Post-pandemic Scenarios and Design Strategies for Public Space Transformation

Almost two years after the onset of a global pandemic, one thing is clear: the pandemic will permanently change the world and its systems. Nowadays, reflection on public space is crucial within a more sustainable and inclusive development at the urban scale, also amplified by the ongoing experience of the pandemic that still persists. Public space offers a true opportunity to test new urban and social models, thus becoming a principal catalyst for positive changes in the entire urban context. It is therefore necessary to re-establish a relationship between public space and its inhabitants, providing a system of proximity by highlighting the human and non-human dimensions and consequent-ly connecting services, relationships, and opportunities. Acting on public spaces is the first step in the development of innovative urban transformations, generated by collaborative phenomena working in the collective interest. The use of participatory practices within design processes favours a reconnection between people and territory, generating a shared sense of belonging that leads to taking care of one’s own places. The reversibility of the intervention and its adaptability are key characteristics that allow experimentation with new ways of experiencing public spaces and responding to unforeseen experiences, thus accommodating the inevitable changes in society. This scientific contribution aims to outline distinctive points of view on the planning strategies implemented in the pandemic and post-pandemic period to achieve intelligent transformations on small and large urban scales with an impact that range from the short to long-term, thus shaping future cities.