Effects of Long-Term Containment in Residential Spaces

Global events of pandemic have struck the world to standstill even before COVID-19. Its adverse effects are affecting normal life; particularly in the way societies function and relate to one another, spatial order, and normal business...


Introduction
Global events of pandemic have struck the world to standstill even before COVID-19. Its adverse effects are affecting normal life; particularly the way societies used to function and relate to one another, spatial order, and normal business. Long-term containment, with its adverse effects on human behaviour is nothing less than the dwindling world economy. These ill-effects are reflected more in terms of spatial order, spatial standards, housing, and rehabilitation later; to reach a new normalcy and day to day business in all walks of life. It calls for challenges and changes in social and individual's behaviour in order to assimilate the essential requirements of pandemic and move towards a new normal.
Freedom of movement allowed as a fundamental right is more of a curse than bliss now! However, a sudden change is unwelcome and causes tumult in human behaviour, preferences and in societies, even in relationships nationally and internationally. Safest place considered in pandemic times is home; the nest where one finds rest and restoration. However, this notion is being undermined as days pass by with longer imposed containment. The intolerable issues of confinement affect human beings at all levels of body, mind and spirit. Fragile human nature is at stake indoors; within walls and

ARTICLE INFO AbsTRACT
Global events of pandemic have struck the world to standstill even before COVID-19. Its adverse effects are affecting normal life; particularly in the way societies function and relate to one another, spatial order, and normal business. Long-term containment, its effects on human behaviour is none less than the dwindling world economy. These ill-effects are reflected more in terms of spatial order, spatial standards, housing, and rehabilitation later, to reach a new normalcy. It calls for challenges in social and individual's behaviour in order to assimilate the essential requirements of pandemic and move towards a new normal way of life and business. Freedom of movement is considered in these days as more of a curse than bliss! However, a sudden change is unwelcome and causes tumult in human behaviour, preferences and in societies, even in relationships nationally and internationally. Safest place in pandemic times is home; the nest where one finds rest and restoration. However, this notion is being undermined as days pass by with longer imposed containment. The intolerable issues of confinement affect human beings at all levels of body, mind and spirit. Fragile human nature is at stake during long-term indoors; within walls and hot roof, or in chilling cold outside! Walls and roof pose induce ill-effects of confinement and irritation; not just protection and shelter per say. Long-term containment has detrimental effects on people with chronic diseases and ailments. Alcoholics are driven to madness and irresponsible behaviour. Even so-called normal humans display oddities in behaviour; intolerance or lowered tolerance levels, leading families to wreck. It is high time to identify the problems, causes, human preferences and cure in terms of space design that would facilitate people to reach the new normalcy especially in the wake of falling economy. The study analyses the effects of long-term containment on human behaviour, preferences, emotions and changes required in residential spaces. Methodology used is literature survey, observation of community behaviour through digital mediums, and online questionnaire survey of 280 people from various walks of life. This study will help designers all over the globe in the inevitable effort to reach the new normalcy. hot roof, or in chilling cold outside! Walls and roof pose also induce ill-effects of confinement and irritation; not just protection and shelter per say. Long-term containment has detrimental effects on people with chronic diseases and ailments. More to say, the elderly with restricted abilities tend to depend on others which causes increased problems and friction within household. Change which is the essence of happy life is at stake, paving way for instability for all; especially children and teen aged. Care and concern in normal human life gets misty and complicated turning social, family and individual lives to doldrums. An epidemic is defined as "the occurrence in a community or region of cases of an illness clearly in excess of normal expectancy".
However, pandemic is defined as "an epidemic occurring over a vast area, crossing international boundaries, and usually affecting a large number of people" [1].

Methodology
The methodology adopted takes the process through published data and articles that have appeared in recent months in various sources; both digital and in print. Further, it involves a large online survey conducted to find out the effects of long-term containment on human behaviour, their preferences, emotions and changes required in residential spaces to foster comfort and wellbeing.
Observing the community behaviour and response through various digital means, explore and propose appropriate architectural ideas that would lead to mitigation of ill effects of long-term containment.

