Pune: Architects need to relook the way they build offices, homes, educational institutes, hospitals and should even look at incorporating traditional structures like ‘padvi’ or ‘katta’ in modern designs and eliminating the need for Air Conditioners (ACs) post the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) situation, stated experts at a webinar on topic COVID 19: Role of Built Environment Professionals.
The online discussion on challenges and solutions during and post COVID-19 scenarios was organised by Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Sanstha’s Dr Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for Women (BNCA) under their initiative of United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI).
They suggested that with the help of the latest technology in the field of architecture, there is a need to include things that can help people keep social distance like in traditional times.
BNCA principal Anurag Kashyap said that on the backdrop of the pandemic, there is a need to revisit the syllabus and make some important changes.
“The urban planning, regional planning and development plans should be planned from the density perspective. We also need to redefine the density norms through development control rules,” he said.
Citing the example of ‘Katta’ and ‘padvi’ in traditional Wada culture which can be useful in maintaining physical distancing, Kashyap said “We need to revisit our traditional wisdom and analyse to apply it in modern planning and design to reconsider natural ventilation, material usage and proper use of space while designing the interior. The use of Air Conditioners in the future would be detrimental since it will lead to fast transmission of diseases.”
President of Council of Architecture Ar Habeeb Khan talked about architects’ roles as visionaries and also stated that what they build and design stays over a long time.
BKPS College of Architecture principal Abhijit Natu spoke about sociofugal and sociopetal spaces and the need for being spatially fugal and technologically petal. Natu emphasised on the need for preparedness assessment tools and also a need to research in architecture on spatial and social environments, spatial configurations best suited for pandemic and use of appropriate materials.
Savitribai Phule Pune University’s Science and Technology dean, AD Shaligram said “It is essential to understand and explore human behaviour, special dynamics and integrative technologies. The design of all the public places should be planned to avoid human congestion, along with good ventilation.”
The other key pointers discussed were about how can health care design continue to help monitor the situation with emphasis on design in the built environment to manage the pandemic, the role of building design in avoiding disease transmission and how can built environment made healthier?
Dr Shalini Pawar, medical officer at DPU Medical College and Hospital, highlighted the importance of space planning of hospitals which currently is quite open but at the same time imposing infection control measures. Ventilation is essential in such situations and needs to be addressed effectively.
Dr Shreedhar Chiplunkar, Sports Medicine expert, also stated to solve the overall issue, coordination between architects, city planners, doctors and decision-making government officials is needed.