Design and Crime

After not receiving any responses from the relevant organizations, I turned back to traditional methods, such as gathering information from books. I decided to focus on improving the massage parlor. Even though I have an expert helping on-site, I felt that I should have some supporting information to aid in on-the-spot decision-making. I found the book Defensible Space: Crime Prevention Through Urban Design by Oscar Newman, which was quite helpful in combination with the knowledge my mother has from her work experience. This made on-site decisions and work processes easier. I will provide a summary of this book.

“Defensible Space: Crime Prevention Through Urban Design” by Oscar Newman is a highly influential book in the field of environmental design and urban planning for crime prevention. First published in 1972, it introduced a groundbreaking concept that changed the way designers, urban planners, and decision-makers perceive the relationship between space design and community safety.

Information about “Defensible Space: Crime Prevention Through Urban Design”:

1. Main Concept of “Defensible Space”

  • Defensible Space is a concept developed by Oscar Newman that focuses on designing environments to allow people to control and protect their spaces from crime. This idea revolves around managing residential and public spaces to foster a sense of territoriality and create conditions that deter criminals from committing crimes.
  • Newman suggests that designing spaces in a way that allows residents to have better visibility and control over their surroundings makes criminals less likely to commit offenses in those areas.

2. Key Elements of Defensible Space

Newman identifies several key elements that contribute to creating defensible space:

  • Territoriality: Designing spaces that encourage residents to feel ownership and responsibility over their area, such as using fences, walls, or layout planning to clearly separate private spaces from public ones.
  • Natural Surveillance: Arranging buildings, pathways, and landscapes to enhance visibility and allow residents to see their surroundings clearly, reducing blind spots and increasing the sense of insecurity for potential criminals.
  • Image: Maintaining spaces to appear clean, attractive, and well-kept to convey that the area is closely monitored and not an easy target for criminal activities.
  • Milieu: Considering the environment around a space, whether it is near high-risk areas, and designing spaces to protect against external risks, such as positioning them close to busy public areas or streets with regular traffic.

3. Examples of Applying the Concept in Community Spaces

  • In the book, Newman uses case studies to show how poor building and public space design can contribute to crime, such as high-rise buildings with poorly maintained public areas or lacking adequate surveillance.
  • He proposes designs that emphasize spaces where residents can feel in control, such as creating courtyards or gardens where residents feel a sense of stewardship, making it harder for outsiders to access.

4. Impact and Influence of the Book

  • Oscar Newman’s book significantly impacted the fields of urban design and public policy worldwide. His ideas have been applied in planning and designing cities to increase safety and reduce crime rates. For example, the design of buildings in housing projects includes better access control and surveillance.
  • The principles of Defensible Space have been widely recognized and applied in many cities, such as major cities in the United States, Europe, and Australia, and have contributed to developing other crime prevention theories and approaches, such as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).

5. Relevance Today

  • The Defensible Space concept remains relevant today and has been further developed in architecture and urban planning to enhance safety and improve residents’ quality of life in various settings.
  • In an era of rapid urban growth, this concept continues to help designers and urban planners prioritize safety and crime prevention at every stage of city development.

“Defensible Space: Crime Prevention Through Urban Design” is thus a book that provides knowledge and principles for effectively designing spaces to create a safe environment and reduce the likelihood of crime. It offers practical guidelines that can be adapted to various contexts.

Tutorial 3

I had the opportunity to have a 1-on-1 tutorial with Zuleika again because I had some questions and needed guidance. During this session, I reviewed what I had done so far and asked for her advice on any areas that might need improvement. She introduced me to a new term, “fetishization.”

Initially, I didn’t understand its meaning, but as she began to explain, it gave me a clearer picture and a deeper understanding of the data I had collected from another perspective.

Social Indifference

The issue of Thai women or female massage therapists being perceived as sex workers is not the only problem they face. Being a woman from Southeast Asia often means being seen as someone from the “third world” trying to escape her country for a better life. Even being a Thai woman can lead to questions about whether one is a biological woman or a transgender person, given Thailand’s reputation for this. However, it is not that people are unaware of these issues; rather, it is that no one seems to be trying to change them.

