Locality of Residential Areas in COVID-19 Pandemic Conditions: Analysis of Neighborhoods and Housing Design in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The current coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is impacting countries across the world, resulting in governments undertaking a number of precautionary measures for their populations. This raises the issue of the effectiveness of urban design of dwellings to assist with these measures. This study therefore determines the current readiness of local neighborhoods and housing in Saudi Arabia to face epidemics. The study employs an analysis of a public survey achieving a comprehensive (n = 413) across the country to identify: (a) the current situation of local neighborhood and services, including density and the ability to fulfil human needs during periods of quarantine; (b) the ability of housing design to assist with social distancing: (c) appropriate housing design to fulfil social needs; and (d) the design of housing to accommodate the ability for infected household members to self-isolate. The findings identify that neighborhoods in Saudi Arabia meet current social requirements and can assist in avoiding gatherings. In addition, it illustrates the advantages and disadvantages of housing design, revealing that villas tend to be low density, and so facilitate social distancing, but neighborhoods with a high number of residential units face considerable challenges, due to the high density of population, particularly in areas lacking planning.

An Assessment of Paradigm Shift in People’s Priorities Toward Interior Designing of Space During the Pandemic Outbreak

“…Some of the residential areas which were designed have shown signs of resilience and protection from the spread of the COVID because of their maintained buffer areas, quality neighbourhood, defined statutory byelaws, wider roads, quality parks/open areas, available convenient shopping, extra rooms in the house, better natural light, ventilation, and open terraces or parks in their houses. Aldossary et al (2023) These available spatial arrangements in the higher-class communities make society resilient in many ways from the pandemic as compared to the societies that are low-income societies. Aldossary et al (2023) The lowincome societies are susceptible as they can't maintain health and hygiene properly, lesser supply of sanitation, have less or no natural light, less/no ventilation, no open areas in the house, no extra rooms, their societies also have narrow streets, poor neighbourhood and fewer/no convenient shopping which makes a poor society more susceptible to the Pandemics Okem et al (2022).…”

“…Aldossary et al (2023) These available spatial arrangements in the higher-class communities make society resilient in many ways from the pandemic as compared to the societies that are low-income societies. Aldossary et al (2023) The lowincome societies are susceptible as they can't maintain health and hygiene properly, lesser supply of sanitation, have less or no natural light, less/no ventilation, no open areas in the house, no extra rooms, their societies also have narrow streets, poor neighbourhood and fewer/no convenient shopping which makes a poor society more susceptible to the Pandemics Okem et al (2022). The recovery period of the poor and underprivileged in longer as compared to the economically strong communities due to differences in facilities like sanitation and neighbourhood.…”

“…As discussed in the conducted survey, people were spending maximum time during the pandemic in an interior space, and therefore a good design needs more care to consider psychological health and mental health, which is discussed in the literature studied as well Yun et al (2021). A dwelling unit as space has become a requirement during the pandemic as a multi-facet area where a resident may spend time not just for sleeping and relaxing but also for working, studying, and recreation, as mentioned in the research Aldossary et al (2023), Alahdal et. al.…”

“…On the other hand, people having less income, large household sizes, and slums faced serious challenges in mitigating the health crisis at the domestic level due to a lack of extra internal space for health emergency uses Chugh & Kaur (2023), Oluwatosin et al (2020). The current health emergency has given a chance to change or modify the priorities for common spaces to create adaptable internal spaces for such critical situations Aldossary et al (2023), Alhadedy & Gabr (2022) 2020). The Pandemic was the time when occupants and interior designers realized to change their thought processes and priorities towards domestic and nondomestic activities jointly Zaher (2020).…”

“…All major city administrations world-wide created COVID Command Centres from where the information, measures, instructions, mapping of cases with residential areas were channelised to control the COVID through big data and data intelligence. Chugh & Kumar (2022) This pandemic has promoted new policies, new behaviour, new lifestyle, and new attitude which provide hope for renewed living in interior spaces for urban housing dwellers and ultimately may upgrade their priorities for spatial areas in a housing dwelling unit Sharifi et al (2020), Aldossary et al (2023), Alahdal et. al.…”