Landscape architect challenges hostile design with movable chairs in Lahti

Four movable white chairs have been placed in Lahti’s Lanunaukio square, allowing people to rearrange them within a new green space in the city centre. The initiative, by landscape architect Niilo Tenkanen, directly opposes hostile architecture—design that deliberately discourages people from lingering in public spaces.

Tenkanen, who is researching urban inclusivity at Aalto University, has previously tested the concept in Helsinki and Espoo. In Espoo, chairs placed near a metro station for 18 months remained undamaged and untouched by theft or vandalism. Users reported the chairs gave them a sense of agency and trust.

“Cities are often designed for the well-off middle class—people who come to shop and briefly rest,” Tenkanen said. “They are not made for the homeless, those with substance issues, or noisy groups, including youth.”

The Lanunaukio green space, co-designed with local residents as part of an EU-funded project costing around €85,000, is intended as a year-round feature. Project manager Taru Suutari of the City of Lahti noted the square’s central location and high foot traffic made it an ideal site for the installation.

Tenkanen first encountered the idea in New York, where hundreds of movable chairs near Times Square inspired him to adapt the concept for Finnish cities. His research explores whether such interventions can foster trust and a sense of belonging in urban spaces.