Nature, Human and City (Appreciating the Effect of Covid-19 on Human and City)

Despite the existing and potential characteristics of nature in urban planning process, technological progress and the rate of change in the physical identity of cities have increased natural mutations and taken the relationship between humans and nature out of the normal process. Among the natural mutations, we can mention infectious diseases, which have been nature's reaction against the city and the density of the urban population. Health issues and infectious diseases have long plagued cities, leading to changes in architecture and its rules and regulations. This process has been done less in urban planning regulations and this has increased the vulnerability of citizens in the urban environment against infectious diseases. Accordingly, this study attempted to offer principles centered on the physical nature of the city, while reviewing the history of infectious diseases in the world and considering urban planning theories related to urban health and pollution and the statistics of sample cities in the face of Covid-19 in order to accompany urban physical changes with human, technological, identity and natural changes to help urban management to reduce citizens’ vulnerability against infectious diseases. Data were collected using library and internet resources. Principles are derived from the Delphi method of experts. Some of the proposed principles are balanced building density, observing the minimum ratio of open space to urban residential space and balanced distribution of open space in the city, reducing per capita office use, establishing a crisis center with isolated conditions in each neighborhood, increasing per capita urban equipment and facilities land use, balanced distribution of neighborhood services, moving to multi-center cities, reducing concentration in city centers and using multifunctional urban spaces. Currently, due to natural mutations as well as changes in culture, traditions, and technological mutations, we need flexible rules and regulations to identify cities and align with nature. Therefore, it should be considered that the proposals offered are following the current situation and should be amended and updated over time and as circumstances change.