The disappearance of open public space in the contemporary era: Interior space as space of public interaction

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a trigger that has led to social transformations whose consequences are yet to unfold. Noticeable changes can be observed in behavior patterns, as well as in communication, and space usage, particularly in public areas. The advancement of technology in the 21st century is rapidly altering communication patterns, while the built environment fails to support the spatial requirements of the newly formed lifestyle in the urban context. Increasingly, face-to-face encounters in physical environments are being replaced by interactions in virtual realms. Open public spaces, as places of interaction and public life in the city, are being replaced by the comfort of the user’s personal space of indoor habitat. Human interaction with nature is diminished, thereby influencing low public health and well-being. The benefits of being in a natural environment are overshadowed by the need to fulfill social interactions that take place in virtual spaces within the contemporary context. The aim of this paper is to problematize the qualitative aspects of an interior space of a residential unit as a surrogate for open public space. These tendencies reflect the necessity of interior space changes creating new standards of architectural programming to create new forms of the natural environment to support the health and well-being of users.