Photo 10 shows a typical display of architecture of fear in Woodford Square, Port of Spain.

Architecture of Fear

The photo above shows the barricade of a small garden in Woodford Square, Port of Spain that is enchained by spike chains. It could be suggested that this was purposely done to prevent socially displaced persons from siting or even reclining at the garden’s barricade. The scenery could be simply classed as a fortress landscape since the spike chains are there for the purpose of security, protection and exclusion. Fortress landscapes are becoming more common in the Capital of Trinidad and Tobago as a response to the increasing deviant behaviours in the urban area. It is said that architecture, planning and urban design have a tradition of designing urban landscapes for the purpose of controlling bodies of people and fostering particular modes of behaviour and urban living, either explicitly in the form of orders and instructions inserted into the urban landscape or more subtly through the design of elements of it (Hall and Barrett 2012, 209). Although these types of architectural designs are useful for protection they could also facilitate inequality through exclusion. Many people may view such landscapes as being exclusive and locals could retaliate by protesting or even being rebellious through vandalism.  

Methods of demonstrating exclusion in cities can be detrimental to urban social life. For instance, unity is likely to be hampered within such context and discrimination becomes predominant which may possibly affect the social development of the lower classes. According to Hall and Barrett (2012), the implications of such actions are potentially dangerous for equality and conviviality of urban life.

Exclusiveness caused by fortress landscapes in Port of Spain may be a difficult issue to digest for many people, particularly the poor, homeless, and others. However, it should be noted that such landscapes can serve a very important purpose in terms of protection and maintenance of property. Therefore, it should be ensured that people are being excluded from certain areas only for the basis of protection and maintenance of property and not because of one’s ethnicity, race, gender, religion, financial status and other personal socioeconomic reasons.  

References

Hall, Tim, and Heather Barrett. 2012. Urban Geography 4^th edition. London and New York: Routledge.