The security of buildings

Abstract

Security and survival are synonymous and therefore the subject of security may be traced back to the Origin of Species. Indeed, the subject matter has developed accordingly. Throughout this evolution, man's survival has always depended on his ability to shelter himself, physically and symbolically, from destructive forces. Today, these forces continue to exist, but in the more developed countries of the world, they have been somewhat mitigated, though not always, and their nature is not necessarily determined by the need to survive. The reaction to this threat is manifested both physically, in the form of defensive structures or applied defensive mechanisms, and symbolically, often unwittingly, by the use of psychological barriers. The extent to which these structures are made secure depends on a number of factors including the social context of their location, the economic viability and the nature of the contents or activity within the actual structure.