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The Role of Hostile Architectural Features in Shaping Tenant Satisfaction in Urban Housing

Arc. Dr. V. M. Irouke Arc. I.H. Ivoke

Abstract

This paper critically examines the paradoxical role of hostile architectural features in contemporary urban housing, exploring how designs intended to enhance security may inadvertently compromise residents’ overall well-being. Hostile features, including high fences, spiked gates, anti-loitering benches, surveillance systems, and restricted communal areas, are increasingly deployed in urban environments to control access, deter unwanted behaviour, and regulate shared spaces. However, while these elements can create a sense of protection, they may also generate feelings of exclusion, anxiety, and social disconnection among inhabitants. Through a conceptual and theoretical review, this study interrogates the tensions between security imperatives and human-centred design, highlighting the psychological and social costs of prioritizing control over comfort. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature from environmental psychology, urban sociology, and housing studies, the paper argues that hostile design functions as a double-edged sword: it may enhance perceptions of safety yet simultaneously erode community cohesion, inclusivity, and housing satisfaction. The findings underscore the importance of adopting more subtle, context-sensitive approaches in urban housing design that balance security needs with human well-being and social sustainability.

Keywords

Hostile architecturesecurity designresident well-beingand housing satisfaction

References

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