The thesis examines the issue of hostile architecture, an urban design strategy that reshapes public spaces to control how they are used. It excludes marginalised groups, such as the homeless, from public spaces. The circumstances surrounding the emergence of hostile architecture are explored, with particular emphasis on the roles of gentrification and design philosophies rooted in criminology. The discourse of city governments regarding hostile architecture is contrasted with its actual impact on residents. One element of public space that is frequently altered by hostile architecture is public benches. The most common types of public benches used in Ljubljana's city centre are analysed alongside selected examples of hostile architecture in the city. The thesis includes a case study of public seating arrangements along the river in the old city centre between Šentjakobski and Šentpetrski most. The presented examples are used to answer the question of whether Ljubljana is currently adopting the global trend of hostile architecture.
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