The Future of Architecture in the Face of a Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed every aspect of our lives, but could architecture be the link that helps us make it through and helps us heal?
Throughout history, architecture has served more purposes than most people imagine; it has provided shelter, beauty, protection, places to learn, places to create, places to do business, and places to heal. Could architecture be a part of the actual healing process? During this current pandemic, and without a cure, any hope towards finding care and healing is a welcomed gesture. Back in the early 1930s, according to The New Yorker, a sanatorium was built for the care of tuberculosis patients. Tuberculosis was one of the biggest health concerns at the time, similar to what we are going through now. Architect and designer, Hugo Aalto, and his wife Anio built and designed said sanatorium not just to house patients, but to act as part of their treatment and cure. Could we be seeing that in our future and in the future of architecture? Thanks to architects and their new design ideas over the last 100 years, they have found new ways to create safer, healthier, and better designs for our well being. Will that continue to be the case?
COSMETICS
Through the last few months, we have all become very well acquainted with our living spaces and every detail about them. The good, the bad, and the ugly. It is currently the safest choice to stay at home, but it's leading to a lot of us itching to change everything, since we will be spending a lot of time within them for the foreseeable future. A lack of privacy, difficulties with separating personal and professional time, and a general feeling of cabin fever have become very apparent. With this in mind many architects, according to The New Yorker, are beginning to change and reshape how they are are going about designing a living space. So, if this does continue or (God forbid) it happens again, the pressure of being at home will be eased, and the panicked need of getting out of the home will be brought down. Perhaps we will be seeing more outdoor accessibility in very dense city apartments, more space between bedrooms for more privacy, and, as the New York States, getting rid of the open flow from room to room, and start closing them in. This will help separate everyday activity and personal activity in one centralized space.
GREEN SPACE
As the summer months have arrived, even in the Charleston heat, we are all spending as much time outside as possible. This has ushered in a huge rise in gardening, home improvement projects indoors and outdoors, adding decks and porches, and adding pools of all shapes and sizes. But, what about those with little or no backyard at all? Outdoor space, like public parks to public benches, is getting tons of new attention according to ArchPaper.com. Parks and streets in places like New York are still too crowded for the world's current situation, but that doesn't squash the fact that people need to get outside. The staunch focus on building up a community with actual buildings could see a significant change in focus. That focus could be shifted back to its outdoor counterpart. This could lead to more cultivated green spaces that are safer and very spacious, having outdoor spaces attached to homes out of necessity and not just luxury, and the ability to move around more and be distanced from others while being active outdoors.
WITHOUT
The pandemic has also shown a spotlight on the homeless population, and the harsh reality that there is just not enough shelter for everyone to shelter in place. With over 567,000 Americans who are currently homeless, accord to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the pressure on any available shelter space is now tenfold. Not only are they trying to care for those who are homeless, but they are also trying to care for them during a pandemic. How do these shelters, limited as they are, provide a safe place for those who are seeking shelter and for those who are working at the shelters? Following the safety measures that have been instituted, like staying 6 feet apart from one another, takes space away from these already limited buildings. Providing medical care, safety gear like masks and hand sanitizer, and keeping these homeless individuals fed and cared for is an added strain on top of that. The quarantine rules are almost impossible to follow if you're homeless. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, cities with large numbers of homeless individuals will continue to see a spike in cases, and the possibility of passing the virus will continue to rise. The call to architects to provide spacious homes and safe green spaces is getting loud. But, the call to provide protection and shelter to those with no place to call home, is even louder. As the world continues to change, this call will be answered, and hopefully soon.
CONCLUSION
Who knows what the rest of 2020 could bring. The call to the architects of the world is louder now and more important than ever before. We have all reshaped the way we are living our lives, and the future of architecture could improve the quality of this new way of living. It could also keep everyone safer, calmer, and happier. As we continue to learn more about this virus and do everything we can to protect ourselves, we continue to push forward in the world of architecture. While our daily lives have changed dramatically, we know that it won't be forever. We see hope in our industry, the potential of it improving our living spaces, and the potential of improving the lives of those less fortunate. Lets put the pen to paper to build a better tomorrow because let's face it, we all need it.