Summary:

In his article, James Petty discusses the impact of hostile architectural elements on London’s homeless population. He focuses on the infamous London Spikes – metal studs installed in public spaces to prevent homeless people from sleeping there. Petty criticizes these measures as a form of urban securitisation that further marginalizes the homeless, turning them into perceived threats to public safety. It is a defensive architectural measure intended to deter homelessness. He contests the dehumanization facilitated by such design elements, prompting ethical and moral debates surrounding homelessness and public space usage. The article reveals an urgent need for policy reconsideration, advocating for more inclusive urban design and better strategies to address homelessness. By dissecting the controversy around the London Spikes, Petty’s article ultimately poses important ethical and policy questions about the role of architecture in public spaces and the responsibilities of society towards its most vulnerable members.

Building Interpretation:

Homelessness is always an issue in Eugene, we often see a large number of homelessness around downtown area, it is also an issue in 5th Street Public Market because the number of shopper is rapidly growing. In 5th Street Public Market, there is an external exterior space and an internal exterior space. In the internal space, there are many tables and chairs, some flower beds, and a fountain, which makes it a very comfortable and peaceful space. These tables, chairs and flower beds are a good place for the homeless, like a secret space hidden in the noisy street. However, there is a door between the internal space and the external space, which closes when they are off hours. This means that homelessness cannot enter the space at night, even if it belongs to a public space. According to the defensive hostile architecture mentioned in James Petty’s article, this door is like a defensive barrier, which cuts off the connection between this space and the outside, making it impossible for the homeless to enter during off-duty hours, and basically the homeless people will find some communal areas to sleep at night. However, the 5th Street Public Market did not completely limit and prevent the homelessness from staying in the market. In the external space, it still has many public benches, and there are no defensive measures such as spikes, and the homelessness still have facilities where they can rest. While 5th Street Public Market is somewhat hostile and defensive, it is also open and friendly to the presence of homeless people in the space.

A door separates the external space and the internal space, and there are several benches in the exterior space