Italian practice Caret Studio has unveiled StoDistante, a temporary installation for reactivating public space after Covid-19 lockdown ends. StoDistante is a reflection on the new forms of social distancing imposed during the spread of the coronavirus emergency.
Matteo Chelazzi, Federico Cheloni and Giulio Margheri, who founded Caret Studio in 2014, describe the installation as a temporary solution for “conscious use” of the public space under the country’s current safety measures. StoDistante is conceived as a platform for citizens to reclaim and reactivate open spaces through the hosting of a series of initiatives as rules are relaxed in the coming weeks.
The region of Tuscany established 1.80m as the minimum safe distance to be maintained between people to limit the spread of the virus. This dimension became the design tool to create a safe grid to guide the movement of people around the square. The regular grid has been developed into a pattern, composed of a gradient of squares of differing dimensions, creating new perspectives and interactions within the existing context.
StoDistante is a design strategy applied for the first time in Vicchio, but with the potential to be deployed in different public areas in towns and cities. The idea is to create a temporary infrastructure for a new social life, becoming an opportunity to reflect on the use of public spaces during these times.
