Yes, such benches exist and are a prominent example of "hostile architecture" or "defensive design." These are public space elements intentionally designed to deter certain activities, like sleeping or loitering. The goal is often to maintain order and encourage turnover, but critics argue they unfairly target vulnerable populations, like the homeless.
Common design features include:
* Divided Seats: Individual metal armrests placed in the middle of a bench prevent anyone from lying down.
* Sloped Surfaces: A slight, often imperceptible, downward slope makes reclining uncomfortable and unstable.
* Unconventional Shapes: Curved, segmented, or oddly angled benches that offer no flat, continuous surface.
* Strategic Materials: Using cold, hard materials like metal or adding bumps and ridges to the seating area.
Proponents argue these measures keep public spaces clean, safe, and accessible for all intended users. However, many urban planners and social advocates criticize this approach as inhumane. They see it as a way to hide social problems like homelessness rather than addressing root causes like housing affordability and mental health services. It sparks an ongoing debate about who public spaces are truly for and how cities should balance management with compassion.