We hear a lot about how good architecture and design can improve the quality of our lives, but a new form of architecture actively discourages users from enjoying themselves.
A new form of architecture aims to prevent users - especially homeless people - from occupying public spaces, and is becoming more prevalent all over the world.
'Hostile architecture' or 'hostile design' comes in many forms, but famous examples include sharp spikes on London streets where the homeless once slept, and braces on street benches that prevent users from lying down.
British artist Stuart Semple has launched a campaign to eradicate hostile design from city streets, by naming and shaming examples of what he calls 'design crimes'.
Semple was prompted to begin the campaign when his local council in Camden, London, built street benches that seemed almost impossible to use for anything: you couldn't put something under them, you couldn't sleep on them or skateboard on them, you couldn't really even sit on them.
The Camden bench that has been labelled 'anti everything'. Image: The wub via Wikimedia Commons (goo.gl/FHnPgp).
Semple called the benches 'anti everything', in a recent interview with the ABC.
"It (hostile architecture) has become so insidious, that a lot of it's quite sneaky. Very slowly bus stops get perches so you can't really sit on them, and spikes appear," he said.
Some councils are even playing frequencies that only young people can hear to prevent them from spending time in an area, said Semple.
Semple told the ABC he believes hostile design is mainly targeted at the homeless, but it is restricting freedom for all of us.
Find out more about Stuart Semple's campaign to eradicate hostile design.
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