Figure 5. Concrete spikes under a road bridge in China (Chadalavada, 2020

In further study, McMaken (2019) also revealed that uneven sidewalks were also a common defensive architecture that made it difficult for the homeless to sleep on such spaces. Chadalavada (2020) added that defensive architecture was identified as a subtle expression of social division through urban design that was associated with the destitute such as the homeless. In this regard, the type of architecture allowed urban designers to discourage the use of public urban spaces in a manner that they did not intend. In another study, Litch (2017) also argued that the underlying feature of hostile architecture was not to make a large area inaccessible but only difficult to undertake a given activity within a small area. Figure 5 illustrates the use of spikes under a road bridge in China which prevents misuse by the homeless.

From the figure 5, the incorporation of concrete spikes is intentional as a form of hostile architecture in order to avoid congregation and misuse by the homeless within the city. An additional finding by While and Atkinson (2015) is that, the various forms of defensive architecture are used in a subtle manner to cajole or remove unwanted people in the various spaces. The forms include seats that are designed to slope, incorporation of metal spikes on different surfaces in order to make them impossible to live on, walls that are by design uncomfortable and use of dividers to prevent people from lying down (While and Atkinson, 2015). The figure 6 illustrates dividers on public benches that discourage skateboarders from misusing them.

Figure 5. Concrete spikes under a road bridge in China (Chadalavada, 2020)