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How do you fight the corona virus? That question has captivated us for a year now. A Dutch design agency reveals its secret weapon.
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That the coronavirus has proven to be the ultimate test for science is an understatement. For more than a year after the outbreak of the first wave in Wuhan, the virus has held our world in a tight grip. The vaccinations are a light at the end of a dark tunnel, but until everyone has his or her injection we have to come up with creative solutions to regain our freedom. There won’t be many more creative solutions than the one designed by Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde.
Studio Roosegaarde shows a first concept video of it on its website de Urban Sun. The Urban Sun is a light installation with UV lamps that can be installed above public spaces such as squares and parks. In the video we see the lamp popping up in some well-known places in the city of Rotterdam. A black plate is mounted in front of the lamp so that the whole looks like an artificial sun. The project could be straight out of a science fiction movie.
Scientifically proven
For the development of Urban Sun, Roosegaarde collaborated with scientists from the Netherlands, the United States, Japan and Italy. The idea predates the pandemic, but covid has accelerated the development and development of innovation. Scientific research has shown that some viruses, including the corona virus, are vulnerable to UV radiation. By continuously irradiating public places with UV light, they can be made up to 99.9 percent ‘corona-free’, says the Dutch architect. That must have made it safer for people to reunite in a normal way in public places. Roosegaarde sees potential for his invention for use in stadiums and concert halls.
There is one big problem with UV light. Prolonged exposure to intensive UV rays can have harmful effects on the skin, even with skin cancer as a potential consequence. Fortunately, this was taken into account when designing Urban Sun. The artificial sun emits far-UVC light with a wavelength of 222 nanometers, keeping it below the harmful limit of 254nm. The installation complies with radiation safety standards.
Hopeful
Scientists already sound hopeful that the innovation can return normal life more quickly. Jet Bussemaker, chairman of the Dutch Health Body and PvdA politician, praises the project. “Everyone is tired of the COVID19 pandemic. We need new courage to come up with solutions to be able to have more intimate contact with each other again. Urban Sun can give us that courage. ” Studio Roosegaarde reaches out to governments to set up a collaboration.
“From one day to the next our world was filled with fences and distance stickers, and we see our families only as pixels on a screen. Let’s be architects of our new society ourselves and create better meeting places. ”
Daan Roosegaarde, designer
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