Typologization of exclusionary design: An exploration of design interventions excluding unhoused people from urban public spaces

Abstract

In this article, designs that exclude unhoused people from urban public spaces are explored. Drawing from the research project ‘Exclusionary Design: Social Exclusion in Public Spaces’, this article incorporates insights from people who live or have lived unhoused, examining urban design from their perspective. Through a postphenomenological analysis, this article illuminates how design can contribute to creating social exclusion and introduces a model for typologizing exclusionary design. The typology comprises five categories: 1) Urban furniture, 2) Technical installations, 3) Barriers, 4) Absence of ‘material’, and 5) Signs. This typology can serve as a practical operational tool for anyone involved in design and decision-making processes related to urban public spaces.