hugh broughton architects: halley VI mobile antarctic research station

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hugh broughton architects: halley VI mobile antarctic research station

Feb 07, 2013

'halley VI antarctic research station' by hugh broughton architects, antarctica
image © anthony dubber
all images courtesy of the british antarctic survey (BAS)

marking exactly 100 years after captain robert falcon scott's first antarctic expeditions, the british prove their dedication to research and
science by completing the 'halley VI research station' to replace the 20 year-old halley V. english practice hugh broughton architects sent us
images of the mobile polar hub which was built under extreme conditions in only 36 weeks spread out over four years during the antarctic summers.
the site made it a particularly challenging project; not only does the structure need to withstand drastic temperatures and accommodate
scientific laboratories as well as living quarters, it has the ability to be lifted off the ground by hydraulic rams to stay above several meters of new snow.
the faceted aerodynamic design prevents the accumulation of snow on the exterior shell. most remarkable is that the site itself is not stationary,
located on the floating brunt ice shelf one of the primary features of the center is that it is completely mobile to avoid getting stranded on a frozen island.
mounted on large skis, the modules can be be towed by bulldozers for kilometers, with pivoting connections allowing the train of units to be
pulled together.

the construct is composed of blue units that contain the bedrooms, labs, offices and energy plants, all linked to the red heart, 'module A,'
which provides the social program in a double height space. the station is capable of hosting up to 52 crew members in the summer down to
16 during the dark winter months when temperatures can reach -56 degrees below zero. the project is funded by the natural environment
research council and the department of business innovation and skills including the british antarctic survey (BAS) branch.

image © sam burell

individual modules in front of aurora winter skies, 2010
image © craig brown

west facade looking north, covered in winter frost
image © james goby/BAS

ladder entry
image © hugh broughton architects

module A after the winter

sitting on hydraulic stilts
image © antony dubber

bird's eye view
image © karl tuplin

upper observation deck
image © mike rose

lounge/bar in the red module
image © sam burell

spiral stair case in the red module
image © hugh broughton

typical bedroom

axonometric

relocation scheme

section

project info:

architecture: hugh broughton architects
construction: galliford try
engineering: AECOM
competition: 2005
completion: 2013

danny db

feb 07, 2013

Wonderful. Amazing commission.

ArchitectureRichmond says:

Feb 07, 2013

Reply
Amazing indeed.

hoseun says:

Feb 20, 2013

Reply

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