How To Reduce Transmission of Respiratory Infectious Disease in Interior Spaces: An Empirical Study With Interior Design Professionals

This study was motivated by the need for empirical evidence to inform design guidelines for interior workspaces during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research had two goals: to identify the features of interior spaces and behaviors in Korea where many confirmed cases of COVID-19 were found; and to examine design professionals’ opinions on workplace management and operation to reduce transmission of respiratory infectious disease.

A content analysis of newspaper articles on confirmed cases was conducted and a survey was administered to design professionals. The analysis identified common features of the interior spaces with confirmed cases of COVID-19. Based on the analysis of the article contents, a questionnaire was constructed. The questionnaire asked design professionals to suggest interior design considerations that could prevent the spread of the virus in interior spaces.

They emphasized the separation of individual spaces from shared spaces; installing partitions in rooms that could not be divided; ending two-way traffic in narrow hallways; reducing room density and avoiding crowding; adopting touchless technologies and no-touch access to interior spaces; automating interior equipment and facilities; and encouraging office users to work from home if possible. These findings should be factored into interior space planning and management to reduce the risk of exposing future users of these spaces to infectious respiratory diseases.