Eight Antarctic buildings that have the X Factor
Following the unveiling of the Discovery Building today, we look at eight architectural highlights from Antarctica over the past 20 years.
By far the world's least developed continent, Antarctica has very few buildings.
Two simple huts built in 1899 were the first structures to be constructed on the continent, but as exploration has continued, research bases have grown in complexity and scale with the Discovery Building designed by Hugh Broughton Architects being the latest addition.
"Antarctica is unique in that it is the only continent where you can see both the very first building ever constructed and some of the most advanced buildings in the world," Hugh Broughton Architects founder Hugh Broughton told Dezeen.
"Borchgrevink's Hut, built between 1898 and 1900 at Cape Adare, consisted of two small timber structures measuring just 5.5 by 6.5 metres, barely insulated and extremely rudimentary," he continued.
"By contrast, contemporary Antarctic buildings like the Discovery Building are large, highly insulated, airtight and aerodynamic. In many ways, they would not look out of place in a temperate climate, yet they are designed to perform in one of the harshest environments on Earth."
The harsh climatic conditions, along with geographic separation from major settlements, mean that Antarctic architecture has to be extremely efficient. However, Broughton doesn't believe that this has overly constrained the architecture built on continent.
"Once all the climatic, environmental, operational and logistic factors that influence the design of a building in Antarctica have been considered, one might presume that there is no room left for creativity, but this could not be further from the truth," he said.
"Design in Antarctica is truly innovative and there have been many new stations and buildings completed in recent years which have won awards from across the world, and which demonstrate that they have the X Factor – designs which rise above the ordinary to help make people's lives more enjoyable."
Broughton also described architecture in Antarctica as "embassies on the ice", which he believes are key in supporting scientists deliver cutting edge research.
"These buildings respond to their context with imaginative solutions developed from first principles, which reduce maintenance burden, emphasise health, safety and well-being and provide an inclusive, exciting, and inspiring place to live and work," added Broughton.
"They are the vehicle to support groundbreaking scientific research which will help us to understand and then combat climate change and they act as 'embassies on the ice' for the nations that sponsor them."
Read on for eight examples of innovative Antarctic architecture:
Scott Amundsen Base by Ferraro Choi (2008)
The base furthest south in Antarctica, and therefore the world, is the Scott Amundsen Base, located near the South Pole.
Built to accommodate 150 people from the US's National Science Foundation, the building is elevated on 36 hydraulic jack columns. This means that the whole structure can be raised over time so that it doesn't get buried in snow.
Princess Elisabeth Station by Philippe Samyn and Partners, International Polar Foundation and Prefalux (2009)
Described as the "first-ever zero-emission station" in Antarctica, the Princess Elisabeth Station is perched on stilts on an exposed, granite ridge in Queen Maud Land.
The building, which has a stainless steel finish and aerodynamic shape, was designed by Belgian studio Philippe Samyn and Partners in collaboration with the International Polar Foundation and Prefalux, to be compact to reduce material and energy use.
Its main base has a mass timber frame visible throughout the interiors, giving the research facility a different feel from the majority of other bases on the continent. Below this structure is a more typical, regular-shaped building, used as a garage for vehicles and various other activities.
The base runs entirely on renewable energy with solar panels placed on all its facades, while nine wind turbines are installed along the ridgeline.
Bharati Research Station by Bof Architekten (2012)
Bof Architekten designed the space-age-looking Bharati Research Station, part of which is raised six metres above the ground on distinctive V-shaped columns, as India's third research facility in Antarctica.
As an innovative solution to building on the hard-to-reach continent, the main structure of the base is made from the 134 shipping containers used to transport other building materials to the site. This shipping-container structure was wrapped in a highly insulated and aerodynamically formed skin to reduce snow drifting.
Shipping containers along the edges of the two-storey base contain single bedrooms for 47 researchers, while the communal areas were placed in the centre of the building.
Halley VI Antarctic Research Station by Hugh Broughton Architects (2013)
Described as "the world's first mobile research facility", the Halley VI Antarctic Research Station on the floating Brunt Ice Shelf was designed by Hugh Broughton Architects for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
The distinctive structure consists of eight interlinking modules raised on hydraulically elevated feet to stay above the snow.
Jang Bogo Station by Space Group (2014)
Located on Terra Nova Bay, the Jang Bogo Station was designed by Space Group for the South Korean Antarctic research mission.
The base's main 4000-square-metre building has an aerodynamic triple-arm form raised on stilts. Two of the wings contain living quarters, with the third containing scientific laboratories and a large dining space illuminated by a series of diamond-shaped windows in the connecting central space.
Juan Carlos 1 Spanish Antarctic Base by Hugh Broughton Architects (2018)
Set on Livingstone Island, the current Juan Carlos 1 Spanish Antarctic Base was designed by Hugh Broughton Architects to replace an ageing facility on the site.
The redesigned base comprises a three-pointed habitat module for up to 20 people, along with a separate science module and several additional units for services and storage.
All of the structures are raised on legs and clad in bright red, fibre-reinforced plastic panels to give a unified appearance.
Comandante Ferraz Research Station by Estúdio 41 (2020)
Designed by Curitiba-based Estúdio 41 as the Brazilian Navy's scientific base on King George Island, the Comandante Ferraz Research Station consists of a pair of teal-hued, linear modules raised on stilts.
Both blocks are terminated with fully glazed walls, while every room in the block has a window to ensure views and natural light. The research station contains 17 laboratories, accommodation for 64 scientists, along with shared living areas, a gym and a library.
Antarctic Discovery Building by Hugh Broughton Architects (2026)
The most recent piece of Antarctic architecture, this large two-storey building is the main operations base for the British Antarctic Survey at the Rothera Research Station, which acts as the capital of the British Antarctic Territory.
Inside the 4,500-square-metre building is the base's main plant for generating power, alongside a store, offices, a gym, a music room, an arts and crafts space, a sauna and vehicle repair workshops. It is topped with a control tower for the base's airstrip.
A unique snow deflector on the building's roof uses the region's strong wind to blow snow away from the building.
The main photo is by the International Polar Foundation.
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