Prospect-refuge Theory

Prospect-refuge theory describes the concept that people in public spaces feel comfortable and preferred spaces that allow them to observe what is happening around them, while also being protected. They could view outward, while also have a sense of being protected. Prospect-refuge theory refers to the evolutionary beginnings of our hunter-gather history, when people needed to observe landscape while being protected from predators. Today, it has important implications for public spaces, as well as place making strategies that involve general people's watching, public events, and performances. The theory suggests that we prefer environments that offer both prospect and refuge because they make it possible to anticipate threats and opportunities and, therefore, protect ourselves. It indicates that sometimes the multiple elements of one aspect, such as refuge, can reinforce each other. For example, as to the romantic notion of a cottage in a wooded grove, both the cottage and the woodland represent a refuge, it is even clear if we put them together. However, the woodland may also conceal hazards by limiting prospect and/or limiting movement, so the lines between prospect and refuge become slightly blurred, the result of which is decided by the specific situation and characteristics of the users, such as gender, age and experiences.

Edited and translated by Zhang Yifei