Everyone I interviewed acknowledged these problems but didn’t know how to solve them. They could only protect themselves and raise awareness among those around them. This issue has become so normalized that people often make jokes about it, treating it as something trivial rather than a gap that needs to be addressed. For example, last summer, there was news about American soldiers coming ashore.

It should have been an ordinary news story, but instead, the internet was filled with jokes encouraging women to put on makeup and go out to greet the soldiers, framing it as a great opportunity to find a foreign husband.

Personally, I find myself laughing at these articles because, in truth, I feel indifferent. This may be because I grew up in a society where these issues seemed distant. However, people around me consider buying sexual services to be normal. By ‘normal,’ I mean that they don’t publicly announce it but discuss it casually among close friends, often in a joking manner. The reason I bring up this topic is that I see it as a potential gap that has been consistently overlooked. Many people have tried to make these issues more openly discussed to encourage change, whether through satire or educational content aimed at development.

I recently had the chance to attend the final project exhibition of UAL students and met a Thai student pursuing a Master’s in Graphic Design. Her work was another example of social satire, critiquing Thai society through clever wordplay popular among Thais, combined with visual elements, under the project titled “How to Bangkok.”

I had the chance to hear her explain her work briefly. Her idea came from specific terms used among Thai people that are often used to insult or mock someone’s gender or sexual preferences. These terms have evolved into common expressions used casually to indicate someone’s gender identity. She wanted to present these in a way that is more accessible and understandable, especially for foreigners. So, she chose to create them in a graphic format with explanations on the back.

Intervention 4

Continuing from Intervention 3:

After the tutorial, Elizabeth gave further advice on improving security. She pointed out that even if the appearance of the parlor changes, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safer. The information from the interviews showed that the repeated harassment of masseuses happens because exploitative customers are not punished due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Having evidence, such as CCTV cameras, could help address this problem more effectively.

When she suggested using CCTV cameras, I already knew why it might not work. From my experience working at massage parlors, customer privacy is very important. Having CCTV cameras might protect us from being harassed, but it could also invade the privacy of the customers. However, this was just my opinion, so I went back to the same shop where I conducted Intervention 3 in Germany and suggested the idea of installing more CCTV cameras to increase safety for the masseuses in case of harassment by customers.

Feedback: Her response didn’t surprise me much. She immediately said it wasn’t feasible due to German privacy laws, which make it impossible to install such cameras. Additionally, there would be increased costs for the owner, such as the cost of new cameras, setting up the system, and higher electricity bills from the additional cameras. From a practical standpoint, if a customer sees a CCTV camera in the room while changing for a massage, they would likely be upset. It would feel like seeing a camera in a bathroom. The massage room is a private space for customers to relax, and imposing on that privacy under the pretext of safety wouldn’t be acceptable to everyone. Not all customers would trust us or see the importance of this measure.

She also mentioned that she already has CCTV cameras at the front and inside the shop, but not in the massage rooms. The system is linked to an app that alerts her on her phone whenever someone enters or leaves the shop, and the cameras can also capture audio. She feels that this is sufficient.

To handle customers who harass her or the masseuses in her shop, she can only share her experiences with others so everyone is aware of the different forms of harassment they might encounter. She can only advise on the methods, words, and body language she uses to respond to these customers to protect herself, so that the other masseuses in the shop can adapt these strategies if something similar happens to them.

Sex-worker guides

While driving around Berlin, I noticed there were a lot of Thai massage parlors—at least one on every street. So, I asked my relative how we can tell which parlor offers sexual services and which ones provide genuine massages. The shop decor looks similar, and some parlors with modern decorations still offer sexual services. We can’t tell just by looking from the outside. If you want to know which place is safe, you must try it yourself or rely on recommendations from someone you know.

She mentioned that Thai owners usually know each other through word of mouth and by observing the appearance and style of the masseuses in the shop, such as their makeup and clothing. In Germany, there are websites where customers leave reviews and pinpoint locations of places where they have purchased sexual services from Asian women. There are two such websites.

