Adapting to environmental challenges: The impact of COVID-19 on shophouses courtyard space and gathering (George Town heritage city, Penang)

Abstract

Recent studies demonstrate that the Covid-19 pandemic is a health and daily life crisis unmatched in human history. Restrictions on the exercise of social distancing and using innovative technology to virtually hold gathering have been the key policy measures to reduce the transmission of Covid-19 and to protect public health. International health organisations and governments precautionary measures for their people advise for physical distancing, total lockdown, and handwashing hygiene measures. Social distancing has redefined, reshaped, and reconfigured Straits Chinese families’ gatherings in a shophouse courtyard space. Hence, this paper bids to investigate the effectiveness and efficiency of these mechanisms by inhabitants and visitors in shophouses courtyard space and suggest possible ways to lessen future Covid-19, particularly concerning interior design components of a typical shophouse courtyard space. Thus, the paper adopts the phenomenology type of qualitative research. Data were collected via observations of selected traditional shophouses in George Town Heritage City, face-to-face interviews conducted and validated via secondary sources. Findings show that it is difficult to practice some of the precautionary measures as recommended by appropriate authorities in majority of the George Town Heritage City traditional shophouses. This is because of compact space, also renovation, and modernisation to the courtyard original design. Concerning the practical implications, this research is encouraging for the practice of social distancing on Straits Chinese gathering at shophouse courtyard space during pandemics such as Covid-19 to lessen the contagious pandemic spread in shophouses families in the future. This research further intends to trigger key stakeholders and conquer new areas for forthcoming study.