Emergency architecture

The National Art Museum of China is hosting an exhibition, Crossing: Dialogues for Emergency Architecture, from May 12 to 24.

It will bring together 16 architects from the US, Finland, Switzerland, Japan, Norway, France, Mexico and China, to discuss post-disaster emergency architecture.

The architects have been invited to present feasible, efficient, safe and user-friendly emergency shelters for the victims of natural disasters, in a bid to raise awareness about disaster-prevention and post-disaster relief.

Fan Di'an, director of the museum, says that while some of the works may later be improved or re-designed, it is important to be aware of such emergency architectures.

A work from Switzerland shows a solid table that can hold several hundred pounds as also emergency materials such as an oxygen bottle, drinking water, an electric torch and a knife.

A bamboo shelter designed by Peru-based artist Alexia Lon adjusts to the direction of wind and the angle of the sun's rays, and features a convertible shade.

Chinese students from the Central Academy of Fine Arts have come up with an environmentally-friendly shell-like paper shelter. The use of white and brown paper ensures that enough natural light filters in.

Japan's Sou Fujimoto presents his ideas for temporary schools and some of these have already been put into use in Sichuan.

The special materials made for the tent by US-based Simon Kim of IK studio is designed for quarantine use during epidemics.

9 am-5 pm, until May 24. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district, 6401-7076

中国美术馆, 东城区五四大街1号