AR135 Architectural Essays and Reviews
Ar. Ealdama
A Critique on the
Efficacy of Local
Architectural
Approaches on
Global
Emergency
Health Issue: The
Covid-19
Pandemic
By Charmagne Arceo
In the Southeast Asian continent, our country the
Philippines has the highest case of Covid-19
infections. With that, President Rodrigo Duterte has
placed the National Capital Region (NCR) under
Enhanced Community Quarantine or ECQ as an
initial response to the sudden outbreak. To further
limit the transmission of coronavirus outside of
Metro Manila, other regional and local government
units have adopted the same policy.
Consequentially, with the imposition of the strict
community quarantine, essential, social, and
economic activities in the country have been halted,
and these include suspension of public
transportation and school/university classes and
jobs have been lost to millions of people,
particularly in the private sector. The Covid-19
School of Architecture Industrial Design & the Built Environment
Mapua University 2Q 2021-2022
Commented [1]: OUTLINE
Introduction:
- Facts about Covid 19 response in the Philippines
Body:
- Observations on pandemic settings that provoke
readers with questions to get empathy.
- Flashbacks on pre-pandemic to support the
observations
-Went back to the pandemic situation by slowly
introducing the concept of "mobility"
- Discussed architectural approaches in relation to
mobility to mitigate.
-Gave concrete examples and the result of the
approach.
Conclusion:
- The author discussed three takeaways and
summarized the entire essay in a sentence as the
conclusion.
Commented [2]: Main idea:
The statement justifies that Enhance Community
Quarantine (ECQ) was the initial response of President
Rodrigo Duterte to address the increasing number of
Covid-19 infections in the country.
Commented [3]: Premise:
Other local government units adopting the same
Enhanced Community Quarantine Policy, support the
previous idea of combating the Covid-19 outbreak with
the same approach as the NCR.
Commented [4]: Premise:
This statement, on the other hand, shows the
consequences brought by the protocols that came with
the Enhanced Community Quarantine Policy. A
different perspective but it still talks about the ECQ
Policy.
AR135 Architectural Essays and Reviews
Ar. Ealdama

pandemic has unmistakably had a significant

economic impact on the marginalized and
vulnerable, particularly to the working class and
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). The national
government of the Philippines is primarily in charge
of dealing with the Covid-19 situation and assisting
the disadvantaged in coping with the pandemic's
Commented [5]: Premise:
This statement supports the main idea that, having high
cases of Covid-19 infection will have a significant
economic impact on the marginalized, working classes,
and OFWs.

detrimental consequences. However, was the

response sufficient? Has architecture been a
burden? Or a supportive channel to response?

We usually regard the pre-pandemic as what was

“normal” to us. However, many don’t realize that
this “normal” that we have been used to, is a life
and built environment full of tolerances, especially
for the lower-middle class communities. We Commented [6]: Main Idea:

tolerated vehicle-oriented pathways, this is The statement states that the pre-pandemic life that
seemed “normal” for us seemed to be different in the
apparent as for example, even though there are pandemic era, however, the issue has been going on
existing sidewalks, the road for the vehicles were for long quite enough.

so wide and prioritized that these supposed

sidewalks became disproportionate to foot traffic,
this alone discourages walkability. We also
tolerated mechanical air-conditioning dependence,
with establishments becoming more oriented on air-
conditioning, most buildings are getting design
away from passive cooling. We also tolerated
Commented [7]: Premise:
vehicular and human foot traffic, it came to point
Premise:
where congestion and traffic became part of our
This statement states that we tolerated this type of
culture and everyday lives. We tolerated a built issue that has been disregarded for quite a long time
which was only highlighted during the COVID-19
environment that is not centered on humans, the pandemic.
unaddressed problem on this had caused the Commented [8]: Premise/Main Idea
Filipinos to learn to live with being underserved. This statement highlights how only due to the
pandemic Filipinos realized that they are constantly
underserved due to several failures in the built
environment.
School of Architecture Industrial Design & the Built Environment
Mapua University 2Q 2021-2022
AR135 Architectural Essays and Reviews
Ar. Ealdama

