BIKE commuters navigate through traffic as they carefully cross the EDSA-Aurora intersection in Quezon City during the first day of work for some essential employees on Monday. Bike commuting is highly encouraged by the Department of Transportation as a better alternative to public transportation which helps with the proper physical distancing in the “new normal” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  – MIGUEL DE GUZMAN/PHILSTAR

THE pandemic is forcing people to look at how their cities and homes really work for the kinds of lives they live today. Cities, it turns out, are less than user friendly for pedestrians and bikers — an age-old problem that has suddenly come to the fore with the disappearance of public transportation thanks to the need to control the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). Meanwhile, open plan homes, it turns out, are less workable when the space has to be shared to do things that were done outside the home pre-pandemic.

These issues were discussed during a webinar by Enderun Colleges called “The Future of Architecture & Design: Reshaping Our Cities, Buildings and Homes” on July 17. The talk was led by architect, urban planner, and chair of the advisory board for the Enderun College of Architecture and Design (see related story) Felino Palafox, Jr., with Architects Gelo Mañosa and Jojo Tolentino, and Interior Designer Chat Fores.

“Urban planning sets the states for the other disciplines to come in: architecture, engineering, urban design, interior design and other disciplines in the built environment,” said Mr. Palafox.

A master planner of communities here and abroad, he has a lot to say about Manila’s transportation system and roadways. “Metro Manila is an example of how not to do it,” he said.

For example, he cites that biking and walking are nor priorities in Metro Manila, the nation’s capital. “Unfortunately, in our part of the world, they don’t even consider walking and bicycles as the first mode of transportation. Especially with this pandemic with social distancing, we have put forward our recommendations to make our cities more walkable and bike-able.”

These would include linear parks along major highways, and converting a third of road corridors to walking spaces (another third would go to landscaping, and a final third would go to vehicles). “Cars are the worst kind of urban transport,” he declared. “Transportation should be about the movement of people: how many people per lane, per hour.” He pointed out that only 2% of people own cars, and yet 100% of them are pedestrians because “Once you leave your car, you are a pedestrian.” The goal for him is, “I believe you should be within 20 minutes walking, bicycle, and [using] public transportation to all your destinations.”

He also said we should be utilizing our waterways, such as the Pasig River. The river banks could serve as promenades and bikeways, with him pointing out that in other countries waterfronts are “the front door of development,” while here, they become “the back-of-the-house basurahan (waste bin).”

Mr. Palafox even has a solution for reducing criminality: less walls. When “there are more eyes in the public realm” there is less criminality, he said. “Criminals are more scared of windows,” he noted, showing a slide of a skyscraper. “Behind a window is a potential witness,” he pointed out.

“We have to re-educate policymakers.”

NO MORE OPEN PLAN HOMES
Meanwhile, Gelo Manosa, CEO of Manosa and Co., Inc., and Manosa Partners, made predictions of how home design will change after the pandemic. One big change would be that the open floor plans espoused by real estate agents might have to take a back seat to more traditional partitions, as more people spend time in homes and have to compartmentalize their lives within it.

“Open planning would prove to be a hindrance for a home,” he said.

Setting off office spaces, learning spaces, and entertainment spaces, and partitions, movable dividers and the like would be key. Important spaces would be work-from-home rooms, learning areas for children, and fitness areas (due to social distancing and gym closures). Finally, balconies, gardens, and vertical gardens (in smaller spaces) might prove to be a necessity to commune with nature.

Foyers and mud rooms, which weren’ always popular here, might take new precedence. Previously ignored entrance halls, after all, might have to be used for disinfecting our things and ourselves when returning from an expedition outside where the virus lurks.

He also pointed out that less is more; saying that during the pandemic, “We started learning that we could survive with a lot less.” — Joseph L. Garcia

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