Style and Substance

IGV and Studio Marco Piva collaborate to create ON AIR, designer cabs that fight microbes.

submitted by IGV Group

Italian elevator manufacturer IGV Group has collaborated with design house Studio Marco Piva to create ON AIR, a new generation of lifts that promote both style and sanitation in the age of coronavirus, the company recently announced. The company describes ON AIR as “a strategic project for a new generation of lifts interacting with spaces as real elements of interior design and, at the same time, meeting the need for a safe environment even in the time of coronavirus, with cutting-edge technology and high-performance materials guaranteeing a full sanitization of the lift car.”

The ON AIR system includes a choice of designer cab interior materials:  

• Lamishield Abet is a decorative, antimicrobial laminate that uses embedded silver ion technology, which reduces bacterial buildup on its surface by up to 99.9%. When combined with hygienic practices and regular cleaning, Lamishield controls the growth of a wide spectrum of microbes.
• Alulife® is an antimicrobial aluminum surface, 100% made in Italy and completely recyclable.
• Decoral Antibact is made of aluminum with an antibacterial surface finish that makes its surface resistant to bacteria and microorganisms. The finishes can be processed with any RAL (European color-matching system standard) colors, decorative effects or high-resolution graphics on profiles, sheets and 3D objects.
• Vetrite is a coating product made by SICIS composed of glass sheets combined with polymeric materials. The decorative material is meant to evoke precious art through textures, patterns and colors.

ON AIR is a modular system that combines technology and design to promote the highest level of environmental protection. In addition to pre-processed, antimicrobial materials, the design integrates rounded profiles, removing corners and edges that can harbor the growth of germs. Grooves in the walls are fitted with handrail inserts that have integrated UV-C germicidal technology. A highly efficient mechanical ventilation system offers continuous air purification and a near-instant air exchange. In addition, the system is equipped with a user interface and internal communication systems: virus-resistant, touch-free and proximity-activated control panels; multilingual voice interface combined with face recognition enabling exclusive stops; and remote control via mobile device.

In describing his company’s new offering, IGV Group CEO Michele Suria said:

“ON AIR is . . . in line with architects and designers’ needs, where lifts become elements of interior architecture. The first product is entirely Made in Italy and designed by Architect Marco Piva, one of the most representative designers on the international scene for creativity and design.”

Giving his thoughts on the design, Piva said:

“ON AIR is an entirely new way of conceiving the inner and outer space of the lift car. It is an ethereal project, hence its name, which results in an immersive, simple, elegant and pure volume combining the highest standards of accessibility and safety with elements of innovation aimed at safeguarding the health of passengers and operators.”