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Daily Tips to Mitigate Virus Transmission for High-Density Living

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Daily Tips to Mitigate Virus Transmission for High-Density Living

The Problem

The recent scientific research reveals that the coronavirus will not disappear in the short term. This means that sporadic cases and regional small-scale outbreaks may still occur. The high-density living environments of Hong Kong neighbourhoods potentially increases the risk of virus transmission, in particular, the subdivided units (SDUs) with inadequate ventilation and drainage facilities, and poor hygiene conditions.

Objective

This project aims to identify key spatial characteristics and problems unique to living in high-density environments (e.g. SDUs) for residents to quickly understand the potential risk of virus transmission in their residential areas. Based on systematic literature review as well as detailed analysis of the spatial characteristics of the SDUs in Hong Kong, a visual guidebook (poster & pamphlet) is produced and disseminated, which promotes the knowledge of epidemics to and provides efficient self-check & self-help countermeasures for the residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Living in small quarters during COVID-19

                                                       (Source: Brian Wang/SCMP)

Methods

This project adopts several research methods, including literature review and reinterpretation as well as detailed architectural drawing and visualization. Through these methods, the project identifies a few key architectural items at multiple scales (i.e. Building scale, Floor scale, Unit scale, and Room scale) and creates a guidebook (poster & pamphlet) for residents to quickly understand the potential risk of disease infection in their residential areas.

Impacts

During the COVID-19 pandemic, local NGOs and governmental agencies have conducted a series of social surveys on the living status of multiple groups of residents in Hong Kong. The results of these surveys reveal that anxiety of infecting the disease is among the top healthy issues of the residents, in particular, those who live in high-density overcrowded Subdivided Units (SDUs). This collaboration with local NGOs enables us build upon previous experiences and to efficiently disseminate the guidebooks (posters and pamphlets) to the high-density communities/residents (in particular, those who live in SDUs), promoting the knowledge of virus transmission approaches within neighbourhoods and high-density residential units, and subsequently, reducing residents’ anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, this guidebook can also be used as reference for NGOs and policy makers to make efficient service guideline, regulation, and policy for high-density communities to reduce the risks of virus transmission in the present and the coming future.

 

For Guidebook in PDF version, please click: Daily Tips to Mitigate Virus Transmission for High-Density Living

Source:

Urban Ecologies Design Lab, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong