5.3. Principle 3: choice and control
The ability to control one’s environment is closely
linked with perceived safety. Choice and control are
principles that allow individual freedom of access and
action in public space (Carr et al., 1992). Control may
be manifest in choices for free movement within a
place, to avoid isolated or entrapment places and to
escape threatening or annoying social encounters.
Choice and control are strongly linked to Appleton’s
concepts of prospect and refuge, as these both imply
the ability to control one’s environment visually, as
well as the ability to achieve a position of refuge.
5.4. Principle 4: environmental awareness and
legibility
Environmental awareness refers to the ability to
placeo ne’s self in thes urroundingl andscape;t o be able
to see and understand the immediate environment
(Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989; Wekerle and the City of
Toronto, 1992). Legibility is the clarity of the surroundings-
how easyi t is to understanda nd find one’s
way through a landscape without becoming confused
or lost (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989). These related principles
point to the importance of allowing the user to
be in control, of knowing how to avoid and escape
potentially dangerous places and being aware of connections
and routes to safe places. These principles are
related to both prospect (the ability to clearly see) and
refuge (the ability to reach safety).