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COVID-19 Could Leverage a Sustainable Built Environment

Author

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  • Manuel Duarte Pinheiro

    (Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CERIS, Av. Rovisco Pais, N° 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Nuno Cardoso Luís

    (Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CERIS, Av. Rovisco Pais, N° 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal)

Abstract

The health system’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has involved research into diagnoses and vaccines, but primarily it has required specific treatments, facilities and equipment, together with the control of individual behaviour and a period of collective confinement. The aim of this particular research, therefore, is to discover whether COVID-19 is capable of changing the built environment (BE) and leveraging specific solutions for sustainable buildings or urban areas. Some historical reviews of infectious pandemics have highlighted the development of new solutions in the BE as an additional contribution towards preventing the spread of infection. The BE has an important role to play in supporting public health measures and reducing the risk of infections. The review of potential COVID-19 measures shows the existence of well-referenced solutions, ranging from incremental alterations (organisation of spaces, erection of physical barriers) to structural alterations (windows, balconies) with different timeframes and scales (ranging from changes in building materials to the design of urban areas). A critical exploratory assessment makes it possible to identify measures that may help not only to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission (or even prevent it), but also to increase resilience, improve air quality and lower energy requirements or the use of materials, and thus potentially increase the sustainability of the BE. COVID-19 measures challenge us to rethink buildings and urban areas and potentially leverage sustainable BE solutions with win-win outcomes (minimalist design and other solutions). The specific composition of this set of measures must, however, be further researched.

Suggested Citation

  • Manuel Duarte Pinheiro & Nuno Cardoso Luís, 2020. "COVID-19 Could Leverage a Sustainable Built Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-28, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5863-:d:387515
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    2. Ian Mell & Meredith Whitten, 2021. "Access to Nature in a Post Covid-19 World: Opportunities for Green Infrastructure Financing, Distribution and Equitability in Urban Planning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Mihaela ZAMFIR & Ileana CIOBANU & Andreea Georgiana MARIN & Mihai-Viorel ZAMFIR, 2021. "Smart dwellings. Architectural perspectives opened by COVID-19 pandemic," Smart Cities and Regional Development (SCRD) Journal, Smart-EDU Hub, vol. 5(2), pages 33-49, May.

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