Antarctica is the most pristine territory on the planet, which thanks to its peculiar and extreme characteristics becomes an immense natural laboratory for humanity. The rarefied, cold, dry atmosphere and the sky that is clear most of the time allow telescopes good visibility, and the three-month-long night enables long periods of continuous study of the universe. Also very important are glaciology studies, i.e., those related to snow and ice, which allow us to deduce important information about climate and its changes, first and foremost the "greenhouse effect" phenomenon. Study and research in Antarctica are therefore an important piece of the puzzle for understanding the ecosystem and its changes over time.
The Antarctic environment, particularly during the polar night, also presents several analogies with the space environment. For this reason, important international studies are also carried out on human psycho-physical adaptation to isolation, hypoxia and absence of sunlight, typical of territories like the Moon and Mars. One of the most important stations where these studies are conducted is the Italian-French station Concordia, which remains completely isolated during winter for more than nine months and where temperatures drop to below -80°C.
Italy has been present in Antarctica since 1985 with a governmental scientific program, the National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA), and currently conducts studies at two Antarctic stations: the aforementioned Italian-French Concordia station and the Mario Zucchelli station, sites of great research and discoveries. Scholars are forced to work at temperatures exceeding -80°C and it is precisely for this reason that research has turned toward thermal protection devices that allow living and working in such harsh climates even for long periods. The inconveniences encountered, however, are not few: starting from the heaviness of Antarctic suits, which do not facilitate movements, up to the poor breathability of the fabrics used.
D-Air Lab took up UNLESS's challenge to design a garment that meets the needs of scholars and researchers in Antarctica, giving birth to the Antarctica Suit. This highly technological garment is composed of an undersuit and an external cover that allow explorers to work in harsh Antarctic conditions for an estimated time of two hours, maintaining stable vital conditions and facilitating movements. The prototype of the Antarctica Suit was exhibited in "Antarctic Resolution," an exhibition by Giulia Foscari / UNLESS held in the Central Pavilion of the Gardens of the Venice Biennale during the 2021 Architecture Biennale.
The Antarctic environment, particularly during the polar night, also presents several analogies with the space environment. For this reason, important international studies are also carried out on human psycho-physical adaptation to isolation, hypoxia and absence of sunlight, typical of territories like the Moon and Mars. One of the most important stations where these studies are conducted is the Italian-French station Concordia, which remains completely isolated during winter for more than nine months and where temperatures drop to below -80°C.
Italy has been present in Antarctica since 1985 with a governmental scientific program, the National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA), and currently conducts studies at two Antarctic stations: the aforementioned Italian-French Concordia station and the Mario Zucchelli station, sites of great research and discoveries. Scholars are forced to work at temperatures exceeding -80°C and it is precisely for this reason that research has turned toward thermal protection devices that allow living and working in such harsh climates even for long periods. The inconveniences encountered, however, are not few: starting from the heaviness of Antarctic suits, which do not facilitate movements, up to the poor breathability of the fabrics used.
D-Air Lab took up UNLESS's challenge to design a garment that meets the needs of scholars and researchers in Antarctica, giving birth to the Antarctica Suit. This highly technological garment is composed of an undersuit and an external cover that allow explorers to work in harsh Antarctic conditions for an estimated time of two hours, maintaining stable vital conditions and facilitating movements. The prototype of the Antarctica Suit was exhibited in "Antarctic Resolution," an exhibition by Giulia Foscari / UNLESS held in the Central Pavilion of the Gardens of the Venice Biennale during the 2021 Architecture Biennale.