Christo's Arc de Triomphe artwork delayed and the Shoe Pull door opener

Today's round up of design-related coronavirus stories includes a delay in artist Christo's plans to wrap a Paris landmark in fabric and an invention to open doors with your shoe.

Shoe Pull is a hands-free door handle for your foot

Philip Watts Design has created a metal door handle that sits at the bottom of a door and can be operated with a shoe to stop people transmitting coronavirus particles with their hands (via Philip Watts Design).

L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped pushed back to 2021

Public art plans conceived in 1962 by art duo Christo and Jeanne Claude to cover the Arc de Triomphe in silver fabric and red rope were due to be realised in 2020, but have been put back a year due to the pandemic (via Art News).

Hong Kong airport installs full-body disinfection booths

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is trialling CLeanTech booths for staff members, a pressure-controlled environment that reportedly sprays the occupant with sanitiser for 40 seconds (via CNN).

Paul Cocksedge designs social distancing picnic blanket for life after lockdown

London-based designer Paul Cocksedge's Here Comes the Sun blanket would allow people to "socialise safely and confidently" outdoors once Covid-19 lockdown restrictions have been lifted (via Dezeen).

NHS Nightingale wound down after no new patients for a week

London's ExCel centre, which was transformed into a temporary intensive care unit by engineering firm BDP in 10 days, is no longer needed as UK hospitals haven't reached patient capacity (via The Independent).

Apple considers iPhone update to make Face ID compatible with masks

Because face masks interfere with facial recognition technology, Apple is rumoured to be including a feature in its iOS 13.5 update that will detect if the user is wearing one and take them straight to passcode entry (via Wired).

Calls for bathroom building codes to be reconsidered 

Experts in health are calling for a "rethink" of public toilet design codes to make hands-free hygiene devices such as sensor flushes and taps mandatory (via The Guardian).

Survey suggests British would go into lockdown annually to cut down pollution
Market research conducted by Piplsay reports 71 per cent of of people in the UK would support an annual two week lockdown to help the environment (via Piplsay)

10 movies with striking interior design to watch under lockdown

The coronavirus crisis means we're spending more time indoors than ever before, so Dezeen's Natasha Levy has selected 10 films with stand-out interiors that can offer some escape from your own four walls (via Dezeen).

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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