Southern comfort

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Nedda El-Asmar selects furnishings and fittings for South Pole station

As design jobs go, it doesn’t get much more unusual than a scientific station in the South Pole. And when the International Polar Foundation needed furnishings and fittings for its new Princess Elisabeth station in Antarctica, it called on Nedda El-Asmar to lend a hand.

The Belgian designer was initially commissioned to create a dedicated tableware and cutlery set for Princess Elisabeth, which will become the world’s first zero emission research station when it is launched on February 15.

“They were very happy with what we presented and the founder of the International Polar Foundation, Alain Hubert, asked us straight away if we could help him with the interiors. That’s how we got the project,” El-Asmar said.

Presented with the unusual task of making a remote polar station more homely for its 25 inhabitants, El-Asmar started by gathering information on the unique setting of the station and the working and living habits of the scientists posted there.

 “We started asking questions. Is it cold inside? Of course it isn’t, it’s a normal temperature. But, for example, some of the beds are not in the main part of the station. And in winter, when there’s no one at the station, temperatures where those beds are can drop to minus 25 degrees, so we had to source mattresses that could survive those temperatures.

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Then we asked, how would they cook? What we discovered is that food is very important. When you are in harsh conditions and you have to stay there for three or four months at a time, a good meal can make a big difference.”

Sustainability, multi-functionality and comfort were the key elements to consider. With limited space to work with, the emphasis was on furnishings that could be used in multiple contexts and would take up a limited amount of space – for example, beds that could be folded away, and chairs that were practical enough to eat from but also comfortable enough to then drag away and relax in.

“Everything had to be functional but also comfortable. For example, the scientists sometimes have to sit in front of their computers for hours, so the chairs had to be ergonomic. In addition, the way that all the products were produced had to be sustainable.

“We also tried to use Belgian companies, such as Libeco, Vitra Belgium and Royal Boch, and energy-efficient equipment such as that provided by Electrolux.”

The greatest challenge that El-Asmar faced was a timeframe of only two months. With the boat from Belgium to Antarctica leaving only once every two years, there was little room for manouevre – or last-minute mind changes.
 

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