[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Israel’s representative office in Taiwan has donated 117 earthquake-proof tables to the ancient City of Tainan, in the southern portion of the country which was struck by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake in February of this year. The earthquake-proof table, engineered to shield two students from a ton of debris, is an Israeli innovation designed as a final project by student Arthur Brutter under the guidance of Prof. Ido Bruno at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design’s Industrial Design Department.

The number of 117 was chosen to represent the number of people who died from the tragic earthquake in the region.

Following the Tainan earthquake, Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, Head of Mission Asher Yarden, decided to cancel the office’s annual celebration for Israel’s Independence Day celebrated in May, and instead used the budget to purchase 117 of the Israeli-designed tables and donate them to the city in southern Taiwan.

Experts agree that the danger during earthquakes is from falling and flying debris and other nonstructural hazards, therefore it is recommended to duck under a sturdy desk in order to increase the chance of ending up in a “Survivable Void Space” if the building actually collapses. The space under a sturdy table or desk is likely to remain even if the building collapses and pictures from around the world show tables and desks standing with rubble all around them, even holding up floors that have collapsed.

“The gift of 117 earthquake tables to the children of Tainan, is a wonderful example of the way design can contribute to the safety of children, and enhance friendship between people” said Prof. Bruno. “I am proud that we are educating our students to look at the many ways they can improve people’s lives, not only the rich and powerful, but rather the vast majority of people who need simple trustworthy accessible design solutions they can afford.” The professor also added that the idea for the table came from seeing the devastating photos of schoolchildren from the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

The Tainan earthquake occurred on Feb. 6, leaving 117 people dead and hundreds injured. Among those who died, 115 victims were in a single apartment complex located in the city’s Yongkang District. Tainan is the oldest city in the country and for many years served as its capital.

The first batch of 60 tables has already been given to Tainan, with the second and final batch scheduled to arrive soon. Two of them will be put on display in an exhibition on disaster prevention education at the city’s Fire Bureau, and the rest will be donated to eight elementary and junior high schools that were damaged in the quake.

The table is built using standard metal profiles, and a single plywood panel. Part of the concept behind the design is that it can be constructed anywhere and is relatively inexpensive. The trick is in the geometric shape and special combination of profiles of different sizes, which create predictable crush zones and enables a certain area to be declared as a safety zone.

The design has been part of the permanent display at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York. It is also among various Israeli designs that were on display at the Taiwan Designers’ Week in Taipei.

Founded in 1906, the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design is Israel’s oldest institution of higher education and the birthplace of Israel’s art culture. With programs ranging across the discipline, Bezalel’s graduates influence the world through their designs utilizing the top skills instilled within them in their time at the historic art academy in Jerusalem. Bezalel offers courses in fine arts, architecture, ceramic and glass design, industrial design, jewelry and fashion design, photography, visual communication, screen based arts, art history & theory and urban design.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)