Family System
Most people live in nuclear family either it in apartment or Independent house; 83% from Apartment and 66% from Independent house people surveyed live in nuclear family ( Figure   2), which is the natural response to the growing urbanised world.
It is interesting to note that most of all those stay in apartments and single rooms are without extended joint family. This is due to the compulsion of urbanization and its consequences on the family structure to shrink from joint-family to nuclear families; whereas in independent houses and row houses joint-family structure predominates; 34% people from Independent house stay in joint family whereas as against 17% people from apartments stay in joint family ( Figure 3). One reason for the predominance of extended family in independent houses is to bring down the cost of living to affordable levels by sharing spaces. In a way, this sharing of spaces also contributes to increased density of urban spaces which may facilitate the community spread in terms of pandemic.
On the contrary, if it is separate rooms with shared accommodation for different people, to an extent spread of pandemic may be slowed down through shifting of rooms. However, in such a case, all bedrooms shall have attached toilets, and pre-entry spaces that are mandatory in times of pandemic.

Effects of Pandemic on Emotional Wellbeing
Developmentalists often categorize the human lifespan into  In India, joint family system has prevailed from the Vedic times and joint families still prevail in better state of health with high values and morale, as compared to the nuclear families that has lost brakes and cushions. The survey reveals that people who are staying in joint family has many advantages over nuclear family especially with mutual support in respect to growing children, the breadwinners; working people from home, and elderly. This benefit is from mutual care, concern, affection and increased family support. The study reveals that respondents from joint family are more personally, interpersonally and socially satisfied in the

Effects of Long-Term Containment on Human Behaviour
The surveyed are asked to mark their opinion regarding important problems faced by them pandemic period. The responses are marked on a 5-point Likert Scale. Furtherer, this survey has been performed on three basic levels namely 'Single Room', ' Apartment' and 'Independent house'. The results are shown in the following Tables. (Table No.  to Boredom. Lack of extra space due to economic considerations must be creatively dealt with in this category of residential spaces.
One strong reason for combating this is to provide 'smaller isolated community spaces' within single room housing like Institutional residences, hostels etc. Architects have to conceive designs that are 'isolatable blocks with distributed supporting and community spaces' which in times of pandemic can be isolated effectively. This basic change in approach will facilitate the availability of 'isolatable spaces' with supporting social spaces instead of central facilities; giving distributed facilities will make the effective isolation possible.
Such designs will also lower the operational cost of buildings, since they are appropriately conceived and designed to respond sustainably. Larger span structures will be of good use in such cases, since blocks could be effectively designed and constructed considering lighter partitions used for internal separations (Table   1). Notes: Each item is measured on a 5-point Likert scale, M scores 3 and above 3 implies problems exist; these are of the participants who reported either 4 or 5.
It is observed from the survey conducted that apartment dwellers are basically nuclear families. Their desire for socialization and  Table 2) Problems observed in Independent house category are much like that of apartment dwellers, although they have the advantage of more internal space and outdoor spaces in specific cases. Considering the situation, the suggestions given in the case of apartments are applicable to this category too, effectively. One design prescription seems good is to follow simple and isolatable spatial grids, with open to sky courtyard in design. It is important to note that complexity in space design is opposed to flexibility and resulting sustainability ( Table   3). Notes: Each item is measured on a 5-point Likert scale, M scores 3 and above 3 implies problems exist; these are of the participants who reported either 4 or 5. Notes: Each item is measured on a 5-point Likert scale, M scores 3 and above 3 implies problems exist; these are of the participants who reported either 4 or 5.

