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The notion of public space of today began evolving during the 18th century, when the display of social status via public representation receded due to the emergence of critical discussion, opening up ways for rank anonymity, the power of rational argumentation, and spatial transformation by the unprecedented demarcation of the public and private realms. By their very nature, human beings are social and have never thrived in solitude, as they have always been standing in need-based interdependence. However, due to the extensive growth of technology, the social fabric’s tendency in recent years has leaned toward an ongoing reinforcement of physical isolation. The emergency acts required by the COVID-19 pandemic, which have called for reorganizing societal structures to ensure people’s isolation from others, demonstrate a radical snapshot of motives that previously existed, offering a glimpse of what will be demanded in the future. The “stay at home” orders issued by many governments have suppressed the human need for a sense of togetherness fostered by physical interaction. During the northern hemisphere summer of 2020 the legal measures to revitalize recreational public realms offer an opportunity that allows for a reevaluation of the public sphere: What public amenities will be demanded first to cure the general abstinence from physical togetherness? Will seclusion of work and the potential waning of seemingly indispensable communal spaces necessitate novel forms? Comparable to the revolution of the concept of the public sphere in the 18th century, and even going beyond that level of change, the world is facing an unparalleled opportunity to pre-identify which yet-unheeded spaces will be subjects of interest in architectural design, given the ongoing growth of digitized taskforces, and their formal unfolding.
IMPRESSUM