Antarctica climatic conditions are the most extreme in the world. Winter temperatures are down to -70 C, the fastest katabatic winds reach the 300 km/h.
Thus the main goal was to provide all conditions for maximal stay indoors. The project is a unit, which can work both independently and in conjunction with similar modules. The penguin huddling behavior, when they are getting closed to each other to keep warmth and to minimize wind pressure, was taken into consideration on the design of the unit. This kind of grouping also provides direct access between the units and energy sharing.
The units are designed for two researchers to live in. Units geometry is based on three main factors: modularity, streamlining , steadiness.
Each module can work in three phases : moving phase, working phase , living phase. Moving phase – the module is closed to avoid wind loads. Working phase – the central space is extended to work more than two researchers inside. Living phase – living modules are inflated.
project name: Antarctic research system (ARS)
authors: Artur Kupriichuk, Henry McKenzie
institution: Dessau Institute of Architecture (DIA)
professors: Alexander Kalachev, Karim Soliman
year: 2014
