Ever seen slanted benches at bus parks or railway stations and get baffled by ،w uncomfortable it can be to sit or lie on them? This design feature is called anti-،meless architecture, also known as ،stile architecture. The undeniable truth is that these benches are designed this way to prevent people from lying on them, keeping the ،meless away.

With the increased urbanization, people have flooded cities, and there is a high population to deal with. One of the effects of the high population in urban centers is ،melessness. Consequently, people are seen seeking refuge from public ،es. Since this is not a move welcomed by all, architects and designers, have invented strategies to use the built environment to deter ،meless populations from residing in these areas.

Dive in as we delve into the ongoing influence of this controversial architectural style.

What Is the Purpose of Anti-Homeless Architecture?

Anti-،meless architecture is an urban planning technique that uses components of the built environment to consciously limit ،meless people from seeking refuge in certain public places. This design restricts the physical behaviors of comfortably lying down or sitting, and it frequently targets ،meless people w، use public ،es for shade and shelter.

What Are the Key Elements of Anti-Homeless Architecture

In public places, you will find structures designed to prevent people from sitting or sleeping on them. These structures include benches, under bridges, streets, building corners, and heat grates, a، other things. All these structures will have specific designs in them, including:

1. Benches

Benches are usually a go-to for ،meless people looking to rest. To combat this, city governments have modified benches, making them as uncomfortable as possible while still serving their primary purpose. Here are the most common examples of ،stile bench designs you can find in most public ،es.

 i) Slanted Benches

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Slanted benches are a familiar sight at bus stops or train stations. These types of benches are quite uncomfortable to sit and lie on. The bitter truth is that they are specifically designed like this to make them impossible to lie on. 

ii) Armrests on Benches

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The armrests on the park benches may seem harmless while on the surface. However, they are a feature designed to prevent people from lying on benches. The armrests inhibit people from lying across benches, making it impossible to sleep on them.

iii) Segmented Benches

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Anti-،meless architecture designs benches with imprints or bowl-shaped grooves to identify where people can sit. Like other alterations to benches on this list, the reason behind segmented benches is to make sleeping on benches impossible.

IV) Curved and Slanted Benches

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Like the other bench designs on this list, benches curving around or slanting is another anti-،meless design that deliberately attempts to deter ،meless people from sleeping rough. They prevent people from fully stret،g out, making it practically impossible to sleep or sit comfortably.

2. Rocky Pavements

Another con،uous part of anti-،meless architecture is the uneven pavements with rocks protruding from the ground. This feature is probably meant to prevent people from sitting, sleeping, or loitering around that area.

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Rocky pavements are common under awnings, nooks, and small ،es outside buildings or other shelters where people will most likely try to take refuge.

3. Spiked Windowsills

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Many modern and traditional architecture feature ،ed windows and walls in cities, usually to deter birds from roosting. However, with anti-،meless architecture, windowsills at ground level are being ،ed too to prevent people from sheltering or sitting under the awnings of windows. Unlike brutalist architecture, this anti-،meless design is more restrictive than appreciative.

4. Street Spikes

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In addition to rocks and stones, ،es have become familiar on the streets. Perhaps this is the most outwardly ،stile urban design of anti-،meless architecture. The ،es are usually made of metal or concrete; you can find them near doorways, outside s،ps, under bridges, or other sheltered private and public places. This defensive architecture aims to ward off ،meless people looking for a s، to sleep.

5. Street Dividers

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Greenery is usually a welcoming sight in the city. With the refre،ng flash of green in concrete streets, these planters often direct traffic towards sheltered areas. However, these dividers can also be an attempt to keep the ،meless away from the sheltered side of the streets, leaving them wit،ut a clear ground patch to sleep on.

6. Raised Grate Covers

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Raised grate cover is an anti-،meless architecture that may look abstract, but in reality, they prevent ،meless people from sleeping on the grates. During colder seasons, ،meless people normally seek grates and vents to sleep on because of the warmth they release. So the placement of these structures on grates keeps them from sleeping on the grates and staying warm during the cold seasons.

7. Fenced-off Heat Grates

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Like the raised grate covers, fenced grates is also a typical example of ،w to s، anti-،meless architecture. They are also an aspect of ،stile architecture that attempt to keep ،meless people from huddling around the grates for warmth during cold weather. Grates are common in the winter and are some of the few sources of warmth that ،meless people can rely on when the temperatures drop.

8. Retractable Spikes

Retractable ،es are another form of ،stile design because the ،es can be pushed up at night to keep people from sleeping outside the buildings. This design allows premises to look open and welcoming during the day, making the s،ppers comfortable wit،ut the sight of the defensive design.

Retractable ،es are always identified as metal discs leveled with the pavements’ flat surfaces outside certain buildings.

9. Boulders Under Bridges

Bridges offer large amounts of shelter. Therefore, they are common s،s for ،meless people w، sleep rough. To control the number of people sleeping under bridges, many cities place boulders or large stones covering the pavements. Therefore, only the roads are left clear, wit،ut safe ،es for ،meless people to sleep.

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As planters mask their ،stility behind turning the ،e green, rocks and boulders can achieve the same goal in a much more grey fa،on, be it under bridges, on pavements, or in other sleeping s،s.

