By Ar. Sumit Dhawan, Founder & Principal Architect at Cityspace’ 82 Architects
Looking at the current situation, Ar. Sumit has extensively talked about “Uplifting residential design in the Pandemic”
The fate of single homes and multigenerational residences has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This unique situation the world has been thrust into has led to some major reconsiderations in terms of lifestyle and basic habitual changes for a common man. Public spaces like parks, restaurants, and movie theaters have adapted to the new normal while incorporating safety and sanitary measures. It is high time that such a shift is observed in the residential sector as well. It is especially relevant in India as the area per person, per square feet, is fairly limited here. Therefore, smart utilization of space needs to be addressed in the current times.
The connections we have with our residential have grown stronger over the course of the year 2020 and the first quarter of 2021. Such a mental-physical relationship between our homes and minds will persist well after the pandemic has subsided. Therefore, it is necessary that the layouts of one’s abode are adaptable. At the same time, certain areas of the house need to be designated for specific activities like working, studying, eating, and sleeping. The current situation demands a fine balance between multi-purpose spaces and rooms with fixed function. Else, the process may hamper the work-life and personal life if this balance is disrupted. For instance, working from the bed is a faux-pas. The lines between office life and home life can be blurred, leading to faster burnout.
Further
The buildings of the future need to be independent and self-sufficient. Each apartment or house must have its own water and heating plan in place in case the city’s power grid fails. A lot of people are looking into renewable sources of energy like solar power in order to cut down on electricity bills while opting for eco-friendly solutions. A safety net needs to be created. Solid fuel boilers, stoves, and batteries shall be kept as an emergency option in case of power failures amidst this global crisis. It is best to be prepared.
As the lockdown slowly gets lifted, public spaces like restaurants and cinema halls open up. These places are envisaged to be well-equipped with sanitization, disinfection spaces, and temperature checkpoints at the entrance. These techniques are required to be employed in private residential as well. In order to keep homes clean, the entryway or foyer can serve as transitional spaces where guests can be sanitized. Also, the installation of antimicrobial surfaces in living rooms can help. Such surfaces are resistant to damage or rust, are easy to clean, and are relatively maintenance-free. It is also important to incorporate air-purification systems into daily life in order to avoid breathing in contaminated air.
The reliance on the homes will persist even after the pandemic will be over. We need to accept the new reality and adapt to measures that will ensure greater freedom and mobility in our homes to accommodate a variety of activities in life.
About the Author
Ar. Sumit Dhawan,is the Founder & Principal Architect at Cityspace’ 82 Architects
Known for transforming homes into heaven, his aesthetic sensibility has found its way to renowned celebrity homes of cricketer Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir. His eclectic facade style has made him a favourite amongst numerous practising architects.
Sumit took inspiration from multiple international architects like Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, Santiago Calatrava and Le Corbusier. Soo K. Chan, Principal-SCDA Architects has been a major influence for his work as he believes that his thought process resonates with the renowned designer, giving him immense confidence in his work.
With this empirical & multifaceted design philosophy, Sumit starts every project with a comprehensive understanding of client’s requirements, kinaesthetic and research. His idea is to subsume the lifestyle and necessities of a client, getting into his shoes and designing the space like it’s his own, invoking the client’s identity through the space. The goal is to continue designing veritable project
