Examples Of Hostile Architecture To Prevent Homeless People From Being Able To Shelter
These may be installed as "art," but often they're actually hostile attempts to stop homeless people from sleeping in public.
Hostile architecture is one of the cruelest developments of late capitalism. It is defined as elements of "design" that are implemented to prevent people from staying in one place for too long.
It is directly targeted at homeless individuals, with the aim of stopping them from resting or sheltering in public places. It is harsh, cruel, and unfair—no one deserves to be homeless, and cities should be supporting these individuals rather than adding to their misery.
Examples of hostile architecture include benches with armrests in the middle (which prevent people from lying down) and spikes on the ground (to deter people from sheltering). Scroll down for some real-life examples of these, and try to identify and challenge them in your own neighborhoods.
Look out for pretty designs to try and distract you!
It is just cruel (as well as being ugly)
Spikes to stop people from sheltering undercover.
This is painful
For example, armrests across benches to stop people from lying down
Weird "design" elements around your town may actually just be anti-homeless measures...
Benches without the... bench part?
Cities and councils CHOOSE to make it difficult for homeless people to shelter
Hostile architecture was just the beginning...
Please, if you happen to be in a position where you are designing or voting on "design" elements for a neighborhood, think about the homeless individuals as well. Housing should be a basic human right; but until then, at least let them have access to shelter—and benches that they can lie down on.
