Avaliação dos impactos da Covid-19 na habitação social e suas adaptações para um ambiente construído mais resiliente

Abstract

Understanding the impacts affecting Social Housing (SH) in the face of the urgencies imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic over socially vulnerable populations has never been more relevant. The distancing and social isolation have led to an increase in the number of hours spent at home, giving rise to new activities confined to housing. This situation, contrasted with the lack of flexibility and thermal comfort attributes in SH, has highlighted the need for adaptations. Considering this demand, the present study aimed to analyze the impacts of distancing and social isolation triggered by Covid-19 on SH in use, based on a double case study conducted in horizontally oriented social housing developments located in Uberlândia-MG. To achieve this, the general methodology includes: (i) Bibliographic Research, (ii) Empirical Research and (iii) Propositive Research. Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) methods were performed for data collection and subsequent analysis. The results revealed that small and insufficient spaces as well as the need for constant repairs and maintenance led to residents’ dissatisfaction, especially during the pandemic. They also demonstrated that incorporating new activities into the dwellings led to unassisted renovations and adaptations. Many of these renovations led to issues such as humidity, inadequate insulation, and insufficient natural ventilation, contributing to factors that increase susceptibility to contamination, strengthening the importance of resilient built environments. These findings provided the basis for the development of practical solutions for carrying out renovations aimed at enhancing the built environment with a focus on resilience. Moreover, the results subsidize considerations in emerging themes that encompass the preventive aspect of housing and the relationship between housing quality and quality of life during pandemics.