How Architects and Designers are Helping COVID-19 Relief – TownandCountrymag.com

Douglas Friedman

Nearly every industry is affected by the shelter-in-place orders right now, but designers and architects, who make their livelihoods largely by going into peoples homes and creating furniture, have been hit particularly hard. All of the major furniture fairs, normally a time to debut new talent and designs, have been cancelled; residential and commercial projects are on hold. However, many have been able to stay engaged by redirecting their talents and transforming their factories to making much-needed hospital equipment. This has ranged from Salone del Mobile working with Chinese furniture companies and designers to donate half a million masks to the Italian Red Cross, to architecture firms like Foster + Partners and RCH Studios fabricating face shields in their workshops.

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Jean Liu Designs

Jean Liu, designer and owner of outdoor furniture factory Woodard, discovered early on that she could utilize the sewing machines in her Michigan factory to create non-N95 masks, which helps those who are unable to get N95 masks. Companies in the New York Design Center such as Century Furniture and other Sherrill Furniture Brands immediately jumped in to help increase the production of masks despite the fact that on any normal day these brands would be competitors. Fabric brands Schumacher and Kravet also joined Liu by donating fabric, and Talbots donated 10,000 yards of elastic. With their combined efforts, Liu aims to produce 1,000 masks daily.

Thom Filicia

Thom Filicia, another designer out of the New York Design Center, has been working with one of its Chicago manufacturers to create masks in that region. He has also been boosting spirits with a series of "house calls," Instagram Live interviews with other designers, each day. His living room, has become his personal oasis while coordinating these efforts.

RCH Studios

In Los Angeles, RCH Studios, the firm behind many of LAs public spaces like the Music Center Plaza and Grand Park, are spearheading an initiative with other local architecture firms, including USCs Architecture School to use their model shops and 3-D printers to create face shields and personal protective equipment (PPE) for hospitals in Los Angeles. Additionally, they have made the designs public so that others can help. Other firms such as Bjarke Ingels Group in New York and Howeler + Yoon in Boston are also 3-D printing face shields to distribute locally.

CW Stockwell and Caitlin Wilson Design

On the west coast, CW Stockwell and Caitlin Wilson Design have also partnered up to create masks. Creativity abounds as donated fabric makes for particularly colorful masks, including the CW Stockwell masks in its iconic Martinique print.

Foster + Partners

In London, the Foster + Partners architecture studio is laser-cutting face shields that can be easily disassembled and sanitized. They've already distributed a batch to health workers in the UK and can make 1,000 shields a day.

New York City Designers

Designers who don't have the facilities to create masks are still helping out: New York City interior design studio General Assembly organized an auction with 40 other designers, including Lindsey Adelman, Calico Wallpaper, Apparatus (whose censer, shown here, is one of the items up for auction), Egg Collective, and Anna Karlin with all proceeds benefiting humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief. The auction is live now, and will close on Sunday, April 12.

Matouk

The Matouk family realized that, as owners of a bedding company, they were uniquely positioned to make masks in Massachusetts, having both large quantities of fabric and elastic, as well as the proper machines. Within a few days of shifting production, they were able to ship a thousand masks to Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC., and have ramped up production to 2,000 face masks daily.

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How Architects and Designers are Helping COVID-19 Relief - TownandCountrymag.com