written by M. Arch. Nazif Ç. Dilaver

Following on from the beginning of the current Covid-19 pandemic we cannot help but think about what it has added to our lives in terms of architecture.

From its outset all sectors have been affected and in less than a year many aspects of life have taken on new forms. All sectors have had to adapt and think outside the box. This process has also brought about a change in our habits and lifestyle that we have acquired over many years. We have had to rethink many functions, both in our business and home lives. We have suddenly started to spend much of our social and business lives at home.

Along with the obligation to create personal spaces which are both hygienic and suitable for human health, we have had the opportunity to individually evaluate whether our living spaces were designed to create psychologically healthy living areas. It has given us a chance to see if the living areas we have created for our children and families support physical activity and whether it maintains our physical health.

Do the designs of our houses that reflect our individual and personal tastes actually define us? All the answers to this question, and indeed the question itself, are one of the most important things that the pandemic has made us think about. After the pandemic, we as architects, now need to design social areas, complexes, offices, shopping malls, markets, schools, gymnasiums and of course houses, with a new perspective. It is crucial to come up with solutions that will prioritize hygiene and safety, especially in social areas. We also need to restore this perspective in our work places and homes.

In the business world, the change in spaces and the impact of Covid-19 have been of course too great to ignore. Personal, hygienic and individual spaces have had to be created in social and work areas in all places. In large business centres / plazas, entrances and exits have been set up through separate doors, therefore reception areas have had to be redesigned to make room for the hygienic separation of people. Besides the number of entrances and exits in existing buildings being limited, the number of people entering the buildings has also been limited. In other words, by increasing the number of m2 per person, hygienic use of spaces has been provided. Using these methods, we have also ensured personal hygiene. In addition to this, the use of ventilation and pedestrian traffic inside buildings has had to be reconstructed. Thus, additional exit and corridor arrangements have been made. The seating arrangements and number of people have been reduced according to the m2 area in offices and the interior designs and furniture arrangement of the spaces have been reorganised accordingly.

 

We have perceived that partitions, ventilation systems and transitions between spaces in office environments are important issues that need to be reconstructed.

Apart from this, we should focus on how efficiently all family members use the overall m2 of their private homes and also on how comfortable they are while living in it. While drawing architectural designs, we need to provide spaces where individuals can feel comfortable. Because we are spending most of our time at home during this process, we want to feel comfortable in every way possible. The expectation of comfort and the effect of the pandemic has given us the need to be more a part of nature. Windows and walls have added a new perception to these areas and the use of colours has become an important asset in providing light and comfort.

Our experiences during the pandemic process also reminded us how important workplaces are and that these areas should be harmonious places that create a sense of comfort while working, rather than a small dark room. We have had to move our business world into our homes. We have realised that we have had to adapt the concept we call the home-office, the trend of the new century, into our lives. Although it may seem temporary, we can see that the home-office concept will remain the most important innovation of our time.

How lucky we are that we live on an island like North Cyprus and our climate and living conditions have the potential to easily adapt to this new way of life.

As a result, architects contribute greatly to the mental and physical quality of living spaces.