Tag Archives: Week | 2

CURA | Modular Intensive Care Unit

Venice, Italy, Carlos Ratti and Collaborative Team
https://www.archdaily.com/936911/interview-carlo-ratti-on-architecture-that-fights-covid-19?ad_source=search

Repurposed shipping containers can serve as modular intensive care units. This shipping container infrastructure allows for a high level of flexibility, as well as making the project affordable, since these are inexpensive. Shipping containers give the opportunity to be installed anywhere and when not needed, can be taken away supporting flexibility without leaving marks behind. They can be stacked on top of each other with no structure needed, which makes these modular healthcare units expandable and scalable.

Berlin Airport Turns Covid-19 Hospital

Berlin, Germany, Opposite Office
https://www.archdaily.com/936568/opposite-office-imagines-the-new-berlin-airport-as-a-covid-19-hospital/

The Berlin, Germany airport (in construction since 2006) is still an unused space, which could be utilized to support healthcare needs in light of COVID-19. The 6 feet apart rule is an inspiration for the modular layout of the hospital beds and personal rooms. By reusing existing infrastructure, we are able to fight the pandemic and use our existing resources in order to help those in need. The circular layout is adaptable to other buildings not in use during the pandemic such as schools, gyms, or even parking lots.

RETAIL ROBOTS + Automation

Calgary, Canada, Attabotics
https://www.fastcompany.com/90457446/attabotics-most-innovative-companies-2020

Attabotic systems

Through store closures and stay-at-home orders online shopping has become the predominant way to acquire products and goods. This system inspired by ant colonies shrinks large warehouses into a dense, vertical stacking system. The robots are controlled from a workstation where the employee requests the item(s) on a screen and the robot retrieves the correct containers and brings them via tracks to the workstation. The system itself is modular and can be expanded with additional tracks and containers and is usually installed into a building rather than being built into it.

Schoolbus Mobile Testing Unit

Perkins & Will, USA | Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, Denmark | Arup Group, Denmark
https://www.bdcnetwork.com/blog/global-design-firms-collaborate-new-covid-19-mobile-testing-lab-bring-testing-vulnerable

Diagram outlining the urgent need for testing facilities that are accessible to underserved communities regardless of their financial or transportation restrictions
Underserved and high risk communities have less access to healthcare and testing. Retrofitted school buses combined with mobile app access can provide a scalable and cost-effective solution for mobile testing. Mobile and accessible innovations are necessary in eliminating the disproportionate care underserved communities are experiencing. This not only provides a solution for testing in times of COVID-19 but could be adapted in the future for different uses to provide better healthcare services and much needed access to resources.

Hyper-Local Micro-Markets

Rotterdam, Netherlands, Shift Architecture Urbanism
https://www.shift-au.com/projects/hyperlocal-micromarket/


A new focus on neighborhood markets is a proposal being tested in Rotterdam but the project’s simplicity and ability to be easily reproduced will allow it to be easily applied universally. Hyper-local micro-markets present a new opportunity to utilize outdoor public space and create pop-up market opportunities that can help establish social distancing as normal behavior and something we can embrace rather than resist. By creating markets that serve local populations, this cultural shift may promote small businesses to grow around these spaces and create a higher incentive to invest in your own neighborhood rather than supporting large corporations that do not live within and support these small communities. It also promotes more sustainable means of acquiring fresh produce by promoting urban farming to reduce the costs of transporting these goods and ensuring the people are receiving produce directly off the plant.

6 Feet Office

Amsterdam, Cushman & Wakefield
https://www.fastcompany.com/90488060/our-offices-will-never-be-the-same-after-covid-19-heres-what-they-could-look-like

Office Render for 6 feet desk layout
Cushman & Wakefield created a working laboratory, in which they tested new ways to adhere to social distancing requirements and hygiene in their Amsterdam headquarters. The core premise is to ensure that it is possible to maintain a distance of six feet, the recommended measurement for safe social distancing, between people at all times communicating information through visual cues and space markings.

