Health-Resilient Apartment Design for Post-Pandemic Housing: An Integrated Framework for Infection Control and Psychological Well-being
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15377/2409-9821.2026.13.9Keywords:
Indoor air quality (IAQ), Health-resilient housing, Post-COVID-19 architecture, Multi-unit residential design, Infection control in buildings.Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical failures in multi-unit apartment designs with respect to airborne and contact-based disease transmission. This study develops an integrated architectural framework for health-resilient housing using a triangulated mixed-methods approach. Data were synthesized from semi-structured interviews with virology specialists, sustainable engineering experts, and apartment inhabitants. The resulting validated model introduces several novel interventions: a transitional 'entrance garden' to serve as a biological buffer, a negative-pressure isolation room (AIIR) with dedicated facilities, and a 'safe path' escape staircase for secure medical access. Technical enhancements, including air-lock (SAS) doors, wind curtains, and self-cleaning materials, are integrated to minimize viral loads in high-traffic areas. After a three-phase validation by architects and medical experts, the study concludes with a procedural guide for local authorities to standardize health-resilient infrastructure in future residential developments.
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