When ancient artworks and tombs are discovered, the quick exposure to air will damage them beyond preservation in days and erase the precious stories of the past. The AIRCHIVE and AIRCHIVE Connect project addresses this matter, producing a portable system for preservation. The project was inspired by UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities focusing on preserving cultural heritage in a sustainable format possible. We developed a portable, foldable environmental tent called AIRCHIVE that completely envelops archaeological finds to control humidity, temperature, CO2, and light levels. A companion system, AIRCHIVE Connect, allows real-time monitoring of these conditions through integrated sensors and a simple app wherever possible. An addition of a vibration-dampening pad supports more fragile materials while also recording the minute-by-minute changes in the environment for later review. The iterative nature of our project included sketching, digital modelling and testing to ensure that it was lightweight, adaptable and operational. As a multidisciplinary project, blending environmental sciences with a smart design approach, we wanted to be sure it met the anticipated outcome of the project, which is to shield and preserve cultural heritage in line with SDG 11. Taking AIRCHIVE for a trial confirmed that it maintained stable internal conditions and prevented vibration damage. As a prototype, it provided an indication as to how portable technology might help alleviate decay of archaeological finds. Although our prototype was limited by size, materials, and testing time, it achieved its goal; proving that portable environmental control can protect archaeological finds and support sustainable preservation practices.