The Post-Pandemic Hotel

London, UK, The Manser Practice
https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/british-architecture-firm-proposes-a-plan-for-an-ideal-post-pandemic-hotel/

"No Contact Hotel Check-in
The post-pandemic hotel in the immediate future may focus on contactless interactions between guests and staff, clean spaces, one-way walkways, and health check-ins. Technology will play a larger role in checking in and out of hotels, navigating the space and services. In the long-term rethinking structurally the layout of hotels may be needed to assure safety. This may include different guest travel patterns within the hotel, remote room delivery, re-introducing the paternoster, an elevator system from the 20th century, and expanded rooms to include exercise and work nooks. Thinking further The Manser Practice even envisioned a “quarantine hotel” with self-sufficient “utility pods” for travelers stuck in foreign countries during a pandemic.

VIRTUAL WORK FOREVER

US, Twitter

Google, as well as many other tech companies, have recently invested heavily into making a work campus that encourages workers to stay on campus. This change to virtual working would be a direct change in that view.

Twitter has decided to turn the short-term necessity of virtual working into a permanent option. This will increase flexibility, preparedness and scalability for the company as well as for individual employees, who balance work and family or endure long commutes in general. It could be a major step towards what the future of work may look like.

DATA VISUALIZATION EDUCATING PUBLIC

Purdue University, USA
https://www.businessinsider.com/video-how-cough-particles-spread-virus-in-airplane-cabin-coronavirus-2020-4?r=US&IR=T

This visualization from Purdue University shows how tiny invisible droplets from a single cough can flow through the cabin of a Boeing 767 passenger jet. The model is based on the assumption that the 2003 SARS virus was airborne. Airlines spent weeks touting the safety of flying and their steps against the coronavirus, passenger cabins still pose a danger for the spread of infectious diseases, experts said. It is a problem of biology, physics and pure proximity, with airflow, dirty surfaces and close contact with other travelers all at play. 

CREATIVE STREET DESIGN

Paris, France, Studio 5•5
https://www.designboom.com/design/wave-themed-street-signage-system-by-studio-5%E2%80%A25-encourages-parisians-social-distance-05-26-2020/


The wave-themed street signage system is a visual reminder to continue adhering to social distancing guidelines as cities are starting to reopen and it can help to organize pedestrians and queue areas. It is both colorful and beautiful yet uniform so everyone can understand and recognize it. The theme is influenced by the historical and cultural identity that Parisians can relate to, the Coat of Arms of the city of Paris “paris blason” which is simply a ship on the water as well as the Paris Blason motto ‘fluctuat nec mergitur!’ which means ‘beaten by the waves, but not sunk!’ reminding people that this city has gone through a lot and together they can pass this storm.

Foot Operated Elevators

Bangkok, Thailand, Seacon Square Mall
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/covid-19-coronavirus-thailand-mall-lift-footpedal-12753862


Malls, workspaces, apartment buildings, and many similar structures are usually used or occupied by an enormous amount of people. This density creates a problem in the building amenities that is used the most. These amenities usually require touching and are constantly being used. A mall in Thailand has transformed all elevator buttons into foot operated pedals, this has not only reduced the risk, but also saved time and eliminated worries about risk of infection.

Using Lighting IoT Data for Safer Office Reentry

United States, Cushman & Wakefield
https://www.fastcompany.com/90488060/our-offices-will-never-be-the-same-after-covid-19-heres-what-they-could-look-like

Office Space with IoT Data Lighting SystemNewer office buildings can utilize data produced and processed by their lighting control system to capture and analyze data to better understand how their spaces are being used to be able to make informed decisions for a safer reentering strategy. This project takes a deeper look at how automated lighting works in buildings, particularly offices to use the data gained from the light sensors that can impact how people use spaces together post COVID.

