razor ribbon wires, glass spines and security alarms- The city has been armed with apparent evidences all over the city. The built fabric has been transformed into an ideal representation of ‘contemporary fears’ of citizens. Often people scare to use lifts, narrow walkways, rear staircases, darken basements, high roof tops or largely open public places. In such places they fear being murdered, abused, abducted, or stabbed. The investigation primarily measures the ‘required sense of safety’ in an urban public realm with respect to the architectural design principals, spatial and space related aspects. The four case studies of the research will be focused on ‘public buildings’ filling the ‘research gap’ within the field of study existed between two main levels of ‘city fabric’ and ‘individual dwelling’. The research outcome reveals the ‘controlling power’ of ‘fear in space’ that has influenced user psychology and behavior accordingly, including 21 integrated architectural aspects behind the cause. Concurrently, the investigation emphasizes possible design interventions to diminish such negative impressions composing ‘positive motives’ which supports public cohesiveness, interaction and free movements in built-sphere in which architectural design becomes a ‘tool’ in order to manipulate ‘sense of safety’.
item: Conference-Full-text
Architecture of Fear’: An Analytical Investigation on ‘Negative Impression’ in Architectural Design Articulated by ‘Integrated Spatial and Space-Related Aspects’
(2015-10-02) Dayasagara, N; Botejue, P; Dharmatilleke, S
Architecture of fortification; iron bars and iron spikes, cinder blocks and barking dogs, razor ribbon wires, glass spines and security alarms- The city has been armed with apparent evidences all over the city. The built fabric has been transformed into an ideal representation of ‘contemporary fears’ of citizens. Often people scare to use lifts, narrow walkways, rear staircases, darken basements, high roof tops or largely open public places. In such places they fear being murdered, abused, abducted, or stabbed. The investigation primarily measures the ‘required sense of safety’ in an urban public realm with respect to the architectural design principals, spatial and space related aspects. The four case studies of the research will be focused on ‘public buildings’ filling the ‘research gap’ within the field of study existed between two main levels of ‘city fabric’ and ‘individual dwelling’. The research outcome reveals the ‘controlling power’ of ‘fear in space’ that has influenced user psychology and behavior accordingly, including 21 integrated architectural aspects behind the cause. Concurrently, the investigation emphasizes possible design interventions to diminish such negative impressions composing ‘positive motives’ which supports public cohesiveness, interaction and free movements in built-sphere in which architectural design becomes a ‘tool’ in order to manipulate ‘sense of safety’.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Opportunistic crime and built environment : an exploratory study of inherent security in house and housing design
(2014-06-06) Dharmatilleke, S
The problem of urban crime is being focused upon very strongly as rapid urbanization in Sri Lanka has escalated this aspect into alarming proportions. Proded by the almost hysteric, security consciousness of the clients the designers of house and housing seem to adopt various strategies to comfort this menace, perusing solution which more often than not worsen the existing situation. In the light of the above the study aims at exploring the aspects which enhance the "inherent security" of the built environment which may contribute to curtail the escalating problems of urban crimes which is prevalent in contemporary times.In order to achieve this objective the study explores through academic research the possible aspects of the built environment which facilitate or retard crime in the context of contemporary living and functional patterns. In a field research based on there selected case studies which incorporate various other examples, the above theories, formulated on the design aspects are tested as to how they would apply to the local context. The academic grounding is based on the research done in this field by various authors of international repute. The field research is based on data provided by the records maintained by the police department as well as field surveys, interviewees, questionnaires on victims and observations made by the author. In the course of this research it has been found how certain aspects in the contemporary build environment encourages crime by destroying certain key elements that ensure the "natural security" of communities and house units. These observation have been backed by hard data such as annual crime records and victims accounts that proves contemporary house and housing design guilty of facilitating urban crime "beyond reasonable doubt". Simultaneously the study discovers through the examination of 'low-crime 'areas and academic models how the elements, survive ability and defensibility can be achieved in the built space at the inception of design, thus enhancing its inherent security, creating safe and secure environments for peaceful human habitations.
item: Conference-Abstract
Security and the urban communities: crime-prevention and new urbanism
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Dharmatilleke, S; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
This paper explores a link between space based crime prevention strategies formulated for residential settlements and principles of ‘new urbanism’. As safe neighbourhoods enhance liveability, security is a key element that gives a sense of belonging to residents of a community. Thus, crime rates can serve as “indicators” of the cohesiveness within such urban neighbourhoods. Thus, the paper examines whether space based strategies of crime prevention could also be used as design tools to create closely knit urban neighbourhoods. Most architectural theorists on crime prevention use the key operative term “combating anonymity”. They find root causes of crime in rapid urbanisation and the deterioration of traditional social systems that supported inherent mechanisms which reduced crime. With the erosion of such mechanisms they find the dissolution of neighbourhoods and resultant social isolation. As a remedy they prescribe countering such ‘isolation’ by structuring physical spaces in urban habitats in a manner that could eradicate anonymity from neighbourhoods. The paper observes similarities between such approaches and the doctrine of “new urbanism” to create cohesive neighbourhoods. It uses local examples to explore how ‘neighbourhoods featuring characters of New-Urbanism’ ensure low levels of crime. Thus, an exploration is made on ‘common principles’ shared by the two space based approaches of: crime prevention and New-Urbanism.