EPISODE 3

Within the Range

Wasila Fatima Nilia | Architect

Grad School: American International University – Bangladesh

There is an acute shortage of healthcare infrastructures in the country to deal with the growing number of COVID-19 cases. It is crucial that an alternative must be presented to outmaneuver the drawback arising from shortages. Let’s focus on a readily available asset that we have plenty in Dhaka city, buses. Converting buses to movable isolation units can be very cost-effective towards alleviating the increasing demand for beds. The diagrams illustrated in my proposal gives specific and detailed in structure as to how the seats can be replaced with temporary medical beds and portable WCs.Of course, once we have overcome this pandemic, the buses can be reverted to their original design and purpose, again, at a minimal cost.

This idea is very amenable and most buses can be converted into isolation wards within a day. The main purpose of this proposal is to create a mutable configuration that can easily adapt to remote areas where potential patients do not have access to nearby hospitals. Through these makeshift units, we can accomplish two main objectives of flattening the curve of this pandemic. Firstly, we will be able to reduce further spread of COVID-19 by reaching out to the potential patients, instead of letting them come to the hospitals. Secondly, due to the lockdown, the lack of available transport and the stigma that comes with being affected with COVID-19, these movable isolation units can prevent the loss of lives.

EPISODE 2

Just listen to L.I. KAHN 

Muhtadin Iqbal | Architect and Academician

before we ACT

let’s face the FACT

the fact is GRIM

but why stop DREAM

if there is NONE

just listen to L.I. KAHN.

Healing Hub

Karan Srijan | Architect

Isolation is not just a process of staying alone in a place to control the spread of infectious diseases,  it is also recognized as a good practice to make oneself self-confident and self -organized. The proposed unit, is, therefore, not only equipped with all the necessary sterilized facilities but also equipped with elements required for mental wellbeing. So I called the unit “ Healing Hub.”

The proposed isolation unit is designed for a single person. The unit is designed to facilitate a person to be intellectually productive and mentally self-confident during the isolation period. This compact unit also has a space for plants that help to heal the human body and mind.

For building material, I proposed corrugated iron (CI) sheets for easy and fast construction, and because of their recycling value. To manage indoor thermal comfort, I used a double-wall technique with standard insulation in-between. The unit has an inbuilt disinfection chamber. Over the entry, a tank has been installed which has 50%  freshwater & 50% dis-infecting liquid. This disinfecting liquid sprays through the sprinkler.

EPISODE 1 

Plug and play

Shawlin Islam |  Architect, Tanya Karim N. R. Khan and Associates

Grad School: University of Asia Pacific

During this time of crisis when hospitals are short of beds treating patients of Covid19, there is no time to contemplate structures that require time to realize. Hence, outdoor medical service is the only practical way to recovery. Temporary structures as an extension of existing hospital or any vacant land can be installed.

Medical grade inflatable tents are not only convenient and safe; assembling these tents requires minutes. Being waterproof and windproof, inflatable tents are more desirable in terms of privacy and space. These tents also have enough room for medical equipment and serve the purpose of proper isolation of high-risk patients.

Its modular design plays a ‘plug and play’ role. There are primarily two zones, the ICU or isolation units and patients in groups of 8 in a tent. The isolation units accommodate one or two patients depending on need. Low-risk zone is for people who are not in critical condition and contains a portable WC with 8 patients in each zone. The convenience of these modules is the flexibility of extensions to have more beds according to need.

Scaffolding

Kazi Zayed Titumir | Lecturer, Dept of Architecture department, World University of Bangladesh.

Grad school: Khulna University.

The idea is about making an emergency isolation center for COVID-19 using scaffolding which is being used in construction sites. As Dhaka is filled with construction sites lots of construction teams are using scaffolding for construction. Due to the contamination of COVID-19 most of the sites are closed and almost whole Dhaka city has been locked down. In this critical circumstance, these unused scaffolding components can be utilized to develop an emergency isolation center. The usual module of “walk through frame” is 72”L x 48”W x70”H. From this, we can develop a module of approx. 12’X8’.   Scaffoldings are easy to install, recyclable, easily portable and structurally stable. This structure can also take the load and sustain it for a long time. It can be arranged vertically as well. This solution is very simple and quick to execute.

Isolation Pods

Tassneem Islam |  Architect, Hitech Enterprise

Grad school: BRAC University

There are three primary design responses that can turn down the contagious actions of the virus: 1. Isolation units that can serve as an anteroom or in other words, comply by as a negative air pressure room; 2. Dedicated bathrooms for each patient; 3. Units equipped with oxygen supply, separate ICU for the quarantine unit. Inclusive of the specified facilities should be the provision of additional patient beds, respiratory support, PPE, staff, and diagnostic equipment.

Segregated isolation unit with equipped therapeutic supply stands and facility is designed to treat the infected. Located at the back of each unit is a dedicated bathroom that has been thoughtfully designed to excrete its solid waste to the way of absorption trench under the trap of the false floor and vents attached to the vertical trap to release waste fumes outwards.

When 8 such units alongside the toilets are arranged in radial order centering the “dome” of vents together, it serves as one large modular unit. This single unit is repeated to form a radial stretch of temporary extended structure to serve the infected. The large units are connected with inflatable connectors that connect the units by means of corridors providing passageways for patient mobility and transit. The isolation pods act as equipped treatment areas and pose as a technological anteroom that contains negative air pressure to stop letting the air out of the space. The proposed system cuts out the negative spaces and adds to the efficiency of the multiplied placement of units and connectors.