RETHINKING PUBLIC SPACES POST

PANDEMIC
Our history manifests that pandemics powerfully influence the “physical fabric” of cities around the
world. Part of the history of urbanization is building and managing your way out of infectious diseases.
Some of the most iconic developments in urban planning and management, such as London’s
Metropolitan Board of Works and mid-19th century sanitation systems, developed in response to public
health crises such as cholera outbreaks. Urban city planning plays a major role in preventing, controlling
and ceasing the spread of pandemics. While thinking of pandemic solutions the first thing that comes to
mind is “de-densification”. Rethinking density management is the key for long term survival in a
pandemic world. One of the orthodox and myopic solutions includes the spread of city rather than
densify, that would have to go with much better connectivity of public transport. But we must
remember that we will be weighing such changes in context of climate change and sustainability as well.
Even Le Corbusier, who prized efficiency and movement, understood the value of people bumping into
each other. It gives cities their energy and cosmopolitanism its effect. Density is what makes cities work
in the first place; it’s a major part of why they are economic, cultural and political powerhouses.
Therefore a decentralized city like a London of villages or mayor hadalgo’s 15 minute Paris is unfeasible.
Rather than “de- densification” urban centers should focus on “healthy density.”

Here is a collection of public space innovations and experiments happening around the world that
endorse “healthy density.”

1. Physical Distancing Park by Studio Precht (working)

While public parks and gardens have closed down their doors around the world, in fear of the COVID-19
spread, Studio Precht has proposed a green space designed around the rules of physical distancing.
Dubbed “Parc de la Distance”, the project introduces an outdoor space that encourages social distancing
and short-term solitude. The open air space has been shaped in the form of a human fingerprint,
evoking human touch. Guided by parallel lanes throughout the maze-like undulating landscape, to
indicate if the 600m long path is occupied or free to stroll, visitors are redirected once at the midpoint to
circulate outwards where fountains are placed. Inspired by French baroque gardens and Japanese Zen-
gardens, the 90cm wide tracks of reddish granite gravel are distanced by 240cm from each other.

“The project started with a couple of questions regarding this pandemic. What would a park look like and
how would it function if it takes the rules of social distancing as a design guideline. And what can we
learn from a space like this that still has value after the pandemic. For now, the park is designed to
create a safe physical distance between its visitors. After the pandemic, the park is used to escape the
noise and bustle of the city and be alone for some time. I lived in many cities, but I think I have never
been alone in public. I think that’s a rare quality”. -- Chris Precht
Offering a brief time of solitude, temporary seclusion from the public, a moment to think, to meditate or
just to walk alone through nature, the Parc de la Distance is an innovative solution.

2. Micro Market by Shift Architecture Urbanism (conceptual)

Shift architecture urbanism developed micro-markets that can operate on a hyper-local scale during
coronavirus shutdowns. The research elaborated on a scheme allowing traders to provide fresh food in a
safe way to the self-quarantined inhabitants of the city. Taking on the vital infrastructure of food
distribution, Shift architecture urbanism opted for a simple solution. With a standard design, the studio
proposed to “keep the vital function of the fresh produce markets fully intact, even strengthening it,
while at the same time minimizing its potential role in spreading the virus”. Dispersing the units, in space
and time, large markets are divided into so-called micro-markets spread over the city. Basically, “instead
of you going to the market, the market is coming to your neighborhood”. With longer opening hours,
these hyper-local markets are operational at least 5 days a week instead of twice a week to further
reduce the concentration of people.
 3. Mediamatic Eten Restaurant (on trial)

A Dutch restaurant has come up with an idea on how to offer classy outdoor dining in the age of
coronavirus: small glass cabins built for two or three people, creating intimate cocoons on a public patio.
While the concept is currently being trialed only for family and friends of staff from the ETEN restaurant,
which is part of the Mediamatic arts Centre, it certainly looks glamorous, as diners enjoy candle-lit meals
with a waterside view.
 4. Concept School by Curl La Tourelle Head Architecture
(CLTH) (conceptual)

UK studio Curl la Tourelle Head has designed a concept for tent classrooms that would allow students to
return to schools while maintaining social distancing guidelines.Curl la Tourelle Head envisions the pop-
up teaching spaces being erected at schools to expand capacity for socially distanced learning and
reduce the reliance on restricted circulation routes. The concept would see tents being assembled on
the school's playing fields or other nearby outdoor spaces. Inside, classrooms would be arranged so that
pupils can be separated from each other by two meters. Each would be configured for the various set-
ups required by the school, while some would contain dedicated hand washing stations.

A typical class room designed by Carl la tourelle

5. Public Dining by Hua Hua Architects (on trial)

HUA HUA Architects has imagined a proposal that can reconcile people and public spaces, post Covid-19.
The Gastro Safe Zone program aims to awaken stagnant gastronomic businesses by regulating outside
eating and ensuring the required social distancing measures. The first prototype has been already
installed in the streets of Brno in the Czech Republic. While social distancing has proved to be the most
effective way to fight a pandemic, it has a lot of impact on our economy, our public space use, and on
the gastronomy sector. In order to find common grounds, HUA HUA Architects has developed a space
grid initiative that transforms public spaces into safe and defined zones, where people can eat outside
without spreading the virus. With the purpose of regulating outside eating, the initiative calls for
cooperation with authorities for a safe return of the gastro businesses.

The deserted reality of our urban fabric today presents us with opportunities for observation. A rare
insight into discerning the elemental framework of our urban infrastructure under pandemic pressures
and in the vast emptiness. The larger point that the pandemics steer our focus towards is when the
outbreak shall be halted and bans lifted and the world resumes as normal, there still needs to be a great
degree of research and understanding into the relationship between the spread of infectious diseases
and urbanization. There are two aspects that we need to focus on. One, we need to grasp where disease
outbreaks occur and how they relate to the physical, spatial, economic, social and ecological changes
brought on by urbanization. There is a direct relationship between contemporary urbanization and
potential pandemic outbreaks. The coronavirus and its effects over our planet are streamlining our focus
towards the evaluation of the present conditions of our cities and its infrastructure, raising planning and
contextual inquiries, forcing us to introspect and question what we really learn from rapid urbanization
and more importantly, is there a need to catalogue and curate the exploration of emerging urban
landscapes?