On these websites, they provide the location of the parlor and share customers’ experiences. Most of the reviews are very detailed, describing the special services the masseuses offer, the costs incurred by the customers, and, in some threads, even the names of the masseuses.

Intervention 3

After the final tutorial, I had the chance to visit a relative in Berlin, Germany. My relative owns a massage parlor in the city. During this trip, my mother traveled from Thailand to meet us here as well. I should mention that my mother and I were involved in the process of opening this massage parlor from the very beginning. My mother has a furniture and interior design business in Thailand, so she has extensive experience in this field. She has been running the company since I was 10 years old, and before that, she worked in furniture sales. After I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I helped with the family business for a while before working as an employee at an e-commerce company, but I continued to work part-time with the family business.

At the initial stage of opening this massage parlor, I was responsible for buying the decor items as requested by her and sending them from Thailand to Germany. These items included uniforms for the masseuses, pillows, sheets, massage oils, and balms used for massage. This time around, it happened to coincide with her desire to renovate her shop. However, the condition for the renovation was that she could not close the shop as it would lead to a loss of income, and she couldn’t use any equipment that would produce noise or odor that might disturb the customers. So, the three of us went to a supply store together. Another requirement was that the materials used had to help prevent stains from the massage oils, as the current brown-painted walls would get stained every time a masseuse or customer got up, and the oil marks could not be cleaned, leaving blotchy stains.

Initially, I planned to replace the light bulbs with brighter ones, but that would have made the room too bright, which could make customers feel uncomfortable (most massage rooms do not have windows because customers want privacy, and dim lighting helps create a calm and relaxing atmosphere).

After selecting the materials at the store, we decided to use oil-coated wood, but only up to half the height of the wall to cover the oil stains. We chose white wood to make the room look more spacious and bright, but not too bright. We decided to keep the original wall color to avoid repainting, which could cause unpleasant odors for customers. We decided to renovate only one of the three rooms first to see the results and make any necessary adjustments without investing too much.

Feedback: The shop owner liked the renovation very much because it didn’t require a significant investment, the materials were easy to find, and the renovation was quick, minimizing the loss of income. The solution effectively addressed the problem of old stains and prevented new oil stains. Whenever a new stain appeared, it could easily be cleaned with a damp cloth, leaving no residue. Regarding aesthetics, the shop looked better and less plain. The massage room was brighter but not so bright as to make customers feel unsettled.

Exploring the Area

Before I started Intervention 3, which I decided would focus on improving the image of massage parlors, I had the opportunity to explore around Berlin, Germany, and Prague, Czech Republic. I noticed the differences in the decor of Thai massage parlors in both countries, even though they are neighboring.

Thai massage parlors in Berlin tend to be more enclosed, possibly due to the city’s architecture, which consists of older buildings, making the limitations for designing the parlors quite high. This is similar to London, where the buildings are old, space is limited, and there are few windows, making the parlors less visible from the outside. Most of these parlors choose to decorate in brown and green tones, with patterns and fonts that clearly express Thai identity. They also use various symbols, such as lotus flowers, jasmine flowers, the Thai flag, and “Kanok” patterns, which are unique designs from Thailand often seen in temple murals.

However, Thai massage parlors in Prague have a more modern look. They lack the traditional patterns found in the parlors in Berlin. The color tones are similar but noticeably brighter. The glass windows are not covered, allowing a more open view to make the interior space appear larger (a technique architects often use for limited spaces). There are some Thai-style decorations, but significantly fewer in terms of ornaments, patterns, and fonts.

The clear differences might be because most of the massage parlors in Berlin are owned by Thai people who have relocated there, while the parlors in Prague are typically owned by locals who hire Thai masseuses. I had the chance to meet the owner of one massage parlor in Prague, who told me she had visited Thailand and loved it, especially Thai massages. This inspired her to start a business in Prague. She decorated the parlor entirely herself, blending in Thai elements to maintain a sense of Thai culture. She doesn’t know how to give massages herself, so she hires Thai masseuses to do the work.

