Rethinking sustainability of the built environment in post-pandemic times
- Vol.86(10), Oct
- Mumbai Indian Institute of Architects 2021
- 12-18p.
The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 or commonly known as the COVID 19 pandemic have posed big challenges in front of humankind throughout the globe. The built environment has failed miserably to fight this situation. Rapid changes took place in healthcare buildings to meet huge demand to treat COVID 19 patients. However, not many changes have been done in other habitable spaces. The buildings have been made operational only with some social distancing measures put in place. Historically speaking, many a times many cities have been changed after epidemic and pandemic. Learning from the history, it has become utmost necessity to examine the sustainability measures in the buildings. Public buildings, mass housings, institutional buildings, high rise buildings are more vulnerable in new normal situation as people are being sceptical about using common services like centralised HVAC systems, elevators, common workspaces. Natural ventilation and day lighting are also becoming important to be incorporated with artificial lighting and ventilation for more conducive building interior and occupant's wellbeing. Building automation in public buildings can prove one major step taken to respond to the post- pandemic situation and energy management. This article examines the sustainable measures which can taken to design a futuristic building environment and their usefulness in the post-pandemic new normal lifestyle.