Participatory Planning with Women for Everyday Life and Safety: the Case of Madrid

Safety in public space and transportation systems is one key aspect to consider when integrating gender dimensions into city planning and design. Research undertaken since the 1970s has shown how spatial features have an impact on both subjective perceptions of fear and actual probabilities of crime. This evidence has led to the development of various methodologies for addressing crime prevention through environmental design. Some of these have been developed from a feminist standpoint and are based on participatory methods with local women called urban safety audits and also exploratory safety walks. The original methodology was developed in Canada in the early 1990s and it included six principles for safe urban space. This article shows the results of applying a modified version of the safety audits actualized to current conditions in Global North cities. These safety audits were conducted as part of the design process of a big tract of underused land called Madrid Nuevo Norte. Madrid Nuevo Norte is probably the biggest ongoing redevelopment project in Europe. It is also the first one to systematically integrate a gender dimension in its design. The audits were designed and implemented by the UNESCO Chair on Gender