Space and Resilience

Despite the World Health Organization no longer classifying the COVID-19 pandemic as an ongoing public health emergency, its enduring impacts on people's lives remain significant. The importance of social distancing and minimizing physical contact has never been more emphasized in society, demanding new approaches to public places and architectural design in order to bolster resilience. Public places and buildings now routinely feature hand sanitizers at their entrances, floor markings to maintain distancing in waiting areas, and signage promoting various social behaviours that were not previously considered necessary. This chapter serves as an introduction to Volume 2 of the book, providing a concise overview of the research context, objectives, and the book's structure. It also introduces the potential role that architecture and urban scholars can play in responding to pandemic conditions. The overarching goal of the book is to deepen our understanding of essential routines, behaviours, and spatial transformations necessary to develop innovative and resilient solutions within the built environment.