Critical Conversations: bridging pathways forward to greater understanding and creative solutions.

Designed to Exclude: Architecture, Urbanism, and Spatial Inequality

By Tim Cunningham

"This exhibition showcases research from my forthcoming book ""Human Rights and the Architecture of Conflict,"" examining how urban design and infrastructure have been weaponized to enforce social segregation across different contexts. My comparative analysis reveals striking parallels between Belfast, Northern Ireland and American cities like Miami, where roads, walls, and other ""defensive"" architectural features systematically constrain mobility and deepen social divisions.

Research Significance
This work directly addresses the ROH theme of ""Urban Community Design"" by exposing how planning decisions that appear neutral can create lasting spatial inequalities. Through walking ethnography and documentary photography, I've captured visual evidence of how infrastructure becomes a tool for social control—from Belfast's ""peace walls"" to Miami's deliberately severed streets that maintain racial boundaries. These design practices impede community connectivity, concentrate disadvantage, and undermine sustainable urban development.

Exhibition Elements
The exhibition will feature:

  • A visual timeline comparing coercive design practices across contexts
  • Large-format photographs documenting architectural barriers
  • Interactive maps showing how infrastructure reinforces social boundaries
  • Extracts from interviews showing the impact of design on segregation and social exclusion.

This research aligns with SDG #11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by highlighting how urban design decisions can either promote or prevent inclusive community development. By exposing these practices, this work contributes to reconciliation efforts and more equitable planning approaches that foster connection rather than division.
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A wide dual carriageway with tall concrete walls on either side, running through an urban area. A silver car is driving in the right-hand lane, and a church spire is visible in the distant skyline beneath a cloudy sky.
A narrow residential street surrounded by lush, tropical greenery with large overhanging trees casting shade. A yellow left-turn traffic sign is visible in the center background, with a white fence and green waste bin on the right side.
A deserted urban street bordered by brick buildings. On the left, a large industrial-style building with metal siding; on the right, red brick row houses. A sanitation worker in a yellow vest is seen near a trash cart on the sidewalk.
An empty intersection with multiple traffic lights and directional arrows painted on the wet pavement. A tall red and white high-rise building stands in the center background, surrounded by smaller buildings and green hills under a cloudy blue sky.
A quiet urban street flanked by tall brick columns and green hedges on both sides. The road leads to a row of brick houses in the distance. A person in dark clothing walks along the right side of the sidewalk.
A paved residential street bordered by dense green foliage and tall plants. A yellow directional arrow sign is visible at the far end near a parked black car. The area appears calm and quiet, with no pedestrians present.