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What kind of alternative human-virus relationships could we design, and how would we share living spaces with viruses, as peaceful neighbors?
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What if ancient viruses from thawing glaciers reached human civilization? How would public spaces change?
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What new policies, social norms, products, services, and agencies would emerge under these conditions?
Glacial melting is bringing numerous problematic health issues, such as zoonotic diseases. Some animals and insects contract and spread new viruses that humans don’t currently have the immune system against. The relationship between humans and viruses has become increasingly tense. We believe there is a need to focus on not only how many people might die, but how many will survive. This situation will be seasonal and random until we establish a peaceful “contract” with these viruses. We are working to imagine ways that a virus might live in harmony with the human body. In the case of COVID-19, we are practicing social distancing and shutting down cities because it has characteristics of droplet infection, contact infection. Humans are new embodied norms through strict artificial regulation in order to live with a virus.
What if we keep destroying the environment without deep thought? How would metropolitan cities look? Cities are attractive to humans for the economic opportunities, but also attractive to viruses because of density. It’s possible that we might face multiple viruses with various and unique characteristics, such as airborne infection, nuclear droplet infection, dust infection, mucous membrane infection, which may appear in multiple large cities such as New York City, We started to think and design within a scenario that’s characterized by a power imbalance between humans, climate and viruses.
In a not too distant future, an ancient airborne virus is released from an Atlantic glacier, and to New York City. The mayor response to the new virus. People are banned from speaking loudly in indoor public and commercial spaces. People are calling it "Silence is Life." Residents inhale the bottled air to avoid contracting the virus, by going out to catch the fresh air in balloons or garbage bags.
With high carbon emissions and a viral crisis originating from thawing glaciers, each human must develop skills for living with the virus. “People must maintain new social norms until they develop immunity.
For personal safety, buildings around the world are being designed to incorporate anti-viral window filters. Yet, the complexity of managing public open spaces has required everyone to wear an oxygen mask when going outside. Clean virus-free air is a scarce resource. Therefore, the government has introduced an AIR RATION SYSTEM requiring each citizen to use AIR RATION STAMPS to get their allotted amount of safe air for their monthly outgoings.
The old tax system has been adjusted accordingly under this policy. The new system demands its citizens take responsibility for their rate of activity. Instead of income, citizens are required to report their monthly mobility and time outside. The Tax Department calculates the amount of AIR RATION STAMPS, which will allow them to receive safe air for their next month of outgoings.
A newly- established company named “Virustopia” devotes themselves to new DIY iImmunization technology research and developing tools that enable people to stay home to strengthen their immune systems. This year, they successfully modified the DNA of COVID-19, the disastrous respiratory virus from 2020, and transplanted it to their previous invention of SUPER MUSHROOMS as a safe virus incubator. The genetic modifications allow these mushrooms to weaken the virus. People can stay home and gradually develop immunity living safely with the virus.
Staying at home for so long causes many people to have psychological problems such as cabin fever and claustrophobia. A&J, a world-renowned psychological research institute, has developed a partnership with the Virustopia to launch a new psychotherapy approach. By growing their own super mushrooms, patients can learn to regulate their mental state and gain confidence in the harmonious coexistence of viruses. Virustopia was named the most popular and valuable enterprise in the world by WSJ magazine the following year.
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What kind of alternative human-virus relationships could we design, and how would we share living spaces with viruses, as peaceful neighbors?
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What if ancient viruses from thawing glaciers reached human civilization? How would public spaces change?
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What new policies, social norms, products, services, and agencies would emerge under these conditions?
