Rebuilding society

Corona is rebuilding society more radically in 12 weeks than the regular economy in the previous 12 years. The expectation is that in a large number of shopping cities the square metres of retail space will be reduced to 60%. Things are going better and better in the supermarkets. We ate French fries en masse in (fast food) restaurants. As a result of the lockdown, the total consumption of French fries has been reduced to 40%. The question is whether the 100% will return. 

30% of the working hours will no longer be made at the office. Result: more flexplaces and a substantial decrease in the demand for office space. The production companies will make a substantial shift towards even more automation.

Customer visits are decreasing, and so are car kilometres, because it appears that Teams, Zoom, Skype and the other 20 systems are functioning quite well. Turning necessity into a virtue has given us a positive experience. We were drowsy about sustainability. Now it has been arranged within 6 weeks in a very drastic way. (I walked in the floodplains last weekend: no streaks of airplanes in the air, no noise. But a tight clear sky; unbelievable what a luxury).

At the moment our agency is confronted with clients who are in serious trouble with their factories because the demand for their products has changed drastically or even largely disappeared. The closure of the hospitality industry led to different eating habits. Clever people are seizing the opportunity with home delivery, among other things, and are seeing an enormous growth market. In times of crisis, the most creative solutions are found.

Even in these times: the attack is the best defence. Do you still have 40% turnover left? Then make sure you have 250% acquisition power; 40% of 250 is 100%, and you are on the old level.

Corona makes smart guys even more ingenious.

www.bessels.com

Herman Bessels is architect BNA at Bessels architekten & ingenieurs