Have you ever noticed that some public benches are unusually uncomfortable for lying down? This is often not by accident, but by design. A practice known as "hostile architecture" or "anti-homeless design" is subtly integrated into our urban landscapes, specifically targeting park benches to prevent people from sleeping on them overnight.
The most common feature is the bench divider. By installing armrests or metal bars at regular intervals, the continuous flat surface is broken up, making it impossible to lie down fully. Other designs include slanted seats, which are fine for a short rest but become increasingly unstable for prolonged reclining. Some benches even feature small, periodic bumps or ridges along the seating surface.
Beyond benches, you might see large boulders placed under overpasses or studded metal strips on low walls and in recessed doorways. Parks in some cities are programmed to activate sprinkler systems during the night, making the grass areas unsuitable for bedding down. The primary goal stated by municipalities is to maintain order, ensure public spaces are used as intended, and discourage loitering.
However, these designs are deeply controversial. Critics argue that hostile architecture is a cruel and inhumane way to manage homelessness, treating the symptom rather than the cause. Instead of providing support and housing, it effectively criminalizes the act of resting in public. It creates an environment that is exclusionary and unwelcoming for everyone, not just those without a home. While the intention may be to preserve public amenities, the method raises significant ethical questions about the kind of society we are building and who our public spaces are truly for.