\u201cThis crisis is a compulsory social experiment,\u201d says Franz. \u201cIt has forced many people around the world to quickly and fully adopt new technologies, ways of living, and approaches to doing business that were already becoming the \u2018new normal,\u2019 albeit very slowly.\u201d The COVID-19 pandemic, Franz asserts, has merely fanned the flames of the technological revolution \u2014 a movement that has been spreading around the globe for decades and has the potential to support a better work\/life balance for all people, as well as a smarter, more energy-efficient built environment.<\/p>\n
“More people \u2014 specifically, more clients and bosses \u2014 are recognizing that face-face physical meetings and physical office attendance aren\u2019t as critical for job performance and efficiency as they believed. \u201cIn fact, some loosening of old-school professional rules may enhance employee or personal performance,\u201d acknowledges Franz.<\/p>\n
Additionally, he adds that \u201cbecause so many people \u2014 very unfortunately \u2014 aren\u2019t working right now, or are working from home, they aren\u2019t moving about as much on a daily basis.\u201d This has meant more personal time for family, but also fewer cars and vehicles on the road and ultimately less pollution. \u201cIf we get used to this new, less mobile lifestyle and we end up maintaining it past the end of quarantine, the impacts for the future of transportation and the future of office buildings with their reduced occupancies might be massive.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Hill Office, Location: New York, NY, Architect: Andrew Franz Architect<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Franz expects that offices may become smaller and more flexible, allowing for more shared desks on a \u201crotating\u201d basis as professionals integrate working remotely into their permanent routine. However, he notes that offices will likely still serve a critical role, providing much needed moments of casual social interaction that is as critical to team building and creating company culture as it is to professional collaboration. \u201cAfter all, many of us have spent more time with our peers than we have with our families, sleep time discounted,\u201d says Franz.<\/p>\n He speculates that, short-term, individual desks and personal work stations may regain popularity as people slowly relax social distancing protocols and return to the office, but remain vigilant and protective of personal space.\u00a0 \u201cExpect less density in the workplace whether that is less bench seating and more cubicles, or spread-out desks and private offices,\u201d predicts Franz.<\/p>\n Still, he says, many people have seen how our homes can absorb and become our own personal offices, studios and laboratories. Emphasizing that while many of the stringent lifestyle habits people are currently compelled to practice will eventually be relaxed \u2014 and many will fade\u00a0away<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Franz anticipates a continued and ongoing desire in people to work from home, especially once the family (or roommates) are not all there with you.<\/p>\n As the home once again becomes the epicenter of life for so many Americans, domestic design and architecture is in the spotlight more than at any other time in recent memory. \u201cRight now, houses and apartments have to be so much more than just a place to shower and sleep,\u201d says Franz. \u201cThis crisis is not only revalidating the importance of having a home to go to in times like this, but almost more importantly it is asking us to question the nature of our dwellings \u2014 whether they are comfortable, functional, efficient and even inspiring to us.\u201d<\/p>\n With these expanded needs, the home must now serve as a workplace, a gym, a daycare, a school, a restaurant, and even a hospice. To better optimize dwellings for this wide range of functions, Franz offers some time-tested design guidance:<\/p>\n Especially in smaller houses and apartments, designated spaces aren\u2019t available for each activity or need. Oftentimes people have to take office work or homework to their kitchens or bedrooms with inadequate lighting or distracting smells and amidst noisy or nosy family members and roommates.<\/p>\n East End House, Location: Long Island, NY, Architect: Andrew Franz Architect<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Dividing spaces with physical barriers or partitions to create flexible zones within bigger rooms, says Franz, is one solution. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen the same issues people were facing in open offices taking place now inside people\u2019s homes,\u201d he notes. \u201cPeople who have to do focused tasks need a quiet environment, and meanwhile the kids need to play and the groceries need to get put away while the music or television is turned up too loud.\u201d Physical dividers \u2014 even something as simple as hanging a curtain or fabric \u2014 can create boundaries and define different zones. Franz also adds that scheduling spaces for needed activities at different times can also help mitigate friction in cramped quarters.<\/p>\n An enthusiastic advocate of using daylight, Franz points to the scientific effects of sunlight and good electric sources on human psychology, which backs up his ample and creative use of natural light in his buildings and interiors. \u201cNatural light is proven to boost mood and productivity, so ideally you would have it coming in from multiple directions and sources,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Martha’s Vineyard Residence, Location: Martha’s Vineyard MA, Architect: Andrew Franz Architect<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n \u201cEven if you only have one window in a room, don\u2019t cover it \u2014 let the light spill in.\u201d If a house or apartment doesn\u2019t get much light, Franz suggests the next best thing: multiple electric illumination sources to flood more active spaces from multiple directions and most importantly, whether in the case of a small desk or large work room, an LED task light.<\/p>\n Franz stresses the importance of experiencing nature in some form every day. \u201cWhether it\u2019s a plant on your windowsill, or a view of the tree outside your window, or even a little balcony you can step out onto for some fresh air \u2014 don\u2019t take it for granted,\u201d says Franz. \u201cIn my case, I have an exterior stair and balcony that I sit out on and catch some sun, take a call or vertically socialize with my great neighbors. Some people are fortunate enough to have access to a roof garden, a yard or adjacent green space,\u201d he adds, noting that hopefully one day all urban residential buildings will have mandatory green space.<\/p>\n Tribeca Loft, Location: New York NY, Architect: Andrew Franz Architect<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n \u201cAt the very least, choose items made of natural materials for furnishing your home \u2014 real wood tables or chairs, stone sculptures or countertops, and artwork that represents nature are all great options. Think of Scandinavian interiors and how they introduce pattern into them to animate the long dark winters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStaying connected is everything in our increasingly virtual world,\u201d explains Franz, \u201cso having a great quality data connection installed in your home \u2014 perhaps even with a backup system should the first one fail \u2014 is a good idea.\u201d Also, make sure you are creating a hard copy of your data if you\u2019ve transitioned fully to the cloud, cautions the architect.<\/p>\n As millennials and generation Z come of age, their preferences for a nomadic lifestyle and untethered existence has led to a steady national decline in homeownership rates. Crash pads, monthly rentals, and a slew of other temporary accommodations are clearly favored by up and coming generations, who also largely prefer to live in urban or urban-feeling areas. But according to Franz, \u201cthis crisis is reminding many of us how good it feels to have stable roots \u2014to have a shelter to retreat to that reflects our deepest values, supports our needs, and gives us the true sense of safety, control and total belonging that we all crave.\u201d<\/p>\n1. Differentiate spaces with physical dividers \u2014 <\/span>and schedule activities.<\/h2>\n
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2. Take advantage of natural light and brighten up all interiors.<\/h2>\n
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3. Bring as much nature indoors as possible, or step outside.<\/h2>\n
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4. Get good wifi.<\/h2>\n