The urban rhetoric_Spatial Chronicles
2. We should look into solutions to help develop individualised spaces, for example, incorporating plexiglass is a potentially good solution as it gives a feeling of being unified yet helps maintain the appropriate distancing and safety norms. 3. Creating graphics and visual elements on doors and walls can liven up space while also reminding people to maintain social distance and maintain health norms. 4. For areas of common use like the toilets and pantry, we should have it cleaned as frequently as possible. For washrooms, it will be ideal to have self-changing toilet seats as well as zero-touch soap dispenser and taps. As for the pantry area, having a limit on the number of people who can use it at one time will be helpful. 5. With meeting rooms and collaborative spaces in the office, we should continue to use virtual technology that we have adapted to in recent times, preventing too many people from gathering in a room together. 6. Using furnishings in the office that can withstand high-intensity cleaning and repeated sanitisation should be preferred. 7. We must Incorporate hand washing and sanitisation stations at different spots at the office that one wouldn’t normally have, for instance right at the reception desk, workstations and at every door entrance too.
Figure 3 Post-Covid ideal workplaces with plexiglass dividers and social distancing. Source: Author
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It is also important to keep in mind that people are soon going to be transitioning from the home office to their workplace, and as designers, we’d recommend making the space as lively as possible. A space that reflects the brand values and is designed keeping in mind your brand identity, fosters productivity and creativity to the fullest. Large brand headquarters could split up into hubs in different locales, saving their employees the risk of catching the virus on their commute to their workplace. Ideally, it would be great to have a contact-free workplace where sensors work and people avoid touching the elevator buttons or door handles, but we know that’s going to take a while. Until then, we must do our best to ensure that the transition to the new normal is easy and most importantly safe.
