It takes time, passion, and patience to build a complete home. It should be magnificent, purposeful, and secure, right from the gate, into the indoors— and then end in a tranquil backyard.
Maybe you have the space to make such a home, but you know you haven’t maxed your potential. And you’re thinking; what next?
Well, augmenting security and privacy is an excellent place to start. Why? Once you’ve secured your space, you can try any design and install anything you like in your compound.
Plus, planning your architecture design with security in mind allows you to make the most of the natural resources in your landscape.
And finally, it eliminates the need to install old-style security cameras, and so on, when your security instincts kick in.
The 9 Architecture Design Elements to Enhance Home Security
1. An enclosed entrance
Use opaque gates and an enclosed entryway to keep outsiders on a need to know basis.
No matter the material you choose, ask your gate designer to build with security in mind. In other words, your gate shouldn’t help a burglar climb into your home.
Height is also a factor to consider. While tall gates offer more defense, you can still use a shorter design and add grills to keep off prowlers.
Make your entrances more secure by installing proper lighting.
2. A Tall Fence
Fences are a common architecture design when it comes to augmenting security, but installing a taller-than-usual fence can make your home impenetrable.
If you use this approach, be sure to add enough lighting to keep off porch pirates who may attempt entry by sneaking under fences.
3. A Pool
Natural water sources have, for long, served as a security feature. The spaciousness a water body creates allows you to see any intruder from a distance.
Again water is challenging to navigate, and not many burglars are ready to soak in water just to enter a compound. So you want to create a large pool near your perimeter wall. In that case, a trespasser may successfully climb a wall but succumb to their idea of swimming across a pond.
And if they do, you will most likely see them sneak in.
4. A Noise-making Pavement
It is easy to hear someone walk on gravel, small stones, and chips if everything else is silent. Using these on your compound can help you detect any uninvited motion in your backyard.
This approach will prove more useful if you live in a quiet neighborhood and embrace quietness when indoors.
5. A High wall
Low-lying or short walls can leave your compound vulnerable to gatecrashers. High walls, however, can protect you better in two ways;
- They obstruct an intruder’s view (and most burglars won’t come in blindly) and,
- They offer more security because tall walls are difficult to climb.
Faux and bricks are an excellent way to add a tall perimeter wall to your architecture design.
6. Tinted Windowpane
Keep your indoors secret with tinted window panes that allow you to see the outside but obstructs a stranger’s peep.
It is also an excellent way to implement the glasshouse without worrying about exposing your house to potential burglars.
7. A Thorny Perimeter
Use a thick thorny fence to make your home impenetrable. Plants like Firethorn (Pyracantha) can build a tall, thick fence.
Others like Spanish Dagger (Yucca Gloriosa), Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia), Century Plant, and Blackberry can help secure your edge while turning your lawn greener.
Most of these thorns are require little maintenance and can survive dry seasons, so planting them won’t be a problem.
8. The strategic living room
When working on your home architecture design, discuss with your designer, have your living room placed strategically so that you get a direct view of the entrance and edges.
Position your family and living rooms in strategic locations so that you have a 180 to 360 degrees view of your compound. If you like, complement with floor-to-ceiling mirror windows.
9. An Upstairs Bedroom
Because you spend most of your night in your bedroom (and most burglaries happen at night), build an upstairs bedroom to get a 360o view of your home.
That way, you can slide your curtain and peep to see any weird goings-on in your well lit home. With your bedroom lights off, you can monitor everything without attracting an intruder’s attention.
Which architecture design did you find fit for your home plan? Well, implement wisely because you can’t start everything from scratch, but you can make a few strategic changes. It is always good to have a home defense plan and all the lights you may need.
