Architects Work From Home: Ar. Sanjiv and Suchitra Chowdhury explore the new normal
“Once the pandemic is under control, communication will prevail online and one must learn and evolve with new skills. Those who adapt to the new situation shall create and survive again.”
– Ar. Sanjiv and Suchitra Chowdhury, Principal Architects, Space Design Group, Mumbai
The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the architecture and design industry and has resulted in a delay in ongoing and future projects. No sourcing of materials, no physical inspection, and missed project deadlines in many cases have incurred huge losses. Today, we share the insights of Ar. Sanjiv and Suchitra Chowdhury, Principal Architects, Space Design Group, Mumbai.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has affected work and clientele alike, and getting the team to work together is difficult. Many migrant workers have returned home, material supply has halted because of the lack of inter-city and inter-state transportation and projects won’t be executed on time. Due to social distancing, we have worked out strategies to set up temporary hospitals in vacant areas like schools, halls, and open spaces. Mobile hospitals are set up using transport containers, which can be taken to hotspots and set up in a week.” “Due to the economic downtime, new projects will not be taken up and designers might not get their salaries. Some organizations may close down, resulting in unemployment for both seasoned and new designers. Design graduates will find it difficult to gain employment, but those who are innovative and creative will survive.”
“We use video conferencing applications to communicate and believe that fruitful work is possible despite distractions. As privacy to work at home is a challenge, maturity must prevail to excel and succeed. One must rise above one’s interest and work as a team and understand the power of collaborative design. Also, tools must be available for online work as well.”
“Once the pandemic is under control, communication will prevail online and one must learn and evolve with new skills. Those who adapt to the new situation shall create and survive again. We predict biophilic designs and creating spaces that amalgamate innovations and biology to create unique spaces.”
