You’re asking a very practical question, and the short answer is: yes, we absolutely can—and in many cities, we already do.
These benches, often called “defensive architecture” or “hostile design,” have a center armrest or multiple segmented armrests placed at intervals along the seat. The idea is straightforward: if you try to lie down on the bench, the hard, unmovable armrests dig into your back or side, making it uncomfortable or impossible to stretch out flat. Essentially, they turn a potential bed into a more “one-bum-per-slot” seating arrangement.
Let me break down how this works in practice, what people think about it, and what you should consider before installing them.
How They Actually Deter Lying Down
The typical design features three to four armrests along a six-foot bench, creating distinct “pockets” for individual sitters. The armrests are usually made of metal or hard plastic, placed at waist or mid-back level. When someone tries to lie horizontally, the armrests block the continuous surface. A person might rearrange to curl around them, but it’s never comfortable for a long nap. In fact, many homeless individuals and travelers report that these benches are the first thing they notice when a city decides it doesn’t want people sleeping on its streets.
The Practical Pros
From a city management or business owner’s perspective, these benches have clear benefits:
1. Discourages loitering and sleeping – They keep the bench reserved for sitting, which is its intended function.
2. Increases available seating – Because people can’t lie down and take up an entire bench, more individuals can sit at once.
3. Durable and easy to install – They are a simple retrofit to existing bench designs and require no special maintenance.
4. Provides back and arm support for the elderly – Many users actually prefer armrests because it helps them stand up.
The Uncomfortable Truth
However, there’s a human cost that’s hard to ignore. Critics—including many urban planners and homelessness advocates—call this “design with cruelty.” Here’s why:
- It’s hostile to the homeless – People who sleep on benches often have no other safe place. This design doesn’t solve homelessness; it just moves it out of sight.
- It’s uncomfortable for families – A parent wanting to lay a baby down for a diaper change, or a tired traveler needing a quick nap, finds this bench equally unwelcoming.
- It signals “you are not wanted” – These benches tell vulnerable people that public space is not for them.
A Better Way Forward?
If you’re considering installing such benches, I’d encourage you to ask: *What is the real problem?* If the issue is that people are sleeping on benches because they have no home, then a bench with armrests is a band-aid, not a solution. Many modern designers now advocate for “welcoming infrastructure”—benches with curved surfaces that are still comfortable for sitting but awkward for full-body lying, or benches built with natural wood that are warm and inviting but not perfectly flat.
My Honest Take
As a writer who covers urban design, I find these armrest benches effective but ethically tricky. They work for their stated purpose—they absolutely do deter lying down. But they also represent a city choosing to punish rather than to care. If you choose this route, be transparent about it, and perhaps pair it with real support services like shelters, restrooms, and public drinking fountains.
Ultimately, yes, you can get benches with armrests in the middle. The bigger question is whether you should.