In times when uncertainty is a constant in society, day after day we ask ourselves what will happen after COVID-19 , how our daily life will adapt to a new reality in which we must take care of ourselves and watch over each other as much as ourselves. With a certain fear, perhaps, of relating, or of leaving our comfort zone that has protected us in recent weeks (our home), we also think about what it will be like to be in public places again. What will life be like restaurants, pubs, museums,parks or gardens?**.
In this context, the Austrian architecture firm Studio Precht has revealed the outline of his most recent project entitled Park of the Distance , a green space in the heart of Vienna which aims to become an area that combines the concept of social distancing with disconnection.
If the current world panorama were different, this studio created by Chris Precht with his wife Fei in 2013, and located in the most remote of the mountains of Austria , would be leaning towards other kinds of initiatives, but even in uncertain periods, the creativity and the search for innovative solutions are in constant motion.
Parc de la Distance is the new project of the firm Studio Precht
Thus, the architects have taken into account the fact that many parks and gardens have closed their doors in recent weeks. Only in Vienna, famous places like Schönbrunn or Belvedere were not open to the public.
Parc de la Distance found its inspiration in the Japanese Zen-style spaces and French Baroque gardens , mainly with its geometric design. The paths are distributed in a spiral, guiding us towards the epicenter of the park, where they want to install fountains that symbolize life and balance.
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“Now, the park has been conceived with the idea of creating a safe physical distance between its visitors . After the pandemic, this space will be used to escape the noise, the bustle of the city and to be alone for a while. I lived in many cities, but I don't think I've ever been alone in public. I think it's a rare quality”, explains Chris to Traveler.es, one of the founding architects of Studio Precht.
From the center, the individual walk will take approximately twenty minutes, a time that invites you to disconnect, relax and meditate. Values that this architecture firm wants to include in its next projects. In addition to believing in the power of nature , think that green spaces help generate a balance with mental health and encourage creativity.
Each path in the park will have an entrance gate and an exit gate. The objective is to comply with the suggested personal distance. In addition, the lanes will be separated 240cm apart , with a 90 cm wide hedge as a partition. The height of the plants will vary throughout the walk , causing different levels of hedges throughout the park.
Sometimes they can connect with another person, but keep their distance
Sometimes visitors will be completely immersed in nature , while at other times they can make visual contact with other people through the garden. But at all times the distances suggested by the specialists will be respected.
The new proposal Park of the Distance is destined to occupy a space in Vienna although, for the moment, the exact start date of the project has not been confirmed.
It will be a matter of time to see it materialized in the capital of Austria , as we rediscover what will happen to the design of the parks and gardens of the entire world.
Parc de la Distance intends to occupy a vacant space in Vienna