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Architecture in Extreme Environments 1: Antarctica - Architecture - Domus

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Architecture in Extreme
Environments : Antarctica
Architecture

Published
May

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Architecture
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In
, a Chilean research base was set up in the unforgiving
climate of Antarctica using building methods which borrow
from camping and sailing. We report here on the progess of
ARQZE (Arquitectura de Zonas Extremas), a group which
studies living conditions in extreme climates. Text by
Fabrizio Gallanti. Photography by Pol Taylor, Marcelo Bernal.
Ice Station Chile
On November ,
, two Hercules Caircra belonging to
the Chilean Air Force landed at the foot of Patriot Hills (
South latitude, West longitude). The selected landing site
was located within a thin strip next to a controversial area
contested by Argentina and Great Britain known as the TACH
(Territorio Antrtico Chileno). Besides geopolitical reasons, the
choice of Patriot Hills was the result of an accurate surveying
campaign. Katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow down from the
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mountains facing the site, sweeping
snow
away from
surface
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of the ice pack.Architecture in Extreme Environments 1: Antarctica - Architecture - Domus

This unveils a vast expanse of corrugated ice where planes can
land without the need of snow skis. The two planes unloaded
onto the solidi ed ocean a group consisting of air force and army
personnel, civil aviation o cers and three professors from the
Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria in Valparaiso, Chile.
The aim of their mission was to set up a station to test innovations
in construction methods and new concepts in space division. The
aircra s holds contained caterpillar vehicles, motorised sleds
and the unassembled pieces of a polar station: six breglass
living modules from an Australian manufacturer and a structure
to link them together made in Chile.
For days, exposed to temperatures ranging from minus to
minus degrees centigrade and in absence of night, the team
assembled the rst part of a base designed to be used one month
during the polar summer. The inauguration of the EPTAP station
(Estacin Polar Teniente Arturo Parodi) took place on December
,
. The success of EPTAP is thanks to a clever strategy of
technological and constructive solutions that ingeniously took
advantage of the projects inherent limitations. The initial
commission to the architects, who run a research unit called
ARQZE (Arquitectura de Zonas Extremas) at Santa Maria
University, was to design a connecting structure between single
modules (produced for high altitudes and ski stations) which
included two o ce units, one for shower and toilet puri cation
and three dormitories. The projects budget was
,
, leaving
no possibility for building prototypes.
The designers survival in adverse weather conditions would be
proof of the solutions suitability. As opposed to the building
types used in Antarctica (typically consisting of prefab containers
that contrast with local geographical and climatic conditions),
EPTAP applies itself to the site by exploiting its particular
characteristics. The living modules are hooked on to a U-shaped
arch that has been digitally modelled to obtain a toroidal form
which ensures rigidity and stability under pressure. The torus
was made from a series of steel tubes, which were curved in order
to easily t into the fuselage of a C- . A PVC membrane
reinforced with a polyester mesh was a xed to the tubes. This
system borrows from sailing technology and the way one
assembles a camping tent.
Snap- ttings, stitchery, binding and lacing guarantee the
economy and simplicity of its manufacturing and installation,
which is carried out by untrained personnel. The temperature
inside the protected walkway stays within a range of minus

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to

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inside the protected walkway stays within a range of minus to

minus degrees centigrade by recycling the warm air that
escapes from the breglass capsules. The sites morphological
and meteorological conditions dictated all of the projects
choices. The installation of the base was carefully gauged for
super cial oating upon the snow. The weight of the snow is
used to x the structure to the ground in the absence of
foundations.
Its construction geometry allows it to be almost completely
covered by snow without causing damage, while simultaneously
increasing thermal insulation. The turbulence produced at the
extremities of the torus, which is subjected to the winds force,
results in less snow accumulation. These are the points where
two folded sheets of polycarbonate meet to make up the enclosed
walkway which o ers visitors two panoramic views of the endless
expanse of snow and ice outside. In the arctic summer of
,a
second mission brought another lightweight structure to Patriot
Hills and connected it to the rst.
The successive building stages of EPTAP always coincided with
maximum respect for the environment. All refuse (including
biological waste) is taken back to Chile by plane and the base
runs exclusively on solar and wind power. At the end of its useful
life cycle, the base will be dismantled and shipped back to Chile.
The second module, called Catabatic System, is made up of three
parabolic surfaces positioned along three symmetrical axes,
designed to be a canteen and the stations eld kitchen. The use
of spatial formulations derived from tensile technology and
geodesic forms gives a manageability and compactness to the
elements making them easy to transport by air. The dismantled
and folded Catabatic System only takes up two cubic metres and
weighs ,
kilos. Experience gleaned from the rst mission has
allowed the re ning of construction details and techniques.
Extruding aluminium tubes with slots similar to sailing masts are
tted into the membrane cover. As before, it is made of PVC and
polyester, but the di erent technical speci cations increase its
level of insulation. Instead of foundations, the structure is built
on a rigid horizontal platform, which is achieved by spraying
water on the site and waiting for it to freeze.
The ARQZE model demonstrates a design ingenuity that comes
from belonging to a developing country. Advanced technological
solutions have been re-dimensioned to the standards of local
artisan production. Materials resistant to extreme conditions are
implemented through inventing unusual combinations or
altering original uses. Three-dimensional computer modelling

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altering original uses. Three-dimensional computer modelling

substitutes expensive wind-tunnel experiments, and the context
itself furnishes construction material in the form of snow. The
toroidal arch in translucent white PVC, the blue breglass
modules and the bright red parabolic canteen (the three colours
of the Chilean ag) lend a new aesthetic to polar stations, lighter
and more ethereal.
In November
, a hangar called Shockwave
and two
breglass modules containing advanced sanitary facilities will be
placed upon the blue ice of Patriot Hills. The hangar is made up
of a succession of stereographic arches in galvanised aluminium
laid out according to a geodesic pattern.

View of the geodesic hangar

The architects stayed three weeks on site

supervising assembly

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EPTAP station

EPTAP station

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EPTAP station

EPTAP station

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All EPTAP materials must be removed when their useful life cycle is over. For this reason modular structures in steel and aluminium
and lightweight synthetic leathers have been adopted, so everything can be loaded onto a plane for shipment

Curvilinear geometries of the bases sections are transformed into lengths of synthetic fabric which are then cut and assembled
using sail-making techniques

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Construction of WC and shower modules made using glass resin

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