The Future of Outdoors
The Future of Outdoors
The question that I have been asking myself is what will happen next? The challenge that COVID-19 has and will continue to present is really an interesting one. Unlike may other challenges this is one that does not discriminate. It was affected nearly every nation, every race, age, and socioeconomic group. This means it not only affects everyone but challenges and rallies everyone. We cannot hide from this pandemic but look to grow from the experience.
I know this is a really positive outlook but I am tired of being morbid about it and in recent days have seen and heard a lot from people that give me faith in our capacity to learn, care, and respond. Being told to stay at home has been a bit of a challenge for myself and my fiance but for our 15 month old Labrador it has been amazing. He gets constant attention as well as treats about every other minute. I have a routine where he wakes me up every morning at 7:30 and we go for a walk by the lake. We have been doing this for over a year now and there have always been the same faces with the occasional new person. Over the last week what has gone from a quiet morning walk has become a busting walking path filled with families, dogs, bikers, and runners. People of all ages, sexes, sizes, and races. It is really interesting that when we are told we cannot go "out" people turn back to the outdoors. We are social creates that like to be in the presence of others even if as the guidelines say it is six feet away and its only passing by strangers with a nod of the head and a subtle hello.
With so many people now on the trail that I walk with my dog, Ashe, I began to think about the places for outdoor activities in Clemson and the surrounding areas. First let me say that for a rural area there really aren't that many places outdoors that are meant for people and very few that would still comply with the current guidelines set forth by the governor. In Columbia my brother lives right next to the river and there is a park/ trail that runs along the river. This has now been closed due to COVID-19. So in a place like Columbia even outdoor spaces are being considered to hazardous to be occupied by people.
How will this pandemic affect the way we view the outdoors and in exchange the future of architecture and landscape architecture. I have started to wonder why we have never thought to design spaces that allow people to occupy them safely in times of crisis or to allow for impromptu work spaces? I know these are highly specific to the current problem at hand but the current situation is left so lacking. Most parks or trails are left to slowly decay with little value placed on them but in a time of panic and crisis these are the places that we value so dearly. I have always loved the outdoors, from running, swimming, hiking, skiing, and picnicking but too often the spaces left for these activities are an afterthought. I hope that this spurs us are humans and us as architects and designers to really consider what is important. As David said in class people will start to think more about flexibility and even the staging of there virtual office. This should also feed into our relationship and the importance that we place in the natural environment. I don't know what the solution is. Maybe it is just a higher level of maintenance and care placed into the landscape and public spaces or maybe its the integration of technology into this environment and a complete modernization of public outdoor spaces. Regardless of the potential solutions I see this as a really exciting and invigorating challenge because in the end the outdoors is a space for everyone.
The question that I have been asking myself is what will happen next? The challenge that COVID-19 has and will continue to present is really an interesting one. Unlike may other challenges this is one that does not discriminate. It was affected nearly every nation, every race, age, and socioeconomic group. This means it not only affects everyone but challenges and rallies everyone. We cannot hide from this pandemic but look to grow from the experience.
I know this is a really positive outlook but I am tired of being morbid about it and in recent days have seen and heard a lot from people that give me faith in our capacity to learn, care, and respond. Being told to stay at home has been a bit of a challenge for myself and my fiance but for our 15 month old Labrador it has been amazing. He gets constant attention as well as treats about every other minute. I have a routine where he wakes me up every morning at 7:30 and we go for a walk by the lake. We have been doing this for over a year now and there have always been the same faces with the occasional new person. Over the last week what has gone from a quiet morning walk has become a busting walking path filled with families, dogs, bikers, and runners. People of all ages, sexes, sizes, and races. It is really interesting that when we are told we cannot go "out" people turn back to the outdoors. We are social creates that like to be in the presence of others even if as the guidelines say it is six feet away and its only passing by strangers with a nod of the head and a subtle hello.
With so many people now on the trail that I walk with my dog, Ashe, I began to think about the places for outdoor activities in Clemson and the surrounding areas. First let me say that for a rural area there really aren't that many places outdoors that are meant for people and very few that would still comply with the current guidelines set forth by the governor. In Columbia my brother lives right next to the river and there is a park/ trail that runs along the river. This has now been closed due to COVID-19. So in a place like Columbia even outdoor spaces are being considered to hazardous to be occupied by people.
How will this pandemic affect the way we view the outdoors and in exchange the future of architecture and landscape architecture. I have started to wonder why we have never thought to design spaces that allow people to occupy them safely in times of crisis or to allow for impromptu work spaces? I know these are highly specific to the current problem at hand but the current situation is left so lacking. Most parks or trails are left to slowly decay with little value placed on them but in a time of panic and crisis these are the places that we value so dearly. I have always loved the outdoors, from running, swimming, hiking, skiing, and picnicking but too often the spaces left for these activities are an afterthought. I hope that this spurs us are humans and us as architects and designers to really consider what is important. As David said in class people will start to think more about flexibility and even the staging of there virtual office. This should also feed into our relationship and the importance that we place in the natural environment. I don't know what the solution is. Maybe it is just a higher level of maintenance and care placed into the landscape and public spaces or maybe its the integration of technology into this environment and a complete modernization of public outdoor spaces. Regardless of the potential solutions I see this as a really exciting and invigorating challenge because in the end the outdoors is a space for everyone.
I was talking to my best friend, who is a landscape architect, this past weekend, and she was telling me how she and her coworkers have been forwarding articles to each other about how this crisis has highlighted the importance of parks/outdoor public/their profession. Since all institutions are closed people are spending so much more time in these designed outdoor spaces for respite, which I believe is making people appreciate these types of spaces, and even the built environment outside of the home, more.
ReplyDeleteGray, this is an excellent point, and something I have also experienced recently, while walking on Clemson's dikes. I believe an experience like this can certainly be turned into a positive. The quarantine has forced us to notice where public natural areas are lacking due to user demand. Change will certainly come as a result of this quarantine like you mentioned. However, I believe it will be in the smaller, informal spaces rather than the large, large-scale parks you might immediately think of. Apartment complexes, cities must do a better job of providing small, accessible, green spaces for those who do not have access to a backyard. These spaces are where the "quick breaks" between meeting and dog walks can be found. I think spaces such as these will see the most change as a result of Covid-19 outbreak.
ReplyDeleteGray, I had this same experience in Greenville. We have a park right across the street which we often visit to get out of the apartment and this past weekend I have never seen so many people there just enjoying the trails and being outdoors. Your blog post makes e think of Jane Jacob's who agrees that Parks are one component to a healthy city. In the midst of this pandemic, it seems that parks are very important to our personal health during social isolation.
ReplyDeleteIf we think through a lens beyond the pandemic, I still think your points here are valid. Unfortunately it took a crisis for us to see how we take the outdoors for granted - but in a point of reflect, I feel as designers we can create these spaces for people to have the same feelings in the future. After quarantine is over, we will go back to indoor offices and schools with limited daylight and barely any natural air (qualities about the outdoors we take for granted). I believe there is room to implement the outdoors within the indoors, or blur the boundary. We can work with landscape architects to make all spaces better.
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