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Pandemic Architecture – How Covid-19’s set to shape your space

And, staying true to form, our own quarantine time in 2020 is also impacting our architecture choices – many of us have been experienced working from home on a more serious level. We’re craving separatism from other spaces, better acoustics, and varied outdoor options to turn to. This ‘safe place is home’ mentality means we’re more in tune with our space than ever before, so those renovation ideas are coming hard and fast. We’re noticing the lack of daylight in certain rooms, the impractical flooring in another, the desperate need for another bathroom and an office space that’s completely separate to the open plan kitchen and dining. Covid or no Covid, 2020 has everyone thinking out loud – no tropical holiday but a possible house renovation – why not!

It’s happened before and it’s possibly happening now – disease is affecting our home design, not just our health. Say what! We hear you say – but we speak of nothing new. Let’s go way back to 1933 – to a time when tuberculosis caught hold on the world’s populace. But it also took a hold of modernist architecture and shaped the aesthetics of medical buildings for decades to come. Finnish Architect Hugo Henrik Aalto and his wife completed the Paimio Sanatorium – a tuberculosis facility – innately tailored to patients’ recovery. Think long walls of windows – to extend field of vision, light-coloured rooms – for quietness, large wide roofs, heating sources directed towards feet.

And, staying true to form, our own quarantine time in 2020 is also impacting our architecture choices – many of us have been experienced working from home on a more serious level. We’re craving separatism from other spaces, better acoustics, and varied outdoor options to turn to. This ‘safe place is home’ mentality means we’re more in tune with our space than ever before, so those renovation ideas are coming hard and fast. We’re noticing the lack of daylight in certain rooms, the impractical flooring in another, the desperate need for another bathroom and an office space that’s completely separate to the open plan kitchen and dining. Covid or no Covid, 2020 has everyone thinking out loud – no tropical holiday but a possible house renovation – why not!

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People Power – Don’t settle for just LIKING the people behind your project!

They say home is where the heart is and when it comes to designing your space, we’re hearting the people behind the project – they bring the love. Just as a picture can speak a thousand words and a fragrance can take us all the way back down memory lane, a building too will continue to pay homage to those who journeyed through its construction.

So, what’s more important than flashy pictures, beaming references and a resounding portfolio of works, when picking your designer? The designer himself – and the rapport you strike up with him.

“Architecture is such a personal thing and you need to be completely comfortable and confident in the company of your designer to articulate your true wants and needs,” says Dylan Batenburg, director of Coalesce Architecture.

“As architectural designers it’s our job to ensure we ask all the right questions and provide the right guidance to turn dreams into a finished project – and you want your clients to feel completely at ease discussing all the ins and outs of the design process,” he explains. “From a client’s perspective, you know when you’re feeling a connection with someone – and you know when you’re just nodding for the sake of nodding. My advice to anyone is don’t settle. Choose an architect you can drum up a meaningful connection with.”

Aside from feel-good vibes and positivity, there are a few forward thinking actions a ‘good sort’ architect might put into play when meeting new clients for the first time too. So, keep a watch out for these and you know you’re onto a winner . . .

  • He’ll bring a measuring tape to site on the day he meets you.
  • He’ll discuss the WHOLE process of how EVERYTHING works – not just design and aspects and features. He’ll discuss consents, working with builders, give honest feedback about budget, realistic timeframes.
  • He’ll ask the questions that matter to you and your needs – i.e. How is the house not working for you now? Why are you doing this – how do live now and how do you want to live?
  • He’ll leave you with things to think about and feeling inspired – not tell you “I’ll get back to you next week.”
  • He’ll get to know you – not just your site plan – in a good way, not creepy way. He’ll ask about your family, your work, your kids, your hobbies – these all intrinsically link to your project’s speak.

In a world that’s dominated by screens and tap tapping, getting in front of people and truly connecting with someone, is surely still the most real avenue to achieving our hopes and dreams. We’re in it for people – not portfolios, let’s coalesce.