COVID-19 pandemic is challenging some dogmas of modern urbanism

Abstract

The outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic has brought dramatic changes to many aspects of urban life. Lockdowns, the social isolation, constrains on mobility, the closure of schools, universities and other public institutions, have resulted in a depopulation of streets, abandonment of public transport and the limitations of human contact in public spaces. Some of the dogmas of contemporary planning, such as the pursuit of high building density, promotion of public transport and the strengthening of the role of direct human contact in public space to ensure safety have all been challenged. In this think piece, these negative trends are analysed and then an attempt is made to indicate how to redirect and use their momentum for the development of a post-pandemic city as a sustainable, friendly, green, smart and safe organism.