Prague reveals design plans for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall
The Danish studio Bjarke Ingels Group won the international architectural competition
Doctors, municipal police and municipal workers will be supplied with 3D printer faceguards procured by the local government
Upon the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing was certain – protective equipment for medical personnel was an absolute necessity for them to remain effective and capable of doing their jobs – namely saving lives and safeguarding the community.
Yet European states quickly discovered that there was simply not enough to go around – there was a severe shortage of masks and faceguards on a global scale which in turn prompted local and national government to find alternate ways of procuring their supplies.
In the Latvian city of Valmiera, the situation was no different. Its local medical staff was undersupplied from the beginning which forced the local government to seek supplies elsewhere. And it found its suppliers in the face of private businesses that possessed high-tech technology capable of producing certifiable protective gear cheaply and quickly.
The use of 3D printers in order to produce faceguards has quickly become a staple for European cities and their authorities. The situation is no different in Valmiera, where the local entrepreneur Kaspars Urbāns pitched his idea of producing such masks to the local Development Agency.
After the proposal was submitted, local authorities quickly went about setting up a shared network of production and procurement. Thanks to their fruitful cooperation the masks come at almost no cost – the municipality only has to pay for the materials that are used, as local entrepreneurs are not prioritizing profits but rather the good of their communities.
With masks being produced “in-house” the staff at Valmiera’s hospitals is already reaping the benefits of the city’s cooperation with businesses. Masks are already being distributed not only among medical workers but also among social care staff and municipal police officers who are also under constant threat of infection.
The REPowerEU 200 billion-euro plan calls for a gradual reduction of Russian fuel imports
The summer ticket will be valid on local and regional trains, buses, as well as on the U-Bahn and S-Bahn
The Danish studio Bjarke Ingels Group won the international architectural competition
Student teams will have 24 hours to come up with solutions for that issue
The city also added a new bathing area
The new Walking and Cycling Index shows that an overwhelming majority want to live in 20-minute neighbourhoods
The REPowerEU 200 billion-euro plan calls for a gradual reduction of Russian fuel imports
Close engagement initiatives with the business sector and residents were key to spreading the idea across the board
The new Walking and Cycling Index shows that an overwhelming majority want to live in 20-minute neighbourhoods
Student teams will have 24 hours to come up with solutions for that issue
The city also added a new bathing area
The installation of the sensors is part of its “Smart Museum” project
These will be spread across 11 EU countries and will serve to support the EU Missions
The European Commission has accepted to develop the idea
An interview about AYR, one of the 2021 New European Bauhaus Prize winners
An interview with Nigel Jollands and Sue Goeransson from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
An interview with the President of the City of Athens Reception & Solidarity Centre
A talk with the Mayor of Malmö on the occasion of the city’s UN Resilience Hub status