NOORAHEALTH | PATIENT EDUCATION

India and Bangladesh
http://www.noorahealth.org/

Hospital in India waiting room
Noorahealth partners with hospitals to upskill healthcare workers to provide education to patients and their families about their family member’s care plan and health trajectory. Hospital waiting rooms are transformed into classrooms increasing the patient family’s confidence to care for their relatives once released from the hospital. Check-ins are administered as a follow up to assure the patient’s well-being and to answer any questions. In rural and underdeveloped areas this has been a strong support system to increase healing success in patients.

Strade Aperte Plan

Milan, Italy
www.theguardian.com/world

Plans for Corso Buenos Aires before and after the Strade Aperte project.
Milan’s Strade Aperte Plan includes “low-cost temporary cycle lanes, new and widened pavements, reduced speed limits, and pedestrian and cyclist priority streets” as a strategy that many different cities are considering and implementing. It will increase space for pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorized means of transportation, while also reducing traffic congestions and positively impacting air pollution. Typically this involves redesigning the space available re-assigning roads and re-organizing how lanes are assigned. While allowing for social distancing, the re-organization also contributes to a reduction of air pollution.

Superblocks

Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie, Montreal
https://www.mtlblog.com/news/canada/qc/montreal/rosemont-la-petite-patrie-is-creating-superblocks-to-give-pedestrians-lots-more-space

Arial View of Rosemont-La_Petite_Patrie, Montrial
Another project dedicating more space to pedestrians by shifting its urban organization and programming this pilot project in Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie in Montreal limits a series of blocks to local traffic only, dedicating more space (and giving priority) to pedestrians and cyclists to access schools, parks and local businesses. The project was inspired by Barcelona’s Superblock model.

Super Lock System - Baseline Situation and graphic with Superblocks model

Project 21

Charleston, South Carolina, Futrex inc.
faculty.washington.edu

Mono Beam
A concept thought of before the 1980s. Flyda developed and designed the idea of a heightened track system. Out of the way, these trains would be able to cruise through inner cities. It poses a public transit alternative for dense cities with already overcrowding public transportation systems that can’t be easily retro-fitted to handle safety and heatlh requirements. It could also be envisioned in combination with sanitation technology and separate seating pods.

Qworktine: Post Quarantine Office

Moahmed Radwan
yankodesign.com

Office Pod Design
Qworktime is an air-tight pod system that offers separation for employees and monitors the number of people present in an office environment. Tracking their uses, it is easy to do contact racing. Their geometry allows for various arrangements depending on the existing office layout. Doors open touch-free, facial recognition is used to grant access and ventilation as well as air-purification maintains a safe environment.

PERSONAL SOLAR POD TRANSIT

Texas, Dave Owsen
https://www.wired.com/2010/04/solar-powered-pods-bring-privacy-to-public-transportation/


Criteria used to assess innovations: Eco-friendly, safe public transportation

The Community Transit design study is an overhead rail system promoting personal pods as means of public transportation while maintaining social distance. It is powered by solar energy and suggests two rails alongside each other. This will allow the pods to stop only when desired and pods advancing can simply pass the stop and passengers can ride directly to their destination. The solar pods that don’t get used for travel can be used for packages and other parcels that need to be delivered in the city which could help eliminate delivery traffic on roads.

Personal Greenhouse

Amsterdam, Netherlands
www.timeout.com/news/this-amsterdam-restaurant-is-opening-private-greenhouses-for-socially-distant-dining-050520/amp

Criteria used to assess innovation: social growth and new norms 

A restaurant in Amsterdam called Mediamatic has found a solution for their customers to go out on the terrace to dine. They created personal greenhouses that can hold up to three people who all live together. These greenhouses are made to be reserved in advance. The servers use a long wooden board to give the customers their food while they wear personal protective equipment (PPE). This gives customers the opportunity to get out of their house and enjoy a nice meal while keeping them as well as the workers safe. The restaurant is working towards making larger greenhouses for households of more than 3 people. Using this innovation to help socially distance it could be implemented within the restaurant and in many other settings.

