The global coronavirus pandemic has had major effects on the lives of people all around the world. Families, communities, and economics of countries have been heavily affected and these are just a few. As the pandemic continues, the world is adjusting to living around it and changing accordingly. One of the areas in which we can see a change is in Architecture. Architecture trends are now changing due to the coronavirus pandemic and here are some of them, and the reasons why.
Homes instead of apartments
High rise buildings were designed to provide as much accommodation to individuals and families as possible. Most of these buildings give thought to the safety of residents against extreme weather conditions and comfort but give little thought to health risks and safety. In some instances, co-living was preferred by some families because it encourages interaction through the use of shared spaces. However, with the outburst of the pandemic, people are now being encouraged to refrain from the use of these shared spaces. Touching doorknobs, elevator buttons, surfaces, and physically interacting with neighbors should be avoided.
With people having to use their homes to self-isolate it can be extremely difficult for families without a balcony to have space for their children and pets, if they have any, to play in.
Some people also enjoy the amenities co-living comes with like gyms, swimming pools, and gardens but can no longer have access to. With most of these things taken away, more people will gravitate towards living in homes instead of high-rise building apartments. Homes will make it easier and much more comfortable for people to self-isolate. Even a smaller house with a garden to spend free time in will be preferred to an apartment that doesn’t offer comfortability during this time.
Goodbye open plan living
For many years, open plan living has been trending. Open plan living is when the common rooms of the house are opened up to be one large space. This often included the foyer or entrance hall, kitchen, dining room, living room, and workspace. This was much more convenient because different spaces would be occupied by family members at different times in the house. Others also thought it was a convenient way to be able to watch the kids in the living room while preparing dinner in the kitchen.
With the pandemic, all of this has taken an unexpected turn because families now have to share with space at all times. As children have to learn online and parents and adults have to work from home too, this shared space may not be very convenient anymore. The pandemic just threw personal space out the window and it can even get frustrating when someone needs a quiet space to do their work but cannot find any. As most open plan living spaces include the foyer or walk directly into the living room, it is very difficult to find a proper space to take off and separate any outdoor garments as encouraged due to the pandemic.
Designing better homes
As the number of homeworkers continues to skyrocket, homes now have to cater to their needs to provide a pleasant working environment. Homes will have to be designed better so they attend to their new function which is providing a good work environment. Homes will need better insulation to prevent noise which can make focusing on a task difficult for anyone.
In most workplaces and schools, lighting and heating, as well as cooling, are very important factors. With more and more people working from home, there will be a change in how people design homes. Homeowners may be led to invest in measures like triple-glazing or high-performance windows and draught-proofing which could even lead to reduced CO2 emissions.
Self-sufficient homes
With homes moving from being a space people would spend half a day into being a space they are in 24/7, homeowners may begin to see the effect living spaces have on human beings. More people especially those without gardens would miss the connection with the outdoor world and opt for creating small gardens within their homes. A lot of people are getting plants and placing them in various spaces within their homes as a way to stay in touch with ‘the outside’ or with nature. More people are also realizing how important sunlight is as they don’t just return to their homes after sunset. Not only is natural sunlight important for heath but can help reduce costs as artificial light will not be used during the day.
As people spend more time indoors and constantly use different appliances throughout the day, bills will greatly increase as well. People are now trying to be self-sufficient so as to reduce the high cost having to quarantine is coming with. A lot of people are now using their gardens, or balconies even, to grow some crops they may need. Gardening is also a good activity in which families can bond over. The use of solar electricity is quickly rising as well because this is a great way to save on electricity costs. The use of sunlight during the day will also reduce costs and damage to the environment. Homeowners are now starting to treat their homes better and by doing so, treating the environment better. This is at least the one good thing this pandemic has brought.
