The Inbetween Pavilion is located on the volcanic São Miguel Island. Designed by Pontoatelier to give a much-needed dose of aesthetic pleasure in the time of rigid COVID-19 restrictions, the piece is intended to encourage practices of physical distancing in the Azores.
The Inbetween Pavilion is described to be "a space of liberty and freedom." Launched for the Walk&Talk arts festival, it provides a place for social interaction outdoors. People are invited to play, perform, and practice yoga, among other things. To match the atmosphere of its location, Pontoatelier introduced evenly spaced volcanic rocks in the "interior" of the Inbetween Pavilion. There are 25 of these rocks and all of them are placed at exactly two-meter intervals, nodding to the COVID-19 restriction. Blackened wood borders them, providing a degree of privacy.
Image Credit: Mariana Lopez
What's Driving This Trend
- Outdoor Social Distancing Spaces
- The trend of outdoor social distancing spaces is emerging, offering businesses an opportunity to meet the demand for safe socialization during the pandemic.
- Designing for Physical Distancing
- The trend of designing spaces for physical distancing, like the Inbetween Pavilion, may inspire innovation in architecture and provide opportunities for businesses to promote public safety in their spaces.
- Integrating Safety Measures Into Design
- The trend of integrating safety measures, such as two-meter intervals in the Inbetween Pavilion, into design may redefine the role of aesthetics in public spaces and encourage businesses to prioritize safety in their designs.
Who This Affects Most
- Architecture
- The architecture industry has an opportunity to innovate by designing outdoor spaces that promote safe socialization while accommodating the need for physical distancing.
- Events
- The events industry can adapt to the COVID-19 restrictions by incorporating outdoor social distancing spaces in their events to maintain public safety while encouraging social interaction.
- Tourism
- The tourism industry can benefit from designing outdoor spaces that cater to the need for physical distancing while providing an aesthetically pleasing experience for tourists.
