Evolving Interconnections: Themes and Trends in Sustainable Built Environment Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the way the sustainable built environment—encompassing buildings, infrastructure, and other physical structures—is designed, managed, and utilized, as societal responses to the pandemic may have contributed to shifts in priorities and practices in these areas. Research has predominantly focused on the pandemic’s impacts on enhancing the resilience of the built environment and its role in supporting health protocols, such as reducing transmission risks. However, a critical gap persists in understanding the evolving relationship between the various stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sustainable built environment. Accordingly, this systematic literature review (SLR) aims to explore the major themes and trends in sustainable built environment responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and identify gaps in existing studies. The authors employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method to systematically search four databases for English-language journal articles published between 2020 and 2023. A total of 331 articles were analyzed using descriptive and thematic methods. The findings reveal that research priorities shifted during different stages of the pandemic, with particular attention given to key areas of the sustainable built environment: healthy outdoor spaces, such as urban green spaces (UGS); energy efficiency and urban planning; and urban mobility and transportation. This SLR contributes to advancing risk reduction strategies that address the intricate interdependencies between major health emergencies and long-term sustainability imperatives for the built environment.