from Hacker News

The Camden Bench (2016)

by ykat7 on 7/12/21, 8:13 AM with 9 comments

  • by sunnyam on 7/13/21, 3:48 PM

  • by klyrs on 7/13/21, 4:40 PM

    Laughed out loud at this one

    > The irregular shape even makes them unusable for skateboarders who like to skim along surface edges.

    Photo: bench that's clearly popular with skateboarders...

  • by jjj123 on 7/13/21, 6:03 PM

    First paragraph claims that hostile architecture discourages “anti-social” behavior.

    Skateboarding and sleeping in the park is not “anti-social.” Instead, these activities don’t make anyone any money, and might even lose money. That’s anti-commerce, not anti-social.

    Public spaces that support the needs of the _entire_ public foster stronger communities than those that only support commerce for the professional class.

  • by martin_a on 7/13/21, 3:05 PM

    If you find this as equally interesting as strange, search for "unpleasant design". There are many more things to discover...

  • by JackFr on 7/13/21, 4:39 PM

    Are these also used as deterrents to terrorism via motor vehicle? Large blocks of concrete to prevent cars and trucks from intentionally going onto the sidewalk to harm people (as we've seen a couple of time in Europe.)

    Edit: after looking at the pictures closely it does not look like they have been placed in such a manner that they would be so I guess the answer is no.

  • by twirligigue on 7/13/21, 4:09 PM

    Why can't we polish concrete more? Buildings and benches would be so much more attractive. Perhaps more weather-resistant too? But pavements slipperier when wet...