I have written before on the design challenges that the pandemic has thrown up and how this will affect the design of buildings, interiors, and our urban environment
Everyone is conscious that the last year has had a massive effect on the mental wellbeing of so many people. We will not know the true impact of this, until much later. I have been fortunate in being able to work in a light, airy, spacious studio that was Covid-secure very early on. Staff made it clear that they wanted to be in the office, working, and clients appreciated that we were maintaining our operation with no disruption to service. We have extended our office into the garden so through the summer – weather permitting – external meetings are possible; we have found most people really like the change of scenery and atmosphere this creates. Equally I am aware that a lot of people will find it hard to readjust, as we edge out of this health pandemic. We must encourage people to go back to normal, just as we originally encouraged them to work from home. Will life just go back to normal? Will we ever shake hands again or greet our friends with a kiss on the cheek? It is going to be a strange period ahead. I have been lucky to be busy throughout the last year and in the studio for a great deal of time. I found relaxation in my artwork, drawing and painting around the county. I draw for a living but my weekend ‘doodles ‘have really helped my wellbeing in the last year with my Lockdown Art series. I am working on a series of medical centres and we are looking at the impact in terms of their operation (GP practices have been the unsung heroes for the NHS, giving out most of the vaccines and maintaining their patients’ day-to-day care). We design with specific areas for entrance, waiting, toilets and the GP consulting rooms. This whole model now needs re-evaluating with extra space for waiting; more entrances (for future vaccine circulation) and external areas to facilitate longer waiting times; and more carparking to allow for an influx of people (I did a six-hour shift as a volunteer at a vaccination centre, so I know what pressure there was at my centre!). Schools are back, much to the relief of parents, which will allow staff back to work. Again, what impact will this have on layouts and design? I anticipate a rethink on ventilation systems and the capacity in classrooms are both likely to occur. The whole design ethos of office layouts will now need to be rethought. It is not a simple case of spreading people out, but the perception of space, privacy and safety. My interiors team have been working with clients on the new ways of screening, meeting, and talking. We will still need meeting rooms but the Zoom/ Teams meeting online, is here to stay and the noise can be distracting in an open plan area – so, designing solutions to accommodate the new methods is critical. We will all adapt and alter our working patterns as life always evolves. The changes may have come along a little faster in the last 12 months, but normality will return.
