Hostile architecture is designed specifically to make homeless people feel unwelcome and uncomfortable in public spaces. Spikes on surfaces are becoming increasingly prevalent in towns and cities and sending a barbaric, inhumane message to people who need to be helped not hurt.

To spotlight the disturbing rise of this hostile architecture, TBWA\MCR, has teamed up with renowned UK artist Stuart Semple and HostileDesign.org. A new campaign features a series of posters strategically placed across London, bringing attention to anti-homeless architecture.

The creative series of posters cleverly incorporates the hostile design into the campaign with each piece meticulously designed to be a bespoke fit for a site of anti-homeless spikes. The real spikes pierce images of sleeping homeless people to show the pain inflicted upon people and show the inhumanity of the urban design in action.

“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,” explains Gary Fawcett, Executive Creative Director, TBWA\MCR. He continues: “We felt compelled to create something that would help to raise awareness and educate people on the harsh reality of living rough.”

Each execution of the campaign draws attention to the cruel measures city planners and councils are taking to deter the homeless. Alongside the in-situ executions photography of the campaign will make up a social media campaign to raise awareness of hostile design and encourage people to support Stuart Semple’s hostiledesign.org 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.” says Stuart Semple, Artist.

For more information or to support Stuart Semple’s hostiledesign.org campaign please click here.