“Each new situation requires a new ARCHITECTURE”. – Jean Nouvel
A long history of human race has witnessed numerous pandemics and resultant human losses of life and non-life. During these events, Architects and planners have played a vital role in developing critical factors of overall ecosystem that treats the population. To quote a few pandemics and spread diseases are like Plague, Black Death, Smallpox. A popular word of the day if we all know is ‘Quarantine’, which is a contribution of black death and resultant architectural concept developed eventually.
source:FEDERICO COVRE
Alvar Aalto’s Paimio Sanatorium
In the times of Covid 19 of today, we all talk of a new normal. An exceptional approach though will be required as to how prepared we are.
This refers to the need of having suitable designs to adapt and create an environment that caters to the stakeholders needs in treatment of Covid pandemic.
Architects have dealt with every pandemic in a unique way suiting the treatment complexities and peculiarities with respect to the pandemic. An e.g. at top of mind is Alvar Aalto’s Paimio Sanatorium, which dealt with TB patients. Before antibiotics were introduced, Tuberculosis was one of the deadliest diseases and patients needed to be Quarantined. Cold feet were one of the symptoms of TB and sunlight was an effective in helping patients recover. Alvar Aalto combined both elements and improved functionality of windows. Windows were positioned in a way that sunlight will gently fall on patients’ feet. It is a functionalist structure with optimal conditions for recuperation from the disease.
It can safely be said that studying the disease dynamics and predicament of patients is imperative and important in designing of such structures. These factors help make the ecosystem stronger, robust and suitable.
Remembering Alvar Aalto in Covid 19
With the vast requirements and complexities of treating Covid 19; let’s look at some of the
factors considered critical in medical treatment that relates to structure can be like;
- Need for empathy, mind play and structure
- Need to innovate to align patient needs
- Available medical infrastructure and homes made suitable for Quarantine
With demographic and economic diversity, there may be enormous approaches and
ways of reacting to health problems. Nervousness and panic seem to be common
factors while patients, families and doctors are sailing in Corona times.
Fear mongering and resultant psych may some serious obstacles in treatment cycle. Various news reports and general research suggests that many patients may even face medical situations of serious nature. Typically, it starts from symptoms identified, test suggested and tested positive or even negative. This time span in tests is a serious challenge, typically in Quarantine periods. Patients may even face challenges like myocardial infarction.
Empathetic Architecture can help in developing a calm and soothing spaces in medical facilities for patients. Here the structure can be used as a medical tool. Essentially transition rooms be designed using different design techniques, that can help calm a patient. Human mind plays an important role in healing the patients. A book “Power of Subconscious mind” when referred, one may infer that if a human mind is stronger, patients may recover faster. Such structures may facilitate handling patients with empathy and help their minds become stronger.
Need for research and innovation should bring in structural and change in facilities to be suitable during the pandemics like Covid. For example, it is generally observed that ‘sleeping in recumbent position or at 45 degree reduces pressure on heart and increase oxygen intake in lungs’ (generally used for heart patients or sleep apnea). So, if beds are positioned in this way it can help mild corona patients to solve breathing as well as myocarditis.
People keep referring corona situation to a “new normal”. But the question is, is it a new normal? Or is it pointing towards older ages and a good life style that people are missing now a days. That’s a question for debate end of the day.
Speaking on current condition, India wasn’t ready for such a pandemic and in fact no country was. Damn Bat! There is one option we can create quarantine in your own house for your loved ones, which will help to contaminate the infection. Many people who weren’t infected before were contaminated in some Quarantine facilities because these facilities were over loaded with patients. We can always learn from our history, the story of David Vetter also known as the “Bubble boy” who had primary immunodeficiency which forced him to stay enclosed in a room for more than 12 years. Born with no bone marrow the room should be germ free. His journey surely taught us courage, patience and perseverance.
There is a strong need to synergize and study architectural perspectives of medical facilities and homes with a renewed need. As Architects this can be a way of giving back to the society and surely, we will make this world a better place.
“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” – Frank Gehry
This article is intended to be a Catalyst in developing new designs!
