Sanitising public spaces in the time of Covid
Inspired by the light of the sun, Studio Roosegaarde has designed a method for shining large circles of far-UVC light onto public spaces, which the studio says virtually eliminates viruses including Covid-19.
Studio Roosegaarde is the social design lab of Dutch artist and innovator Daan Roosegaarde.
Installed on an overhead system of cables, Urban Sun beams a large cone of far-UVC light into the space below in an attempt to make public gatherings possible during the coronavirus pandemic.
The light uses ultraviolet radiation to sanitise outdoor areas and the studio believes it leaves them up to 99.9% virus-free in minutes.
“Urban Sun” shines large circles of far-UVC light onto public spaces, which Studio Roosegarde says clears the area of viruses including Covid-19. Images credit - Daan Roosegaarde.
Debuted at a launch event in Rotterdam in March, the design has been developed in collaboration with scientists and researchers from the United States, Japan, Italy and the Netherlands.
“It acts as an additional layer of protection to current government rules,” says Studio Roosegaarde. “URBAN SUN aims to inspire hope. It combats the negative impact of social isolation by aiming to improve cultural gatherings, sporting events, public squares and schoolyards.”
Installed on an overhead system of cables, Urban Sun beams a large cone of far-UVC light into the space below.
Urban Sun is based on 2018 research from Columbia and Hiroshima Universities, which shows that while traditional 254-nanometre UV light is harmful to humans, far-UVC light with a wavelength of 222-nanometres is safe and also effective at killing viruses in the air.
Urban Sun’s light source is measured and calibrated by the Dutch National Metrology Institute VSL, and meets the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) safety standards. While it does not completely eliminate risk, it provides an extra layer of safety.
Roosegaarde claims this to be the first to attempt to make far-UVC technology work outdoors, and hopes to be able to use Urban Sun at large events in the future, for instance, the Olympics or Burning Man Festival.
The light uses ultraviolet radiation to sanitise outdoor areas.
“Suddenly our world is filled with plastic barriers and distance stickers, our family reduced to pixels on a computer screen,” he says. “Let’s be the architects of our new normal and create better places to meet.”
Jet Bussemaker, president of the Council of the Public Health and Society Board in the Netherlands, describes the project as, “inspiring. People are tired of COVID19. What we need is courage to find new solutions, to get in touch with each other, and create some intimacy. That is what Urban Sun is doing.”
