Professional Musings: Challenges in Architecture, Engineering and Urban Planning in the Wake of the Wuhan Virus Pandemic

Originally written on June 17, 2020

For centuries, architecture, engineering and urban planning have reacted to disasters by creating new designs that address flaws that were “revealed” by the tragedy, whether the disaster was international, national or local. This is more so often in the 19th, 20th and now the 21st century, when humanity has seen these disasters beyond the “an Act of God” and rationally studied the factors that led to such a terrible outcome.

A sample of 20th century responses to a disaster is how the Cholera outbreak of 1899 to 1923 led to cities all around the world to reorganize their sewerage and waste disposal systems, and also institutionalize indoor plumbing. Another is how the 7.7 magnitude 1991 Luzon Earthquake led the UAP to reformulate the Building Code of the Philippines, to address issues that were presented by the collapse of the Hyatt Terraces Baguio Hotel and the Christian Colleges of the Philippines. This was also followed by the 6.9 magnitude 1995 Great Hanshin (Kobe) earthquake, which pushed Japanese engineers to develop better earthquake technologies for buildings and other structures. Or how the 1996 Ozone Disco Fire had many cities inspect all commercial establishments for proper exit measures in these businesses.

In the 21st century, the 9.2 magnitude 2004 Sumatra–Andaman earthquake caused a great tsunami that forced many countries to redesign their beachfront properties, which was echoed by the 6.6 magnitude Fukushima Hamadōri Earthquake and how cities redesigned their seaside structures. In the Philippines, the 7.2 magnitude 2013 Bohol Earthquake forced the government to develop new systems of heritage preservation, after the destruction of many century old buildings. This was followed by the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan / Yolanda, and how city planners redesigned their seaside properties to withstand a powerful storm surge, which also still serves as a lesson on how not to create mass housing programs for displaced families.

Now the whole world is slowly waking up to the effects of the Wuhan Corona Virus Pandemic and how their governments programs helped or made the situation worse the populace. Sadly, the lessons learned by the 1918-1920 Spanish Flu, and the subsequent 21st century outbreaks of SARS, MERS and the Bird Flu have never been truly applied, which led to the international disaster we are all facing.

Given that, here are some architectural, engineering, and urban planning issues that I have observed, and were later discussed during the June 5 architecture, design, and art colloquium web discussion called “EXEDRA>”, where I was a panelist:

1. Urban Congestion

Although the outbreak may have been brought to the Philippines by foreigners or returning kababayan, the greatest risk of the disease spreading was among the tightly packed neighborhoods, especially among the informal settler communities. However, the quarantine rules enforced by the local governments were endangering the people of further contamination, as studies have shown that most infections were attain through indoor contact.

Second, these quarantine rules were very inhumane for these communities, as most homes have a large amount of residents living in small spaces without adequate ventilation. And given the heat of Summer, being locked indoors was unbearable.

And thirdly, this decision to quarantine is counterproductive to the health the residents, as studies have shown that regular exposure to sunlight greatly reduces the risk of infection.

2. Highrise Mental Risks

For those living in middleclass and upperclass condominium units, it seemed that they were immune to the problems faced by those living in poorer communities. However, interviews with returning OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) and tourists quarantined in condominium and hotel rooms, the rooms that were designed with windows that cannot be opened posed the health and mental risks of lacking exposure to fresh air.

3. Social Distancing in the Streets

Many cities and towns do not have adequate sidewalks for pedestrians, with the many residential areas having zero sidewalks or a 30 centimeter excuse for one. Other more developed streets have broken, blocked and even tilted sidewalks, with a measly 1 meter width. Only the richer districts have the proper sidewalks for pedestrian traffic. 

So how do we practice proper social distancing, if the very spaces given to pedestrians are not sufficient for 1 or two people to walk through?

4. Social Distancing in Government Offices

In the rush to apply for rapid testing, medical certificates, travel passes and other pertinent documents, it is observed that many of these government agencies are poorly equipped to handle a large influx of people, let alone give enough space for social distancing.

The same goes for banks and other public service offices.

5. Rapid Response Medical Facilities

With the fear of the outbreak overwhelming our medical system, local governments panicked over the lack of facilities they have, and it took them many weeks to develop proper alternative medical facilities from their hospitals.

6. Rural Access Points

For those quarantined in the rural sector, many of the houses are very far apart and thus allowing acceptable social distancing and health quarantine living spaces. However, the issue is the accessibility of food and other supplies, communication, as well as transport to government and medical facilities.

