Slopped window sills, benches with numerous armrests, water sprinklers that turn on intermittently without needed to water anything are all examples of “defensive architecture” and “defensive urban design” Generally speaking, this facet of architecture that isn’t talked about much. In this post, we will be discussing anti-homeless architecture.
Anti-homeless architecture is also commonly referred to as "hostile architecture." It is an urban design strategy that purposefully restricts behavior of people and prohibits them from interacting with certain aspects of the built environment. Fundamentally, it aims to “prevent crime and maintain order.” It mainly deters skateboarding, littering, loitering, and public urination.
However, it has been a trend for this hostile architecture / exclusionary design tactic to really focus and target youths and homeless populations, by restricting physical interactions within these spaces where they live.
The idea of restricting movement through architectural expression or additive forms is not new. For instance, in the 19th century, there were “urine deflectors” designed to prevent and discourage men from urinating in corners. I know it sounds crazy but a lot of medieval churches implemented this strategy! But this anti-homeless architecture really started to get implemented in the United States in the 1970s.
Examples of Hostile Architecture
Spikes on the ground
These spikes are typically made out of metal.
The same is true for over-aggregation in concrete. If you add a tremendous amount of aggregates to a concrete mixture, the concrete itself is not smooth. Therefore, the little rocks in concrete become micro-spikes.
Spiked Windowsills
Many believe these spikes are just to deter birds.
They serve to deter people from sheltering under awnings of windows.
Metal discs in pavements
Most times, these discs are retractable.
Many establishments install these discs, allowing the discs to spike at night when the establishment is closed. During normal business hours, the discs are retracted. Many people are discomforted by hostile architecture, so many of these designs aim to be invisible.
Boulder being installed along freeway ramps to deter transient camps
Concrete benches with multiple facets and carves to prevent sleeping
Slanted Benches
These benches may seem more uncomfortable to sit on, and passerbys may consider the design to be a bad one!
However, the design of these benches is quite intentional to prevent the homeless population from sleeping there.
Armrests in park benches
This is the most easily identifiable form of anti-homeless architecture, as people find it nearly impossible to comfortably lie across the bench.
Tiered/multileveled park seating
Gaps in awnings with no rain gutters are also designed
It is a deliberate design choice as rain will easily get to the people sleeping on the streets.
Barred corners
Prevents people from loitering or sheltering in the corners. Corners are a typical go to place
Raised Grate Covers
Not a sculptural statement. It has been carefully constructed to prevent people from sleeping there.
These grates provide essential heat to homeless people, needed to stay warm in the winter.
Fenced off Grates
Prevent homeless people getting access to this warmth
However, with this anti-homeless, exclusionary design tactic, it only furthers the social division between people. Others believe that hostile architecture is absolutely necessary to maintain order and safety. It is absolutely necessary to deter these unwanted behaviors such as loitering, skateboarding, and sleeping.
I have presented unbiased information to you, but here is my take on it. I believe that anti-homeless architecture targets the vulnerable populations disproportionately. Is this design style against humanity? Is this design a crime? Who has the right to the city? Does this style of architecture just avert our gaze from poverty?
How incredible could it be if design redressed this problem of urban segregation?
To close, I want to leave you with a quote by sociologist Robert Park:
In making the city we make ourselves, one might wonder what collective self-conception has produced a city covered in metal spikes, illuminated by blue lights, buzzing with high-frequencies – paranoid, anxious and hostile, by design.
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