Public Space & Covid-19

Public Space & Covid-19

Project Team: Rhizoma Lab
Year: 2020-2021
Place and Institution: Deakin University and Virginia Tech

This research sits within the emerging debate - inside and outside academia - over the paradigm shift in public space and cities consequent to the current pandemic outbreak. A shared understanding of the nature of public space defines its core values in density, plurality, diversity, proximity, concentration, multiplicity, and sharing. Those values have now been questioned opening to a new interpretation and evaluation of them.  The paper explores this shift in order to trigger reflections and insights that might help in formalising the correct questions and generating possible answers. The exploration sets off from the question: How has the everyday praxis of inhabiting public space changed under the pandemic predicaments? People’s movements in public space evoke a dance made of a combination of improvisation and choreography. This paper tries to interpret the new movements and behaviours in public space through the codes and patterns inherent in dance. Observing movements and behaviours in public space through the lens of dance can help in making sense of the new norms, practices, and rules. The undertaken observation shows how new practices, written and unwritten rules, and patterns have been developed as a result of emerging emotions and reactions to the presence of others in public space. In this unprecedented situation, we have to reconsider the interpretative tools we have used so far to read and decipher public space and its practices. 

The Research Led to the publication of a book chapter titled: “New Urban Choreographies. Cohabiting public space in the time of a pandemic” in the book “Urban Corporis - X - Unexpected” in 2021.

Link to the publication

Following this research path with also launched a call for postcards to explore perspectives and ideas on the present and future of public space due to the pandemic which led to the exhibition: “Back to the Future of Public Space: Postcards from 2020”