How to future-proof our cities after the pandemic

COMMENT The pandemic has dramatically changed our relationship with our built environment, confining us to certain buildings, leaving others empty, and placing a premium on outdoor space. Urban designers have much to consider as they plan for an uncertain future, trying to accommodate new priorities, protect vulnerable communities and implement safety schemes that will protect the public both during and beyond the pandemic. The first national lockdown had a large impact on mental wellbeing, highlighting the importance of outdoor space – some 59% of people found going for walks to be an indispensable coping mechanism. With the pandemic expected to have a long-term impact on our mental health, urban designers have increased responsibility to maximise the availability of outdoor space, particularly green space, for those living in cities. Living with new priorities Changing work norms could free up space to serve our altered priorities. The pandemic has raised questions about the future of work, with traditional city-centre HQs expected to fall out of fashion. Instead, many workers would now prefer flexible working practices. As cities adapt to an era of hybrid remote working, there will be further opportunity to repurpose disused space to solve problems such as a lack of green space and the housing shortage. Covid-19 has exacerbated UK cities’ homelessness crisis, with reports of the number of people sleeping rough having climbed by more than a third between April and June. Action must be taken to save those who will otherwise face this winter’s wave of coronavirus without somewhere to live. In March, the government’s Everyone In scheme provided 15,000 rough sleepers with emergency accommodation, saving an estimated 266 lives, but a longer-term solution is vital. With build time reduced by up to 75% compared to traditional construction techniques, modular construction can help to build vital accommodation at speed and provide a safer alternative to homeless shelters, where the mortality rate of people with Covid-19 is 61% higher than among the general population. astudio’s modular Desborough Road project will provide 58 units of housing for families with nowhere else to go later this year. However, with 59% of those facing financial difficulties having seen their situation worsen as a result of Covid-19, a far greater number of dwellings will be needed, and fast, in order to avoid further crisis. Building for the future The need for social distancing, self-isolation, and open space has forced urban designers to rethink the design of residential schemes in the interest of public safety. Built-up areas need to adapt to provide residents with space as a matter of public health, both during and beyond Covid-19. astudio’s Ebury Bridge Estate project, for example, incorporates several design features to limit virus transmission, from contactless systems to innovative walkways intended to maximise space. Moreover, the site’s 750 residents will have easy access to outdoor garden squares and exterior outdoor spaces. High-rise developments can continue to serve housing needs in high-density areas, but sub-standard sizing and lacking outdoor space must become a thing of the past. Technology will play a central role in building tomorrow’s cities. Planners can leverage internet of things technology, for example, to establish a city-wide “nervous system” that captures critical population data, which can help to ensure that future change reflects public demand. As well as being a potent tool should we face future pandemics, these urban data centres would be useful for responding to the climate crisis by tracking buildings’ energy usage and highlighting opportunities to improve. In cities such as London, where 78% of CO2 emissions come from homes and workplaces, smart building technology could generate significant environmental improvements. This year has been a learning curve for urban designers as priorities were suddenly and drastically altered. The lessons learnt allow for cautious optimism, however, as we are now better equipped to future-proof our built environment. Richard Hyams is founder and director of astudio  Image: Ebury Bridge Estate by astudio