‘shield’ is a bench to fight COVID-19 designed by antonio lanzillo & partners

created by milanese design studio antonio lanzillo & partners, ‘shield’ is a project that proposes how we can live in our cities post-quarantine. born from the need to return to normalcy while still safeguarding health and limiting the spread of COVID-19, the benches integrate plexiglass dividers to keep people at a safe social distance and thus limit the possibility of contagion.

all images courtesy of antonio lanzillo & partners

COVID-19 has changed the lives of us all and also the urban dynamics of our cities; it is no longer possible to move freely in our squares, streets and parks. as a place to sit, relax and socialize, benches are normally an indispensable piece of urban furniture. however, with restrictions on movement, what was once so normal is now forbidden.

antonio lanzillo & partners has therefore created a collection of benches with a protective and functional design; a metal and concrete version able to ensure a safe distance between people through glass or plexiglass dividers. the transparency of the partitions will create a barrier, a protective shield for people who will use the bench, but with a limited aesthetic impact and in harmony with the surrounding environment. this project marks antonio lanzillo & partners’s contribution to the COVID-19 pandemic and a starting point for living in our cities in the coming months – a simple idea to allow people to share public spaces together again in compliance with the rules.

project info:

project name: shield

design: antonio lanzillo and giuseppe gurrado (antonio lanzillo & partners)

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.