new video loaded: The Evolution of New York City Benches
Over the years, New York City benches have evolved, using designs often described as hostile or defensive to discourage homeless people from sleeping on them. With homelessness in the city reaching a two-decade high, Anna Kodé, a reporter covering design and culture for The New York Times, explains why benches are now entirely kept out of some new public spaces.
By Anna Kodé, Gabriel Blanco, Laura Salaberry, Christina Shaman, Leila Medina and Rebecca Suner
October 21, 2025