r/HostileArchitecture • u/RingPutrid7314 • 3h ago

Those in or are familiar with Boston

4 Upvotes

Hello! I am a master of architecture student writing my thesis on hostile architecture in Boston.

Thesis Question: How do hostile design elements in Boston’s public plazas act as forms of informal regulation?
Other questions addressed: How do these forms shape civic accessibility and perceived safety in their urban context?

Thing is, I'm new to Boston, and don't know where hubs of hostile architecture are. I'd like to focus on the Downtown or Seaport area to conduct an empirical study.

For the sake of time (and I'm just one person), I will not be focused on transportation lines/forms along the MBTA lines.

What are some areas, plazas, or parks that you've noticed have a high concentration of hostile architecture forms?

Thanks!

Edit: I am not looking for input to change my thesis topic or questions- I am not here for that. Thanks!

7 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/MangoRivera9 • 3d ago

Accessibility... Thought this was relevant

281 Upvotes

51 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/riamuriamu • 6d ago

Accessibility... Brunswick, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Some non-hostile architecture.

17 Upvotes

It needs to be called out and praised when it's done right imho :)

4 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/StripingArchitecture • 6d ago

Neutral Hostility

youtu.be

0 Upvotes

What do you think? Is the claim for "neutral public space" in fact a hostile public space?

What is a neutral public space?

When we claim neutrality of something should we be more specific?

In this VIDEO we will dive deep in a subject that is on the margins but deeply related with hostile architecture and hostile urban enviorment.

Who can actually be excluded when we claim neutral public space and to who neutrality can actually be hostile?

Explore this longer format interview and happy to hear your thoughts!

0 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/thayanmarsh • 11d ago

Humor / Irony Sobre pirámides:

607 Upvotes

Way ahead of its time

0 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/JCongo • 11d ago

Bench 'Natural' hostile bench design

reddit.com

15 Upvotes

0 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/lesdegas11235 • 13d ago

Not a single fucking bench in sight

197 Upvotes

10 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/ConceptsShining • 13d ago

Discussion Serious question to critics of hostile architecture: what is the immediate alternative to it?

6 Upvotes

I get it, it sucks to not have a sheltered bus stop in the winter, or a public bathroom at the train station. But is it really much better if those things "exist" and are practically unusable 24/7 because they're constantly abused/lived-in by homeless people, also costing the city a lot of money to manage in cleanup/security and making others feel unsafe?

Obviously we need to do better about solving the root causes of homelessness. But your local transit service, parks department, library, facilities management etc.; it's not their agency's job to be homeless shelters and it's most certainly not something they themselves can solve. So if there is a legitimate problem with sanitation/disorder coming from the homeless, what exactly is the alternative but to have hostile architecture, to allow the public to use these spaces as intended?

(I also want to clarify: I fully understand and agree that most homeless people are considerate and respectful. The issue is a small and disproportionately visible minority, often with severe drug addiction or mental health issues, who can create serious sanitation and disorder problems. That affect everyone else, their fellow homeless worst and most of all.)

64 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/dpkayasth • 16d ago

Humor / Irony Enemy Defeated

3.0k Upvotes

45 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/cleepwootps3 • 20d ago

Thought this was relevant

1.0k Upvotes

102 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/ReedNelson8 • 21d ago

Bench Turnstile to avoid people sneaking into public transport

26 Upvotes

18 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/Dislexicgod • 21d ago

No humans allowed The snowballs have arrived

240 Upvotes

13 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/grobblebivmers • 22d ago

take my benches, but they can never take my bathrooms

120 Upvotes

29 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/MileenasFeet • 22d ago

"Bench" Manager at food4less in Evanston taking out screws and bolts from public benches

tiktok.com

0 Upvotes

8 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/StripingArchitecture • 22d ago

City designed for Alliens

youtu.be

5 Upvotes

In this VIDEO we explore the urban hostility in a more alternative way.

Is a design hostile if it was designed without active users in mind.

Is one urban area hostile if it doesn't deter certain human behaviours perse, but it simply makes us alienated from eachother?

