Defensive urbanism, also known as hostile, unpleasant, or exclusive architecture is used to guide or restrict behaviour in urban space as a form of crime prevention, protection of property, and order maintenance.

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From benches and ledges that prevent skateboarding and lying down to surveillance and security technologies that keep a watchful eye on the city, defensive urban design has become an everyday part of our urban fabric.

 

It's an intentional design strategy that targets people who use or rely on public space the most - like people who are homeless and youth -  by restricting behaviours they engage in like sleeping in public and skateboarding. It also makes the city more hostile for other vulnerable residents like people who are elderly,  people who have a disability,  and young children.