The future of housing after Covid -19 and beyond

We are collectively experiencing an unprecedented challenge in our lifetime. The coronavirus pandemic has forced Self-isolating ourselves for unforeseeable period of time, escalates uncertainty coupled with anxiety in our society and discombobulate us what will future hold for us. Early data stated that the immediate impact of psychological of the current pandemic is substantial, in many instances, most people tend to suddenly panic rather than pausing and assessing the event thoroughly, then, systematically respond to the phenomenon. Albeit, there are analysis in which illustrates the experience might as well help us ameliorate our lifestyle.

According to Kubler-Ross model we know that sudden change can lead to shock, denial, frustration, depression, experiment, decision and, finally integration. When it comes to scale in community level, these emotions can descend into acts of pandemonium, perplexity and incertitude. Also, it is a great value of experience to comprehend self better and reflect on our values, and evaluating our strengths and failures – and perhaps, practicing future self-continuity where we desire to take our life in the future. However, changing our behaviour, first and foremost we must overcome aforementioned challenges we might face in the time of uncertainty to enhance our wellbeing and the quality of our life. This can be defined as connectedness to ourselves and our communities, where we lost the connection of – begin to foster a new way of constructing things for the prosperous future both for humanity and cities.

Housing shortage exacerbated by a strong growth in demand across the globe. Billions of people are living in such small places in densely populated areas - isolated and disconnected from one another regardless of where they occupancies are, whether in a single family dwelling or a high-rise building. This has affected communities and social engagement to lose its value over time. Why communities are important in our cities and what is it exactly? Community is a place to live in the company of other people with shared values and interest and interact with one another for shared benefit rather than living in isolation. Humans crave community as we are social creatures – when there is a connection among people there is also, a healthy and a prosperous living of life.

Connectedness with communities and social relationships attribute the foundation to human’s need and the sense of intimacy with others. There are numerous researches which demonstrates human innate need of engagement, participation and, connection to which cultivates intimate relations with nature and one another to experience a life of exuberant - a greater sense of meaning in life, perhaps, something bigger than ourselves. However, the way our cities are constructed, with influx of people rushing into the bigger cities for the prospect of better future both for their career and next generation and beyond the state of isolation was already there and has been accepted for majority of people. However, most of the people didn’t really pay enough attention to the fact that humanity have lost and failed to recall connectedness to our community and society.

The way urbanisation and communities has been designed and constructed, has turned people into observers rather than participants. Comparing to my youth period where I would take my younger brother outside of the house and call for action, in which the engagement with our community was solid and meaningful in many aspects, and giving was more enchant rather than taking – the feelings were reciprocal .They all gone, altruism that extended beyond the individual to the collective. We must make new homes desirable with rich communities for all demographics to forge a positive environment on people's lives.

Architecture plays a crucial role to bridge and create a meaningful community. Create a climate where people can connect to one another which that has been lost in decades because of urban planning (coupled with the idea of “busy life” many of us trapped in) - where the rush to accommodate and finish on time, and return on investment and so forth, took advantage over the need of comprehending the importance of connectedness to our community and nature.

Covid-19 has brought economic upheaval and health crises in which has disrupted people’s daily and quality of life across the globe and still unfolding, and caused a shift in technology trends within workplace and housing - although, the question remains:

· What will be the future of communities and societies?

· How will it transform our life?

· Would it constitute a meaningful reciprocal interaction?

Aforementioned questions transcend all disciplines and opens an existential portal for humanity. We oftentimes say that true friendship is revealed in times of adversities where you may need them the most – and leadership is measured in times of distress. The nature of emergencies is that they surface acute questions about our way of life, social structure and interactions.

I strongly believe that design and constructability of buildings significantly influence on shaping the behaviour of humanity and the quality of living. Extreme condition often clarifies what otherwise is vague or uncertain. In 2020, and beyond once the wave of covid-19 abates, there will be a greater need for a greater intimacy within our community and society. We must learn from the shared pandemic – but what can we? perhaps, one of the striking concerns of today current climate is one of acute loneliness – I suppose, rather thinking of resiliency, we should consider social resiliency more than ever for the next coming generation and, another likely occurrence as such Covid -19.

Necessarily density doesn’t have to be adversary to challenge us – in a simplest term – a well-designed building with terraces and inner-courtyard within buildings an Utopian societies can be created and strength the intimacy of communities with a support of advanced technologies such as digital design and Digital Twin (DT) which they are capable of addressing all of the issues that we are confronting. Digital design can help with inflexibility of design and enhance its ability of creating communities and reinvigorate in the same way, or in a modern form which is in the utmost need of reconsidering the way in which cities and communities have been designing and constructing in the last few decades. DT embedded with rich data of spaces and assets can significantly improve the sustainability, and the performance of buildings and communities to operate at their best.

4th industrial revolution and emerging technologies such as digital design and (DT) incorporated with offsite prefabrication has the ability to improve the quality of buildings and create an engaging community which can have an impact in the quality of our lives. This can facilitate connectedness and social engagement within buildings and communities with one another.