Earthquake-resistant Design

Date

02 October 2025

On display at Maker Faire Rome 2025: earthquake-resistant furniture designed by IED students, to offer shelter in the event of an earthquake.

Tables, beds, wardrobes, and desks designed to withstand falling debris during a collapse and protect those inside them. These are the innovative earthquake-resistant furniture that IED Rome, in collaboration with CNR-IBE (Institute of BioEconomy of the National Research Council), will present at Maker Faire Rome – The European Edition 2025.

These pieces, intended for schools, offices, homes, fire stations, libraries, and public spaces, stem from a real challenge: providing protection during earthquakes in everyday environments, without compromising on aesthetics or functionality.

From school desks to office workstations, and even beds in firefighters’ dormitories, the project demonstrates how design can have a real impact on daily safety by transforming ordinary objects into life-saving tools.

Leading the initiative are the students of the three-year Product Design course at IED Rome, guided by professor Mauro Del Santo, with design support from Marco Fellin and technical consultancy from researcher Edoardo Giacobbo, both from CNR.

The project stems from a reflection on the vulnerability of Italy’s building heritage and offers a temporary yet sustainable solution pending more complex structural upgrades. Earthquake-resistant furniture can provide an immediate first level of protection, especially in schools and public buildings that have not yet been retrofitted to meet seismic safety standards.

The design concept draws inspiration from the LifeShell system, developed by CNR researchers: X-LAM laminated wood structures capable of withstanding the weight of debris and structural collapse. The furniture designed by the students is solid and functional, yet also modular, aesthetically refined, and suitable for various usage contexts.

One distinctive feature of the LifeShell project is that its technology has not been patented, making it open-source and freely replicable by anyone. Companies are encouraged to produce, test, and market the furniture without licensing fees, thus amplifying the social impact of the initiative.

The event takes place at Maker Faire Rome 2025, from October 17 to 19 at the Gazometro Ostiense, where the working prototypes will be presented.