Pedestrians are so icky
By adamg - Wed, 06/11/2008 - 4:04pm.
Steve Garfield photographs an example of how the Ruling Class really hates the little people: By ordering workers to drive metal rod things into a granite planter on Franklin Street to make really sure nobody ever dares think about sitting on its bench-like sides.
Those have been there for a
Those have been there for a good while now. They're actually there to discourage skateboarding, not sitting.
More Subtle in Central Square
The public benches on Mass Ave have strategically
placed "arm rests" that make it impossible for the
bums to sleep on them.
Collateral Damage
No matter the motive, it does discourage sitting. While it looks like a few individuals could find a space on the corners, I don't think even a pair could comfortably sit together. It doesn't matter if they did this for another reason, this is still an outcome of that decision.
nope
Looks designed to prevent skateboarders from "grinding" or whatever they call their nice little destructive 'hobby'.
Unless you've got a really fat ass, I see plenty of space to sit, just not over the edge...
Agree with the "really fat
Agree with the "really fat ass" theory.
Body Sculpure
Don't you realize? This is the latest thing in far more hip cities somewhere else! You sit on it for ten minutes and it leaves a pomo sculptural indent in your rear end.
And then ...
You pick up your titanium Nordic ski poles and stroll away.
At least, in Brookline, or so I hear.
Matches the decor
Actually if you look at the building as a whole you can see that those metal pieces are clearly a continuation of a motif on the building facade, phone booths, windows and doors. I'm pretty sure they're from a more recent "facelift" rather than part of the buildings otherwise awesome deco look. They may have a dual purpose of stopping skateboarders but they're clearly not an afterthought. Meanwhile keep an eye on nearby 1 Post Office Sq which is gutting its lobby to extend out to the sidewalk.