Long-term Containment and Residential Space
In the current situation of pandemic, architects and planners are compelled to reconsider their roles and responsibilities, since the outbreak of COVID-19 that has taken a heavy toll on human lives over the globe. The situation is quite alarming with the doubling of 'infected cases' in every 12-14 days. Architecture is an essential product of society that manifests the concerns and considerations of people and their group wisdom. However, the concept of society itself is founded in interactions and togetherness. This very foundation is shaken when the requirement to deal effectively with the pandemic is 'social distancing' and 'isolation'. During the Second World War, when the human toll of war was horrific, leaving many cities and economies in shambles, architects were able to direct the new rebuilding of destroyed cities towards more just, fair, and prosperous societies. This was facilitated by standardisation and mass production which require 'less is more' and the resulting simplicity. In this pandemic time, architects shall have to learn a lesson from 'less is more and straightforward planning', especially in the design of residential spaces. Their first concern shall be, to help the world battle the raging deadly pandemic, and then to help communities recover and rebuild, implementing lessons that can hopefully avoid future health and environmental disasters [9,10].
In a way, restoration and retrofit of existing stock of housing shall be of priority as revealed through the survey findings. 100% respondents have open outdoor area attached to their rooms but spatial elements and activities their responses are as follows (Table 4). Thanks to the lockdown imposed, respondents are unable to go to gyms, or take part in sports or social gathering.
Regarding spatial elements and activities, respondents would like to add on priority basis 'Gardening, Place for exercise, Courtyard and Indoor landscaping'. However, on individual basis these suggestions are not economically viable [11][12][13][14][15][16]. constructions and incentives will be beneficial to those who take part in terrace farming.  Table 5.
Such spatial elements and activities the respondents would like to add on priority basis are Gardening, Place for exercise, and Indoor landscaping. Majority of such preferences are emanating from the human need to be in the outdoors with rich landscapes, consisting of flora and fauna. Vertical landscaping, vertical farming, crafts and creative spaces; if carefully added in well integrated manner, will provide a panacea for such a situation. Further, governments shall prescribe 'incentives and necessary byelaws' in achieving these targets. Every rooftop in such a case shall turnout to be agricultural production areas at the location of consumption itself. Every household can actively participate in such positive initiatives and lessen the burden of heat load on buildings, CO 2 emissions from transportation. It could be seen that 'H', 'X', and 'Y' shaped residential blocks with large spans will be conducive to make isolatable blocks with flexible internal spaces built up from dismountable, manufactured panels for effective partition. in traditional houses to provide a separate area for washing hands, face and feet before entering the house. Fresh water is kept in appropriate utensils for such use. It may be due to space constraints and low affordability that these essential 'pre-entry, transition areas' have vanished from so called modern residential designs. However, the fact is that 99% respondents would prefer to have these healthy transition spaces; especially in pandemic times.
Making it a norm would help in creating necessary cleanliness indoors. These transition areas can be used for keeping shoes and other articles that one uses outdoors effectively separated from indoors; using air-curtains, proper lighting and ventilation [17][18][19][20].
Although 94% respondents have open area attached to house, these are not used creatively and economically viable manner.
However, 6% do not have an open area attached to house. Regarding community with common gathering and recreational space, 79% responded "yes" and 21% responded "no". Such community spaces are not advisable unless they are isolatable and kept sanitised.
However, 58% responded "no" and 42% responded "yes" to office spaces to be provided in residential places. Additional office spaces will be an advantage, especially when it comes to necessary 'work from home' situation, if allowed. Although 65% respondents preferred 'work from home' even in post-pandemic period, if the new normal dictates it, they would prefer to have 'separate office space' in residential spaces. If not, being a family with small children, it is hard to concentrate and be productive in 'work from home', since effective working requires segregation and privacy.
Moreover, 35% respondents prefer not to 'work from office' since it provides direct social interactions which is healthy for mind and body (  Qn. 2: What behavioural changes do you suggest that need spatial alteration? whether plants or fish, require constant maintenance which is a bliss in containment period as well as botheration in work and normalcy. If careful choices can be made, such a preference will lead to engagement and diversion appropriately. It could also see that people prefer colours as they are influenced by their on mental make-up, associations, and culture. This is however, an easy change that could be achieved appropriately [26][27][28][29][30] (Table 7).  (Table 8).  Notes: Each item is measured on a 7-point scale, M scores 4 and above 4 implies spaces participants' needs spatial alteration; these are of the participants who reported either 5, 6 or 7.

Conclusion
Residential space should be calm which help us to reduce stress, enhance creativity and clarity of thought, improves our mental health and physical wellbeing; as pandemic requires maintaining social distancing, self-isolation so architectural design needs to understand relation between cognition and space.