Parc de la Distance. Studio Precht designs a Park for Physical Distancing in Post-Coronavirus time
28/04/2020.
[Vienna] Austria
metalocus, ANA DIOSDADO
metalocus, ANA DIOSDADO
In the mountains of Salzburg, the Austria-based architecture practice Studio Precht led by Fei Tang and Chris Precht, has imagined a spiral garden with high hedges to keep social distance and allow people to be outdoors after Covid19 pandemic confinement.
The park, comprised of continuous hedges with 90cm wide to each other, has shaped like a fingerprint, and was imagined for a vacant plot in Vienna or can be implemented in any city around the globe.
The park, comprised of continuous hedges with 90cm wide to each other, has shaped like a fingerprint, and was imagined for a vacant plot in Vienna or can be implemented in any city around the globe.
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht. Courtesy of Studio Precht
Chris Precht designed the project leaning on a couple of questions regarding the pandemic: "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."
Visitors are guided by parallel lanes throughout the maze-like undulating landscape, each having a gateway on the entrance and exit, to indicate if the 600m long path is occupied or free to stroll.
Inspired by French baroque gardens and Japanese Zen-gardens, the 90cm wide tracks of reddish granite gravel are distanced by 240cm from each other.
Spiraling towards a center, where fountains are placed, the park redirects visitors once at the midpoint to circulate outwards.
Visitors are guided by parallel lanes throughout the maze-like undulating landscape, each having a gateway on the entrance and exit, to indicate if the 600m long path is occupied or free to stroll.
Inspired by French baroque gardens and Japanese Zen-gardens, the 90cm wide tracks of reddish granite gravel are distanced by 240cm from each other.
Spiraling towards a center, where fountains are placed, the park redirects visitors once at the midpoint to circulate outwards.
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.
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.
Chris Precht
“Although people are visually separated most of the time, they might hear footsteps on the pebbles from the neighboring paths”. The stroller will discover along the 20min path different emotions generated by diversity in spaces.
In fact, through the ever-changing height of the planters, “sometimes visitors are fully immersed by nature, other times they emerge over the hedge and can see across the garden”, always at a safe distance from each other.
Offering a brief time of solitude, temporary seclusion from the public, a moment to think, to meditate or just to walk alone through nature, the Parc de la Distance is an innovative solution.
In fact, through the ever-changing height of the planters, “sometimes visitors are fully immersed by nature, other times they emerge over the hedge and can see across the garden”, always at a safe distance from each other.
Offering a brief time of solitude, temporary seclusion from the public, a moment to think, to meditate or just to walk alone through nature, the Parc de la Distance is an innovative solution.
More information
Architects
Project team
Fei Tang Precht, Chris Precht, Andreas Stadlmayer.
Dates
2020
Fei Tang, Chris Precht. Precht
Precht, was launched in 2019 by Fei and Chris. In 2013, Fei & Chris Precht and friend Sun Dayong won a small competition in China. These was the starting point of their first studio called ‘Penda’. They have spent a couple of years in Beijing, built up a team and worked on a lot of projects together.
In 2017, Fei and he moved to Austria. They didn’t move to the city. Not even to a village. They live and work in the mountains of Salzburg. As Fei and Chris do everything as a couple, they renamed their studio ‘Precht’, because it has a more personal and authentic touch to it: "And if you run a studio in a rural area, authenticity is key."
Chris Precht (Dipl.Ing.arch.) Chris has won numerous awards in Architecture and Design, among 1st prize at the national Isover Skyscraper competition, the Tile – Award 2013 and was ranked #9 of young architects to follow 2013.
His work has recently been exhibited at the Venice Biennale 2010, at the “Emotion in Architecture" at Künstlerhaus Salzburg and "the Best of" Exhibition in Innsbruck and Vienna. Chris graduated early 2013 with honors from the Technical University of Vienna.
Fei Tang is an architect, Chris Precht wife and the good soul of their studio. She loves to work on interior projects, products and VI design. She has a pottery studio, is an incredible chef, a patient gardener and in general an great person to be around.
"We both take our work more than serious, but we don’t take ourselves too serious. Life is healthier when you are able to laugh at yourself and with each other. This positive attitude serves as a foundation of our studio."
In 2017, Fei and he moved to Austria. They didn’t move to the city. Not even to a village. They live and work in the mountains of Salzburg. As Fei and Chris do everything as a couple, they renamed their studio ‘Precht’, because it has a more personal and authentic touch to it: "And if you run a studio in a rural area, authenticity is key."
Chris Precht (Dipl.Ing.arch.) Chris has won numerous awards in Architecture and Design, among 1st prize at the national Isover Skyscraper competition, the Tile – Award 2013 and was ranked #9 of young architects to follow 2013.
His work has recently been exhibited at the Venice Biennale 2010, at the “Emotion in Architecture" at Künstlerhaus Salzburg and "the Best of" Exhibition in Innsbruck and Vienna. Chris graduated early 2013 with honors from the Technical University of Vienna.
Fei Tang is an architect, Chris Precht wife and the good soul of their studio. She loves to work on interior projects, products and VI design. She has a pottery studio, is an incredible chef, a patient gardener and in general an great person to be around.
"We both take our work more than serious, but we don’t take ourselves too serious. Life is healthier when you are able to laugh at yourself and with each other. This positive attitude serves as a foundation of our studio."
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