How Covid-19 affected our homes

5 minute read.

COVID19 has brought about some significant changes to our homes.

We are all, unexpectedly, spending more time at home and have quickly found the need to adapt to them. 
The first lockdown gave many of us more time and opportunities to do those pressing DIY projects, but many of us have had to adapt our houses to becoming workplaces or accommodating how space works better for us. Our homes are seen less as a “base” and more like a place we permanently occupy for quality time and living.

Historically, architecture has had a strong link with disease. A hundred years ago when tuberculosis, another potentially deadly respiratory complaint, had reached pandemic levels, one of the only treatments was recuperating in an effective building, with as much ventilation and sunlight as possible. 

Working from home has been a major impact on our homes, pop up offices on kitchen tables and bedrooms may be satisfactory as a temporary measure, but to permanently find that you will be sleeping and working in your bedroom, or having to have a family meal on your makeshift desk is not a long-term solution. 

Open plan living is less attractive, as we find a need for areas we can close off, either by making that spare bedroom an office or purchasing a home office structure for the garden or planning an extension/loft conversion. 

Homeworking also means higher running costs, so environmental features to help the energy efficiency of homes is a priority, soundproofing and gaining more natural light are all features to consider. 

With our basic needs of food and shelter met, we have quickly come to realise that we need companionship and have had to look to local communities and neighbourhoods to fulfil our needs. A new sense of connection has brought about the need for shared spaces, community gardens for growing home produce, exercise classes in cul-de-sacs, an offering of free books and produce outside homes, the need to pool resources to help with food and medical supplies. 

Lion House Dental Practice
Move In Matters Storage Solutions Ltd

With the need to purchase online, packages are becoming a daily event. The need for property management to have secure parcel delivery areas will fast become a part of the design of residential developments. Homes may also consider the facility of a locked storage area for parcel deliveries. Video doorbells are becoming more and more popular. 

Internet connection, now seen as one of the essential services after water, gas and electricity. Effective broadband speed is a key consideration when looking to move house. Working from home means it is essential to have a good internet connection. 

During a pandemic, the appeal of moving somewhere with more outside space and a home office is obvious. Also, infection rates spike in cities, which mean people feel safer in a less populated area. With the option of homeworking and less commuting, this is also an upside for a choice to move to a more rural area. 
The modern pandemic is bringing about the need for greener city centres, ways to home the homeless, reclaiming car parking spaces as well as a possible change of use for office buildings. On-site shared office schemes could well be a way forward with co-working areas as an alternative to working and living in a small one bed-roomed flat.

Some useful Covid related links:

NHS web page: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
UK Gov web page: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
WHO web page: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus