The global impact of COVID-19 is further confirmed by the fact that the pandemic has impacted every aspect of life along with every business niche and sector. Even the architecture sector, has not escaped being affected by the crisis, which has bought most construction activities to a standstill. With the concept of social interaction and business workplaces having undergone a drastic change, the experts in the field are trying to assess its impact on the education provided by top architecture colleges in India and across the globe. Discussed below are the 6 major changes in the field of architecture in the post-COVID-19 world, as visualized by these experts.
Decline Of Large Office Spaces
COVID-19 has changed the way of business operation with the focus having shifted to concepts like remote working and work from home. Even though organizations are gradually motivating their employees to return to the workplaces, they are doing so in a partial manner. Since following social distancing regulations has become a norm, the need and demand for large city office spaces are declining rapidly. Hence, it is highly likely that the focus of architecture studies in the coming future will shift on planning smaller office spaces in accordance with the applicable safety norms.
Redesigning Spaces For Minimal Crowd Density
The likelihood of restrictions on public gatherings or people crowding within small spaces staying intact for many more months to come is quite high. Hence, architects need to rethink about spaces in terms of minimizing crowd density while making it easier for people to maintain a safe and comfortable distance between themselves. From malls to schools, and, restaurants to theatres, architecture professionals need to plan spaces keeping the objective of social distancing in mind.
Public Spaces Will Take A New Look
Most people are of the opinion that public spaces such as airports, railway stations and community centres, etc, will take on a new look to mitigate the risk of spread of infection. In this context, technology is likely to play an important role in the form of touch-less technology at entry points, advanced check-in facilities, hands-free lighting, and temperature control. Students studying architecture, therefore, would need to be taught the skill of planning spaces keeping the integration of various technology features in mind. They will also need to stay updated about the latest technology innovations that might impact the planning and design of a space in any manner.
Incorporating Natural Elements In The Build Environment
The coming months are likely to be full of great stress and anxiety for people both at home and workplace. This is likely to create an increase in the demand for greater integration of natural elements into the built environment. The experts from the best architecture universities across the globe have already acknowledged the fact that the demand for such spaces was on the rise even before the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the world. Now as people seek a more relaxed and soothing environment at both home and workplace, the emphasis on designs with natural features is likely to grow further.
Modular Construction Will Be Preferred
COVID-19 has brought to the fore the need to design and build structures at a rapid pace during a crisis situation. This has naturally popularized the technique of modular construction, which makes it possible to build a wide variety of structures within a very short span of time. This is ensured by using prefabricated modules that simply need to be assembled at the construction site to get the structure up and functional within a matter of weeks. In addition to cutting down the construction time and costs, this method also ensures better strength and durability of structures.
Lightweight Architecture Will Gain Prominence
Most experts are of the opinion that lightweight architecture is likely to gain greater prominence in the post-COVID world. This form of architecture will be easy to implement and have greater portability. It will make for better crisis response and will ensure a faster and more reliable setup in disaster-prone areas. These architecture solutions are likely to include rapidly deployable recovery units, shipping containers and tent structures for field hospitals, etc. These solutions may also be used in other industries and sectors to minimize operation costs and expenditure on infrastructure.
The COVID-19 crisis has forced the world to rethink its approach towards designing future spaces keeping the well-being of the global population in mind.
