Emerging Condition and Prototype Development

With the development of COVID - 19, people attitudes has shifted from “zero - COVID” tolerance and paranoia, to accilimatising to live with both the symptoms presented by the virus, as well as it’s disruptive impacts on society and the way of life. One way to look at this is the development of the Omnicron varient that has been largely widespread, but the least lethal varient, as compared to earlier varients such as Delta. Recognising this, the government has shifted away from constantly changing social gathering rules, to boosting herd immunity against the Omnicron varient. Many Singaporeans in their social circles are steadily reporting the rise of COVID infections and their self - isolation away in their homes.

The home has become the space not only for recovery from the virus, but also a means for the infected to continue working from home with digitalised tools. This has been very different from the early days of the circuit breaker period of the COVID - 19 virus where an infection grants one to immediate stay in dedicated COVID facilities. Until the day comes where COVID is as common as the common flu, perhaps is there a way to better design our residences to support self - isolation, yet allow some degree of distanced social interaction?

The knowledge gained from our nature studies prompt a thought between us. COVID spread can be made worse with cross - ventilation in our homes without any physical protection. Earlier studies on the spread of COVID particles showed that these particles are dispersed air - borne from a person’s respiration, and the direction of travel depended on the inlet and outlet of air. An article by Mckinsey prompted that vertical laminar airflow can effectively prevent the airborne transmission of coronavirus particles. Although understandbly referring to mechanised ventilation sysytems, there is potential to redirect natural ventilation in a vertical one - way direction in reducing spread. Hence the concern remains of whether natural ventilation is capable of inducing one - way airflow, replenishing the room with fresh air, while safely redirecting used, contaminated air away from the residence.