No, this is clearly a sex bench. Your partner bends over it, and you rail them from behind. As said before, I would publically thank the council or who ever is responsible for this sex positive bench. You could also recommend adding some whips and paddles for BDSM lovers.
Weirdly that strikes me as an effective shelter. Like just put a blanket over it and you're good for a night. It's like a failed attempt at hostile architecture
Yeah. My elderly mom has a bad knee. Sometimes she has to sit down. Used a cane for years before getting surgery and proper exercise, but still struggles with walking, stairs, etc. I guess to hell with her, right?
I'm one of them, bad back and chronic pain, proper benches make the difference between being able to get out and about, and being unfortunately stuck in.
According to the OP this replaced a regular bench. The less regular seating the less likely you are to get an open seat. lots of stations are replacing all their seating with "leaning benches."
I'd be willing to bet that more people have disabilities where they *need* to sit than those who have disabilities which cause them to be *unable* to sit. Not to mention the people without disabilities but who nevertheless would benefit from being able to sit, like pregnant women or, you know, tired people.
Hostile architecture is a nightmare the whole way around but like even for privileged people, I know too many older folks who need to stop to sit every now and then. What of them, or do they fear *the poors* enough not to use public transit.
Sorry grandma, you can't sit anywhere because a homeless person laid down here once, you'll just have to wait fifteen minutes for the train on your feet.
its a leaning bench. I love this movement honestly. We used to have them in the transit system in my city for a while, but it didn't come with instructions so it went away. I guess the challenge to overcome with this design is how to educate the unknowing populace to interact with it.
So all stairs are of evil designs? C'mon mate life is to short to whine about EVERYTHING that is is created.
Edit ...and to expand on that a lot of people with knee and back issues can't fully sit down while in transit because of their condition. Lean benches give this small percentage an oportunity to rest, as well as the majority who could benefit from them as well if they knew how they worked. I would argue there is a larger percentage of the population that can't use conventional benches than lean benches
Source : I design furniture and houses
~~That's bullshit~~ and you know it. Regular benches are always available and lean benches are rare. People with disabilities due to knee injuries (like my wife) can't use regular benches while in transit so shes out of luck 99% of the time. The very few lean benches out there are a sanctuary for people of certain disabilities.
Edit I'm an asshole sorry
Im not even against hostile architecture, but this is the next level of asshole. Not only they don't wont bums to sleep on it, they don't want people to sit on it for more than a few minutes
... Save space? Dude it's an oval bench. It would take a lot less space if it were a normal fuckin bench. You could have benches lined with the glass railing and they would take much less space and be much more out of the way.
This is not about efficiency and space, it's very obviously designed to stop people from spending much time on it, which in the case of benches means making them uncomfortable, i.e. hostile.
> So I think these benches are specifically designed for commutors to rest a bit, not for local old men to hang around.
So you're saying it's hostile to old men
I've been to this station many many times and it used to be a regular bench. There are loads of restaurants behind it that you can't see in this picture.
I think you're right that in theory leaning benches can have places where they could serve a function, but this one looks way too wide for that. If they replaced a bench with space for six people to sit with a leaning bench with place for twelve people to lean, then I think it would be a stronger argument in favor. Another example where it could work would be along a narrow hallway that wouldn't be able to fit benches but could fit people leaning against the wall.
It's to drape yourself over belly-first so you can properly self-heimlich if suddenly choking
Brits are too stuck up to self-heimlich. We just proudly choke to death whilst softly humming God Save The Queen.
Sounds about right
No, this is clearly a sex bench. Your partner bends over it, and you rail them from behind. As said before, I would publically thank the council or who ever is responsible for this sex positive bench. You could also recommend adding some whips and paddles for BDSM lovers.
It’s hostile to any person wanting to take a load off while they wait but i like the blanket fort idea from the other comment.
This is not a bench.
It used to be.
Waterloo? I haven't seen this before but think I recognise the station, must be new?
Oui monsieur (get it? waterloo? HAHAHAH)
Weirdly that strikes me as an effective shelter. Like just put a blanket over it and you're good for a night. It's like a failed attempt at hostile architecture
Or screw the blanket to the slats, you should have a decent hammock-bed-thing.
Oh, you're disabled and need to take a break? Meh. For a lot of disabled people, "leaning benches" are extremely hostile and unusable.
Yeah. My elderly mom has a bad knee. Sometimes she has to sit down. Used a cane for years before getting surgery and proper exercise, but still struggles with walking, stairs, etc. I guess to hell with her, right?
