Choose the correct sentence (A-G) for each gap. One sentence is extra.
The idea that architecture shapes human behaviour is not new. In the 1960s, the American architect Oscar Newman proposed a theory he called "defensible space". (1)
Newman observed that crime rates were significantly lower in low-rise buildings where residents could see — and be seen by — their neighbours. (2) This visibility created a natural form of surveillance that deterred criminal activity without the need for cameras or security guards.
His ideas were controversial at the time. (3) They argued that poverty and inequality, not building design, were the root causes of urban crime.
However, subsequent research has largely vindicated Newman. (4) Today, the principles of defensible space are embedded in planning guidelines across much of the developed world.
The legacy of Newman's work extends beyond crime prevention. (5) Streets designed for walking, for instance, have been shown to foster stronger neighbourhood bonds than car-dominated roads.
(6) Whether we acknowledge it or not, the spaces we inhabit shape who we become.
A — He argued that the physical design of housing estates could either encourage or discourage crime.
B — In tall tower blocks, by contrast, corridors and stairwells became anonymous spaces that no one felt responsible for.
C — Many sociologists dismissed his theory as architectural determinism.
D — Studies in cities from London to Bogota have confirmed that well-designed public spaces reduce antisocial behaviour.
E — His broader insight was that the built environment influences social interaction, community cohesion and even mental health.
F — In this sense, architecture is not merely an aesthetic pursuit but a profoundly social one.
G — Newman himself had trained as an engineer before turning to architecture.