The wall and the fear: urban form, visibility and insecurity in Boa Viagem, Recife, Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Melo Junior, Silvio
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Trigueiro, Edja, Canuto, Robson
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.47235/rmu.v10i1.201
• topic: morfologia; sintaxe; insegurança; medo; visibilidade; urban morphology; space syntax; insecurity; fear; visibility

This study, of an essencially morphological nature, addresses nexuses relating built form and signs of unsafety. The investigation is contextualized in the occupation history of the studied case, the neighbourhood of Boa Viagem, Recife, Brazil, from the early 20th century to the major roadworks of 2016, especially the insertion of the Via Mangue road. Besides the literature review, the methodological procedures included records of unsafety indicators as evidenced by elements attached to buildings (cctv cameras, electrified fences, among others), vis-à-vis changes in visual fields and in network configuration for which Space Syntax Analysis was applied. The literature review showed gaps concerning the investigation of visibility as an important aspect in studies relating space and unsafety, and that has encouraged the development of experimental techniques complementary to pre-existing visibility analysis - 3D isovist, VGA and isovists. The results suggest that the recrudescence in the use of artifacts that promote distancing between private and public spaces reveals an attitude of distrust concerning the increase in potential movemente, brought about by the rise in topological accessibility, a departure from principles of urban design that are deemed favourable to safety and animation, and an escalating expansion of environments that are hostile to the enjoyment of the city.