Main Point: The main idea that was talked about in this reading had to do with the design of cities and the way that the design turns a “public” space into a space that is no longer completely public. They talk a lot about hostile architecture and how it makes certain spaces unusable for certain groups of people. The example that they mentioned the most was the Anti-homeless spikes in London. They installed spikes on the ground of a public space so that homeless people could not sleep there. Some people find this concept of hostile architecture to be very disappointing. They believe that a public space should remain public, and when you do things, like adding anti-homeless spikes to the street, you aren’t eliminating homelessness you are just denying them the use of a certain space. People fear that homeless people are being treated just like animals and that is not okay. On the other hand, some people argue that hostile architecture is necessary for the aesthetic appearance of the city. Although this is also a little contradictory. Obviously the spikes are not super aesthetically pleasing to look at, and the homeless people still exist just not in those areas so nothing is really being solved. The biggest argument made in this article is the fact that a public space that is actually public does not exist. There is always some form of hostile architecture that is targeted towards a specific group of people, even if we may not all notice it. Another example was the rails on benches to deter skateboarders from using them for tricks. Overall it seems as if the architecture of the cities is making it clear that homeless people are not welcome. 

Hostile Architecture at 5th Street Public Market: The 5th Street Public Market in Eugene, Oregon is supposed to be a public space where people can shop, eat, drink and socialize. There are many aspects that make it super inviting to the public such as heaters, seating areas, a variety of restaurants and lots of different boutiques and shops. There are also some aspects that turn it into a not fully public place. I noticed a few different types of hostile architecture within the 5th Street Public Market. The first type of hostile architecture that was apparent was the signs that indicated that people could not bike or skateboard through the market. Although it may not seem like this is hostile architecture, it is because it is turning a space that is supposed to be public and open to all individuals, into a place that does not welcome skateboarders and bikers. Another form of hostile architecture that I noticed on the exterior part of the 5th Street Public Market is the use of tables and chairs as opposed to benches. The seating area where these tables and chairs are located is under a covered space with heaters. The chairs make it so that homeless people do not sleep or campout at the market like they would if there were benches or something for them to lay on. One other form of hostile architecture that I noticed on the interior of the shops at the 5th Street Public Market was the security cameras inside the shops. These are a form of hostile architecture because they make it clear that certain individuals (criminals, anyone acting in an undesired way) are not welcome into the stores or the area.

This photo shows one of the forms of hostile architecture that exists at the 5th Street Public Market. It is a sign indicating that biking and skateboarding is not allowed which discourages this group of people from going to this public area because they do not feel welcome.