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coronavirus design and architecture briefing

Daily coronavirus architecture and design briefing: 31 March

Daily coronavirus briefing: today's architecture and design coronavirus briefing includes news on Dubai Expo 2020, how Covid-19 hospitals are built, Sam Jacob's design academy and an F1 team making a breathing aid.

How emergency coronavirus hospitals are built

Architects for Health chair Christopher Shaw explains how conference centres such as the ExCel in London are being converted into hospitals for coronavirus patients (via RIBAJ).

UN and WHO launch Global Call Out To Creatives to make informative coronavirus visuals

The United Nations and World Health Organisation have launched an open competition for creatives to create informative works that accurately communicate public health messages in a bid to "flatten the curve" of the coronavirus pandemic (via Dezeen).

Dubai Expo 2020 set to be delayed until 2021

The organisers of Expo 2020 Dubai, which was scheduled to begin on 20 October, want to delay the event until 2021 (via Bloomberg).

Sam Jacob launches weekly Desktop Design Academy

Dezeen columnist Sam Jacob has launched a weekly design challenge for those in isolation called the Desktop Design Academy. The first exercise, which is open to all, is to create a souvenir (via Sam Jacob).

SheltAir gridshell pods inflate in eight hours to isolate coronavirus patients

German architectural engineer Gregory Quinn has developed a domed bio-containment pod made from inflatable cushions that could help coronavirus patients isolate (via Dezeen).

National 3D Printing Society calls for printers to items for NHS

The National 3D Printing Society looking for architects and designers to donate their 3D printers to help create items for the National Health Service. The organisation has set up a database to coordinate manufacturing and distribution (via National 3D Printing Society).

Mercedes Formula One team create breathing aid in a week

Engineers from the Mercedes Formula One team and University College London (UCL), along with doctors at the UCL hospital, have made a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) breathing device, which can be used by coronavirus patients not in intensive care (via BBC).

Sick pay and self-isolation employment rights for architects

Architecture magazine Architects' Journal has created a practical guide that explains architects employment rights during the coronavirus period of self-isolation (via Architects' Journal).

Brooks Brothers making 150,000 masks a day

Brooks Brothers is the latest clothing company to begin mask production. It is set to make 150,000 masks a day in its factories in New York, Massachusetts and North Carolina (via National Review).

Apple launches coronavirus screening app

Apple has launched a new app that provides users with information about coronavirus. It also allows them to take a basic assessment, asking about relevant symptoms and recent travels, to find out whether they should seek medical care or not (via Hypebeast).

Virgin Orbit plans to mass-produce new medical breathing device

Richard Branson's satellite launch company Virgin Orbit has developed a new breathing device to help medical workers treat patients with Covid-19, which the company is planning to mass-produce after FDA approval (via The Verge).

London Design Fair 2020 cancelled 

This year's edition of the London Design Fair, which was set to take place 17-21 September, has been cancelled (via Art and Collections).

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.