The ‘new normal’ - irrespective of being short- or long-term will have its influences on design. We have already seen exciting responses in the field of product design, in making new masks, handles for sanitizers, multiple-use key chains, virtual lift buttons and so on. It’s a fact that we have all got used to digital platforms a lot more, and I won’t be surprised if digitisation gets extended to every component of a built environment. Virtual offices have suddenly become more comfortable for both employers and employees, and the trend questions the very need for large office blocks. Home automation will play a larger role and more with voice commands.

De Earth

And I think that we should start questioning the whole premise of the built environment. Why do we need to build? How can we build with minimum impact on Nature and the neighbourhood? How do we create positive social and public places, where people can breathe clean, healthy air? We may have to go back to such primary questions and start a search for more sensitive responses to each one of them. Humanity first, will be a good slogan, even for designers with respect to the built environment. When we get sensitised about our larger role as a human being and a responsible citizen, and then as a design professional, we may be better ready to co-live with the elements of Nature by creating spaces that evoke a civic sense and responsibility towards the environment.
Ar. Vivek PP, Founder Partner, De Earth
It’s the time to pause, reflect and retrospect. We, as architects, have a larger role towards society and the eco system than just designing beautiful buildings - we need to design lifestyles, such that people can live life in the true sense

Ar. Vivek PP, Founder Partner, De Earth

De Earth

We need to take a re-look at our cities and the planning policies and re-define ‘development in order to bring ‘adapt-ability’ at the centre of focus. We need to design our public spaces and buildings, and our neighbourhoods with green and buffer spaces around them for positive compartmentalisation. We have seen haphazard and rapid urbanisation in the last few decades, but it’s time now for some planned de-urbanisation, and de-centralisation of our cities, it’s administrative structure, health and education facilities, and fundamental supply chains for effective and welfare-oriented governance. Let social organisations evolve from the village level to drive this change and percolate it to all layers of society. We, as designers and architects, can play a pivotal role in this renaissance.