Dezeen Magazine

C'entro by blengini Ghiradelli for coronavirus daily briefing

C'entro is a fibreglass frame to help people social distance in public parks

Design studio SBGA Blengini Ghirardelli has created a concept for social distancing within parks, plus today's other design-related coronavirus news.

C'entro is a modular frame made of colourful fibreglass rods that would snap together to form a circle on the ground for up to two people to sit inside.

Spacers between each hoop would show people the distance they need to keep between each other to slow the transmission of coronavirus.

C'entro by blengini Ghiradelli for coronavirus daily briefing
SBGA Blengini Ghirardelli designed C'entro to help people social distance in parks

"We like to define C'entro as an instrument to socialise rather than a barrier," said SBGA Blengini Ghirardelli co-founder Agostino Ghirardelli.

"This device originated from the research into new methods of socialisation, to make the physical separation easier by not blocking interaction between people."

The Italian studio created the concept after Milan's mayor Giuseppe Sala posted on Facebook asking people to come up with ideas for how the city can reopen after two months of lockdown.

C'entro by blengini Ghiradelli for coronavirus daily briefing
The ring lets people know how far they need to be away from each other

C'entro would let people sit outside and be social with each other without any barriers but with a strong visual guide for distancing.

SBGA Blengini Ghirardelli said the rods could be easily disassembled and carried around in a bag, and would weigh only 500 grams.

Here are seven more coronavirus-related architecture and design news stories from today:


Coronavirus daily briefing

London, New York, Paris and Milan give streets to cyclists and pedestrians

Cities across Europe and the Americas are drawing up plans to take street space away from cars in favour of cyclists and pedestrians in response to the coronavirus pandemic (via Dezeen).

London designers create and manufacture PPE to donate to health workers

Young industrial designer Cameron Suckling has developed a face shield that's cheap and can be flat packed. He is collecting donations to manufacture and deliver them to NHS staff and care workers in need of personal protective equipment (via Cameron Suckling).

Escapist restaurant interiors could be "lasting design legacy of the pandemic" says Roar trends report

Coronavirus will lead to a rise in escapist restaurant interiors, while physical menus, cash payments and buffets will largely be abandoned, according to a trends report by Dubai-based studio Roar (via Dezeen).

Crowd-sourced short film champions connection through distancing

American filmmaker Ivan Cash and Jacob Jonas have created a "joy-spreading and hope-inducing" short film called A Social Distance using footage crowdsourced from people in 30 countries around the world sharing their hand washing, face mask-wearing and elbow bumping routines (via Yellow Trace).

M-Rad designs mobile Covid-19 testing unit concept from "virus-destroying" copper

California-based design and architecture studio M-Rad proposes using the natural antimicrobial properties of copper alloy to create a travelling Covid-19 testing unit (via Dezeen).

Tulip planning inquiry has been delayed by the pandemic

The public inquiry into Foster + Partners plans for The Tulip tower plans being turned down by London mayor Sadiq Khan has been pushed back five months due to the coronavirus crisis (via the Architects' Journal).

Inflatable face shield designed for socialising post pandemic

MARGstudio, Alessio Casciano Design and Angeletti Ruzza have designed a colourful, inflatable face shield that could be used to allow people to socialise following the peak of the coronavirus pandemic (via Dezeen).