Rediscovery of outdoor space

Challenge

The hospitality industry has been hit hard by the restrictions imposed in many countries to curb COVID-19. In Santa Monica, California, restaurants reopened after lockdown with heavy restrictions on the number of guests that could be served inside.1 As a result, many restaurateurs found themselves in a challenging situation dependent on serving more customers than was possible on their premises.2

Solution

Assistance came in the form of the initiative ”Sharing an Open Main Street” where local authorities closed the main street to vehicles to make room for outdoor seating for restaurants. For four weekends over the summer of 2021, the street was taken back by the public, not just for outdoor dining but for other activities too. In a city where outdoor dining is not the norm, the initiative launched a movement to create better and safer outdoor meeting places. At the time of writing, it is being discussed whether the concept could be applied at a larger scale.

Although California is known for its amiable weather, outdoor dining has not been common practice for many restaurants. The project is an example of how an industry crisis can lead to innovative solutions and, perhaps, to the rediscovery of the potential of the outdoor space as a social and commercial arena in car-dominated urban areas.

Taxonomy

Sphere: Trade/Service, Culture/Leisure

Timescale: Tactical, Short Term

Type: Graphic Application, Interior Design

User Group: Employees/Service Providers, Customers/Users

Road area is used for outdoor dining during the initiative Sharing an Open Main Street

Before COVID-19: Outdoor dining was not common practice

After the introduction of restrictions: Service is partly moved outside

Project and location: Café Victor, Copenhagen, Denmark

Contributor: Sovino Brands

Established: 2020