Abstract:

A safe and secured working environment allows for the proper functioning of its user. Any divergence from these, thus is likely to affect productivity. In view of this, certain measures and norms are needed to ensure an adequately secured working environment. This could be achieved with the use of different security strategies. One of such is the tenets of defensible space , which creates an area of opportunity for surveillance of space and brings an environment under the control of its users. This study examines student awareness and activities within the architectural design studio workspace that enhance security within the design studio environment. Defensible space parametric measures, which are Territoriality, Natural surveillance, Image and Milieu were incorporated, using primary data obtained through questionnaires with multiple choices administered to undergraduate and postgraduate architecture students of three (3) schools of architecture in South-West Nigeria. The data were analysed using the descriptive statistical tools of frequency and percentages using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 21).

Among the key finding are:
(1) lack of sense of work space ownership among the students,
(2) peer distraction from work during studio sessions, resulting in lack of natural surveillance of work space
(3) negative attitudes to studio culture on productivity and work output, affecting security of work space
(4) lack of maintenance culture of facilities within the studio environment.

The study recommended natural environmental security strategies parameters capable of cultivating a sense of architectural design studio culture in student to be incorporated within the studio design workspaces.

Keywords:

Architecture, Security, Productivity, Design Studio, Workspace.