The violence of exclusionary design

Hostile architecture, also known as exclusionary or defensive design, is an intrinsic component of Montreal’s urban spaces—you just may not have noticed it. For most people who call this city home, experiencing urban public spaces is risk-free and innocuous, be it riding on the metro, sitting in the park, or simply walking down the street. This comfort, however, is not the reality for all. For the over 3,000 unhoused residents of Montreal, urban public spaces are exclusionary and dangerous.