URBAN SUN

Daan Roosegaarde and his team often work at the intersection of art and science. This time, Roosegaarde presents a project that harnesses sunlight and research to cleanse public spaces of the coronavirus, enabling safer human gatherings.

Daan Roosegaarde and his team often operate on the border between art and science. This time Roosegaarde comes with the world's first URBAN SUN. Inspired by the sun and scientific research, the URBAN SUN is intended to cleanse public spaces of viruses and thus ensure better human gatherings. Once again a magnificent piece of art.

Online editor: Natasha Hendriks
Image: Willem de Kam, Ossip van Duivenbode Daan Roosegaarde

Connection between design and science

URBAN SUN was created by Roosegaarde's team, together with external experts and scientists from the Netherlands, the US, Japan and Italy.

Studio Roosegaarde has been researching the power of light. The self-financed project already started in 2019, but corona made it much more urgent. URBAN SUN connects design with science to provide innovative solutions that allow people to meet each other in a more humane way.

Symbol of hope

The world’s first URBAN SUN cleanses public spaces of viruses, such as the coronavirus, for improved human gatherings. The artwork is inspired by the light of the sun and scientific research confirming that a new, specific light can safely clear up to 99,9% of the coronavirus.

This is a project in development as a symbol of hope and it is intended as a supplement to current government regulations. It combats the negative impact of social isolation by striving to improve cultural gatherings, sporting events, public squares and schoolyards. After the Rotterdam premiere of the artwork, Roosegaarde wants to look further at how this technique can be used effectively against the coronavirus. For example, you should consider: corona-free zones where people can meet each other in the light of the URBAN SUN.Click here for a video that MASTERS previously made about the work of Daan Roosegaarde.