Daily coronavirus briefing: today's architecture and design coronavirus briefing includes quarantine trains, engineering challenges for children and a fundraising auction for a Milan hospital.
Dyson creates 44 engineering challenges for children in Lockdown
The James Dyson Foundation has devised over 40 engineering and science activities to educate and entertain children stuck at home during lockdown. The tasks include creating a balloon-powered cars and a spaghetti bridges (via Dezeen).
New York cathedral and crypt to be turned into coronavirus field hospital
The Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York – the largest Gothic cathedral in the world – along with its crypt, is going to be turned into an emergency hospital for 200 Covid-19 patients (via New York Times).
Arper founder Luigi Feltin passes away after catching Covid-19
Luigi Feltin, founder of Italian design company Arper has died of coronavirus aged 85. He founded the furniture brand in 1989 with his two sons, and visited his employees every day until he became ill (via Dezeen).
Designers donate to coronavirus fundraising auction
Fernando and Humberto Campana, Formafantasma, Roberto Sironi, Muller Van Severen and Analogia Project are just some of the designers who have donated items for Design Loves Milano, an auction to raise funds for a hospital in Milan (via Cambi).
Public street signs reimagined for life during coronavirus
Conceptual sign designer Dylan Coonrad has redesigned street signs and warning notices to remind people to maintain social distancing, stop hoarding essentials and celebrate health workers (via Dezeen).
Indian government turns trains into coronavirus treatment centres
Unused train carriages in India are being converted into isolation wards for coronavirus patients. Each passenger coach will have with beds for up to 16 patients (via ABC News).
British fashion industry responds to PPE shortage
British Textiles Consortium and Emergency Designer Network are two new groups that have been set up in the UK in response to the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the UK do to coronavirus, helping designers mobilise to make masks and scrubs for the NHS (via Fashion Roundtable).
Architects reveal financial and mental challenges of pandemic
A survey published by the Royal Instititute of British Architects has revealed that 45 per cent of UK architects have lost income due to coronavirus and over a fifth are struggling with mental health. RIBA CEO Alan Vallance called the pandemic a "disaster" for the industry (via Dezeen).
Creative Industries Federation calls for more government support
One in seven creative organisations can last only four weeks on their existing financial reserves, the Creative Industries Federation has warned as it calls on the UK government for grant support (via Creative Industries Federation Twitter).
Classic film posters given social distancing update
Graphic designer Fabrizio Festa has taken famous film posters for movies including Trainspotting, Titanic and A Bout de Souffle and made sure the stars are observing social distancing (via Little White Lies).
Frank Lloyd Wright sites offer virtual tours during pandemic
Twelve Frank Lloyd Wright-designed properties, including Fallingwater, Hollyhock House and Taliesin West, are opening their doors to virtual tours. Called #WrightVirtualVisits, it will see the sites share short tours of another site each week (via Dezeen).
Bompas and Parr has published a post-coronavirus trend report
Fluid Landscapes 2020 is a trend report from UK studio Bompas & Parr that forecasts trends for the design world during and after the current crisis (via Dezeen).
RIBA award-winning architect runs online sketch classes
Dimple Shah, an architect at UK studio PRP, is running live sketching classes every Thursday on Instagram to share her tips and skills (via PRP).
Keep up with developments by following Dezeen's coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. For news of impacted events, check Dezeen Events Guide's dedicated coronavirus page.
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