Towards a new society brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic:
looking at history to chart the future of cities and architecture
Tadahiko Murao, Executive Officer, Principal, Architectural Design Department, General Manager, Barcelona Branch
（The positions in this article were current at the time of publication.）
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There is a strong relationship between the history of infectious diseases in Europe and the development of urban and architectural design. Here, we report on the progress of Nikken Sekkei’s Barcelona Branch and its transition to teleworking in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that struck Spain. It also looks back at the fight against infectious diseases in Europe and resulting historic innovations to explore how cities and architecture can contribute to peoples’ lives in the current “with COVID-19” age.
Tadahiko Murao, Executive Officer, Principal, Architectural Design Department, General Manager, Barcelona Branch
（The positions in this article were current at the time of publication.）
Remote working at the Barcelona branch
Nikken Sekkei opened an office in Barcelona in 2016 after winning the International Design Competition for Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s home stadium.
The first coronavirus cases appeared in Europe in Italy at end-January, with numbers rising quickly thereafter. With a sense of urgency about the developing situation in neighboring countries, about 80 staff at the Barcelona Branch worked around the clock in collaboration with the company’s head office to determine how to transition to working remotely in a full BIM (Building Information Modeling) design environment. Eventually, a lockdown was declared in Spain on March 14. The stay-at-home order was the strictest and most exhaustive in Europe. The following week, we made the smooth transition to teleworking. Remote working environments were set up for all branch staff; this allowed us to successfully deliver 20,000 design drawings by end-July 2020.
The first coronavirus cases appeared in Europe in Italy at end-January, with numbers rising quickly thereafter. With a sense of urgency about the developing situation in neighboring countries, about 80 staff at the Barcelona Branch worked around the clock in collaboration with the company’s head office to determine how to transition to working remotely in a full BIM (Building Information Modeling) design environment. Eventually, a lockdown was declared in Spain on March 14. The stay-at-home order was the strictest and most exhaustive in Europe. The following week, we made the smooth transition to teleworking. Remote working environments were set up for all branch staff; this allowed us to successfully deliver 20,000 design drawings by end-July 2020.
Infectious diseases and urban design
Europe has long struggled with infectious diseases. The Black Death (bubonic plague) was already marching across the continent in the 6th century. Its spread around Europe in the 14th century has been said to have brought about a “renaissance” that eventually prompted people to break with old customs. The 19th century cholera outbreaks became the catalyst for Haussmann's renovation of Paris (1853-1870), as crowded city blocks and unsanitary sewage had become a breeding ground for infectious diseases. In Paris, urban planners tried to bring back light, wind and open spaces to the city by demolishing old buildings and widening streets. This large-scale renovation also had a major impact on Barcelona’s urban design.
In 1858, Cerdá, a Barcelona engineer and Haussmann colleague, proposed a grid-shaped urban design of city blocks comprised of units measuring 113.3m x 113.3m, complete with courtyards. These basic units make up Barcelona’s beautiful city center today. Barcelona also faced an urgent need to address environmental pollution in its old quarters, which had developed rapidly as a result of the Industrial Revolution. The keywords in urban design to restore these areas were “light,” “wind” and “open spaces.”
In 1858, Cerdá, a Barcelona engineer and Haussmann colleague, proposed a grid-shaped urban design of city blocks comprised of units measuring 113.3m x 113.3m, complete with courtyards. These basic units make up Barcelona’s beautiful city center today. Barcelona also faced an urgent need to address environmental pollution in its old quarters, which had developed rapidly as a result of the Industrial Revolution. The keywords in urban design to restore these areas were “light,” “wind” and “open spaces.”
Barcelona’s new urban zone
Infectious diseases and architectural design
Tuberculosis had been spreading around Europe since the middle of the 17th century. Koch’s discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis at the end of the 19th century prompted the construction of care facilities called sanitoriums. The architectural design of white walls, devoid of decorations to prevent the accumulation of dust, significantly impact the development of modernist architectural design from the first half of the 20th century. The influence of this sanatorium-style architecture can best be seen in La Villa Savoye, built on the outskirts of Paris in 1931. Le Corbusier designed La Villa Savoye as a weekend getaway as his son was suffering from tuberculous. Built on pilotis (pillars), the main living space on the upper floor is well above ground level, a practical design to prevent a worsening of tuberculous through distance from damp ground. Freeing these spaces from the ground level also filled the living space with light, while horizontal windows provided sufficient ventilation. A slope connects the living space to a comfortable open space on the rooftop. This suggests that light, wind and open spaces was a major design theme.
La Villa Savoye (photo by author)
The future of urban and architectural design
In light of the fight against infectious diseases and the historic innovations that have emerged, where do we go from here? While treasuring the keywords “light,” “wind,” and “open spaces,” providing new added value to peoples’ lives may constitute a breakthrough.
The city of Barcelona has begun experimenting with an urban design called “SUPERBLOCKS.” This aims to protect the safety and health of residents by partially removing motorways in new urban districts originally designed by Cerdá, and creating exclusive use spaces for pedestrians and bicycles (Fig. 1). Here, ample benches, lush planters and brightly painted pavement make them favorites with the public. Rather than drastically altering the city’s framework, this effort maintains urban space, minimizes investment costs, and reclaims healthy, welcoming public spaces full of light, wind and greenery.
The city of Barcelona has begun experimenting with an urban design called “SUPERBLOCKS.” This aims to protect the safety and health of residents by partially removing motorways in new urban districts originally designed by Cerdá, and creating exclusive use spaces for pedestrians and bicycles (Fig. 1). Here, ample benches, lush planters and brightly painted pavement make them favorites with the public. Rather than drastically altering the city’s framework, this effort maintains urban space, minimizes investment costs, and reclaims healthy, welcoming public spaces full of light, wind and greenery.
Fig.1: SUPERBLOCKS Conceptual diagram (Source: Ajuntament.Barcelona.cat (Barcelona City website))
Specific example of a SUPERBLOCK
(Source: Ajuntament.Barcelona.cat (Barcelona City website))
The main idea behind the Camp Nou proposal was to preserve as much of the existing structure as possible, wrapping the outside of the building in a terrace-like open concourse to provide sufficient fluidity and space for human comfort. The stadium itself then becomes more than a sports facility, but a highly profitable open park in its own right.
New Camp Nou open concourse
In the economic climate of the coronavirus pandemic, we anticipate that it will take time to build consensus for development projects requiring large investment. However, if existing material stocks and ideas based on human activities can be utilized and connected to enrich peoples’ lives, this will serve as the next turning point for cities and architecture -- even while we keep profitability in mind. (September 11, 2020)
References: La Villa Savoye (2011, Dominique Amoroux (author), EDITIONS DU PATRIMOINE (publisher)
Revitalization Strategies for the Old City of Barcelona (2009, Daisuke Abe (author), Gakugei Shuppansha (publisher)
References: La Villa Savoye (2011, Dominique Amoroux (author), EDITIONS DU PATRIMOINE (publisher)
Revitalization Strategies for the Old City of Barcelona (2009, Daisuke Abe (author), Gakugei Shuppansha (publisher)
