Article first published on Medium on 31 December 2020.
A new decade ought to be a means of celebration, a means of renewal. Some of us might have started off 2020 with optimism, an optimism that quickly dwindled into disappointment and despair as the pandemic broke out and sustained throughout the year. At the point of writing, some countries have stabilized and kept transmission rates low while other countries are experiencing irritable fluctuations prompting continued lockdowns. With government-approved mass-produced vaccines by several pharmaceutical companies on the horizon, things are starting to turn out for the better. However, it will be years before we can fully return to a pre-Covid-19 world. As the International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts, global passenger traffic will not return to pre-Covid-19 levels until 2024. Covid-19 has no doubt brought much inconvenience to us, international travel plans cancelled, live concerts postponed, dining with reduced a company and regrettably for others, the loss of an income. Not to mention the ever-present face masks we put on daily that are now part of our newfound identity.
Enter placemaking. When people cleared off the streets to adhere to safe distancing measures, time seemed to have stopped in many countries, and placemaking seemed to have lost its meaning for a while.
What is Placemaking?
Placemaking is a broad term encompassing various sectors of the built environment, from the interiors to the building to the landscape to the city, but its idea remains relatively unchanged. In essence, it is the process of enhancing the human experience of the places and spaces we live in. The relationship between at least two entities. The genius loci or sense of place, a memory, a belonging. It is important because it directly affects our urban fabric, which in turn affects us- socially, mentally, and economically. Placemaking gained prominence in America in the 1960s, the same time frame when urban activist Jane Jacobs published her book “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”, which revolutionised the way we think and interact with our streetscapes. From having “eyes” on the streets for safety to incorporating diversity of uses and users into streets, many of the topics discussed in the book are still being used by planners today. With an increasing number of people living in cities, the United Nations has projected that two-thirds of the world’s population will be living in cities by 2050. The world currently has 34 megacities (a city that has a population of 10 million or more), and that number is expected to rise to 43 by 2030. It is only natural that we give placemaking a lot more consideration when it comes to planning for our cities.
The notion of placemaking is not new, our ancestors have subconsciously created them through the micro-scaled formations of guild halls that served villages to the macro-scaled public baths of ancient Rome that served the entire city. All these relationships are built upon layers of human history and culture, from the plain need of function to humane desire. Placemaking is an art as much as it is a social science.
Empty Streets, Empty Cities.
Ever since Covid-19, our balconies and living spaces have been transformed into different uses we never would have imagined. We adapted to our circumstances and made the best out of it. If there is anything the pandemic has taught us, it is that we are a resilient bunch.
Take a step back and see the situation from a different angle, some of us might see a silver lining. The work from home (WFH) model has gained momentum and has been adopted across countries. In May, Twitter publicly announced that there will be no in-person company events for the year, and employees have the option to permanently work from home, should their role and job scope allow. In Singapore, a survey by 9,000 respondents from around 90 companies has seen 9 out of 10 people wanting to continue their WFH arrangement, citing greater time autonomy and a better work-life balance. Activities that can be carried out virtually have shifted online- in the comfort of our own homes, saving transportation and eating out costs as well. A reduced number of workers commuting and using office spaces is just one aspect of the greater scheme of things of how Covid-19 has affected us. What does this mean for the built environment?
Implementation of social distancing measures has seen the decline of seating capacity in F&B businesses and movie theatres, some of which have folded in these trying times. These moves have impacted placemaking. From a more emotional perspective, seeing the restaurant of your first date getting closed down, or your favourite 150-year-old department store from your grandparent’s generation moving online in the midst of the pandemic. From a more practical perspective, a longer journey to the next nearest grocery store. These are not just mere inconveniences, but potential fissures in the memories of the people.
Social & Environmental Impacts
Throughout the year 2020, there have been reports across countries that cases of domestic abuse have soared. International borders walled off and attractions closed, more and more people find themselves stuck at home. But empty streets do not mean everything is fine at home.
In Cyprus, the number of calls to its helpline increased by 30% the week after its first Covid-19 case was reported. The UK Domestic Violence Helpline had a 25% increase in calls after the government announced stricter social distancing and lockdown measures. In Japan, the number of suicide cases has been increasing for months. October’s suicide case numbers were at 2153, 300 more than the previous month. The trend has been linked to the economic impacts Covid-19 has brought.
Unbeknownst to many, the built environment we live in is shared with the natural one as well. Rebuilding the economy, while important and a priority, should not be a reason or an excuse to put sustainable climate strategies on hold. Just 5 years ago, the Paris Climate Accord was adopted, and signed the next year, signaling a momentous step of commitment to limit global warming to below 1.5 degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. Now, 5 years later after the adoption, how many countries can confidently say they are on track to meet their targets? And if there are no ramifications for countries that leave and rejoin the Agreement as they please, what does this reflect on our attitude towards climate change? COVID-19 has given us a wake-up call on how the world could have been if there were no human interference in our environment. India’s New Delhi clear skies is a great example.
The future of Placemaking
Learning from past experiences and mistakes is one way forward. It has been a long time since the world experienced a pandemic on such a huge scale. The 1918 flu pandemic popularly known as ‘The Spanish Flu’, infected around 500 million people, a figure that was closest to COVID-19 which has infected 82.6 million at the point of writing. Other virulent diseases that have occurred in the last few decades have been largely contained in geographic regions. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002–2004 affected mostly Asian-Pacific countries, while around 80% of cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012 were in Saudi Arabia. This could be a reason as to why some countries are better prepared when confronting the pandemic, having established first-hand experience at the horrors of such diseases.
The pandemic has forced us to relook at our cities. So how can we design better systems and cities?
The ‘15 minute City’ is a hot buzzword lately. The idea originated in Melbourne, Australia where the city is pushing for ‘20-minute neighborhoods’- covering residents’ daily needs within a 20-minute commute (walk, cycle, and public transport) from their homes. This ’15 minute city’ could shed some light as to how we design future cities. Is gradual de-densification the way forward? Possibly so. Mixed-use buildings in multiple neighbourhoods reduce travelling time as everything that is needed can be bought in one place. It relieves some pressure on public transportation since there are fewer people in the business districts, and morning rush hours could become a thing of the past. Should another pandemic of such a scale occur in the future, perhaps transmission rates would be significantly lower with the help of de-densification of the business districts, instead, more focus be given to increase mix use developments in neighbourhood towns.
However, planning on such a scale is not easy, after factoring in all the subtle nuances that make a city. Like what Jane Jacobs has said, “Cities are an immense laboratory of trial and error, failure and success, in city building and city design.” If the ‘15 minute city’ model does take off in the future, isn’t it ironic then, that we are more virtually connected than ever but are growing so physically “distant” at the same time? This idea could be further explored.
2020 will be a year to remember in the decades to come. Like how architect Norman Foster so succinctly puts it, “We are designing for the present with an awareness of the past for a future that is essentially unknown.” Will Covid-19 be a clarion call for a more robust approach in which how we handle future unforeseen crises? From policymakers to the community, everyone has a part to play. Whatever the outcome, one thing is for certain: the world will be more prepared.
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