As COVID-19 entangles the world with fear and uncertainties about health & safety. Disinfectant, sanitizers, and the like are being controlled by the Government and private entities not only because of their scarcity but because of their effect socially and economically. Out of these complications, the simplest form of solution boils down to practical cleanliness.
Now that we are on a lockdown (home quarantine), here are our 5 architectural checklists to observe:
- Finishes;
- Entry and exit;
- Easy bin access and soiled clothing container;
- Storage and display items; and
- Compact planning.
Finishes
Ceiling, walls, and especially floors are the primary terms in determining the appropriate and practical material to install or apply. Encourage easy-to-clean paint or wallpaper. Lessen decorations that catch dirt. Reserve full-carpeted flooring on bedroom, but consider rags and smaller bed carpets because they are easier to clean.
Entry & Exit
Entry/exit is the focal point of connection between your household/area and the external environment. The mudroom is an essential area where you can create an ample space to disinfect and sanitize and be able to leave the dirt and other external elements outside. The best example of an entry/exit space is the Japanese entryway, an area that is one step lower from the main corridor.
If you do not have much space, designate this space directly after your main entrance where you can put your shoes and umbrellas. Make this space fit for disinfecting and sanitizing before entering the corridor or the living room.
Note: A layout of a house or a building usually has a main entry and service entry. It is advisable to lessen your entry point to only one depending on your practical choice.
Easy Bin Access & Soiled Clothing Container
It is advisable to limit your trash collection to only one designated area, preferably the dirty kitchen (service area). Fun fact: Dirty kitchens are popular in the Philippines because it is the area where Filipinos really cook. Observe trash segregation. For laundry, containers should be on a convenient spot such as bathrooms. The laundry area is advisable because it can also be an area where you can disinfect and sanitize as you change clothes. If there is no space, installing a laundry chute is another solution.
Storage & Display Items
You can never get enough storage in a house or a building. Add compact storage such as under-the-stairs type of storage, built-in cabinets and furniture with built-in storage. Avoid open shelves for display items because these can catch more dirt. If it is unavoidable, install shelves with glass doors.
Compact Planning
Always consider the spaces you actually need. Consult with a planner or an architect for functional home, space, or building. A smaller footprint with well-thought-out spaces design means less time, effort, and money to clean.
Conclusion
As we are all aware, health is the most important aspect to focus on to continue living and part of taking care of our health is to maintain cleanliness in every possible way. Most of our lives are spent within the spaces we call home or the places we work in. So it is a must that we apply good practices within these spaces to keep cleanliness and to prevent ourselves from obtaining any kind of sickness. It is also imperative that our spaces are always being cleaned and that these are easy to clean so that it wouldn’t take too much of our time, and that it wouldn’t be extraneous to our body.
Considering that building a dream home or the perfect space for your business to thrive amid the virus that has shaken the whole world, the best path to take is to consult an experienced architect since they have massive knowledge on this specific expertise. The list explained in this article only covers the most basic ideas but an architect with years of experience and application had more in depth capacity to design, taking into account the cleanliness and know-hows to prevent virus being spread within your very space.
Dann Benson Bersamin, as one of our in-house architect, can be contacted for consultation.
—written by Dana Louise Bersamin
References:
Lacy. (2018 October 22). How to Disinfect Your Home Naturally, Room By Room. Accessed from https://www.organicauthority.com/live-grow/how-to-disinfect-your-home-naturally-room-by-room?fbclid=IwAR1B2aSYBCQ4uqvL7DrrmKGy1he6Mtp9yX18gBKcqWwVkexv2Bh9CepBakk
My Fragrant Home. (2017 October 10). How to Design a Home That is Easy to Clean. Accessed from https://www.myfragranthome.com/design-home-easy-clean/?fbclid=IwAR2nmLotSovkFn4WjWZyMkpxWG3tEsITIxZzU805NWasHWVFdkfjege6FB8
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