How Pandemics Like Coronavirus Have Shaped Our Homes - Cheddar Explains

Our home design has changed drastically over the past 150 years. Once commonplace items like claw-footed tubs and standing armoires have fallen out of favor. Of course, technologies and consumer preferences have played a major role. But what might surprise you is the strong hand pandemics have had in the evolution of our homes. So let’s take a look at what’s changed in the past and what might change in a post covid-19 world.

Further Reading:
The Guardian
Citylab
Curbed
WHYY
Architectural Digest


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[Sciencerely]

As a biologist and researcher, I cannot appreciate the importance of sanitation systems in major cities enough. In the middle of the 19 century, a man called John Snow (yes, John Snow) investigated cholera outbreaks in London. He discovered that cholera is spread through unsanitary water or food supply sources and, after a while, cities started to build extensive sanitation systems which limited cholera outbreaks. Unfortunately, each year there are still 1.3 million to 4.0 million cases of cholera, and 21 000 to 143 000 deaths worldwide (would really love to make a video about that)! I really hope that we could raise more awareness for this issue.

The walk-in closet is only really popular in the US, though. In Europe we use wooden wardrobes - not the ornate type, though. IKEA style and similar.

[mugwump]

First, the water tanks mounted on the wall high above early toilets (connected by a vertical pipe) didn't go away because of difficulty cleaning, as you state. They didn't go away at all. Most residential toilets still have a tank. It's just now attached right above the seat (or integrated) because the gravity-fed water pressure initially thought necessary to flush turned out to be overestimated. Second, sleeping porches didn't come to be, as you state, because of a WWI-era flu and TB epidemic "sanitorium design" movement for houses (a term this longtime amateur historian's never heard before, BTW). It's true that sanitoriums had these design elements but, long before, sleeping porches were used by families in the summer. Especially in regions prone to hot, humid summertime nights. I've visited many historic homes going back to the 1880s that had sleeping porches. There are more inaccuracies but I'm not going to bore everyone. Bottom line: there's enough questionable info slipped in between the accurate details in this presentation to make me skeptical of the Cheddar channel in general. Take Cheddar's info with a grain of salt, my friends.

[simoncrabb]

I came for the stock video. My personal favourite of this episode is the lady cleaning a bath by crouching in it whilst wearing what appears to be business dress.

[abel]

Mold made me sick, I always look for building improvements to add to my home, it’s nice to know they’re still developing stuff

[timpauwels]

The explanations behind some of the features listed are a bit vague and desperate. Toothbrush holders because of TB? Come on-they just make the bathroom look well appointed.
Also, built in wardrobes are more about space and practicality than disease I think.

[macroxela]

Surprising how most of the changes mentioned here only apply to the US. In Europe old style kitchens, bedrooms and wardrobes are still the standard.

[Tyler__]

Nothing about the antiseptic properties of wood and certain metals, e.g. copper and silver.
Hospitals especially, should be using copper or brass for frequently contacted surfaces instead of stainless and plastic e.g. door handles, railings and light switches.

[RobertFigueroa]

Houses to get a little more expensive?
Well it is not like I was ever going to be able to afford a house anyways.

[Jeffen]

the voice volume is way too low for this music. really hard to listen to

[joeybaseball]

It's like you literally went to a stock-footage website, and just took all the stock footage you could find of bathrooms.

[yeetghostrat]

what I'd like to see is apartment bathrooms that are capable of being cleaned, where the toilet, sink, and shower are separated. I'm a tiny person, lived in multiple different apartments, and I could never get between. Let alone behind the toilet. And my dad and brother piss in the dark half asleep. You can imagine the stench

[cyrilio]

UK bathrooms used to have CARPET. Crazy times

[TheJaredtheJaredlong]

If houses change in response to covid, it'll be a higher demand for home offices and entertainment rooms. It's not the sickness that has impacted people, it's the quarantine.

Stock videos on loop and bad sound editing; but not realizing the difference between ceramics and porcelain?
Very disappointing, Cheddar.

[DiamondCalibre]

"housing is going to get a little more expensive"
ah well good thing housing is already well beyond most millennial's and gen z's financial reach or else that'd cause a lot of issues!

[evolancer]

Why wear a mask when blow drying your hair? Pretty sure she was at home, unless people now take their blow-dryers with them

[jeremiahsmith]

Video: calls powder rooms and built-in closets “staples of household”
Me: *laughs in European oldtown apartments*

[HEMAN]

This video should be renamed “Wood is great at harboring mold and bacteria”

[unemilifleur]

For me covid-19 had little impact on my hygene. I stay at home all day, so I don’t need to wash my hands more often... but it made me want to buy more things locally and to be more ecofriendly (so maybe a bidet someday)