# Weaponized Architecture? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 2, 2022, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponized-architecture/960340 "2022-03-02T09:10:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponized-architecture/960340/21 "2022-03-03T03:22:52Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > I would also suggest having installations of weather balloons with wire tethers read to launch, to snag low-flying helicopters. ( This is actually an old idea. Called the Barrage Balloon. Used in both WWI and WWII. > **[Barrage balloon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrage_balloon)** > > A barrage balloon is a type of airborne barrage, a large uncrewed tethered balloon used to defend ground targets against aircraft attack, by raising aloft steel cables which pose to hostile aircraft a severe risk of collision, making the attacker's approach difficult and hazardous. Early barrage balloons were often spherical. The kite balloon, having a shape and cable bridling which stabilises the balloon and reduces drag, could be operated at higher wind speeds than could a spherical balloon. So... > [@md-2000](#): > > Good point - have roads at the end of bridges or across open spots turn, exposing a convoy side on, limiting speed, etc. Methinks you’ve just discovered the ulterior rationale for the roundabout. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponized-architecture/960340/22 "2022-03-03T04:43:52Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > This is actually an old idea. Called the Barrage Balloon. Used in both WWI and WWII. The nice thing about snagging helicopters is it does not have to be excessively thick cables. In the incident i read about, it was regular kite string - continually winding it up and wrapped around the control arms a hundred or more times, then slowly tightening by the action of the rotor turning, it was enough to disable the helicopter. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponized-architecture/960340/23 "2022-03-03T09:15:55Z")
In a different way, the Lahore Railway Station was made by the British to be easily defendable by troops. [Lahore Junction railway station - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahore_Junction_railway_station) ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponized-architecture/960340/24 "2022-03-03T11:31:48Z")
> [@brossa](#): > > BS anecdote time: the 1969 Brutalist Humanities building at the University of Madison was, according to student legend, designed as a fortress to repel student riots. Supposedly the sloped ‘glacis’ was meant to be defendable with water cannons to wash protestors away from the entrances. > > The interior was no better - see this video: > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOHyWQ0OmCI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOHyWQ0OmCI) > Weaponized against the inhabitants of the building! Venting fumes into interior spaces! Slip-and-fall hazards! Expansion joints that can drop a whole wing! Oh my God. That horrible Humanities building. I had to drop something off for a professor on the third floor. Stupid elevator (not all elevators went to every floor) took me up there but to a **different part**. I couldn’t get through the locked door and had to go back down and take a different elevator to the third floor floor and hope this one would get me to where I needed to go. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponized-architecture/960340/25 "2022-03-03T13:42:40Z")
Yeah, it’s an effective demonstration of the ‘you can’t get there from here’ strategy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponized-architecture/960340.md?page=1)