Moving on to the current health situation in the

Philippines, many of the overlooked built
environment problems during the pre-pandemic has
largely contributed to the worsening of the
pandemic restrictions. Say for example, social Commented [9]: Main idea:

distancing was implemented, it is primarily for the This statement explains how "built environments" such
as poorly designed pathways and alleyways have
reason that the virus is airborne, how can people resulted to certain pandemic restrictions being less
efficient.
living and passing through poorly designed
pathways and alleyways practice the safety
protocol effectively? What about their needs?
Where can people wander outside without fear and
risk of catching the virus when there are no or
limited open-ventilated spaces? What about the
jobs of those who just commute to their work every
day? What about the accessibility of those living in
overcrowded housing or slums to basic needs?
They are underserved. The fact of the matter is,
these are just a few of the many manifestations of
local failure in affording a proactive channel for
pandemic resurgence such as the airborne Covid-
19, where social distancing and well-ventilated
open locations must be followed and encouraged
as safety protocols. The induced development
inequity becomes more apparent as low-middle-
class communities suffer greater transmission rates
as compared to low-density gated and master-
planned communities whose attributes are more
sophisticated having open communal spaces and
pedestrian-friendly pathways and sidewalks.

In the time of the pandemic, mobility is primarily

affected, and mitigation of transmission is the
Commented [10]: Main idea:
utmost priority. The design of a building can either The statement explains the impact of people's mobility
during pandemic and prioritizing the control of Covid-19
epidemic.
School of Architecture Industrial Design & the Built Environment
Mapua University 2Q 2021-2022
AR135 Architectural Essays and Reviews
Ar. Ealdama

“make or break” whether it is amenable to social

distancing and other health and safety protocols. In Commented [11]: Premise:
Starting statement about how the pandemic affects the
terms of mobility, buildings and enclosed design of our built environment to control the
transmission of Covid-19
commercial spaces like malls and supermarkets
are adopting controlled wayfinding and foot traffic
flow in order to comply with the requirements of Commented [12]: Premise:
Supports the idea of the first premise about mobility by
social distancing. This is apparent on the arrow incorporating its characteristics in an enclosed space
which are wayfinding and foot traffic flow.
stickers in commercial establishments’ flooring and
a consistent reminder for people to stay 1 meter or
3 feet apart from each other. It is comparable to
how cars usually flow on the road, where
wayfinding is centered on being contactless. Commented [13]: Premise:
A starting statement about wayfinding but should
However, although the intention of the approach is provide additional information to support the point on
why wayfinding is centered on being contactless?
mitigation, what could explain the continuous influx
on Covid-19 cases? Although part of it has to do
with the discipline of people themselves, the
efficacy of controlled wayfinding may generally be
weak as first, it disrupts how people used to and
supposed to circulate in a commercial
establishment. And secondly, the masses can be
too preoccupied to consistently check on how being
1 meter apart from each other looks like. It must be
realized that human habits take time to change. Commented [14]: Author's opinion:
This statement answers the question "Although the
intention of the approach is mitigation, what could
explain the continuous influx on Covid-19 cases?"
Moving on, another architectural approach is the
conversion of public and private spaces. With Commented [15]: Main Idea:
The author provides an architectural approach about
hospitals getting full and suffering incapacity, the public space and private space conversion.
purpose of converting these spaces is for
quarantine facilities and vaccination areas. Today, Commented [16]: Premise:
Serves as a background information about the main
what used to be exclusive areas like hotels, motels, idea's intention on converting spaces into vaccination
and quarantine sites.
and dormitories are now being used to quarantine
patients who tested positive for Covid-19. Apart Commented [17]: Premise:
Serves as a background information about the main
from that, these facilities also catered to the health idea's intention on converting spaces into vaccination
and quarantine sites.
School of Architecture Industrial Design & the Built Environment
Mapua University 2Q 2021-2022
AR135 Architectural Essays and Reviews
Ar. Ealdama

