Today we live in a post-pandemic world, where human connections and our awareness of the fragility of existence have been subtly redesigned. More than just habits, it was urban and architectural space itself that learned to breathe differently, striving to accommodate an uncertain era. Today, we walk in the serenity of the "almost normal," yet the scars of that time still whisper through the streets, shapes, and silences—delicate survivors of a recent past that insists on remaining.
Six years ago, the first signs emerged of what would become one of the most impactful pandemics in recent history. On December 31, 2019, the Wuhan market was closed due to an epidemiological crisis. A few days later, on January 11, 2020, the first death was confirmed, still in Wuhan. On January 20, the first case was recorded in the United States; on the 24th, the first cases emerged in Europe. On January 30, the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern. On February 25, the virus reached Latin America, and finally, on March 11, 2020, a pandemic was officially declared.
The pandemic lasted more than three years, officially ending on May 5, 2023, when the WHO announced the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) related to COVID-19. It is estimated that the virus caused more than 7 million deaths around the world, critically affecting countries such as the United States, India, France, Germany, and Brazil.