Tutorial 2

During the final tutorial, Elizabeth asked me what I wanted to do after graduation. I couldn’t answer her at all. So, she asked what my family does. I replied that my mother runs a company related to furniture and interior design. Elizabeth then suggested that I consider doing something that could be applied to my family’s business or has the potential to expand in the future. This gave me an idea and helped me think of something new because I felt like I had hit a dead end with my current project. I didn’t know how to proceed to make it truly effective in solving problems.

Changing the direction of problem-solving might help address the issues I’m currently facing and give me a chance to try something different. Others might see it as not directly solving the problem or being off-target, but for me, it feels like this problem has been around for a long time—if it could be solved easily, someone would have done it by now. So, if there’s an opportunity to try something new, there’s no harm in giving it a shot.

Problem that I got

The main problem I encountered in Unit 3 was working with other organizations, such as requesting collaboration and information from them. For example, I reached out to the Design Against Crime department at UAL. https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/central-saint-martins/research-at-csm/design-against-crime

I got this lead from a tutorial with Elizabeth, so I tried to walk in and speak with them. However, they indicated on their website that all communication should be done via email. I did send an email, but I never received a response. That’s just one example.

Another problem I faced, if you’ve noticed that all my entries seem to be dated closely together, I can assure you it’s not because I wasn’t working. I had an issue with using the blog. I felt like I was too old for new technology—it was hard for me to learn on my own. Fortunately, I had Jim, who is in the same tutorial group as me, and I was able to ask him many questions.

It wasn’t just technology that was a problem for my blogging; I was also a problem for myself. I felt hesitant to write a blog when I wasn’t ready. I preferred to jot everything down in a notebook first and then reread it to make sure what I wrote would be understandable to others. Writing narratives is very difficult for me because I feel like my writing doesn’t make sense. So, I take time to read everything I’ve written in my notebook before transferring it to the computer.

Intervention 2 (interview)

When the topic of “feminine” came up, I decided to learn more about it to gain a better understanding. I started with a simple approach: finding the true meaning of the word. When I had the chance, I began an intervention in the form of an interview (I chose this method because I felt that what I wanted to do wasn’t very tangible, and Elizabeth had mentioned in a tutorial that an interview could also be an intervention).

I had the opportunity to speak with a female masseuse at the shop. She told me that she moved to the UK because she married a British man (she is the same person who experienced harassment from a customer in “Working Experience at a Massage Parlor EP2”). She said she has two sons: the older one, who is 20 years old and autistic but can take care of himself to some extent, and a younger son. The reason I spoke to her was that she asked me to help her write a resignation letter, which led to our conversation.

She shared that she has two jobs: she works as a waitress at a Thai restaurant near Liverpool Street, which is close to her home, and she works at the massage parlor as a side job. She had recently attended a massage course and was invited to work at the parlor to earn extra income, but the massage parlor is quite far from her home, and she is worried about her eldest son. She told me about various incidents where she was harassed by male customers, which prompted me to conduct an impromptu intervention with her, as the shop is usually busy and we rarely have the chance to sit and talk.

I informed her that I was working on this project and asked for permission to use her information. Unfortunately, she resigned before I had the chance to get her to sign a consent form. However, in the audio recording (the conversation was in Thai), she verbally consented but requested not to reveal her identity.

Initially, I always thought that one factor leading to harassment of masseuses might be a language barrier. However, she and all the masseuses in the shop can communicate in English to a certain extent, so that isn’t the main factor. She mentioned that the main factor, in her view, might be that Thai women have a culture of being polite, not speaking much, and always smiling to welcome customers. This politeness could be seen as a weakness, making customers think the masseuse will comply. I suggested that she might need to speak up more to let customers know that she can understand and communicate. Smiling might be good service, but speaking up could protect oneself from being mistreated because of the perception that they have no voice and cannot respond.

I learned a technique from interviewing several masseuses. They said that when customers know you are willing to speak up and respond, it can reduce the chances of harassment. I suggested she try this approach.

Feedback: She said that recently, as she started speaking up more and adjusting her tone of voice to let customers know (she can often tell from experience if a customer has bad intentions), it has helped reduce instances of harassment and has built her confidence in handling such situations. She mentioned that she is less kind to customers who treat her poorly (it may sound bad, but she said it’s beneficial in this line of work).