How to Limit the Spread of COVID-19 in Residential Buildings: Erbil city as a case study

Abstract

Limiting common indoor spaces has been a critical measure in reducing COVID-19 transmission and protecting public health. The extent and effectiveness of change are unknown, particularly as far as future design is concerned. This study objectives to focus on emerging research questions at the boundary of COVID-19 and plan type. First, this study goals to examine the factors that have the features of reducing COVID-19 when using common indoor spaces. Second, explore the relationship between apartment layout types and which one is the best for use post-COVID-19 by the apartment's inhabitants. Based on space syntax (software design) analysis and three primary syntactical indicators: integration, connectivity, and visibility. The research method in this study chose five different floor plan types of multi-story apartment buildings in Erbil city. The analyses presented a clear preference for the single-loaded corridor (gallery) type plan over other types for reducing COVID-19.