TBWA\MCR has collaborated with HostileDesign.org to raise awareness of the impact of hostile architecture in urban environments on homeless people.
Placed in doorways and paved areas, existing spikes – which are placed on raised platforms or other key areas to deter rough sleepers – pierce through images of sleeping people to graphically highlight the impact of this form of architecture on the lives and freedoms of homeless people.
“Life is hard enough for people forced to live on the streets. We were shocked to discover this type of design exists and in some cases is commissioned by our own councils,” said TBWA/MCR executive creative director Gary Fawcett.
“We felt compelled to create something that would help to raise awareness and educate people on the harsh reality of living rough,” he added.
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The agency enlisted photographer Stuart Semple to create works that act as a bespoke fit for areas which feature hostile architecture. Launching from 29 July, each of the in-situ images forms the basis of a social media campaign, designed to encourage people to support the hostiledesign.org campaign.
Semple added: “I’m so pleased TBWA\MCR are getting behind the campaign. Hostile design is so insidious that it’s often easy to miss the true intention of it.”
“Raising awareness so that people can spot what’s happening in the public realm for me has always been the first step in shifting the culture. At the end of the day, design shouldn’t be perverted to harm the vulnerable and city planners and designers should be using their talents to include, nurture and support communities.”
