Designing Post-COVID Housing for Urban Life
Post-COVID Housing Design
The needs and design of homes have changed throughout history according to cultural changes that bring about new ways of living. We are in the midst of an important moment in history as COVID-19 radically changes the way we interact with each other and the spaces around us. Housing, especially in dense urban areas, will need to change in response to the requirements of a post-COVID world as we reevaluate the way we live and utilize our homes.
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The first moment of our experience of a home begins with the entry – it is an important threshold between the outside world and the world of the home inside. This is a small, yet, incredibly special moment of transition. The entry should feel like a defined space where you are able to comfortably remove a coat, store a bag, set down items, and sanitize before moving through the rest of the home. Simple and strategic design moves can distinguish this space from the rest of the home. Slightly recessing the entry from the main living area establishes the space while still giving a sense of openness to the rest of the home. Changes in material, color, or texture can also further define the space and elevate the experience of arrival. Locating a coat closet and bathroom adjacent to the entry gives ease of access to functions needed upon arrival or departure.
Adaptability In Post-COVID Housing
Within post-COVID housing, we will need flexibility in our spaces to accommodate the changes in how we will live.
Throughout the pandemic, we saw a global shift in the way many people work as most office jobs transitioned to remote work environments. This unprecedented experiment in working from home has proven to be successful for most companies and will leave a lasting impact in how we work after the pandemic. We will see more people either work fully remote or move to a hybrid model that accommodates both working in an office and from home. While offices are designed to provide comfortable and productive working environments, most urban homes were not designed with this consideration in mind. As offices and schools closed down at the beginning of the pandemic, many workers and families suddenly had to carve out spaces within their homes to allow them to perform their job or have their child attend school virtually. These makeshift work and study spaces are not always the most comfortable or ideal environments. They often take over spaces in the homes intended for relaxing and gathering. Through post-COVID housing, we will see a rise in the desirability to have spaces that are flexible and easily adaptable to the way we utilize limited space, especially within dense cities.
One method for achieving this adaptability in post-COVID housing is through a “flex space” adjacent to the living area that can be used as a place to work, study, play or dedicate to a hobby. Locating the flex space in an alcove area off the main living area links it to the main living space yet separates it enough that it can be individualized as needed. The flex space’s proximity to the living area allows it to have a visual connection to the rest of the home and receive borrowed natural light – making a space that feels comfortable and open. When more privacy is needed, large transparent or translucent sliding doors can be utilized to close the space off while still maintaining a sense of light and openness.
With more time spent at home, we should seek to make our indoor spaces calming and enjoyable. A key factor to improving the quality of indoor space is by ensuring access to light and air. Windows should be suitably sized to allow for a generous amount of natural light and ventilation, while also considering site-specific environmental factors. Windows, however, are more than a means of providing light and air – they become a threshold between the inside and outside. Thoughtful design elements along the window can create a special moment between the indoors and outdoors that celebrate this connection. Deep built-in recesses at the windows create a space to sit and lounge while viewing the world outside or incorporate extra storage, a workspace, or an area for plants to grow.
After long months spent indoors due to COVID-19, there is an increased desire to spend more time outdoors. Most homes in dense cities don’t have private outdoor spaces or unfortunately have balconies that are often too small to be usable. In order for a balcony to be functional, it needs to be appropriately sized and feel like it’s truly a part of the rest of the home so that it doesn’t become a forgotten or underutilized space. It needs to be large enough that one can easily set it up to lounge outside at a table and chair, create a small garden, or use in other ways. The outdoor space is ideally located off a central main living area – a folding glass wall or large sliding glass door between the two can create an inviting visual and physical extension of the living area from inside to outside. Bedrooms without direct access to the outdoor space still have a visual connection through corner windows overlooking the outdoor space so that all areas of the apartment have a sense of connection to the outdoors.
When we are able to be outside, we reconnect with the outside world and neighborhood around us in a way that further improves our wellbeing. We benefit from the fresh air, the feeling of sunlight, and the sights and sounds of daily urban life that make up the unique communities we live in. No day or scene in a city is ever exactly alike – there is something special and infinitely enjoyable about being able to experience the changes over the course of time.
Our experience of the world during COVID-19 has taught us that in post-COVID housing we need both the comforts of quality indoor spaces, as well as the stimulation and connection we get from the outdoors.
By: Thomas Guerra, GKV Architects