How COVID will affect Architecture - Home Based Learning

Singapore launched their Home Based Learning during the COVID pandemic. This was a response from the previous SARS pandemic from 2002-2003. Home based learning however, had been practiced in Singapore intermittently in preparation of an occurrence of a pandemic.

Home base Learning requires student to stay home, turn n their laptop and tune into their teachers during school hours. We heard about the issues:

1. Economic ability to obtain laptops

2. Being culturally acquainted to the use of the use of face to face video communication software namely Microsoft Team or Zoom.

3. Working space for the child to sit attentively

4. Interference with the on goings at home


This, because of internet speed, years of research and dreaming eventuated into a possibility.

If you lived in the late 70's, you would have watched Space 1999 where the crew used the communications column to talk with others elsewhere on Moonbase Alpha.

it also conceptualize a mobile communication device long before PCN or GSM was invented

Toshiba ViewPhone 500 1968

Today, the poor teacher is still trying to get your attention online

If school work was to become at home, then the same quality of space need to co-exist in every home. Pictures taken from the local newspapers show different homes learning in different concepts of posture.

picture from The Straits Times

picture from The Straits Times

picture from The Straits Times

Malaysia had it own Movement Control Order 2020, had their home based learn via television instead. According to this article, only 14% of students had computers and tablets.  Although many households owned television sets, they don’t necessarily have internet access. 

This illustrates why there were classrooms in the first place. Classroom were used to enable a uniformed standard for a group of people in education. The school uniforms was to dilute the economic identity of each student, thereby providing a fairer opportunity for all.

If home base school is to be a normal practice which obvious has come in handy, then the obvious standard of living should be met:

a. designated study space for home base learning
b. internet as a standard entitlement
c. video communication device as a standard entitlement

It gets complicated because, the number of occupants at home then challenges the spaces.
There is also a good chance during home based learning , Parents are also working from home.

This means every person is entitled to a basic standard of workspace that has as little interference with the on goings at home, internet connection and a communications device each.

Lets also understand how did the modern world decided to travel far to school, work and gatherings?
Could it be that humans need to distance themselves from people at home because staying at home leaves a person thinking that they could do better elsewhere, or how they could be trapped in an emotional gridlock with other family members. It is this fear and anxiety perhaps that makes person want to escape or go somewhere else.

If everyone was stuck in a house over pandemic, how you do prepare a home for this?

The answer is to have more private space. 

We can start thinking for the home schooling space, distracting noise and visual interference.

visual and sound barrier to minimize distraction and interference (Yanko Design)

Loop Phone Booth

Let us talk about urbanity.

During Phase 2 , School cohorts take turn to visit the school building but only allowing half capacity at one time. This justifies giving each person more space and reduce the possible spread of virus.

except of documentation from Ministry of Education Singapore Phase 2 response to COVID Pandemic 2020

This obviously not only alleviates human traffic in schools but on the entire infra structure as well. You would understand crazy mornings if you had to send your kid to school and crazy days when you picked them up. Their release from school is also erratic on different days making habitual routine difficult for parents. (You are wondering why your boss say you not focus ya? This is the reason)

 Also, if your child is at home learning, who watches the young child? YOU ! This means you have to work from home too! Now we fully understand why we had schools in the first place. It is for the purpose of working people to get things done effectively.

Children in Japan goes to school on their own to alleviate the stress of child minding. If this is encouraged in Singapore then public space requires accessibility for them. The good news is that Senior Citizen Accessibility is almost the same solution for little people. Perhaps, distance of travel from home to school need to be walking distance without interference from vehicular traffic.

Here we have illustrated how the COVID pandemic set you thinking of other solutions you would have never though of.

To summarize:


WE NEED BIGGER LIVING SPACES

WORK / SCHOOL WITHIN WALKING RANGE IS 
GOOD AS IT ADDRESSES SAFETY, POLLUTION, 
TIME SAVING AND CONTINENCE

PRIVACY FROM NOISE AND DISTRACTION IS A NECESSITY