Noel Odhiambo (Undergraduate Student

COVID-19 Reflections

NOEL ODHIAMBO Undergraduate Student

This essay is derived from a series of observations and thoughts made since the lockdown in South Africa took full effect. It is a simple account of personal experience during this time.

What has happened? The speed with which COVID-19 spread was not fully appreciated until the lockdown was announced. Before then the coronavirus was, like so many other things, news about some other place and some other people. One of the many troubles broadcasted on the news; reported, observed, partially absorbed and then swiftly pushed to the side by the next story. When the first imported cases were announced, however, one took a moment to pause and allow the information to sink in. The virus which was afflicting China, Europe and the USA had somehow meandered its way half way across the world to the southern tip of the African continent. It was a shock. But, not a sustained disruption. Life continued and jokes were nonchalantly made surrounding the seriousness of the virus.

However, in what seemed like a flash, the numbers of infected people soared! The foreign epidemic had just turned pandemic. In a rapid flurry of action classes were postponed, students were ordered to evacuate university campuses and what was once a topic of small talk turned into the headline of every news-post around the world. Suddenly the countless cases of conflict, corruption and debate were silenced by a single story: ‘the COVID-19 global pandemic’. One was left startled and stunned by the speed with which the disease spread. From regularly attending public gatherings like school and social events, to murmurings of a possible threat, to the introduction of social distancing (a phrase which now seems like it will forever be a part of the global lexicon) and finally a full lockdown. It all happened in the blink of an eye.

Confusion and concern followed. The concern for self, loved ones and classmates forced to travel, so abruptly, home. As the days went by the reality of the situation sank in. It was an odd feeling, as if one were living in limbo between a before-and-after moment in history separated by COVID-19. As if the history books were being written in real time. With each passing day, the reality of the situation sank in. It was strange to think that such a sudden occurrence threatened to change the way the entire world functions. The medical industry would need to develop protocols to cope with the current crisis. Businesses would close or downsize. Countless people would lose

their jobs. And most sadly, many would lose their lives. The fast pace of ‘ordinary’ life had been disrupted; the reset button had been hit. It felt like things had come to a sudden halt. As if we were watching the world floundering and trying to stay afloat.

What observations have been made?

So evident now, is the socioeconomic power of privilege reflected in the choice of how to use space. The fortunate amongst us are able to choose, not only, whether or not to occupy space, but also, what spaces to occupy, and to what degree the spaces we occupy are public or private. A fortunate member of society can go from the public arena, to their home, and then to a specific room within that home- with a threshold of privacy present at each link of the chain. Conversely, the underprivileged are forced to either occupy the public arena and try to carve out their own sanctuary within the formidable urban landscape (in the case of homeless/displaced peoples) or live in a private home which is shared so densely that the danger of cross contamination is in fact higher than that of a vagabond roaming the streets.

The migration from the physical to the virtual realm has also been more apparent than ever. The pandemic has resulted in an astronomical jump in the usage of video calling services like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, showing how, despite the inability to meet in person, companies and individuals have simply migrated their place of meeting to the virtual realm. No longer is physicality necessary for collaboration and communication. The bricks and mortar of the age have been replaced by the computer

So evident now, is the socioeconomic power of privilege reflected in the choice of how to use space. ”

and the internet connection. However, even online the inequality of the haves and have nots is blatantly obvious: those who cannot afford the data premiums do not have access to the online world. Therefore, it is evident during this time how much the vulnerable and underprivileged are disadvantaged. Not only in

the physical spaces of the city but in the digital space of the world.

What do these observations mean to a student of the built environment?

There are still huge disparities between the haves and the have nots which is evident in the use of space by different groups of people. However, despite this, the gap we see in the digital realm is far narrower than that of the physical, and so this presents the most efficient, most widely accessible ‘space’ for design. The digital realm presents us with a world in which trial and error can be quick and nondestructive, the barriers of space are virtually non-existent and the formats of accessibility are abundant. The issues that affect the built environment are deep-seated and require years of development and buy-in from a variety of parties. This does not negate the need for spatial practitioners to design in physical space, but presents a need for a more rapid rate of development to meet the societal demand.

Perhaps then the new technological frontier is where design thinking needs to be adopted more than ever. The designer cannot solve a lot of societal issues in the physical world, but the digital realm presents a possible democratization and levelling of access to information. Perhaps then, the focus should be to give as many people as possible the tools needed to uplift themselves, to improve their situation, through their access to the Internet.

Architecture relies on investment and time to bring change. Online, however, one can create the tools needed for individuals to: educate themselves, find employment, conduct capital transactions. Can architectural thinking help in this medium? The same principles of: context, purpose, place, site analysis, could potentially be used to begin to build the intangible architectures which will enable people to empower themselves in order to have access to physical spaces.

This is not a pessimistic approach, nor is it some sort of magic solution to complex societal issues, it is a simple asking of a question. A shifting of focus. To design and build in both stone and software. To use technology to benefit as many people as possible, more efficiently. The building will always be essential to civilization but increasingly the limits of physical space, and the associated bureaucracies and inequalities, are being subverted online.

Design is about people. Making life better for all people. The medium is subject

to change but the thinking can be mobilized indefinitely. At the present time it is evident that many established systems rely on collaboration and communication between people, but also that this interaction need not, necessarily, be in the physical realm. Therefore, architects and designers may need to expand our focus to solve problems outside of physicality. I am aware that the IT professional already occupies the digital realm, but what I suggest is an interdisciplinary approach to design. An awareness of thinking in both realms (physical and digital) and an exploration of what is possible as a result of a ‘cross-pollination’. We have seen form follow function, but perhaps it is time for function to transcend form.