hugh broughton architects: halley VI mobile antarctic research station
‘halley VI antarctic research station’ by hugh broughton architects, antarcticaimage © anthony dubberall 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. british 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.
image © sam burell
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.
individual modules in front of aurora winter skies, 2010image © craig brown
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.
west facade looking north, covered in winter frostimage © james goby/BAS
west facade looking north, covered in winter frostimage © james goby/BAS
ladder entryimage © hugh broughton architects
module A after the winter
sitting on hydraulic stiltsimage © antony dubber
bird’s eye viewimage © karl tuplin
upper observation deckimage © mike rose
lounge/bar in the red moduleimage © sam burell
spiral stair case in the red moduleimage © hugh broughton
typical bedroom
axonometric
relocation scheme
section
project info:
architecture: hugh broughton architectsconstruction: galliford tryengineering: AECOM competition: 2005completion: 2013
architecture in antarctica (5 articles)
NASA captures strikingly rectangular iceberg off antarctica
antarctic pavilion explores native customs at venice biennale
research station in antarctica built from 134 shipping containers
estudio 41: comandante ferraz antarctic research station winning proposal
architecture news
JCPCDR nestles 'the observatory' timber cabin in a french forest
#architecture
constructed entirely from fir wood, the observatory perfectly integrates into its forest environment.
constructed entirely from fir wood, the observatory perfectly integrates into its forest environment.
OFFICE KGDVS wins olive oil mill competition in trebbio, italy
#architecture
a spartan industrial building stands modestly in the middle of the olive groves as a simple square with an oversized circular roof.
a spartan industrial building stands modestly in the middle of the olive groves as a simple square with an oversized circular roof.
heatherwick studio plans giant 'planted pergola' for mixed-use tokyo development
#architecture
the undulating structure rises like a gently sloping hillside before puncturing the ground to allow natural light into the basement zones.
the undulating structure rises like a gently sloping hillside before puncturing the ground to allow natural light into the basement zones.
WARchitect builds the skyscape apartment on a rooftop in bangkok
#architecture
the design team wanted to make the apartment feel like a borderless box that emerges out of nowhere in the sky.
the design team wanted to make the apartment feel like a borderless box that emerges out of nowhere in the sky.
Wonderful. Amazing commission.
Amazing indeed.