PARC DE LA DISTANCE
23 Apr 2020
In light of the COVID-19 crisis, some parks and greenspaces around the globe have had to close in order to prevent the spread of the virus and protect the public. In Austria, design firm Studio Precht has released a concept for a greenspace that encourages peaceful solitude outdoors and aids parkgoers in adhering to spatial distancing rules.
Parc de la Distance is envisioned to be shaped like a fingerprint and would settle in a vacant plot in Vienna, however, the design allows for it to be implemented anywhere in the world.
600m Parallel lanes guide visitors through an undulating maze, with each lane having its own gateway that indicates if it's occupied or free for strolling.
The park is inspired by French baroque gardens and Japanese zen gardens, mimicking the lush designs from the former and the complex uniformity of the latter. The 90cm-wide tracks feature red granite gravel, distanced by 240cm from each lane, and spiral toward the centre of the park, where an array of fountains provide peaceful sounds and senses to relax and engage visitors.
“The project started with a couple of questions regarding this pandemic,” explains Chris Precht. “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.”
Parc de La Distance offers solitude and temporary seclusion in the peaceful natural landscape, while still ensuring others area nearby. While people are visually separated most of the time, footsteps may be heard from the neighbouring paths, allowing for a sense of connection. The hedges have undulating heights that mean sometimes visitors are completely immersed in nature and at other times they emerge over the hedge and get a visual across the entire garden.