Carnago, Italy
Led by Lorenzo Santini and Eric Loiseau of Studio Volpi in collaboration with Delta Interior and Leonardo Aircraft have devised new concept solutions for inflight cabin interiors.
The project has been awarded a 2021 Good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
Within the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, Studio Volpi, Delta Interior, and Leonardo Aircraft have developed the idea to completely rethink airplane cabins according to the needs of various travelers: from those with children to those with disabilities, but also by improving the working conditions of flight attendants and increasing comfort for everybody on board.
Ratios – Regional Aircraft breakthrough Interior Solution 2020 project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 821467 within the CLEANSKY2 Programme.
The storage space for carry-on luggage will be moved from the traditional overhead bin to a suitable cavity placed under each seat.
Additional storage and personal space for small items are designed above each seat thus allowing passengers more onboard mobility and comfort.
Windows become digital screens that display through an OLEO display the landscape outside the plane using fiber-optic cameras located at different angles on the outside fuselage.
This would drastically reduce the overall weight, allowing to re-configure the pitch between windows.
The Bench seats are designed to allow passengers to find and access their seats easier.
Each seat is equipped with sensors that can be used to monitor passengers’ comfort during the flight.
Its flexible design, thanks to foldable armrests and the creation of a continuous seating surface, allows (only during cruising) children to be placed in the middle seat.
The data gathered can help companies to collect more information from passengers and thus continuously improve on-board services.
Seats will be lined with self-cleaning fabrics, leading to a higher level of hygiene and less work for flight attendants.
Dedicated lavatories: In order to grant more hygiene and no more queues, we divided the standard bathroom into two smaller units: one contains foldable self-cleaning water closed while the other is equipped with a urinal.
Reduction of waiting time is also granted by the possibility to book the bathroom from the seat smart display.
Short-haul flights will see the food service minimized and optimized in the future while the galley area will be simplified in comparison to the current one: the overall cabin weight will be reduced thus gaining more profitability.
The trolley will be equipped with a display that will help the flight attendant during the food/drink delivery, and also arrange payments.
Textiles have been chosen in order to solve future needs of eco-friendliness: self-cleaning fabrics for a higher level of hygiene and less work for flight attendants.
All plastic parts and cabin elements will be in neutral tones to be less eye-catching and intrusive as well as to enhance colored elements and light effects.
Project: Ratios – Regional Aircraft breakThrough Interior Solution
Designers: Lorenzo Santini and Eric Loiseau, Studio Volpi Srl.
Associate Designers: Delta Interior Srl. and Leonardo Aircraft S.p.A.
Manufacturer: Studio Volpi Srl.
