Pandemic city: Past, present and future

Abstract

The theme of the work is directed to the recognized, but little known, historical subjection of urbanized environments to diseases. Based on this problem, the general objective of the research is to analyze characteristics of the diachronic process of urbanization and of contemporary cities themselves in association with the occurrence of outbreaks of illnesses, reflecting on future perspectives. Based on the hypothesis that certain urban conditions can enhance or minimize the spread of ailments, the methodological procedures, with a basic nature, qualitative approach and exploratory feature, are based on techniques of systematic review of secondary sources and systematized in three main phases. The first deals with past teachings, while the second addresses present realities and the last comprises prospect trends. The results show both past relationships between city structures and health events as well as their actual permanences and volubilities, in addition to uncertainties of subsequent times in sustainability and resilience issues. It concludes by confirming the assumption raised and and by the assertion that pandemics should be seen as opportunities for the conformation of healthy cities, which requires innovative approaches to sustainable planning and management of the current pandemic era.

Keywords: contagion territory, city history, city diagnosis, urbanization prognosis.