It’s safe to say that nothing has shaken the foundations of our society quite like coronavirus. At the time of writing, over 312,300 people had died globally after contracting the virus.
Even after countries start easing their lockdown, it’s likely that how we live will need to change. That means where we live and work will also need to be different.
What might we expect for the future of architecture in this post-coronavirus world? Read on to learn more.
The Way We Move Around Buildings Will Change
Circulation in and around buildings will have to change. Narrow corridors or congested staircases can’t survive. Architects must find ways to move us through buildings without losing floor space.
Expect more lightweight construction or even partitions to allow space to become flexible. Circulation can change in response to traffic patterns throughout the day.
We even expect architects to start designing with social distancing in mind. Busy single entrances may become a thing of the past.
3D rendering will become more important than ever to help with this kind of planning. Check out this article for more information about 3D rendering.
Mental Health Has an Impact on the Future of Architecture
Densely populated cities meant citizens didn’t always have access to green spaces. This lack of outside space took its toll on families. They were suddenly forced into close proximity in undersized apartments.
Architecture needs to acknowledge this huge impact on mental health. Green space and access to nature is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity.
Green walls, living roofs, or even indoor gardens aren’t just architecture trends. They could prove to be valuable solutions.
Under-Used Spaces Need Innovative Approaches
Governments turned large buildings like conference centers or sports arenas into makeshift hospitals.
It also shows how much architecture needs to provide flexible, adaptable spaces. These under-used spaces can respond to challenges on a case-by-case basis.
We predict the use of more new technology in architecture to help with this flexibility.
It’s Home, but Not as We Know It
Many workers switched to remote working when their countries went into lockdown. Their whole world shrank to the size of an apartment.
Homes are likely to double as workspaces in the future. Architecture needs to apply flexible design to living spaces.
We may not be able to spend all our time at home. Expect our public spaces to play a new role in offering a space to socialize at a safe distance.
Expect New Materials
One of the stranger news stories was that coronavirus couldn’t survive on copper. It’s not a new idea since the Victorians used copper for their hospital bed frames.
Glass, plastic, and stainless steel all replaced copper as popular building materials.
We expect that to change. Other materials will also rise to prominence in the fight against the virus. They’ll be the future technology in architecture that we all use.
Any materials that help slow (or even halt) transmission will change how our buildings look and function.
Architecture Can and Will Adapt
We can’t know the future of architecture for certain. Yet we can make educated guesses.
The architecture of the past encouraged the spread of the virus. The architecture of the future needs to make sure it can’t happen again.
Keen to learn more about architecture? Check out our architecture articles to stay up-to-date with the industry.