care workers (HCWs) who has to quarantine

themselves, too, as they are the ones directly
exposed to these positive patients. This was Commented [18]: Premise:
Additional information about converting spaces to
initiated by Vice President Leni Robredo by accommodate front liners who are one of the first
responders on this pandemic.
providing and converting free dormitories for health
care workers and extending free shuttle services to
these frontliners. This approach on converting
compatible spaces exudes the virtue of resilience
and versatility among Filipino people. Just like how Commented [19]: Premise:
Explains the characteristics of a Filipino about being
our living areas can transform into a sleeping area resilient and versatile during crisis.
at nighttime, it is also commendable how the
versatility in our culture can be an effective
response on a health crisis. However, a lesson that
can also be learned here is that, although resilience
is often perceived positively and a test of strength,
it is always better if we don’t have to be resilient
anymore. The pandemic made us realize that our
priorities should be set on proactiveness and
prevention before problem-solving. Commented [20]: Author's Opinion:
The statement is related on Filipino's resiliency and
ended with a note that it is better to prevent than to
cure.
Lastly are architectural approaches on vaccination
sites. Universities, commercial establishments,
offices, and public spaces are also being converted
to vaccination sites. Vaccination sites today are Commented [21]: Main Idea:
This statement presents various building typologies as
accessible through different modes of vaccination sites.
transportation like walk-in or drive through. The Commented [22]: Premise:
It supports the main idea by describing how these
approach is holistic and has been effective at buildings can be accessed. People can go in or stay in
there vehicles to get their shot.
vaccinating the population which lead us closer to
the coveted herd immunity. However, there is one Commented [23]: Premise:
The statement supports the main idea by stating the
vaccination site worth noting which gives us effect of using different buildings to increase the
vaccination rate of communities.
another lesson on the importance of proactiveness.
This is the Mega Vaccination Center in Nayong
Commented [24]: Premise:
Pilipino. The controversial mega-vaccination site Supporting the idea by giving an example of a
vaccination site.
School of Architecture Industrial Design & the Built Environment
Mapua University 2Q 2021-2022
AR135 Architectural Essays and Reviews
Ar. Ealdama

would require the removal of 500 trees from an

area that has been designated as a park. It was
insinuated that preserving 500 trees should not be
equated to protecting people's lives, according to
proponents of the mega-vaccination center. This
gaslights people into making a false choice that pits
their health against nature. The approach on
establishing a vaccination site should be
encompassed on bringing the centers where
people are in a manner that doesn’t marginalize
people and classes who have limited access and
mobility options to reach a vaccination site. Commented [25]: Premise:
Going back to the statement "accessible through
different modes ", this premise supports it by explaining
more about the demographics of people to reach the
Today, as more people getting vaccinated and as site.

the number of cases starting to tone down, we Commented [26]: Premise:

A supporting statement that proves the effectiveness of
move forward closer towards the conclusion of the the approach used.
pandemic, and this leaves us with many key
takeaways that even transcends beyond
architecture. Firstly, it should be realized that
development equity is vital in the prevention of
worst-case scenarios in the society, had there been
a better and a more human-centered approach on
the built environment and public realm in the “old
normal”, the implications of the pandemic would
have been milder. Secondly, prevention will always
be better than cure. It cannot be expected highly of
people to adjust immediately to their environment,
as we all came from a life without pandemic. Lastly,
the establishment of converted quarantine facilities
and vaccination sites spoke volume of the ever-
romanticized Filipino resilience and versatility, while Commented [27]: An author's opinion:
Since this paper is entitled "a critique", the following
the virtue is admirable, we cannot always rely on it statements contain ideas and sentiments on how the
as it does not encourage development. The Covid- response against Covid could have been made. The
comments are still aligned with the impacts of
architecture on space and the public.
School of Architecture Industrial Design & the Built Environment
Mapua University 2Q 2021-2022
AR135 Architectural Essays and Reviews
Ar. Ealdama

