The Anatomy of Hostile Architecture: A Form-Function-Intent Typology for Urban Furniture and Urban Interior Space
The Anatomy of Hostile Architecture: A Form-Function-Intent Typology for Urban Furniture and Urban Interior Space

Summary/Abstract: Hostile Architecture represents a paradoxical design strategy that uses urban furniture and urban interior spaces as tools for social control, challenging the humanistic and inclusive goals of design and urban planning. While widely discussed, literature on Hostile Architecture at this micro-scale remains largely descriptive, lacking a systematic typology that deconstructs how these objects operate. This study addresses this gap by proposing an analytical framework to categorize Hostile Architecture practices. Adopting a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) model, the study analyzed a purposive sample of documented cases using qualitative content analysis. The analysis was structured around a novel a priori framework based on three axes: Form, Function, and Intent. The findings revealed a typology consisting of four primary form categories (Dividers, Non-Ergonomic Surfaces, Deterrent Textures, Spatial Barriers) employed to obstruct four specific functions (sleeping, long-term sitting, skateboarding, gathering). These interventions were found to serve three intersecting social intents: the exclusion of specific groups (homelessness/youth), the assertion of spatial control, and the commercialization of public space. The study's primary contribution is the development of this "form-function-intent" matrix, an analytical typology that moves beyond descriptive case studies. This model provides a new systematic tool for designers, planners, and researchers to critically deconstruct and challenge the ethical implications of exclusionary design.

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