Chioma Wogu-Ogbonna: COVID-19 AND OTHER CONTAGIOUS DISEASES: FUTURE DESIGN TRENDS IN THE NIGERIAN AEC INDUSTRY

Chioma Wogu-Ogbonna FNIA writes in from Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Also a qualified estate surveyor, she is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects where she currently serves a second term as its National Chair, Public Relations Committee.

In this blog's inaugural guest post, she shares her thoughts on a broad spectrum of changes one can expect in the Nigerian built environment industry post Covid-19.

Photocredit: Author

The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918 was devastating leaving in its trails millions of death and a severely depressed economy worldwide. 102 years after that bad experience is the corona virus (code named COVID – 19) pandemic, presently ravaging lives and economies the world over with Nigeria’s first index case reported on 27^th of February 2020.

According to medical researchers, contamination has been ascribed to bodily contact with infected persons (symptomatic or asymptomatic) as well as the touching of infected surfaces which includes money.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Architecture Lecture Studio at Covenant University
Photocredits: Facebook page of Society of Architecture Students, Convenant University

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: Records have it that most educational institutions in Nigeria are grossly overstretched and overpopulated. More students are being admitted in ratio to the facilities and staff available for their studies. These facilities include, but are not limited to studios (for architecture students), lecture halls, restaurants, laboratories, hostels, restrooms, etcetera.

These congested facilities will provide a safe haven for the spread of the dreaded corona virus. A review of the work space ratio/ person to about 6m2 or slightly more in the design of these facilities is imperative. This will be effective in achieving the much desired social distancing, thereby imbibing it as a rule of thumb in the design of studio spaces and labs for courses like architecture, engineering, medicine and the likes that require such. Telecommunications and online learning should be introduced.  Interactive software such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom are currently being utilized for both virtual meetings and learning. Tutorials can also be easily compartmentalized in physical storage devices such SD cards, CDs, flash drives and external hard drives.

OTHER PUBLIC FACILITIES
These include hospitals, churches, mosques, hotels, offices, shopping malls, markets, bus terminals, airports, cinemas, etc. Architectural and engineering design henceforth should incorporate social distancing features like automated entrance doors, WCs, water outlets, etc., to curtail the frequencies of physical operation by people.

Hospital Ward
Photocredit: www.lawpadi.com

Design considerations for hospitals will take into full cognizance the possibility of the occurence of another epidemic or pandemic. Isolation centers within and outside hospital premises should be designed to minimize congestion, manual operation of facilities and also encourage the swift disposal of medical waste. Decontamination points should be incorporated at entrances and exits of these facilities. Strategic points within the premises should have automated hand washing and disposal services. The wards should be segmented according to the severity of disease infection whilst at the same time creating enough distance between bed spaces to avoid the spread of the infections.

Spaces should be provided in all public facilities where users will decontaminate themselves before access, for example the body scanning compartments used at airports, hotels, cinemas, malls, banks, etc. Just like the proposed telecommunications/internet tutorials for the educational institutions, the same can be introduced in religious places of worship like churches, mosques, etc. to mitigate body contact and spread of infectious disease.

Photocredit: Businessamlive.com

Banking halls should be designed to discourage long waiting periods and overcrowding. This can be achieved by incorporating a drive through or walk-through facility that will not require one coming into the banking halls. This can be achieved by a prearranged appointment with the banks and all necessary bookings and requests done online before approaching the bank premises.

This method will be a seamless solution to solving crowding, usually experienced in the banking halls and similar facilities and also will save time for all stakeholders. The ATM points can be designed incorporating automated sprinklers that dispense decontaminating liquid to ensure the machines remain safe for others.

Architecture and engineering designs that will promote paperless activities should be introduced in our future designs going forward. Research has shown that corona virus thrives on papers including currencies (money). Automated devices at public facilities should be incorporated in designs to scan needed information off our electronic devices instead of the physical exchange of papers/currencies which is the norm.

URBAN DESIGN AND PRIVATE/ RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Architectural, town planning and engineering designs should incorporate such public social amenities like fully automated restrooms, wash hand basins, refuse disposal points, etc. for city planning and layouts. These facilities will create and retain the consciousness of both personal and public hygiene in all users and at the same time reduce or eliminate bodily contact with such amenities.

Architects and engineers should pay more attention to space allocation and functionality of their designs to help promote social distancing, hygiene, etc. All professionals in the built environment should ensure that our cities are better planned. Where there are slums, urban renewal should come into play. Enforcement of designs and specifications should be strictly adhered to.

Masterplan of proposed Alaro City. Location: Lekki Free Trade Zone.
Photocredit: www.som.com

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic is a wakeup call for not only the architects, but also, all other allied professionals. It is an opportunity for us to rethink our design processes and also construction methodologies. While keeping in mind the epileptic power situation in Nigeria, government at all levels must consider as a matter of URGENCY, the need to imbibe alternative methods to power generation while working to improve the current power generating mechanism in place.