
The year 2020 forever changed many things, including how we consider building materials and systems. The coronavirus has transformed life as we know it, spreading deadly contagion and making us fearful of pathogen-covered surfaces, not to mention indoor and public spaces. Administering the new COVID-19 vaccines to the global population will take time, and vulnerable communities will remain at risk. It is therefore appropriate that this outlook for innovative materials and assemblies in the coming year includes products and applications that respond to COVID-19. The following examples include both technical solutions and creative offerings that anticipate new design opportunities in pandemic-responsive architecture.
Let’s start with the development of new antiviral surfaces and coatings. Although the frequency of COVID-19 transmission via materials remains uncertain, studies have revealed varying levels of virus viability depending on the type of surface. A key concern about antimicrobial coatings is that they can help create new microbe strains that have antibiotic resistance, an undesirable and growing phenomenon caused by traditional chemical-based disinfectants. Biomimetic approaches pose no such risk: for instance, the targeting of viral membranes by manipulating the microscopic surface geometry of relevant materials. Airdal, a coating manufactured by Ahrensburg, Germany-based Decorative Products, employs nontoxic silicon dioxide as its antiviral ingredient. Initially developed for air travel applications, Airdal is now available in a spray-applied disinfectant (“D-Med”) as well as a permanent application for various interior surfaces. Another approach involves the use of nanoscale silica fragments (basically glass particles) as an antibacterial and fungicidal element that is also dermatologically safe.
Given that the coronavirus presents a significant danger as an aerosol, the other push has been to develop technologies that reduce or eliminate airborne transmission. Far ultraviolet light, an effective germicide, is used to disinfect hospitals and airplanes. Since UVC light can also damage human tissues, however, it has been employed in unoccupied spaces. This month, Cypress, Calif.-based Christie will begin mass production of a new product that aims to solve that issue. Christie’s CounterAct lamp is tuned to 222nm UVC light, a wavelength shown to kill pathogens without the risk of harming people. Artemide, meanwhile, has taken a slightly different approach. Its Integralis collection of UV-augmented light fixtures “adapts the intensity of the microbial action according to the rhythm of permanence and absence of people in the spaces.” When sensors detect room occupants, the fixture emits white light while minimizing UV light, and this state can be reversed when the space is empty to ensure maximum germicidal protection.


Ensuring adequate indoor air exchange rates also helps reduce COVID-19 transmission. Although there is no official rule regarding the optimal air changes per hour for coronavirus transmission reduction, experts recommend at least three to six. Yet many residential, commercial, and institutional spaces do not provide this level of fresh air exchange. According to one estimate, most schools have 1.5 ACH—half the minimum recommended rate. In addition to providing better mechanical ventilation, interior environments can benefit greatly by introducing fresh air via operable windows. Melbourne, Australia-based Jackson Clements Burrows Architects embraces operable apertures as a fundamental design feature. For example, the firm’s Moonlight Cabin in Western Victoria features expansive sections of perforated, accordion-style shutters made from spotted gum—approximating what the architects call a “Gore-Tex jacket” that breathes while protecting the building from the elements.
Since the rate of air exchange is an invisible phenomenon, building occupants require reminders about stagnant air. Indoor air quality sensors detect various indicators of unhealthy conditions, such as VOCs, fine particulate matter, and high CO2 levels. In fact, air quality monitoring represents a creative design opportunity. Consider AirBird, a sensor designed by Copenhagen-based GXN (the research think tank of 3XN) in collaboration with Leapcraft and Velux. Resembling an abstracted bird, the device features a curvilinear, perforated “underbelly” in which encapsulated optical sensors continuously monitor CO2, temperature, and relative humidity levels. Battery-powered and easy to install, the unit “chirps” to notify users when unhealthy air quality is detected. A companion application and web dashboard allow for historical data collection and analysis.
More frequent air changes in buildings may be beneficial, but sound transmission is less welcome. In this age of pandemic videoconferencing, two different meetings might occur at the same time in the same household, intensifying the need for acoustic isolation between rooms. Lucerne, Switzerland-based Impact Acoustic has developed various creative noise-dampening solutions for residential or commercial applications, including suspended room dividers, sound booths, and sound-absorptive light fixtures. The Hanging Partition Forest is a perforated panel system that appears solid up-close but becomes transparent from a distance. The ChatPod is a tiny phone booth for office environments. And Decipio is a linear light fixture that doubles as an acoustic baffle. It’s a clever example of multifunctional design that represents a compelling future trend–one that may persist long after the pandemic is over.