Diehard Buildings. Control Architecture -a Challenge for the Urban Warrior
Abstract
Where security is a primary concern, city planners seek to protect residents and high-value property from the city's more aggressive residents. Architects join planners in developing subtle ways to control public access to affluent residential areas, government buildings, banks, major firms, key industrial sites, and such buildings as presidential palaces. While the control aspect of urban design mainly interests architects, city planners, public safety officials, and military professionals, should be aware of such control aspects. For example, a country's military force might have to back up police and firefighters or capture a structure hardened by new technology. Military efforts to recapture important urban buildings are often spectacular. Examples are the 1980 British Special Air Service assault on the Iranian Embassy in London; the 1985 Colombian military assault on the Palace of Justice in Bogota; and the 1997 Peruvian military assault on the Japanese Ambassador's residence in Lima. Since then, many key buildings have been hardened and incorporate new control architecture. Hardened buildings present challenges to the military attacker, especially when attackers must limit collateral damage. Control architecture is the reasonably unobtrusive use of terrain, landscaping, structures, design, and technology to limit access, guide movement, thin and contain groups, or prevent entry to high-value buildings, urban centers, industrial sites, and affluent residential areas. While often appearing to improve access to an area, control architecture actually allows a small security element to control or deny access. Urban operations are difficult, and armed action against city buildings severely tasks even well trained, well-equipped units. Assaulting modern buildings that incorporate control architecture increases the commander's challenge and demands thorough planning, detailed intelligence, specific ROE, special equipment, and multiple mission rehearsals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA435159
Entities
Organizations
- United States Army Combined Arms Center