COVID-19: An Additional Challenge for Architecture

Abstract

This study analyzed housing in Bogotá during the COVID-19 pandemic and revealed the complex interaction between domestic architecture and the social transformations resulting from lockdown measures. The study showed that homes became overloaded environments in which the coexistence of multiple activities led to improvised adjustments in their internal organization. These changes exposed the lack of preparedness of residential environments to cope with crisis situations, as well as the need to design dwellings with greater adaptability. The findings highlighted that factors such as indoor environmental quality, access to outdoor areas, and the relationship with the urban context were critical to residents’ well-being. Social inequality became evident in the contrast between those who could move to larger spaces and those who remained in rigid, limited dwellings. In addition, the home emerged as a refuge in times of crisis, reinforcing the importance of conceiving housing as a space that fosters well-being. Overall, the findings call for rethinking housing design in light of issues such as public health and social interaction, among others.