Has there been a rise in hostile architecture? To begin to understand possible influences on the increase in hostile architecture, it is first important to ask if there has been an increase in hostile architecture. Though difficult to measure, the increase in hostile architecture, or at least the acknowledgement of its existence, can arguably be identified through a growing number of articles related to the subject; a Google Scholar search of ‘hostile architecture’ finds 345 related articles (as of the 8th January 2020), 85% of which were published after 2016. Though this shows an increased awareness of the subject, it may also be argued that the increasing amount of literature based on the subject correlates with an increase in the hostile architecture itself. This is supported by Starolis (2020) who states, “in recent years something very key has started disappearing … comfortable places to sit.” (Starolis, 2020, p. 54) where the writer argues that a recent increase in hostile architecture is directly responsible for the decrease in suitable public seating. Starolis identifies how many parks across the US, such as Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, have recently installed hostile architecture, such as uncomfortable benches, which reduce the spatial opportunities that the space provides for its users. In New York, Hu argues “hostile architecture has flourished … even as the city has significantly added more public space in the last decade” (Hu, 2019), as she emphasises an increase in the use of spikes (figures 2, 4, and 5) throughout the New York landscape. Within her article, Hu is suggesting that the increase in public space over the past 10 years, and the increase in hostile architecture, may be linked, something that will be explored later in this document. In addition to its growing presence in our cities, relevance of hostile architecture is rising as public acknowledgement of its existence increases. This was seen in the UK after the Camden Bench (figure 3), a piece of hostile architecture which was designed to restrict a large number ‘unwanted’ behaviours, drew media attention in 2012. Widespread controversy drew further attention to the subject, meaning that pressure began to mount on-site owners, councils, and designers, to find more appropriate solutions.
Figure 3: The Camden Bench Source: Coggins (2021)
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