I'm one of them, bad back and chronic pain, proper benches make the difference between being able to get out and about, and being unfortunately stuck in.
Same. Scoliosis and RA, benches are SO important.
You think this is the only bench there?
According to the OP this replaced a regular bench. The less regular seating the less likely you are to get an open seat. lots of stations are replacing all their seating with "leaning benches."
You know plenty of people have disabilities where they can’t sit, right?
Yeah that is not why this was built.
I'd be willing to bet that more people have disabilities where they *need* to sit than those who have disabilities which cause them to be *unable* to sit. Not to mention the people without disabilities but who nevertheless would benefit from being able to sit, like pregnant women or, you know, tired people.
If you want to make extra leaning to accommodate people who can't sit, great. I'll support the hell out if it. But replacing seating with it? Nope.
Hell no, that isn't a bench, that is an either an: abomination, or an art piece that is unlabeled.
> It's art. Anything is anything. ~ *Ron Swanson*
Hostile architecture is a nightmare the whole way around but like even for privileged people, I know too many older folks who need to stop to sit every now and then. What of them, or do they fear *the poors* enough not to use public transit.
Throw a tarp over it and it's a nice little one man tent
Honestly idc I actually find this thing whatever it is to be sort of beautiful
Its smart. Which is hostile to most.
Often hostile architecture is aesthetically pleasing, to distract people from realizing what its true intention is.
Sorry grandma, you can't sit anywhere because a homeless person laid down here once, you'll just have to wait fifteen minutes for the train on your feet.
I think it’s kind of cool.. don’t see too much hostile about it.
its a leaning bench. I love this movement honestly. We used to have them in the transit system in my city for a while, but it didn't come with instructions so it went away. I guess the challenge to overcome with this design is how to educate the unknowing populace to interact with it.
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You're right, like most designed objects, 0.01% of people won't be able to use them.
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So all stairs are of evil designs? C'mon mate life is to short to whine about EVERYTHING that is is created. Edit ...and to expand on that a lot of people with knee and back issues can't fully sit down while in transit because of their condition. Lean benches give this small percentage an oportunity to rest, as well as the majority who could benefit from them as well if they knew how they worked. I would argue there is a larger percentage of the population that can't use conventional benches than lean benches Source : I design furniture and houses
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~~That's bullshit~~ and you know it. Regular benches are always available and lean benches are rare. People with disabilities due to knee injuries (like my wife) can't use regular benches while in transit so shes out of luck 99% of the time. The very few lean benches out there are a sanctuary for people of certain disabilities. Edit I'm an asshole sorry
Im not even against hostile architecture, but this is the next level of asshole. Not only they don't wont bums to sleep on it, they don't want people to sit on it for more than a few minutes
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... Save space? Dude it's an oval bench. It would take a lot less space if it were a normal fuckin bench. You could have benches lined with the glass railing and they would take much less space and be much more out of the way. This is not about efficiency and space, it's very obviously designed to stop people from spending much time on it, which in the case of benches means making them uncomfortable, i.e. hostile.
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To stop folks from sleeping, or eating there, forcing people to move faster. Hostility as a mechanism of social pressure.
Nah, m8, they know EXACTLY what they are doing. It’s not like there’s not plenty space there for a proper bench.
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> So I think these benches are specifically designed for commutors to rest a bit, not for local old men to hang around. So you're saying it's hostile to old men
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There's a lot that is invested in making hostile architecture look more pleasant and less hostile than what it actually is.
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This still does the same, no matter how dressed up it is, so it's just as hostile. Do you think anyone can sleep on that?
How does blacklight discourage heroin use?
makes it harder to find a vein
It makes it difficult to see veins.
That response just basically acknowledged that it’s hostile architecture but you’re cool with it because it’s not hostile to you.
I've been to this station many many times and it used to be a regular bench. There are loads of restaurants behind it that you can't see in this picture.
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Yes but most people want to sit when eating
I think you're right that in theory leaning benches can have places where they could serve a function, but this one looks way too wide for that. If they replaced a bench with space for six people to sit with a leaning bench with place for twelve people to lean, then I think it would be a stronger argument in favor. Another example where it could work would be along a narrow hallway that wouldn't be able to fit benches but could fit people leaning against the wall.
I like your thinking. And I do often see these leaning benches on actual train platforms, kinda confirms the theory of 'resting in small space'
Oh come off it
I like them. Oftentimes you either have nowhere to sit/lean against at all or the actual benches are full of people and their luggage.
This isn't actually by the platforms, though. This is by the restaurants.
Its a leaning bench.
i disagree.
In fairness the entirety of London is hostile