Post Covid-19 built environment: Architecture and town planning

Abstract

Globally, at the end of July 2020, 16,301,735 positive cases of COVID-19, with 650,068 deaths, as shown by WHO. Such huge numbers are an indication of large scale devastation. Although there are numerous traditions of designing built environments in the world, the origins of all contemporary cities can be outlined to community scuffles in contradiction of the consequences of the industrialist city such as Fire, Pandemics, Disasters and Environmental Squalor etc. Inclusive city development with a healthy urban built environment emerged as a way to minimize these failures. Dense urban areas made population exposed to pandemic and disaster, but cities have also learned with time how to minimize threats. This could be in the arrangement of health and sanitary codes while designing, safety regulations, health sensitive public place planning, and environmental conservation. Cities are susceptible as we have deteriorated their capability to anticipate, prepare and respond to disasters and pandemics. They are susceptible, not because they are having high collective densities, but because they are extremely unfit for living settings, facilities, income and admittance. For designing the post-COVID-19 built environments, we need to evaluate the existing practices. The traditional land use and infrastructure expansion must produce a place for a more comprehensive design that prioritizes health, equity, employment and environment. Urban areas will have to be planned and designed to survive the effects of pandemics and calamities. Architects will have to reform existing structures to provide for more ventilation and natural light and reduce the use of air conditioners. Planners in practice and the state need to think about the integration of the health sector on a priority basis in upcoming city plans and development schemes. Builders will have to reconsider raising huge skyscrapers with respect to physical wellbeing. Any city plan will have to be inclusive with healthy accommodation for the poor, the weak and the migrant strata who are exposed to extreme stress during crisis time.