7. Bicycle Lanes

With the lifting of the strict quarantine rules, many people went back to work, only to discover that there is no public transport available. While many resorted to walk for several kilometers to their place of employment, others decided to take their bicycles to work. However, the cyclists complained that there were no proper areas for them to travel, and are thus in danger while travelling through major thoroughfares.

8. Waiting Facilities

Transport terminals, whether buslines or airports, have also seen an influx of people wanting to go home after the lifting of some of the quarantine rules. However with not that many buses or planes travelling, many of these terminals become host for the stranded to stay more than a few hours to a couple of days.

LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS

The Wuhan Virus, much like previous international pandemics, will not disappear in just a few months. This will take a few years to dissipate. Given a true cure maybe discovered, this will not stop people from getting infected. And waiting for a vaccine will take a few years, as the proper testing procedures must be followed to avoid and unwarranted side effects.

Hence, my challenge for my past and present architectural students is to looking into these issues and help design the future spaces for the Philippines. The designs you are to create are either retro-fitting interventions to present structures, or creating new designs for spaces that can easily adapt to crisis situations. Including another virus outbreak, that would be much different from the Wuhan Virus.

1. Urban Decongestion

The issue of urban congestion is a local and national government problem, along with the yearly migration of people to the cities. However should you be given the opportunity to design a mass housing relocation site, how will you address the overcrowding, ventilation, and mobility?

If reorganizing current high risk communities, what design interventions should you propose to these compressed quarters that will address the issues earlier stated?

2. Humane Living and Working Spaces

In the present highrise condominiums, what are the solutions that windows can be properly adjusted to allow natural air? What other spaces can be reorganized in these buildings to allow maximum movement within the halls, or even social spaces within the floors?

In designing new highrise residences and offices, how do you maximize space, ventilation, lighting and mobility; without having to regularly rely on air-conditioning and artificial light? I often site looking at the International Style buildings of the late 1950s, such as those by Rivera, Nakpil, Ilustre and Gaite, as a study of how they solved these problems.

Should you rely on centralized air-conditioning, how do you design a system that allows fresh air into the building while the air-conditioner still keeps the air cool? Or will you design a filtering system that will collect and kill pathogens, with a long operation life before its next maintenance check and cleaning?

In designing or retro-fitting boarding houses and dormitories for students and even construction workers, how do you keep manageable spaces, including access to clean drinking water, emergency areas for cooking, etc?

3. Social Distancing in the Streets and Bicycle Lanes

Given that most of the roads in the cities and towns cannot be reduced to accommodate wider pedestrian and bicycle lanes, who do you propose alternative pathways? Will these be elevated walkways and cycle lanes, such as the walkways of Makati and Pasig?

If decision is to design elevated lanes for cyclists, where are the off/and on ramps on key roads? Will these be the zig-zag off ramps, like those in Diliman? Will there be slow and fast lanes in these elevated walkways?

4. Social Distancing in Public Service Offices

Looking at your local barangay hall, health center, police station, LTO, bank, etc. , and redesign how you redesign their waiting areas that if you have to extend the waiting areas to the outside, the people will not be exposed to the elements and pollution? You have to keep in mind to not take over sidewalks or putting up tents on the road.

For transport terminals, what are the best designs for affordable resting places for stranded passengers?

5. Rapid Response Medical Facilities

You have to design an easy to assemble medical/emergency shelter similar to the Quonset Huts used by the American military since World War II. What kind of designs would you create that would be adaptable to various terrain and fitting into small spaces?

These quick response facilities must be durable enough to be disassembled and reused for another emergency.

6. Rural Access Points

Aside from building new roads, how do you develop systems of communication for government and medical institutions to contact far off homes and communities in areas without a decent internet signal?

7. Mixed-Used

I am against strict zoning rules, such as residential areas should not have any commercial enterprise. Sari-sari stores and small eateries have served as the lifeline for many residents who could not easily get a quarantine pass to buy food at the grocery or market.

So for those planning urban and rural communities, how to you incorporate mix-use into their neighborhoods that include these amenities, as well as areas for livelihood projects, exercise and social gatherings?

CONCLUSION

Aside from these challenges that deal with effects of the Wuhan Virus on our society, there are many more issues that you may have observed. What are your solutions for other disasters such as the 2020 Taal Volcano eruption? Do you have future intervention designs that will mitigate the damage of a future earthquakes, tsunami, typhoons, or even drought?

In other words, this challenge if for you to design our future.