An Explanation on the Role of Physical Elements of Environment in the Security of Residential Complexes (Case study: Hamedan Residential Complexes)

Security is one of the main necessities of every society. From early Prehistoric cave-dwellers to medieval and modern cities, the organization of settlements has always tended to provide security as major human needs. Two different approaches is used in describing the concept of security; first, security in its objective form which in this dissertation tries to research about it, and it refers to maintenance of people life and property, it is related to crime prevention. In second approach, security refers to subjective concept. The hypothesis of this research is based on this issue that with using results of current researches in the field of relationship between environment and human behavior, it could be possible to formulate a model for crime prevention and improvement of security in building complexes. Universal approach of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), is used as fundamental theory of this article. It is a different approach to preventing crime and can be said that the design and re-design of an environment may reduce crime opportunity. Four factors in this approach including surveillance, accessibility control, territoriality and image is used as important physical factors in security of residential complexes. Qualitative and quantitative approaches are used in two different parts of this research. In first part, qualitative approach is used for reviewing literature by context analysis and then with interpretation approach and comparative analysis method, this part of research tries to investigate the environmental factors in security of residential complexes. In second part, quantitative method is used for identification of physical elements which affects security in residential complexes of Hamedan. This step results in formulating a model by using interviews and questionnaires. For analyzing the conceptual model, the study used structured equity model by questionnaires in Likert scale answers. The results of analysis are interpreted by descriptive-analytic method. The results show that some physical elements are working through social elements and then affect security. The results of this article shows that some of physical features which are  important in  security issue, such as lighting, opening , body form, and  green space are related to building complexes’ security. The results show that there is not any significant relationship between fence and gate and security of studied samples. Investigation about research findings shows that the physical features of fences and gates and behavioral habits of people as a cultural factor, are of the most important reasons of fading of fences and gates roles in securitization of Hamedan residential complexes. The results show the importance of residential complex periphery context in relation to complex security regarding the existence or the lack of appropriate physical context and the type of adjacent land-uses. The results introduce three level of major, median and minor in relation to building complexes security. City region, situation of building complexes in city and cultural factors are addressed in major level of security researches in building complexes. Urban fabric in median level and physical elements and environmental elements in minor level are addressed in security researches in building complexes.