How can we make our cities safer through environmental design?

How can we create safe spaces and how can we increase city dwellers’ sense of safety through environmental design?

Our conference ‘SAFECITY 1.0’ was searching for answers to these questions by walking around educational, architectural, sociological, crime prevention aspects.

Where do you feel safe? In a deserted park surrounded by high trees, or in a busy, but apparent spot?

The answer seems obvious, doesn’t it? The conference raised such questions in order to start dialogue between experts from different fields.

What is crime prevention through environmental design? A set of design principles used to discourage crime and promote building security. When CPTED is put into practice, the resulting environment, including the building and its surroundings, will discourage or impede criminal behavior, and at the same time encourage honest citizens to keep a watchful eye. It is a well-known trend worldwide and now the Hungarian experts too could gain deeper understanding of the drift.

On the first day of the international conference participants heard interesting presentations from all around the world. On the second day in the framework of workshops they had the chance to interact and reflect on what they’ve heard.

The importance of the cooperation between professionals with different specialties was highlighted in the opening speech of Mr. Zsolt Füleky Deputy Secretary of State for Architecture and Construction. It was mentioned in the welcoming speech of Mr József Hatala, President of the National Crime Prevention Council and Mr István Jenő Molnár, Deputy Head of Department, National Crime Prevention Council.

 

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