TASINGE PLADS | OUTDOOR SPACE CREATION

Copenhagen, Denmark, Tåsinge Plads
https://www.citylab.com/design/2016/01/copenhagen-parks-ponds-climate-change-community-engagement/426618/


Criteria used to assess innovations: Societal/Community growth

Copenhagen has been reclaiming unused parking lots and converted them into parks. Not the typical green spaces, but intelligent water collection systems. Water from heavy rainfall and rising seawater levels is stored in underground tanks and can turn the park into a pond, upside down umbrellas collect water and function as irrigation system, bouncy floors can be activated by kids jumping and collect energy to fuel the system. This model is part of “climate-resilient neighborhoods” and in times of COVID-19 an opportunity to examine the innovative expansion of green spaces in urban environments.

Social Distancing Hats

Hangzhou, China, Yangzheng Primary School
www.fastcompany.com/90499437/this-school-in-china-has-a-brilliant-solution-for-keeping-kids-six-feet-apart

Schools are opening back up but operating differently. Keeping a safe distance can be difficult to visualize and perform especially for schoolchildren who are used to playing around with each other. The social-distancing hat teaches kids about history, proper coronavirus precautions, and creativity. After almost three months off the children were required to create a hat with two long wing-like flaps decorated to their liking prior to return. This concept originates from the Song Dynasty where court officials had to wear similar hats to prevent conspiring during meetings. If the kids’ hats were to touch walking down the hall, they would be reminded to keep their distance.

ISOLATION ON WHEELS

Bangalore, India
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/05/asia/indian-railways-coronavirus-hospitals-intl-hnk/index.html


Since the global shutdown to control the spread of the virus, mass transit has become a thing of the past and left thousands of passenger trains in India completely idle. With minor repurposing, these trains are being transformed into mobile isolation wards. Each carriage offers up to 16 additional beds, nurses and doctors stations, as well as storage for medical supplies and equipment. This will reduce the strain on hospitals and easy to reproduce, these hospitals on wheels offer future opportunities for makeshift solutions and more flexible and accessible healthcare.

Mobile Testing Stations

Los Angeles, USA, M-Rad Architects + Trailer Made
https://www.designboom.com/design/mobile-covid-19-testing-stations-los-angeles-m-rad-04-28-2020/

These mobile testing stations will be situated in the most vulnerable neighborhoods that see an increase in positive cases in dense cities. Created with antimicrobial copper, this will help with self-sanitization and establishing a secure place to keep safe and clean for testing. Medical practitioners at the stations in LA will be taking swabs from patients using arm length rubber gloves through a Perspex divider to prevent any chance of cross-contamination. The mobile units could be repurposed to serve the homeless population in the form of shelter, medical and cleaning facilities, remote food delivery, blood donations, or vaccine delivery.

MASECZKOMAT | COVID VENDING MACHINE

Siemianowice Dobre Bo Śląskie, Poland
https://www.themayor.eu/en/mask-and-hand-sanitizer-vending-machines-appear-in-southern-poland

PPE Vending Machine inside

The vending machine offers masks and hand sanitizers at reasonable prices to residents. They are easily accessible and can be placed flexibly across locations in the city as well as in public and office buildings. This concept could expand to offer additional supplies such as antibody testing or utilized for completely different purposed that respond to local needs.

DWELLITO – WFH

USA
https://www.dwellito.com/mini-offices

Plywood office in back yard design
Modular spaces are not a new concept, however during the pandemic, personal and professional spheres suddenly collided and not all urban environments are fit to absorb working adults and kids effectively in one space. Dwellito offers modular spaces that can function as a backyard office or isolation spaces. It can serve as an inspiration to consider expansion of living spaces to accommodate different needs and purposes and how this may be accomplished cost-effectively by individual residents, landlords or real estate developers.

RETAIL TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM

ALDI, UK
https://www.chargedretail.co.uk

Traffic light in front of store

Transferring the traffic light idea into a retail environment could augment controlling the numbers of customers in a store. The red light signals customer to wait and keeping the automatic doors closed. Once customers leave, the light will turn green allowing the next shopper to enter. This automation transfers and utilizes a well-known and functional system to a different application to assure safety while facilitating the reduction of consumers in a store at any given time.