ABSTRACT
Writing from an architectural perspective, this chapter addresses urban safety and crime prevention based on two case studies from cities in Ecuador. The authors demonstrate how the complexity of the city is characterized by continuous change and transformation of a set of spatial configurations that determine different models and identities of urban life. These models regulate the recognition of spatial hierarchies and how they affect transitions between the public and private spheres. By studying Quito’s 24 de Mayo Boulevard and Guayaquil’s Simón Bolívar Waterfront, the chapter develops a conceptual framework that differentiates between defence for safety and psychological safety in terms of urban design strategies, and compares and contrasts encounter and enclosure models to offer a link between architectural typologies and urban safety policies.
