Architecture, urbanism and health in a post-pandemic virtual world

Abstract

PurposeThe highly contagious coronavirus and the rapid spread of COVID-19 disease have generated a global public health crisis. Crises are being addressed at various local and global scales through social distancing measures and guidelines, emerging working and living patterns and the utilisation of technology to partially replace physical learning environments. The purpose of this article is to capture the key messages of the contributions published in this special edition of Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, Volume 15, Issue 1, March 2021. Reviewing more than 70 submissions, 15 articles have been identified that are contributed by 35 scholars, educators and practitioners from 12 countries. The article calls for the need to embed trans-disciplinarity in current and future built environment research.Design/methodology/approachDriven by the fact that architecture, urban design and planning and built environment studies interact and have direct correlation with public health and virus spread. The approach to develop and present the key messages of the contributions is premised on three areas: (a) the pandemic condition as it relates to the built environment, (b) analytical reflections on the emerging themes and (c) the diversity and complexity embedded in these themes.FindingsWhile some contributions speak to the particularities of their contexts, others address regional or global parameters. The enquiry into architectural research, architectural education and architectural design indicates some of the important methods and tools to address the accelerated adoption, adaption and redesign needed to create a new and better normal which embeds flexibility, adaptability and continuous learning. The papers represent brilliant investiture to address the momentous insinuations the COVID-19 condition has on the built environment.Research limitations/implicationsThe diversity of implications reveals potential alternative futures for urbanity and society and the associated education and practice of future built environment professions. While the contributions invite us to critically envisage possibilities for future research and collective action, critical fast-track empirical research is needed to address how health is an integral component in the production of architecture and urban environments.Originality/valueThe diversity, complexity, depth and breadth of the contribution convey important insights on people, health and the spatial environments that accommodate both. Trans-disciplinarity, as it relates to research and action and to the production of urban environments, is viewed as a form of learning involving co-operation among different parts of society, professionals and academia in order to meet complex challenges of society such this pandemic condition. This approach has enabled the identification of three future research areas in architecture urbanism that include implications of virus spread on urban environments, how spatial and social distancing measures and protocols are altering our understanding of spatial design.

Unhealthy Neighbourhood “Syndrome”: A Useful Label for Analysing and Providing Advice on Urban Design Decision-Making?

“…Additionally, in response to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an explicit recommendation to "further understand the links between neighbourhood design and health" [19] (p. 9). Clear evidence that makes the connection between the built environment (within the discourses of planning and urban design) and health/ill health is seen as being required to guide built environment professionals and policy makers towards positive change [20][21][22].…”

Emergency architecture. Modular construction of healthcare facilities as a response to pandemic outbreak

“…Urban planners and architects were determined to find a solution for countries that lack availability in hospitals. Despite two constructed hospitals in China and various transformations of hotels and public spaces into medical stations, architects have proposed concepts of prefabricated efficient, and fast implementing structures that could potentially host infected people [21,22].…”

Analysis of Proposed Adaptation of Fostered Environment and Evaluation of Built Environment in Bali in Facing Covid-19

“…The restrictions arising due to the COVID-19 are expected to encourage the transformation of work spaces, classrooms, commercial spaces and holiday spaces and including public spaces in urban areas (Maturana, Salama, & McInneny, 2021).…”

“…Future designs must take into account the issues of health and well-being, adaptation and appropriation in crisis situations (Maturana, Salama, & McInneny, 2021). Living places, settlements, health facility settings, infrastructure and urban design play crucial roles in efforts to prepare for emergency conditions (Hercules, Anderson, & Sansom, 2020).…”

“…In the field of architectural education, the effectiveness of implementing online design studios has received more criticisms (Maturana, Salama, & McInneny, 2021). Difficulties are especially faced by first year students as they are required to do manual drawing, scaled-model and final year students as they are required to complete the entire educational process .…”