How safe can one feel in a city? To be more specific, how safe do women feel in the city? While discourse around public space and the perceptions of women's safety in urban and rural areas have been an ongoing topic, one student utilized her appointment as the 2021 RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship recipient to expand on these issues. Weronika Zdziarska's research proposal, "Don't Stay Out Alone: Addressing women's perception of safety and freedom in cities by design," focuses on urban safety and how better design strategies benefit the well-being of women as well as others. She adds, "special attention is devoted to design solutions that successfully evoke the sensation of safety and freedom."
Zdziarska explains the reason for her research stemmed from conditioning women around the world are all too familiar with when it comes to public spaces and cities. During our interview, she shared that her intention was to explore a topic important to her. She dives into her own experiences and how this subject is a shared experience between other relatives, friends, and women in general. "As a woman, it happened that I have experienced gender-based violence in the cities I lived in," she shared. "I often felt fear in the city, and I realized that my perception of safety is strongly related to the quality of space that surrounds me."
While her research focuses on five cities in South America, she offers a glimpse into an often overlooked consideration when it comes to city planning. It's to be noted that creating progress and change around this particular topic also involves the re-education of social and behavioral perceptions from men as well as women. Zdziarska's research and work as a designer offer a powerful glimpse into her role as an emerging leader in social design practices.
As a recent graduate from Politecnico di Milano, we asked her about the project and the challenges she faced. She highlights the importance of establishing a network that will help carry out her plans to further her research and continue to raise awareness regarding urban planning and the safety of all. We also asked Zdziarska about her plans post-graduation and advice she has for students applying for scholarships similar to the Norman Foster Traveling Scholarship.
The aim of my research proposal is to demonstrate an interdependence of spatial design and gender inequalities and to layout best practices to build more inclusive cities.
How would you describe your Don’t Stay Out Alone project?
The aim of my research proposal “Don’t Stay Out Alone: Addressing women’s perception of safety and freedom in cities by design” is to demonstrate an interdependence of spatial design and gender inequalities and to layout best practices to build more inclusive cities. The study is focused on the topic of urban safety and its perception.
Special attention is devoted to design solutions that successfully evoke the sensation of safety and freedom. The methodology is based on evaluating previous interventions carried out by international, regional, and local organizations in South America. Five cities were selected, representative of different attitudes and responses to the research topic — Medellín, Quito, Santiago, Montevideo, and Curitiba.
The methodology is based on evaluating previous interventions carried out by international, regional, and local organizations in South America. Five cities were selected, representative of different attitudes and responses to the research topic...
What motivated you to explore this subject?
The main incentive to explore this particular topic was my own experience and that of my friends and relatives. As a woman, it happened that I have experienced gender-based violence in the cities I lived in. Since I was a girl, I was warned not to stay out alone, and I knew where it was not safe for me to go. I often felt fear in the city, and I realized that my perception of safety is strongly related to the quality of space that surrounds me.
I started reading about the topic, and I was particularly inspired by the work of researchers like Ana Falú, Vania Ceccato, and Rosa Sheng. I became interested in the UN Safe Cities Initiative during the Femminile Futuro conference at Politecnico di Milano. I am excited to see and evaluate the outcome of the work of many professionals and organizations focused on improving safety for women in South American cities, and I hope to contribute with my own ideas and insights.
Since I was a girl, I was warned not to stay out alone, and I knew where it was not safe for me to go. I often felt fear in the city, and I realized that my perception of safety is strongly related to the quality of space that surrounds me.
Are there specific elements of your research you find especially rewarding or rather challenging?
At this stage of the project, the main challenge is to establish relevant contacts and find local collaborators, whose direct experience will be essential to my research. The aspects that are especially satisfying to me are the interdisciplinarity inherent in the proposal and the relevance of the topic to many people who reacted to my ideas with enthusiasm.
I am excited to see and evaluate the outcome of the work of many professionals and organizations focused on improving safety for women in South American cities, and I hope to contribute with my own ideas and insights.
What are your next steps academically? Professionally?
In the future, I imagine myself working as both a professional architect and an active researcher. I will continue my education at the MSc Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences program at TU Delft, starting this September. Immediately after graduation, I would like to gain experience in international architectural practices. Later I am willing to establish my own architectural firm, sharing my passion and interests with others. I am also considering enrolling in a Ph.D. program and pursuing an academic career in architecture.
Any tips for other students thinking about applying for scholarships?
What helped me the most was choosing a topic I was genuinely interested in, and devoting time and effort to explore and research it. I think it is important to try brainstorming with many people, also from other disciplinary fields, and to choose good advisors who can broaden your point of view and motivate you to improve the proposal.
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*The Norman Foster Travel Scholarship is an annual program that offers "£7,000 to a student of architecture who demonstrates the potential for outstanding achievement and original thinking on issues that relate to the sustainable survival of cities and towns."
Katherine is an LA-based writer and editor. She was Archinect's former Editorial Manager and Advertising Manager from 2018 – January 2024. During her time at Archinect, she's conducted and written 100+ interviews and specialty features with architects, designers, academics, and industry ...
11 Comments
Came for the frames, stayed for the article!
The fake frames you mean? Either those frames have a really weak prescription or they're just vision glass. :)
Those are very real prescription glasses handcrafted by Andrzej Bodych :) I'm glad they attract attention 'cause I think their designer deserves it!
Cool frames. I'm envious that your prescription is so weak. Hopefuly Bodych gave you a discount on the frames. ;)
Dzięki for the extra info Weronika!
Not to sidetrack the great work presented in this article - will Bodych create frames for anyone!?
http://okularybodyych.com/
Hello, I am an architecture student from India doing an undergraduate level dissertation on a similar topic. Is it possible for me to contact you to discuss the same?
The author or interviewee? While the author might get notice of your comment, likely not the later. I'd say no harm in a cold-call/email.
Oh, right. Thank you for the suggestion :). But I am not sure how to reach the interviewee.
hey! you can contact me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/weronika-zdziarska/
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