Fear-driven architecture turns homes into fortresses, eroding community

A PRINT Magazine article by Susan Milligan examines how contemporary residential design reflects and amplifies societal fears, paradoxically making people less safe by eroding community. The piece opens with a prison analogy, noting that 11 million Americans now live in gated communities, and demand is growing. The white picket fence is giving way to aluminum and steel gates; front door cameras are increasingly popular. Average new single-family home size grew from 983 sq ft in 1950 to 2,386 sq ft by 2025. Brutalist design is gaining popularity for residences, and inward-facing homes built around private courtyards are on the rise. Yet violent crime has dropped historically since the 1990s; New York City recorded its fewest murders ever in early 2026. Architect Christopher Gorney notes that design cannot create community but can prohibit it, calling the veranda a form of social technology now seen as nostalgia. Philip J. Consalvo of PJC Architecture attributes the decline of porch culture to air conditioning and screens. Architect Erin Peavey advocates for "in-between spaces" like porches that offer safe exposure. The article invokes Jane Jacobs' "eyes on the street" concept, arguing that isolation is ultimately more dangerous than the perceived threats driving fortress architecture.