19 pandemic revealed that architectural

interventions have inherent value to the society as
the built environment occupies a decisive role in
mitigating pandemics. Commented [28]: The conclusion:
The conclusion contains the main idea of the whole
essay. To summarize the entire essay in a sentence:
Shaping spaces that correspond to the current
Date: February 11, 2022 demands impact people's living during the pandemic.
Commented [29R28]: _Marked as resolved_
References:
Commented [30R28]: _Re-opened_

Delgado-Ron, J. A. (2020). How compact cities

help us combat epidemics. Walkability and
the COVID-19 Pandemic.
https://doi.org/https://sustain.ubc.ca/sites/de
fault/files/2020-
45b_Walkability%20and%20the%20COVID-
19%20Pandemic_Delgado-Ron.pdf.

Espesor, J. C. (2022). Protecting the Poor in

Extraordinary Time: Covid-19 Pandemic
and Social Protection Architecture in the
Philippines. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-
16-2948-8_9

CEPEDA, M. (2020). LIST: OVP’s 16 free

dormitories for coronavirus frontliners.
Retrieved from
https://www.rappler.com/nation/257769-list-
office-vice-president-robredo-free-
dormitories-coronavirus-frontliners/

Karunanayake, C. (2020, October 28). Pandemic

recovery in urban settings. PreventionWeb.

Jesus, A. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on

architecture. Retrieved from

School of Architecture Industrial Design & the Built Environment

Mapua University 2Q 2021-2022
AR135 Architectural Essays and Reviews
Ar. Ealdama

https://business.inquirer.net/302879/impact-
of-covid-19-on-architecture

Expounded Summary

The Enhanced Community Quarantine as the initial

response of the government consequently resulted
in several adverse effects that greatly damaged the
nation. The heavily affected individuals are the
marginalized, the OFWs and the working class,
which significantly highlighted that there is a
tremendous change in the country’s economic
stand. As there was an evident outlook on the
consequences given about the Enhanced
Community Quarantine, it gave individuals the idea
that there is indeed a noticeable group of people
that are heavily affected by the ECQ. However, it is
inevitable that this issue has been going on for
quite a while, and if it wasn’t for the ECQ, many
would not even give a single attention to situations
that are vital to consider in everyday life. the author
purposely specified areas that have been
noticeable even before that we only got used to
because we have tolerated so much. From vehicle
occupied sidewalks, air-conditioning dependence,
and many more. The author was able to reiterate
that we failed to notice that we are being
underserved since we believed that everything
around us is normal, not until several individuals
suffer great consequences due to these issues.

The people's movement was greatly affected by the

pandemic due to physical distancing and other

School of Architecture Industrial Design & the Built Environment

Mapua University 2Q 2021-2022
AR135 Architectural Essays and Reviews
Ar. Ealdama

restrictions that could limit the transmission of

COVID-19. The intended approach mentioned by
the author is called mitigation strategy which means
reducing and applying preventive measures to slow
the spread of COVID-19 especially in highly
populated areas. To support this idea, the writer
explains that the layout of the building must adopt a
controlled way finding and foot traffic flow in order
to comply with the requirements given by the
government about social distancing. However, it
was concluded that this strategy seems to be weak
at first because it takes time for human habits to
change. Conversion of public or private spaces for
quarantine and vaccination areas are also one of
the innovative architectural approaches
enumerated by the author and should be
accessible to the people. She mentioned that this
was led and initiated by former VP Leni Robredo as
part of her programs to provide free dormitories and
free shuttle services especially for the front liners
who are the first responders on this on-going
pandemic.

She concluded in her essay the idea of “it is better

to prevent than cure” which means that Philippine
Government should take necessary actions and to
lock down the whole country during the rising
number of case of COVID-19 way back 2020 so
that the economy of the Philippines will not be as
bad as we are experiencing today, no lives will be
wasted, and no family will be affected.

School of Architecture Industrial Design & the Built Environment

Mapua University 2Q 2021-2022