How Kenny grew to hate Hostile Architecture

[[How Kenny grew to hate Hostile Architecture]] by: Kajol Giri <html><IMG SRC="https://66.media.tumblr.com/916b05694999cae8cdd354ae245f4530/tumblr_pbm7zjBWxg1sliee9o1_500.jpg"></html>

<html><IMG SRC="https://clipartmag.com/images/waiter-pictures-22.jpg"></html> My name is Kenny. I am 22 years old and live in Gaithersburg, Maryland with my roomate Roger. I currently work as a waiter at the restaurant Lebanese Taverna, located in Rockville, Maryland. The food is delicious! I recently got into a minor car accident, so I am unable to drive to work for the time being. I take the public bus to work almost every day. Sometimes Roger is able to give me a lift, but on April 30, 2019 he couldn't. As I left my apartment to head to work that morning, I didn't realize how many inconveniances I would have to deal with that day. [[The stop where it all began.]]

<html><IMG SRC="https://i.imgur.com/zkB2MS8.png"></html> This was the bus stop where I waited for the bus that would take me to work. Thankfully it was the only bus I had to take on this day. I immediately felt something was off when I saw it. I wondered, why was the bus stop so small? Myself and a few other people had to stand up while waiting for our buses because the bus stop could only hold two people. Also, what exactly was the purpose of putting armrests on the bus stop? It didn't make sense to me, so I decided to do some researching on my phone. [[Why are there armrests on bus stops?]]

Armrests provide spaces for people to rest their arms while sitting on bus stops, benches, train stations, and more ("Unpleasant Design & Hostile Urban Architecture," 2016). However, "they also prevent people from lying down or sitting in anything but a prescribed position" ("Unpleasant Design & Hostile Urban Architecture," 2016). <html><IMG SRC="https://i.imgur.com/eU58Eh9.png"></html> Once I read that, it all made sense to me. Those armrests were put on the bus stop to make sure people don't lie down on it. I also learned armrests are just one of the many examples of [[Hostile Architecture]].

<html><IMG SRC="https://exclusive.multibriefs.com/images/exclusive/0609homelessbench.jpg"></html> What is hostile architecture? It refers to any uncomfortable element built into a piece or multiple pieces of architecture in an attempt to deter certain people from using it, especially the homeless (Griffith, 2019). "Hostile architecture can be as subtle as simply not providing a place to sit, as obvious as a wall or fence to keep people or animals out or as aggressive as metal studs embedded in pavement" (Hu, 2019). I honestly had never heard of hostile architecture until this point, so learning this information was enlightening. As I got off the bus and started walking to my job in Rockville, I made it my goal that day to look out for more examples of hostile architecture. I wouldn't have to look hard. [[Not you again..]]

<html><IMG SRC="https://i.imgur.com/LecV3tH.png"></html> That was my immediate thought when I saw armrests on these benches near Lebanese Taverna, the restaurant I work at. I was previously aware of their existence, but they never stood out to me as examples of hostile architecture until now. There is honestly no reason why these benches should have armrests. "When the city builds an armrest in the middle of a park bench, it says to someone who needed to sleep there, “You are not welcome here” (Jock, 2019). How messed up, I thought. Why as a country, do we spend so much money on kicking the homeless out of public spaces instead of helping them? I had to put these thoughts of mine on pause as it was time for my shift to start. [[When my shift ended, it was pouring raining outside.]]

What's worse, I forgot my umbrella! I was so annoyed with myself. I usually make sure to check the weather every morning before I leave for work. I forgot to do that on this day. I didn't know it was going to rain in the early evening, which is when my shift ends. It was in this moment I decided I was just going to take an Uber back home, I didn't want to stand in the pouring rain waiting for my bus. In the meantime I tried to find shelter from the rain. I was unable to stand under this building because of its mini glass fence. As I looked at it, I wondered if it was another example of hostile architecture. The glass fence seemed to serve no function other than to keep noncustomers out of the building's entrance. <html><IMG SRC="https://i.imgur.com/je5Hokp.png"></html> I decided to look for shelter elsewhere and eventually resided inside an ice cream store. As I was walking past the surrounding stores, I came across these spikes of sort outside a clothing store. When I saw them, I thought to myself, [[What the heck?]]

