Save Me a Seat?

Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art Outdoor Courtyard

Reading Summary 

This week’s article discusses how modern exteriors have recently incorporated new techniques to reduce homeless individuals using their property as a place to stay. Businesses have become increasingly private and securitize and restrict those that are unhoused. There is no way for this development to be hidden in a way that other users do not see these antihomeless defense mechanisms for their true purpose, so therefore the public has had no choice but to vocalize their opinions on the subject. If we are doing too little to support those that are unhosed and they do not have a place to stay, wouldn’t allowing an unoccupied bench to rest on be the least we could offer? Many citizens of London do not agree with this new security addition to exterior businesses throughout their city and they aren’t exactly aesthetically pleasing either. The most common inhibitors to unhoused individuals rest places is the insulation of spikes to the ground of semi-sheltered spaces beside doorways or businesses implementing benches that are only comfortable for seated positions as opposed to lying down. These additions are seen as hostile forms of architecture. Their only function is to get rid of those that are homeless, although what does this technique within architecture say about a particular culture? Do designers have an impact on targeted violence or hostility toward vulnerable communities?

Building Interpretation 

Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
1430 Johnson Lane Eugene, OR 97403

As a public campus, I have found Univerity of Oregon fairly accommodating and non-restrictive in regard to seating accessibility throughout the day and night. However, I took notice of the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art having a private outdoor courtyard with tables and chairs restricted by tall fencing. In my opinion, the security of these courtyards adjacent to either side of the museum leaves them unoccupied which feels to me like nearly one hundred percent of the time. Never in my three years of attending the university have I seen someone spend time in these courtyards and I believe this may be caused by the rigidness and hostility that comes with fenced-in seating and dining spaces. I feel that if other seating and dining areas on campus are available to the public around campus then so should the museums. As a designer, it is hopefully your mission to accommodate every single person that may interact with your space, if public, and they should feel welcomed.