UNAI organizes webinar on COVID 19

3/5/2020

PUNE: At a time when social / physical distancing has gained paramount importance and may be the new normal post the pandemic also, architects need to relook the way they build offices, homes, educational institutes, hospitals and should even look at incorporating traditional structures like “padvi” or “katta” in a new form in modern designs.

This was opined by various experts at a webinar on topic COVID 19: Role of Built Environment Professionals organised by Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Sanstha’s Dr Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for Women under their initiative United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) . The Webinar facilitated discussion on challenges and solutions during and post COVID-19 scenarios.

Post pandemic, there should be major changes in construction related to homes, offices, educational institutions, hospitals and health services. With the help of latest technology in the field of architecture, there is a need to include things that can keep the social distance like earlier traditional times. It also threw light on the key pointers like how can health care design continue to help monitor the situation with emphasis on design in the built environment to manage the pandemic? And what is the role of building design in avoiding disease transmission and how can we make built environment healthier?

Speakers including Principal, BNCA, Ar. Habeeb Khan, President, Council Of Architecture, Dr. Suresh Naik, Ex-Group Director, ISRO, Dr. Abhijit Natu, Principal, BKPS, Chairman, Board of Studies, SPPU, Dr. S.P Gautam, Chairman Project evaluation NMGC, Ex-VC, Jabalpur University, Dr. Shalini Pawar, MO, DPU Medical College and Hospital, Ar. Uma Ghotge, Partner at Architects United, Dr. A.D. Shaligram, Dean, Electronic and IT Dept SPPU, Dr. Shreedhar Chiplunkar, MD, Sports Medicine were present. 

Dr. Anurag Kashyap, Principal, BNCA said that on the backdrop of the pandemic, we need to revisit the syllabus and make some important changes on an urgent basis . The urban planning, regional planning and development plans should be planned from the density perspective and we also need to redefine the density norms through development control rules. Citing the example of ‘katta’ and ‘padvi’ in traditional wada culture which can be useful in maintaining physical distancing.

Prof. Asmita Joshi, Director UNAI Hub , BNCA was the convenor of the initiative while Mahesh Bangad, Assistant Professor, BNCA moderated the proceedings . 

Dr. Abhijit Natu, Principal, BKPS, Chairman, Board of Studies, SPPU talked about sociofugal and sociopetal spaces and a need for being spatially fugal and technologically petal. He also emphasized on the need of preparedness assessment tools and also a need to research in architecture on spatial and social environments, spatial configurations best suited for pandemic and use of appropriate materials.