<html><IMG SRC="https://insp.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/INSP_Hostile-Architecture_16.jpg"></html> I couldn't believe my eyes. This was another egregious example of hostile architecture. These are metal spikes installed on the ledges of the outside of a clothing store. These spikes are placed on ledges to deter people from sitting down or standing on them (Borromeo, 2015). The message they convey is clear: go away (Borromeo, 2015). This spot would've been a perfect place for me to find shelter from the rain, but I can't do that because of these stupid spikes! These spikes demonstrate how much "the urban landscape has turned into a victim-blaming battleground for the haves and the have-nots" (Borromeo, 2015). It feels like these spikes are personally punishing me for not bringing an umbrella. I tried not to get too worked up, because it was [[Time to go home!]]

My Uber arrived and finally took me home after a rather bad day at work. The first thing I did when I got home was take a nice warm shower. Once I was finished freshening up, I decided to get on the computer and do more research more about hostile architecture. <html><IMG SRC="https://www.ohbejoyfulgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/computer-cartoon.png"></html> [[I was quickly becoming obsessed.]]

I looked up more examples of hostile architecture on the internet. I came across an article about the installation of spikes underneath a Route 2 bridge in Arlington by the Massachusetts state Department of Transportation (Vennochi, 2019). According to the Department of Transportation spokesman Patrick Marvin, these spikes were designed to keep out trespassers and discourage homeless people from sleeping under the bridge (Vennochi, 2019). The spikes were quickly removed after town officals expressed outrage and called for their removal (Vennochi, 2019). Marvin stated the Department of Transportation "will work on developing a plan to reduce trespassing in the area while assisting vulnerable populations and ensuring public health and safety" (Vennochi, 2019). Homelessness is a growing problem in Massachusetts and many other states in the United States (Vennochi, 2019) Installing spikes underneath a bridge does nothing to help end homelessness. <html><IMG SRC="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EM5aGn4UEAAcTB0?format=jpg&name=small"></html> If you thought that was bad, [[Wait till you see this..]]

<html><IMG SRC="https://i.imgur.com/choEsxG.png"></html> The extent of how far hostile architecture is willing to go is pretty incredible. These are concrete spikes that were installed under a road bridge in Guangzhou, China (Andreou, 2015). This image is pretty horrifying and speaks for itself. Here are some [[More examples of hostile architecture:]]

<html><IMG SRC="https://i.imgur.com/r2qrdjK.jpg"></html> These metal pieces are known as "skate stoppers" (Licht, 2017). They are bolted onto different surfaces and prevent people from skateboardering onto benches and curbs (Licht, 2017). [[Continued]]:

<html><IMG SRC="https://i.imgur.com/078byif.png"></html> This is a bar structure outside Toronto's General Hospital that prevents homeless people from sleeping on top of the vent ("Hostile architecture a growing problem for the homeless, advocates say," 2018). This example of hostile architecture feels especially cruel because many homeless people sleep on top of these vents in order to avoid freezing to death ("Hostile architecture a growing problem for the homeless, advocates say," 2018). [["When you wanna look inclusive but hate homeless people."]]

This boulder in front of the Izakaya Sushi Ran restaurant in San Francisco, California was accused by reporter TJ Johnson of being hostile architecture that panders to LBGTQ rights (Wells, 2019). It prevents people from finding shelter in the space it takes up. Johnson also pointed out the boulder's theme is ironic considering an estimated 48% of San Francisco's homeless youth are LGBTQ (Wells, 2019). A viral photo taken of boulder rock was captioned, "When you wanna look inclusive but hate homeless people" (Wells, 2019). <html><IMG SRC="https://i.imgur.com/B2pw7S3.png"></html> [[You really learn something new every day.]]

