Future Of Home Design Post-Pandemic

We present an opinion by the principal architect of an established New-Delhi firm of architects, which points to the direction that residential design could take post-pandemic.

- Ar. Dikshu C Kukreja

At the turn of a new decade, the possibility of a pandemic outbreak was least expected, yet one shook the world order with tremendous force. As economies struggle to resolve the crisis at hand, one thing is for certain – the way of working after the pandemic is not going to be the same. History bears witness to the drastic and profound aftermath of pandemics such as the Broad Street Cholera outbreak in England in mid-19th Century, and the deadly Spanish Flu affecting almost 30% of the total world population in the early 20th Century, which scarred and forced different stakeholders to reinvent the norm of architectural design.

With the Coronavirus having already affected millions across the world and still counting, one can expect built environment elements such as residences, schools, public infrastructure, and offices, to name a few, to imbibe a redefined design language. Going forward, it is necessary to acknowledge the deep impact of the pandemic on not just one’s psyche but also lifestyle.

There are two significant approaches that one could take into consideration. The first involves short-term or quick fix solutions where one can tweak plans, interiors or materials to accommodate the required changes. The second seeks a much more comprehensive long-term plan which involves remodelling the current spaces keeping in mind that today, in 2021; we have been fast-forwarded ten years to what would have been the norm in 2030. With a crystal gaze, one would need to bring awareness to accept this new paradigm of living.