Hello everyone, I'm Adli, an Architecture student at a campus in Aceh, Indonesia. This article is an assignment I created for my architectural criticism course. I like to study architectural history. Hopefully we can share.
coast guard wearing a mask. credit: @adzilikram
In March, when the Covid-19 case was first announced in Indonesia, my Facebook homepage was filled with videos of Alanna Shaikh's lecture on the Youtube channel Tedx Talks, she is a global health expert who has worked in this field for 20 years. At the end of his lecture entitled Coronavirus is our future, Shaikh advised us to wash our hands as often as possible. At least, it clears my panic about this virus.
But, there is one piece of advice that made an impression on me. "This is not the last major outbreak we will experience. There will be many more events like this, there will be many epedemic outbreaks. It's not a possibility, but it's certain ... ”
This means that we will meet other types of deadly viruses. This means that we (maybe) will stay on earth even longer with Covid-19. This virus has been with us for almost a year. Humans are forced to stay at home longer than usual, and work from there. Fighting and there are many losers. Buried in silence. There is no tahlilan or funeral rites. Many human plans are stopped and some parties have to break up. There is a routine that is lost, our motion is getting narrower.
bank visitors rarely sit. credit: tirto.id
How do we adapt to this pandemic? Should we expect a lot with vaccines?
This virus creates a lot of new space and functionality. I never could have imagined before that I almost spent two semesters of lectures online, on the other hand we could go out shopping, hang out at coffee, and take vacations. Of course, all of that can be denied by policy makers if we keep asking questions.
A month ago, since this pandemic, I went to the bank for the first time. I spoke with the teller, in front of me there is a dividing glass, there is only a small hole for transactions — similar to when you buy a bus ticket. Such a situation would not have happened if there was no Covid-19. The amount of space should be limited to reduce spread. Distance and touch play an important role in this. Washbasins for us to wash our hands, are available in every public building. This means that it needs to be taken seriously, humans need a new design.
The built environment is an essential part of the pandemic solution and emergency preparedness. Urban designers or architects must be involved in developing solutions to future circumstances, so that our responses to pandemics do not repeat themselves.
Referring to Alanna Shaikh's words above, architecture should not only answer the problem now, but at least can map a little of what will happen in the future. All the disasters in the 21st century have occurred in the past centuries.
I believe this pandemic is making something that never existed into existence, or is forcing something that was previously insignificant into importance. Like the cholera epidemic, changing the sanitation system and also road expansion. There are many other disasters that change the human movement system. Human movement should be considered by arisitek, human circulation of spaces should be considered again.
Some of the new routines started by the Indonesian people, such as gardening and cycling. People started to care about their health. And there are also those who continue to sit at home while enjoying the internet network; take webinars or enjoy various videos. In addition, deep in the depths, a student climbed over the roof of his house to take part in an online class, then fell while searching for a signal. This shows how inequality works in this country. But, we know a little, where is the direction of architectural design in the future, technology or return to nature?
This virus may close 2020 and will follow to the next year. Now the human space is not as narrow as the beginning of the year. The mask business from a local manufacturer helps people in their activities. Maybe in the future, on important days we will buy the best masks. Vaccines may be important, but the built environment is much more important for mapping human movement. Thus, new designs will appear, which are more functional in dealing with viruse
scoure photo: https://tirto.id/efek-corona-pada-perbankan-kredit-dikurangi-cabang-tutup-temporer-fDpN
Hello @adzilikram, welcome to the Architecture + Design Community! This is a great topic for discourse. Absolutely, the pandemic has created an impact on how we design for the present and future spaces.
One example that comes to mind is the emergence of study or work from home situations or shall we say a work-from-home boom and online study. This created a huge demand to upgrade home offices which led to an increase in office furniture sales for both used and new furniture. Dining tables are being used as a workspace while some decided to convert certain rooms into an actual home office to avoid being disrupted by family members.
I won't even go into healthcare design because the demand for extra beds was overwhelming. Architects, engineers, and designers from around the world presented strategies to immediately construct hospital expansions. It clearly shows that design will evolve and adapt to the changing world.
thank you, i hope we can share about architecture in this world.
Indeed, architecture plays a major strategic role in our continuous fight against the deadly pandemic! Because the built environment consists of various spaces occupied by humans, there must be extra care in ensuring the virus doesn't transform these important areas into their breeding grounds. Your topic about architecture and pandemics is an excellent springboard to initiate more discussions about solutions on how architects and designers can help in eradicating this global disease. Would you agree?
A warm welcome @adzilikram to the Architecture+Design Community! Keep sharing great content!
but the role of architects in my country, especially in remote villages, is not really cared for by the community in designing a city or village. discussing architecture to the wider community is a difficult thing
Oh, I see. I'm sorry to hear about that. Perhaps it would be a great idea for you to commence an awareness campaign in your village and country to give more appreciation to the architectural community. This is vital for the continued progress of your area.
thank you for read my article.
Hello @adzilikram, this is an essential design topic to explore. Welcome to Architecture + Design Community!
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