After I took a break from researching hostile architecture, I decided to call my father. His line of work involves the construction of buildings and other architecture. When I talked to him on the phone I immediately asked him if he knew what hostile architecture was. He wasn't exactly sure what it was but he was able to grasp what I was saying as I explained it to him. Then I asked my father if the company he works for participates in making hostile architecture. He said he wasn't sure but that he recently took a photo of a project his company worked on not too long ago. He thought it may have been an example of hostile architecture. I asked him to send me the photo so I could judge for myself. This was my reaction after I saw the photo: <html><IMG SRC="https://i.imgur.com/iNSFH9w.jpg"></html> [[Needless to say I was disappointed.]]

<html><IMG SRC="https://i.imgur.com/mibZShv.png"></html> This is a photo of a recent project my father's company worked on. This is such an in your face, obvious example of hostile architecture. My father shared that his company was ordered to install those metal barriers over the vents because too many homeless people were sleeping in that area. I didn't even know what to say, so I quickly ended the conversation and told my father I'd call him back later. I spent the entire day developing a hatred for hostile architecture only to learn my father's company builds hostile architecture! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It was in this moment that I finally took a stand. [[Say no to hostile architecture!]]

<html><IMG SRC="https://i.imgur.com/23oqdtD.png"></html> Hostile architecture should not exist. It's one of the most despicable and cruelest things I've come across in this world, and that's saying a lot! Hostile architecture should not be normalized nor tolerated in our society any longer. I, Kenny, am taking a firm stand against hostile architecture. I hope you will join me. I don't know what exactly can be done to solve this particular issue, but I will start by confronting my father about his company's complicity in hostile architecture. I will also learn about ways I can help end homelessness in the United States, that way homeless people will no longer be victimized by hostile architecture. I hope you will join me. Thank you for following my journey. [[The End]]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

References: Andreou, A. (2015, February 18). Defensive architecture: Keeping poverty unseen and deflecting our guilt. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/18/defensive-architecture-keeps-poverty-undeen-and-makes-us-more-hostile Borromeo, L. (2015, July 23). These anti-homeless spikes are brutal. We need to get rid of them | Leah Borromeo. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/23/anti-homeless-spikes-inhumane-defensive-architecture Griffith, C. (2019, May 15). Hostile Architecture: A Look into the Horrifying Anti-Homeless Trend. Retrieved from https://invisiblepeople.tv/hostile-architecture-a-look-into-the-horrifying-anti-homeless-trend/ Hu, W. (2019, November 8). 'Hostile Architecture': How Public Spaces Keep the Public Out. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/08/nyregion/hostile-architecture-nyc.html Jock, K. (2019, April 23). The United States has a hostile architecture problem. Is public space becoming private? INSP. Retrieved from https://insp.ngo/the-united-states-has-a-hostile-architecture-problem-is-public-space-becoming-private/ Licht, K. D. (2017). Hostile urban architecture: A critical discussion of the seemingly offensive art of keeping people away. Nordic Journal of Applied Ethics. Retrieved from http://publications.lib.chalmers.se/records/fulltext/253746/local_253746.pdf Vennochi, J. (2019, January 07). Spikes to keep out homeless people? That's outrageous - The Boston Globe. Retrieved from https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2019/01/07/spikes-keep-out-homeless-people-that-outrageous/183zdtzCCFjgb4MzQJiwqK/story.html Wells, M. (2019, June 21). A Castro restaurant painted a rock rainbow for Pride. Some are saying it's anti-homeless. Retrieved from https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Castro-restaurant-rainbow-rock-anti-homeless-pride-14026652.php Hostile architecture a growing problem for the homeless, advocates say. (2018, April 5). Retrieved from https://theworldnews.net/ca-news/hostile-architecture-a-growing-problem-for-the-homeless-advocates-say Unpleasant Design & Hostile Urban Architecture. (2016, July 5). Retrieved from https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/unpleasant-design-hostile-urban-architecture/