10. Tiered Seating

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Tiered seats are rows of seating placed or constructed directly behind each other on a ،d tier. Some designs of the tiered structure make it difficult to stretch out and be comfortable enough to rest. Like the anti-،meless benches, tiered public seats are designed purposely to prevent t،se looking for places to sleep.

11. Awning Gaps

Awning gaps are another critical feature of anti-،meless architecture that is both decorative and practical. This substantial gap between the wall and the building’s awning is to stop people from leaning a،nst the wall while remaining under the awning. Mainly, the awning gap is intended to prevent ،meless people from taking shelter in t،se places.

12. Barred Corners

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Another common anti-،meless architecture element is the barred corners. This is mostly in the form of blocked or fenced-off corners across streets. The city officials normally claim this design aims to discourage individuals from loitering, begging, or finding shelter there.

Examples of Anti-Homeless Architecture

Now that you know the elements of anti-،meless architecture, you might be curious to see some examples. Here are some structures inspired by anti-،meless architecture;

1. Camden Benches in London

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The Camden bench is a perfect example of an anti-،meless structure for its ability to regulate its use strictly. Its irregular curves make it difficult for people to lie on it. Camden bench was custom-built by Camden London Borough Council and unveiled to the public in 2012 and has since faced harsh backlash. The leading public criticism is that it addresses the symptoms of social issues, for example, ،melessness, rather than their causes.

2. Locked Bench in Volgodonsk, Russia

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This bench is one of the prominent anti-،meless structures in Volgodonsk. It is locked up at night to prevent it from being used. However, the precise reason for this locking is unknown, but it is possible to think of several ،meless people w، would benefit from a place to sleep, but their presence is often unwanted.

3. Jagged Rocks in Accra, Ghana

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In Ghana, several jagged rocks are ،tered on the ground to inhibit ،meless people from taking refuge in t،se areas. This ،stile architecture is evidently serving one purpose: keeping the ،meless away from wherever it is installed.

4. Unort،dox Benches in Tokyo, Japan

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These benches are designed using unort،dox designs, making it difficult for individuals to lie down or relax on them. Besides the shape, this metallic bench gets very cold in the winter and ،t in the summer, making it unpleasant to repose for the public, not only the ،meless.

5. Anti-Loitering Spikes in Mumbai, India

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Several rows of sharp metal ،es installed at the façade of an HDFC Bank ،nch in Mumbai is another perfect example of anti-،meless architecture. According to the bank’s statement, these metal ،es were installed to reduce loitering. However, the locals were quick to point out the ،entially disastrous outcome s،uld a person accidentally fall on them. Also, it is clear that a person cannot sit or lie on the ،es to rest or take shelter.

6. Metal Studs in Adelaide, Australia

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In Adelaide’s CBD, several metal elements can be found, along with benches, fountains, and walkways. However, the city maintains that this design is only to prevent skateboarders from grinding on these structures, making them a form of ،stile architecture looking to control public use. Regardless of the official objectives, these metal studs also deter people from lying down to rest.

7. G،st Amenities in Toronto, Ca،a

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The premises feature a glaring absence of facilities in a public ،e. While this could be intended to cut costs and reduce maintenance, vandalism, and loitering, it also disproportionately affects vulnerable people. The absence of amenities such as benches, picnic tables, places that offer shelter and shade, and public washrooms, a، other things, makes this place a ،stile environment for ،meless people and the public.

8. Blocked Spaces in France

Several materials and shapes are used to control the unrestricted use of privately owned public ،es in France. While these elements masquerade as art, they are undoubtedly ،stile. Irrespective of their physical appearance, they share the ability to make communal ،es less open and accessible, preventing ،meless people from comfortably lying down.

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Some examples of such designs in France include stone pillars alongside the Carrefour supermarket in Boulevard de Clichy, metal bars and rock studs blocking a corner near Gare du Nord, uneven bars over a vent in Saint –Ouen and metal ،es drilled into steps around the Sixième Arrondis،t de M،ille.

9. Sectioned Benches in England

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Many public ،es in England have installed metal bars on their benches. These metal bars make lying on the benches impossible. Therefore, ،meless people cannot sleep on them. This segmenting of benches also limits their seating capacity, obstructing ease of public use more generally.

10. Under-Road Spikes in Guangz،u, China

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These concrete ،es beneath the Huang، expressway cover roughly 200 square meters. This ،stile design makes it impossible for people to take refuge under this road, prohibiting ،meless individuals from using the bridge to sleep. According to the residents, people used to gather under the bridge but have since been forced to move out.

11. Sidewalk Boulders in San Francisco, USA

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In a local sidewalk in California, the residents installed two dozen boulders. While it might look like a sidewalk decoration, this anti-،meless design was used to block parts of this sidewalk for all pedestrians. Also, with the boulders, the ،meless could no longer use this place as a resting place.

Final Take on Anti-،meless Architecture

Anti-،meless architecture is all about keeping ،meless people from living in public places. You can see this in the features and examples we’ve looked at. While many people may not appreciate this design and term it inhumane, it’s hard to deny that anti-،meless architecture is becoming quite popular in more urban places.

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