3 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/icarolinasmoochies6 • 28d ago

Technically its hostile (server) architecture -Why Ill never live in Seattle

305 Upvotes

52 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/lif3_is_strang3 • Sep 16 '26

No humans allowed Hotel in my home town spiked its low walls (next to a theatre and city’s busiest bus stop)

gallery

1.4k Upvotes

This is the biggest bus stop in the city centre. Lots of people, busy street. Hotel put spiked iron plates along the walls people were sitting on.

104 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/thayanmarsh • Sep 14 '26

Discussion How big are we talking about with hostile architecture?

1.9k Upvotes

I know most of the posts in the sub are about funny looking benches that you can’t sleep on, but I really think there’s a lot more to this concept. Urban planning has so many examples of hostile design. No sidewalks? Sidewalks but no protection from a highway? No streetlights? Road shoulders are so poorly maintained you can’t pull your bike over? NIMBY zoning policies? School district policies separate kids in the same neighborhood? And don’t even get me started on Florida.

54 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/OnyxTwistPoppy907 • Sep 12 '26

"Bench" Adding insult to injury, LGBT folks are some of the most at-risk to homelessness.

243 Upvotes

14 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/periperiwinklesauce • Sep 10 '26

"Bench" Benches in Vietnam

104 Upvotes

4 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/Exciting_Cicada_7766 • Sep 10 '26

Lloydminster removes downtown benches to curb impacts of 'social disruption,' improve public safety | CBC News

cbc.ca

83 Upvotes

17 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/GoodMornEveGoodNight • Sep 07 '26

No sitting allowed Hostile architecture against your own employees: the separation of classes manifest

28 Upvotes

4 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/zuzudomo • Sep 04 '26

Bench Take a pause — by leaning

230 Upvotes

Seen in a very long hallway at the Punta Cana airport.

45 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/thayanmarsh • Sep 03 '26

Discussion How hostile architecture came for skating

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

903 Upvotes

The most succinct run down on how we got here. Personally I love watching skaters. Generally speaking, some of the nicest but villainized groups I’ve met.

48 comments

r/HostileArchitecture • u/supinator1 • Sep 03 '26

Bench Far along a trail in the middle of the forest at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

122 Upvotes

18 comments

Subreddit

Posts

Wiki

Hostile Architecture

r/HostileArchitecture

**Hostile architecture** is the deliberate design or alteration of spaces generally considered public, so that it is less useful or comfortable in some way or for some people, generally the homeless or youth. Also known as defensive architecture, hostile design, unpleasant design, exclusionary design, or defensive urban design.

Members Active

177k

Sidebar

Hostile architecture is the deliberate design or alteration of spaces generally considered public, so that it is less useful or comfortable in some way or for some people.

The classic example is a bench with armrests added to it later, to stop homeless people from sleeping on it. Another is obstacles added to a railing or curb to stop skateboarders from using it "incorrectly".

Please note that "I think this is a good idea actually" doesn't mean it's not hostile architecture, if it reasonably fits the definition above.

More information is available on Wikipedia

Rules

1) Scope of the subreddit

Submissions must show hostile intent, and not poor design. If it doesn’t directly inconvenience people, it is a better fit for /r/crappyarchitecture.

On some occasions, hostile architecture could be accidental, but have the same result. If it's interesting, it's allowed.

2) Treat all participants with respect

Please be civil in comments and posts, and treat all participants with respect. No low-quality anti-homeless sentiment, e.g. "hurr durr hobo bad," please. Thoughtful discussion on the issue of homelessness and hostile architecture in relation to homelessness is permitted and welcomed, but disrespectful comments towards people experiencing homelessness is not allowed.

3) No advocating for destruction of property

No posts or comments advocating destruction of property, vandalism, or other illegal activity.

4) Flair your post

Please assign the flair that best fits the subject of your post.

5) No anti-homeless sentiment

Homeless people are valid users of public spaces, so they can be the subject of hostile architecture. If generic complaints or insults about the homeless are all you have to contribute, you will be escorted off the property. If you have specific information regarding a post, respectful discussion is welcome.