I’ve noticed that question a lot, and I appreciate you asking it directly. You’re referring to those benches you sometimes see in cities—the ones with an armrest right in the middle, splitting the seat into two separate, short sections. They’re designed specifically to stop people from lying down and sleeping on them, often called “anti-homeless” or “hostile architecture” benches.
So, do we offer that? The short answer is no—we don’t manufacture or sell that specific style.
Here’s why. In our work, we focus on creating public seating that is both functional and inclusive. While we understand the need to keep public spaces clean, orderly, and usable for everyone, we don’t believe that making a bench uncomfortable for someone who needs to rest—or even sleep—is the best solution. The middle armrest design often ends up being inconvenient for everyone: it stops a parent from sitting with a small child, makes it awkward to share a bench with a friend, and can even be uncomfortable for someone just sitting down with a bag.
Instead, we offer alternatives. For example, we produce benches with slightly curved seats that naturally discourage lying flat, or with segmented surfaces that still allow comfortable sitting while deterring extended sleeping. We also work with cities to incorporate other design features like diagonal slats, short seat lengths, or even planters integrated into the design, which prevent sleeping without the hostility of a sharp metal armrest in your spine.
If you’re looking for benches for a specific public space—say a transit stop or a park—we can definitely help you explore options that balance comfort, security, and community needs. We’ll even walk you through real examples used in different cities.
But the bench with the lone middle armrest? That’s not something we carry. We believe people deserve to sit (and occasionally lie down) with dignity. Let us know if you’d like to see some kinder designs—we’d love to help you make your public space welcoming, not punishing.