PANDEMIC CITY

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Abstract

The theme of the paper is directed to the recognized – but little-known – historical subjection of urbanized environments to diseases. According to this problem, the general objective of the research is to analyze characteristics of the diachronic process of urbanization and contemporary cities themselves in association with the occurrence of illnesses outbreaks, reflecting on subsequent perspectives. Based on the hypothesis that certain urban conditions can either enhance or minimize the spread of ailments, the methodological procedures, with a basic nature, qualitative approach, and exploratory feature, are grounded on techniques of systematic review of secondary sources and systematization in three main phases. The first deals with lessons from the past, while the second addresses present realities, and the last encompasses prospect trends. The results highlight both past relationships between city structures and health events as well as their actual permanence and volubility, in addition to uncertainties of subsequent times in sustainability and resilience issues. It is concluded by confirming the postulated assumption and asserting that pandemics should be seen as opportunities for the conformation of healthy cities, which requires innovative approaches to sustainable planning and management of the current pandemic era.