The world has been shaken by Covid-19 and it has definitely changed the way we live right now and also how we perceive life once the pandemic ends. On a philosophical side we all have become much more grateful for everything we have including the things we used to take for granted. This would result in new normal as we have often been told. A city is a living being comprised of all its inhabitants as well as the establishments which interact with everyone who live there.
A major part of the world is celebrating that the pandemic has taken a dip from its peak while a few countries including our own is reeling under its devastating effects even now.
World over there is a growing realization of the importance of open spaces which allow for better ventilation. This takes us back to our roots where people used to be one with the elements, however with evolution we became more appreciative of indoor areas. I don’t see us going back completely, but a hybrid model will certainly evolve wherein outdoor areas will be given a lot more importance in our cities than just the bare minimum balconies that we have today. The indoor areas will also be designed and visualized by ensuring adequate ventilation through old school cross ventilation techniques like having windows on different sides of the rooms as well as new and upcoming technologies in the field of the air conditioning.
Another area where I see a huge change would be the way we see our healthcare facilities today. On a planning level a lot of thought will go towards having adequate facilities available for the ever-booming populations. The pandemic has definitely exposed the cracks in the healthcare systems not just in the rural areas but also in the so-called metros. On a governance level, I foresee a major bulk of infrastructure funds being allocated towards healthcare.
In the last decade we have seen a steady increase in the number of shopping malls coming up in cities. This has resulted in a lot of major markets shrinking down. This is a trend which I think might reverse. Ofcourse, weather is a concern in a country like ours but a lot of brainstorming will be done so as to ensure that we can plan better low-density markets in our cities.
The line between the workspace and personal space will become physically nonexistent as a lot of business have already realized that a dedicated office space is nothing but an acceptance of an old practice. Earlier the only real way for people to come together and collaborate was to be in close physical proximity but the technology age has completely changed. A lot of major businesses have realized they can save themselves a lot in terms of expenses to maintain and run a brick and mortar office. They have already decided to permanently shift to a work from home model, with only occasional physical meeting in the office only when needed.