COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way one lives. Isolation and quarantine have been very difficult for many who have been unable to find a balance between the desire to enjoy modern amenities and being self-sufficient. The pandemic has shaken up the belief system of humans that led us to think that such a pandemic can never hit us at such a major scale.
With this knowledge, it is important that urban planning takes into account the possibility of future pandemics. China, the country is known to adapt fast, has already started building a city that would protect its residents from future pandemics.
China is building a new city near Beijing featuring wooden apartment blocks, rooftop farms and renewable energy with drone-friendly terraces and ample space which would facilitate work at home in case of future pandemic outbreaks. Barcelona-based Guallart Architects is designing a community in Xiong’an, a city about 130 km from Beijing. The city is being promoted by Chinese President Xi Jinping as “a new standard in the post-COVID era” that can also be applied elsewhere.
The proposal, that includes wooden buildings with large balconies and shared 3-D printers, will allow residents to produce resources locally, and provide all amenities “even in moments of confinement”, according to a press statement. It stems from the need to provide solutions to address the crises by creating a new urban life-based in the circular bio-economy.
Features of the Homes in Xiong’an
The new city is set to have homes that would allow telework and tele-education. It will have flexible spaces on large terraces where residents will be able to grow their own food or print objects in their neighbourhoods through shared 3D printers. A drone facility will be made available to the residents, where they would be able to have all their necessities from outside delivered without having to come in contact with another person. These precautionary measures will not only allow the residents to isolate themselves comfortably and be prepared to sustain themselves in case of future pandemics.
