Reopening Retail: Architectural Strategies for Adapting Retail Environments to Physical Distancing Protocols
A flipbook showcasing strategies for retail adaptation
By: Zachary Colbert and Josh Wallace
The COVID-19 pandemic is attacking our communities and threatening our health and livelihoods. Public health efforts to date in Canada have succeeded somewhat in flattening the curve of the incidence of infection through the approach of physical distancing. However, containment comes with a financial price. Perhaps the most obvious has been the devastating effect on small local businesses, particularly restaurants and retail shops found on every main street.
In a form of a flipbook, there is an array of innovative architectural strategies and design possibilities that respond to COVID-19 risks. This flipbook presents drawings of three common retail typologies situated along a main street; a fashion store, a restaurant, and a small grocer. There are 3 interactive drawings composed of 60 smaller drawings. Architectural modifications can be turned on and off, allowing an explorative and interactive approach to imagining retail adaptations. Relevant research is also included.
The flipbook is designed to serve as a communications tool to enable dialogue between retailers, customers, urbanists, designers, and community members. To expand access and engagement, hand drawings are used. The overall idea is to contribute to the development of architectural design standards and recommendations for retailers and bolster customer confidence.
Details:
Budget: As our submission involves many ideas, no one budget estimate is included.
Materials and Fabrication: As our submission involves many ideas, no one material palette is included.
Installation and Other Services: As our submission involves many ideas, no one installation method is included.
Contact
For more information, email the primary contact for this submission
