Architecture of wellbeing : a post pandemic reality

Abstract

The unexpected turn of events brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic forced people into living a new reality. Their houses became a method of control, and the words quarantine, lockdown and confinement slowly transformed into new social normalities for a period of time. Such circumstances have pushed us to rethink our understanding of what makes a house a home. In this research, the home is seen as an active moment in time and space where the dweller has the ability to create a dynamic network of complex relationships between themselves and their surrounding environment. As a result, the pandemic circumstance challenged previously established relations and consequently impacted their sense of wellbeing. In order to gain a better understanding of how architecture of the home impacts the wellbeing of the dweller, this dissertation adopted a multidisciplinary approach that intertwines architecture with anthropology. As anthropology is a social science and architecture is a social activity, when combined they contribute to a much deeper understanding of the relationship between architecture and its users. In order to understand the approach Maltese architects are taking towards the designs of home in relation to the wellbeing of the dweller, the three finalists of a national architectural competition to retrofit a dilapidated building into a home for the homeless were analysed and served as case studies. In this study, the influence of the pandemic on the final design was explored. They were analysed to exemplify and provide a baseline of the current design approaches local architects are adopting surrounding the themes of home and wellbeing. This was then used as a reference point when analysing the effect, the pandemic had on the lived experience of home. The lived experience of individual architects during the COVID-19 pandemic was observed through ethnographic methods. As a result, a comprehensive understanding of how the built environment affected the participants' relationships within their home emerged. As the participants’ experience within their homes shifted, they were forced to adjust to their new daily routines. The pandemic epoch revealed the various implications of morphing together unfamiliar environments, most notably merging work with domestic life, thus placing further emphasis on the virtual dimension within the concept of home. As the dwellers' movement within their homes became stagnant, a behavioural change was observed. Such changes had adverse effects on their wellbeing instigating them to recalibrate their perception of space. The analysis of the case studies together with the architects' lived experiences revealed similar trends. These trends demonstrate that all the architects who participated in this study gave priority to similar architectural elements such as private spaces. The research identified that the dwellers' wellbeing is dependent on the amount of control they have over their external environment and their ability to change the dynamic relationship between people and place. It concludes by suggesting potential architectural elements and qualities that should be taken into consideration when designing or making alterations to a home as a response to the pandemic.