Architect and Artist Design Beehive-Inspired Beach Layout for Social Distancing

As summer approaches amid the coronavirus pandemic, the cultural design network Arteprima Progetti has unveiled Mare2020, a project reimagining beach layouts for safe social distancing. Curated by Francesco Cascino, the initiative was presented on the TV program Piazza Pulita on La7 by architect Raffaele Giannitelli, founder of Surf Engineering and head of architecture at Arteprima Progetti, and artist Filippo Riniolo. Rejecting the plexiglass box concept previously proposed by a Modena company, the team drew inspiration from beehives, using hexagonal arrangements and Mediterranean dune plants to create zigzag pathways that ensure two-meter distances while maintaining visibility and environmental sustainability. Riniolo emphasized that the project aims not just for temporary measures but a new phase rethinking human desires, freedom, and space in harmony with nature. Giannitelli explained that the system integrates umbrellas and native plants, fostering physical distance without enclosure. The project awaits investment from beach entrepreneurs.